My eyes leveled his and he smirked. Hard to tell if it was challenging or knowing, but there was something behind it.
“There’s nothing you can do to break me today.”
He had the grin of a criminal. “I won’t even have to lift a finger.”
I cocked my head. “I do hope you’re my first play.”
“Let’s make that happen.” He skated over to the window and signaled the coach, who nodded in response.
A whistle blew and the practice game was called but neither of us moved.
It should have bothered me that as good as I was, I needed to try out for anything. If you had told me I’d be doing this three years ago, I would have laughed in your face and said you had the wrong guy.
But I was a different man today. Cockiness nearly cost me a limb. Humiliation brought me down from the high I’d been on since I stepped foot into the NHL. From most admired to most pitied.
Music was turned up and players took position.
A dark shadow trailed Max as he circled me before getting into his zone.
The puck dropped and I sprinted, lifting it slightly and passing.
I avoided collision with the opposing defensemen. My instincts caused my arm to tense at possible impact but I pushed it down and sprinted, wide open for a pass. A player I hadn’t recognized shot it past me and toward Max who pulled his stick back and aimed it at the net.
Something distracted him because he froze in mid-air for what was possibly a millionth of a second, looking around the arena. But it was more than enough time for me to careen toward the end zone, swooping the puck from under his nose and sailing it toward the net.
A very much guarded net.
“You looking for fans out there, Withers? You know it’s just practice, right?”
“It’s practice for me. It’s a tryout for you.” He bit as if the reminder should have stung.
And yeah, maybe that time, it did. A little.
A whistle blew again, calling the end of the first round.
I needed more of this. Maybe I should have agreed to the three.
No. Don’t get too comfortable here, Logan.
It was just a means to bigger things.
As soon as the thought of leaving town, wherever that might have been, came into my mind, so did Rayne and Jax.
I wasn’t ready to leave them behind. And it sure as hell was too soon to ask her to consider coming with me. But after the past few weeks, being apart from her was unimaginable.
We got into position for the second play. The players had switched off, but my eyes were on Max. The grin was wiped off his face when he stepped off the ice and the coach eyed him, no doubt questioning what the hell that loss was about.
Not going how you hoped, asshole?
Josh was on the opposing line this time. He huddled his team, assuming captain position. Then they spread out. But I felt the difference with him immediately. There was camaraderie there. Josh gave me a curt nod that told me, “We’re ready. Show us what you got.”
This game went differently. It felt like I was part of their team. Not like they were out to prove that I didn’t have what it took.
As my first hit went past the goalie and slammed into the net, members of the opposing side inclined their head toward me. There was a respect here and it almost made me forget why I left the game in the first place.
Almost.
A short break was called to adjust after the first goal and I turned, skating to the faceoff circle.
