Chapter 3
THREE
EVAN
It was day two of practicing with the Coyotes, and so far, I’d held my own. I wasn’t anywhere near as good as Archer Carlson, but it was nice to see Lucas keeping up with him on defense. He’d found his spot in the NHL. Now it was my turn.
After an hour of drills, Coach Dupont set me up with Nolan Laine, a guy out of Ottawa. He seemed like a decent enough guy, and his regular partner, Darren Benson, had been nursing a hip strain. The poor guy had recovered from a car accident, and now this.
Nolan snapped me the puck, and I juggled it between my blades. We were defending Ace McAdams, the star goalie, from the triple threat of Mason Hopkins, Jett Jarvis, and Alex Volkov.
Hopkins skated up on my left. “Come on, newbie, let me drill one at Ace.”
“In your dreams, Hopkins.” I skated off like a shot, racing up the boards. If I got the puck to Richardson, another center, he’d take it home.
As I chanced a quick peek behind me, a guy barreled into me, throwing me onto the ice. “Fuck!” I slid a few feet, sprawled out, and then hopped onto my skates. Where the hell had he come from?
“Gotcha, Crosby.” Jarvis barked a laugh and sped off with the puck, then blasted it to Hopkins.
“Fire in the hole!” Hopkins slapped the puck toward an upper corner of the net.
“Not so fast.” Ace grabbed the puck from the air with his netted glove and cackled as he dropped it at Nolan’s skates.
“Goddamn it.” I’d failed. But Ace was unstoppable. Reaching the Cup might be within our grasp. Sometimes, it was all about the goalie.
Coach Dupont blew a whistle from the edge of the ice and waved us over.
Glancing at Nolan, I said, “I’m sorry, I’ll do better.” I’d increase my time in the gym. Maybe some extra treadmill running would help.
“No worries, man. It’s only your second day.” He patted my shoulder.
After practice, we hit the gym for our recovery routine. I’d felt tight out there today, so I strode to the foam rollers, resting on mats. This would feel so good. I dropped to the mat and placed a roller under my right hamstring.
Ace lowered onto the mat beside me, his dark hair dripping into his brown eyes. “Hey. You’re doing well out there. Few defensemen can steal the puck from Hopkins, and you did it more than a few times.” He grabbed a roller, sat on it, and moved back and forth. “Oh my God, that feels amazing.”
“Thanks, man.” My heart danced. It said a lot, coming from him. “I enjoy playing with this team. You know, I used to live with Mason’s brother, Lucas.”
“Yeah, I heard something about that.” He turned sideways, letting the roller stretch his hip. “Hey, would you be interested in showing the coaches your commitment to the team?” His eyes twinkled.
“Uh, yeah, sure. I’d do anything.” I rolled my left hamstring. Getting a permanent position on the team wasn’t just about my skills on the ice. The staff would judge my character as well. “What did you have in mind?”
“My husband is a figure skating coach, and he’s running a charity event with a silent auction.
I’m gathering a few of the guys here to go.
The problem is, it’s between playoff games and some of these guys are too fucking superstitious to consider it.
They have their routines, and they want to stick to them.
” He huffed. “The timing isn’t great, but it would mean a lot to have a few Coyotes there, you know? ”
Hell, I might spend all my time in the press box if Benson’s hip strain improved. “Hell yes, I’ll do it.” I pulled the roller out from under my leg. “Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”
“Great.” He held up his big palm. “Thanks, man.”
I slapped his hand. “You got it.” My first charity event with an NHL team. Would there be more?
“It’ll be at the Gainey Ranch Hotel the day after we come home from San Jose.
There’s two days until the next game.” He rolled the foam roller over his quads while sitting on the mat.
“I hope they play you.” He glanced behind him for a moment and then leaned in close.
“I think Benson is on his way out. He’s a decent guy, but he’s not the same since that car accident. ”
My brows rose. “Yeah?” I peeked at Benson, cycling on a stationary bike. I didn’t wish bad things on him, but maybe I’d get lucky after all.
“Hey, are you going to the charity event for Ace’s husband?” Wearing my best blue suit, I stood next to Lucas at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, waiting to board our chartered flight to San Jose. So far, I’d be watching this game from the press box.
“I’m still considering it. I need to be well-rested for the next game.” He swiped his dark brown hair off his forehead, and his steel-blue eyes focused on me.
Sometimes, the guy looked just like his brother. I peeked ahead of us, at Mason and Jett, holding hands in their suits. It still stunned me they’d let those two play together while married, but as long as they scored goals and won games, it worked.
“Ace invited me, and I’m going. I mean, who knows if I’ll even play a game the rest of the season?” I stepped beside him toward the jetway. Coach Dupont had liked what he’d seen from me the last few days, but Benson was still the starter.
Tapping his knuckles on my chest, Lucas said, “Dude, Coach will play you. There’s no way Benson will last.” He pulled me along by my elbow.
“If it means that much to you, I’ll go to the charity, okay?
I’m sure Ezra will enjoy it. I heard two members from Vanta Crown will play an acoustic show there.
” He offered a sly grin. “Ezra loves that band.”
My heart stuttered. “What?” Holy shit, why hadn’t Ace mentioned that?
“Yeah, they signed on a day ago. I guess Ace’s agent knows their manager from high school or some shit.” He ducked into the plane and stepped down the center aisle. “Where do you want to sit?”
“I don’t care.” I fought to steady my rapid pulse. I’d get to see Ronan again. Would he even remember me? Hell, would he even care to see me again?
Lucas slipped into a row, sat next to the window, and tucked his backpack under the seat in front of him. “You should play Call of Duty with the guys. It’ll help you get to know them better.”
“Uh, yeah.” As I sank into my seat, I stared at the seatback in front of me.
Ronan Vale had occupied my thoughts way too much over the past few days, and each time had been a little unnerving.
Had I looked him up on Instagram? Yes. Probably too much.
I’d seen his photos before and thought he was an attractive guy, but now it was different.
Now I knew how sexy he was up close and personal. Now I knew he was interested in me.
“Hey Evan, what’s up?” Lucas bumped his elbow on mine. “Stow your bag so we can take off.”
“Oh, yeah, thanks.” I stuffed my bag under the seat in front of me and buckled in.
“Go to the charity with me, please?” Then I’d have backup, but hell, Ezra, being an artsy photographer type, would have more in common with Ronan than me.
A smirk played across my lips. But Ezra was almost married to Lucas, so he was off-limits. Fuck my brain.
“If it’s that important to you, I’ll go.” He huffed a sigh and peered out the portal window. “But I expect you to get acquainted with the guys on the team. It’s important.” He grabbed my hand and faced me. “I want you to play with me again. I want to see you succeed.”
I snuck my gaze to his. “Thanks, man. I want to be here, believe me.” I settled in as the plane’s engines rumbled through the cabin. I would not look up Ronan’s IG page again, and I certainly would not think sordid thoughts about him.
After landing in San Jose and taking a bus to our hotel, management gave us our room keys and assignments, and I followed Nolan Laine to our room.
He was playing with Benson tomorrow, but since Benson was a seasoned player and Laine was a rookie, Benson had gotten his own room, and I was sharing with Laine.
We had an amazing meal on the plane. These NHL players had it easy.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” I stood behind him, my gaze roaming over his light brown curls on the back of his head. We’d played together a lot the last few days, and tonight was an opportunity to get to know him better.
“As ready as I can be, eh.” He pushed the door open and stepped inside. “I just hope Benson’s hip holds out.” As he threw his duffel and backpack onto the crisp white bedding on the far bed, he turned and beamed at me, his blue eyes cheerful. “But if it doesn’t, I’d welcome being paired with you.”
Warmth settled in my chest. “Thanks, man.” I set my bags on the other bed.
The room wasn’t anything special, just the typical beige and dark wood you’d find in most places, with heavy curtains lining the window.
I’d bet Mason and Jett got a fucking suite.
“I don’t wish any ill will on Benson, but I’d love to get some ice time tomorrow. ”
Shrugging off his grey suit jacket, he said, “I’d like to see you play, too.” He folded his jacket over the desk chair. “Anyhow, let’s shed these monkey suits and watch a movie or something?”
“Sounds good to me.” I unzipped my duffel and undressed, slipping into a pair of team sweats while he did the same. Get to know him, Evan… “So, where in Ontario are you from?”
“Ottawa. No big surprise there, eh?” He gave me a lop-sided smile. “Where are you from?”
“Rochester, New York.” I climbed onto the bed and sat against the pillows on the headboard. “My dad manages the Copperheads AHL team back there. He played for Michigan State too.” But never made it into the NHL. I was supposed to fulfill that dream for him.
“Cool, typical hockey family, then.” He plopped onto his bed. “My dad played for the Senators back in the day, but he wasn’t a star player.” He pursed his lips. “I’m sure you’ve experienced the same pressure from your father as I have.”