Jett blushed, but he didn’t care how red he was. Somehow, Harrison was here with him, which meant he had a game to win.
Harrison
Harrison wasn’t allowed to leave Jett’s side until his blades touched the ice. He smiled and watched him go, heart still pounding after everything that had happened.
He was jet-lagged as fuck and fighting back an anxiety attack, but he washere.
The shock still clung to him as he stood near the ice, close enough to feel the chill seeping into his aching leg. Just three steps—that’s all it would take to cross onto NHL ice. Three steps between him and the dream he’d carried his whole life.
Harrison turned and made his way back to his seat behind the bench. He wanted to be settled before the puck dropped, so Jett knew exactly where to look for him if he needed him.
“Killinger.”
Harrison paused as Zakery Adams approached him. He was young for a coach, well-dressed and handsome with expressive hazel eyes and auburn hair. He was looking Harrison up and down, as if he were observing and running internal calculations about his stats.
“Thank you again for letting me wait for Jett,” said Harrison. “He should have his head screwed on properly now.”
“Noted,” said Adams. “But that’s not why I want to talk to you. I’m sure you’ve heard about me, but I wanted to confirm that I’m not a typical coach since I’m on the autism spectrum.”
Harrisonhadheard, but wasn’t sure how to respond to this reveal.
“Paying attention to the smallest details is how I’ve made my career. I can look at players’ stats, run scenarios in my head, create multiple strategies and plan training schedules, but I am lacking in one area. And that area is connecting with people, communicating and understanding their needs.”
Harrison nodded. “That puts you in a tough spot as a coach.”
The fans were amping up. They were about to drop the puck
“Exactly,” said Adams. “I observe people and make mental diagnostics like a computer and place them where we need to walk away with a victory, but the system is flawed. I didn’t know that Jett was struggling because of his personal life. I thought such a sudden drop in his skills was unrealistic, but I didn’t have the correct information to know how to fix it. Bracken did, that’s why he informed me about what was happening and bought those tickets to get you here. I don’t understand Jett’s mental instabilities, but I do understand that having you here will help him. I would be grateful if you could join me behind the bench to watch Jett and tell me what you think he needs. I want to do everything I can to help him overcome this roadblock he’s driven himself into.”
“I don’t think that’s allowed,” said Harrison.
“I’ve already registered you as a consultant,” said Adams. “As soon as Bracken confirmed that you accepted the tickets, I quickly ensured you had access.”
Harrison had a feeling that even though he was being asked, it was more of a formality. His time with Jett had been a favour he now owed the Coach, and it appeared Adams was looking to collect.
“Alright,” said Harrison. He held his arm out, gesturing for him to lead the way to the bench.
Coach Adams had someone hand Harrison a headset as soon as they were inside the box, and he tried to keep his hands from shaking when he put them on. He knew pictures and videos of him standing behind the Sunburst team would be all over the news tomorrow, but that was the risk he took when he boarded the plane in Nova Scotia.
Some of the guys sitting on the bench turned to bump fists with him, but Harrison was locked onto Jett as the puck dropped, and the start of the second period began.
“If any of the other players show abnormal behaviour, don’t hesitate to tell me,” Adam’s voice said in his ears. “I want to correct it immediately.”
“They’re hockey players,” said Harrison. “All their behaviour is abnormal.”
Adams cracked the tiniest smile. “Understood.”
The Jett playing in the second period was a different person from the one in the first period. He was skating like he had during their lastsummer game, flying up and down the ice with mind-blowing speed and quick turns, making the Calgary players look sluggish.
Blanchard couldn’t keep up with him, and every time he tried to shove Jett around or get in his way, he was skillfully avoided.
Jett came to the bench at the end of his shift. His gold-brown eyes landed on Harrison, but he didn’t react. He sat and grabbed his water bottle, his eyes never leaving the ice as Toronto continued to pressure Calgary and keep them on the defensive.
Good. His biggest fear of distracting Jett wasn’t going to happen. His sunshine boy was in the zone, and that’s where Jett needed to be to win.
Bracken returned, grinning at Harrison before he took a seat and grabbed his bottle.
Harrison ducked down so the captain could hear him. “Don’t act smug. Pick up your feet and keep pace with Jett, he’s ready to play now.”
