“You’re coming to see me Monday at ten, right?”
“Yeah. But don’t hurt me when we wipe the ice with you tomorrow.”
“Good.” Morgan gave him an evil grin. “I have a feeling Monday’s going to be brutal.”
Damon groaned. “You’re such a fucker.”
“We have to get you up and running by New Year’s.”
Damon sighed. “Yep, when we play the Ducks. I’ve already talked to Coach, and he wants me in that game.”
“Nice. You ready?”
“I will be.” Damon was adding more weight training into his routine. “Colby will probably start. But I don’t care. I miss playing.” He looked around, the need to be on the ice with other players eating at him.
No, he was far from done with hockey. Even if he had met the love of his life. He sure the hell hoped that wouldn’t be a problem.
“Hey, Morgan. Why didn’t you tell me you coached a team?”
Morgan flushed. “It’s nothing serious. Not compared to the Ice Raptors.”
“Well sure, it’s not the NHL. But man, this is cool.” Damon meant it. Their passion for the sport was plain to see, even if the guys playing needed major help. Especially Mitch Flashman. Damon bit back a grin.
“Well, you’d think with our town’s growing size that we’d have more people interested. I mean, winter gets cold and snowy here in Hope’s Turn. We’re a little over thirty thousand strong as of the last census.”
“Two rinks but not many players?”
“Not yet. Our leagues are only a year old. Well, two years old counting this year. Equipment is expensive. You know that.”
“Ice time and gear cost. I get it. Any youth leagues?”
“The high school has a team. But they have to travel to compete. We can’t all fly first class, you know.”
“It ain’t all that great.” Sure, they had private planes and buses, luxury hotels too. But the travel and time away from everyone and everything not hockey-related could be tough.
Before Marlie, Damon wouldn’t have minded. But now that he’d found her, he didn’t want things to go bad before they had a chance to grow.
“Hey, I’ve got a lunch date. We about done?”
“You helped a ton. I guess I’ll cut you some slack. Game’s tomorrow at one. Try not to be late again.”
“Try not to be a dick. You’re welcome for allowing you exposure to the genius that is me.”
Morgan rolled his eyes. “Wrap it up, guys. We’re done.”
Damon walked carefully toward the team. But a warning look from Will warned him to turn around, so that he narrowly avoided a bodycheck from a large Sharks player.
One of the guys who hadn’t seemed to like him much had made a stupid move. Fortunately, the idiot was shaky on his skates.
“Try again, princess.” Damon sneered at him. “Or are you only brave coming from behind?”
The guy’s face flushed.
Deacon snarled, “Hey, Mackenzie. Back off, asshole.”
But Mackenzie had been baited by one of the best. He darted at Damon, who sidestepped and helped Mackenzie hit the wall. Hard.
Everyone cringed as he went down.
