And as he sank back into the quiet and waited for Niko to arrive, he couldn’t help but wonder how many more rules he would break before the year was through.
Chapter 16
August
Bodies collided into the boards with enough force to make them buckle, and August let out a hoot of excitement.
“You motherfucker!” Niko shouted, chasing him down the ice as August darted around the net to make a quick backhanded shot over the goalie’s shoulder.
Their rookie goalie, Nollan Haas, wasn’t quick enough to stop the shot, but his glove tapped the puck, sending it off course to strike the side bar. A loud clang echoed through the practice rink, and some of the guys let out appreciative shouts for the save.
August glided toward the bench, laughing when Niko trailed him, playfully whacking him on the back with his stick.
“You almost flattened me!” he hissed, driving his elbow into August’s side and manhandling him off the ice. “And you fucking did it on purpose, too!”
“Sure did,” August sang, knowing it would anger his friend even more. “You’re a big boy, Neeks. You can take a little hit like that.”
“A little—”
August grabbed his water bottle, but he didn’t get a chance to take a drink from it before Niko had him in a chokehold. They tussled, giggling like a couple of weirdos and knocking helmets off heads until the assistant coach stopped to raise his eyebrows at them, and they halted.
Like scolded children, they picked up their helmets and returned their attention to the ice.
“Prick,” Niko muttered.
“Baby-face,” August shot back.
The sound of skates cutting through ice interrupted their bickering, and August put on a practiced smile when his captain stopped to talk to them.
“You’re looking good, Snow,” said Callahan, flashing him that handsome boy-next-door grin. “Feeling in better spirits since that almost double hat trick?”
August gave his captain a nod, making sure to avoid Niko’s stare. “Feeling great, Cap. Thanks for checking in.”
Callahan beamed and smacked August’s arm hard enough to make it instantly throb. “No problem. You had me worried for a minute there, but I’m glad you pulled through.”
One of the assistants caught Callahan’s attention, and he waved goodbye and skated off.
“You good?” Niko asked once their captain was out of sight.
August was good. He wassogood. Everything was perfect, he was living the dream, and nothing was wrong.
“Dude, you don’t have to wear a mask around me,” Niko said, keeping his tone hushed. “Please—I know you’re not okay—”
“I’m fine.” August checked his tape, distracting himself before he did something stupid, like cry.
The mood took a nosedive from playful to sullen, and this time when Niko patted him on the back, it was gentle and sympathetic.
August fixed his tape as the practice game and drills came to an end, and everyone started leaving the rink for cool-down and showers. Niko didn’t move from his side, waiting silently for August to finish his task and get off the bench, but the storm was brewing.
“Snow.”
August flinched when Coach Fedorov skated into the spot Callahan had just vacated, leering at him and Niko like they were ants he was contemplating stepping on.
“Coach?” August managed, forcing a smile that felt stiff on his face.
Coach slotted his fingers together and took a deep breath. “You like playing defence?”
August glanced at Niko, but he looked just as confused by the random question.
