And somehow it already feels familiar.
Maddie is sitting with three other kids two rows down, a pile of coloring books and toy hockey sticks scattered around them. Every few seconds she pops up to watch Gabriel skate past the glass.
"That's my dad," she tells the girl next to her for the third time.
"We know," the girl says patiently.
Maddie beams anyway.
Down on the ice, Bobby raises his stick.
"Someone check the whiteboard," he calls out.
Colby snorts. "Pretty sure someone just moved into first place."
Whiteboard? First Place? What does that mean?
Bobby taps his stick against the ice like he's applauding. "Gentlemen," he announces, "whoever had this week on the whiteboard better start planning the victory drinks."
Gabriel shakes his head again and circles back into the drill.
Dex isn't done.
He skates backwards in front of Gabriel, grinning like a menace.
"So," Dex says loudly. "How's married life treating you, Shelly?"
Gabriel taps the puck between Dex's skates and keeps moving.
"Ask your therapist," he says.
Dex snorts. "Bold of you to assume I have one."
Colby skates past and mutters, "At this point the team should probably just hire one full-time."
Coach blows his whistle sharply.
"Less talking," he calls. "More skating."
The players push off again.
A minute later Coach glides past Gabriel and pauses mid-stride.
"Shelly."
Gabriel looks over. "Yeah?"
Coach narrows his eyes slightly.
"Stop smiling."
Gabriel blinks. "What?"
Coach gestures vaguely at his face.
"That smile is suspicious, Shelly."
The entire team loses it.
