He looks both proud and relieved. I feel a heavy layer of guilt settle over me at that. He has no idea how bad it actually got between us, or why. But the fact is, when we started this season, a bunch of miscommunication had my twin thinking I was embarrassed by his sexuality and I thought he just plain out hated me. Turns out we were both very wrong. We worked it out, granted it had to come to actual blows, but now we're stronger than ever. And it shows in the way we co-captain this team. It's unheard of to name two captains but Coach Braddock insisted. And it's working for us and the team.
"Our defense is weaker than I would like though," I admit. "I know he's basically a rookie since he didn't play a full season last year and only got pulled up after Landon left, and he's trying hard, but LeChance isn't as solid as we need."
“Landon left a gap that’s hard to fill, but we won without him last year and we can do it again.” Crew is way more optimistic than me and, as usual, more tactful.
LaChance turned over the puck seventeen times in last year’s playoffs. We managed to fix his mistakes, for the most part, and win, but we’re tired this time. And the other teams watch and study all our games, especially from last year’s Cup run. They all know he’s the weakest link now too, and they’ll exploit that.
Coach nods. “I agree. But as you know I can’t trade LaChance. We’re locked in this close to playoffs. And he might be struggling but he doesn’t deserve to be waivered.”
He sips his coffee again and then puts it back on the desk. “But he’s moving to the fourth line and will likely spend most of the run as a healthy scratch.”
“Won’t that leave a bigger hole, playing short?” Crew asks the question I was thinking too.
Coach smirks and points to Crew then me. “You know you two look way more similar when you’re both stressed. You furrow your brows the exact same way and you both pinch your lips tighter than an asshole.”
He’s laughing but I don’t get why he’s so chill considering what we’re talking about. “Anyway, we won’t be short-handed. Landon will be back.”
Both Crew and I jump in our seats, leaning forward with shock. “What? When?”
“Is he well enough? Are you sure?” Crew adds.
Coach nods and he doesn’t look the least bit worried, which is amazing. Landon Casco is an amazing player. He’s also Coach’s nephew. He collapsed during a practice and it turns out he had leukemia. He went back to his hometown of San Francisco for treatment and we’d been getting updates on him but no one said he was ready to come back.
“I didn’t want to say anything until I knew he was really ready,” Coach explains. “I flew home last weekend and watched him skate. He’s been practicing with the farm team, and he’s got a nutritionist, a personal trainer, and the all-clear from his team of doctors. Cancer is gone. Completely. He really doesn’t want to wait a second longer.”
The smile on Crew’s face is as huge as my own. “This is so great. Our motivation will be through the roof now. I’m so pumped. I can’t wait to see him again.”
“It’s fantastic. I can’t believe it. Coach, you and your sister must be so relieved,” I say, standing up.
“I’m not going to tell the team. I just want Landon to show up once he’s pulled off the Injury Reserve list by the league,” Coach explains. “We can let it be a surprise.”
“Sure thing.”
“Absolutely.”
We leave Coach’s office feeling great about the team. This is incredible news. Crew smacks me on the back. “Workout? Come on. I know you want to.”
“I do,” I admit and ignore his smug smile.
We change in the locker room and hit the gym. Coach walks by and notices us there. He’s not surprised to see us, even though our first official playoff practice isn’t until tomorrow. It’s a little less likely to see Crew do this but not me. I’m known to come in on days off. When I’m not in the gym, I’m watching game footage, studying plays, whatever.
It's a light, short workout for both of us, but my leg is aching like hell by the end of it so while Crew hits the sauna, I tell him I want to check in with Gabrielle, our head trainer. He winks at me but luckily doesn't say anything. I don't want to lie to him, but I'm not telling him about this potential injury. Crew will freak out, watch me like a hawk at practices and in games, and baby me. Or worse, tell our dad who will fly in experts from around the world, and then the media will hear about it and we'll be fucked.
Gabrielle is alone in her office. She's in a Quake T-shirt and a pair of leggings that show off her very fit form. She's a former professional hockey player herself and represented the US at the Olympics. She could actually be coaching, but she got obsessed with the physiology of athletes, got a degree in kinesiology and is working on a masters in sports psychology. She's also drop dead gorgeous, and could pass as Kaia Gerber's doppelganger.
“Nash.” She smiles when she sees me and stands up, circling her desk and walking towards me. “Work or pleasure?”
“Work.”
She closes the door. I stand there as she perches her butt on the corner of her desk, folding her arms in front of her. “Hit me. What do you need?”
“That leg thing from last year. It’s back.”
She furrows her brow. “You had surgery. It can’t be back.”
“Not the injury. I know that’s fixed but like the pain I had after the surgery. That nagging ache and the tenderness,” I explain. “It’s back in a can’t-be-ignored kind of way.”
"The timing is terrifying," Gabrielle announces as she walks over to the treatment room attached to her office. She motions for me to get up on the exam table. "If you aren't on the ice, we lose everything you bring plus half of what Crew brings. Twinstinct is your superpower."
