* * *
The Enforcers squad had an afternoon practice session to go over some new plays. Jacob had been in the apartment all morning with Ricki and was surprised to see that Tane had arranged for his own personal driver to pick Jacob up and take him to Pine Rise.
Still, Jacob wasn’t complaining.
Not having to drive meant that Jacob could sit in the back of the car and play on his Nintendo Switch. But as the driver got closer to the training complex, Jacob put the games console away and began to focus his mind on hockey.
As he arrived in the locker room, there was a good atmosphere. Jacob could see that all of the players, young and old, were pulling in the same direction. With laughter echoing around the locker room walls, Jacob felt motivated to have another brilliant practice run.
The only person who didn’t quite seem themselves was Tane.
“Is everything okay, Tane?” Jacob said, walking over toward Tane as he stood in nothing but his brilliant-white jockstrap. “You look distracted.”
“I’m good, thank you,” Tane said, barely making eye contact with Jacob. “We’ll talk after practice.”
“Okaaaay,” Jacob said, rolling his eyes with plenty of sass. “See you out there,captain.”
Jacob wasn’t sure what was on Tane’s mind, but it could have been something to do with that fact that with a heavy run of games coming up Tane was worried about his old injuries flaring up once more.
But in that moment, Jacob decided that Tane was big enough and old enough to handle his own business. As far as Jacob was concerned, it was time to get out onto the ice and strut his stuff.
Coach Tremaine had been impressed with Jacob recently, and Jacob was determined to continue to give it his all in each and every practice session.
Bur it wasn’t just Coach Tremaine that Jacob wanted to do well for.
Jacob knew that in all likelihood this was the final chance that Tane would have to lift a trophy in his career. This being the case, Jacob wanted to make sure he was in the best possible condition to help Tane go out as a winner.
And it was with this thought in his mind that Jacob hit the ice and began to skate, pass, and shoot like his life depended on it.
With Coach Tremaine barking orders on the sidelines, Jacob went at full speed and was quickly racking up the numbers and putting his teammates to shame with his enthusiasm.
“Okay, good work Jacob,” Coach Tremaine bellowed, before blowing on his whistle. “I want you to ease off the gas a little now though. We need you fresh.”
Jacob nodded, but in truth he wasn’t listening.
Such was Jacob’s determination to do well that all he could think about was setting the best possible example for the rest of the team. So, rather than take on board Tremaine’s instructions, Jacob continued to go full blast on each play.
“Jesus! Jacob! Slow the hell down!” Tremaine shouted. “I won’t keep fucking asking!”
But yet again, Jacob continued to go at full tilt, blasting goal after goal and showing his teammates that he was ready to take them all the way this season.
Finally, Coach Tremaine’s frustrations got the better of him and he skated over toward the players and blocked Jacob’s path.
“Hey, what gives, coach?” Jacob said, the adrenalin coursing over his body and his old rebellious streak coming to the surface. “I’m kicking ass. Let me play.”
“You’re not listening to me,” Tremaine shouted. “I want you in the best shape you can be. But I don’t want you to burn yourself out before the God damned game. Got it?”
Jacob knew that he should keep quiet and agree with Coach Tremaine.
But something was bubbling up inside Jacob that he couldn’t control.
I want to be the best player I can be.
I want to skate and skate hard all the time.
Coach doesn’t know me as well as Tane does, so…
“No!” Jacob shouted, crashing his hockey stick down onto the ice, much to the shock of the other players. “Fuck that shit.”
