"Nope," I cut in."Not happening."
Mal shoots me a withering side-eye."I wish," she mumbles."Just thinking of dropping in, once in a while."
"No, you're not," I answer.
Noah opens his mouth, closes it again, glancing at the boys to make sure no one is strangling anyone."Well, that's between you two.All I know is Bill would have no problem letting you drop in and run some drills with the guys.Just make sure you have pads, a helmet, and a mouth guard if you do, okay?Those boys are big, and they're rough."
"They can't hit me if they can't catch me," Mal says.
“Until Vic Hendersen catches you behind the net and flattens you."
Mal rolls her eyes."Vic Hendersen couldn't catch me if I had one foot tied up."
Noah frowns at this."That's what every quick skater thinks, Mal."He blasts his whistle."Robby Ryerson!"
A short, stocky player peels away from the chaotic shoot-around and carves to a stop next to Noah, spraying ice shavings in a fine, icy cloud.“Yeah, Coach?"
"You're one of our fastest skaters, yeah?"Noah says.
“Yeah, Coach.Me, Riley, and Will."
"The game against Farmington Prep last year.You remember what happened?"
Robby turns beet red."Awww c'mon, Coach.Not this again."
"What happened, Rob?"
"Their biggest defenseman had it out for me.I figured I was fast enough that I didn't have to worry about him."
"And?"
"And he pancaked me.I ended up sitting out the rest of the game with a concussion."Robby sighs."Learned that lesson."
“The lesson being?"Noah nudges.
"Speed isn't everything," Robby says, sounding like it's a phrase he's heard more times than he'd like to admit."Even the fastest skaters can get pancaked if they're not careful."
“Go on.”Noah shoots a look at Mal and then affectionately smacks Robby's helmet."Five-minute break and then we scrimmage."
Mallory sighs, giving an extravagant eye roll."Wow, Coach Austin, very subtle."
He just chuckles, taking her sarcasm in stride."Wasn't trying to be subtle.I ain't about to get into the middle of this," he gestures at the two of us."But if you do ever drop into practices with Bill's guys, please keep that in mind.Guys like Vic can level you without trying.That bruiser is two hundred-some pounds of solid muscle, honey.He so much asclipsyou, you're gonna feel it.If he catches you with a check, even at half-effort?You're gonna eat boards, and it won't feel pretty."
I turn a glare on my daughter."See?"
Mal glares in turn at Noah."Gee, thanks, Coach.Definitelyhelping my cause, here.”
Noah grins at me."If she were to join the team, Bill could keep a closer eye on her.His daughter plays hockey and does figure skating."
I'm annoyed, and I know it shows."Kallie Ryerson isn't on Mal's level, Noah.That's no shade to Kallie, but it's true.Mal needs to focus."
Noah raises both hands."Just sayin', Morgan."
“Well…just sayless when it comes to my daughter and hockey, please."I get to my feet, anger burning in my gut."Mal, let's go."I'm stomping away before I've finished speaking.
The break is over for the boys—Noah gives two sharp, shrill blasts on his whistle, organizing the boys into a loose ring around the faceoff circle at center ice, and then dividing the players into two teams by a logic clear only to him.I watch the faceoff from the top of the bleachers, waiting for Mal to peel herself away from the hockey.The faceoff is won handily by Robby Ryerson against Derek Ulinsky.The scrimmage is on then, with a clatter of sticks on ice and pads crunching against pads and blades carving and scraping, voices grunting and calling and cursing.
"Sorry, Coach," I hear her say to Noah as he hangs on the boards near her to watch the play, "Mom's got a whole…thing…about me and hockey.It's not you, I promise."
