I’d been so wrapped up in people-watching and my own feelings that I hadn’t noticed anyone approaching.
Sam Breckner sat next to me. He was part of the second line and one of the friendlier players on the team so far.
“How are you adjusting to being this close to our hot mess of a team?” he questioned, giving me an easy smile.
“It’s nice. It’s definitely a change of pace,” I said. “How do you think the team is doing since getting the new coach?”
“Is this on or off the record?”
“I guess that depends. Do you mind if I record so I can get something out of it?”
“No, of course not,” he said with a shrug, sitting back to get comfortable on the lounger. “We don’t have anything to hide, and you have to do your job, right?”
“Exactly.” I reached into the bag I’d deposited here earlier before shifting the food to the opposite table so we could share.
“I have plenty if you’d like some.”
“Thanks,” he said, patting his stomach, “but I just had a sandwich they brought out to us. The food here is incredible.”
“So are these drinks,” I said, taking another sip of the piña colada she’d brought out before setting up my recorder.
“Don’t let it make you feel weird. We’ll just have a conversation. I’ll probably play it back and get some little snippets for the article. I just want to make you guys seem a bit more human for the fans, if that makes sense. A way to show that you’re people and that you have lives and aspirations.”
“Sure. Sounds good,” he said.
“Alright Sam, tell me a little bit about yourself. Do you have a pack of your own?”
“Not yet,” he said, “but I’m not writing it off. As long as I have this career, I know it’ll be tough on an omega. As much as the AHA makes accommodations for us, it’s not always easy. Unless my omega or pack has the flexibility to travel, I’d be away from them a lot, and I think that’ll be hard on me, too.”
“That would be hard,” I agreed. The idea of Kota being off for weeks at a time had my chest aching sharply. We’d just met, too. I couldn’t imagine being bonded to that.
It was another reminder of the fact that my dad could’ve made this decision. He could have easily stayed away from my mom and let her live her life if he knew he couldn’t handle a pack or family.
Then again, I guess I wouldn’t exactly be here if he had.
“So, what does Sam Breckner get up to when he’s not on the ice?”
“Did you know that Coach Hayes runs a children’s hockey camp over winter and summer break from school? I started helping with that a few years after he formed it. At the time, I think he was just a retired player who wasn’t ready to let go of the game.”
“Oh, wow, I didn’t realize it was kids. I just heard he coaches outside of the Narwhals.”
“That’ll be me when I get to retirement age,” Sam said with a grin.
“He started it to include kids in the community, even worked it out with the AHA to start it.”
“Oh, wow. I had no idea.”
“It’s great because if the parents work in a community service-type job, he doesn’t charge them. AHA staff play for free, too, even arena staff. We raise some funds once a year with a few charity events.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“It makes me feel like I’m doing something for the community. North Crossing has always meant a lot to me.”
Thank god. That was a segue into a new conversation far away from Coach Hayes.
I didn’t think I could handle him humanizing the coach even more. It was safer to keep the distance for now.
“So, you’re from North Crossing?”
