Now I’m one win away from the Cup Finals. It’s so close I can feel it pressing against the glass.
Practice is a light morning skate, with an optional afternoon session before Game 5 tomorrow. I’m at the facility by nine. The building has that between-games energy where everything is quieter and more focused. Guys are coming in and out for treatment and film work, coaches in their offices with the doors half-open. It feels like the last few moments before a movie starts. You’re hoping it’s going to be great based on the previews but there’s still the possibility that it’s going to be a disaster.
Marnie is working on Roman’s shoulder when I walk into the training room. She’s got KT tape between her teeth and Roman on the table and Dex waiting on the next one over. Brody is on the floor stretching. Rodriguez is behind me on the foam roller doing something that sounds like it’s killing him.
I get on the stationary bike and start my cooldown. Earbuds in, but nothing playing.
“You’re flinching,” Marnie says.
“Because it hurts.”
“It hurts because you slept on it wrong again.”
“I slept on it wrong because someone left a book on my side of the bed.”
Marnie pulls a strip of tape and doesn’t respond.
“Ooh is it this month’s book club pick?” Dex turns around and looks at Brody. “Has Elliot started this one yet?”
“Banging the Backup Goalie?” Brody asks
Rodriguez makes a choking sound. “Why would anyone want to bang the backup goalie when the starter is obviously a much sexier choice?”
My legs keep pedaling. My face does nothing.
“Well in the book it’s the captain’s daughter.”
“At least there’s a captain this time.” Roman grumbles.
“Who’s the captain’s daughter?” I ask and immediately wish I hadn’t opened my mouth because now they’re all staring at me.
“The girl in the book. That’s why it’s good. The whole book is them hiding it.”
I become very aware of Rodriguez staring at me.
“Why are they hiding it?” Brody asks slowly.
“Because the dad can’t find out, duh!” Dex laughs. “If I found out Blythe was dating a hockey player I’d murder him, and she’s not even ten so imagine what that’s going to be like when she’s actually old enough to date.”
“Does the dad ever find out?” Rodriguez asks.
“Obviously!” Marnie rips another strip of tape and I flinch at the noise. “When the dad finds out it’s brutal, I literally had to put the book down and walk around the block before I could finish the chapter.”
“Spoilers.” Roman tells her.
“Whatever, you weren’t even going to read it.”
“I wasn’t going to read that part.”
“What parts did you want to read, Cap?” Brody teases from the floor.
I get off the bike before he can answer. Grab my towel and my water bottle and head for the door because if I have to listen to any more of this I might crack.
Rodriguez catches my eye on the way out. He raises his eyebrows at me and he’s got his mouth clamped down tight trying not to laugh.
I’m heading down the hallway toward the locker room when I hear Mackie’s voice.
Not from the direction I expect. Not from the media room where she usually sets up to edit her clips. From the hallway outside the marketing offices, and she’s not doing her rinkside voice—the bright, professional one she uses on camera that sounds like her but smoother, like someone ran Mackie througha filter that kept the intelligence and removed the chaos. This is her real voice. And it’s loud.
