Page 9

Skating as fast as I can toward Bruce, who’s in net during practice, I beat out the rookies in our race from one end of the ice to the other. For a theatrical ending to my performance, I do a classic hockey stop in front of the net, spraying ice chips all over Bruce like a tiny blizzard.

He splutters, blinking rapidly to clear his face of the ice. “You asshole,” he says, but he’s laughing. “Still faster than the young pups, eh?”

“Of course.” I straighten my spine, trying not to feel old since my thirtieth birthday is next week. I realize thirty isn’t necessarily old, but in hockey, it’s ancient. The rookies are eyeing me and moaning about me beating them in speed drills, so I don’t think I have anything to worry about yet.

I glance over at Coach Young, who’s studying the new guys and a defenseman they brought in from our minor league team and making notes on his iPad. This is our last week of training before the preseason officially begins. Us older, veteran players don’t participate much in those games, but it’s a good way for the coaches to see how the rookies do, and hopefully sign a few of them.

The new defenseman skates past me on his way to his water bottle on the bench. “Hey, man! Good work out there today. It’s Travis, right?” I ask him.

I notice he’s skating slowly and favoring his left leg over his right. “Yeah,” he grunts, not bothering to smile or be friendly. Maybe it’s because he pulled a muscle, or maybe he’s simply a jerk. Time will tell.

“You okay?” I follow him to the bench.

“I’m fine.” He grimaces, rubbing his leg through his pads. “Nothing an ice pack can’t cure.” He still doesn’t smile or act like he wants to chat, so I leave him alone.

West skates up beside me, he’s had a big grin on his face all during practice.

“You’re a little slow today, West. Mel keep you up last night?”

He shoves me but still can’t wipe the smile off his face. So, I’m guessing the answer is yes. I laugh and his face turns red. Which makes me laugh harder. “Don’t be embarrassed, you’re practically still on your honeymoon. Wear your exhaustion like a badge of honor.”

Remy skates over but keeps his eyes on the new guys. Probably making notes about them internally, similar to coach. Being the team captain, I’m sure coach Young will want Remy’s input.

“Wear what like a badge of honor?” Remy asks.

I swear, his hearing is unnervingly sharp. West gives me a serious glare, silently ordering me not to tell him what we were actually talking about.

Keeping it clean, I offer, “Being a married man, of course.”

Remy’s face swivels to focus on me and West. “I’m sure marriage is great, but you were awfully slow out there today, Kershaw.” Remy’s voice is so serious, it takes me a full five seconds to realize he’s joking.

He winks at West then skates off, leaving me with my blushing teammate. I snicker and he shoves me over.

Mitch, our top defenseman, appears out of nowhere. He extends a hand and hoists me back up to my skates. He’s smirking, which is new for him. Six months ago, I didn’t think his face was capable of smiling or smirking… but then he met Andie, who’s now his fiancée.

“Let’s hope Kershaw isn’t this distracted all season,” he grumbles, but doesn’t seem that annoyed.

“You’re next, you know. Before we realize what’s happening, the entire team is going to be a bunch of twitterpated newlyweds.”

He snorts an undignified laugh. “My focus cannot be deterred. Not even by Andie.” Suddenly, his attention goes somewhere over my left shoulder and his face contorts into a big smile. It’s weird when he smiles, like he’s using muscles he’s never used before. It reminds me of a foal taking its first steps. I peer over my shoulder and see Andie and her little brother, Noah, behind the glass watching us practice.

“Laser focused, huh?”

He ignores me and skates over to greet them. Probably wishing he could kiss her through the plexiglass.

Shaking my head, I grab my water bottle from the bench and head over to the net to chat with Bruce. He’s watching Mitch and Andie, who are beaming at each other like they’ve spent a year apart.

“Everyone’s getting married, man. You gonna be next?” Bruce teases.

“I’d get married next week if Noel would ever say yes.” I raise my eyebrows up and down.

He grabs his water bottle from the back of the net and squirts me with it. “I think you have to get her to agree to a date first.”

I wave my hand in front of me nonchalantly. “Details.”

Bruce huffs a laugh. “Honestly, I thought your infatuation with her would wear off by now.”

“You and me both.” I glance down at my skates, wondering for the millionth time why it hasn’t gone away. I haven’t even seen her since West and Mel’s wedding in July, and still, she’s the only woman on my mind.