Page 81 of Power Play

Turning around, I see Trevor and Bernard making their way over to me from the offices. As much as I love seeing them, I’m not in the fucking mood for their cheery attitudes today.

“Fuck,” I mumble under my breathe, giving them a quick wave. “Daniels, come here,” I shout, ignoring his obvious eye roll as he skates over.

“Yes, coach?”

“Have the team split up into two teams, we’re going to do a scrimmage. Let’s see if the tweaks we’ve made to the lines help us,” I tell him.

“Okay. Anything else?” Max grumbles. Apparently, he holds a fucking grudge.

“Nope.”

Max nods before turning to Bernard and Trevor, who just walked up. “Hello, Mr. Adams. Nice to see you again, Trevor.” With pleasantries out of the way, Max skates back to the team and starts getting them ready for the practice game.

“Think they’ll be ready, son?” Bernard asks.

It’s no secret that the last playoff game was atrocious. They weren’t working as a team and couldn’t score a goal to save their lives. Quite honestly, Max also played like shit, and when your lead goal scorer doesn’t score and has only has a single shot on the goal, you’re probably going to lose. Which we did.

“I think we’ve done a lot of work and fixed some of the issues, but who knows until we play the game,” I tell him honestly.

“Agreed. Did you fix the issue with Daniels?” Trevor asks.

Bernard must know about everything that’s happened because he just keeps watching the practice, not shocked by Trevor’s question.

“Not exactly. He hasn’t had too much to say to me, and if we’re being honest, I think it’s pretty fucking childish that he’s acting like this and letting it impact his job. If he wants to throw away his NHL career over something so dumb, that’s on him,” I say.

“Does he truly understand what he’s going to lose? Does he understand what’s going to happen if he doesn’t get his shit together?” Bernard asks, turning to join in on the conversation. “Look, I get it. Years ago, I too fell in love with someone I shouldn’t have, so I understand the drama that often follows. Just talk to Max and tell him your side. Things usually aren’t as bad as we think they are once we learn the facts.”

“Want my opinion?” Trevor asks. He must take my silence as a yes because he continues on, watching Max in the scrimmage, again missing a shot opportunity. “Go grab Max. Take a walk and make this shit go away. Make him understand. This next game is too important to lose, so he’s gotta grow up. Cyclones scouts will be there tomorrow, and from what they’ve told me, he’s their number one choice.”

“Yeah, son. I think that’s the best plan. We’ve got some time; we’ll help run the rest of practice. I always like to watch the practice every once in a while, anyway,” Bernard says.

“Yeah, fine,” I grumble before turning back to the ice. “Daniels!” I shout, getting his attention. “Come with me.” He skates over, throws on a pair of slides, and stands up with obvious confusion on his face.

“Let’s go,” I say, turning to head towards my office.

“What’s going on?” Max finally asks as I shut the door and take my spot at my desk.

“Apparently we need to talk, and I guess it needs to happen now,” I tell him as I sit down at my desk.

Max stands up, anger already crossing his face. “Coach, with all due respect, I don’t want to fucking talk to you right now.”

“Sit down, and I’m curious where the respect was in your statement, but I get it. You’re pissed, and you’re willing to throw everything away because of it. Unfortunately, this request comes from Bernard, who’s not willing to throw away winning these playoff games.”

“I’m not sure what you think I’m throwing away. I’m still playing well,” he grumbles.

“You’re about to throw away your NHL dreams, or at least your dreams with the Cyclones, if you have a repeat of last night’s game,” I snap. “You played like shit; don’t pretend you actually think you played well. You had one shot on the fucking goal. One! When you average at least five a game. That’s horseshit, Max, and you fucking know it,” I snap.

“What the fuck do you expect from me?” Max yells. “You were fucking my sister behind my back while I told you all about my family problems! My sister, the one who hasn’t wanted anything to do with me in fucking years, was fine warming your bed and being your little plaything. It’s fucking disgusting, and it hurts that you both did this to me. So, no, I’m not playing well because it’s hard to want to be successful when I know it also benefits you.”

“Do you hear yourself? Do you even know the reason your sister stopped talking to you? You and your mother dropped her as soon as she got injured. Like she was a burden now that she wasn’t going to be a professional dancer. And when she decided to go after her dreams and try to open a studio instead, you both told her it was stupid and stopped paying for her college. If you’re really fucking shocked that she doesn’t want anything to do with you, you’re an even bigger idiot than I am.”

Max sits there, eyes turned towards his lap, processing everything I’ve said. His knuckles are white from clenching them so tightly. After what feels like forever, he looks up. His jaw flexing. “Are you telling me that our mother really stopped paying for her fucking college? That wasn’t Sawyer being dramatic?” he asks, his voice small.

“She’s been working two jobs just to make sure she can afford school and still use the money from your father for a studio. Unfortunately, she did have to tap into the funds a bit, so she’s still going to have to wait a while for the studio. But she worked her fucking ass off to make sure she’s better off than she would have been,” I finish, proud of everything my girl has done for herself.

“That fucking bitch,” Max growls.

“Look, I want to get this shit over with you as calmly as we can,” I tell him, taking a deep breath. “But if you call her a bitch one more time, I promise you I’m going to fucking knock your ass out and give you a reason to sit on the bench for tomorrow’s game,” I growl, unable to push down my anger any longer. He sits up, eyes wide. “She’s absolutely everything you’re not, everything we should all dream of becoming. In those few months that I was lucky to know her and have her in my life, she made it infinitely better for myself and my daughter. You should feel lucky she’s giving you a chance, even if it takes a while. She made her choice, so stop throwing a bitch fit at me when this whole situation is on you.”

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