Page 76 of Pucking the Team

Chloe went on maternity leave a couple weeks ago and now Emma’s reporting into Alison. It’s been a stressful situation for her. Alison is never happy with her and doesn’t value her opinions at all. We’ve all been more than happy to help Emma work the stress off in the bedroom.

I frown, hating the glimmer of self-doubt in her eyes. Emma’s hockey mind is a gift—one that deserves to be nurtured and celebrated, not stifled by an unsupportive supervisor.

“Screw Alison,” I growl, perhaps a bit too vehemently. “She clearly doesn’t recognize talent when it’s staring her in the face.”

Emma’s answering smile is grateful, if a bit hesitant. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for video coaching. It’s one thing to analyze the game as a fan; it’s another to be responsible for a whole team.”

I can tell that she doesn’t want me to push this too hard right now, so I won’t. Knowing Emma, there’s more holding her back than her sour relationship with Alison, or a lack of confidence.

But I vow to myself that I’m not going to let this go completely.

The puck ricochets off the goalpost with a sharp clang as Slade takes another shot. His puck handling is crisp, his form fluid, even as a light sheen of sweat glistens on his brow. It’s just the two of us out on the ice this morning, skills coach and captain, working to get Slade back in peak condition after his injury.

I skate over to him, my critical eye assessing every detail of his technique. “Good, but keep that right shoulder tucked in more when you shoot. Protect it.”

Slade nods, his gray-blue eyes intense with focus as he absorbs my feedback. He lines up another shot, this time consciously keeping his shoulder square and stable as he sends the puck flying into the net with a satisfying swish.

“Much better,” I praise, letting a small smile tug at my lips. Slade grins back, clearly pleased with his progress.

We go through a few more drills, fine-tuning his stickhandling and footwork. I can’t help but admire his perseverance. The man’s a machine out here, driven to be the best.

As we pause at the bench for a water break, I shift the conversation to more personal matters. “So, I’ve noticed Lukas and Ryan getting pretty cozy lately. Seems like they’ve put their old beef behind them, huh?”

Slade takes a long swig from his bottle, his brow furrowing thoughtfully. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s been nice seeing them actually getting along for once.”

I lean in slightly, genuinely curious. “And you’re good with that? With them being…closer? I know you and Lukas had that flirtation going for a bit.”

Slade shakes his head, a wry grin spreading across his handsome face. “Nah, man, it’s all good. Honestly, I’m just happy they found their groove, you know? If they’re into each other, I’m all for it.” He shrugs, his shoulders loose and unbothered. “I’ve got Em, and this thing between all of us, it works. I’m not looking to rock the boat.”

I feel a swell of affection and pride in my chest at his words. This right here, this is why Slade’s the captain. The man has a heart big enough for the whole damn team and then some.

“You’re a good guy, Slade,” I tell him sincerely, clapping a hand on his uninjured shoulder. “Emma’s lucky to have you. We all are.”

He ducks his head slightly, a boyish grin playing at his lips. “Thanks, coach. Now whaddya say we run that play again? I think I can shave a few more seconds off my time…”

As we glide across the rink, the scrape of our blades echoing in the empty arena, my mind can’t help but wander to how much has changed in such a short time.

It feels like just yesterday we were all at each other’s throats, the tension so thick you could cut it with a skate.

But now? Now we’re a unit, a well-oiled machine both on and off the ice. After a messy start to the season, we’re riding a wave of momentum, getting closer and closer to the playoffs. The boys are playing like they’re sharing one brain, anticipating each other’s moves before they even happen.

And Emma. God, that woman is something else. She’s the glue holding us all together, the heart of this crazy, beautiful thing we’ve built.

Fuck…I think I’m falling in love.

CHAPTER 34

EMMA

The last of the twinkling lights disappear into the storage box with a soft rustle. I stand back and survey Selena and my handiwork, our apartment looking strangely bare now that all the holiday cheer has been packed away.

“Another Christmas in the books,” Selena says, carefully winding up a string of silver garland. Her chestnut hair falls in waves around her face as she works. “Although it was weird not having Sydney there this year.”

I nod, sighing. A couple of weeks ago, we went up to Minneapolis to celebrate the holidays with Selena’s parents. They’ve been inviting me to be a part of their traditions ever since Nana died. This year, Selena’s twin sister was notably missing during the festivities.

“Yeah,” I say, “I can’t believe she bailed at the last minute like that. Did she give your mom any reason why?”

Selena shakes her head, frowning. “Nope. Just some vague excuse about Paul’s family. I swear, ever since she moved out to Boston to be with him, it’s like talking to a ghost. We used to be inseparable.”

---