Page 59 of Melting the Ice

“Whenever you’re dressed,” Zach said, with a studied casual tone that made Brody’s stomach tighten even further.

Maybe he was just hungry.

Or maybe he was actually terrified that Coach, whom he couldn’t help but respect, even as he didn’t preciselylikehim, would sit down across from him and expose all the weaknesses he’d been trying so hard to bury.

“Alright.” Brody tried to match Zach’s offhandedness, but he didn’t think he quite got there, especially when Zach reached out and patted him on the shoulder and shot him one last empathetic look before departing.

Ten minutes later, he was dressed and sitting down in Coach’s office.

Coach Blackburn was an undeniably intimidating figure. Still slim and still fit, he clearly possessed the same instincts he’d had when he’d been a player.

Before the season had begun, Brody had even been excited at how much better of a coach Blackburn was supposed to be than a player.

But that had faded, leaving feelings behind Brody didn’t know how to identify.

“Brody,” Coach said, steepling his fingers in front of him as he leaned back in his chair. “I’m glad you spoke up out there, with Elliott.”

The funny thing was that Brody was actually regretting saying it. At least saying it like that. He should’ve been the one to defend his teammate and then pull Elliott aside after practice, like Ramsey was doing right now, and talk some sense into him.

“You haven’t been as much of a team leader as I was promised, when I came in,” Coach said bluntly.

Brody’s stomach clenched.

Definitely not just hunger.

“Who told you that?” Brody asked.

That seemed—notsafe,exactly—butsafer.

Coach leaned forward, eyes intent on Brody. “It doesn’t matter who said it or why. What matters is that you’re detaching from this team and I’m not sure why.” He paused. “I’m not sureyouknow why.”

Brody told himself firmly not to squirm under that intense gray stare.

“This year just hasn’t been what I expected.” But before Coach could remind him that they’d only lost three games this year and won the rest, Brody plowed ahead. “Which isn’t anything to do with you. Or the team. Just . . .I’m adjusting to the new vibe.”

His dark eyebrows slanted. “Vibe?”

Brody laughed nervously. “I mean, just . . .not that there’s anythingwrongwith how you’re running the team, of course not, it’s just very different than how Coach Nichols ran it.”

“Here’s the thing, Brody.” Coach’s face, so hard and craggy, suddenly softened, surprising the hell out of Brody. He’d been sure he was in for a shitty lecture after he’d said that. “I’m not only trying to win games, I’m trying to prep you for a career in the pros. You were drafted? That’s fucking great. But it takes a lot more than that to make it. I know what it takes. Zach knowswhat it takes. That’s partly why we’re here. Why Zach wanted me to come back.”

The door opened and Zach walked in, worry creasing his face. “You didn’t wait,” he said under his breath to his boss, but Coach just shrugged. “He was here, I was here,” he said, tilting his head up and meeting Zach’s eyes. “You didn’t miss much.”

Zach smiled. “Alright,” he said, leaning back against the wall behind Coach’s desk. “So, you wanna talk about it, Brody?”

“I was telling him how getting drafted and getting onto an NHL roster are two very different things,” Coach said.

Zach nodded. “They are. That’s what we’re trying to do here. Do you know I was the last Evergreens player to sign an entry level contract? To make it onto a roster? And do you know when I left college?”

Brody shook his head. He hadn’t realized this. But now that he did, it made more sense why Zach was brought in, and then he convinced Coach B to return, as well.

“Seven years ago. Seven years since the Evergreens have seen someone make it. If we’re hard on you, that’s why,” Zach said. “We want to change that pattern.”

“Not that we’re gonna try to change it, but we’re gonna actuallydoit,” Coach echoed. He glanced back at Zach, and Zach nodded in agreement.

It was clear they were on the same page—and it was also clear that goal for the team and for the season was possibly the opposite of what he wanted. Or really, what he wasn’t sure he wanted anymore.

He wasn’t convinced enough he wanted to give up on a lifetime of goals and all that hard work and throw in the towel on hockey. And he wasn’t convinced he wanted to spend the rest of his life in a lab or in a hospital. Would he regret walking away? He didn’t want to be that person, full of bitter resentment.

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