Page 53 of Taylor

“Taylor,” said Coach Davidson.

He was the assistant Coach who worked closely with Cash and Taylor and the other defensemen.

“Yeah, Coach.”

“I just sent you some videos. Do you have a tablet to watch them on?”

Taylor nodded.

“Buffalo switched up their top lines. I want to make sure we are ready for tonight. Can you guys take a look at them before we get there? We can have a quick meeting when we get to the ice.”

“Yep, we’ll look it over,” said Taylor before their coach turned and headed back to the front of the bus.

Taylor pulled up his email and the videos. Coaches sent them videos, but they often came to Taylor for his thoughts. He had an ability to know where the puck was and where it was going. It was part of what made him such an incredible defenseman. Notonly was he able to be a physical presence on the ice, being six two and muscular, but he was a smart player. He always knew where his man was and where the puck was at all times.

They were walking into the arena in Buffalo, and he stopped and waited for Cash.

“Sorry, I was just texting Evie that we made it.”

Taylor cocked his head. “Do you always do that?”

“Yeah, I just text her whenever we get anyway. I’ll call her tonight after the game.’”

Taylor nodded as they made their way into the arena. Should he be texting Alice? They had agreed to see each other afterward. But with much as he thought about her, he found himself back in his routine, one she wasn’t a part of. He needed to change that.

“Taylor,” Coach Davidson said, catching up to them, “did you get a chance to watch the videos?”

“Yeah, are those their lines for tonight?”

“Yeah, I have some ideas.”

The three men entered the arena, talking about the game, and hyperfocus set in.

It was game time.

The game had been going well. They were up three. It was a shutout, which Ethan was thrilled about. Sven’s playing was off, but Conner and Wes were on fire because they had been on fire all season.

“Go, boys!” Coach Wagner called behind them.

Taylor and Cash popped up and waited moments to make the exchange. The moment his feet hit the ice, he zeroed in on the puck. Jace Maverick, Captain of Buffalo, had the puck and was making his way through center ice. Cash was going to get him, which meant he would send the puck to Artym Losavik.

Knowing this, Taylor quickly changed direction to intercept the puck. He flung his stick out, breaking up the pass, before skating back to the offensive zone and getting the puck to Sven.Taylor groaned as Sven was stripped and Maverick made his way down the ice on a breakaway and got one.

The crowd erupted as Sven shook his head. They finished the game 3–1.

Taylor was heading to the shower when Sven made his way into the locker room.

“What the fuck was going on with you tonight?” Cash said to Sven.

“Get off my back, man,” Sven said as he peeled off his jersey and sat.

“We were on our way to shut out?—”

“I know I fucked up. Can you shut the fuck up!?”

The locker room went silent. Nobody liked losing, but something else was going on with Sven.

“That’s enough,” said Coach Wagner. “You boys played hard out there. Let’s get ready and get on the bus. We have another game tomorrow in Vegas.”

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