Page 40 of Icy Pucking Play

"You've always had that, kid. Whether you made the team or not."

"Sophie?" Brad's voice brings me back. "Where'd you go?"

"Just thinking about...about what matters."

"And?"

My phone buzzes with a text from my sister.

Allison:Guess who got an A on their physics test??? Those tutoring sessions you paid for are WORKING!????

Followed by one from my dad.

Dad:Good news from the doctor today, sweetheart. That new arthritis treatment you helped with is making a difference. Love you.

The weight of responsibility settles on my shoulders. A promotion would mean being able to help more, to worry less about money, to...

But at what cost?

"It's not just about the story anymore, is it?" Brad asks softly.

"Was it ever?"

He hands me another stress ball. "Tell me about him. Not the Ice Man. Not the story. Just... him."

I squeeze the ball, thinking. "He makes Natalia chocolate chip pancakes for dinner when she's had a bad day.”

"And?"

"He thanks the janitors at the arena for all their hard work. I also saw him slip the old guy that’s been there forever a hundred-dollar bill."

"What else?"

"He...he looks at me sometimes like..." I trail off, remembering last night. "Like I matter. Not as a reporter or a story, but just...me."

"And Lexi wants you to exploit that."

"She wants me to tell the bigger story. One that could help my career, help my family..."

"At the cost of his trust."

"Yeah." I slump in my chair. "Hence the ethical dilemma."

Brad is quiet for a moment, then: "You know what makes you a good journalist?"

"My stunning vocabulary?"

"You care. About the truth, yeah, but more than that—you care about the people behind the stories."

"That's what makes this so hard."

"No, that's what makes this your opportunity." He leans forward. "So tell their story. The real one. Not some manufactured drama about redemption, but the truth about a family that loves each other. About second chances that come from support, not scandal."

I stare at him. "When did you get so wise?"

"I moonlight as a therapist."

"You do not."

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