Page 25 of My Athlete Neighbor

She'd known the media was obsessed with their winning streak, with the puck, with her grandfather's legacy. But hearing them suggest it and not hearing Kane deny it or saying they were an item that didn’t include the puck, really hurt.

"Allison?"

She spun to find Dmitri watching her with uncharacteristic seriousness, his practice gear slung over one shoulder.

"You hear, yes?" His accent was thicker than usual, the way it got when he was tired or worried. "Is not good, listening to media vultures. They make everything into story."

"I should go."

"Stay for practice." Dmitri's smile was gentle. "Watch team. Is better than listening to doubts."

She should refuse. Should go home and process what she'd heard. Should protect her heart the way she'd promised herself she would after Jesse.

Instead, she wandered to the stands, settling into a seat just behind the bench as the team took the ice for practice. Fromhere, she could see everything—every drill, every interaction, every moment that showed who these men really were beyond the media narratives.

Dmitri's skating lacked its usual flair. He went through the motions of his usual pre-practice figure skating routine, but his heart wasn't in it.

Oliver was trying too hard, doing extra for the camera he'd set up to film practice highlights. Every time he made a mistake, he glanced at it like he was already imagining the social media comments. The pressure of maintaining his online presence showed in the tension of his shoulders.

Marcus ran every drill with textbook precision, but Allison noticed him checking his watch between plays. She remembered him mentioning his parents wanted him to apply to graduate schools, to have a "backup plan" beyond hockey. The weight of expectations showed in his too-perfect form.

And Liam, the usually steady goalie, was off his game. He was letting in shots he'd normally save in his sleep. Every miss made him swear loudly.

"They're all struggling," she murmured.

She thought about how well she'd come to know these men over the past weeks. How Dmitri's homesickness showed in his face when he thought no one was looking. How Oliver's carefully curated social media presence hid his fear of letting people down. How Marcus used statistics to make sense of a world that wanted him to be more than just a hockey player. How Liam baked his grandmother’s recipes when he was nervous about big games.

Kane's voice carried across the ice as he directed the power play unit. She watched him lead, encourage, support—everything a captain should be. But was that all it was? Strategy and superstition and doing whatever it took to win?

The timing was fortunate.

Why not say instead, “It was just a coincidence. The puck isn’t magical. We’re just that good.”

I don’t discuss my personal life.

Why not say instead, “Allison and I are together. The puck is a non-issue.”

Because it was fortunate she showed up with the puck and it was a big freakin’ issue.

Practice continued, and Allison found herself drawn into the rhythm of it. She watched Oliver nail a particularly difficult shot, his genuine smile so different from his camera-ready grin. Saw Marcus explain a complex play to one of the younger players, his natural teaching ability shining through. Noticed Liam relaxing into his net after some encouraging words from Kane, finding his confidence again.

Kane. She couldn't stop watching him, the way he seemed to know exactly what each teammate needed. A firm word here, a joke there, a quiet conversation in the corner. Leading not through luck or superstition, but through understanding and support.

Her phone buzzed with the building's group chat:

Mrs. Peterson:Making playoff socks. Need everyone's sizes.

Jenny:Watch Party planning meeting tonight.

Mr. Collins:Can anyone show me how to use FaceTime?

Allison smiled, feeling more connected to the people in her building in these weeks than she had in the years she lived in Boston.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She startled. Practice had ended while she was scrolling through the chat. Kane stood at the bottom of the stands, still in his gear minus his helmet.

"Just catching up on a few things." She stood up. “I should get going.”

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