Page 16 of A Scoring Chance

“Yeah. I’m good,” I whisper as she unwraps her arms from around my shoulders.

I take a deep breath through my nose before plastering a fake smile onto my face. “How was practice, little man? Did all those months of rollerblading pay off?”

That was the only worry I had about him playing hockey. Darius had no idea how to ice skate. Hell, he’d never even put on a pair of roller skates before this summer, but he was determined to make it work. Ever since the day we saw the flyer hanging on the bulletin board at the local grocery store, advertising the hockey club, he was determined to figure out a way to make it happen. He put in the work, and I’m glad it paid off.

His entire face lights in excitement. “It was great! The team helped me out a lot with the stuff I didn’t know, and Coach James explained everything as much as he could.”

“That’s great, Darius! How did you feel about the other coach?”

“Coach Hendrix didn’t say much during practice. He just kind of stood there and watched what we were doing, only stepping in to correct some of us when Coach James wasn’t around.”

“Coop is usually the one playing hockey, not coaching. I’m sure he was just watching to see how the teams typically run. He’s an amazing hockey player, and I know you boys will learn a lot from him.”

“You’re not saying that just because he’s your best friend, are you?” I bump her shoulder slightly.

There is no doubt from the crowd gathered here tonight and the list of accomplishments Alise gave me earlier that Cooper Hendrix knows a thing or two about playing hockey. However, coaching hockey is something entirely different. Not only will he be coaching, but he’ll be coaching eleven and twelve-year-old boys. Being one, however many years ago, doesn’t automatically make you qualified to coach them.

“Auntie Li.” Darius perks up slightly, his eyes widening in surprise. “Coach Hendrix is your best friend?”

“Sure is. We grew up together. I know all of his brothers, too.”

“Are you kidding me? How could you have never told me you know one of the greatest hockey families of all time?” Darius throws his arms in the air in exasperation before crossing them over his chest.

“Great hockey families?” Alise shakes her head, as if this was news to her. “I guess you can call them that when all four boyshave been smashing records since stepping foot on the ice for the first time.”

Darius bounces on his feet in excitement, opening and closing his mouth a few times before blurting out what I assume is the first thing his brain settles on. “Does that mean you can get tickets to the games? And good ones, not the ones so far away you need to use the screen to know what’s going on the ice.”

“Sure can. I bet I could even get you a chance to skate on the ice and hang out in the locker room.”

“Wait. You shouldn’t promise things you can’t deliver, Alise.” I know she means well and wants to make Darius happy, but this seems like something even she won’t be able to deliver. The last thing Darius needs is more disappointment in his life. He’s had more than enough to last a lifetime.

“I’m not. All I need to do is make a phone call and make some very well-placed threats, and it’s as good as done.”

“If you say so,” I respond skeptically, before turning back to Darius. “Why don’t you go back to the meeting? I’m going to need theReader's Digestversion of what’s being said.”

“Oh, the meeting is done. I think the parents are hanging around in hopes they can get an autograph from Coach Hendrix or something.”

“See? I told you,” Alise chirps, causing all three of us to laugh.

“Fair enough.” I shake my head before pulling in a deep breath. “Go say goodbye to everyone and grab your stuff. Auntie and I will be right here waiting for you.”

Without a word, Darius spins on his heels and makes his way down the bleachers. My heart rate speeds up as I see him speed down them before he reaches the floor and makes his way towards the group crowding the exit off the ice. Once he’s out of sight, I turn to Alise. “Sit and explain. Talk to me like I’m five years old. I know nothing about hockey other than it happens on ice in a cold-ass building.”

“Cooper has three younger brothers: Beau, Cole, and Kyle. All of which play hockey.” She pauses for a moment, giving me a chance to ask questions. “All four of them are hockey stars.”

“What do you mean bystars?”

“I mean that if there were a list of top hockey players in the world, all four Hendrix brothers would be on there.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yup. Hockey is in their blood, although they are probably more committed to the sport than the average person,” Alise whispers, turning her head away from me.

Silence settles between the two of us and not the good kind. This silence is heavy with something I can’t place. There must be more to this story than I know. I want to press Alise to tell me everything, but judging by her demeanor, now is not the time. If it was something that I needed to know or that would harm Darius, there’s no doubt she’d tell me. For now, I just have to deal with not knowing, and I hate that.

My stomach growls loudly, breaking the silence. “Oh, that’s not embarrassing at all.” She laughs, all traces of her melancholy mood disappearing. “Let’s get our boy home. You need a shower, and I still need all the details about your first meeting with Cooper.”

“I told you…”

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