Page 118 of My Pucked Up Enemy

I slam my spoon on the table. “Maybe if you spent more time watching game footage instead of running your mouth, you’d stop blowing your mark in transition.”

Silence.

James’ smile fades like someone hit a switch. Parker freezes mid-bite. Even Ethan, who usually lives for chaos, looks stunned.

Coach Derek looks up from the laptop at the front of the room, his eyes narrowing just slightly. Max stops clicking through slides.

James leans back in his chair, his voice lower now. "Whoa. Okay. Didn’t expect that to land so hard."

Ethan, bless him, tries to cut the tension. “Hey, maybe he’s just hungry. Someone toss the guy a protein bar before he rips off someone’s head.”

A few nervous laughs trickle out, but no one’s really relaxed.

Coach finally speaks. “Emotions are up. That’s normal. But let’s keep it sharp, not personal. You can bleed out there, but this room stays clean. Got it?”

I nod slowly. My jaw is tight. “Yeah. My bad.”

James shrugs. "It’s cool. I’ll double down on film. We all need to tighten things up anyway."

The room starts to loosen. Max transitions back to the screen. The next few minutes are filled with focused, productive chatter about coverage zones and power play setups.

But I’m not focused.

I’m spiraling.

When the meeting ends, I make a beeline for the hallway outside the gym, headphones in hand. I need the solitude of the weight room. It’s like a lifeline to me right now. I’m halfway down the corridor when I hear steps behind me.

“Yo, Alex,” Parker calls out.

I stop, sighing under my breath before I turn. “What’s up?”

He catches up to me. “Not trying to be a pain in the ass, but you okay?”

I force a shrug. “Just hyped for the game.”

Parker raises an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. And I’m secretly a figure skater.”

Despite myself, I huff a half-laugh.

He nods toward the empty hallway and we walk. “Look, I’m not trying to pry. But I know you. That outburst in there? That wasn’t about James.”

I run a hand through my hair. “You’re right, man, it wasn’t. It’s… Nina.”

His eyes sharpen but stay kind. "Wait…are you saying there's something going on between you and Nina?"

I glance around, lower my voice. "Yeah. There has been. Since the retreat."

Parker’s eyebrows lift. “You’re serious.”

I nod. “We’ve been keeping it quiet. Didn’t want it to mess with team dynamics or cross professional lines. But it’s real. At least, it feels real to me."

Parker processes that for a second. “Damn. I had no idea.”

“She got an offer from the league office,” I say. “It’s a big promotion—national role, more money, more visibility. Everything she’s worked for. But it would mean leaving. Not just Detroit, but the work she’s doing with us, and me.”

Parker doesn’t interrupt. Just waits.

I shake my head and continue. “I want to be supportive. I want her to chase whatever dream she wants. But watching her weigh it like I’m just another variable… it’s brutal.”

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