Page 2 of One Touch

“No shit.” Hector laughed. “Remember when he tried jumping from the balcony into the pool? Honestly, I’m surprised this is the first time he’s hurt himself.”

“What happened?” I interrupted.

“Anthony Michaels thought he could be a waterskiing stuntman or something. Broke both his legs, pelvis, and his right arm.” Hector shook his head.

“Fudge.” My eyes widened at the injuries mentioned.

Amir snorted. “Don’t feel too sorry for him. He’s living it up with his sexy nursemaids.” He and Hector chuckled together as a thought brewed in my head.

“He was a left-winger, wasn’t he?” I asked.

“Yeah. Austin’s gonna be scrambling to replace him. They were tough last year and have a shot at making the playoffs this season.”

Austin, Texas.

My timer beeped, and I jolted at the intrusion. The guys laughed and returned to their conversation about the last of their off-season plans. I hurried off the bike to the showers. An urgency brewed within, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I rushed through my shower, redressed in record time, and was knocking on Coach’s door before I could talk myself out of it.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and swallowed the panic rising. This was so out of character for me, but I couldn’t stop this train now that I was on it.

“Fahn. What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering what the likelihood of me getting moved up a line this season was.”

Coach Atkins set down his pen and steepled his hands. He assessed me for a minute before he spoke again. “You’re a good player, Miller, and I think you’ll be a great player with time. With that being said, I don’t see you moving up anytime soon. The guys we have right now work well together, and I have no reason to break that up. That doesn’t mean things won’t change, so keep playing like you are and be ready. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear.”

“No. It’s fine.” I swallowed and took a deep breath. “I figured that was the case, and earlier today, I’d resigned myself to my place. I’ve loved being part of the Ice Foxes, and I’m glad I’ve gotten to play with such caliber players and coaches.”

“All right. Then do you mind me asking what this visit is about? I have a feeling you have a purpose?”

“Yes.” I licked my lips and willed my mouth not to dry out. “I’d like to be considered for a trade.” Coach’s eyes widened, but he stayed silent. “Austin needs a left-winger, and I want to be that guy.”

He stayed quiet as he evaluated me. I stood tall and kept my hands from shaking. Barely.

“You sure about this?”

I nodded. “I know most people will think it’s dumb to leave a winning team, but I didn’t fall in love with hockey just to win. I fell in love with hockey because I love to play the game. The quick-thinking plays, the brutalness of the game, and the knowledge that you left everything out on the ice… that’s what I crave about hockey. I want to be part of a team where I can make a difference, and I don’t have a shot here. Maybe I’m being greedy asking for this, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by without trying.”

Coach’s face relaxed at my impassioned speech. “All right. I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t make any promises. The GM and owner are the ones who make all these decisions.”

“I understand. Thank you for asking for me.”

He grunted and picked up his phone but paused. “Miller, if I could give you one piece of advice… this passion you just showed in my office? It’s been missing on the ice. I suggest grabbing hold of it and not letting it go the next time you step out there. That’s what will make you go from good to great.”

My cheeks heated, and I nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

I stepped out of his office, headed back to my cubby, and gathered my stuff. I sat and scrolled through my phone, but I wasn’t seeing anything on the screen, so I shoved it back into my bag. A few of my teammates came and went, giving me nods as they passed. My knee bounced as I waited, and I swallowed the urge to vomit, hoping I hadn’t just ruined my career.

When Coach appeared in front of me, I bolted upright and swayed as the blood rushed to my head. “Easy, Fahn.” He steadied me, and I gave him a sheepish smile. “The GM’s ready to meet with you. Did you call your agent?”

I shook my head. Shoot. I’d forgotten all about that. Coach chuckled and moved me toward the door.

“Might want to give him a heads-up on your way there.”

Dazed, I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the locker room. I pulled out my phone and shot off a text that probably made no sense but hopefully would be enough information for my agent not to kill me.

The floor changed from carpet to marble the closer I got to the head offices, and with it, my anxiety grew. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. Everyone would think I was crazy. Heck, maybe I was. But that feeling of melancholy earlier had been a wake-up call. That wasn’t who I wanted to be. The money and fame weren’t why I played hockey. They were probably my least favorite things. Talking to the coach, I realized how much I missed playing the game. If I could get that back, maybe it wouldn’t matter if I had no friends or someone to go home to.

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