Page 40 of Sporting Goods

“Yeah. I think so.”

“Mom, can’t I go have a hot chocolate?”

I cringed. “Breaking curfew and sweets before bed? Someone call the parent police.”

“I’ll only have a little. Don’t worry, I’ll have no problem passing out tonight,” Jax said, already removing his skates on the bench.

Marty took his hand and pointed to the café behind the benches. “Come on, I’ll show you how to use the machine.” He looked back at me. “Well just be over there.”

My eyes shifted to Logan, who was staring at me. I tried with all my might, but couldn’t help the burning in my cheeks, so I skated away to collect the rest of the cones and carry them out with me.

Logan swooshed by me, releasing them from my grasp and exited.

Despite it being cold, I was sweaty, the adrenaline slowly dying down. “This was fun.”

“I thought it’s a heinous sport.”

“It can be,” I added solemnly. Avoiding him.

“So what do you hate about it?”

“Didn’t I answer this question already?”

“Yes. And it was a total lie. So how about the truth now? Or are we not at that level yet?”

“I used to work with the NHL doctors for the Buffalo Gaters. The orthopedic division. I’ve seen how dangerous it could be. Competitive. Baseball—well it’s a friendlier sport.”

“Maybe less aggressive, but no sport is… friendly.”

“Sorry, mom terminology.”

“I figured.”

He was staring by the time I slipped my boots back on. “What?”

His eyes studied me. “Is it too forward to ask about Jax’s dad?”

“I don’t think he cares or has a say in what he plays.”

Logan nodded and didn’t press.

“So how do you know Marty?”

“Marty was my unofficial coach when I was training in my teens. He worked at the youth center in the city I grew up in. Moved up here a few months ago, I guess.”

“Sounds like you two go way back.”

“We do.” His eyes turned distant.

“So what makes him an unofficial coach?”

“He was the evening manager at the rink. I’d always show up in the late hours to practice on my own and he’d be there, telling me to wrap it up so he can close up and get home. He was a grumpy old man even back then.”

“He doesn’t seem very grumpy.”

“Not so much now, back then he was.”

“And?”

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