Page 34 of Gamechanger

The puck dropped, and we were off.

It wasn't perfect. Our timing was a bit off on the first play, and Blaise nearly collided with our defenseman on a complicated crossover. But as we settled into the rhythm, something clicked.

Sergei's positioning was flawless, creating space where there seemed to be none. Blaise's shot was as lethal as ever, finding the tiniest gaps in our goalie's defense. And me? I felt like I was flying, my speed finally being utilized to its full potential.

Five minutes in, we executed a perfect tic-tac-toe play that left even our own teammates gaping. The puck hit the back of the net with a satisfying thwack, and for a moment, the rink was silent.

Then Coach Fraser's whistle cut through the air. "Alright, that's enough. Everyone gather 'round."

We skated over, my heart pounding in my ears. This was it—the moment of truth.

Coach Fraser's face was unreadable as he looked us over. "Well," he said finally, "I've seen worse."

Coming from him, that was practically a standing ovation.

"We'll incorporate elements of this into our strategy for the next game," he continued. "Novak, Volkov, Johnson—good work. Great players think outside the box. The rest of you, pay attention. This is what happens when you use your brains as well as your brawn."

A ripple of excitement went through the team. I caught Quinn's eye, and he gave me a subtle thumbs up.

"Don't get cocky," Fraser warned, but there was a glint in his eye that I'd never seen before. "This is just the beginning. We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to turn this season around."

As we broke into groups to start running the new plays, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Sergei, a rare smile on his face.

"We did good, Rookie," he said quietly.

Blaise skated by, bumping my fist. "Not bad, short stack. Not bad at all."

For the first time in weeks, I felt a surge of real hope. We weren't just a team of misfits anymore. We were a force to be reckoned with.

And as I watched Coach Fraser explaining our new strategy to the rest of the team, his usual gruff demeanor softened by genuine enthusiasm, I knew we'd done more than just come up with a new play.

We'd reignited the spark that had been missing from our team. Now, it was up to us to fan it into a flame.

***

I settled onto Moose's couch, the familiar leather cradling my body. The scent of our takeout dinner lingered in the air, mixing with the subtle pine fragrance of Moose's favorite candle. It should have been cozy, comfortable. Instead, an electrical charge hung in the atmosphere, like the air before a thunderstorm.

Moose sat beside me, his large frame tense. He'd been quiet throughout dinner, responding to my attempts at conversation with distracted hums and half-formed sentences. Now, as he stared at his phone for what felt like the hundredth time that evening, I couldn't keep my frustration in check any longer.

"Okay, what's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level. "You've barely said two words all night, and you keep checking your phone like it's going to explode."

Moose's head snapped up, guilt flashing across his features before being replaced by a forced smile. "It's nothing, Finn. Just some work stuff."

"Work stuff," I echoed, unable to keep the skepticism out of my voice. "The same 'work stuff' that's had you stressed and moody for days now?"

He ran a hand over the top of his head. "It's complicated, okay? There's a lot going on with the team's marketing strategy, and—"

His phone buzzed again, cutting him off. Moose's jaw clenched as he read the message, his knuckles whitening around the device.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath.

I leaned forward, trying to catch his eye. "Hey, talk to me. Whatever it is, we can sort it out."

For a moment, I thought he might open up. His shoulders sagged, and he looked at me with such raw vulnerability that it made my chest ache. But then, as quickly as it appeared, themoment passed. The walls were suddenly back in place, and he shook his head.

"It's fine, Finn. I've got it under control."

Frustration bubbled up inside me. "Come on. We're supposed to be partners. Secret agents, remember? Let me help."

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