Page 5 of Rebel Secrets
“In some ways, yeah.There’s more pressure to perform.To bring your A-game every night.I mean, it’s not like you can’t have an off night, but a three-game slump’ll get you benched.You really gotta thrive on the pressure or you gotta be really good.Some guys are both.Those that aren’t… they have to work harder.”
When he didn’t say anything, I asked, “Is that what you want?To play up?”
“That’s the goal, yeah.I mean, I don’t wanna play here all my life.”
And then, like he realized he’d just insulted my family’s honor, the kid looked horrified.
“I mean, I wanna play here.I like it here.The Devils are great and I’m so happy to have a spot and get to play and?—”
I laughed, cutting him off.“Dante, seriously, it’s okay.The Devils aren’t like other teams.Our league’s not like anything else.And that works for a lot of players.We’re not a beer league, but we’re not feeding the NHL on a regular basis.”
“But you got picked up by the AHL.”
Yeah, I had.And I’d never told anyone who fucking hard it had been to leave behind everything and everyone I knew to play for another team.How fucking amazing to get the call to play for the Redtails and how fucking terrifying.At least, for me.
“I got lucky.A whole hell of a lot of factors came together for that to happen.A few of them were out of my control.The only thing you can depend on is your game.Just keep working on yourself.And remember that you’re actually being paid to play.Someone thinks you’re good enough to give you money to play.My dad doesn’t give out contracts to guys who can’t.He’s not in the business of charity.If he signed you, he knows you can do the job.”
I didn’t add that he also had a soft spot for hard cases.Like Dante.The kid was exactly the kind of player my dad signed for the Devils.He had issues.But he probably had massive talent, too.Sometimes, my dad was the only one who saw it.
“Sometimes it feels like it’s too much.”
Dante’s voice had lowered so I could barely hear him.Maybe he hadn’t wanted me to.
“Been there.Done that.”
Dante shook his head but didn’t say anything else.I understood that he didn’t want to talk about his issues.Probably didn’t realize I knew he had them.And that his issues were an awful lot like mine.
So we just sat there and drank our sodas.
And I waited for him to tell me he was ready to go back to the party.
ChapterTwo
Erin
I pausedin the hall outside the room where I heard the voices.
I felt so bad about Dante.I knew I talked way too much sometimes and occasionally got carried away.I didn’t always realize it in time not to be a menace, but I knew tonight I’d gone a little over the line.
So much so that Rebel, of all people, had felt he had to rescue the kid.
That just frosted my cake so hard.
I wanted to apologize to Dante,neededto apologize to Dante before it consumed my every waking second.When I got in a shame loop, I needed to fix it.Immediately.And yes, I knew that was also part of the problem.Ugh.
But I couldn’t do that now, sincehewas in there with the person I needed to talk to.And I couldn’t go in when he was there.Because, well… Reasons, okay.There were reasons.So I stood there, caught in a trap of my own making.I needed to leave.But I also needed to know what Rebel was saying to Dante so I could choose my words carefully.
But what I heard was Rebel being…kind.Listening.Answering the kid’s questions with what seemed like sincerity.I’m not sure I’d ever heard Rebel string together so many words at a time.Not even on the ice.
It made him almost human.
Almost.
Then they went silent.
Shit.I should really get the hell out of here and now.I didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping on a private conversation.But I wanted to talk to Dante.Even though I knew I should probably let it go for tonight.And even though I knew my brain would chew at this until I apologized.
No, better to go and save the apology for another day.I’d make Rainy find out what Dante’s favorite baked goodie is, and I’ll give him a year’s supply.Okay, maybe I’d start with a month.
