Page 41 of Triple Pucked
Still grinning, I skate toward Fleet.
Fleet is glancing between D’Angelo and me like he’s trying to work something out.
“Hey, coach. It’s fantastic to have you here. I hope to learn as much from you as possible. I promise to work hard and take every opportunity.” I smile at Fleet. “But I’m sorry. I wasn’t focusing properly before. I shouldn’t have crashed into the boards like that because I wasn’t concentrating. I have a problem with that. Do you want me to skate punishment laps?”
Fleet arches his brow.
“Punishment laps? What bullshit is that?” Fleet’s voice is gravelly. “You’ve been out there working harder on the drills than anyone. The problem is that you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. I’m guessing that your last coach didn’t teach you about limits, huh?”
I blink.
Okay, not what I was expecting.
D’Angelo skates up behind me, nudging my shoulder with his. “You’ve fried his mind, Ty. Our last coach believed in punishments and pushing us until we puked.”
Ty?
I glance sharply between the two men.
How do they know each other?
“I know the type. I call themassholes. I’m not like that.” Fleet leans more casually against the boards. “You already have the team well disciplined, D’Angelo. They’re in good shape. I’m excited about this challenge.”
D’Angelo huffs. “Interesting that you chose to keep your employment here a secret from me.”
“Asurprise,” Fleet corrects, grinning. “I wanted to see your face — yeah, that one — when you realized that I would be your boss.”
I chuckle and then duck my head when D’Angelo casts me a frosty glare.
“Don’t scare the poor pup.” Fleet laughs. “It’s not like it’s the first time I’ll be your boss. Is it bringing back memories?”
Both D’Angelo and I blush.
Pup?
And why is D’Angelo embarrassed?
D’Angelo leans closer to Fleet. “Play nice, Ty. But thanks for taking on this role. We’ve been desperate for a permanent coach. But I know that you didn’t want to?—”
Fleet waves his hand. “I can’t get lazy in my retirement, can I?”
D’Angelo snorts. “You work harder than I do still.”
“That may be because I don’t look so stylish lounging around with a cocktail clutched in my hand.”
Curious, I glance between them. “Are you friends?”
D’Angelo hesitates, but Fleet drags D’Angelo into a one-armed hug. “More like bros.”
My blood chills.They’re as close as brothers?
How much more don’t I know about D’Angelo? He’s lived here for years. He must have an entire life that I don’t know about.
Am I truly part of his life?
His world?
“It means a lot that you’re helping me this season,” D’Angelo replies. “We must win the next games.”
