Page 38 of Time to Shine

Casey wanted him to stay. That made Landon want to stay.

Maybe it wouldn’t matter. Maybe Coach Patrick would call him into his office today and tell Landon to go back to Saskatoon. It was possible, but until that happened, Landon was going to believe he belonged here.

Casey was getting a massage and some treatment on his shoulder because apparently it had been bothering him since the game last night. Since Casey had mentioned it during their drive to the arena, Landon hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how Casey had been in pain while he’d been comforting Landon through the bedroom door.

Landon hadn’t even asked about the shoulder last night. He’d watched Casey get hit, watched him skate to the bench in pain, watched him jump back on the ice for the next shift as if nothing had happened. Landon knew that didn’t mean Casey wasn’t hurt, but he’d been too consumed by shame and frustration to even ask if Casey was all right during the drive home.

“Do you ever fucking stop talking?”

As embarrassed as Landon was about his performance last night, it didn’t come close to how ashamed he was of saying that. He’d apologized, and Casey had waved it off like it was nothing. Had kept trying to help him. Had kept being a friend.

Landon finished his set and lay on the floor, arms outstretched, staring at the ceiling. He would be better, for the team, and for Casey.

Lee Ramsay’s face suddenly eclipsed the ceiling fan Landon had been watching.

“Coach wants to see you,” Lee said. “In his office.”

“Okay.” So. Back to Saskatoon, then. Maybe that was the best thing for the team. And for Casey.

Greg Patrick’s office door was wide open, but Landon knocked anyway.

“Stackhouse. Come in.” His tone was friendly, which could mean he was trying to break the news gently.

Landon sat in one of the two chairs across the desk from his coach, and waited.

“Rough one last night,” Coach said.

“Yeah,” Landon agreed. “Sorry.”

“I just wanted to check in with you. See how you’re feeling.”

Landon was feeling confused at the moment. Coach’s gaze was locked with his, waiting, and Landon took a moment to consider what he wanted to say.

“I felt like shit last night,” he admitted. “I’d been dreaming of getting that chance for so long, and I blew it.”

Coach’s expression remained neutral. “How do you feel now?”

This time, Landon didn’t hesitate. “I want to stay. I’m better than what I showed you last night. I know it’s probably too late, but if I’m not sent back down, then I’m going to work my ass off here. If I do get sent back down, I’m going to work my ass off there. I want to be part of this team.”

Coach leaned back in his chair, eyes still focused on Landon. “I was talking to Bill this morning,” he said, referring to the Outlaws’ general manager. “We’re keeping you here, for now.”

A surge of emotion strangled Landon, and he had to blink back tears. He’d been so sure it was over. “Thank you,” he managed to say.

“Thank me on the ice. You taking part in the skate today?”

“Yes. Definitely.”

“Good. I’ll see you out there.”

Landon left quickly, and nearly crashed into Casey in the hall.

“Shit. Sorry, Stacks.”

“My fault.”

“I was just coming to find you. I—” Casey seemed to suddenly realize whose office Landon had been exiting. His eyes went wide and questioning.

Landon tilted his head toward the end of the hall and started walking. “I’m staying.”

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