Page 76 of The Penalty

The worn black object hits the ice with a soft thump logo side up.

“Go for it.”

He’s all cocky attitude as he lines up the first easy shot, drilling it in.

“It’s looking good for our next game.” We’re moving up the standings, but we’ve got two games coming up next week after the holiday. Anything could happen, and we really need these wins to guarantee our spot in the playoffs.

“Yeah. I’m happy with the dynamic. It’s improved so much since I got Hail and Cole working together. I’m impressed even with myself. There’s still a lot to work on, though.”

We’re neck and neck after the fifth shot, and he’s lining up for his sixth.

“Always,” I agree, eyeing the angle I’m at now. I’ll need to hit the perfect line to sink this one. I point my stick, squinting, and line up the shot. Bam. The net flies back with the force of the puck.

“Nice one.”

We’re tied twelve all when Beau flubs his next shot. “Fuck!”

I’m screaming on the inside when I nail mine.

“How’s next year looking for you?” I ask him. “Planning on entering the draft after graduation?”

He misses the mark and has to skate back to the cone to line up.

Now he looks a little shaken. A look I’m seeing on his face more and more frequently this year. Like he’s unraveling at his seams. He misses the next one, slamming his puck into the ground. Maybe I should have let that one be.

“Not sure.”

I miss the next one, but he makes his, catching up.

“If you need any help with the team or anything, let me know.”

“Will do.”

I’m not sure he’s telling me the truth, but then I’m hiding things from him, too. And whatever secret he’s got, it can’t be anywhere near as bad as mine. Fuck. What am I going to do? I’m falling for his sister, but there’s no way I can tell him. He’ll murder me. As he should. I don’t have any sisters, but if I did, I wouldn’t want a guy like me near them.

His twentieth shot pings off the top bar but drops in, and he’s got it. But I was at nineteen. If it wasn’t a first to twenty situation, I might even have tied him.

We’re both sweaty from the effort and concentration when we wrap it up.

“You’re killing it out there. Good for you.”

The hand he claps on my back is a little shaky.

“Thanks. I don’t want to be just the enforcer. I want to be a well-rounded D-man. But I feel like I got targeted as a brute early on. So, I’m trying to prove I can do more than that.”

“Well, you’re doing it. We should get back now. I don’t want to get home to find my house on fire.”

“Right.”

We pack up our shit. Showers can happen at home. The facilities here are basic, not like the ones at the college. They’ve got all the amenities courtesy of the program’s wealthy donors.

“We’re out, Syd. See you on Saturday.” I duck into the office to let the rink owner know we’re leaving.

His white hair is bent over a document, and he’s got a phone pressed up to his ear, but he holds out his hand to stop me, gesturing the seat across from him.

I shrug, looking back at Beau. We take up a lot of space in the tiny office, settling into the two small plastic chairs. I can almost see my friend’s brain overheating at the piles of paper on the desk, cardboard boxes piled in the corners, and overflowing trash cans. Syd does a lot of work for this place with not enough funding, which is one of the reasons I help out wherever I can,even when I’m off the clock. These places are so important to people in the community. Kids like me.

“Fine. Got it. It’ll be ready. I’ve gotta go.” Syd pauses, drumming his fingers on the cheap pine desk as he listens.

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