Page 12 of Play Maker

There were claps and hollers and more whistles. Silas grunted so I wasn’t sure if that was a yes or a no. He attended the team dinners, which were mandatory, but only rarely the parties on campus. No one knew why and no one felt comfortable asking. If he wanted to tell us, he would. But lately, something had changed. In fact, he’d been at the most recent one, where me, Dane, Kayden and Maddox, came out. Ethan dubbed it the Rainbow Rave. After our teammates got over the initial shock of our news, we partied until sunrise. Even Ethan’s frat brothers were impressed by our stamina.

“You gonna feed us?” Kayden asked with a grin.

“Duh,” Ethan chuckled. “You think I’m going to invite a group of hungry-ass hockey players to my house without food?I’m crazy, not stupid. We’ll order pizza and wings and any other junk food you want.”

I grabbed my kit and headed for the shower room. Normally I’d take my time, but I wanted to get washed up and get my lecture over with. While I was heading into the room, Axel was coming out, a white towel wrapped tightly around his hips. An array of colorful bruises near his ribs and on his massive biceps had me looking longer than I should’ve. I glanced down at my own body and realized I was much the same. Not the body type, the bruises.

Axel knocked into me when I walked past, and I got another whiff of that fucking bodywash.

Ugh, why couldn’t he smell rank like most jocks?

“Watch it,” I grumbled, pissed off at him, and at myself. “I don’t need another hit today.”

He either didn’t hear me or chose to ignore my comment. Either way, it was a good thing. I was tired and hangry, and I imagined so was he. It wouldn’t take much to spark our tempers. I took my shower in record time and headed back to my stall.

After changing into my jeans, black converse, and a sweatshirt, I threw on my Cougars ballcap—backwards, natch—grabbed my neon green puffer jacket and my backpack.

“Have fun getting lectured!” Dane called out and everyone laughed.

I gave my friend my best finger and headed out the door.

By the time I got to Coach’s office, Axel was already there, of course.

“Shut the door, Jace,” Banning stated. “I want to speak to you and Axel first.”

My stomach clenched hard, but I did as Coach directed, closing the door and taking the empty seat beside Axel. There wasn’t much space in this cubbyhole of an office and when my knee brushed Axel’s, I jolted hard. Or was that him?

“I’ve done my best to leave you two to sort out whatever it is you need to sort out,” Banning started, and leaned back in his chair, running an aggravated hand though his short, dark hair. “But clearly that hasn’t worked, and I’ve had it. When you work together, like you did in the third period, you’re unstoppable. I want to see that happening during every period, every game. So, starting this week, both of you are to report to the rink at six pm on Thursdays. We’re going to spend an hour each week working on your offensive plays. Together.”

Axel’s knee started popping up and down in a nervous rhythm and it was driving me nuts.

“Wait, why—” Axel started.

Wrong move.

“This isn’t up for debate, Lund, and I just explained why. It’s mandatory,” Banning snapped. “You’ll also be working with Finn and Silas for another hour, each on your own skills but also, helping each other out. The goal is to learn more about our teammates and to work better, together. Are you getting what I’m saying?”

“Yeah, we’re being singled out,” Axel huffed.

“And?” Banning bit out, and thankfully, Axel kept his mouth shut. “I’m doing what’s best to improve your game and the team’s. In a month’s time, you’re going to thank me.”

I wouldn’t hold my breath.

CHAPTER 6

AXEL

An extra two hours of practice a week? And one of them I had to spend entirely with Jace?

Fuck. My. Life.

I glanced over at my new ‘training buddy’ and my blood ran so hot I was either feverish or really fucking pissed. Definitely pissed. Jace didn’t look bothered at all, sitting there with his cocky manspread going on. Most of his unruly hair was shoved under his ballcap, and the ends that peeked out were even curlier since his hair was wet.

When he glanced at me, I saw nothing but contempt. No surprise there, he was as annoyed as I was about this fucktastic turn of events.

“And that’s not all—” Banning continued.

Please, what else could there be?

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