Page 55 of Play Maker

The game ended with that one goal. When the final buzzer rang out, everyone on the team crashed into each other to celebrate, me included. Most surprising of all, Maddox. I’d never seen our goalie smile like that before and I wasn’t sure if it was good or kind of scary. Maybe a bit of both. The crowd was wild, and the music got louder, with Julian, Ethan, and Sean busting out dance moves on the ice, making everyone laugh. Dane encouraged us all to wave to the fans while our opponents looked on at us in disbelief. Winning any game was a high, but at this point in the season, it was surreal.

The celebration continued in the locker room, with guys spraying each other with bottles of water and electrolyte drinks. The place was a soggy, sticky mess, our stalls included, but no one cared.

We showered, changed, and gathered in the lounge for our post game scrum.

The lounge was small, not enough seats for the entire team, and since I was one of the last ones in, I stood beside Silas at the back. Jace and Dane were side by side, their heads together, talking in that way that close friends did. A pang of jealousy hit me, but I shoved it away. These weird feelings I had every time I looked at Jace had to get gone.

By the time we all got settled down, waiting for Coach, the post game euphoria had calmed a bit, and the reality that we were one step closer to the national championship settled in.

“Sorry for the delay, guys,” Banning offered as he entered the room and moved to stand at the front. “I was just on the phone with the college president, who by the way, extends her congratulations to all of you on this win?—”

Everyone started clapping but Coach motioned for silence.

“—I’m not done yet,” Coach chuckled and glanced around the room. “I want to take this moment to officially announce that Dane St. Pierre is your permanent captain. Dane stepped into this role in September and has proved, far beyond my expectations, that he deserves that title.”

Everyone cheered and clapped.

“And, as you know, I’ve also been considering the candidate for the center position for months. Every forward on this team is outstanding, so my decision wasn’t made easily or lightly. But I’m happy to announce that Jace Rowland has earned the spot. Let’s give Dane and Jace our full support.”

What?

My elation evaporated as blood pounded in my ears, until my heartbeat was all I could hear. Shock didn’t begin to describe how I was feeling. I was furious—at Jace, at myself, at Coach. I heard my teammates clapping and calling out, but I couldn’t move.

“Settle down, I’m still not finished,” Coach continued with a wry smile that made me want to punch something.

The wall behind me would be a good start.

Instead of giving in to that urge, to the rage, I crossed my arms and lowered my head, not wanting to look at anyone. Humiliation had my cheeks running hot. No matter where I went, or what I did, I was never good enough. I don’t know why I thought that things were starting to go my way.

If anything, Coach’s announcement confirmed what I knew but didn’t want to face.

“While I know that titles have their place, this is still a team sport. We don’t win as individuals. We’re only as strong as each other,” Banning insisted and something in his tone made me finally look up again. His gaze was imploring but my brain refused to hear him out. “There’s no second best in this room. We win together or not at all.”

Coach’s comment sparked an unwanted memory.

You’re the firstborn but you’ll always be second best.

It turned out, my mother was right.

I was a good player, but not a great one. The spot I’d been working towards, dreamed about, obsessed over, it wasn’t mine to take. It was Jace’s. I could accept it and move on or fight against it and let the chips—or, in this instance, pucks—fall where they may.

Steeling my resolve, I looked around the room and locked eyes with Jace.

Fight it is.

CHAPTER 19

JACE

Me? Center line? I was so proud I wanted to run around campus doing cartwheels.

Like Dane, my role on the team was now official. There was responsibility and a shitload of pressure since I was someone other players relied on, respected, and trusted to lead us to the next level. Not that they didn’t already do that, but Coach’s confirmation solidified things. It meant a lot.

It was also kind of scary. I didn’t want to let anyone down or fuck this up.

And I also knew that the tentative truce between Axel and I was now in jeopardy.

After Coach gave his analysis of the game, he called a close to our wrap-up discussion. Everyone on the team came up to Dane and me to offer their congratulations.

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