Page 30 of No Pucks

All I can do is laugh. I enjoy not being the focus of my extended family and their dynasty, so I can’t even be mad. “I don’t know how we can confirm it, aside from going there. How long are you here for?”

“I don’t know. I might stay the weekend with Grandpa.”

“Okay, I need to get to practice. I’m already late. I’ll call Grandpa’s land line later.”

“I’ll get burner phones and put one in your room.” He holds out his hand, and I just stare at it. “Give me the key.”

“No, you can drop it with the doorman.”

He rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

I jog to our practice facility, annoyed at being late and having to deal with all this, and throw on my gear, making me only two minutes late when I step on the ice. The guys are messing around, warming up on their own, and Coach isn’t paying attention, so I easily slip into the fray.

I don’t want to be the one who puts the final nail in the coffin of my mother’s happiness. Even if she doesn’t blame me, I’mstill the one bringing light to his bad behavior, and it’s not my fucking job.

“You okay?” A gruff voice pulls me out of my head.

I glance up, finding the backup goalie. “Distracted, but I’m good.” I scrutinize him for a minute. “Savage, right? We played together at one point…” At least, I think we did. I’d been on so many junior teams over the years.

“I think it was camp… a long ass time ago. Maybe?” He holds out his hand, and I clasp it.

“That would have been a long ass time ago. Damn.” I take his hand, pulling him in for a half hug and clap on the back. “Good to be on the same team.”

He’s a killer goalie and not a bad guy from what I remember. “Glad you decided to be a God instead of a Monster, considering your dad...” He flashes me a grin.This seems to be a theme. Hopefully, it will die down and not everyone will think of my dad when they see me.

“I did it for the coach.” I glance at Anthony and laugh, because it’s all I can do. I was excited to have Rex as a coach, but Anthony knows what he’s doing. Now, if he’d keep fucking me, it would be ten times better. “Look how that turned out for me.”

“You upset about it?” Savage’s eyes flicker to Anthony.

“No, strangely.” I keep my mask. I won’t put his job at risk. “He’s a good coach so far. I didn’t want to deal with the bullshit at the Monsters.” Mainly my father’s legacy and the control he still exerts there.

“How’s your dad feel about that?”

“I don’t want to be my dad.” This will tell me if he and I can be friends. I would never deal with people who only see me as Cox 2.0. I’d never fill those shoes, and I’m not sure I want to try.

“Neither do I. Mine’s an asshole.”

“Oh?” I take the bait. It’s easier if the focus is on him.

“He wants me to play professional hockey, so he’s mad I’m sticking with the Gods without a first line position when I could go somewhere else and start.”

“What’s keeping you here?” I ask.

“Pre-med. This is one of the best programs in the world, and I want to stay in New York for my residency.”

“So you don’t want to play hockey at all?” It comes back to me. His dad is also a former NHLer.

“I do as long as it works with school. But aside from that, no, not professionally.” Savage lifts a shoulder.

“The fucking legacy shit blows.” Maybe I could make friends on this team.

“Word. I ain’t having it. I don’t want that life.”

I nod, taking him in. “Is that why you’re the backup?”

Savage’s eyes narrow. “Have you seen Wolfe? He’s a beast. He’s the reason I’m the backup, not because I’m not giving it my all. He’s graduating in the spring, so I’ll get my shot.”

“Fair enough. What about if you get recruited?”

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