Page 73 of No Pucks

“He’s being forced to go to boarding school in Switzerland because my father thinks it will make him a better hockey player. It’s been a big fight since he started going last year. It’s miserable,” Logan fills me in then turns to his brother. “Have you not talked to Grandfather about enrolling in a school in the city?”

“He says he’ll help me with Mother if I give him a good reason and an alternative.”

“There have to be better schools in New York.”

“Not really. Canada is top over here, but really, the best are in Switzerland, Finland, or Germany.”

“There are good NHL players,” I say.

“And more of them are from Canada than the US,” Logan adds. “But it doesn’t matter. It’s what we can convince them will be best for Evander.”

“Why don’t you get a say?” I ask.

“We don’t ask people what they want in this family. We make business decisions for them.” There’s a painful tone to Logan’s voice.

“How did you get to play for the Gods?”

“It was Mother’s alma matter,” Evander says before Logan can answer. “It was a battle of his school against hers, and only because he knew Dad couldn’t shit talk it since Mom went there. But when he found out you were coaching, he tried.”

Logan’s head snaps around to look at his brother. “Did he?”

“Yep. Mother wouldn’t hear it.”

“Couldn’t you do the same?” I ask Evander.

“Not a shot. Dad let Logan begrudgingly go because he sees him as a ‘worse’ player, but he will fight tooth and nail about school while they are battling custody.”

“Money will win that fight, but how long will it take? And Dad has an argument to keep you in your school for stability until it’s all hammered out.” Logan exhales. “You’ll be a bargaining chip.”

Evander pinches the bridge of his nose. “Thinking gives me a headache. Why does he have to care?”

“We’ll get it worked out. I promise.”

When the car drops us back off at my apartment, I can tell Logan is drained. For as much as an extrovert as he is, it’s been an emotional day, and then he had to act normal.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You’re not leaving.”

He lifts a brow. “We have practice in the morning. I don’t have a change of clothes, and there were quite a few pictures of me taken at the game today.”

“I’m serious.” I don’t know how I’m going to work it out, but I don’t want him to leave right now.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” I hold the door open for him.

TWENTY-TWO

LOGAN

Things are messy, but I’m happy.

I don’t feel like I have to worry about my father so much anymore, and while Evander had to return to school, both Grandfather and Mother promised it’s temporary.

We win our next game but lose the one after.

Anthony storms into the locker room, stopping right in front of me. “Can we speak for a minute?”

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