Page 133 of Puck Me Secretly

Dad studied me for a moment. “Your call.”

He typed something on his phone. “Logan’s not happy.”

I stood up.

“Where are you going?” Dad looked at me.

“To talk to my project.”

I could hearMax arguing with the trainers. I rounded the corner of the dressing room. Max loomed over the two trainers, who were doing their best to get him to stay.

“I’m fine. Let me get out there.”

“Max, sit down for a moment.”

“Is it Baxter? That prick doesn’t want me to play?”

One trainer looked puny compared to Max, but he tried to block him from leaving. “We’re not cleared to get you back on the ice.”

“Get out of my way.”

I stepped forward and spoke above them. “It was me. I ordered you to remain off-ice for the rest of the period.”

Max froze and lifted his eyes. “What the fuck?”

I glanced at the two trainers. “Can you give us a moment?”

With relieved expressions they walked out of the room.

Max seethed. “Why would you do that?”

“This club will survive 13 minutes without you.”

“You have no business making these kinds of calls.”

“The moment you stepped off the ice, Minnesota began to play hockey.”

“Excuse me?”

“Not one illegal hit, not one penalty.”

“What’s your point?”

“They’re skating circles around our team.”

Max’s nostrils flared. “Even more reason for me to get out there.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me do this.”

“For what purpose?”

I stuck my hands on my hips. “No one appreciates you. Not the fans, not Baxter, not even my father. Let them get a taste of what life is like without you.”

Max stared me down. “No.”

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