Page 29 of Snowballed

“We can’t be. You’re the best defensemen, and I’m the worst,” she protests.

“Don’t you want to play more?” Zoe talks a ton about hockey, so I’m shocked to find her so timid during a game.

“I hate making mistakes, and I’ve already been on the ice for one of the goals scored. If I mess up again, Coach Cray will probably scratch me for the opener.”

“You need a positive attitude. The opposition are like goats, they can sense your fear,” I say.

Finally she smiles. “I can’t believe you’re quoting me to me.”

When we head out onto the ice, I point out a player to her. “Fourteen. He likes to bring the puck right down main street. So force him to the outside, try to freeze the puck.”

“That’s Greg Johansson. Wow, you know that already?” she asks.

“Predictable forwards are a gift to the D.”

Once I get to know Johansson, I’ll tell him to change things up. But I’m not going to be the asshole who struts in here and bosses everyone. Besides, Coach Keller is smart, so I’m sure he’s already told 14 his weaknesses. Right now, I’ve got one mission: to play good defense. And that means making Zoe better.

I call out to her as we play, telling her where to be, who to cover, and if someone’s coming. We’re moving the puck well, and our team is pressing. Wags scores a goal for us and ties things up.

Next shift, we’re out against one of their weaker lines.

“Zee, man on. Reverse, reverse,” I call out and she sends the puck behind the net to me. I skate the puck out of our zone and pass it up to Vonne. He’s being double-teamed, and the puck squirts out to our winger. She passes it back to me, and I fire it top corner. The goalie is being screened, so the puck goes straight in.

“Goody!” Vonne and the winger come over and hug me. The score is 3-2 now.

“What a beautiful goal. You’re such an amazing player,” Helen tells me on the bench. She actually flutters her eyelashes at me.

“Thanks.” I turn away. There’s a time for flirting, and it’s not in the middle of an effing hockey game.

“God, you’re bossy out there,” says Zoe.

I laugh. “It’s working, isn’t it?”

She scrunches up her nose. “I can’t get upset because you’re always right.”

“Think how nice it is for me,” I tell her.

“Why?” Zoe asks.

“Because all I’ve done is screw up on the farm. Now I get to be the competent one.”

Zoe laughs, her big goofy laugh. And that’s a good sign, because if she’s laughing, she’s not nervous.

Sure enough, Zoe starts making better plays. I’m still talking, but she’s anticipating better. Even Murph notices. I see him wincing after Helen’s miscue leaves him defending a two-on-one.

“You wanna trade partners?” he asks me after the second period.

I shake my head. But Zoe hears him and smiles. That ego boost will help even more.

We head out for the third period, and I can already see a difference in Zoe. She’s making plays faster. Doing things automatically instead of questioning herself. Hockey is split-second decisions. Even if you make the wrong choice, it’s better than delaying.

“Well, now I know the key to playing better,” she says. “Just get you to tell me every move to make. Like a robot hockey player.”

I shake my head. “The best partnership is when you’re in sync with your D partner. But in a game like this where we don’t know each other, we’ve got to talk. I talk to the goalie too,” I add, so she doesn’t think it’s all on her.

And we end up winning the game. Coach Cray is elated, and I feel good too. Winning is much better than the alternative.

The room is pretty cheery afterwards. I grab my gear to get back to the room to change.

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