Page 22 of Goal Line
I was supposed to replace Colt as the first-string goalie when he retires at the end of next season. But after the way I absolutely choked in the most crucial moment of the playoffs, there’s no way she’d think I’m ready to replace one of the best goalies of all time.
I nod. “Understandable.”
In my head, I keep hearing my dad’s voice:This is why I didn’t want you to bring Luke onto this team.
This.
This . . . loss.
The way I fucking froze out there, unable to think of anything but Eva...it’s unpardonable. EvenIcan’t forgive myself for it, and clearly, my dad can’t either.
“Amazingly”—she shakes her head and smiles—“he’s going to be fine. A couple weeks on crutches, and then a bit of rehab, but he should be fine by the beginning of the season.”
My shoulders sag. “That’s a relief.”
“Right? So, I hear you’re going to be doing some skills sessions with Evan. I’ll ask Colt to sit in on those. I know you guys have a good rapport, and I think he might havesome tips for how to handle games like the one you just had.”
“What?” My voice squeaks, sounding like I just inhaled helium.
AJ reacts with her trademark professionalism, but I feel like she’s holding in laughter. “What part of that wasn’t clear?” She speaks slowly, recognizing my stunned expression.
“I–I’m not being traded?”
“You’ve played seventeen games for us. That’s not exactly enough data to know yet whether this is a good fit. But from my perspective, you had sixteen pretty good games, and one terrible one.”
“It wasn’t justa game. It was Game 7 of the finals!” Why am I reminding her of this? Why am I arguing, quite passionately, against myself?
“Yeah, it was pretty awful timing to have a bad game. But our defense fell apart before you even came onto the ice. Then you fell apart. We’ve got work to do to be ready for next season, and I’m going to need you to train harder this summer than you’re probably used to in the off season?—”
“I’m ready.” The words jump out, ignited by the tiny spark of hope that flares to life in my chest. It’s the first time in a week I’ve felt like maybe things will be okay.
I’ll do whatever I need to do. Work harder than I’ve ever worked.Anything she asks.
“Good. And I want you to start talking to a sports psychologist.”
Anything but that.
“You have someone in mind?” I ask.
“Talk to Zach. Charlie says he has someone great.”
This is new information. Is this why Zach is so fucking chill?
“I’ll look into it.”
She narrows her eyes at me in a way that reminds me she’s a shrewd businesswoman, in addition to knowing more about hockey than just about anyone I’ve ever met. “Make sure you do.”
Well, that’s fucking ominous. I almost say as much, but I press my lips together just in time and give her a nod. “Thanks for this second chance, AJ. It means a lot.”
“It’s not a second chance, Hartmann. You didn’t ruin the first chance...”
I think she means that to be a supportive statement, but the way the sentence trails off makes me feel like she almost added “yet” at the end.
“Let me know when you’ve got that first meeting set up with the sports psychologist. And I’ll have Evan keep me updated on the skills practices. I think he’s also working with Lennington and Kotzu,” she tells me. One of them is a goalie for Minnesota, and the other for Dallas, but both are from the Boston area and back for the off-season. I’ve practiced with them during the summers before, which is how I knew Coach Knight even before I was traded.
Hell, maybe that’swhyI was traded? Maybe he recommended me to AJ? It’s nice to think that even if my own father doesn’t want me on this team, both Charlie and Evan do.
Chapter Eleven
