Page 52 of Offside and Off-Limits
“What is it, Triple?”
“You’re a good guy.”
“Don’t go telling anyone that. I’ve got a reputation to uphold. Or to smash. One or the other. See you at the arena Monday?”
“Monday?”
“You know, the Ice Breakers? It’s this new NHL team we both work for? They push a small black object around a rink, trying to slot it into a net?”
I chortle. “Yeah. I remember.”
“You’re filming after practice, right? That’s what Coach Hauser told us at practice today.”
He’s right. I’ve got a few guys lined up to do some trick shots at the end of practice tomorrow morning, which I’m filming for a new campaign. With the success of the TikTok involving Cade, Asher, and Weston which I posted after the livestream, Veronica has requested more dancing, too, so I’ll be looking for more volunteers. Asher told me that he’s a shoo-in.
Plus, there’s the fact Veronica wants videos of just Cade and me, which frankly, I’ve been putting off filming. Being around Cade is challenging enough without it all being caught on camera.
But I do need to capture the content, so I reply, “Let’s film the first Hockey 101 video tomorrow after the trick shots.”
“You got it, Triple,” he replies, and I can hear the delight in his voice.
“Good night, Cade.”
“Night, Triple. Sweet dreams.”
The call ends and it's obvious to me he wants my sweet dreams to be about him.
Little does he know they may well be.
CHAPTER 11
CADE
The iceof the arena is gleaming under the stark lights, my breath visible as I expel air from my lungs. Coach has already run us through a bunch of conditioning drills over the last hour or more, and my hair’s dripping with sweat, plastered to my forehead under my helmet.
This morning’s training has been tough, even tougher than I’m used to. But then everyone on this team has got something to prove, Coach Hauser included, and I’m here for it, every last drill. I want this team to be a success just as much as anyone, and I’m not afraid to put in the work to achievethat goal.
“I want everyone off the ice except Hayes, Simpson, and Crane in offense, and Lowe and Smith on defense!” Coach yells in his raspy voice, and I heave a sigh of relief, knowing I’ll be getting at least a couple minutes respite from today’s grueling training.
Always ready to lead, Jamie begins to demonstrate the three on two drill with Nate and Carson, up against the defensive pairing of Lucian and Weston. Coach yells out instructions, and we watch from the bench, analyzing the defenders’ positioning.
“That guy. He needs to improve his defensive stance,” Clément says in his French accent, catching his breath along with the rest of us.
“Who?” I ask.
“Lucian Lowe. Look.”
I watch Lucian as he rushes the offense, looking strong and quick out there on the ice as far as I can see.
I’m about to ask him what he means when Coach yells, “Next line! Lennox, Tremblay, go join Hayes. Simpson and Crane, you’re off. You’re up against Lowe and Smith. Get out there and show me something creative. Lennox, you’re leading the rush.”
“You got it, Coach!” I yell and spring into action despite my tiredness.
Man, I love it when I get to lead.
Quickly, we get ourselves into formation at center ice. We form a quick huddle to strategize the play.
“I’ve got an idea. Let’s run that cross-and-drop we've been working on,” I say, and my new buddy Asher nods enthusiastically.
