Page 22 of The Pucking Date
“You will,” I say, meaning it.
Then it’s my turn. The lights hit. The reporter’s prettier than she needs to be, all polished smiles and practiced tilt-of-the-head. But I’m not looking at her.
Not really.
Because six feet behind the camera, jaw tight enough to crack glass, stands Jessica Novak.
“So, Finn,” the reporter starts, lips glossy, voice sweet as syrup, “what’s your mindset heading into the new season?”
“I’m focused,” I say, letting the words roll smoothly. “Ready to win—on the ice and off.”
It’s safe, clean, team-friendly. Exactly what Jessica would approve of. But when I glance her way, she doesn’t even blink.
The reporter smiles. “Off the ice, what keeps you grounded?”
I tilt my head slightly. Let my voice drop a notch, low and slow, like whiskey in a glass.
“A good story. Strong espresso. A pretty face who knows how to keep me in check.”
Her brow lifts, amused. “That sounds suspiciously specific.”
I glance past the camera. Right at Jessica. Cool stare. iPad clenched. Not impressed.
I wink.
“Does this pretty face have a name?” the reporter asks, leaning in, heat chasing her voice.
“If she does,” I say, keeping my tone soft, measured, laced with warning, “she’d kill me for saying it out loud.”
A beat. Jessica’s lips press tight.
I smile. Enough to provoke.
“But let’s just say…she’s unforgettable.”
There it is—the flicker. A barely-there breath, a twitch at her jaw.
And then I twist the knife.
“Especially in red.”
The words hit their mark exactly as intended. Jessica moves fast, silent, surgical, lethal. She steps into frame, smoke in heels, camera-ready, voice PR-smooth.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she says, cool as ice. “Just a reminder that sponsor-facing content should stay focused on team messaging.”
Translation: shut your mouth, O’Reilly.
The reporter laughs, flustered. “Of course. One more before we wrap?”
Jessica nods, already walking away.
Then comes the hook. “There’s been a lot of buzz about your contract situation. Can fans expect to see you in a Defenders jersey this season?”
I hold the smile. Even as I watch Jessica freeze just outside the edge of the frame.
“I’ve always said, I play where the game feels right. Where I can win. Where I can build something real. That hasn’t changed.” Diplomatic, but sharp enough.
“And the rumors about teams in the south making a push?”
