Page 58 of Ice Darling
“One shot?”
His eyes dart away guiltily. “I want to hedge my bets. Chance was lightning in a bottle. If we didn’t go to college together, there’s no way he would have accepted my offer to come to Lucky Falls. And if he hadn’t fallen in love with April, there’s no way he would have stayed. I can’t gamble our entire team’s future on those two circumstances happening twice.”
I stare at Max knowingly. “But you want to.”
“It would be irresponsible.” His eyes dart away, and his voice drops a decibel as if he’s arguing with himself.
I take a seat in the chair across from his desk and lean back. “The Lucky Strikers struggled for years before McLanely joined the team. We kept the same coach and the same players, but our results changed because of him. Imagine what we could do with two McLanelys.”
“Don’t start too, or I’ll add you to the name-and-shame wall.” Max points to a blank wall beyond my head.
“You’re getting mad because you want to do it.”
Max runs his fingers through his hair. “Back in college, I thought I’d be down there with you guys.” His eyes are drawn to the ice that can be seen beyond the large windows. “There was nothing I loved more than hockey.Nothing. But circumstances led me here, and now, there’s nothing I love more than this team. I want to see the Lucky Strikers thrive, and aiming for a hotshot would be for vanity, not strategy.”
I nod, choosing to let the matter drop. Max has made up his mind, and I admire him for wanting to go the hard route rather than the easy one.
“Hey, Renthrow,” Max says.
I look up.
“Thanks for signing on with us. And for doing the interview.” He points to my suit. “McLanely said he wanted to lay low for a while, and Kinsey, well…with everything going on with his family right now…”
Max doesn’t need to continue. After the Kinseys’ deepest, darkest secret erupted, it shook Lucky Falls to its core. Some townsfolk, especially the ones who were eager to see the prominent family fall, have made a big stink about them.
Max nods. “I promise, I’ll be as flexible as I can. You have my full understanding when it comes to Gordie.”
“I wouldn’t have signed with you if I thought otherwise.”
Our team manager blows out a breath loud enough to rattle the pens on his desk. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s fine. Better than fine.”
“Is the therapist helping a lot?”
“Among other things.”
Max leans forward. “Something good happen?”
“She’s taken to Cordelia Davenport,” I admit.
“Taken to?”
“She got Gordie to come out of her hiding place.”
Max breaks into a jubilant smile and smashes his large hands on the table. “That’s incredible, man.”
“Yeah, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in weeks.”
“How’d she do it?”
“Not evensheknows. I walked into the house, and Cordelia was under the table playing puppets with Gordie like it was the most natural thing.”
Max leans back in his chair. He’s built like a tank, and I’m surprised the chair holds steady. “I get why Gordie would fall for Delia. She’s amazing.”
The excitement in Max’s voice stirs up something dark in me. I remember how he and Cordelia were giggling and smiling at each other at the Tuna, and my jaw hardens.
Max gives me a blank look. “What?”
