Page 1 of Sin Bins and Second Chances
Prologue
ETHAN
There’s sixty seconds left on the clock when the line change happens. Three of us swap in. The score has remained tied, four to four, throughout the period. My skates cut through the ice, the familiar sound filling my ears as I skate into position.
I’m used to playing defense, but the pressure is building. This is the first time I’m on the attending scouts’ radar. Now is the time to prove my worth, both for myself and my future team.
We’ve got another thirty seconds left of this penalty kill and the stakes are high. One wrong move and this is all over. My eyes zone in on the refwho at any second will drop the puck. I inhale the cold air surrounding me, not that it cools down the heat coursing through me.
Focus intensifies as the puck drops, and time itself appears to slow. My back is to our goalie, arms at the ready with my stick.
We’ve been fighting back and forth the entire game. A wild, indistinct noise assaults my ears from the crowd. Inhaling deeply, I center myself; all I hear is the rhythmic whisper of skates on the ice. I try to silence my inner critic and let my reflexes take over. I can do this. We can do this.
They lose control of the puck and it rounds the edge of the rink.
I skate fast to gain control and move across the rink. I’m shoved by a player on the other team, but not before I pass the puck to my teammate. Tension builds as I maneuver around them. We need a clear shot.
This is the moment.
The puck slides across to me. I drop low, position myself with the net. I don’t think. I just shoot my shot. A combination of skill and luck will help at this moment. I hold my breath as my eyes zero in on the puck gliding across the air.
I watch as the goalie lifts his glove. The puck flies a hair above it, right in the top corner.
Goal!
The crowd goes wild as my teammates rush towards me, slapping my helmet and tapping gloves in celebration.
Fuck, this is the best game I’ve ever played. It only makes me more excited to share the news with Daisy this weekend.
I refocus as we move back to the center of the ice. I’m ready to defend. This final fifteen seconds is all about blocking shots and keeping the other team out. My legs are burning as I throw myself into the other guy. The buzzer sounds. We did it.
We won.
After a quick celebration with my teammates, I rush to be in and out of the locker room. The one person I want to see is flying in early tomorrow, and I can’t fucking wait to pick her up from the airport. It has been two weeks since I last saw her, when I was back home visiting.
I quickly shower, change, and return to my dorm. I’m barely unlocking it when my phone buzzes. We normally chat on the phone after every game. It’s something I look forward to, win or lose.
Daisy: We need to talk.
A chill runsdown my spine and makes my stomach turn. I set my bag down on the floor and stare at my phone for a bit before I respond. It will gut me if something comes up and she can’t come. Then I start to worry she’s sick.
Ethan: Everything okay? I just walked into my dorm.
As soon asI press send, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. I quickly hit the button to answer the call and hold it up to my ear.
“Hey!”
The silence on the other end lingers longer than I’d like. It’s not static or a weird dial tone, as ifthe call is dropped—just silence. My shoulders tense.
“Daisy? What’s wrong?” My grip tightens on the phone.
“I… I can’t come.” Her voice is soft and distant.
I run my hand down my face, then shake my head. “What? Are you okay?” Ideas run through my head, thinking she’s hurt.
“I met someone.”
Ice floods my body. My mouth opens, but no sound comes out. I stagger looking for support. Is this a joke? My chest tightens. Surely, I didn’t hear her correctly. “What?”
