Page 73 of Pucking Knox
My stomach drops as I follow him to his office. The walk feels endless, every step weighted with possibility and fear. Not the old fear – not my father's legacy of violence and failure. But the normal kind. The kind that means I care about my future.
"Saw the stats from your morning workouts." Coach shuffles papers on his desk. "And the footage from your last few practices."
"Coach—"
"Shut up and listen." But there's no heat in his voice. "Whatever happened at that combine – whatever made you grab that microphone– since that moment, you changed."
I think about Kennedy. About choosing love over fear. About finally being free of my father's shadow and my mom’sabandonment. About learning that life is hard either way, so choose your hard.
"You're playing smarter." Coach continues. "Cleaner. Still protecting your teammates but doing it with control instead of rage. Like you finally found your balance."
"Thank you, coach."
"Don't thank me yet." He looks up finally. "Hanson's signing tomorrow. Someone's getting dropped."
My heart pounds. Everything I've worked for hangs in this moment. Years of fighting my way out of the South, of proving I'm more than my father's son, of becoming someone worthy of Kennedy's.
"But it won't be you." Coach smiles slightly. "Keep playing like this – like you've got something worth fighting for – and you'll do just fine."
Relief floods my system as I head back to the ice. My phone buzzes again.
Kennedy: The senator's daughter hopes you're conducting yourself with appropriate dignity.
I smile, typing.
Knox: The senator's daughter should see what I'm planning for later.
Kennedy: Mr. Thompson! Such impropriety.
Knox: Just wait, Princess.
Another text interrupts our flirting – this one from Grey:
Grey: Saw the news about your dad. You good?
Right. My father's latest bar fight landed him in jail last night. Thirty days for assault. The old me would have bailed him out, cleaned up his mess again. Would have carried that weight like a legacy I couldn't escape.
Instead, I type.
Knox: Let him face consequences for once. I'm good.
And I am. Because for the first time in my life, I'm free of his shadow. Free to be the man Kennedy believes in. Free from my old life and focusing on what’s ahead.
Practice feels different now that I'm not carrying all that weight. Every shot, every check, every play comes naturally. I'm still the enforcer – still protect my team – but with control now. With purpose instead of rage.
"Looking good, Thompson!" Coach calls as I run drills. "That's what we want to see!"
My phone lights up after with more texts from Kennedy.
Kennedy: The campaign team praised my excellent focus on studies.
Knox: If they only knew what we did in the library last night
Kennedy: It would be such scandalous implications.
Kennedy: Senator’s daughter back with the bad boy hockey star
I laugh, typing.
