Page 107 of Shots Fired

Jensen pats my shoulder a couple of times. “I get what you mean, and I can see it in your eyes.” He narrows his at me, but not in a suspicious way; it’s more studious than that. “You look happy too. Happier than at the beginning of the season. I also know exactly how that feels. I don’t think I played my best hockey until I met my wife.” He chuckles, hearts in his eyes. “Or at least until she stopped hating me and started looking in my direction.”

I cast a quick glance at Sawyer as he removes his helmet. I can tell he’s wondering what I’ve said to Jensen, but the truth is I’ve kept it strictly professional during practices.

Jensen shrugs, shoving both hands back into his pockets. “It was just a hunch I had. I heard you were dating.”

“Who’s dating?” Jack slides up behind Jensen and Sawyer, hanging both arms around their shoulders.

Rolling his eyes playfully, Sawyer shrugs him off, the action quickly followed by Jensen.

“I swear to God, you’ve got the hearing of an owl or something.”

Jack chews on the corner of his mouthguard. “I do when it comes to matters of the heart. Who’s getting hitched?”

Dropping his head between his shoulders, Jensen shakes it. “Fuck me, you are just like him. I need to get back to Seattle, stat.”

Almost offended, Jack’s irreverent smile falls. “Like who?”

“Who do you think? Your stepdad.”

“You are a bit like me, Jack.” Coach Morgan joins from behind, the usual iPad tucked under his arm. “Take it as the compliment it is.”

He turns to me, his business mask slipping back into place. “I know this isn’t the best time, and you guys no doubt want to head out and celebrate the win, but some team news has just been confirmed …” He pauses, looking like it’s anything but good, and I’m guessing it has something to do with our new GM. “It’s going to break to the press in the morning, and I want you all informed first.”

Sawyer raises an unimpressed brow. “Is this about what I think it is?”

Coach Morgan clears his throat, shifting anxiously. For the first time in four days, my smile falters.

There’s no way this is about me and Darcy. My face is still intact, for one thing, and my assistant captain is smiling.

“Let’s get dressed, satisfy the postgame interviews, and meet in the team briefing room. And, Bryce?”

Sawyer pauses on skating away, waiting for Coach to finish.

“Let the rest of the team know. I’ve got a call with the GM I need to make.”

“Take a seat, gentlemen.” Coach stands at the foot of the briefing table as we all pile in, dressed in postgame suits.

The palpable tension in the locker room in anticipation over whatever team news is about to be delivered is not alleviated by Coach’s tone. If anything, he sounds more pissed than he was on the ice.

“Is everything all right?” Emmett Richards asks as he balances one of his crutches against the table.

After a bad hit that twisted his knee, he was confirmed as being out for the season, and despite our excellent results, there’s no doubt we need another defenseman. Everyone’s best guess has been Noah Statham from Connecticut since he’s been killing the AHL this season.

Now, as I look at Coach’s creased brow and pursed lips, I’m not so sure that’s the case. He likes Statham, and I heard that was who he wanted as Emmett’s replacement. If he’d gotten his way, I’m confident I wouldn’t be looking at a scowl right now.

“All right, as you all know …” Coach begins. “Richards has sustained a season-ending injury, which has thrown the defense into turmoil. After all, he’s a fucking wall.”

Everyone begins laughing at the compliment because it’s true, but Coach doesn’t react, waiting for heads to refocus.

Amusement dies down quickly.

“The GM and I have been in deep discussions over a replacement and where we want to pull resources.” He takes a breath and, fuck, here goes. “There were a couple of options available to us, both internally from the AHL and externally from elsewhere in the league.”

Apart from Coach’s, every single pair of eyes darts around the room, casting glances left and right to see who knows what. I think, at this point, we all definitely know it’s not Statham.

I can tell Coach is fighting with everything he has to maintain a professional demeanor. He doesn’t like this acquisition. And neither will we.

“Aside from the rookies, I know a lot of you have played with him. Let’s just say, his style is memorable. In addition to his last name.”