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ALEXEI

First thing the next morning, I find the rookie in the gym, lifting weights. “Question for you, Walker.”

He checks his form in the mirror before starting another set. “Shoot.”

“Are you scared shitless?”

He freezes and his eyes meet mine. “What?”

“Are you scared shitless? Because this is your first year in the NHL?”

He blinks like this is the last thing he expected me to say.

All night, I thought about what she’d said. He doesn’t have a contract. He’s a free agent, so at the end of this season, Ward needs to decide what to do with him.

“Yeah. Of course I am.” His eyes dart to mine again. “This is my shot, you know? I screwed it up once and was sent back to the college team.”

Right. Darcy mentioned that when she was looking through his old game tape.

His throat works. “I don’t want that to happen again. I want to stay on the team more than anything.”

He meets my eyes, and Georgia was right—the rookie’s scared shitless.

A renewed sense of purpose courses through me. I can’t give up on this kid. More than ever, I need to help him succeed this season. I need to figure out how to get through to the rookie.

“You’ll get there,” I say for some reason. “You’re talented and smart, and if you’ve come this far, you know how to work hard. We’ll figure it out together.”

Walker gives me an odd smile, and I clear my throat, embarrassed.

“Did you actually just pay me a compliment?”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” I tell him with an eye roll. “Like I said, you have a lot of work to do.” I turn and walk away. “Don’t be late to our practice tomorrow.”

In the mirror, I see Walker salute me. “Yes, sir,” he says with that annoying cocky grin.

Determination races through me as I head to meet my trainer. How could I even consider cutting the rookie loose? I’m going to help him have an incredible season, but now I need to figure out how.

This matters to me, she said last night in the car about her program at work, about her soccer team.

Looks like I just found something that matters to me .