Page 11

Max

We’d traveled to Reno for the weekend game, but it was an afternoon game, so we’d be home early. As we rode the bus there, I pushed the plans I’d made with Ruben out of my head as I focused on the plays we’d gone over this week. I still couldn’t believe I’d played the first game last weekend but just before the second game Vanel was cleared to play.

Sitting on the bench sucked but it gave me time to heal and when I wasn’t watching the game I could watch Ruben. He might have been new to being a team doctor, but it didn’t show. He was professional and very adept at handling any injuries that occurred, including when Wright dislocated his shoulder. “How’s your knee?” Jarin asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“It’s great. I hate to admit it but taking the last two games off gave me enough time to heal. It’s better than I would have expected.” I stretched it as much as I could in the small space and was happy it still felt good.

“That’s great news,” he said and settled into the seat next to me. “You should be ready to play today then,” he said.

“Yeah, more than ready.” I knew Vanel wanted to play as much as I did so unless his wrist was injured again, I didn’t hold out much hope of playing. “How are you feeling about today’s game?”

He smirked at me before answering. “I think we’ll wipe the floor with them. We might be a young team, but we’re a team . They’ve been together for a while but there’s a lot of animosity between the players.”

“I thought they worked all that out,” I said. The Silver Strikes had many internal battles, one of them was the sale of the team to someone who had never owned a hockey team and had no clue how to build the team. The captain had been demoted, and a new player was now captain. A change the whole team protested at every game.

He took his phone out and passed it to me. “Press play,” he said.

The video was of a hockey game, and I recognized the Silver Strikes center. As soon as he had the puck in his possession, he passed it to one of his teammates who passed it back. He then passed it right to the forward on the other team. One of the other players pushed him with his stick and lifted his hand up asking what the hell he was doing. The two of them started arguing while the play moved to their goal, but they were too wrapped up in their disagreement. “When was this?” I asked without looking away.

“Last weekend,” he said. The two players escalated their argument until both of them were tugging at each other’s jersey before hands were thrown. The other team skated at the far end of the ice while all the Silver Strikes were on the ice and either joining the fight or trying to pull players apart.

“They’re fighting their own players?” I asked.

“Oh yes, it was a complete shitshow,” he said without humor.

“I’ve never seen that happen before.” I couldn’t look away as the fight intensified, and finally the referees got involved. “Wow. I don’t even know what to make of that.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy. Rumor is they’re going to totally reform the team and start over.”

“I’m glad that’s not us,” I said and slumped down in my seat to catch a little sleep. Thoughts of Ruben ran through my mind like they had every time I closed my eyes lately. We hadn’t been able to spend any time together this week with practice and just the general craziness of getting ready for a game. But tonight, we had a date planned, and I couldn’t wait.

Staff were in a few separate vehicles, something I’d never noticed or cared about before, but today I wished he was at least in the same vehicle. After that I dozed off, and the next time I woke up we were slowing down to get off the freeway. “That didn’t take long at all,” I said and watched as we drove past the casino district and across town to where the arena was located.

“No, it didn’t. We should be home early enough to go out tonight,” Jarin said. “Do you have plans?”

“Possibly,” I said while he waited for me to say more.

“Come on, I need details. When did you have time to meet someone?”

“I didn’t,” I whispered.

“It’s someone on the team?” he asked and looked from seat to seat.

“God no,” I said, again making him look around the bus.

“Staff?” he whispered.

“Don’t say anything. I don’t want either of us to have any trouble and we haven’t even gone out together.” I glanced around but no one was paying us any attention. Jarin leaned in closer just in case.

“I’ll keep your secret, but I want to know who it is,” he said and stared at me hard like he thought he could crack me open with sheer will.

“It’s Ruben,” I finally said.

“The new doctor?”

“Yeah, he helped me out with my injuries after the game. I really like him,” I said, suddenly feeling the need to defend him.

He thought about it a moment before lifting his shoulder in a shrug. “Whatever, just be careful. I’m not sure how Coach would feel about that.”

“Do you think I should talk to him? I don’t want to keep it from him, but I don’t want him to let one of us go either.”

“I’d wait on that,” he said, and I wondered why he would say that but instead of asking, I nodded. I wasn’t ready to leave the Titans, and I didn’t think Ruben was either. It was just the start of our careers, but I couldn’t ignore the connection I felt with him.