Page 28 of The Play Maker

I’ve landed it in drills, in slow practice runs.

But never at speed.

Today, maybe.

I gather speed along the boards, my arms tight against my body, keeping my breath even, and push into the rotation, but my toe pick clips the ice, and I go down hard.

My breath punches out of me as I slide to a stop.

I lie there for a second. Not because I’m hurt. Just… stunned. And tired. And maybe a little humiliated.

Coach’s voice cuts across the rink. “Maisie, get that right hip up! Think about getting your butt through the jump. You’re sitting back too early.”

I wince, nod, and push up from the ice.

“Nice one, Carly,” Coach calls out to one of the other girls. “Way to hold the landing!”

I stand, and try again.

Skating is a ton of repetition. You fail, you try again. You fall, you fix your edges, your timing, your damn hips, and you go again.

On the next attempt, I over-rotate. The landing is too wide. My blade wobbles, and I have to put a hand down to stop the fall.

I circle back into position. Breathe. Focus. Try again.

On the third attempt, I drive through the takeoff, push my hips forward, and remember Coach’s words. My arms lock in, core pulled tight. I spin once, twice, then half again and land clean.

I glide out, my pulse hammering, heart in my throat.

Holy shit…I did it. I actually landed it.

“Better,” Coach says, nodding once in my direction.

I blow out a breath, unable to keep the smile off my face.

I want to tell someone. I want to text Six and say,You won’t believe what I just did.

But I can’t. I can’t tell him I skate. That’s the rule. No names. No real details.

Just secrets. Just confessions.

And this? This is a piece of me he’s not allowed to know.

But still.

Maybe I don’t look like I belong here.

But I do. Even if I have to say it a hundred times to believe it—I belong here.

And I just proved it.

7

AUSTIN

Some days, I swear the world is out to wring me dry.

By the time I get home, I’m fried. Physically, mentally—whatever other kind of “-ly” there is. Classes, gym, and then practice on top of it. My head’s still spinning when I push open the door and step inside.