Page 54

“Mack would have it.”

“He’d complain about the pass.”

“He complains as a love language.”

Brick takes a drink. “True.”

Astrid is looking at my feet. “Again.”

Roman resets. This time he squares his grip and shifts his weight later. Better disguise.

I glance at her. She’s watching his hips now.

Good.

Maren drops.

Roman drives through the middle. I let him have the first inch, turn his blade, and pull the puck to my forehand.

My right shoulder follows half a beat behind the rest of me.

I feel it.

She sees it.

“Again,” I say before she can.

“No.”

“One cleaner rep.”

“I have what I need.”

Roman looks between us and wisely says nothing.

I settle another puck under my blade. “I can give you the movement without the miss.”

“I did not ask for the version you can make look better.”

The words sit clean between us.

Brick becomes suddenly fascinated by his coffee.

I could take the draw anyway. I know exactly how to make the next one clean. Open earlier, keep the elbow in, move the problem somewhere nobody can see it. I’ve been doing that for two years and I’m better at it than I am at hockey.

Astrid is waiting to see what I pick.

I send the puck toward Eddie’s bucket.

It lands inside.

Roman groans. “That was showing off.”

I skate for the gate. “Baseline excellence.”

Her mouth moves at one corner.

This time I get the smile.