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The ocean. The weather. The food. My friends. Maybe one day, I’d move back, but for now, I was enjoying my life in Minnesota. I loved my teammates, and I was excited to see where this next season would take us. Hopefully, all the way to winning the Walter Cup for the second time in my career.

“Maybe you can give me some advice, then,” Carson said. “You know, since you’re such a fan of the team.”

“Well…” I considered what I knew of Carson’s style of play. I’d watched enough games for both the Raccoons and the Hawks, that I had a decent feel for his strengths and weaknesses. “You could improve your mobility and work on your gap control instead of relying so much on penalties to stop rush attacks.”

“Wow. Okay. I wasn’t asking for playing advice, but that’s…” He fell quiet briefly, perhaps absorbing the information. “Good to know, actually.”

“What kind of advice were you asking for, then?” I asked, unwilling to apologize or retract my statement. I’d said what I’d said, and I didn’t regret it. If anything, I was surprised by how graciously he’d accepted my critique.

Carson leaned back, resting his arm on the back of the seat. “Is this conversation off the record?”

I laughed. “It was never on the record. I’m not a reporter.”

“No, but you host a popular podcast with your brother, who also happens to despise me.”

“I would never tell anyone—even Levi—something told to me in confidence. And certainly not for personal gain.”

In all likelihood, I would never mention this conversation to my brother. I didn’t like to keep secrets from Levi, but I also didn’t tell him everything.

Carson held my gaze and seemed to consider it a moment. He peered down into his beer as if it held all the answers. I briefly thought he wasn’t going to tell me what was bothering him, and I found myself oddly disappointed.

“You said you’re friends with some of the Hawks, right?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’ve interviewed some of the guys for the podcast, and we’ve hung out when I visit Bryn.” I knew Boone from when he and Levi had played together briefly a few years ago. “And Frasier, Derek, Bryn, and I went to Dartmouth together.”

“Shit.” Carson’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” He glanced away briefly, swallowing hard.

“It’s okay,” I said, not wanting to dwell on Derek’s death. I never knew how to respond when someone offered their condolences.

Yes, I mourned his loss, but it was nothing compared to what Bryn had endured. Derek and Bryn had been college sweethearts, married soon after. They were the perfect couple, and suddenly he’d died. His life had just been starting, and then it was over. No one had seen it coming.

Carson furrowed his brow. “Maybe I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”

“Hey, we both know I want the Hawks to succeed. I’d be happy to help, but I’m not entirely sure what the issue is.”

He let out a long exhale, assessing me as if to determine whether this was a good idea or not. And then he said, “Maybe I just haven’t found my place yet on the team, but I can’t seem to make any inroads with the guys. I’ve changed teams before, so I’m not new to this. But I’d love any insight on how to ingratiate myself with this team. With these guys, in particular.”

I wondered if he was always this candid, or if it was the alcohol or the atmosphere. I was surprised he was trusting me, someone he barely knew. Especially considering his history with my brother.

But my brother was miles from here. It was dark and quiet on the water, the waves lapping at the hull. The music from the party was more muted, making it seem as if we were alone in the world.

Carson’s request seemed genuine, and I found myself wanting to help. If nothing else, I wanted to help the Hawks. They were my hometown team, and I wanted to see them—and all my friends who played on the team—succeed.

“The team has been through a lot,” I said, thinking of all the changes the Hawks had encountered in the past few years. Derek’s death. A new head coach. “And it can be difficult to let in someone new.”

Carson nodded, his expression contemplative.

“I think you just have to keep showing up. Be there for them. Let them see that they can rely on you, and that you’ll have their backs.”

He blew out a breath. “So, basically…give it time.”

“Yeah. I’m sure that’s not the answer you wanted to hear, but sometimes it takes time to form that bond with your team and build that chemistry. I’m sure you know that from the other teams you’ve played on. It’s just like any other relationship. Figure out what makes them tick. For instance, Frasier comes off as a grumpy bear, but if you ask him about his dogs, he’s a total softy.”

Carson chuckled. “That’s true. What else?”

I tapped a finger to my lips, considering. “Boone is a massive foodie.”

“Yeah. He’s a hockey player. We love to eat.”