Page 10 of Rookie Rules

Luca changed his route. Instead of challenging Rowan's body, he slipped outside, used his teammate as a moving screen, and stole half a step of space. Rowan recovered in time to disrupt the shot, but Luca had already adjusted to the lesson.

Also good.

Annoyingly good.

By the end of the session, the old pain had risen from background to persistent static. Rowan stayed through the last rep. He always stayed through the last rep.

Vale blew the final whistle and called the group to center. Players gathered around him, breathing hard, blades shifting over shredded ice.

"Tomorrow we start looking at combinations," Vale said. "Today gave us plenty to work with. Recovery schedule is posted. Be ready for video at eight."

His gaze traveled across the group and paused, briefly, between Rowan and Luca.

Rowan saw it.

So did Finn.

Luca pushed his visor up. A line of damp hair had fallen across his forehead. He was listening to Vale, but when the coach dismissed them, his attention moved directly to Rowan.

The question from the goal remained.

Did you see it?

Yes.

There was the problem.

Players turned toward the gate. Rowan waited while Eli collected two loose pucks and nearly lost one beneath his skate. Across the zone, Luca stayed behind to lift another puck with the toe of his blade and drop it into the bucket.

A small thing.

Possibly performed because Rowan was watching.

Possibly not.

Vale came to stand beside Rowan as the ice emptied.

"Subtle," he said.

"He missed the read."

"He made a goal out of nothing."

"Both are true."

Vale looked toward Luca, who had reached the gate and was arguing with Jace about who had won a drill no one had scored.

"That presents a problem," Vale said.

Rowan watched number 88 disappear into the tunnel.

He could still reconstruct the first goal. The impossible lane. The release before Benji's feet set. The choice that should have failed and had not.

"No," Rowan said. "It presents work."

Vale's glance touched him, measuring.

Rowan collected the last puck and set it in the bucket.