Page 180 of Rookie Rules

Luca tipped one red leather sneaker into view. "He understands they bring life to the organization."

"I understand nothing can be done," Rowan said.

Cal nodded gravely. "Acceptance is important in recovery."

In the room, Finn occupied his stall with the calm of a man who had been waiting to become unbearable.

"Carpool," he said.

"Efficiency," Rowan answered.

"Domestic efficiency?"

Rowan set down his rehabilitation bag. "Do you have a hockey question?"

"Several. None as urgent."

Jace glanced between them. "Wait. Is this why Bennett now knows Hale owns a blue bathrobe?"

Luca had mentioned the robe during a team group chat after Rowan refused to approve a postgame restaurant because of weather. It had seemed harmless at the time.

The room became interested.

Rowan turned slowly toward him.

"It might have come up," Luca said.

Eli, taping a stick two stalls away, frowned in concentration. "Who is in charge at home?"

Luca smiled.

"Don't answer that," Rowan said immediately.

The room broke into laughter.

No one asked what home meant. Finn caught Luca's eye and lifted his chin once. Nolan hid a smile while adjusting his knee brace. Mateo demanded five dollars from Jace for reasons neither would explain.

Rowan sat at his stall, shaking his head, but he did not correct the premise. He did not say Luca had his own apartment. He did not turn the joke into a misunderstanding everyone was required to accept.

Luca felt the behavioral proof more deeply than any announcement could have reached.

Privacy meant the room did not receive details.

Denial would have required Rowan to erase the truth.

He had chosen the first.

Vale called the team to video. Rowan joined the coaches at the back, still a player but temporarily unable to lead from the ice. He offered two observations and allowed the second-line center to explain the adjustment that had worked without him.

Luca watched that act of restraint cost Rowan something and give the team more.

On the ice, practice moved with the energy of a group playing above .500 since the night Rowan went down without confusing stabilization for arrival. Rowan returned to center on managed repetitions, and Finn directed traffic whenever Owen pulled Rowan early from a drill. Luca attacked the weak-side seam one exchange later than he had in the previous game and scored before the goalie could cross.

From the bench after his shortened repetition, Rowan tapped two fingers against the boards.

Better timing.

Luca raised one glove in acknowledgment and returned to the drill.