Page 31 of Penalty Kill

I could tell myself that it didn’t mean anything, but it mattered, at least to me.

“We missed you too.” There. We. I volleyed back to him, letting him take control. He could steer this in whatever direction he wanted.

“Oh did you?”

I nodded. “We had a good time, but it would have been fun to have you there.”

He ducked his head. “That’s one of the hardest parts about my job. I miss out on so much.”

“I don’t think they see it like that. They miss you, sure, but they’re so proud of you. We watched all the games and they cheered you on like crazy. I think they understand it’s your job, but when you’re home, you’re there for them.”

“I’m trying.”

“You’re doing a pretty good job.” It seemed like he needed that reassurance quite a bit. He told me before he hired me that he wanted to do better for them. I could tell he was doing his very best, and if the boys didn’t already know that, they would eventually.

“Thanks, Syd.”

That was the first time he’d called me that. It felt familiar. Personal. I tried not to react.

“Anytime, Dad.” I caught on to the nickname at the game and waited for the perfect time to use it.

He cringed. “Not you too.”

I laughed. “I can’t call you that. It’s too weird.”

“Thank you. I get enough of it from the team.”

“Is it weird being one of the older guys on the team?” I’d done the math and he was only a few years older than me, but according to my research in the NHL, that was a veteran age.

“It does feel like the rookies get younger and younger each year while I stay the same, but then again, it feels like I’ve been playing forever. Way longer than just thirteen years.”

“I can’t believe all you’ve done,” I paused. “You’ve accomplished so much.”

His eyes searched my face. “And living in like thirty different cities isn’t something to brag about?”

“Forty-five.”

His brows shot up. “Really?”

I nodded. “I told you I moved a lot.”

“Yeah.” He blew out a breath. “I guess I didn’t realize what an understatement that was. What’s been your favorite?”

“Each city was a new, exciting experience. There were times when I found good, stable jobs that required a normal forty hour work week. I didn’t love those as much as when I had more free time. I was a waitress in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. That was an unforgettable experience.” I smiled at the wild nights that seemed to last forever. “But if I had to narrow it down to the top three, I’d say Pittsburgh, Savanna, and Key West.”

“That’s quite a diverse group.”

“It’s all about the people.” I tiled my head toward the sun. “They make all the difference.”

“I agree,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ve heard of teams that hated each other, or had rivalries or drama with the guys. I can’t imagine having to live with that. It would make playing more of a chore and truly a job rather than my passion. I’m lucky the Fury is my home because we have such a great dynamic. We’re truly a family.”

“You are lucky you found that.”

He stared at me for a moment. “What do you want?”

“What do you mean?” I glanced away. “That’s a loaded question.”

“Committing to staying here seemed hard on you. You want to continue to travel and move around. Why?”