Page 365 of Power Play

“I support cross-organizational wellness.”

Coach looked at his swollen lip and then at my black eye. “What happened?”

“Hockey,” Briggs and I answered together.

Coach’s gaze flattened. “That answer would concern me less if Briggs played hockey here.”

“He trespassed,” I said.

“And Ryan responded with community outreach,” Briggs added.

Coach closed his eyes for one long second before pointing at the cooler. “How many beers?”

“One each,” Cade answered.

“Keep it that way.”

No one argued. Coach pointed at me next, and I straightened despite the pain pulling through my ribs.

“You ready for tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

His eyes moved over my face. “That wasn’t a casual question.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know what’s happening, Decker, and I don’t need the personal details. I need to know whether it follows you onto my ice tomorrow.”

“Everything follows me onto the ice.”

Coach’s jaw tightened.

“I’ve been playing since I was eight,” I continued. “Nothing in my life stays off the ice. I take it with me, and I use it.”

“This is the biggest game of your career.”

“I know.”

“Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Washington will all be watching.”

“I know who’s coming.”

“Then tell me you can control whatever this is.”

I looked through the glass doors behind him toward the tunnel leading to the rink. The ice waited on the other side, holding every version of me I’d ever been: the hungry kid, the angry teenager, the foster placement no one expected to graduate, the KFU player people called dangerous because they didn’t understand how much discipline violence required, and the Frost left wing who’d built a future from everything meant to bury him.

Charm wouldn’t become the first wound strong enough to take that away.

“Nothing affects the ice the way people think it does,” I said. “Since I was eight, everything has fueled it.”

Coach studied me before giving a slow nod. “Make sure this fuels you forward. I don’t need you trying to put somebody through the boards because his jersey reminds you of whoever you’re pissed at.”

“Depends on the jersey.”

“Decker.”

“I’m ready.”