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I know it’s not fair to compare her to Shandy but we never prioritized each other, and while I can’t condone cheating or the way she treated me at the end, I’m a big enough man to admit my part in what happened. I didn’t pay enough attention—not to her and not to the relationship. If I’m going to do this with Maya, I have to be a lot more focused on her needs.

The problem is that I don’t yet know what they are.

That’s why we’re planning to spend the day together.

I leave on a road trip the following day and will be gone a week, so we decided to maximize whatever time we have together.

“All right, boys, this is it—game one of a new season.” Coach Teller is standing behind the bench as we get ready for the first puck drop. “All the fanfare from last season is over. The only thing that matters now is this season. Now let’s get out there and show them we aren’t a fluke.”

Everything else fades away the moment I’m on the ice. It’s always been this way for me—hockey is the priority. I’m working on finding a balance but not when I’m actually on the ice. The Thunder offered me a fuck-ton of money to come play here, so I have to give them my all when I’m playing.

I’m back on the first line with Ashton, West, and Bodi.

Coach wants us to use the same system we used to win the championship, with just a few tweaks. What works in the playoffs isn’t always sustainable for the entire season, and he’s cognizant of that. Personally, I love playing for Coach Teller. He’s not even forty yet but his hockey IQ is unlike anyone I’ve ever worked with. He’s one of those people who can sense where the puck is going to go even before anyone hits it, and playing for him has helped me in that department too.

I have a pretty good sense of what’s going on with everyone around me when I’m on the ice, but Coach has helped me hone that skill. In addition, the Phantoms’ starting goalie retired last season, and the new guy—Chandler Cormier—is still getting his feet under him. He’s talented, obviously, or he wouldn’t be in the league, but he lacks the experience to carry a team like the Phantoms.

It won’t be that way for long, but the idea is to capitalize on the other teams’ weaknesses—and in the case of the Phantoms, I think it’s their goalie.

My first shot on goal goes wide, but the rebound bounces back to me and I slam it right into his glove.

Okay, he’s gained confidence over the summer.

But I’m still more experienced.

The next time the puck lands on the blade of my stick, I keep Cormier in my peripheral vision, watch him lean to the left.

So I fake right and shoot right into the now empty space he just vacated.

And the little red light goes off.

Fuck yeah!

My teammates surround me and I grin as I skate back to the bench.

It only took three minutes into the game for me to score.

Hopefully, this is the first of many this season.

* * *

We win the game 5-1, and I almost feel bad for Cormier.

Almost.

He’s a great goalie, and that will show once we get a few more games into the season.

“That’s how we show them, boys.” Coach comes into the locker room with a smile. A lot of coaches try to stay serious all the time, but not Coach Teller. He’s quick to laugh and joke with us and saves the serious stuff for when we really need it. His philosophy is that happy players are better players. I like having a coach who doesn’t feel the need to yell and rant all the time.

We’re not children, and the team pays us a lot of money to do our job.

“Practice tomorrow at ten,” he continues. “Then our first road trip. I want everyone at the airport early.” He goes on to cover some travel and general housekeeping items, and then we’re free to shower, talk to the press, and get to the family lounge to see our families.

And girlfriends.

The last time a woman waited for me in the family lounge, it was Shandy, waiting to warn me that I would be served with divorce papers in the morning.

“Please don’t make this any harder,” she said.