Page 26 of Puck Fest
Managing you.
How’s that working for you?
The dots appear and disappear three more times. I watch them, grinning like an idiot, waiting to see what he’ll say.
Still figuring that out.
I put the phone down on the coffee table, lean back, and stare at the ceiling.
Whatever this is, it’s not stopping.
And I’m done pretending I want it to.
CHAPTER 8
NOAH
The practice facilityis quiet when I arrive at 9:30 AM.
Turns out the Raptors wrapped up their morning skate an hour ago to clear the facility before the event. The main rink sits empty, Zamboni marks still fresh on the ice.
I set up in the auxiliary rink when my phone buzzes with a text from the rink manager.
Kids start arriving at 9:45. You're all set in Rink B.
I respond with a thumbs up and go back to organizing.
I shouldn't have responded to his texts last night. Now I'm paying for it.
Masterson shows up at 9:50. Early, like always. He's wearing Raptors practice gear and has his bag flung over his shoulder. He looks relaxed in a way that makes my job so much harder.
"Morning," he says.
"Morning." I don't look up from my clipboard. "Kids arrive in five minutes. Same structure as last week. Defensive positioning, teamwork basics, age-appropriate drills."
“Got it.” He drops his bag by the bench, sits down, and laces uphis skates. “This facility will be great for the kids. They’ll have more space than at the downtown rink.”
“Itisan NHL practice facility,” I say drily. “It should be better.”
Masterson laughs. “Yup. Makes sense.”
Then silence creeps in. He’s looking at me, I can feel it. And no doubt, he’s waiting for me to say something else to keep the conversation going.
I don’t.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Fine. Just focused on the schedule.”
“Right. The schedule.”
He finishes lacing his skates and heads onto the ice to warm up. I watch him…professionally and objectively, of course…as he skates a few laps, testing the ice and getting comfortable.
He moves well. With confidence. Like the ice is where he’s meant to be.
I force myself to look back at my clipboard.
The kids start arriving promptly at ten. Parents drop them off, and the space is quickly filled with excited chatter and equipment bags dragging on the floor. I check them in, hand out name tags, and make sure everyone’s got their waivers signed.
