Page 79 of What If We Break?
I saw myself at the Frozen Four, sirens shrilling through the arena as the timer ran out and my team lost. Second place. The first loser.
Now, that was painful, so I knew second place in figure skating was as well.
“We’ll get first place next time,” Brooke said quietly, nudging me softly. “Being the best would be great, but we’ll have more chances. This was just the first—a practice run if you will.”
“What? Oh, yeah, sure. Practice run.”
33
REECE
“You’re late,” Coach spoke harshly as I rushed into the film room to watch some tapes. “Again.”
“I’m sorry.” For the first half of November, I hadn’t been early for practice a single time. I wasn’t evenontime. Either I was stuck in a gym with Brooke, going over stunts and whatnot to improve our performance and tweak a few things, or I was at the arena… just not with my team.
Like today. I was on the ice when my teammates were starting to show up. I was still on the ice when Coach said we were watching some tapes before going over a new strategy for tomorrow’s game.
I was still on the ice when they were in the film room.
“This is unacceptable, Carter.” Coach paused the video. “You used to be one of the top players on the team, and now I’m not even sure it’s worth keeping you on the team. You’re unreliable. Your head’s far from in the game when you’re on the ice. You’re a no-show to games. You fell from the top right to the bottom. And for what, Carter?”
Well, I couldn’t tell him that it was because of my fiancée and her dream to make it to the Grand Prix. Then again, Coach knew I was skipping to skate withBrooke.
“I’m sorry, Coach. I’ll do better,” I promised, unsure whether I could keep it.
As the captain, I knew I had let the team down, especially with playoffs getting closer. I had to find a way to balance my commitment to the team and support Brooke in achieving her dream.
It was harder said than done, though.
Coach’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, his disappointment palpable. “I hope so, Carter. Because if you don’t step up soon, I’ll have no choice but to bench you or even let you go entirely. This team needs players who are fully dedicated, not ones who have their priorities elsewhere.”
His words hit me like a slap in the face. I knew he was right, though, so I couldn’t have been mad even if I had wanted to.
I had been neglecting my responsibilities to the team, and it was time I at least tried to be a better captain again.
“Now, take a seat,” Coach commanded, pointing at a chair in the front row.
I nodded, the weight of his words still sitting pretty heavy in my stomach as I found my seat among my teammates.
The room was silent as Coach restarted the video, dissecting our previous game play-by-play. Every mistake, every missed opportunity, was magnified on the screen, a harsh reminder of how far we had strayed from our potential.
The next time Coach paused the video and zoomed in, it was me on the screen. I could feel Coach’s disappointment way before he commented on what I did wrong at our game two days ago.
“This moment right here, this is where you could have turned the game around for us. But instead, you let it slip right through your fingers,” he said, making sure to look right at me.
I felt a wave of shame wash over me as the video resumed, and I had to watch the replay of my missed shot which could’ve been the game-winning goal. Looking at it now, I could see how easily I was able to score, but in that moment, my head was too busy worrying about Brooke’s competition the following day.
I clenched my jaw, trying to maintain a stoic expression as Coach continued to insult me. But I deserved it.
By the time we were done watching tapes and going over tomorrow’s game plan, I knew I had my work cut out for me. I knew I had to make the game count, win it, and prove to everyone on the team that I was worth still being their captain.
Guess that didn’t work out.
“Why can’t we get this right?!” Brooke groaned in anger as she dropped down on the ice.
Her frustration was evident in every inch of her body, her chest rising and falling rapidly with each heavy breath she took.
I took a quick glance at the clock, sighed, and then crouched down next to her, laying a hand on her back as we both stared out onto the empty rink.
