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I thought you were going to show off for me

So did I

It’s okay it’s just for fun

Winning is fun

This is not fun

The second period started marginally better than the first. They netted a goal, almost entirely thanks to their defenseman’s hard work. When they celebrated, neither looked happy about it. More relieved. They then got scored on in three consecutive shifts.

Henri fiddled with his phone, wondering if he should message at all. He had no idea what he could even say. There was no advice he could give, since it was clear Sokolov and Dylan weren’t on the same page. Forcing them out together was like trying to jam together two puzzle pieces from different puzzles.

“Everett,” an interviewer said, and Henri’s head whipped up at full attention. “Your team is down 5-8. You’re a prodigious scorer but have been limited to a single shot. What do you hope to change this last period?”

Dylan, normally able to mask his mood for media coverage, was grinding his teeth. “No idea what’s going on. Bad start for sure, and I know as captain that’s on me. We’ll sort it out, though. Lots of talent on the bench, just gotta use it better.”

Henri opened his phone and started typing.

“Are you texting your friends, ti-loup?” his father teased. “I’m sure they are busy now but will be glad to see your messages when the game is done.”

Dylan had already read Henri's list of lines and matchups to exploit, replying with a simple , but Henri put his phone down.

“Hopefully they will be too busy celebrating.”

His father made a face that indicated he very much doubted that would be the outcome, but didn’t want to say it.

At the beginning of the third period, Dylan came out for the first face-off, followed by not Sokolov but Novak. Henri’s father leaned forward in his seat.

“What’s this?” a commentator asked with a surprised laugh. “Aren’t they both wingers?”

“They needed to make some sort of change,” another said. “Has Dylan Everett ever even taken a face-off?”

His father turned to him. Henri shrugged. “He hasn’t,” Henri said and nodded to the TV. It was Novak at the center dot. “But Novak has.”

Novak won the face-off. And then things were much better. Novak and Dylan had no rust from seasons apart, no miscues, no second-guessing. Just beautiful passes, great chances, and, most importantly, goals. They didn’t break through until halfway into the period, but then Novak got two in one shift. When Dylan went to hug him, he wore an ear-to-ear grin and his expression was fond. A huge contrast to the goal with Sokolov.

After that, it was clear Dylan was enjoying himself again. His body was less tight, his play smoother. He also didn’t seem to care about winning anymore, since he gave up opportunity after opportunity in a clear attempt to get Novak the hat trick. Henri thought Dylan had ruined it by making it clear he would only pass, but in the last minute of the game he ripped a shot on net and Novak buried the rebound.

Even Sokolov, who didn’t look nearly as relaxed as Dylan, at least played better with Phillips, a winger from Houston. They didn’t have the kind of chemistry that Dylan and Novak did, but both ended up looking better than they’d started the game.

They ended up winning 10-9.

Thanks, that was much better

Make sure you give me a coaching credit if you win the next one

There was a short break before the East vs. West game. Henri did his best to keep his father distracted so he wouldn’t think too much about the evidence before him. The pieces were there for anyone to see, but few people knew about Henri’s sexuality. Plausible deniability was a lot easier when people assumed you were straight, and it was an easy assumption in a league with only two players out of the closet. His father knew better. Really, it would hinge on not knowing that Dylan was queer.

The next game, they ran the same lines Henri had drafted for them. They came out of the first period up 3-2, but the whole time Henri had been taking notes.

Metro team is good but most of their fire power is that Nilsson line

Get your best D minded guys against them every time

Take advantage of the other lines they’re not as stacked

Which is my best D line?