“Well, well, look who decided to show up!” Viper called out as I walked into our locker room at The House. Our first practice started in ten minutes and I’d barely made it on time.

Good start, idiot.

I stayed at Kacie’s until the last minute. Actually, way past when I was supposed to leave, but it wasn’t my fault. Sophia and Fred took the girls out for doughnuts unexpectedly. Kacie and I don’t have a lot of alone time, so when she chewed on her bottom lip and gave me a little look with those sexy green eyes, suddenly, nothing was more important than burying myself inside her one more time.

“Shut it, Sally.” I glared at him. “I told you I’d be here and I am.”

Big Mike and a few of the other guys were putting their pads on and lacing their skates up. I went around the room shaking hands and getting filled in on everyone’s summers.

Big Mike’s wife, Michelle, had finished the first part of her pregnancy and wasn’t puking anymore. They would be finding out what they were having in a couple months and he was beyond excited about it. Who knew a father could be that proud before the baby was even born?

Louie, our backup goalie, and his girlfriend broke up—again. He vowed to be a bachelor for the rest of his life and asked Viper to show him the ropes and all the best clubs around Minneapolis. Viper was all too happy for the new project. God help the both of them.

Viktor’s nine-year-old son checked another kid into the boards at his peewee hockey game and was suspended for two games. The kid needed five stitches to close his chin, so in Viktor’s eyes it was completely worth it. That crazy bastard spent so much time in our penalty box, he should’ve had his mail delivered there.

“What have you been up to, Murphy?” Louie asked as he slammed his locker shut.

“Uh, nothing really. Spent a lot of my summer up north at my girlfriend’s place.”

“That’s right. I heard you were all pussy crazed over some chick.”

Louie was young and had a big mouth, so I cut him a little slack, but any more vulgar comments about Kacie and I was going to have to show him exactly why I was the captain of the team. I didn’t like people talking about her like she was one of Viper’s insignificant whores.

“Pussy crazed is an understatement.” Viper laughed. “I barely saw this guy all fucking summer. Thought I was going to have to file a missing person’s report.”

The locker room erupted in laughter as Viper walked over and slapped me on the shoulder before shaking my hand. “You know I’m just giving you shit, bro. Good to see you.” He leaned in suspiciously for a hug and quietly said, “Coach was looking for you awhile ago. Just a heads-up. He was mumbling and kicking garbage cans, bitching about not taking this season seriously.”

I sighed and ran my hands through my hair in frustration as Viper went back to the bench and finished lacing up his skates.

Might as well get this over with.

“Come in!” Coach Collins yelled after I knocked on his office door.

“Hey, Coach.”

He looked up from his paperwork and stared at me for a second before leaning back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head. “Murphy. Wasn’t so sure I’d see you today.”

“Come on, Coach. You knew I’d be here. I’ve been here every day for five years.”

He rocked back and forth slowly in his chair, his face set in a stern glare. “You’re right, you have. I just normally see you around here more in the summer. You were a little… absent this year. It worries me.”

“I know—”

“I don’t think you do know,” he interrupted. “These guys, they depend on you, look up to you, even the older ones. You’re the anchor of this team, Murphy.”

“You think I don’t know that?” I tilted my head to the side, a little shocked by what I was hearing. “This team always has been, and will continue to be, my top priority. Yes, I have other things going on outside the rink right now—”

“I’ve heard.” He rolled his eyes.

“What the hell, Coach? Why the attitude? I said I’d be ready by opening day and I will be, just like I have been every other year. So I have a girlfriend. Big deal. Most guys on this team are either married or have girlfriends. Why am I getting the third degree?”

Coach Collins stood and walked around his desk slowly, stopping right in front of me. “Brody, you have been with this team since the minute you graduated college, and I’ve been with you longer than any other player on this team. You grew up in Minnesota. You have ice crystals and pine needles in your blood. You are Mr. Minnesota Wild. I’ve watched as you grew into a man and, eventually, a leader right before my eyes. I love you like one of my own sons.” He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes with his fingertips in exhaustion as he continued. “Your contract is up this year and I only have so much control over what happens in the front office. If you don’t perform, they’re going to trade you, and just the thought of that pisses me off. Not only do I not want to lose you as a player on this team personally, but I think you’re talented and you deserve to finish up your career here, in your state, however many years away that might be.”

Coach Collins issued me the same roundabout warning that Viper had. They were both nervous that my head would be so far in the clouds it would interfere with my game play and I would end up traded. While I appreciated their concern, it was a non-issue for me. Kacie didn’t complicate my life, she simplified it. She made me want to do better.

I looked him straight in the eye, attempting to drive home my sincerity. “I’m good, Coach. I promise.” I extended my right hand to him.

He looked down at my hand then back up at me, nodding slightly as he shook it.

“I hope so, Murphy. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t. And thank you for considering me one of your sons.” I tried not to laugh. “Now, can I borrow twenty bucks? Me and Viper wanna go see a movie later.”

Coach rolled his eyes and pushed me toward the door of his office. “I’m not sure which one of you two idiots is going to give me a heart attack first.” He walked around behind his desk and sat down as he pointed to the door. “Out. Go block things. I’ll be down in a bit.”

The first practice of the season always kicked my ass and this year’s was no exception. I work out hard in the off-season and keep in shape, but actual practice is a different kind of workout. Knowing that it was an important contract year for me, I felt even more pressure to block every single shot and focus harder than I ever had before.

After taking Diesel for a walk, I sat down on the couch and saw that I had a missed call.

I dialed my mom back and smiled when her cheery voice picked up. “Hello, my favorite son.”

“Your only son,” I teased.

“If I had ten sons, you’d still be my favorite.”

I laughed. “How are ya, Mom?”

“Good. Busy, busy as usual. How about you?”

“Exhausted. First practice was today and my legs are on fire.” I pushed my palms into my sore quads, trying to give them some relief while suddenly wishing Kacie were going to school to be a massage therapist instead of a nurse. “I’m dreading standing in the shower after this.”