Page 34 of Pucked Together

I pick up my stick and make my way to the stands where Coach is waiting for us.

The rest of the team is rooted in place, but once Coach Murray looks at them, they continue running their drills.

"Why are my players turning on each other? This isn't the kind of energy we need going into the season. Care to tell me what the beef is?"

We stay silent. Our eyes are all glaring at each other to see who will break.

It's Keelan who does. "Coach, why is Sincaid here?"

Trevor chuckles to himself, and I shove him in his side.

"Enough," Coach says to me. "And I was getting ready to announce that, Landry—right before I saw you four throwing down on my ice."

Keelan and I exchange glances.

Coach blows his whistle, and the team stops skating in their tracks and hustles over to join us.

"Heatwave! The GMs have worked a deal. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jessie Teagan is no longer able to continue to play for us. He's needed back home in California urgently. Which means...I'd like for you all to meet your new left defenseman, Trevor Sincaid."

Trevor stands and bows triumphantly.

"Sit down, Sincaid, I'm not done with you."

Coach turns back to everyone. "He's one of ours now, so I expect him to be treated as such. That being said, Monday is Teagan's last game with us. We'll be sending him off with a farewell after at the Breakaway. I expect full participation. Understood?"

The team answers in unison. "Yes, coach."

"Good, now get back to work." He blows his whistle again, and the team hustles off.

"Now, back to you four. Someone care to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Coach, if I may?" Hicks speaks up. I quickly shoot daggers at him, but he ignores me and stands. "It looks like there's one common denominator here."

Keelan inhales deeply, trying his best to keep his composure.

"And what's that?" Coach asks, eyes bouncing to each of us.

"Isabella Landry."

"The new photographer?" Coach Murray raises an eyebrow in surprise.

Hicks nods with pursed lips, and I have the sudden urge to knock out a few more of his teeth.

"And how does this involve Ms. Landry?"

If I don't do anything, the beef between Sincaid and Keelan will come out, and Izzy's professionalism will be questioned. Or Hicks will say something stupid and make matters even worse.

In a split second, the words fly out of me. "We're dating, Coach." The second they came out, I knew I'd have hell to pay.

Keelan's head shoots back in my direction, and I don't look at him.

"You and Ms. Landry are..."

"Dating, yes," I say calmly.

"You know you'll need to take this up with management to ensure all the proper disclosures are in place?"

"Yes, Coach."