Page 125 of Rookie Rules

"Keeping someone private and making him disappear are not the same thing," he said. "I hope you learned that before asking anyone else to live with the difference."

"You don't know anything about him."

"No. I know something about you."

Graham picked up his briefcase. "Take care of the hip. You shift your weight when it hurts. You always did."

He rejoined the Morrow Ridge group without another glance toward Luca.

Rowan stayed by the counter until Claire found him.

"We lost you twice tonight," she said quietly. "Luca covered the demonstration, but the foundation chair noticed."

"I was speaking with the partner's counsel."

"Then tell me before you leave a scheduled station. I can move the program."

The correction was deserved. That made it harder to absorb.

"Understood."

Claire softened by a degree. "Are you all right?"

"Yes."

Her attention dipped toward the leg he had begun protecting. "Priya would object to how quickly you answered."

"It is stiffness."

"That wasn't the only question."

The foundation chair joined them before Rowan could respond. She thanked Luca for rescuing the relay and asked whether he would return for the first Saturday clinic after the rink opened.

"If the schedule allows," Luca said, turning to Claire rather than Rowan.

"We will make a request through hockey operations," Claire answered.

The chair moved on, pleased.

Normally Luca would have asked Rowan whether the clinic fit his recovery plan. He had spent weeks objecting to mentorship while consulting Rowan on nearly every professional choice. Tonight he bypassed him without drama. Claire handled the logistics. Luca accepted the opportunity. Nothing broke.

Rowan had wanted him independent. He had not expected independence to feel like watching his own usefulness narrow.

Rowan took the microphone when the foundation chair called him for closing remarks.

He thanked Morrow Ridge, the city, the coaches, and the families. He praised Luca for adapting the demonstration. The crowd applauded. Luca accepted the recognition with an easy half bow, but nothing in his face offered Rowan absolution.

During the final photographs, a boy asked whether Rowan and Luca practiced together every day.

"Most days," Rowan said.

"Does he teach you everything?" the boy asked Luca.

Luca settled a signed cap on the boy's head. "He teaches me to check the whole ice before I decide."

It sounded complimentary. Rowan knew it was also a test he was failing.

They did not speak again until the parking level. Concrete amplified the closing of car doors and the distant roll of equipment cases.