Page 74 of Rookie Rules

Luca completed the sets. On the last repetition his left knee drifted inward with fatigue. Rowan tapped his own knee and pointed out. Luca corrected without comment.

Care could move in both directions without anyone announcing it.

When the circuit ended, Rowan's range had improved. Owen recorded the change on his tablet and did not praise him for having a body that responded to work.

"Baseline tomorrow," Owen said. "Or you tell me."

"I will."

Owen held his gaze long enough to make the promise active.

Luca was close enough to hear. He said nothing.

After recovery, cameras waited outside the locker room for scheduled availability. The win had made the morning interesting. Rowan stood before a Wolves backdrop and answered questions about the team's defensive mistakes, Gabriel's saves, and the final play.

"Bennett showed patience," he said when a reporter asked about the drop pass. "The defense committed to his shot. He used the space behind him."

"Is that a sign he's already adapting to your game?"

"It's a sign the line read the same play."

Across the corridor, Luca was giving a separate interview. He wore a navy team shirt and the easy expression the cameras wanted. Rowan could not hear the question, only Luca's answer.

"Hale would tell you it was exactly as designed," Luca said. "He's lying, but respectfully."

The reporters laughed.

Rowan's own group looked toward him for a reaction.

"The design included him returning the puck," Rowan said.

More laughter.

Safe. Hockey. Public.

Later, in the video room, Rowan watched the winning sequence twice with the coaches. On the third viewing, he saw the instant Luca chose not to shoot. The blade opened toward the near pad, selling the attempt. The defense followed. Luca protected the puck and left it behind without looking.

Trust was visible on tape as a space between actions.

Rowan closed the clip before the celebration.

At one fifteen, he sent Luca a message.

Mobility at six. Bring dinner if you are coming over.

He read it once and considered deleting the words if you are coming over. It made the invitation sound assumed and optional at the same time.

The reply arrived before he could revise it.

What a tender summons.

Then:

Any food exclusions beyond tomatoes and joy?

Rowan typed: Nothing heavy.

Luca responded with a check mark.