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"Alright, let's switch it up! Second line, you're up!" I yelled.
As the players switched, Hoss skated up next to me. His presence was like a magnetic field, impossible to ignore. He leaned against the boards, casual as always, but I noticed he was close enough for our arms to touch.
"Looks like Eddie's fitting in pretty well," he remarked, his eyes following the action on the ice.
"Yeah, the kid's got talent. Now, if he can learn to focus that energy..." I mused, keeping my eyes on the drill but acutely aware of Hoss.
He chuckled. "Ah, focus. Not everyone's strong suit, eh?"
"Speak for yourself," I muttered, but he was right. My focus was a little off.
We were so close. Our shoulders were practically touching. It would take only a slight movement, a subtle shift, to bridge that last inch between us.
My pulse quickened, but just as I was about to give in to the impulse, a puck sailed over the boards, missing us by inches.
"Whoa! Heads up, coaches!" Jensen shouted, skating over to retrieve the errant puck.
We laughed. The near miss had snapped the tension. I pushed off the boards. "Alright, let’s get back to work. We’ve got a great team here to coach.”
Hoss grinned, the look in his eyes telling me we were far from resolving whatever was happening between us. "Guess we should stick to coaching for now, huh?"
"For now," I agreed, but as I turned to give my attention to the next drill, I couldn't shake the thought that for now was only temporary.
Hoss and I watched as the next drill started. Eddie was up again, taking a slick pass from Jensen and sending a laser of a shot toward Waller. Our goalie deflected it with a flick of his wrist, looking almost bored as he did.
"See that?" Hoss pointed with his stick, still grinning. "The kid’s got something. The way he maneuvers the puck? Textbook."
"Yeah, he's sharp, but there’s something about him," I said, narrowing my eyes as Eddie took another shot, this time slipping it past Waller's glove and into the net. The team let out a whoop of approval.
"What, you don't trust him?" Hoss asked, turning to face me.
"It's not that I don't trust him. It’s just…he's a bit of a showboat, right? Almost like he's playing for scouts instead of working with the team.”
Hoss let out a laugh. "Ah, Pete, always so serious. Can't a young player enjoy the spotlight a bit?"
"I’m all for having fun, but not at the team's expense. Flashy plays that look good but don't serve a strategic purpose could cost us."
Hoss leaned in. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure? The kid's hungry and ambitious. You, of all people, should appreciate that."
I felt a tingling sensation crawl up the back of my neck. Hoss had a point; my younger self was a lot like Eddie in attitude. I did my best to show my skills to fight my way toward the first line. Still, something nagged at me.
"We don’t need another hotshot trying to steal the show. We need a team player."
"As opposed to the two hotshots currently debating the merits of their new player?" Hoss raised an eyebrow, teasing.
I glared at him. "Hilarious. But seriously, if Eddie wants to be a Cold Pines Cougar, he needs to tone down the one-person show."
Hoss considered my statement, taking a long look at Eddie, who was now chatting it up with a couple of the guys by the bench. “How about this,” Hoss began. “We keep an eye on him during practice this week. If he's still more into showboating than passing, we set him straight."
"Deal," I said, extending my gloved hand toward him. The moment our hands connected, that unmistakable jolt zipped through me—same as always when Hoss was in arm's reach. I broke the contact, yanking my hand back like I'd touched a live wire.
"Just promise me you won't be too hard on him," Hoss said, almost pleading. "Remember, we were all young once."
"Yeah," I sighed, my eyes drifting back to Eddie, who had just executed a perfect slapshot into the net. "I remember."
"Good. Now, I’ll keep the team working hard. I’ll have them executing textbook plays for you, Coach.”
“Good, that’s what I need,” I said. I watched as Hoss skated away. He had a nonchalant slouch on the ice that I’d noticed the very first time we met. It riveted my attention every time. It was impossible to look away.
