LOGINJade sat down on his couch. He was now clad in a black t-shirt and ash jogger pants. His eyes were fixed on the coffee table. The suspension letter sat right on it. A few feet away, Mendez was pacing a relentless track back and forth across the floor. His phone was pressed hard to his ear , his face tight with anxiety and protective uncle-fury."Look, I don't care if the GM is in a meeting, you pull him out right fucking now!" Mendez hissed into the phone."You don't suspend people without giving his representation a formal notification. This is bulls!"Mendez snapped the phone shut. He ran a hand through his hair, turning to pace back toward the window before his phone immediately vibrated again. He held it up, cursed under his breath and swiped to answer."Yeah this is Mendez. Now, I told you, we aren't releasing a statement to the press yet..."Before Mendez could finish his sentence, the front door unlocked and it swung open.Jade's body went completely rigid on the couch. M
"What do you mean, I'm suspended, Declan?" Jade's voice shook with a mix of panic and pure rage.He slammed the heavy paper on the desk. His knuckles turning white."For what?"Declan didn't flinch. He leaned back m in his chest, his hands clasped tightly over his stomach."It didn't come from me, Jade. It's from the management" "Then call the Management. What exactly am I being suspended for? This is stupid" Jade echoed."Keep your voice down, Riccio! I'm still your Coach and I'm telling you my hands are tied. if you want answers, you talk to the board but as of right now, you're officially off the ice" Declan warned.Jade stood there, his chest heaving under his jersey."That's bull! You don't just hand a guy an immediate suspension without a reason." Jade yelled.He pointed his finger at Declan."You'll hear from my manager"And with that, he turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door down hard that the wall shook.He was still boiling as he headed down the hallway."
The next day at training. The team was just finishing up a brutal two-hour morning practice, but Jade had been skating like a man possessed from the second his blades hit the ice.He skates with reckless, terrifying aggression. During simple puck-handling drills, he took unnecessary risk, slicing across lanes and throwing his body into tight corners with zero regard for his own safety. And when it's like to shoot, he wasn't aiming for the net, he was winding up and blasting the puck so violently it rattled the glass like a gunshot, echoing loudly through the empty rink.Soon, the entire team was tired. Players were leaning on their sticks for support."Alright, take five!" Assistant coach, Horn yelled.Immediately, most of the players sluggishly dragged their skates toward the benches to collapse. They skunked into the chairs, ripping their helmets off to wipe the sweats off their face.Jade dragged his skates over to a bench, and collapsed on it. He ripped his heavy gloves off wi
Mendez's SUV sped away from the Miller's home. Inside the car, Jade pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the passenger window. He stared out Into the pitch black countryside, watching few trees flash past under the sweep of headlights.For the first ten minutes, Mendez didn't say a single word . His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his eyes locked on the empty highway."You have no idea what today has been like for me, Jade" Mendez said, his voice dropping low."I'm sorry" Jade said, still keeping his eyes on the passing darkness."Sorry doesn't cut it this time. I thought something terrible had happened to you, I called every hospital to check if you had been admitted but got no response. I had no choice than to call your mother" Mendez said."You shouldn't have involved her" Jade said."I had to, Jade. She's my sister, my only sister and she handed you over to me years ago, so I can watch over you. Do you know what it felt like to listen to my own sister break d
"Jade" Mendez roared, his voice exploding into the whole house.Jade flinched, instinctively stepping back. Mendez didn't wait for an invitation. He stormed into the house. He threw a sharp, murderous look around the whole house, until it landed on Elliot still sitting at the dining table with the Millers family.Elliot froze. Mendez didn't even look back at Elliot, he snapped his attention right back to Jade, stepping into his personal space."I have been looking for you all day! All damn day , Jade! Do you have any idea what went through my head when you just vanished into thin air?" Mendez shouted, throwing his hands up and down in aggressive gestures.Jade stood still. His hands hung limp at his sides. He dared not talk. in all the time he had known Mendez he has never seen the man angry like this."Your mom has been panicking. And before you asked me how she knows. I called her to check if you were there because I couldn't find you. The poor woman thinks something has happened t
The miller's living room was dark and cool, smelling faintly of old wood and cushion. Elliot and Jade sat on the couch that sunk low under their weight. They had managed to wash the dust from their faces and hands but the damp clothes still hugged their skin.Ryan sat across from them in a heavy rocking chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees."Silas is on it. He called me ten minutes ago, said your car's alternator looks shot but he has a spare one in his workshop" Ryan said."We can't thank you enough, Ryan. we're practically hooked right now and we can't miss tomorrow." Elliot said, his voice tight."Oh, come on. Don't sweat it. In a small town like this, you help people out when they're stuck. Besides you two look like you're really sweet" Ryan smiled, waving off the gratitude."So, are you guys like.... together or what?" he asked."we're...no....we" Elliot started."Actually...." Jade stammered.They stopped."We're just business partners" Elliot said quickly."Right
The next morning was good.Which was the weirdest and funniest part.Jade sat at the kitchen island, one elbow resting against the marble countertop as he watched Elliot move around the kitchen.Apparently, the man can cook.Annoyingly well.A frying pan flipped in Elliot's hand before landing p
Jade pulled open his wardrobe, grabbing a random hoodie and sweatpants. Without turning, he tossed them at Elliot. "Wear that" Elliot caught them easily. "Just one damn night and this will never happen again" Jade muttered, grabbing a towel and running it through his hair. "Bathroom's ther
"Don't touch him" Elliot said, his voice low and dangerous. The crowd roared chaosly, across the rink.The ref blows the whistle sharply."Hey! Break it up!" He skated in fast, squeezing himself between them as other players started crowding in.Santamario held his jaw, eyes burning.Jade's chest
Jade stood at the entrance to the rink, hands on his hips, body leaning on the wall. The glass door in front of him reflected the bright lights inside, the cheers of the fans. Behind him, laughter erupted from his new teammates. Loud, careless and mocking. Coach Declan appeared at the end







