The co-captain announcement spread through the team like wildfire. By the next practice, guys were slapping me on the back, calling me “Co-Cap” in the halls. It should’ve felt like victory but Instead, it felt like a lit fuse.Jax didn’t say a word during warm-ups. He just skated harder, faster, his checks on me turning vicious. One particularly hard hit sent me crashing into the boards. Pain exploded in my shoulder as I hit the ice.“Watch it, Rivera!” Coach yelled.Jax offered a hand, yanking me up with a bruising grip. “Oops,” he muttered under his breath. “Co-captains need to be tougher than that.”His eyes promised punishment later.After practice, I stayed in the locker room, changing slowly. Tyler came and sat onto the bench beside me, towel around his neck.“You killed it out there today, man. That assist in the last drill? Chef’s kiss.” He grinned, shoulder bumping mine playfully. “We should grab food after the Ridgeview rematch to celebrate properly. Just you and me.”I froz
Last Updated : 2026-06-24 Read more