Captain's Ice Slave
Here on the ice Ethan looked lighter, responding without calculation to someone who carried none of their history.
Gerald glanced over once but said nothing.
Jax stayed still, hands flat on his thighs, as the next whistle called them back to the drill.
Near the end of the final drill, Eli skated along the boards closest to the stands while the others reset.
He glanced up, found Jax watching, and slowed just enough to speak.
“You’re Rivera, right? The one who used to wear the C.”
Jax met his eyes. “Yeah.”
Eli gave a small, assessing smile. “Different view from up there.” It wasn’t loud or openly cutting. Still, the casual observation landed with precision.