Shootout (Northbrook Hockey Elite Book 6)

by Sophia Summers

  “We keep training. But it’s lowkey. What are you going to do with the ice girls?”

  “I haven’t decided. We have a lot of directions we could go.” She seemed thoughtful, and Trane wondered what was tickling her brain. He had some thoughts he’d like to toss around to see what she thought.

  Declan showed up first. “I’m here.” He and his date were photo-worthy magazine-spread gorgeous. Trane was happy for Dice. Janae pulled her aside, and the two of them were chattering faster than Trane could keep up. Declan hugged him. “I hear things are good.”

  “I hate to say anything without knocking on wood, but things are better than I ever thought.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks. It’s been a long time coming, right?”

  Clint and Bree arrived together, wearing matching Jax Chicago Flyers uniforms. Rocco and his date with long blonde hair immediately amped up the noise level. Rocco hugged everyone and carried on about Chicago weather. As if Wyoming was any better.

  Then a little girl’s voice squealed louder than the rest, and Trane knew Zane and his daughter, Hope, had arrived.

  She went from player to player, being pulled up into their arms and swung around. Zane brought her over to Janae who immediately got down to her level and high-fived her.

  When he joined them, Hope had already run off. “Dang.”

  Janae laughed. “What?”

  “I was hoping if Hope saw I was with you, she’d like me.”

  Zane clapped his shoulder. “Of course she likes you. She talks about the big Diesel all the time. You’re the good guy in all her stories about taking down a mean bad dude.”

  “I am?” Trane nodded. “Good. That’s about right.”

  The guys talked and relaxed together. For everyone in the room, the season was over. Then as soon as the lights and fans went crazy, they all went to find their seats.

  Janae sat with Trane on the front row of the box. Some of the others wanted to watch on screen but from there, Trane could do both. He liked to see the whole rink, not just what the camera showed him.

  Bree sat on Janae’s other side. That left a seat empty on the end on Trane’s right. Everyone stood for the national anthem. And then as soon as he sat again, ready to cheer for Jax when they announced him, a small voice and pressure on his knee surprised him.

  Hope stood, leaning on his leg with her wide eyes staring at him.

  “Would you look at that.” He didn’t dare move.

  Janae whispered. “Say hi.”

  “Hey little Hopey.”

  “Hi.” Her soft voice melted his heart.

  Janae leaned across him. “Watcha got there?”

  She held up a soft bear. “My Boo.”

  “I love that Boo.”

  She nodded and then turned back to Trane. She climbed up onto his knee and leaned back against his chest.

  He tried not to be uncomfortable, to relax around her little body. She smelled like strawberries. Her little arms were soft. And her head full of thick hair. She played with her bear for a minute, then turned to him. “Thank you for my Boo.”

  “You’re welcome sweetheart. Anything for my Hopey.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  And then he snuggled her closer, and with Janae at his side, and something so sweet as Hope in his arms, he didn’t think life could get any better.

  When the guys cheered and jumped up and down, he modified his excitement so he wouldn’t startle the precious little person who trusted him enough to sit on his lap. Until about halfway through the game, they called a penalty on Jax. And she stood up shouting. “What a load of crock!”

  The guys went silent for a minute, and then the room burst into laughing cheers.

  “That’s right Hope. What a load of crock.” Z high-fived his daughter.

  She grinned at all the attention and then climbed into the seat next to Trane. Z brought her a tray of food.

  Jax’s team was down. The guys were getting tense. No one wanted a loss out of this. It was like if Jax won, Northbrook won, their coach won, each person in the Pit won too.

  After a while, the girls in the room gathered at the back and all the Pit sat together, leaning forward, watching the ice.

  “Give it to Jax!” Declan shouted.

  They leaned forward and then cheered like crazy when Jax caught the puck with his hand, tossing it on the ice in front of him. “Go! Go! Go!” Clint fisted the air. And then, when the puck flew toward the goal, Z grabbed hold of Trane’s shirt like he was drowning. “Yes!” They all stood, screaming and pounding the air, hugging each other.

  At the break, they sat back in their chairs, and Trane just enjoyed the guys. What a beautiful way to end a season. He glanced over his shoulder. Coach sat on the back row with his wife. He nodded toward Trane and winked.

  Janae was deep in conversation with a group of amazing women. He was impressed with each one. This was family. These were the people Trane loved most in the world. And it all started at Northbrook.

  Chapter 22

  They celebrated Jax’s win for almost a full eight hours. Trane suspected an announcement from their coach today. He’d called them all together for later in the afternoon. But Trane and Janae were going somewhere first.

  “Pull up here.” Trane told the driver to stop a couple blocks away from the old trailer park. “Come pick us up here when I text.”

  “Very good.”

  He held the door open for Janae. “You sure you want to do this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay.” Trane had wanted to see where he grew up, wanted to look at it good and hard to get an adult’s perspective on things, and he hadn’t wanted to go alone. But as he looked at the place, he hoped it would be safe enough. He wrapped an arm over her shoulder. “Stick close.”

  She shivered. “No problem.”

  “This won’t take long.”

  They entered through a rusty old gate. The whole place was supposed to be fenced in by a chain link fence, but the gate was rusted through and the fence was leaning, bent and flat in some places. There were trailer parks, and then there were trailer parks, and this one fell in the latter. It was a worn-down, edge-of-poverty mess.

  The first two double-wides looked like they were hiding in their own refuse. Garbage strewn around what might be considered their yard. Beer bottles everywhere. Trane cringed when he saw a syringe half buried in the mud. “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Wow. You grew up here.”

  “I did. We were at the back.” He kept walking. Some homes were better kept than others, but every one left a feeling of hopelessness. Trane hadn’t remembered that feeling. His life was filled with hockey at the time and with the coach’s attention and love, his eyes were lit with stars and the pros were on the horizon.

  Everything smelled. Like old and rotting food, like smoke, like weed. And then he saw it. And he didn’t cringe or feel anything dark at all. He saw the front porch where he and his dad would sometimes sit and watch the grass grow. He laughed about it now. There wasn’t a single blade in sight. Perhaps that was the irony that kept his dad going at the time. He was happy to realize his dad had a sense of humor. Trane saw the fire pit where they would pretend to make s’mores together. They’d hold sticks and put leaves on the end and talk about what special ingredients were in each of their s’mores. His dad’s favorite extras were Reese’s peanut butter cups. He took Janae around to the other side and nodded toward the gully. “The best part about our home was the view.”

  All they could see from there was nature. And if he were being honest, a mighty large dumpsite of everyone’s junk. But back then, as a child, it had been a wilderness begging to be explored. And he had. At night, when he was young, they’d count stars out that window. And one time, his dad told him his mom was up there smiling at them.

  “I have some good memories here.”

  “I’m glad.” She pointed to a tree. “Is that your old hockey stick?”

  He shook his he
ad, bemused. “No, it wouldn’t be. We moved out of here during the last part of my senior year. Coach let me stay with him. It was the last I saw of Dad.” He picked up the stick. “Huh. Maybe someone who lives here plays hockey.”

  “So what if I do?”

  Janae jumped and Trane turned around slowly.

  A young teen, maybe thirteen, stood with arms crossed. His athletic shorts looked ragged and old. His t-shirt stretched out. He could definitely have used a haircut. And he frowned like he’d done it his whole life.

  Trane handed him the stick. “Hey. So do I. We’re just passing through.” He waved. “You take care.”

  He took two steps then he turned back around. “What position do you play?”

  “I’m a defenseman.” He stood taller. “I’ll get bigger.”

  “Of course you will. That’s what happened to me.”

  “Whoa. Were you a defenseman?”

  “I was. And now I’m a goalie.”

  “You still play?”

  “Yes, I do. Hey, you ever hear of Northbrook Hockey Elite?”

  His shoulders slumped. “Of course I heard of it. That’s where all the rich kids play.”

  Trane shook his head. “Not all. I used to play there.”

  “Huh. And you’re a rich dude.”

  “No, that right there, your house? That used to be mine while I was playing for Northbrook.”

  The kid’s mouth hung open and no words came out. So Trane handed him a card. “This is my number. If you think you might want to play at Northbrook, you give me a call. I’m real close with the coach, and they have a scholarship program. No kid who loves hockey is kicked off the team because of money.” He held up a finger. “But you have to love it.”

  “Oh, I do! Sir.”

  “And you have to be willing to work. Coach doesn’t have easy practices.”

  “I’ll work harder than everyone.”

  “Then you know what to do.” He handed him the card. “I hope I see you again.”

  As they were walking away, he called out. “I don’t even know your name.”

  “I don’t know yours either.”

  “Caleb. Caleb Winters.”

  “And my name is on the card.”

  He squinted then gasped. “You’re Trane Jones?”

  “Yes I am.”

  “Wow.”

  “You have a good night and call me in the morning.”

  “I will and thank you, sir. Thank you very much.”

  They waved.

  “Wow, Trane. You’re going to help that kid. He’s going to have everything he needs to keep playing.”

  “Yeah. That kid reminds me of myself at his age. That was me, Janae. This was good for me to be here.”

  “I am so happy we came. Remember my wish?”

  He had to think hard for a minute. “Oh, yes. To help someone. The reason I first kissed you.” He winked. “Best thing I ever did right there.”

  “Well, you just granted it. By helping that boy. But what if he doesn’t call you? What if his parents steal the card, what if he loses it, or he doesn’t have a phone?”

  “I’ll come back. Coach did the same for me.”

  “Okay, great. Of course.” She stepped up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for this.”

  “Would you want to do more for these kids, for any kids?”

  “I would.”

  He pulled her hand up to his lips. “There’s something I want to run by you. It might sound crazy…”

  The Pit gathered at Northbrook in the old team room. Even though Trane already knew what Coach was going to say, he fought his own tears about it.

  When the guys quieted down, Coach cleared his throat twice, then he looked away. “This is harder

  than I thought it would be. Looking into your faces, I see all the years I’ve known you. I see those

  bright, eager young ones, the stubborn, prideful teen ones, and the hopeful, expectant year before the

  pros and now the confident adult faces I’m seeing right now. I’m proud of you boys.” He paced a

  moment. “There’s no easy way to say this. I’m retiring.”

  They didn’t say anything for awhile. Then Clint nodded. “I think we knew it was coming.”

  “Who’s going to take over?” Jax leaned forward. “I was kind of hoping I could send my kids

  here, you know?”

  “I know.” Coach held up his hands. “I have a few ideas. I won’t let it get passed on to anyone

  who would do a disservice to the center.”

  “But no one will ever be you.” Trane wanted him to know how much he would be missed.

  “Now, son, that’s just not true. I came here right when we all needed each other. The same

  thing will happen again for a new group, a new generation. I know you sometimes think you’re the only

  good thing to come out of Northbrook, but we got guys in every age working out here.” He smiled.

  “But you’re my favorites. I don’t make any secret of that.”

  They talked for a moment about old times and memories. It felt very much like the last time

  they were together when he announced his sickness, and when they were together for his birthday.

  When there didn’t seem to be much else for anyone to say, Trane stood.

  Janae reached for his hand. He searched her face, looking for any reason not to move forward

  with what he was about to say, but he saw only love and support. “I want to be the coach.”

  Coach Fenway beamed. His face lit like someone had stuck a lightbulb at the back of his head.

  But the guys complained.

  Rocco shook his head. “No, no way Trane. Your career is not nearly over. You’re the best goalie

  in the league right now big man.” He looked around for more support. “Am I right?”

  “You’re totally right, but I don’t know. Trane looks like he really wants this.” Declan, the guy

  who knew him better than anyone else, would support him no matter what.

  “What if you want back in? What if you regret it?” Rocco always talked with his hands.

  “Then I try to get back in. I have a few years before I’m on the shelf, right Coach?”

  “Absolutely. You can step back in if you want. Maybe not for the Comets.”

  “We’re thinking of adding an ice girls element of training to Northbrook.”

  Janae smiled.

  “And maybe you guys can come teach workshops for the guys every now and then?”

  “Of course. Anything you need.” Declan frowned. “I’m just having a hard time taking this in. You

  sure?”

  “I think so. I’ll give it some thought this week, but I’m pretty sure this is what we want next.” He

  studied Janae’s face, and just like when he’d spelled it out on the way home from the trailer park, all

  he saw was love and excitement.

  “We will try to grow the program. We’ll keep using Bree’s help if she’ll give it. And keep

  producing the kind of athletes that would make Coach proud.”

  “I have no doubt.” Coach reached out to shake his hand. “I admit I hoped you take this on, but I

  couldn’t ask such a thing. This gig doesn’t pay much, but I don’t suppose you’ll need it, at least at first.”

  “We have everything we need.”

  “Then give it some thought. I’ll wait to tell the board until I hear from you.”

  He nodded.

  The guys gathered in a huddle, with Trane in the middle and on three, they shouted, “Family.”

  Epilogue

  Four months later

  Trane led Janae along a dark parking lot in a seedy part of town. The restaurant sign flashed and buzzed in a hair-raising electrical short. “Sonny’s?”

  “I’m serious. This place is going to be famous for its gyros. They are the best I’ve ever had.”

  “If we don’t get mu
gged before we actually try one.”

  “Who would mug me?” He laughed.

  “Someone with a gun.”

  “Okay, but remember? You trust me on this?”

  “I do.”

  “What was that?” He held a hand to his ear.

  “I trust you.”

  “No, not that. I like that, but the other thing you said.”

  She grinned. “I do?”

  “Yes, that’s the one. Say it again.”

  She stepped into his arms, smiling up into his face. “I. Do.” Magic hummed between them. At least that’s what it felt like to Janae. She would never ever get enough of this man. He was everything she’d thought was unrealistic to expect but secretly hoped for in a man, packaged in such an unexpected—and large—package. “I. Do. I like the sound of that.”

  “Me too. That’s just what I want to hear.”

  Two hours later, after the best gyros Janae had ever had, they skated out to the center of the rink in the Northbrook arena. “I like talking things through with you out here.” They’d taken to holding planning meetings and making important decisions with their skates on. Somehow they both shared a new clarity of mind while on a rink.

  Trane held her hand, and they circled the ice, talking about everything they’d accomplished over the past year. “The guys are on their way to win state. All the high school programs approach us for training at their schools. We have more young ones joining us all the time, and we can’t accommodate them all.”

  “That’s such a great place to be.”

  “Your girls’ program might overtake the guys. We’ll have to do that addition to the center even sooner than we thought just to get some more dance rooms.”

  “It’s all more than I even imagined.” She squeezed his hand. “Our scholarship programs are reaching the right kids, I think.” She snorted. “We finally got that Caleb Winters here. I’m glad his mom let him at last.”

  “I’m sure it was your visit. Who would have thought she’d be a Broadway fan?”

  “I’m so happy here. We’re doing a good thing. It’s just like I wanted.”

  “Lots of good things, but it just would never be the same without you.” He skated around to her front and moved backwards so she could see into his face. “I’ve been giving something a lot of thought.”