Page 12 of What We Knew Then
Luckily, I was a natural on the ice. So when I asked Coach Knight about helping me find a ride to our travel games, he offered to take me. Somewhere along the way, it turned into an unspoken rule—that I’d ride with Oliver, the only friend I’d made, and his dad… who just happened to be the coach.
The first time I showed up, I had my hockey gear, my school backpack beat to shit, and a duffle bag stuffed with the only clothes that still fit me. The Knights didn’t hesitate. They just took me in.
I’ll never forget the way Tina, Coach’s wife, looked at me when I showed up in their doorway, damn near passing out from not eating. Her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t say a word. Just pulled me into a hug and called for her husband.
That was it. I was still Lane Maxwell, but I may as well have been Lane Knight. The Knights took me in like I was theirs, even though they didn’t have to. Coach could've kept his distance. Could've decided my problems weren't his responsibility. But he didn't. He treated me like I was worth saving.
There were meetings after that. Adults asking questions. Social workers. School counselors. More paperwork than I understood at twelve years old. All I really knew was that every time someone asked where I wanted to be, my answer was the same.
With the Knights.
Somehow, that ended up being enough.
Before long, Oliver and I were basically brothers. We did everything together.
Now it’s over. They’re back in Ohio, and I’m in Michigan. I’m not playing with Oliver anymore. I’m playing against him our senior year. Never saw that coming. Neither of us did.
All these happy families moving their kids into shiny apartments? I’m fucking over it.
I need to practice. To get on the ice and push until my body gives out. The second I step into the facility, something in me settles. Like this is where I belong.
But something’s off.
“What the fuck is this?” I look at a whiteboard with envelopes taped to it, each with their own number. I knew we were supposed to meet in the locker room today to go over the workout, but guys came in, saw these, and took off.
Leo blows past me, practically dragging Noah with him. “Team scavenger hunt. Grab a partner and an envelope. Don’t be last!” he calls over his shoulder, already halfway down the hall.
And that’s it. No one else looks at me. No one explains anything.
Obviously, everyone knew this was coming. Everyone except me. This certainly feels like new guy treatment, with a side of “you came from the team we hate.”
Before I can even process what’s happening, everyone’s paired off and gone. I’m left standing there, picking up the last envelope.
I glance around at the empty space. Guess I either do this alone or say fuck it and don’t do it at all.
I’m tearing the envelope open as I head out of the locker room when someone jogs up beside me.
Cora. Or Lee. Depends who she’s decided to be today.
Her black leggings hugged her thighs and curved over her hips, and I fucking hate them. Hate what they do to my head. Hate that they make me think about that night. About the skin I know is underneath.
“Shit,” she groans, glancing down at her shoes. “I’m late.”
When I don’t respond, she plants a hand on her hip, shifting her weight. She points to the envelope still in my hand. “What are you waiting for? Open it.” Her voice cuts clean through whatever’s sitting between us. “We have to start.”
We? Hard pass.
“We’renot doing anything. You can do your own…” I trail off, not even sure what to call it.
“Envelope?” Cora tips her chin and lets out a short laugh. “As you can see, there aren’t any others for me to grab. It’s set up for pairs. Team members and support staff. Like me.”
“Like you.” It comes out sharper than I mean it to.
She rolls her eyes. “You need me. You won’t get any of the clues since you’re so new to campus. If you want to finish without being last, I’m your only shot.”
“What if I don’t do it at all?”
“Then maybe you should just give away your roster spot. The team’s never going to respect you.” She turns and starts walking, and god damn it, I follow. “It’s basically sacred to them. They’ve done this campus scavenger hunt the last weekend before classes start for as long as anyone can remember. No one even knows which team started it. It’s just… tradition.”
