Page 157 of Rookie Rules

Owen waved him toward the tunnel. Rowan looked ready to refuse. Vale pointed with one finger, and the captain went.

Luca did not follow.

Boundaries did not require him to stop caring. They required him to stop offering care in forms Rowan could consume without answering.

Finn bumped Luca's shoulder as the next drill assembled.

"Good catch," he said.

"He was obvious."

"Not to himself."

They resumed without Rowan. Jace rotated into center. The first entry broke down because Jace drove too high. Luca circled back and explained the support angle without trying to imitate Rowan's voice.

"Give me one blade more inside," he said. "If I lose it, you are still under the puck."

Jace studied him. "You giving responsible advice now?"

"Do not spread it around. It damages the brand."

On the next repetition, Jace held the line. Luca attempted the inside cut, lost possession, and watched Jace recover exactly where he was supposed to be.

No shame. No frantic chase. They reset and attacked again.

Vale changed the drill before Luca could ask for another turn. He divided the forwards into pairs and gave them three minutes to solve a retrieval against two defensemen. Luca drew Jace.

The first attempt failed when both of them chased below the goal line. Jace slapped his stick against the ice.

"I should have held the slot."

"We both saw the loose puck," Luca said. "Next time, first man takes body position. Second man stays available."

"You want first?"

"Whichever of us arrives."

The puck went in again. Jace reached the wall first and sealed the defenseman. Luca remained above the goal line until the puck came free, then moved it to Jace in the slot. The puck struck the lower corner of the shooter tutor.

Jace pointed at Luca. "Responsible advice and sharing."

"This is a hostile workplace."

They repeated the sequence from opposite sides. This time Luca arrived first, absorbed the contact, and heard Jace call from open ice. Luca moved the puck before turning to verify the lane.

The pass connected.

Vale blew the whistle and sent in the next pair. "That is support. Make the problem smaller for the next man."

Luca skated out with Jace. He did not look toward the tunnel to see whether Rowan had watched. He asked Jace what he had seen from the weak side and listened to the answer.

From the tunnel, Rowan stood beside Owen with an elastic band around his thighs. He watched Luca direct the drill.

Luca felt the attention and did not perform for it.

That distinction mattered.

Rowan had taught him that structure could make brilliance repeatable. Luca had taught himself that love was not payment owed for learning.