Page 67 of Rookie Rules

Luca's first shift after the goal lasted thirty-eight seconds and contained no clean shot. He tried to carry through two defenders, lost the handle, recovered, then chased the puck deep enough that Finn had to cover high.

At the bench, Rowan leaned close enough to be heard without raising his voice.

"You crossed below me."

"I nearly had it."

"You made Finn defend your nearly."

The criticism was exact, which was the problem with Rowan. Luca could resent the delivery or accept the read, but he could rarely dismiss the substance.

"Next one," Finn said, breathing hard on Luca's other side.

Their second shift produced a chance. Rowan won the puck below the goal line, Finn moved it through the corner, and Luca released from the right circle.

The goalie kicked it away with the pad.

Luca circled high and called for the return. Nolan's point shot never reached him. The defender blocked it, and the puck escaped into neutral ice.

On the bench, Claire's public story and Rowan's private rules fought inside the same body.

Be undeniable.

Stay inside the read.

The next opportunity belonged to Finn. Rowan drew two players low, Luca held the right side long enough to pull the weak-side defenseman with him, and Finn slipped into the space between the circles. Rowan found him through a narrow lane.

Finn shot before the goalie set.

Goal.

The horn detonated. Finn hit the glass, then turned into Rowan and Luca as the rest of the line arrived. Luca caught the back of Finn's helmet with one glove.

"You're welcome for my restraint," he shouted.

"Historic night," Finn shouted back.

The score held for four minutes. Then Northstar lost coverage after an offensive-zone faceoff. The opponent broke two-on-one, forced Gabriel across, and scored off the far post.

At the end of the first, the Wolves trailed 2-1. Luca had three shot attempts, one on net, and no points. The official sheet did not care how loud the building had been when his name was announced.

Neither did the part of him that had learned to measure safety in usefulness.

Vale kept the intermission short.

"We are chasing the game one man at a time," he said. "Support beneath the puck. Make them defend all five."

He moved magnets across the board, showing where Northstar's wingers had drifted above support.

"Their low forward is cheating toward Hale. The weak side will be open if the puck arrives before the body. Not after."

Rowan looked at Luca across the room.

We make them choose.

The phrase had once been hockey only. Now it carried a hotel corridor, a doorway, and a kitchen rule neither of them believed.

Luca looked away first.