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doing well, kid,” Olle said, placing a hand on Josh’s shoulder as Josh bent over with his hands on his knees.
    They were finishing up some skating drills before calling it quits for the day.
    “Thanks,” Josh wheezed.
    “I mean it.” His Swedish accent had lessened a bit over his years in North America, but it still colored his words. “This could be your year to show them you’re more than they say you are.”
    Josh straightened up and grinned. “With that kind of pep talk, maybe you should be captain or something. Oh, wait…”
    Olle knocked him upside the helmet. Josh reached up to straighten it as he followed his captain off the ice. Most of the team was away at the final preseason game, but Coach decided a few of them deserved a rest before regular season started. Josh had argued that he wanted to play, but Coach wouldn’t hear of it. He said it was a reward for an excellent preseason.
    A couple of nights off. That’s what coach ordered. Josh didn’t know what to do with free time. Mack was off with the rest of the guys. So was Carter. It was only him, Olle, and a couple other veterans that stayed home. They all had families. Josh had hockey.
    After showering in the eerily quiet locker room, he decided some food was in order. His favorite diner was within walking distance so he headed out.
    On the way, he pulled out his phone and dialed Michaela. He hadn’t talked to her since he finished training in New York and left for the memorial service in Portland. He hoped she wasn’t in class.
    The phone rang three times before her familiar voice filled his ear.
    “Don’t you have a game tonight?” she asked immediately. “You never call on game days.”
    “Keeping track of my schedule?” He laughed. “Your transformation from a Rangers fan to a Jackets fan is complete.”
    “Dude, it was complete the day you were drafted.”
    “I miss you, Mic.”
    “And I you, Joshy.” She sighed before speaking again. “How was the memorial service?”
    “As you’d expect it to be,” he answered. “A lot of fake celebration.”
    “I’ll bet.”
    “Sorry I haven’t called in a while. Training camp is kicking my ass.”
    “I seriously doubt that,” she said.
    “Yeah, well, there’s that, and Ethan’s been calling me.”
    “Yeah?”
    “I haven’t answered,” he said quickly.
    “Josh, he’s your brother. Maybe it’s time you guys patched things up. I don’t want there to be a rift in your family because of me.”
    “It’s not because of you. It’s because of him.”
    “People can change,” she sighed.
    He matched her sigh. “New subject please.”
    “Okay, on to better stuff.” Her voice rose an octave. Josh was always amazed at how quickly her mood could shift. “The wedding!”
    “Oh yes, the big day. Have a date?”
    “First, Jason had a question for you.”
    There was some rustling and then the voice on the other end changed.
    “Josh, man, how are you?” Jason asked.
    “I’m good. You?”
    “Just ask him,” Michaela yelled in the background.
    “You up for being a groomsman?”
    “Sure, dude. Sounds cool,” Josh answered calmly.
    “That’s it?” Michaela stole the phone back. “’Sounds cool’?”
    “Michaela,” Josh laughed. “We’re guys. I’m not going to go running down the street screaming in excitement.”
    “Fine,” she sighed. “Well, forgive me if I offend you, but you’re not going to be an All-Star this year, right?”
    Josh barked out a sudden laugh. “I don’t think so, no.”
    Michaela was still laughing as she explained that they wanted to have the wedding over All-Star weekend so he could be there.
    “I wouldn’t want to do this without you,” she said.
    Josh walked through the door to the diner and stopped when he saw a familiar face near the back wall.
    “I wouldn’t miss it,” Josh said into the phone. “Look, Mic, I’ve got to go.”
    He hung up and shoved his phone into his pocket before looking at the girl again. The last time he