From then on, Jack and I were inseparable. Although we said nothing to the guys, they knew something was going on.

We were taxiing out to the runway on our Central league schedule when we hit a moose. I'm not kidding; it ran out onto the jet way right in front of the plane. Dad had Jack, Robbie, Coxie and a few other guys push it back into the hanger to make sure it was alright. I stayed inside with the rest of the team and played poker.

"Read 'um and weep boys, Straight, in diamonds." The guys groaned, "It's a good thing you play hockey better than you play poker." The door opened and a soaking wet Jack entered with the other guys. He and Robbie sandwiched me in a hug. "EWWW! You're wet! Robbie stop! Please Jack, let me go!"

"O.C., Come here a minute." Offered dad. Jack let me go, and walked around the seated players to join dad by the ticket desk. I snuck through the door and eavesdropped on them from the other side of the partisan. "You and Dana seem to be getting along well." Dad said quietly.

Uh-Oh, nothing good could come from this conversation, I was sure of it.

"Yeah, she's cool, one of my best friends in fact." Jack replied cautiously. I had no idea where my father was getting with this.

"Well, you two seem to be very close. I just don't want you to get distracted and Dana to get hurt, she's my oldest daughter, you know." I was furious that Dad thought that would happen, I helped everyone understand his bizarre plays so they could do them right at practice, and I was teaching Jack to channel his anger into a strong check or a flawless pass.

"With all due respect coach," Jack said quietly, "Dana is 21, she's an adult and can make her own decisions, and as for hurting her, Mac's already threatened me and I would never intentionally hurt her anyway."

"Alright then, just dry off before you hug her from now on, same goes for Mac." I was pleased Dad ended the conversation on a good note.

I met Jack back at the poker game with the other guys. "So what did dad want?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Same thing Mac did, only Mac threatened to shove a hockey stick up my ass if I hurt you."

"Robbie!"


As practices went on, the guys seemed to adjust. They worked harder, concentrated more, and the practices just seemed to go better. Over the weeks the team became more like a family. Between practices and games, Jack and I found time to be together, and I knew I was falling hard for him. Dad was elated at how the team came together, and especially their playing. For some reason though, Dad didn't think the team was close enough.

"What do you think of Tim Harrier?" He asked me one day before practice.

I shrugged, "He's been having a pretty good year, why?"

"I was thinking of bringing him on."

I was shocked. "Dad, that's not fair, bringing him in this late in the season, and with someone getting cut already? Everyone's been busting their tails for you and this is how you repay them?"

He pulled me into his office. "Danielle, these boys need to know that they're a family, and the only way for them to realize that is to bring in an outsider."

I realized that this was a really important moment for my dad and I. He was giving me a peek inside his mind, something mom didn't even get. "Alright, what do you want me to do?"

The team was warming up and stretching when Craig called Timmy off the bench. Predictably, everyone got quiet and wanted to know where he came from and why he was here. Quite a few looks were shot at me, looking for the answers. I ignored them best I could, but after practice it was inevitable.

"What's he doing here, did you know about this?"

"Dad just told me this morning, I don't know why he's here, he wouldn't tell me." That wasn't exactly true but I was a good liar and everyone seemed to buy it.

At practice the next day, Rizzo still couldn't get the blue line play, which really got dad steamed. "You better start putting the puck in the net Rizzo, or you're not going any where. And don't think I won't do it."

The next game we had was against the IHL all-stars which we won, of course. I noticed that Rizzo kept stealing glances at Tim during the game and I had heard the other guys talking about how unfair it was Tim got in this late. "Tell him guys," I told Robbie and Mark, "He's never gonna do anything if you don't." After a little convincing, they decided that the two of them, plus Rizzo and Jack, should talk to Dad. "Good luck." I said outside the bus, kissing Rizzo, Mark and Robbie on the cheek and giving Jack a lingering kiss on the lips.

I got a seat near the window and watched the conversation. After a minute or so, dad turned around and re-entered the bus, but not before giving me one of his satisfied smirks I hated.

"So, how'd it go?" I asked after giving Jack another kiss in greeting.

"He's sending him home." Rizzo replied happily.