Scoring Position (Hockey Ever After #2)

by Ashlyn Kane

“You never told me why you won’t see the mental-skills coach.” Sometimes Nico hated being right. “I don’t really want to tell you now either.” “Nico, I worry about you. Everyone needs to talk to someone, you know? You don’t think there’s anything wrong when I talk to my counselor. It’s not good to bottle things up.” Nico felt an uncomfortable twinge in his chest. He’d never considered that she might take his own reluctance as disapproval. “I know there’s nothing… I don’t think less of anyone for going to therapy.” He knew he was in trouble for the inflection even before Ella said, “You don’t think less of anyone.” “Ella—” “I swear to God, I’m going to punch your dad in the face.” Nico’s face burned. “It’s not—” “Not because of him?” He could practically hear her rolling her eyes. “How long have we known each other? I have met your dad. You would eat nothing but pickled beets for a month”—Nico hated pickled beets—“if you thought it would help you with hockey, but you won’t go to therapy. Forgive me for thinking he might have something to do with it.” Unfortunately she was right. Nico’s father approved of independence and “mental toughness.” He subscribed to the grin-and-bear-it, fake-it-till-you-make-it school. If Nico wasn’t scoring, it was clearly because he wasn’t working hard enough. “You wouldn’t have to tell him, you know.”