Chapter 8: The Documentary

Danton called a meeting in the conference room an hour before we were to leave for the arena.

I saw her immediately as I walked in.

The woman standing beside Coach Danton didn’t look like the usual media personnel, she wasn’t nervously holding a notepad or checking her phone anxiously. She stood still, with her arms crossed as she watched us file in; cataloguing every face, walk and every interaction. She had high cheekbones, dark hair and sharp eyes that missed nothing.

Sloane Greer was her name.

I’d heard of her; she was an award-winning documentarian, she did a series on a baseball team that exposed decades of hidden scandals, the one on a football program that got three coaches fired and the one on an Olympic swimmer that uncovered the truth about her abusive coach.

She was trouble with a capital T. She was the kind of trouble that didn't just go away, she was the type to dig and dig till she found what she was looking for.

Danton cleared his throat and the chatter in the room died down immediately.

“Listen up, everyone.” His voice boomed. “This is Miss Sloane Greer, she will be following us with her crew for the rest of the season; she’ll be documenting our team, playoffs, and the rest. You’ll see them around during practice, games and locker room access with reason.” He gave her a side glance. “Do you have anything to add?”

Sloane stepped forward, smiling in a polished and professional way, the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Thank you Coach Danton.” Her gaze swept through the room, lingering on a few faces before moving on. “I’ll make this as brief as possible. My team and I are here to tell the story of this team, the wins, the losses and the struggles. Whatever happens on and off the ice; relationships, rivalries, unique moments, we’re here to capture it all.”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

“We’ll always be around you, it might be weird at first, but you’ll eventually get used to it. Try to ignore the cameras, we’re not here to catch anyone or expose any wrongdoings, we’re just here to capture something real. That’ll be all for now, best of luck with your game tonight.”

I kept my face as blank as possible, keeping my breathing slow and even.

The room erupted in pre-game noise as the guys grabbed their bags, checking their sticks and heading towards the bus. Raffi clapped someone on the shoulder and someone else laughed too laugh; it was chaotic, but normal.

I headed towards the door, making sure my equipment was intact.

“Captain Torin Vance.”

Her voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

I turned, she was a few feet away, a quiet Asian guy was beside her with a camera already on his shoulder; he didn’t say a word, he just watched with a knowing look on his face.

“A moment please?” Sloane asked.

I stared at her blankly. “I have a game in three hours.” My voice sounded flat.

“I know, I won’t take much of your time.” She gestured to a quieter corner, away from the noise and crowd; and I reluctantly followed. “This is Dex, the cameraman. We’re still settling up, trying to get to know each other; but I wanted to introduce myself to you and to let you know that we have taken a particular interest in you and Cassian Pike.

My heart thundered but I kept my face as neutral as possible.

“Why?”

She tilted her head, studying me. “Because you’ve caught people’s attention; the way you play together and read each other on the ice is phenomenal, that kind of chemistry doesn’t just come from practicing together. She paused. “You even have a nickname, The Ice Breakers; the fans love it, everyone loves it.”

The Ice Breakers.

I’d heard it before, but didn’t think much of it because I thought it was a nickname for the entire team, not just Cassian and I.

“We play hockey, that’s it.” I said.

“I disagree; that’s not all and you know it.” Her voice was light and teasing but her eyes were sharp trying to gauge my reaction. “There’s a rhythm between you both, a kind of trust that takes years to build; where did that come from?”

“Practice, film review and coaching.”

I gave her safe answers, answers that meant nothing.

“Of course.” She said, with a tight smile and eyes that said this wasn’t the last of it. “Thank you for your time, Captain. And once again, good luck with your game tonight.”

She walked away with the rest of the crew.

Only Dex the cameraman lingered.

He lingered for a moment extra for his gaze to meet mine, he looked like he’d seen something in the footage already, like he knew what I was hiding.

Soon enough, he turned to follow Sloane and the crew.

I stood in the corner with my heart beating like I’d just ran a marathon and the uncomfortable feeling that I’d just been measured for a coffin.

————

The lobby was almost empty, players were heading out and the bus was waiting.

I felt choked, I needed air.

I walked to the side corridor near the meeting rooms, it was quiet; the type of place where conversations didn’t get overheard and secrets didn’t get found.

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

The Ice Breakers.

It was a catchy and dangerous nickname.

“Nice nickname they gave us, am I right?”

My eyes flew open.

Cassian was at the opposite end, leaning against the wall as he watched me.

He looked so handsome; he looked like he belonged on a magazine cover, he looked like trouble.

“How long have you been standing there?” I asked.

“Not long enough.” He pushed off the wall and walked towards me, stopping a few feet away. His intoxicating cologne filled my nostrils and made it hard for me to think. “Did Sloane talk to you?”

“Yeah, she did.”

“Same.” He smiled as he continued. “She asked about our ‘chemistry’.” His hands came up to make air quotes. “I told her there was no story to tell, that we just clicked; but she didn’t look convinced.”

“She’s really sharp.”

“Yeah.” He stepped even closer; we were inches apart now. “She is.”

“She’s going to keep watching and digging.” I said quietly.

“I know.”

“She’ll look for things.”

“I know.”

“She’s going to find things.”

Cassian met my eyes, looking unfazed. “Let her, she’s free to.”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“How does it work then?” Cassian took a step closer. “We’re supposed to pretend? Or hide? We’re supposed to act like there’s nothing happening between us when I find it hard to breathe or think when you’re around me?”

My jaw tightened as I looked away.

“Cassian.”

“Tor.”

My name coming from his lips sounded like a warning and a promise at the same time.

“We should go.” I said. “The bus leaves soon.”

“Yeah, we should go.”

Neither of us moved.

His hands came up to slightly brush my wrist.

I felt it everywhere, down to my groin.

“We’re not doing anything wrong.” He said softly.

“It feels like we are.”

“It feels like the only real thing going on in my life.”

His words took my breath away.

I looked at him, from head to toe; noticing how his mouth curved into a small smile when he looked at me, how he softened when I was the only one watching.

He stepped back, dropping his hand as his usual performative smile appeared. “Try not to overthink this whole Sloane issue; she’s not worth the headache at all.”

He took a few steps forward, then stopped.

“Tor?”

“Yeah?”

“Just so you know, I’m not scared of Sloane; I’m more scared of losing this.” He paused. “Whatever this is.”

He left after that.

I stood in the empty corridor, several thoughts swimming through my mind; as Cassian’s words echoed.

‘…. I’m more scared of losing this…”

So was I.