Chapter 140 THE NEXT CAPTAIN

Chapter 140 THE NEXT CAPTAIN
Luca walked away after the hallway chaos, the words “We’ll see about that” still hanging in the air.

Jack caught up within a few strides and followed him into the dorm. The door clicked shut behind them.

Jack stayed near it, watching as Luca shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the chair without looking back.

“You said we’ll see about that.”

Luca’s hands moved to the buttons of his shirt. “I did.”

Jack’s arms stayed loose at his sides. “What exactly am I supposed to do with that?”

Luca shrugged, still not facing him. “Figure it out.”

A short, almost reluctant laugh slipped out of Jack before the weight of the moment settled again.

He stayed where he was while Luca sat on the edge of the bed and began untying his shoes, one lace after the other, deliberate and quiet.

The silence stretched until Jack’s voice came softer.

“Are you really okay?”

Luca’s fingers paused on the second lace. He finished pulling it free, set both shoes aside, then looked up. His expression was calm, but the calm didn’t reach all the way to his eyes.

“I’m okay now. That doesn’t mean what happened didn’t hurt.”

Jack’s shoulders dropped a fraction. He didn’t move closer yet.

Luca kept his gaze on him. “You decided I was safer without knowing what I wanted. We’re supposed to be a couple, Jack. If something affects you, it affects me too. You don’t get to decide alone that I’m better off without you.”

Jack crossed the short distance and sat on the opposite bed, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly between them. “I thought protecting you meant taking the choice away from you. I thought if I carried it myself, you wouldn’t have to.”

Luca’s voice stayed even, but quieter. “You didn’t carry it. You just made me carry the consequences without knowing why.”

The words sat between them. Jack’s thumbs pressed hard against each other. He stared at the floor for a long second before he spoke again.

“You’re right.”

Luca’s eyes flickered—surprise cutting through the careful calm for the first time.

Jack continued, the words coming slower now, each one deliberate. “I was scared. I thought losing you would hurt less than watching my father hurt you. Instead I just hurt you myself. I should’ve told you.”

“Yes.”

“I should’ve trusted you.”

“Yes.”

“And I should’ve let you decide whether you wanted to stay.”

Luca held his gaze for a long moment. “Yes.”

Jack gave a small nod, the movement almost stiff. “I’m sorry.”

Luca didn’t rush to fill the silence. When he spoke again, the edge had softened. “I don’t need you to fix everything. I need you to trust me enough to let me stand beside you.”

Jack’s hand lifted halfway toward him, then stopped, hovering in the space between the beds.

The hesitation was visible—fingers slightly curled, waiting.

Luca noticed. After a beat he closed the distance himself, fingers finding Jack’s and curling around them.

No grand gesture. Just that.

Jack’s thumb brushed once across the back of Luca’s hand. The room felt quieter, lighter, like something tight had finally loosened.

Jack eventually stretched out on his bed, one arm behind his head. Luca watched him for a second, then asked,

“Are you going to keep staring like that?”

“Probably.”

Luca rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

“So,” he said, leaning back against the headboard, “how long do you think this suspension is actually going to feel?”

Jack groaned. “Ten years.”

“It’s two months.”

“Exactly. Ten years.”

Luca laughed quietly. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’d be miserable too if you couldn’t skate.”

“I am miserable.”

Jack glanced at him. “You don’t look miserable.”

“That’s because I’m better at suffering than you are.”

Jack snorted. “Right. Mr. Class President can suffer gracefully.”

“I can.”

A short silence settled. “Two months is going to feel long.”

Jack’s gaze drifted. “Yeah. Especially if Coach decides to run the same drills every day just to torture the rest of them.”

“He will. You know he will.”

Jack almost smiled. “Sam’s going to lose his mind by the second week.”

Luca’s mouth curved. “He already lost it in the hallway. Did you see his face when everyone just walked off?”

“I heard him yelling ‘Did I just get ditched?’ from halfway down the corridor.”

Luca let out a quiet breath that was almost a laugh. “He’s going to make this everyone’s problem.”

Jack’s voice dropped after a moment, softer than before.

“I missed you.”

Luca looked over.

Jack didn’t dress it up. “I know I had no right to. I know I was the one who ended things. But I missed you.”

Luca’s expression softened. “I missed you too.”

Jack’s smile returned, small and genuine. “You could’ve said that earlier.”

“Don’t ruin it.”

Jack laughed. Luca grabbed the nearest pillow and tossed it. Jack caught it against his chest.

“Violence?”

“You deserved worse.”

“Fair.”

The air between them settled into something familiar again—teasing, easy, no longer sharp.

The quiet returned after a while. Luca sat cross-legged on the bed, facing Jack.

“What are you going to do about your father?”

Jack knew exactly what the question carried. He exhaled slowly. “He told me to go home.”

“Are you going?”

Jack shook his head. “No.”

Luca studied him. “You’re sure?”

“I’ve already made up my mind.” Jack’s voice stayed steady. “I’m not pretending he can’t still hurt me. I know there will be consequences. I’m just tired of letting someone else decide everything for me.”

Luca’s fingers traced the edge of the blanket. “This isn’t just about hockey anymore.”

“I know.”

“And Jamie?”

Jack’s gaze dropped for a second. “I’ll talk to my mother. Make sure Jamie isn’t dragged into the fight. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to handle him yet.”

Luca’s mouth curved. “Good.”

Jack’s brows drew together. “Good?”

“Because now you’re not pretending you have all the answers.”

Jack’s smile returned, softer this time. “I’m learning.”

Luca reached across and squeezed his hand. “Then we’ll figure it out.”

Jack looked at their joined hands and felt the difference settle in—protecting someone from a distance versus having them stand right there beside him.



Across campus, Kian led Sam into the small campus store near the senior dorms. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead.

Shelves of snacks stretched in neat rows. Sam stopped in front of the first display and stared like the decision carried actual weight.

“Which one?”

Kian leaned against the opposite shelf. “Whatever you want.”

Sam picked a bag of chips. Then a second. Then a chocolate bar. Then another bag.

“This one looks good.”

“Take it.”

“And this?”

“Take it.”

“What about—”

“Sam.”

Sam looked up. Kian gestured toward the entire shelf with a lazy sweep of his hand.

“Take all of it.”

Sam slowly looked down at the growing pile in his arms, then back at Kian. “All?”

“You said you were hungry.”

“I didn’t say I was feeding the entire team.”

Kian laughed, quiet and short. Sam started smiling without meaning to. For once the usual teasing edge was missing. He simply stood there, arms full, feeling strangely comfortable. The feeling sat strangely in his chest.

Kian noticed the pause but didn’t comment. Instead he stepped forward and took two of the heavier bags from Sam’s arms.

“I can carry them.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you carrying them?”

“Because I want to.”

Sam blinked. Kian simply turned and started walking toward the register. Sam followed, still holding the remaining snacks, the strange warmth lingering longer than he expected.



Back in the dorm the lights stayed low. Jack was already stretched out under the blanket when Luca finished brushing his teeth and climbed into his own bed.

The space between the mattresses felt smaller than it had in weeks.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

A pause stretched. Then Luca reached across the gap and took Jack’s hand. Jack turned his head on the pillow.

Luca’s voice stayed quiet. “Don’t make it weird.”

Jack’s smile was visible even in the dim light. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Their fingers stayed linked as the room settled into silence. Neither of them let go.

Morning light filtered through the curtains. Students moved along the paths toward the rink in small groups.

Jack and Luca got ready side by side lacing skates they wouldn’t need, packing bags out of habit more than necessity.

They walked together without discussion, steps matching easily.

Halfway there Luca slowed. “Wait.”

Jack glanced over. “What?”

Luca pointed toward the rink doors ahead. “Why are we going there?”

Jack stopped. “I don’t know.”

“We’re suspended.”

“I know.”

They exchanged a look. The same realization settled on both of them at once.

“This feels weird.”

They entered anyway.

Jay and Noah were already on the bench, jackets on, sticks nowhere in sight. Jay looked up as they approached. His eyebrows rose.

“What are you two doing here?”

Jack dropped onto the bench beside Luca. “Apparently we don’t know.”

Noah laughed under his breath. “Suspended people club?”

Luca sat. “Looks like it.”

Other students began filtering in. Whispers moved through the group almost immediately.

“Why are Jack and Luca sitting there?”

“Did they get suspended?”

“Is Jack still captain?”

“What happened?”

Jack heard every word. Luca did too. Neither responded. They simply stayed where they were, shoulders almost touching.

Coach Parker walked onto the ice. His whistle cut through the noise cleanly.

“Everyone. Gather around.”

The students slowly formed a loose circle. Coach stood in front of them, clipboard under one arm. He glanced once toward the bench where Jack and Luca sat, then addressed the team.

“Before we start, there are some changes you need to know about.”

The room quieted.

“Jack Carter will not be playing for the remainder of training.”

A murmur rose immediately. Jack’s jaw tightened, but he kept his eyes forward.

Coach continued without pause. “Luca Rinaldi will also remain suspended from play.”

The whispers grew louder. Someone near the back asked, “Why?”

Another voice followed. “What happened?”

Coach’s voice rose just enough to cut through. “That’s not your concern. The disciplinary matter has been handled. You don’t need the details.”

Jack looked at Coach. Coach did not look back, but the message was clear. The relationship stayed private.

A student raised a hand—Liam, from the second line. “Coach?”

“What?”

“If Jack can’t play… who is captain?”

Heads turned. Someone near the boards muttered, “Could be Mendoza.”

Sam, standing among the active players, added, “Yeah, Mendoza’s probably the best after Jack.”

A few others nodded. Mendoza looked uncertain, shifting his weight.

Coach let the speculation run for a few seconds. Then he spoke again, voice flat.

“Mendoza isn’t your captain.”

Silence returned. Coach’s gaze moved across the group and settled on Sam.

Sam didn’t notice at first. When he did, his expression shifted from casual to startled.

Coach said, “Sam is.”

Sam blinked. “Me?”

“Yes.”

A few students turned fully toward him. Sam pointed at himself. “Coach, I think you have the wrong Sam.”

Coach’s face stayed serious. “I don’t.”

Sam looked at Jack on the bench. Jack looked equally surprised. Sam immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“That’s not a request.”

Sam stepped forward a half step. “Coach, I don’t want to take Jack’s place.”

“You’re not taking his place.”

Sam’s brows drew together. “Then what am I doing?”

“You’re leading the team until he’s back.”

Sam looked at Jack again. Jack gave him a small nod from the bench. Sam still shook his head.

“Jack is the captain.”

“And he’ll still be the captain.”

“Then why me?”

Coach stepped closer, voice lower but clear enough for the nearby players to hear. “Because right now, Jack can’t be on the ice. And this team still needs someone to lead it.”

Sam looked around at the faces watching him. The usual confidence drained from his posture for the first time. His hands hung loosely at his sides. His mouth opened, then closed again.

“Coach…”

Coach cut him off. “You’ll figure it out.”

Sam stared at him. Coach raised the whistle to his lips and blew once, sharp.

“On the ice.”

Nobody moved.

Coach raised an eyebrow. “That’s an order.”

Sam remained frozen in place, the space where Jack usually stood now empty and waiting for him.

On the bench Jack watched in silence, the weight of the moment settling over both of them like the cold air of the rink.

The team still needed a leader.

Sam had no idea whether he was ready to become one.