Chapter 7: Equipment

Monday practice, Ty skated hard and angry.

He had stayed angry through Sunday, too.

Cullen caught up with him at the water bottles after the second drill.

"You look ready to kill somebody. Is it me?"

"It's nobody."

"It's definitely somebody. Is it Hanratty? I'll trip him. I've got a whole plan."

"It's nobody, Cullen."

Cullen studied him a moment longer and then held out a bottle.

"Fine. Eat with me after. I'm buying."

Ty took the bottle.

It was a very small kindness, and he was too raw to deal with it.

Lars ran the last drill from the center circle, calling lines in his flat captain's voice.

He did not look at Ty once.

That made it worse.

When Coach blew the final whistle, the team started drifting off toward the tunnel.

Lars skated up to the equipment manager at the gate.

"Ingram's got stick duty," he said. "I'll help him carry."

The equipment manager shrugged and went back to his clipboard.

Ty stood very still on the ice, staring at Lars's back.

He considered saying no. He considered it for about a second.

Then he followed him down the tunnel to the equipment room.

It was a long concrete room full of racks, with skates hung in rows and the air smelling of tape and old sweat.

Lars shut the door behind them and turned the lock.

"Rule two," Ty said.

"I know."

"You're breaking it again."

"I know."

"You put me in a single room," Ty said. "In Mankato."

Lars stopped with one hand on the lock.

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