CALLUM
I sat on the bench, watching my teammates run drills without me. The weight of my "broken hand" felt heavier than any actual injury. Coach had just dropped the bombshell about Ethan and me being out of commission, and I could still see the shock on everyone's faces.
The team moved across the ice in synchronized patterns, their skates cutting sharp lines as they practiced breakaway formations. A few of them glanced my way as they circled back. Their expressions were a mix of concern and disappointment. I'd apologized, of course, playing up the guilt for my "accident." It wasn't entirely an act; I did feel guilty for the deception. But I knew it was necessary. This ruse would keep Lila off my back and give me the time I needed to dig deeper into her father's past.
The sound of whis
