A Rookie Mistake

Caden Kelly

They all say I was born with a natural talent. But skill isn’t the same as passion, and I’ve never loved hockey. Not the spotlight, not the pressure, and definitely not the expectations that come with being my father’s son.

I dream of a quieter life—one where I build and create instead of perform for a crowd. But in my father’s world, dreams are irrelevant. Control is everything. And he’s a ruthless expert at keeping me in line. So when he pushes me to sign with a new team far from home, I don’t argue. I never do.

Then Asher “The Ace” Landry steps onto the ice and into my life. I’ve seen his face on screens countless times, Stanley Cup champion turned assistant coach. But in person, he’s nothing like I imagined. Thoughtful. Attentive. Safe. And somehow, he sees me, even when I’m trying my hardest to disappear.

The truth is, I’m lost. On the ice. In my family. And in these new, confusing feelings Ash stirs in me. But something’s shifting, and as the pressure builds to a breaking point, I realize maybe it’s time I start fighting for my life, not the one planned out for me.