Read Online The Tao of Hockey (Vancouver Vice #1) by Melanie Ting - Free Book Online

her buddies had taken off, and the only sign they had ever been there was a crumpled Starbucks takeout cup. Would she even call me? Or would she wash my number off her arm when she went home with one of those skinny bike jockeys?
    After talking to Lance, the importance of this season loomed even larger. He might think I was a shoo-in to make the Vice, but I wasn’t as confident. I decided to head back to the gym and do some more work.
    Tony was still there, of course. He gave me a head nod when I walked in, and I wondered if this had been a test too. Seeing whether I would make up the two hours I had missed. Tony was such a master of psychology that was impossible to stay ahead of him.
    As I got changed, I wondered what would have happened if I had hooked up with Josie instead of coming back. Maybe women were trouble. But when I closed my eyes, I imagined her half-naked, pressed up against the smooth marble wall with my cock pounding into her. Her head would be back and she’d be a screamer for sure, because she didn’t give a shit about what other people thought. When I imagined us together, it wasn’t about how good it would feel to fuck her—that was a given—but how good it would be to make her feel something. I wanted to rock her world and shatter that chill exterior.
    I did a light workout, and then focused on my stretching. Tony came in to see me after he was done with his other clients.
    “How did your meeting with Lance go?”
    “Fine. He told me how great you think I am,” I joked.
    Tony grimaced. “He shouldn’t have done that.”
    “Why not? Isn’t a little encouragement a good thing?”
    “I think players work harder in an atmosphere of uncertainty. Being too comfortable leads to complacency.” Suddenly he smiled. Tony’s smile was a little crooked, like it was rusty from disuse. “You know, Eric. I don’t think I’ve discussed my philosophies of sport so much with anyone before.”
    I smiled back.
    “One thing I encourage all my players to do is to consider their careers after hockey. Is that something you’ve done?”
    I shook my head. “I guess it’s taken me so long to climb back up the mountain that I can’t see beyond the peak.”
    “You should think about it. Most guys get a pro career that’s only a few years tops at any level. That’s not going to set them up for life. It’s not uncommon for players to become depressed once their career is over, because they’ve done no preparation. It’s good to have something else to look forward to—in your case, it may alleviate your fears.”
    I nodded, but I was surprised that he had identified fear as one of my issues. I tried to be fearless out on the ice, but maybe he was right. I never thought beyond making the NHL. Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. “What would it take to work with you?”
    Tony’s eyes widened. He didn’t reply right away, and he seemed to be actually considering this. “Well, your yoga background is intriguing…and you’ve read a lot about sports psychology. But to be honest, most guys in my business have some kind of degree in the field.” He lifted his shoulders. “If not with me, personal training might be a good fit for you. I’ll put together some information for you. But like most things, having been successful in hockey will ease whatever you do afterwards.”
    That’s what everything hinged on—how successful I was this time. At least he wasn’t saying I had to make the NHL, only that it would be easier.
    “Tony, do you think that under pressure, we all revert to our true selves? I’ve worked so hard not to let my anger rule me. I think of it as the red side, but it’s like that rage is always there. It’s one thing to train and scrimmage—but in a real game, when things matter, it’s different. And Lance underlined how important this season will be for me. So when everything is on the line, how will I keep my emotions in check?”
    He stared at me, deep in thought. Then he answered.