Ice Time Read Free Page A

your bill. There are people waiting for a table,” she said before walking away.
    Maddy glared after her, then turned back to Rocket. “Listen, you don’t need to worry about me. The NHL is your
dream
, Bryan. You’ve worked your whole life for this, and you’re going to make it. And not because we need the money but because you deserve to. You’ll figure out the defensive-whatever, and you’ll show them you’re the real deal.”
    “That’s right,” said Risa. “You focus on what you need to do. We’ve always gotten by, and we always will.”
    “I’m still going to send you as much as I can,” he said.
    The waiter returned. “Are you going to pay for your coffee at some point?”
    Risa reached into her purse, ripped open her wallet and slammed a five-dollar bill on the table. “I’ll have my change, please.”
    The waiter rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the tip,” she said as she walked to the cash register.
    Rocket couldn’t take it. He jumped up and marched over.
    “Excuse me,” he said.
    The waiter arched her eyebrows.
    “I want you to treat my mother with respect next time,” he thundered.
    “Why? Is she coming back to order another coffee, take up space and then leave a ten-cent tip?”
    “Do your job.”
    “You’re just three nobodies who came in to stargaze,” she huffed. “Your type bugs me. You want to be treated like you’re famous, but you can’t even afford to order something. A coffee? What a joke.”
    “I’ll take the change,” he growled.
    She gave him the money. “Are you leaving?”
    “We’ll leave when we want.” He stormed back. “Let’s go.”
    “We haven’t had a chance to talk to you,” his mom said.
    “That waiter is unbelievable. I hate it here. Everyone thinks they’re so amazing because they have money. We’ll come back when I’m in the NHL, and she’ll be kissing my butt. You’ll see. And I’ll ask for the manager and get her fired.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Risa said gently. “She’s a rude person. No big deal. Let’s go, then.”
    They had to walk by the waiter to get out. She smirked at Rocket, but he was too miserable to respond.
    He’d let his mom and Maddy down.
    His mom had made so many sacrifices for his hockey, spent so much money. She’d told him that as long as he wanted to play, she would make it happen — and she had.
    Now it was time for him to make something happen.

CHAPTER 4
    Somehow he’d walked right past the place. He was still fuming about that snooty waiter, and he hadn’t been paying attention to where he was going. He doubled back and pushed on the door. It flew open and the handle hit the wall with a bang.
    A waiter’s head whirled toward the door. “You can just come in,” he laughed.
    “Sorry, just looking for some friends.” Rocket scanned the restaurant.
    “Yo, Rocket,” André called out, waving his hand over his head. They’d found a table in the back corner.
    Rocket went over. “Hey, guys, long time no see. How’s school going?”
    “It’s barely started, and I’m already dreading my mechatronics class,” Bird said.
    “Mechatronics is an engineering course that combines several types of technology—” Megan began to explain to Rocket.
    “Thanks, Ms. Education,” he interrupted. It was hard to admit, even to himself, but Rocket felt dumb when he was with his non-hockey friends. Especially now that they were all in university.
    Megan flushed deeply.
    Rocket felt bad right away. He decided to change the topic.
    “What else are you up to?” he asked Bird and Nigel.
    Bird laughed and threw his hands in the air. “It’s total mayhem. Nigel and I rented a place for this year, but it never occurred to us that it had no furniture. Are floors hard to sleep on?”
    “I told you to start looking for stuff two months ago,” Megan said.
    “We kind of didn’t take your good advice,” Nigel said.
    “Why do I bother?” she said.
    “That’s a solid question,” Bird said with a grin.
    Rocket