Gauging the Player Book Three in The Playmakers Series G.K. Brady Copyright © 2020 G.K. Brady All rights reserved This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. ISBN 978-1-7332763-7-5 ISBN 978-1-7332763-8-2 ISBN 978-1-7332763-9-9 Cover design by Jenny Quinlan, Historical Editorial Edited by Jenny Quinlan, Historical Editorial Proofread by HippoCampus Publishing Trefoil Publishing Table of Contents Dedication Chapter 1…There’s a Hitch in my Skate-Along Chapter 2…Etta James is Alive and Well in Denver Chapter 3…You Meet the Darnedest People at Strip Clubs Chapter 4…Of Vampires and Pancakes Chapter 5…Because Everyone Needs Social Media Chapter 6…Sisterhood Doesn’t Require Pants Chapter 7…Flow with the Go Chapter 8…There’s a Football Game Going On? Chapter 9…Tell Me Sweet Little Lies … Please Chapter 10…Game Time Chapter 11…If Wishes Were Wings, I’d Crash Chapter 12…Crush, Crush Chapter 13…Game On Chapter 14…Careless Whispers Chapter 15…Stuck in the Discovery Channel Chapter 16…Spectral Visions Chapter 17…Shall He Do Her? Chapter 18…Is It Hot in Here, or Is It You? Chapter 19…I’m Not Shy Chapter 20…What’s Passed Isn’t Past Chapter 21…Making Beautiful Music Chapter 22…Phantom Shadows Chapter 23…Red Light, Green Light Chapter 24…I’m Going to … Dillon? Chapter 25…Parenting 101 Chapter 26…You Know What They Say About Assuming Chapter 27…Wisdom Is an Elusive Pearl Chapter 28…Claiming a Stake Chapter 29…Deep Into That Darkness Peering Chapter 30…Grabbing a Gear on the Stick Shift of Life Chapter 31…Reveals and Reasons Chapter 32…Nice to Meet You, Rod Serling Chapter 33…And This Is Why Chapter 34…Big Sister Knows Best Chapter 35…The Long Good-bye Chapter 36…The Holy Grail Epilogue Acknowledgements Let’s Connect! Other Books About the author Dedication To my dear friend Sue, love’s eternal optimist—may you find your second Gage in this lifetime. To all those who have loved and lost too soon. Chapter 1 There’s a Hitch in my Skate-Along Late January Drop the damn puck already! Gage Nelson gripped his stick across his thighs. Poised and taut, he deliberately placed the blade of his stick on the ice, mirroring his opponent’s stance, keeping his eyes glued to the puck in the linesman’s hand. Drop it, drop it, drop it! He waited. Normally, he had patience in spades, but right now it was as hard to find as meat in a frozen pot pie. Tonight his team, the Denver Blizzard, faced Boston. For the most part, he respected all the NHL teams—but not Boston. He hated Boston. He also hated that they were owning his team on home ice, thanks to his poor play. Fortunately, it didn’t show on the scoreboard. Yet. Not one usually distracted by anything beyond the rink glass, he had to remind himself, for the fifty-sixth time, to forget about the blond with the long curly hair sitting in the stands. Was it her? He hadn’t been able to get a close look all night, though he’d sure tried his damnedest. Forget about her and focus, doofus. The other center in the faceoff circle growled out a taunt—another part of the game Gage usually had infinite patience for—and though he didn’t catch everything the guy said, it was enough to make him flinch and draw his blade back too early. “Premature again, meat sack,” his opponent chuckled under his breath. “Just what your last girlfriend said. Or was it your boyfriend?” The linesman tossed Gage out of the faceoff, and he glided backward, making room for his right winger, T.J. Shanstrom, to take his place. Shanny side-eyed him. Gage easily read what was written on his teammate’s face despite the bright arena lights bouncing off his visor. He had to be thinking something along the lines of, What the fuck, Nelson? Three times in one period. Yeah, contrary to what Gage’s family yapped at him, he was not perfect. Hopefully, his mom was watching and would finally understand he could be off his game. Way off. Darting his eyes toward the stands, he went into another crouch, waiting for the puck drop. Before he dragged his eyes back to the play, he glimpsed the blond in question laughing at something the guy beside her said. He’d absently scanned the stands when he’d taken the ice for warm-ups, and that’s when he’d caught sight of her and his game went off the rails. He hadn’t been able to keep his mind—or his eyes—off of her. And now something unidentifiable jolted through his bloodstream. Watch the puck. Keep it simple. It’s all about the game. Nothing else. Watch. Puck. Get. Puck. Skate. Put. Puck. In. Net. T.J. drew the puck back, winning the faceoff, but Gage missed corralling it. The other team picked it up before he could get his stick on it, and their line flew toward the Blizzard net. A three-on-two breakaway. Damn it! He dug in, turning on the turbos. Normally, he could overtake anyone on skates, but he was a step behind. His D-men backed up. A smooth give-and-go between the opposing forwards. The puck landed on the winger’s tape. Gage dove from behind. Swept his stick in front of him. Caught the guy in the skates. The player went down hard. Crashed into the Blizzard net. Took Wyatt, the Blizzard goalie, down with him. A whistle blew. Wyatt sprawled on his back on the ice, looking like he was frozen mid-snow angel. The net had come off its moorings when the Boston player ended up in the back of it. As said Boston player untangled himself from the netting, he spewed a spate of choice words at Gage, who was picking himself up off the ice. Gage didn’t need to look to know the orange armband was in the air—the one around the ref’s arm—and a penalty was being called. On him. Shit! He stood up fully, relieved when Wyatt got to his feet, seemingly unhurt. The goalie adjusted his cage and gave Nelson a quick “it’s
