Contents
6. Ryan
Overview
At practice, Ryan manages teammates and scrutiny while Indy unexpectedly appears with a faulty key. GM Ron questions Ryan’s readiness to captain, valuing approachability over talent. Cornered, Ryan lies that Indy is his girlfriend and commits to bringing her to a team banquet, escalating their entanglement and stakes.
Summary
Before a road trip, Ryan manages locker-room banter and discipline, protecting teammate Dom from fines and fielding crude comments when Indy unexpectedly arrives at the closed practice to fix a faulty apartment key. Ryan hustles her aside, worried about optics and attention as she draws stares.
GM Ron Morgan calls Ryan up, previewing a press conference and pushing him to show more personality as team captain. Ron bluntly admits he doubts Ryan’s leadership because Ryan is a lone wolf lacking approachability and family warmth—qualities he admires in former captain Ethan.
Feeling cornered and desperate for Ron’s support, Ryan impulsively claims he has a girlfriend. Spotting Indy, he introduces her as such. Indy freezes, then hams it up with over-the-top pet names, forcing Ryan to drag her away before the charade spirals.
Alone, Indy confronts Ryan about the lie. Ryan explains Ron’s influence and his need to change the narrative, asking Indy to attend the upcoming fall banquet and win over Ron’s wife. Indy calls him dramatic and refuses to commit, agreeing only to discuss it when he returns, while demanding his working key to get back to the apartment and her new bed.
Who Appears
- Ryan ShayDevils’ new captain; pressured by GM, lies that Indy is his girlfriend to boost perceived leadership and secure support.
- IndyRyan’s new roommate; arrives at practice over a faulty key, plays along with the fake-girlfriend claim, but resists committing.
- Ron MorganDevils’ GM; doubts Ryan’s leadership and demands approachability, prompting Ryan’s fake-relationship lie and banquet commitment.
- DomTeammate; partygoer who ogles Indy and teases Ryan, highlighting locker-room dynamic and Ryan’s protective reaction.
- EthanFormer captain and teammate; contrasts Ryan with approachable leadership and friendly rapport with management.
- PhilTeam coordinator; wrangles departures and threatens fines, illustrating team structure and discipline.