Cross Check

Chelsea Curto
67 pages2-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2026

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Amelia is an exceptionally talented hockey strategist who transitions from collegiate coaching to become the first female assistant coach in the NHL for the Denver Goldminers. She maintains a rigid no-fraternization policy with male athletes to protect her professional standing in a male-dominated environment. Highly competitive and private, she guards her personal life closely to prevent public gossip from undermining her career.

Key Relationships

Love Interest of Grant Everett

Best Friend of Sienna Washburn

Best Friend of Lainey Bodewell

Friend of Emerson Hartwell

Mentee of Jude Hunter

Employee of Darcy Benderson

Acquaintance of Lexi Armstrong

Acquaintance of Piper Mitchell

Grant is a rising professional hockey star who plays as a right winger for the DC Stars. He possesses a gentle, thoughtful disposition that contrasts with the typical bravado of professional athletes. He maintains a quiet, respectful devotion to Amelia, carefully noting details about her life while honoring her professional boundaries.

Key Relationships

Admirer of Amelia Green

Older Brother of Hannah Everett

Teammate of Maverick Miller

Player for Brody Saunders

Friend of James Phillips

Teammate of Riley Mitchell

Teammate of Ethan Richardson

Teammate of Hudson Hayes

Teammate of Liam Sullivan

Coworker of Lexi Armstrong

Supporting Characters

Brody serves as the head coach for the DC Stars NHL team. He presents a formidable, old-school coaching exterior but strictly prohibits toxic behavior among his players. He provides steady leadership for the team and actively supports the advancement of female professionals in hockey.

Key Relationships

Coach of Grant Everett

Coach of Maverick Miller

Darcy owns the Baltimore Sea Crabs hockey organization. She operates as an uncompromising, forward-thinking businesswoman determined to reshape the league. She actively seeks to build a female-led coaching staff and offers lucrative opportunities to talented women.

Key Relationships

Employer of Amelia Green

Maverick is the captain of the DC Stars. He initially projects the image of a carefree athlete but acts as a dedicated leader for his teammates. He provides guidance for the younger players and sets an example for balancing a high-profile sports career with a private life.

Key Relationships

Captain of Grant Everett

Romantic Partner of Emerson Hartwell

Player for Brody Saunders

Ethan plays for the DC Stars and frequently provides comic relief for the team. He has a high-energy personality and hosts an online livestream for his fans, but he remains fiercely loyal to his fellow players during crises.

Key Relationships

Teammate of Grant Everett

Hudson is a defenseman for the DC Stars who often acts as the moral center of the group. He demonstrates empathy by learning sign language for a chef's daughter and offers thoughtful advice to his peers.

Key Relationships

Teammate of Grant Everett

Liam is the goaltender for the DC Stars. He maintains a grumpy, cynical exterior that masks a deep capacity for care toward his friends and romantic partner.

Key Relationships

Teammate of Grant Everett

Romantic Partner of Piper Mitchell

Lainey works as a vice president for an NBA franchise. She understands the intense scrutiny placed on women in sports leadership and offers Amelia a safe, private space to voice her anxieties and ambitions.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Amelia Green

Friend of Sienna Washburn

Sienna is a vice president for an NFL team. She is highly perceptive about Amelia's emotional barriers and frequently points out how Amelia uses her career to shield herself from personal vulnerability.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Amelia Green

Friend of Lainey Bodewell

Emerson, often called Emmy, is the first woman to play in a regular-season NHL game. She shares the unique burden of breaking gender barriers in professional hockey and acts as a vital ally to other women in the sport.

Key Relationships

Friend of Amelia Green

Romantic Partner of Maverick Miller

Hannah is a professional figure skater experiencing career burnout. She relies on her brother for emotional support while offering him outside perspective on his romantic inclinations and habits.

Key Relationships

Younger Sister of Grant Everett

Jude serves as the head coach of the Denver Goldminers. He recognizes Amelia's exceptional hockey intelligence and actively pushes her to seek promotion, providing crucial mentorship in her early NHL career.

Key Relationships

Mentor of Amelia Green

James is a fraternity president and the captain of the Florida State University club hockey team. He introduces Grant to Amelia's legendary status and insists she operates in a different league entirely.

Key Relationships

Friend of Grant Everett

Riley is a player for the DC Stars who participates fully in the team's social and professional life. His sudden, severe car accident sends shockwaves through the organization and deeply affects his teammates.

Key Relationships

Teammate of Grant Everett

Piper works as a rink-side reporter for professional hockey. She connects with the players on a personal level and provides outside perspective on the tight-knit world of the NHL.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Liam Sullivan

Acquaintance of Amelia Green

Lexi works as the athletic trainer for the DC Stars. She views the players in a strictly platonic, familial way and actively supports the network of women working in and around professional hockey.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Amelia Green

Coworker of Grant Everett