Shutout

Chapter 29 - Logan

I knew it was coming out today. I just didn't know when because Kane didn't know when they were going to publish it, either. So I shook it from my mind and went to practice like nothing was different. 

It was the first practice back for Porter. He didn't look excited to see me, so I just nodded to him in acknowledgment. Because he was back, I spent less time in the crest during practice, but that was okay. Most of the practice was the coach yelling at Bac to get his act together. I stood in worry as he seemed out of his mind and sluggish. He tried to better himself, but it never seemed to last long. Toi whispered to him multiple times, but nothing seemed to come from it. 

Towards the end of practice, when Coach looked ready to beat all of our heads into our shoulders with his hockey stick, someone came and whispered something to one of our assistant coaches, Jeremiah. He nodded and skated over to me. I tried to pretend like I wasn't watching, but I don't think I did a very good job. 

"Klicker," He skated to a stop in front of me, "Go get undressed and then go up to the GM's office. I'll tell Roz that you were called by Butler."

I nod dumbly and quickly skate off towards the locker room before Roz, our head coach, gets word that I was pulled off before practice was even fully done. I ended up taking a bit too long trying to get undressed as my hands shook and a million worries flew through my head. Like, what if I'm getting traded? I don't want to leave. I like my teammates, and I don't want to be far from Kane. What if I'm getting put on waivers because of my participation in the article even though I clear it with PR? Why does the GM have to be involved? 

I felt like a kid going to the principle's office as i walked through hallways and cubicles. Eventually, I stood in front of the GM, Butler's office. I could hear talking inside, but I couldn't make out enough words to make sense. So I raised a fist and very carefully knocked. A call to enter was immediate. 

Butler wasn't old, but he wasn't young. He was also balding on top and had never been a professional hockey player. But he was still pretty nice and would often walk around in the locker room after practice or a game. But he was an important person with a lot of power in my life and career, so that was scary.

"Logan! Come in—you can shut the door behind you." He waved me inside the room. "Come sit down."

He was not the only person clustered around the small boardroom table on the left side of the office. There was PR and media management also there, so this had to be about the article and hopefully not about trade. I rubbed my hands together annoyingly as I slowly took a seat at the other end of the table where most of them were clustered. 

"Practice going good?" I blink at Butler's sudden question. I can only think to nod, "I thought so, too, from here. It's good that Porter is back on the ice. Probably a couple of games before he can play again, but this is good progress." Again, I only nod. 

"Alright, why don't we jump right into this? The article that you participated in recently was published while practice was going on. It's pretty lengthy, but reporters everywhere have already snatched it up. Because of its contents and its attitude towards the league, as well as your participation in the sport, we think it's most appropriate if we—including you—published a statement on it."

"Tronto already has a mini press release set up for Lindalh to do today after their practice since they don't have a game today," I think her name is Mae. She's a social media manager, if I remember correctly. She seems nice. 

"Oh. Okay. Um...what do I need to do?" I ask, feeling pretty stupid about the business management aspect of hockey. I just keep a puck from entering a net, and they're out here strategizing and communication and other business shit.