Hutch

18

Hutch

"Hutch! Get your ass in here!"

Groaning, I pull myself up off the bench and head toward Coach's office. The game tonight was rough and we're all pretty beat down. We won, but just barely. If it hadn't been for Kyle coming in clutch there at the end, we would have lost.

The last time Coach screamed at me like this was when he told me scouts were looking at me and that my time was off. My time better not be fucking off again. Not with Daisy in the house. She texted that she can't stick around, but she came. That's a win.

Coach is glowering at me when I come in.

"Shut the door."

Ouch. He's really about to ream my ass out about something. Our team was sloppy tonight and since I'm the captain, I'm going to take the brunt of his anger. I'd rather that then the whole team feel it.

"Sit." His tone is clipped and hard.

I slide into one of the two very hard, very uncomfortable chairs in front of his desk.

"What the fuck was that out there tonight? You all played like it was first time on the ice."

"Everyone has a bad day once in a while."

"Bad day?" His ire rises and I lean away from him. "Bad day? You want a fucking bad day? You'll see a bad day Monday morning. Get your ass out of here and get those men in shape or there will be consequences."

I stand, ready to leave when he sighs.

"Sit down."

"You just told me to leave."

"Shut the fuck up and sit your ass down."

I fall into the chair, feeling it groan under my weight. I wish he'd make up his mind. I need a shower and maybe a soak in an ice bath. Their team's enforcer was brutal on all of us tonight.

"I got a call earlier today. I didn't want to say anything in case it affected your game."

Frowning, I crack my neck, hoping to relieve some of the tension there. Fuck, I need a massage and an ice bath.

"Julian McClare called."

Fuck me. I sat up, forgetting all about my aches and pains. He was the recruiter for the Raptors.

Coach hands me a piece of paper. My hand shakes as I take it.

"He wants you to call him."

"Did he see tonight's game?'

"You better hope not."

"And...Collin?"

"He's getting a call too. Noah is on their radar, but they want to see more from him. After tonight, I don't blame them. Man all but gave the game away."

"We all contributed to tonight's mess of a game."

Coach cracks a rare grin. "That's why you're the captain. You never place blame, you shoulder it."

I sit there, shell-shocked. I thought...hell, I thought they didn't want me.

"You're going to need an agent. I listed three below McClare's number. I know them all and they're damn good. Do your research. Call McClare and then call one of those agents. Tell them I recommended them."

"I...thank you, Coach."

"Get your ass in the shower, then the ice bath and then make those calls." His voice is gruffer than it was and I nod.