After running around for ten minutes, I finally find a coffee place that isn't a Starbucks. In Chicago we have a Starbucks on every block. I rush to order the devil's coffee and it comes almost instantly, considering they didn't have to do anything to it. As I step back outside, I realize I'm kinda lost. I wasn't paying attention to where I went, I was just going. I curse and dig in my bag for my phone. As I'm distracted, someone hurries past me, bumping straight into me. I lose my grip on the coffee and it splashes all over my face and shirt. The hot drink burns my face and I curse again. I really wish Patrick would've let me thrown that coffee at Don. I wipe my face off and pick the empty coffee cup off the ground. I throw it in the trash before entering the cafe again. The young girl behind the counter catches my attention and holds out a cup to me.
"Large black, right?" She asks, nodding towards the cup.
"Yeah, thank you." I answer, taking the coffee. I grab my wallet to pay but she shakes her head
"On me. I saw what happened. You seem pretty stressed out." She answers and I sigh, wiping my face again
"Yes you could say that again. Thank you so much." I smile, tossing a few dollars in the tip jar.
"It's a beautiful day out, enjoy your walk." She says and turns her attention to the next customer. I go back outside and look around, trying to figure out where I am. As I look, I see signs pointing directions to the UC.
"Idiot." I whisper, looking around before crossing the street. I pick up my pace and make it back in about ten minutes. After searching the entire building I realize the boys are having a practice right now. I stumble through the dressing room and to the bench. Don is stood with his arms crossed, intensely watching the boys play a scrimmage.
"Your coffee, sir." I say, walking up beside him. He sticks his hand out and grabs the coffee, not bothering to look at me. It's probably a good thing he's distracted because I'm sure he'll be able to notice the coffee stain on my white hawks shirt. I sigh and take a seat on the bench, watching the guys skate. All of them are giving this scrimmage their entire effort. Even without their coach their teamwork is uncanny. I can hear Jonathan shouting a lot along with Duncan.
"What's your name?" Don chimes, still not bothering to look at me.
"Evelyn." I answer and I see him nod.
"So which one got you pregnant? Kane definitely seems pretty cocky, was it him?" He asks and I roll my eyes.
"No it wasn't him. Or any of them. I have a husband." I lie, remembering what Jonny said to me.
"Cute. What's his name?" He asks
"Hunter." I say, panicking. That probably wasn't the best name to say but he's the first guy that came to mind.
"When are you due?" Don questions, yelling at one of the guys after he speaks.
"About a month and a half." I answer, confused as to why he's interrogating me. Kane takes a hard fall and I shout at him to get up.
"You're pretty big, are you just naturally... large?" Don sighs, leaning over the boards.
"Uh, no. I'm having twins." I scoff and he laughs a little.
"I have twins. Two girls along with three boys. It's crazy at home. But it was worth it, I would do it all again if I could." He smiles, shaking his head. I watch as he zones off, no longer paying attention to hockey. It sort of amazes me that he was so disrespectful to me when he has a wife and two daughters. As I watch him chuckle to himself I see there's two different Dons within him. There's Coach Don and just plain old Don. He's an old soul that separates work and home. That's always how my dad was, he wasn't afraid to make enemies at work but he would do anything for me and my sisters after hours.
"Can I ask you something, Don?" I question, pulling him from his daydream. He clears his throat and stands up straight, looking at the guys again.
"Coach." He barks, crossing his arms over his chest. He leans over to say something to the GM.
"Right, sorry. Do you need me to do anything?" I ask and he turns and looks at me. He nods as he looks me up and down, finally noticing the coffee stain.
"Yeah, sit there and relax for a while." He turns his attention back to the scrimmage. I smile, I cracked the code to Don. I figured him out. You're welcome, Jonny.
"Kane, stop being an idiot!" Don yells, startling me. I can hear Patrick groan as he whacks the boards with his stick. He's been so, so close to scoring at least 5 goals but he just can't get past Crawford. Jonathan passes the puck to Patrick one more time and he swiftly dodges all the defensemen. He has a clear top goal shot. I rise from my seat and watch as he pulls his arms back and shoots. The puck scraps the post and flies into the boards. No goal.
"Fuck!" Patrick shouts and I cringe. He hardly ever gets this frustrated. Don has been yelling at him the most and I think it's really messing with Pat. Don doesn't seem to trust or like him very much.
"Bring it in!" Don yells, clapping his hands. Jonny puts his arm around Kane as they skate over to me. I sit on the boards, grabbing Patrick's hand as he stops beside me. He shrugs at me but let's me hold his hand a while.
"Most of you are doing pretty well. A lot of you boys are making stupid mistakes. Saad, you're not passing. Campbell, you're passing too much. Kane, you can't shoot." Coach explains, calling everyone out.
"Yeah you've told me about twenty times." Kane mumbles, digging the tip of his skate into the ice. Don glares at Patrick a moment before looking away.
"I've got what I need from you guys. I'm going to figure everything out tonight and we'll talk tomorrow. Good job, you guys can clean up and go home." Coach says, everyone scattering. He talks with the GM a moment longer before turning and looking at me.
"Take this to my office please?" He asks and I nod, taking a note pad from his hand. I stand up and hurry off to the hallway. As I'm walking I look down at the paper and inspect what's scribbled on the pages. As I read I realize it's the notes he's been taking on all the players. He has characteristics and judgements scratched down under everyone's name. Some people have a 'C' or 'A' next to their name. He's already decided what he's going to do and it's not good. I run to his office and drop the pad on his desk. I whip out my phone and quickly take a picture of the notes. I read them one last time before running out of the room and to the dressing room.
YOU ARE READING
House (Sequel to Butterflies)
Fanfiction"Be careful," I whisper, peering down at my doe eyed newborn, "Boys will make you do stupid things. One minute you're just looking at them, and the next you're in the delivery room having his twin babies."
