No Pucks (Gods Versus Monsters Hockey #1)

32. Anthony

THIRTY-TWO

ANTHONY

Anthony: I’m leaving practice early because I have a meeting with the board today.

Logan: What for?

Anthony: They didn’t say.

Logan: Is that normal?

Anthony: I don’t know. This is my first time as a head coach.

Logan: Probably just them excited about being the top of our league.

Anthony: If they’re making me leave practice early for bullshit, I’m going to be pissed.

L ogan sends some kind of emoji I don’t understand.

Anthony: What the fuck does an upside down smiley face mean?

Logan: I’m never telling you.

Anthony: Why the fuck not?

Logan: Because it’s funnier this way. I can’t be translating for my people.

Anthony: I shouldn’t need a translator to speak to you.

Logan: Maybe you should keep up?

Anthony: I’d rather sit on my porch and tell you to get off my lawn.

Logan: See you at practice, Ice Daddy.

Anthony: I thought we moved past that nickname?

Logan sends me another emoji I can’t translate, but I ignore it. I have a bad feeling about this meeting, and I’m putting together team stats in case they don’t like something I’m doing.

I’m distracted during practice and glad when I can head to the meeting. I’d rather rip the Band-Aid off than wait around thinking about it. I pace the vestibule, waiting for them to call me in, trying to tell myself this is normal. But it’s not normal. None of this feels normal, and all the things I can get fired for filter through my head. Logan, Cox’s war, not hiring Cox. Any part of my past. My ex.

But Logan and I have been careful.

He said the team isn’t suspicious—in fact, they asked to meet his boyfriend.

So who even could have said anything?

I’m over reacting. I need to calm down, or I’m going to go into this damn meeting a nervous wreck. I tuck my folio under my arm and crack my knuckles. Whatever this is, worrying about it won’t change a fucking thing.

“Mr. Hawke. Sorry for the wait. The board was finishing something up. They will see you now,” a woman with a high tight ponytail says, leading me into the room.

I find myself in a boardroom with the athletic director, Gary, who was part of my hiring process, sitting in one of the seats.

“How’s it going?” I say, taking the only empty seat and laying my folio on the table.

“Good afternoon, Coach Hawke,” Gary says. “I’m doing fine. And yourself?”

“Great.” I don’t have it in me to give him any more. I glance around, feeling like I’ve walked into a trap. “What can I do for you all?”

“Well, Anthony, we’ve had a concerning report.”

My brows rise. “I can’t imagine what that would be about.” My voice remains steady. In this second, I remain cool, calm, and collected. I won’t be giving them a damn thing.

“I’m going to be blunt about it. I got a call from Michael Cox…”

I barely resist rolling my eyes. “Is he angry I didn’t have a space for him?”

“No,” Gary says coldly.

“Then I can’t imagine what a rival coach would have to say about me?” I want every person in this room to realize this isn’t credible.

“He has a concern about his son.”

My stomach falls out of my asshole. “Excuse me? What kind of concern?” I cut myself off before I say anything else. I need to know what they are accusing me of before I mount a defense.

“That you’re recruiting him outside of the NCAA rules.”

I laugh. Six months ago, I never would have had this reaction. I would have scowled and shut down. Relief floods me. “He’s eligible. I’m sure he already is being recruited heavily with how he plays. What exactly am I being accused of?”

“That you’re speaking to him outside of official meetings.”

“As is my right. All of us are allowed unofficial meetings with players.” I know the rule book. I’d lived it, and I make sure I have my ducks in a row.

“That isn’t what he said about unofficial meetings. He seems to believe you’re having his brother and other players show Evander a good time.”

I laugh again, shaking my head. “That man will really say anything. I am not participating in illegal recruiting activities. Cox Sr. has never liked me, which is no secret, and this is him making unfounded accusations because he’s mad we beat the Monsters.”

“How do we know these accusations are unfounded?”

“Why am I being accused on a rival coach’s word without evidence?”

“Michael told us he thinks you’re working with Logan and that Evander has been engaging in risky activity while avoiding his parenting time.” Gary presses his lips together, like his statement will magically make me confess.

I exhale, considering my words. “Logan has shared with me that he no longer speaks to his father because of abuse he suffered at home. I can only imagine both of them experienced the same version of Cox. For him to turn it into this is nothing but sabotage because we have a better team than he does.” A few of the board members exchange looks. Their facade is cracking, so I continue. “I’m disappointed I’ve been taken from practice going into playoff season to deal with this, considering the source.”

“We have to take all accusations seriously, regardless of their source, to insure we don’t run into issues with the governing body.”

I stare right at Gary. “Maybe you should use some judgement and discretion going forward.” I don’t want to make an enemy of Gary, but I won’t keep playing this game with Cox. My work stands for itself, and now plenty of other teams will be willing to hire me after seeing what I can do.

“We see the work you’re doing, and I know we picked the right man for the job, but we want to ensure we don’t run into issues, as I’m sure you can understand.”

“I’d like a relationship with the athletic department where I’m believed, particularly over a rival coach, because this is retaliation.” I’m oscillating between rage and humor.

“I’ll take your opinion into consideration. Please keep everything with the team above board.”

“Is that all?” I ask, shoving to my feet, done with this meeting.

“It is.”

I shouldn’t walk home, but I need time to clear my head before I face Logan. I take the cane out of my bag and screw it together, giving into Krista’s voice in my head. I don’t need to be in pain later. With Cox Sr. this determined to ruin my life, I need to mentally prepare to be fired at any second. I’m sure he won’t stop as long as we keep winning, especially if Evander signs with us—or anywhere else, for that matter. I’m sure Cox Sr. will blame Logan.

I exhale, looking up at the sky, the skyscraper lights blinding around me, leaving few visible stars. It’s so much different than Florida where I lived before. There, I could see every star. But I’ve found happiness here, in a place where I never thought I’d be happy again. Nothing went right in Florida, and my life only got worse there.

I don’t want to leave my job or the city.

Or Logan.

Fuck.

I let myself into my apartment and pour myself a drink before I even turn the lights on.

“You’re using the cane I got you.”

I jump, spilling my damn bourbon and dropping the glass. It hits the edge of the counter, sending glass shards in every direction. Logan is behind me in an instant, picking up the glass.

“No, don’t do that. You’ll cut your hand.”

He hisses. “Fuck.”

“You need your goddamn hands.” I grab his wrist, trying to inspect the wound, but it’s too damn dark. “I can’t see a fucking thing.”

“It’s fine, old man.” He tries to pull his hand back, but I don’t let go.

I growl. “Turn on the light. You can’t see either, which is why you cut yourself.”

I reach over and flip the kitchen light on then demand his hand back silently. He gives it to me.

“I don’t think you need stitches.”

“I told you it’s fine.”

We finish picking up the glass together, and then he pours us both drinks.

“You shouldn’t be drinking during the season.” I eye him over my fresh glass.

“You gonna tell the other players, or should I start the mutiny?” He laughs, and I envy his lightness. “Meeting not go well?”

“It went—” I don’t even know what to say. “I’m still processing.”

“Were you fired?” He brushes his fingers over my face.

I shake my head.

“Are you on probation or something?” He slides his arms around my neck.

“I guess. Maybe.” I hold the small of his back, keeping him close. “Your dad reported me for breaking recruiting rules with your brother.”

He huffs out a laugh without humor. “What a fucking dick. I bet he’s going to try and set up a case preventing Evander from going here.”

“He never quits, does he?”

“Fucking never.” He ghosts his lips over my throat. “They just believed him?”

“Of course they did. You know his image after the career he had here. I doubt you’d find many in the state who don’t love him.” I tip my head back, holding the back of his head to my skin. “You feel so good.”

“I’d feel even better with my lips around your cock, and I bet you’d be a whole lot less stressed.” He tries to lower down, but I stop him.

“We need to talk first.”