Chapter 4 #2
The coach sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his barrel chest. “It shows. So does the same level of testosterone your brother Ford faced when on the team. You’re both cut from the same cloth.
Plus, you have a goddamn stubborn streak the size of the Grand Canyon. Both rebels with an uncertain cause.”
I’d already bristled, thinking he had plans on using the fact I was a shifter. I should have known better. The coach hid behind nothing, coming right out with whatever was on his mind, no matter how brutal the remark.
“We have a lot to prove.” That was the truth, but a lame answer. We both know it.
“That’s the crux of your problem. I’ve said that to you before.
You’re so worried about proving your worth you’re refusing to either acknowledge or accept that you’re a damn good player in your own right.
I get how difficult the press and protestors have been on your entire family.
I’ve read the signs. Shifters eat people and the perfect hunt. It’s all crap. You know that.”
“Yeah, it is. We’re no different than anyone else.”
“Then act like it. I’m sure someone had already told you this, son, including your father, but those people are looking, hoping for a reaction.
They feed off your discomfort and as long as you give them what they so desperately need, they’ll stay on your ass.
I don’t give a shit if you howl at the damn moon every month like clockwork.
What I do care about is that you take the time to improve your skills, remain a team player, and shove all the unnecessary mental and emotional bullshit aside. ”
“Yeah, I get it.” He had a way of making me feel as if I should reconsider my chosen profession stat. I’d never had a coach take the time to grill me to the wall, dissecting every defense taken, every position selected on the ice.
“Are you sure about that? You have more talent in that little finger of yours than almost anyone I know. You’re being looked at by various NHL clubs all over the freaking country.
Do you know how many calls I’ve fielded from NHL teams?
Vancouver. Tampa. Chicago. Hell, Chicago is chomping at the bit to have you and the Masters brothers on the same roster. ”
The Masters brothers. Considered the best brother combo in the NHL, something my brothers would argue with.
What did they both have in common? They were shifters.
I remained quiet, which seemed to frustrate the coach.
“While a little sensationalism goes a long way, there isn’t a team out there who would walk into a potential scandal or divisive situation if they can choose to do otherwise.
That’s business, Cole. There was too much heat on the teams for far too long.
They don’t want the press to hound them about shifter behavior instead of about the damn good game the team just played. ”
“I said I was sorry about Drake. I allowed the fucker to push my buttons.” It was obviously the wrong choice of words since he arched a brow, but I’d said what I said.
He stared at me, unblinking. “I didn’t call you into my office to talk about Drake. I don’t think I need to belabor the subject. Do you?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. I called you in here to potentially ward off a rivalry of epic proportion. One directly on our team.”
“Sir?”
“You know exactly what and who I’m talking about. Jagger Black.”
“We’re cool,” I dared lie.
His chuckle was followed by an immediate hang of his head.
“Son, I’m not blind. Neither is the rest of the team nor your other coaches.
You two are a ticking timebomb. I’m not going to have your antics in the locker room or on the ice.
We have investors, lots of them. The city is behind us.
We’re growing in respect, especially since we’ve home grown several NHL players.
I will not have any of that jeopardized. Am I making myself very clear?”
“Crystal clear, sir.” Now wasn’t the time to argue, although he continued to eye me warily.
“I’m glad that’s taken care of.” He drummed his fingers on his desk. “You need to find a way to relax, Cole. You really do.”
“What’s wrong with living, breathing, and experiencing hockey? Aren’t you the one who told us we need to immerse ourselves in the life or we’d never make it to the NHL?”
If there was one thing the coach couldn’t stand, it was being reminded of something he’d said. “There are limits. Your entire world is wrapped around the game. I realize this is none of my business, but are you dating anyone?”
My grin was obviously not what he wanted to see. I lost it real quick. “I see a girl here and there.”
“I’m not talking about hooking up. An actual girlfriend who levels you out, breaking the tie hockey has over you, at least when you’re together.”
“I’m not really a relationship kind of guy.”
“Well, maybe you need to rethink your position.”
Why did I have a feeling he was dead serious, as if my career might depend on hunting down a woman who would help me fight my level of anger? “I don’t know, sir. What kind of woman could put up with me?”
His laugh was almost annoying. “Good point. She’d need to be one hell of a strong woman to deal with your antics, but they are out there. Trust me. Find some time to search. A woman will make you more well-rounded, which God knows you need.”
He wasn’t kidding. Who did I know who could drop into a friends-with-benefits type of relationship? Or maybe a little fake dating action. Great. Now I was channeling my sister and her passion to become a romance author. I needed to stop listening to her when she described her horny shit.
“Last thing. We need a captain, Kendrick.”
Wait. After all that, he was considering me for the position? Hell, yes. I stood a little taller, sucked in my breath, and was ready to lead the team. More than ready. “Yes, we do.” Great. Now my voice didn’t hold any command, instead a little croak as if I was terrified of the job.
Was he offering a smirk? “I’ve come up with the perfect solution to this dilemma. I’m going to make you co-captains.”
I found myself leaning forward, barely able to keep standing. “What? Who?”
“You will share the duties with Jagger Black. You’ll work out your differences and I think you’ll both become even better players.”
“Coach. I’ll do what I can to make the world go around with him, but I don’t think we can work together that closely.”
The coach waved his hand. “That wasn’t a request to which you have any input or ability to say no. That was an order.”
“An order?” Why was I repeating what he’d said? This was horrible. This was perhaps the worst thing that could occur.
He stood, knuckling his desk as he leaned over. “I’ll make this very easy for you. If you’d like to continue playing for the Seattle Wild, you will do so as co-captain. Now, are we good?”
What in the hell was I supposed to say? “Yeah, Coach. We’re good.”
I was anything but good. Working with Jagger would not be in anyone’s best interest.
Maybe the best thing to do was to make his life miserable. Yeah, so he’d quit.
There was a plan.
“Send in Jagger on your way out. And don’t do anything stupid. It’s only fair you hear that I had a call from management encouraging me to put you on a four-game suspension.”
“They can’t do that!”
“Yeah, they can and they will force my hand if you can’t calm down and play nice with your teammates. As you might imagine, disciplinary actions will be taken into account by every NHL team when scouting for players. Just something for you to keep in mind.”