CHAPTER EIGHT
We read all the romance books, collecting all these amazing book boyfriends, but when my man comes up to me and does the hat thing where he turns it around and looks at me like I’m his dinner AND dessert–well that tops every one of the fictional guys by a million.
~Text from Hanna to Kierstie
Cade
It’s been three weeks since Hanna moved in and overall things are going great between us.
I mean, does she glare at me for leaving the toilet seat up at least once a day?
Absolutely. Does she drive me nuts with her seventeen million hair ties and clips in the bathroom?
One hundred percent, but I still love having her live with me.
The team is holding on by a thread to first place. We’ve got a bye this coming weekend and then only four more matches before the playoff tournament. Our new owner, Ethan, has been making some changes, and I, for one, think they are all in the right direction.
He’s hired more physical therapists and a couple of massage therapists to help work on our muscles. I think just about everyone is happy with the changes. The only one who still fucking grumbles about shit is Zack, but I think he’s just permanently pissed the fuck off at this point.
The only thing bugging me is whoever is leaving notes and things for me is getting creepier by the day. Sure, it started innocently enough with a Captain America comic and a fairly innocent note in my locker, but things are starting to get weird, and not in the good kind of weird.
There have been a few more things left on my porch at home and a couple of things at my locker at the stadium.
Security tried to trace the notes at the stadium, but they came in by regular mail with no return address.
Whoever is doing it has a very weird train of thought.
So far, after the Captain America comic was left, there was a teddy bear in a cheerleader outfit.
The note with that said that I should really see who my biggest cheerleader is, and that it wasn’t the fatty who’s living with me.
That’s what made me get security involved.
I don’t want any of this to touch Hanna at all.
The next few things at the house made no sense whatsoever. There was a box filled with packs of beef jerky with no note, and another box that had a bag of popcorn from the local theater. Every freaking time our mail carrier or UPS has delivered it and there’s been no sender information available.
The last note that came to the locker room has security heightened and has me not wanting to leave Hanna home alone for any reason.
I found it in today’s mail. Same font on the letter as the rest, but no identifying information as to who could’ve sent it.
When I opened it, a clipped picture of the Daredevil character fell out.
For those who aren’t as comic book geeky as me, that’s a Marvel character who’s blind—completely blind and unable to see light and dark, no shapes or anything.
Besides the clipping, there was a brief note.
Wouldn’t it be a shame if that bitch of yours ended up as blind and scarred as Daredevil? Or better yet, wouldn’t it be a shame if she made the ultimate sacrifice like the Black Widow? Maybe then you can find the person who’s supposed to really be at your side.
I’ll be watching to see if you realize your mistake.
I just finished practice, and I might’ve been taking some anger out on the bags more than normal because Coach and Ethan both just walked through the door to the locker room and are heading my way. Coach gets a few feet away before he speaks.
“Wanna tell me what’s goin’ on, Evanich? You put a beatdown on that bag that I haven’t ever seen from you, even after your tussle a few weeks ago with Harrison.”
I look at Coach and Ethan, lean into my locker, and pull out today’s note.
I hand it to Coach to read. “I had that in my mail today when I got here. I really wish I knew who was writing this shit. I’m pretty damn sure whoever is writing this shit is also mailing stuff to my house, which means they know where I fucking live. That means they know where Hanna is.”
Coach hands the paper to Ethan, and I watch his face as he reads it.
The anger that comes over him is palpable.
He’s become a fast friend to Hanna and is very fond of her.
Don’t get me wrong, at first I was uncomfortable with their friendship until he came to me and let me know that he’s gay, has always been gay, and will always be gay.
Ethan gets a look on his face that tells me he’s pissed the fuck off but has an idea.
“So, two things. First is we increase security. We also need to let the local police know. There are threats in this letter, and I know there’s not much they can do right now, but they need to be aware of what is going on.
This person could escalate quickly if they perceive that they’re either about to win you over or lose you forever.
” Coach is nodding along with the plan so far, and I have to admit that it’s probably the smart thing to do to let the cops know.
Although if I knew who this person was, I might be tempted to see if my future fathers-in-law and their club could help, but I’ve got fuck all when it comes to who it might be.
I nod my agreement with Ethan’s plan, and he gives me a grin. “Now for the second part. I was already thinking about this, but given you don’t want our girl home alone, I’m prepared to send both of you on this trip.”
“What trip are you talkin’ about?”
Ethan looks at Coach, then back at me. “It’s no secret that I’m thinking outside the box about things with this organization, and I plan to continue.
There’s a high school tournament in Vegas starting in a couple of days.
Several players show some real talent. I’d like you to go and check them out.
I want players who have talent but also have the work ethic that we need and the ability to work well on a team.
Being focused on being a star rarely works out that well in the end.
Why don’t you bring Hanna with you? The tournament isn’t far from the strip, and you guys can make a long weekend out of it. ”
“You want me to be a scout?” I never even thought about doing that.
Ethan and Coach both nod, with Coach answering me.
“Yeah, we do. You coach high school right now. I know it’s not rugby you coach, but your talent and your eye aren’t something that can really be taught.
I see how you work with the guys on the team, and I’ve gone to a couple of the football games you’ve coached.
You don’t promote one superstar player. You promote each player to be the best they can be and find the position where they’re most naturally talented.
That’s a gift. We wanna see what you observe compared to the notes we already have from the scouts who’ve already gone and watched most of the players. ”
Ethan also adds to Coach’s points. “Also, none of the parents will know you’re a scout, so they won’t try to kiss your ass a shit ton.
Some of the players might recognize you, but you can tell them you were out there for a weekend and decided to drop by and watch them.
It’s not totally unbelievable.” I know Hanna would have a good time, and she’s never been to Vegas.
I nod. “Yeah, okay, I’ll do it.” Coach nods and smacks my arm.
“Good deal. Now, I’m gonna go grab one of those premade meals our new caterer brought. Heard it’s some kind of beef stir-fry. Sounds a helluva lot better than what I have at home.” He looks disgusted, and I chuckle.
“That bad?” He looks at me and shudders.
“I love her, but my girl is not a cook. She attempted to make meatloaf last night. I think she literally made a ball of ground turkey and cooked it. No salt, no pepper, no flavor. She couldn’t even at least give me ground beef. It ain’t healthy if I can’t eat it.”
Ethan chuckles as Coach walks off. “The caterer is the same as the one I use for events at the lodge. She only uses beef from Wayne Farms, so it’s excellent quality and tastes the best.” He looks over at me and quickly changes the subject.
“Now that we got it sorted that you’re going to Vegas for us, I’ve got an idea of something I want to do that has nothing really to do with the team, but everything to do with your girl who’s quickly becoming a good friend to me.”
What could he be thinking? “What’s your idea?” He sighs and leans against the doorway, putting his hand in his pocket to take out his phone before he answers.
“You know I asked her to help me come up with some ideas to make our stadium more adaptable to those with different abilities and challenges?” I nod because she’s mentioned it to me a couple of times.
Ethan continues explaining his train of thought.
“Well, she’s already come up with a few really great ideas that are pretty simple to implement, and a couple that I would have never thought of that are in the works for next season.
The problem is she won’t let me pay her for her time.
She says she’s happy to help, and that as someone who needs adaptive options daily, this is just her way of giving back.
Well, I did a little research myself, and I kinda thought about doing something for her, but I wanted to run it by you first.”
I know I’ve researched a lot of shit since I met Hanna, along with listening to her family about things she needs or might need in the future, so I’m not sure what direction he’s going in till he swipes his phone and shows me a picture.
“I want to get her a service dog, specifically a seeing-eye dog. This dog specifically.” He shows me a picture of a golden retriever.
“She wouldn’t have to go away to a school for weeks to learn either.
I’ve contacted them, and they’re only a couple of hours from here and agreed to come and train here and at your place. He’s available in a week and a half.”