Page 25 of Rookie Season
I open my mouth to speak, but then I see Coach Anderson appear right behind Sandine. I don’t know how long he’s been in the room, or how much he’s heard.
“Sandine,” Coach says, his voice eerily calm.
Sandine turns to look at him.
“I suggest treating your teammates with respect. Everyman in this room deserves his place here, including our rookies. They were not only drafted by the Lions organization, but they were also selected after a grueling training camp. Only the players who stood out to management got a contract. The rest were sent to the AHL to gain experience.” My brother-in-law is slightly taller than Sandine and looks down at him with his arms crossed. “This isn’t high school, and we don’t bully each other in our locker room. Understood?”
“Understood,” Sandine spits out, his face scarlet.
“Glad to hear we are on the same page.” Coach Anderson turns and strides toward the door. Before he leaves, he calls over his shoulder, “Downsby, my office as soon as you’ve showered.”
With that, he’s gone, and in an instant Sandine goes from red-faced and berated to wearing a huge smirk again. Mitch has no idea he just made everything so much worse. Now I just look like a total pussy.
“Unbelievable,” Sandine scoffs, walking away with completely misplaced big dick energy.
I want to run from the room in embarrassment, but that won’t help me look tough and like I can hold my own. And the worst part is, Sandine isn’t wrong for being frustrated with me. I can’t remember the last time I got a penalty for something so stupid as tripping. I swear the Renegades captain did that on purpose, making it look like something it wasn’t.
But I've played with dirtbags before, and I know I should’ve been more careful. Should have had my head one hundred percent in the game.
As much as I wanted to stay focused this season and not allow myself to grow complacent now that I’ve made it to the NHL, I can feel myself growing distracted.
It’s been this way ever since last Sunday, when Ally and I sat side by side on the couch, and it felt like we were tied together with an invisible string…and that thread seemed to pull tighter between us as we watched her dumb show. I keep dreaming about her, and it’s messing with my head.
Then I wake up and the scent of her perfume surrounds me—it’s everywhere.She’severywhere. Laughing in the kitchen as she cooks her unhealthy, processed food while chatting to Fisher. Lying on the couch next to Penn as he teaches her ridiculous Canadianisms. Showering right before me with damn Harry Styles—the person, not the cat—cranked on her phone speakers. And speaking of the damn cat, it now sleeps with me every night…another reason I'm probably sleeping like crap.
Knowing she’s steps away all night long is harder than I thought it would be. If I could just tamp down this attraction, ignore it. But whenever I turn around, she’s right there, smelling like a freshly baked cake in the middle of a field of wildflowers. Which is an absolutely absurd thought, but here I am. Losing my mind.
Maybe I should take a card from Penn and Fisher’s playbook and hook up with someone. Take the edge off.
But somehow, I know it wouldn’t help. Because I’d come back home after and Ally would be standing there holding her stupid cat with her stupid long, tan legs.
Thoughts of my roommate permeate my mind the entire time I’m showering and getting dressed. By the time I make it to Mitch’s office, my spine is so stiff it feels like it could snap at the smallest nudge.
My brother-in-law-turned-coach is waiting for me, sitting on his desk with his ankles crossed. I slump down in one of the brown leather chairs across from his desk.
“You okay, Noah?” His tone is gentle, like it’s been all thetimes he’s stepped in and been a replacement father to me over the years.
I always appreciated having a good man to look up to, having someone be a father figure. But right now he’s pissing me off.
“No, I’m not okay.” I huff a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “The guys have given me the nickname Nepo Baby, and right when I was about to defend myself…guess who shows up to save the baby?” I raise my eyebrows.
Mitch grimaces. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, nothing like Daddy Mitch saving the day.”
He shoots me an unamused glance. “Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make things worse. I didn’t realize they were being such assholes to you.”
I run a hand through my damp hair. “Did you put me on the first line because I’m your brother-in-law?” My chest tightens anxiously as I await his answer.
“Hell no. You really think I’d do that?” He uncrosses his ankles and stands. “I know this is your rookie season, Noah. But in many ways, it’s my rookie season, too. I’m not going to do you any favors, because I want to win games. I want to prove myself as a coach.” He sits in the chair beside mine. “I put you there because your strengths paired well with the other guys on that line. And for the record, it wasn’t even my idea. It was Slater’s. I just happened to agree with him.”
I blow out a deep breath. “Okay.”
“I realize it’s awkward for you to have me as your coach, but give it some time and the other guys will see for themselves what you can do. Then they’ll just be glad you’re on their team and not anyone else’s.”
I roll my eyes.
Mitch smirks. “I’m going to tell you something, but you have to keep this to yourself.”
