Page 8 of Dear Coach's Daughter
4
HUNTER
The only thing that has the power to keep my mind off Brownie is putting out any last-minute fires for the event tonight. I don’t want to let down the kids. They look forward to it every year. And so do I.
I’ve been here all afternoon and, in my rush to get here, I forgot to bring my suit. Thankfully I caught Ramirez before he left. We live in the same building, so he could just stop by my place to pick it up.
"Thanks, man," I tell him when he hands me the garment bag. "And my shoes?"
"You said grab your suit. You didn't say anything about bringing you shoes."
“I thought it went without saying that if I needed my suit, that I wouldn’t have my dress shoes with me,” I groan.
"Well, apparently, it did need to be said."
We both look down at the red Chucks I have on. My suit is navy, and I have red polka dots in my tie, so maybe it won't be so obvious that I had to wear these. Maybe since it’s an event for kids, people will think that I did it on purpose.
“Have you heard from her?” Ramirez asks, fidgeting with his tie.
I shake my head. “No.”
“This goes without saying—” He gives me a pointed look. "But you put your number in the letter, right?”
My heart sinks in my chest. “Damn.”
"Hunter, what the hell, man?"
I run my hand over my face. “I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to get it sent over to her.”
“I flirted shamelessly with Doretha in the manager’s office for you to get her address to send the flowers. And you didn’t give her a way to contact you?”
“I didn’t send flowers.”
“You said you sent a bouquet.”
“I did.”
Ramirez stares at me like I’ve grown a separate head.
"Mr. Delaney," Greta, the hospital administrator, runs over and interrupts us. “You are going to want to get changed. The guests are starting to arrive.”
“Thanks,” I tell her and turn to Ramirez. “No flirting with the nurses tonight.”
“I can’t make any promises!” he calls after me.
I change in Greta’s office and quickly run my bag out to my car. With the way, my mind has been stretched so thin. I'd likely forget this too.
All of the team shows up, they stop out front and take pictures for the news outlets, but I slip around the crowd. I don’t do this for the publicity. I have my reasons, and I'm not going to exploit that for some good press.
It’s great seeing so many of the families the foundation helped over the years return to do what they can to help a new generation of families. I make my rounds, but I can't wait for a chance to catch up with the kids. Seeing their smiling faces makes even my roughest day better.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Greta asks from the podium. She waits until the audience quiets down. “I’d like to thank you all for coming out here tonight. As many of you already know, tonight is a night we’ve celebrated for many years. It's a chance to raise money to assist families with treatments for their little ones financially. So please open your wallets and your checkbooks because we have many wonderful prizes you can bid on to help families focus on what is really important—the health and healing of their ill children.”
“I’d like to call up the man who makes this evening possible, Hunter Delaney.”
The audience claps, and many of the guys on the team cheer as I walk up on stage. I’m so grateful they are willing to volunteer their time for this cause. They are able to give this cause the spotlight it needs to help so many.
“Thank you, Greta,” I say to her and turn to the crowd. My gaze catches on a curvy blonde in the back standing near Coach.
