Page 22 of Drop the Gloves
“I know the basics?—”
“I mean, make sure you canexecutethe basics.I don’t want you getting your hands stuck in your gloves when you try to drop them or something.”
Evan rolled his eyes, though now his heart was racing because, oh no, was that a thing?Given his luck, it would be.
“Look, I appreciate the offer?—”
Barczyk held up his hands to stop him.“You don’t have to say anything right now.If you’re not up for it, cool.If you change your mind later, also cool.It’s a long season.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said.It was true—he would think about the time Barczyk offered to teach him how to fight for a long time, probably longer than they’d be teammates—but he had no intention of taking him up on the offer.“Thanks.”
Whether or not Barczyk believed him, he let it go.“Cool.Hey, you gonna eat all those fries or what?”
11
“Abernathy.”
Evan froze.He’d been re-taping his stick for practice when Coach Jack’s voice gave him a mini-heart attack.“Yes, Coach?”he asked.His stupid voice wavered.Fuck.
Coach Jack pretended he didn’t notice.“My office for a minute?”
Oh shit.Something Coach didn’t want to say in front of the rest of the team.This was worse than Evan had thought.“Sure.”
Coach Jack’s office had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves along two walls, completely stuffed with hockey and sports books.They weren’t for show, either: Evan knew Coach Jack had read each and every one of them, front to back, several times.He often had one with him on road trips, a pen and highlighter and pad of paper in hand as he annotated them page by page.The wall behind his desk had two high windows, and the rest was covered with photos and memorabilia.Most coaches had bragging walls like this, though a fair share of Coach Jack’s was covered with pictures of his daughter, who was making her way up through the local youth volleyball programs.
“I told her any sport she wanted,” Coach Jack said when he saw Evan looking at the photos.“Any sport at all.She picked a sport I know nothing about.Youthful rebellion.”He took a seat and gestured for Evan to do the same.“How’s the season going for you so far?”
“Uh, pretty well?”Then he coughed and tried again.“I think I’ve been doing okay.My line, we get pretty good zone time.Not a lot of goals yet, but we’re still working on the chemistry, I think.I was a little skeptical about working with Barczyk…” A few weeks ago, this would’ve been where he made his case to get on a different line, even if it meant dropping to the fourth.After mini-golf, though, they were kind of friends; he had to acknowledge that any on-ice issues were his fault.“But I think we’re getting there.”
“Glad to hear it.You guys had me worried there for a moment during pre-season, not going to lie, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen since then.The goals will come, and your line hasn’t given up too many.”
Evan preened at the praise…until he realized he wouldn’t have been called into the head coach’s office for a one-on-one if everything was fine.He knew the drill.Compliment sandwich: good comment, real comment about what he needed to improve, good comment, goodbye.
“But…?”
Coach Jack made a face.“So against the Pythons…”
Oof.He should’ve seen it coming.After that fiasco of a fight, it was a miracle Evan hadn’t been pulled aside mid-game.
“I won’t get in any more fights,” he blurted.“I know it was a disaster and?—”
“Whoa,” Coach Jack said and put up his hands.“Let’s slow that down.I’m not here to say you should or shouldn’t fight.”
“…you’re not?”
“Well, you shouldn’t fight too much if you can help it,” he conceded.“Really, I wanted to check in with you and talk about your style of play.You’re a big guy, and you’re using all of your assets to their fullest.Coach Mel said she worked with you and several of the guys on checking, and honestly, I’ve noticed an improvement in your game since then.I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to help you come into your own and feel more comfortable with your physicality.”
Evan didn’t know what to say to that, so he joked, “I don’t know.A membership to a boxing gym?”Coach Jack looked like he was considering it, so he quickly added, “I don’t actually want that.”
“Oh.”He sounded disappointed.“Well, I’ve got the next best thing in mind.Barczyk.”
The bottom dropped out of Evan’s stomach.“What about him?”
“I think you could benefit a lot from working with him.He’s half your size and wins just about every fight he’s in.Playing with him, you could learn a few things.It’s part of why I put you two on a line together.I figure your levelheadedness might rub off on him.A pest is only as good as his temper, and no one so far’s been able to keep him in check.”
Evan blushed.“I don’t know ifI?—”
“Relax, Abernathy,” Coach Jack said.“I’m not making Barczyk your responsibility.Like I said, you’re a good influence.That’s all I need from you.That and an actual win when you get in a scrap.Six foot five and you lose to a guy who has to reach up to punch you.All I’m asking is that you watch Barczyk and maybe, I don’t know, try to incorporate some of what he does into your game.”
