Hutch

"Hutch! Get your ass in here!"

Groaning, I pull myself up off the bench and head toward Coach's office. The game tonight was rough and we're all pretty beat down. We won, but just barely. If it hadn't been for Kyle coming in clutch there at the end, we would have lost.

The last time Coach screamed at me like this was when he told me scouts were looking at me and that my time was off. My time better not be fucking off again. Not with Daisy in the house. She texted that she can't stick around, but she came. That's a win.

Coach is glowering at me when I come in.

"Shut the door."

Ouch. He's really about to ream my ass out about something. Our team was sloppy tonight and since I'm the captain, I'm going to take the brunt of his anger. I'd rather that then the whole team feel it.

"Sit." His tone is clipped and hard.

I slide into one of the two very hard, very uncomfortable chairs in front of his desk.

"What the fuck was that out there tonight? You all played like it was first time on the ice."

"Everyone has a bad day once in a while."

"Bad day?" His ire rises and I lean away from him. "Bad day? You want a fucking bad day? You'll see a bad day Monday morning. Get your ass out of here and get those men in shape or there will be consequences."

I stand, ready to leave when he sighs.

"Sit down."

"You just told me to leave."

"Shut the fuck up and sit your ass down."

I fall into the chair, feeling it groan under my weight. I wish he'd make up his mind. I need a shower and maybe a soak in an ice bath. Their team's enforcer was brutal on all of us tonight.

"I got a call earlier today. I didn't want to say anything in case it affected your game."

Frowning, I crack my neck, hoping to relieve some of the tension there. Fuck, I need a massage and an ice bath.

"Julian McClare called."

Fuck me. I sat up, forgetting all about my aches and pains. He was the recruiter for the Raptors.

Coach hands me a piece of paper. My hand shakes as I take it.

"He wants you to call him."

"Did he see tonight's game?'

"You better hope not."

"And...Collin?"

"He's getting a call too. Noah is on their radar, but they want to see more from him. After tonight, I don't blame them. Man all but gave the game away."

"We all contributed to tonight's mess of a game."

Coach cracks a rare grin. "That's why you're the captain. You never place blame, you shoulder it."

I sit there, shell-shocked. I thought...hell, I thought they didn't want me.

"You're going to need an agent. I listed three below McClare's number. I know them all and they're damn good. Do your research. Call McClare and then call one of those agents. Tell them I recommended them."

"I...thank you, Coach."

"Get your ass in the shower, then the ice bath and then make those calls." His voice is gruffer than it was and I nod.

"Yes, sir."

"Don't lose that paper," he calls as I walk out of his office, stunned. I stand outside his door for a long minute, shocked and unable to move.

"Mendoza, get your ass in here!"

I jump, not expecting him to be so close. He was just sitting behind his desk. Man shouts louder than the damn whistle he wears around his neck. It does get me moving, however. I don't go to the showers or the ice bath. I rush to my locker and grab my phone. My first call is my mom. She's working, so I leave her a message to call me as soon as she gets the message, assuring her nothing's wrong. I made that mistake my senior year in high school. Scared her senseless, thinking I'd been hurt.

Daisy is my second call. She actually answers on the first ring. I thought I'd be sent to voicemail.

"Hey," she says, yawning. "Congrats on the game."

"We almost lost."

"But that guy got there in the end. That's all that counts."

"You should tell that to Coach."

"Want me to?"

It would be funny to see Daisy telling Coach he needs to shut up and take the win. I'm not sure if Coach could handle my little bit of scrappy fluff.

"No, but I got news and I need to tell someone. I left Mom a message since she's working."

"What's your news?"

"Coach told me to call the Raptors recruiter. He gave me the name of three sports agents he personally knows."

"That means..."

"It means they want me. I think. Or maybe they just want to talk to me about possibly recruiting me if I keep my numbers up? I'm not sure."

"Well, if your coach gave you the name of agents, maybe they want you?"

"That's what I'm thinking, but I don't want to get my hopes up. This is the team I want. It means I can stay here and play for the city I grew up in."

"Where are you? It's so loud."

"I'm in the locker room."

"Ah, that explains it. Have you talked to the press yet?"

"Uh, no. Coach will usually pick two or three of us and go do a small press thing. We keep them out of the locker room and the hallway leading to it."

"Maybe talk to the recruiter guy before you talk to the press. They may want a media blackout until the contract is signed."

"I didn't think about that."

"My ex, he had a similar thing go on with him when he declared for the school he wanted to play for. They had him wait until he'd signed his commitment letter and they could organize a press conference."

"Who is your ex?" I'm not sure she'll even tell me.

And I'm right. She stays silent for a long, long minute or two.

"Joseph Ayers."

Holy fucking shit. I know the name. He's the quarterback for Texas State. He declared the for the draft about a week or two ago. Dude's good. People are saying he might be a first round pick since he's nominated for a Heisman. Just goes to show no matter how good you are at a sport, doesn't mean you're a good person.

"He's still an asshole."

She laughs and it warms my heart. It's good to hear her laugh when she says the name instead of getting that haunted look in her eyes.

"So I was hoping you might come out and celebrate with us tonight? I know you said you needed to study and all, but if this phone call goes the way I hope it does, we'll have something to celebrate. And it's my cheat day. I can have a burger and fries if I want."

"I really hate crowds and parties. How about I make you and the guys some burgers and fries instead and then you can go out and party later? I think there's a grill out back we can use."

"Why do you hate parties and crowds?"

"Let's just say it ties back in with Joseph and let it be at that."

That is a loaded statement and I immediately want to question her about it. But I also know it'll shut her down emotionally if I ask. She'll eventually tell me.

"Tell you what. You and the girls go pick up the groceries and I'll wrangle the team over to your house. We can do a party there in a couple of hours. Sound good?"

"I can do that as long as I can escape upstairs after the food is done."

"The team isn't going to do or say anything they shouldn't. I'll make sure of it. I want you to get to know them. They're good guys. We got rid of the bad apple last year."

"Bad apple?"

"He kept getting drunk and in fights. And his extra curricular activities were less than stellar...he kept sleeping with women who were already with someone. We don't put up with shit like that on our team. Makes us all look bad."

"I'll think about it."

I'll count that as a win.

"Go make your call."

"I'm afraid."

"Why?"

"What if its just a call to say they're watching me?"

"Then it's a call to say they're watching. Which is still amazing. Remember you've made this call happen no matter what it is. You've worked your ass off and it's showing now. Be grateful that they're watching and noticed you. Even if they don't end up picking you up, I guarantee someone will. I may not understand hockey, but I understand how good you are. It shows on the ice. Be confident because you've earned that confidence."

"Fuck."

"Now fuck off and make your call."

I laugh. She's got a mouth on her, but I adore it.

"Fine. See you as soon as I can get there."

She hangs up and I stare at my phone. Sitting down on the bench in front of my locker, I finish taking off my gear, still stunned. It's not long before Collin comes and sits beside me.

"Fuck."

I nod, understanding.

Noah's name is shouted and we grimace. It's not going to be the shocked, happy feeling we have, but it'll be something. They are watching him.

"What the fuck do we do?" Collin whispers.

"Daisy told me to fuck off and make the call, but I'm scared."

"Me too. I mean can we even play? The season's started."

"I don't know. Maybe they want to sign us for next season?"

Collin shrugs. "I don't know."

"We shower and then we call."

"Maybe we shouldn't wait that long? Might seem like we're not interested."

"Or it might make us look too eager?"

Fuck.

"We just make the call and hope for the best."

I pick my phone back up and dial the number on the paper I'm still clutching in my hand. Why hadn't I put it down? Nerves I guess.

"McClare." The tone is gruff and he sounds like he's smoked a pack a day for ten years.

"This is Jonathan Hutchinson. My coach told me you wanted to speak with me and Collin Mendoza, who's sitting right beside of me."

"It's Hutch right?"

"Yes, sir. That's what everyone calls me."

"Do you prefer Hutch or Jonathan?"

"Hutch is fine. Even my nana calls me Hutch."

"Is there a time we can sit down and talk? Preferably tonight? You and Mendoza."

"Uh, my girl is making us food. We were going over there to eat with the team. She's a good cook."

"Free food? I'm in. Just text me the address."

Daisy is going to be so mad. "Sure, give us a bit though. We need to shower and I need an ice bath."

"You injured?"

"No. Just sore. Their enforcer targeted me through the whole game and I ended up against the boards more tonight than I have the whole season."

"Have the team doc check you out."

"I planned on it, but I know my body."

He grunts, clearly not agreeing with me.

"I'll see you in about an hour and a half. Text me the address."

"Sure. Thanks."

He doesn't bother saying goodbye, just hangs up on me.

"He's coming to Daisy's house in an hour and a half."

"Fuck, we need to hurry." Collin hauls me up and points to my locker. "Put that shit in your locker and get a move on. We can't be late for this meeting."

Nodding, I do as he asks and then make my way to the showers. I'm still in a shocked daze.

Could everything I've dreamed of be coming true?

Fuck, I hope so.