One of the stupidest things in professional sports is that we have to show up in a suit, so those who watch me walk from my car to the door and back see me in a suit. What is the purpose? I hear lots of reasons that have to do with professionalism and shit, but honestly, there are very few careers these days that require suits. Mostly lawyers and sports shit.
I strip out of my layers and drape them on the hooks. This is honestly how much I care about my suits. I couldn’t give two shits about wrinkles. I look like a dweeb in a suit.
By the time I’m stripped down, then stuffed into the compression garments that are so tight they look painted on and stretching, most of the team is here. We’re playing Vegas again, and I’d really like to win tonight.
“Doing okay, Hugo?” Noah asks on his way by, dropping his hand onto my head as he does. It’s a sign of affection coming from him, and I always appreciate it since, outside of dancing, he’snota touchy-feely kind of guy.
“Yep. You?”
He flashes me a smile. “Perfect. Azure’s on his game tonight so we need to be on ours more.”
“You haven’t even seen him play yet,” I point out.
“I know Azure and I just spoke to him outside. Trust me when I tell you he’s on his game.”
“Then we need to be on ours,” Coach Ajo interjects as he steps into the door. “Vegas is a great team. They’re a touch team without resorting to playing nasty. That means we need to push harder. Elevate our own game. I know you have it in you because I have the privilege of watching you play every day. You got this.”
Even when we suck, Coach Ajo makes it sound like we’re top notch. Like we’re the team to beat. There’s a part of me, even when I know it’s not true, that believes it. I’m pretty sure my teammates feel the same way. I think it’s that belief that carries us through the tough days.
I continue to stretch and let my teammates’ conversations surround me. Seeping into my mind and getting me into the right mood. The winning mood.
I am a brick wall. Be a brick wall.
My thoughts nearly make me snort.
It isn’t long before I’m climbing into my gear and we’re moving down the chute toward the ice. As always, my first task is searching the crowd for my number. It takes me a minute but I find it. My grin is extra huge when I find Torin-as-Surry the seal pointing at the girl wearing it. I can imagine him grinning within his seal head as he points dramatically at the girl.
She’s holding my number out and then turns to show me my name on her back. Fuck yes. My man and my number. I’m ready to kick some ass tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
TORIN
I really wantedto plan our next date, but Hugo beat me to it. I’m not even sure where we’re going while he drives his car through a field as the sun’s setting. After several minutes, I ask, “Where are we?”
“Egon’s property,” he answers, then points. “His house is in that direction. I don’t know why he has so much land, but he thinks it’s because Rake didn’t want anyone to build behind them, so he bought the entire plot.”
“What does he do again?”
Hugo laughs. “Dunno. Science.”
“He’s a scientist?”
He shrugs. “His job is science. I don’t know what specifically. He is Dr. Rakesh Aanhu, Ph.D. After that, I’m not sure what he does.”
“Huh. He’s really smart then.”
Hugo nods. “Yep.”
“Did you go to college?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. I was enrolled, but then I was drafted to Philly’s farm team. I stayed there for a year and then was traded to St. Louis. Was there for a season, spent some time in Ottawa, Texas, and then I’ve been here for… a few years, anyway.”
“You’ve lived all over.”
“Not as much as some. I’m not as lucky as, like, Caulder Haines. He’s spent his entire career so farin Buffalo.”
I snort. “I doubt they’ll let go of anyone in that core group anytime soon. They have the talent to go far. I think they just need to get better support in the second and third lines.”
