Whereas most people would feel dread, guilt, or something, I’ve got nothing other than a dull sense that I should have an emotional response to all of this rather than detached emptiness. Well, except for how I treated fatherhood. I’m well aware I failed there.
It’s only a matter of time before Coach pulls me aside and suggests I talk to someone, but that won’t happen unless I screw up on the field. Mercifully, that’s the one part of my life that’s still intact, where I haven’t faced failure or loss.
With a deep breath, I drop onto the couch and it’s only when my phone buzzes repeatedly that I realize I must’ve fallen asleep. Morning light paints patches on the wall opposite my bed.
Coach’s name scrolls across the screen and my last thoughts before I dozed off filter back. I grunt and answer.
An hour later, Declan, Wolf, Chase, and I shuffle into Hammer’s office. He’s on a phone call and flashes the one-minute signal with his pointer finger, along with the hairy eyeball.
I grumble, but we deserve it.
“Don’t you dare say, ‘I told you so,’” Wolf warns.
“Come on, we’ve done worse.” Declan shrugs.
“Guys, Elyse was there.” Chase refers to Starkowsky’s daughter, a grown woman who has certainly seen her share of football players in various stages of dress, having been aroundthe team her entire life. She’s a reporter and spent a lot of time in the locker rooms pre- and post-game.
Declan and Wolf wear matching sneers because this early call interrupted their beauty sleep, or should I say their recovery sleep? No strangers to late nights, they like to party. Chase is fairly tame. I was once the wildest of the bunch, but those days are long behind me—the little lapse in judgment with my ex notwithstanding.
Chase adds, “It’s the principle. Would you want your daughter to see our backsides?”
“He has a point,” I say.
“We don’t have daughters,” Wolf says.
“You know what I mean,” Chase hisses.
Declan laughs as if any of us are anywhere close to settling down and having kids. Little do they know about my surprise news. I haven’t quite figured out the logistics of parenting and game season, but when I tell my mother, I can’t imagine a world in which she won’t help. The woman lives for babies, kids, and small and large animals. And I’ll hire a nanny. Problem solved. Not that the kid is a problem. More like, I’m not going to say no to being a better father because of logistics.
Coach Hammer ends the call with an abrupt slam of the phone that I sense is directed at us rather than the person on the other line.
I prepare to apologize, but Hammer holds up his massive hand, indicating I save it.
I’ve seen this clip before. I know the drill, meaning I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut. Can’t say the same for the rest of my teammates, but we’ll see how this goes.
Hammer gets to his feet and paces along the bank of windows overlooking the practice field. “I understand the pranks are part of the game, the camaraderie, and the glue that holds the team together in some ways. But you went too far. I’ve had a lot ofheat coming down from up high lately about your—” He spins his hand in a circle as if hoping to pull the right word out of the air. “About your antics.”
Wolf gives his patent lazy shrug. “Oh, come on, we were having fun. We thought it was just going to be Brandon, not the commish.”
“Elyse was mortified.”
“More like it mortified the commish,” Wolf says.
Hammer tilts his head at ashut upangle. “Connor.” All he needs to do is use Wolf’s given name to quiet him down. Wish I could say that worked for me. The guy is all lip.
Wolf steps back and clasps his right hand over left, standing at respectful attention. Coach Hammer is the only one who seems slightly capable of taming the wild in him.
“I need you to understand what is appropriate and what goes over the line,” Hammer says.
Chase nods.
“Filling someone’s car with balloons? Harmless. Coating the inside of a locker with molasses? Amusing. Stealing all the toilet paper rolls and removing them from the building?” Hammer winces. “Mooning the commissioner, his daughter, our newest player, and a bunch of officials?”
“Hilarious,” Wolf says, only loud enough so we hear.
“Boys, there are consequences.”
“A fine?” Wolf asks. “I’ll pay for it. Whatever.”
