Same.
After losing in Dallas, we head to Chicago and Coach is back on a tear. He reamed us a new one after the Dallas game and put us on lockdown again—no exceptions for local friends or family. I’m getting used to his attitude at this point but as long as I continue putting up numbers, he can bluster all he wants.
What I’m not expecting is for West to call an impromptu team meeting during the pre-game meal. He asks all non-players to leave and closes the door. Then he starts walking around the room, looking at everyone, as if he’s taking stock of the team both individually and as a whole.
“It’s time we talked about some things,” he says, resting both hands flat on one of the long tables. “As your captain, it’s my job to make sure we’re a well-oiled machine. Ateam. And not just on paper. That we present a united front, no matter what the circumstances are. One of us is going through an ugly divorce? We don’t talk about any details. One of us isn’t playing well? We support that guy until he finds his groove again.
“But here’s the thing—we’ve been together two months now and I’m not getting that unified feeling. I’m hearing guys talking shit about each other behind their backs. I’m seeing some petty-ass bullshit behind closed doors. I’ve even heard a rumor that someone is going to Coach and telling him what people do in their free time. And I’m here to tell you—that’s not how it’s supposed to be.
“If that’s what you’re used to from wherever you came from, then you better unlearn those habits right fucking now. I won’t put up with it in my locker room.” He pauses looking around. A lot of guys looked shocked. A few look concerned. Blaze’s face has gone pale, which is interesting.
“If you’d rather play on a team like that, then let me know. If you don’t want me as your captain, you can tell me that too. You won’t hurt my feelings. But let me give you something to think about—do you want to win or do you want to suck Coach’s dick? As someone who’s won a championship, I can promise you dick-sucking isn’t going to get you there. You know what’s going to get you there? Hard work—and your teammates. I can’t do it alone. Vik can’t do it alone. Bodi can’t do it alone. None of us can.
“The only way we win a championship? By doing it together. One united, loyal, hard-working team. It’s a cliché, but there is no I in team. Period. If you want to go back to high school, cool. You do you. But not on my team. You hear me?”
For the most part, everyone nods.
West briefly looks at me but then gives Blaze a hard stare.
“I can’t hear you,” West grinds out, looking around. “I asked if you heard me.”
“I hear you, Cap!” I yell out.
He points at me. “I know you do.”
“I hear you.” Ashton Knight stands up and looks around. “You all know who my brother is. Call it nepotism or whatever you want, but at the end of the day, I can play almost anywhere. Ichosethis expansion team because I wanted to be a part of something from the ground up. Right now, it feels like I made the wrong choice.”
A few guys look surprised, but others seem to agree with him, even if they’re not speaking up.
“I had good life in Alaska,” Vik says in his stilted English. “Here, I have only roommates. Is not normal.Notnormal.” He shakes his head in complete disappointment as he reiterates the last part.
His words aren’t concise but there’s no mistaking his meaning.
A few others stand up, say a few words, but most of the team is quiet. Introspective.
Except Blaze.
He’s staring down at his half-eaten plate of chicken and vegetables.
“If there’s anything going on,” West says after a moment. “You can come to me. I’m here for you. Whether it’s personal, professional, medical—talk to me. We’re supposed to be here for each other. Especially me. It’s all new but we should be having the time of our lives out there!
“I understand that Coach has been riding our asses but that’s his way of getting us to play up to our potential, so don’t let him get in your head. Take it as constructive criticism and think about what you need to work on. All of us can improve at something.”
That’s for damn sure. I can only hope West’s speech sinks in. I can’t be sure, but it looks like he’s got some of the guys thinking.
Now it’s just a matter of waiting to see if anything changes.
Chapter
Thirty-Six
Jayne
When I get downstairs to make myself some coffee before heading to the library, I find Lourdes at the island in the kitchen, surrounded by what look like catalogs, paint samples, and floor plans. She has her head in her hands as she stares at everything and doesn’t even look at me when I walk in.
“What’s all this?” I ask as I make myself a cup of coffee.
“Barton Smythe’s wife hired me to decorate their dining room.”
