Page 12 of Breakaway Hearts

“More like things usually work out for me.” I smile, enjoying his annoyed huff.

“Does this visit have a point other than to bother me?”

“You made me captain, and I’d like to earn it.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“What can I do to help?”

“Look after your team.” He sighs like he’s too exhausted to be doing this. “Make sure no one gets alcohol poisoning or arrested.”

“What about Hargraves?”

I expect him to ask me who the hell that is, but instead he narrows his eyes on me.

“What about him?”

“I heard he goes here.”

“He does.”

I wait, but he doesn’t add more.

“Is there a reason he’s not on the team? An injury, personal problems, an attitude…” I give him options.

“I don’t know.” He sighs. “He quit his high school team before the end of the season. We’d seen enough of him before then that we still offered him a spot, scholarship and everything, but he turned us down. I thought he was going to another school, but he just applied without mentioning athletics.”

“Could I go talk to him? Ask what happened, maybe convince him to try out?”

“He said no,” Coach argues.

“Maybe he didn’t want the pressure of a scout. He might be totally opposed, but maybe he’s just afraid to try out again after making an ass of himself by saying no.”

“Language,” he says without meaning it.

“Our goalies suck, Coach. It doesn’t matter how good the rest of the team is, or how much we score, if our net is basically empty.”

He eyes me for what feels like an hour, but is probably less than a minute, before letting out a loud sigh and pulling out his cell phone.

“Don’t make me regret this,” he warns, writing an address onto a post-it and handing it to me.

“We need him,” I remind him.

“That’s the only reason I said yes.”

“And because you trust me.” I push my luck, but I can see the smile he’s smothering behind a glare.

“It’s an apartment off-campus. You can ask once, but if I get a complaint from the dean, I’m revoking your captaincy.”

“I…of course.” I nod solemnly, starting to very much regret this decision.

“Brooks?” I’m halfway to the door when he calls me back. “That’s some good initiative. Keep it up.”

“Thanks Coach,” I tell him before heading out.

Chapter Five

Madison