Baden by Sawyer Bennett

Author:Sawyer Bennett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Big Dog Books
Published: 2021-12-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Baden

You are not a fraud.

I stare at Sophie’s text message, a response to my admission that I was feeling like a fraud because I’m truly not a goalie coach.

She says I’m not a fraud, and I decide to take her at her word. This last message from her is the tail end of a string of texts we’ve been exchanging all afternoon.

Tonight is the rebuilt Titans’ first game. Face-off is in less than an hour, and I’ve been here all afternoon with the team, preparing. The ritual is the same pretty much anywhere I’ve ever played.

Food is provided—professionally catered and nutritionally sound—and players spend the afternoon eating all the right stuff for energy, doing light warm-ups and stretches, meditating, or just hanging out.

The difference today is an underlying current of almost electric emotion that seems to be coating the words and actions of everyone in the locker room. The normal pregame banter isn’t happening. The players don’t know each other well enough to engage. On top of that, I’ve learned there are some men suffering with emotional issues that are manifesting into anger and frustration.

Coen Highsmith seems to have developed a shitty attitude and is not the easygoing guy I’ve been told to expect.

Stone Dumelin is withdrawn and barely acknowledges you if you try to make conversation.

Liam Nicholson, our youngest player to be brought up from the minors, has a nervous twitch in his eye and currently has an ice pack held to it.

The list goes on and on, but we all have our vulnerabilities.

In a life I had not so long ago, I would be getting into my gear, stretching, and listening to AC/DC in my earbuds to get me jacked up for the game. Instead, I’m not doing much of anything except having random conversations with players as I run into them.

But Sophie reminded me it’s not fraudulent what I’m doing now.

Just new.

Another text chimes from her. There will come a day when this will seem like old hat. For now, cut yourself a break. Try to enjoy how monumental this evening is for you.

And just like that, I feel far more settled.

Sophie is probably here in the arena right now. I got good tickets—third row, center ice—for her and Frankie. After the game, win or lose, we’re going out for drinks.

I’m so glad she’s here. Because she’s seen me at my worst, I have absolutely no hesitation in admitting my insecurities to her. I know they’ll not be met with judgment. In that respect, she is somewhat of a security blanket for me, and I’m more than grateful to have her in my life.

I shoot a quick text back. Gotta turn off my phone now. I’ll see you after the game.

But I don’t put my phone away. I wait a few seconds because I know she’ll respond.

When it comes through, I can’t help but smile. You’re going to kick ass tonight!

And she put a heart emoji after it.

That heart changes the flavor of our exchange. It’s nothing but a small red icon, but it tells me she cares.

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