Page 99 of Untouchable Player

“Yeah?”

“Can I get a hug?”

I nod and he puts his arms around me. A woody, familiar smell that makes me nostalgic no matter how hard I try to fight against it grips me and I hug him back.

He finally lets me go and I escape to my room and text Jesse, asking if he’s okay. He doesn’t text back right away, he’s probably cooling down or stretching or whatever they do after a game, but I can’t relax until he replies.

‘I’m good, won’t be back till late, see you tomorrow?’

‘Yes. Can’t wait.’

‘: - )’

Jesse

The guy I fought with left a bruise on my jaw, but at least I left him looking worse. Even though we lost the game, when we got back to practise the next day, the guys presented me with the sledgehammer given to the guy who hit the hardest. Usually penalty hits are excluded, but seeing as he started it and got a penalty too, they gave me a pass.

I want it to feel good. This is my role on the team, and I’ve known that for a while, but being the fighter doesn’t feel as good as being the top scorer or the guy with the most assists, or the goaltender who saves the most goals. I’m just the muscle who can hit people the hardest. I take it how it’s meant to be taken and smile and goof around with it until we get bored and move onto something else.

Coach calls me into his office after practise and tells me there’s someone who wants to talk to me.

A guy around my dad’s age in a sport’s jacket and jeans is waiting in Coach’s office and shakes my hand.

“Jesse, this is Colin Bradford, he’s a scout with the Carolina Steamrollers in the ECHL.”

“Hello Sir.”

“Good to meet you Jesse, you were impressive at the Harvard game last night.”

“Oh?”

Coach offers us both a seat and I take one, feeling him watch me across the desk while Colin Bradford fixes his tie.

“I’ve been watching you for a little while now and I’m impressed by your tenacity.”

“Tenacity?”

“He means your fighting spirit Jesse.”

“Oh.”I know what it means, I just didn’t understand what it had to do with me.

“Jesse, what are you planning to do next year when you graduate? I understand you don’t have an agent and you’re not under contract with any teams yet?”

Yet?

“I’m 21,” I say.

Colin nods, waiting for more. I expect that to be explanation enough.

“You know you can sign as a free agent.”

“I know that. It’s just… no one’s interested.”

“I’ve talked you up to my bosses in North Carolina,” Colin says, “we’d be interested in you coming down to play with us on a three month contract, just to see how things go, then, who knows?”

I look at Coach, but he doesn’t make eye-contact. He’s just watching us with his chin rested in his hand, letting me know he’s still here, but he’s not going to say anything unless he has to.

“Thank you Sir, that’s a very… I appreciate the offer…”

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