Page 21 of Cade

That was a rough one. I’m glad we got the win, but Dustin’s gonna be out for a while. I know he hasn’t said anything, but I know Carter’s favoring his right knee.

Vancouver is always tough, but I swear they were extra tough this match. Luckily, our pattern of finishing strong continued, so we came from behind to win. We’re actually in fucking first place. I’ve never been on a team in this league that has even been close to this. We win two more of our five remaining matches, and we make it to the playoffs.

After our win last night, Dad insisted on all of us going out to dinner together before Hanna’s family headed back home. Hanna went with them, but just to work on packing up her stuff. Her parents are going to bring her and her stuff back down in a couple of days so she can move in with me. That’s right, she’s agreed to move in with me, and her Dad and Pops aren’t trying to kill me as of now, so I’m calling it all a win.

Mom and Dad got up early this morning, and Emma came over to take them to the airport. While saying their goodbyes, they shocked the shit out of me. Apparently, as they were becoming all buddy-buddy with Hanna’s parents, they madeplans. They’ve booked themselves an Alaskan cruise, but the week before they go on it, they’re going to come out and hang out with her parents up in Toketee Creek. Mom looked at me and patted my cheek when I asked what for.

“Son, I hate to break it to you, but you and our sister are not our only reason for existing. We really like Hanna’s parents, and we’re all empty nesters and still young enough to have fun. We’re not ready to be put out to pasture, so we’re going to enjoy ourselves. You’ve always been on your dad to take time off work, and for once he’s trying to listen. Relax, we won’t tell them all your secrets.”

Having my parents become close friends with my woman’s parents wasn’t something I’d ever thought about, though now I worry about them joining forces like that. Might have to keep an eye on them. I’m not sure I have enough bail money to get Mom and Anna out of jail, or Dad, Wyatt, and Jackson for defending those two from whatever they could get themselves into. Why did no one ever warn me that raising semi-retired parents was such a potential minefield?

After they left, I got ready since I would be gone almost all day, having practice, then going over to the high school for a meeting about the football season, then helping with practice and seeing how the guys on the baseball team are doing.

I pull into the stadium parking lot and quickly park. I’m not the first one here, but definitely not the last either. I was hoping to meet our new owner since I heard he was at the match yesterday. Hell, Hanna mentioned that she’d met him.

I get out, grab my bag, and head inside. As soon as I walk inside the locker room, I can sense a different feel in the room. There’s a lightness in the room that I’ve never felt. I’m greeted by Zane, who’s in the middle of changing to get out on the field.

“Hey, man. Your parents get off okay?” I set my bag down in my locker.

“Yeah, they did. Apparently, they’re coming back soon and gonna stay up with Hanna’s parents. They all became fast friends.” The look on his face tells me I’m not the only one concerned about them banding together. But I need to know if he feels the different energy in the locker room this morning.

“Is there something different going on this morning or what?”

Zane looks around, leans in toward me, and speaks quietly. “The new owner, Ethan Walsh, is already making changes. He came in this morning and found Carol and one of her friends, not Cindy, going through a couple of the lockers. He let Carol go, and Cindy’s been moved to a position out of the locker room. The other friend is the one who’s shacked up with Zack. He’s all pissy and already been slamming shit around this morning.”Well ain’t that some shit. Hell, at least I won’t have to try and avoid Carol’s wandering hands.

Zane smacks my arm, obviously remembering something else he needs to share. “He also got rid of our so-called caterer and has someone new coming in. Turns out our new owner owns that big lodge over in Watson, so he’s got some connections to some quality food.”

I look at him as he’s tying his shoes. “How fucking early did you get here? You’ve got more gossip than Miss Matson when she gets back from a church function.” Zane glares at me as I change into my workout clothes.

A door slamming gets both our attention. It’s the door from the hallway leading to Coach’s office, PT rooms, and the admin offices. Zack comes barreling through the doors, looking like he’s ready to commit murder. He glares around the room, and as soon as he sees me, he barrels in my direction. I have only a moment to brace before he shoves me back. He moves to shove me again, but Anders and Zane quickly hold him back.

“What the fuck, Harrison? What the hell is that for?” He doesn’t take his eyes off me. Has this fucker actually lost his ever-loving mind?

“Your fucking bitch just caused me to get threatened with being traded! That fat whore better watch out—”

I move and shove the fucker back. I’ve never understood the whole saying about seeing red until this moment. If Anders wasn’t standing between us, keeping the fucker away from me, I wouldn’t have stopped from sending Zack into next week.

“Again, what the fuck is your problem,Harrison?!”Before he can answer, Coach is right there between us, glaring at Zack. He steps right into Zack’s face and speaks with a deadly calm voice, the kind that tells you that he’s about one and a half seconds away from losing his shit.

“I’m gonna say this again and slower this time so you better fucking understand it. No one is responsible for what we discussed earlier butyou, Harrison. Your lack of workout and diet ethic is all your doing. Who you choose to associate with is also your choosing, but the biggest issue the other coaches and I have is your fucking attitude. Your raw talent ain’t shit if it comes with that shitty, holier-than-thou behavior.” Zack’s face hasn’t changed even microscopically during Coach’s tirade, which apparently isn’t over just yet.

“My threat to trade you, Harrison, isn’t a threat. It’s a fucking promise if shit doesn’t improve. Your attitude alone can bring down the team. You could be as naturally gifted as fucking Babe Ruth or Joe Montana, but they individually never won a fucking title by themselves and neither will you. It’s called a fucking team sport for a reason. Also, if you go after a teammate againlike that, unwarranted and all, being traded will be the least of your concerns. Get your fucking act together. Go home now. I don’t want you at practice today.”

Coach walks off toward the door leading to the field. “The rest of you better move your asses and get on the field toot sweet, with expeditiousness if you will. I ain’t in the mood to deal with laziness this morning.” The man quotesChitty Chitty Bang Bangmore than any person I’ve ever met.

Zack slams things around in his locker, grabs his keys and bags, and stomps out of the locker room. I still don’t know what the fuck that fucker was going on about. Hanna didn’t mention anything had happened.

Carter, whose locker is on my other side, looks between me and Zane. “What the fuck was that about and what did your girl do?” I pull my phone out and shrug my shoulders.

“Fuck if I know. She didn’t mention anything, but I’m gonna send her a text asking her. I’d call her, but we better move our asses outside, or Coach may try to trade all our asses.”

Me: Hey, so did something happen yesterday during the match?

I send off the text, but then I remember how my sister would get away with shit growing up by answering only the specific question that was asked, so I send a follow-up text before putting my phone away.

Me: I mean, did anything happen before, during, after, or generally anytime you were in the stands with the other WAGS?

I have a feeling some words were said, and that it was probably all the women in my family and my woman who were involved. Is this how the end of civilization or their world domination starts? I don’t think there’s enough beer in the world to be ready for it.