Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I look at the press surrounding the locker room. “No press in the room,” I issue to them, looking over at Timothy. “I don’t even want you guys next to the door.” I look at them. “Clear them out,” I tell security, who nods at me as he ushers them to the media room as I look up at Ken.
“What the fuck is all this about?” Ken asks between clenched teeth as I walk into the locker room. Half the guys are celebrating, the other half know shit is about to go down. Cam is standing on the side, his back to the wall, one of his legs cocked up and his foot pressed to the wall.
I walk in and go to the other end to get as far away from him as I can, or else I’m afraid I’m going to throttle him. The door closes behind Ken and Eric. “Gentlemen,” I start and everyone looks my way as they start to get undressed, “that game was incredible.” I put my hands in my pockets. “And it was all because of the leadership on and off the ice.” Ken just eyes me. “With that being said, I have to also apologize to you all.” The looks the guys give me are of confusion. “I put my trust in someone who I thought had the team’s back, and he didn’t.” I look over to Cam. “I don’t even want to think about the times we were in this situation and instead of helping his team win, he sabotaged us every step of the way. He was looking out for him and only him.” I turn to look at Cam. “You fucked up for the last time. You went out there and gave them the wrong play on purpose.” I wait for him to say something, but he just rolls his eyes. “We went over the play three times in the room between the second and third period, and yet when it was time to play it, you were going to lead the team out there with the wrong instructions.”
“I wrote it down wrong,” he starts to say as if it’s no big deal.
“It’s him or me.” I look at Ken. “I refuse to coach with someone who doesn’t have the team’s best interest.” Ken’s face gets tight. “Actually, scratch that. I quit,” I declare and gasps fill the room. I see Kirby and Jaxon share a look and then Jaxon looks back at me. “If this is the way the organization wants to lead,” I point to Cam, “it’s not for me.”
Ken looks at Cam. “Is what he’s saying true?” he asks him and Cam scoffs at him.
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response.” He stands, his shoulders square. “He’s the problem here.” He points to me. “He can’t lead the team. I made one mistake.”
“That we know of,” Owen throws out and all heads turn to him. “I have to wonder how many times you made a mistake with the plays that ended in us fucking up.” He stands up. “Which then led to us losing. Which ended with some of us being crucified in the press.” He shakes his head. “Which ended in some of us doing things we shouldn’t have done.”
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it wasn’t his first time.” Jaxon stands up. “I’m not playing for anyone else but Coach Gilmore,” he declares, and Kirby stands up.
“Same here,” he adds. The guys all stand up, even the ones who have threatened to not play for me.
“This is bullshit,” Cam spits out. “You can’t fire me.” His smile is more of a sneer. “You have no proof I did any of this.”
“Clean out your office,” Ken orders and the color drains from Cam’s face. He turns to storm out of the locker room.
“We’ll see what Brad has to say about this.” He grips the door handle in his hand before pulling it open and stepping out.
“I don’t know,” Ken’s voice stops him. “I’m pretty sure the only thing Brad likes is winning.” Cam storms out and I close my eyes and look down at my feet.
“Okay,” Eric says to the guys, trying to not let the whole scene with Cam get to him, “tonight was a big win. Two points and we clinched the spot in the playoffs.”
“Yeah.” The guys clap their hands.
“The fight isn’t over,” I announce. “It’s just starting. There is hockey”—I look at the guys in the room—“and then there is playoff hockey.” Ken nods his head. “It’s a different breed.”
“We wouldn’t know,” Jaxon says, chuckling, “but we’re about to fucking find out.”
“Okay.” I clap my hands. “We need to do press, and then we have a celebration to get to.”
The guys start getting up and getting undressed as I walk out of the room and head to my office. “Well, that was something,” Eric says, walking in followed by Ken.