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)
Last night, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, even knowing I shouldn’t be fucking looking over at her table every two seconds, but my eyes and my head were not on the same page. I saw her get up and I was suddenly making my way toward the back. I kept telling myself I was doing it to make sure no one bothered her. I heard the door slam shut when I turned the corner. I thought someone had dragged her out there. By the time I could stop myself, I already had her pinned against the brick wall with my mouth on hers in the exact way I’d been trying to fight all night long.
I spend the rest of the day surfing to forget about her, which doesn’t work. When I wake up the next morning, it’s again from another dream about her. Waking up to the reality where I know I can’t have her, I decide to get dressed and get to work before everyone else so I can hit the gym.
I spend time on the bike and then run on the treadmill for about an hour before I hear some of the guys coming in. Needing to make a protein shake to get through the day, I turn off the treadmill, and say hello to a couple of people before my meetings officially start. Eric is the first one in. “Hey, Coach,” he greets as soon as I turn on the blender.
“Hey. Been thinking,” I tell him, “I’m going to do some one-on-one meetings with some of the team today.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Something wrong?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I just want to touch base with them, see what they have to say about how the season has started. I think it’s important that everyone is on the same page, to show them I’m invested in them and their wellbeing.”
“You want to do this with Cam and me or just yourself?”
“You think Cam is going to want to sit in with some of the guys if they have complaints about anything?” I ask him, putting a straw in my shake.
“Good point.” He leans against the counter and crosses his feet and his arms.
“I want to have an open-door policy. Which isn’t normal, I know. You are just opening yourself up to all the shit and playing babysitter. But I want them to know they can come to me. To know I have their backs.”
“I think that’s a good thing to have. They don’t really know you or me at this point, so it’s going to be difficult for them to come to us with an issue. This is just you giving them access to you.” I nod at him, knowing he would be the one to get it. “I’m going to hit the gym before we take the ice.”
I walk out of the kitchen and head to the locker room, seeing a couple of the rookies in there shooting the shit. “Hey.” I stick my head in. “One of you come with me.” They all share a look with each other, like they are in trouble. “Relax,” I snap, “I’m meeting with everyone one-on-one so you might as well get it over with.”
I turn and head back to my office, not sure which one is going to come into my office first, but I’m not surprised when it’s Owen. He’s been the leader of the rookies this year, on and off the ice, and when he comes into my office, I bark out, “Close the door.”
“You said I wasn’t in trouble,” he groans and then I laugh.
“You aren’t, but I also want this to be a private conversation,” I tell him, pulling out my chair. “You want something to drink?” I ask him, motioning my head toward the fridge.
“You have beer in there?” he asks me and the look I shoot him is more of a “watch it” look than a glare, and he holds up his hands. “I was joking.”
“Me too,” I assure him, sitting down in my chair. “Listen, I’m going to be talking to everyone. Making sure everyone is on the same page as I am and checking in.” He sits down in the chair in front of me, putting his ankle on his knee. “I know that I’m new in this role, and I don’t have much time under my belt as someone who played in the NHL.” I chuckle, folding my hands together. “I was on the ice for one year and then knew I was better behind the bench.” His eyebrows shoot up at that confession. “Just want you to know I’m here for you if you need anything.” He nods his head. “And if at any time during the season you want to talk to me about anything or anyone, my door is open. My main focus apart from winning is making sure that you guys are in the right headspace for dealing with all the things that come with being a professional athlete. Lots of coaches don’t worry about the mental health of players, but I’m not one of them. Will I get pissed off at some point in this season? You bet your ass I will, but if at any time you think you can’t handle something, I want you to come to me and we’ll get you the help that you need.”