Chapter 20
Jack's POV
I couldn't help but look at Rizzo as we played the IHL All-Stars. I'm telling you, with all the praise Herb was lauding on Harrer, you'd swear this kid was his love child or something. After every goal Tim scored, Herb was giving him words of encouragement and pats on the back.
Rizzo looked crushed.
We have to do something about this. But what?
The USA pulled in another victory, with the help of an outsider. Do you think we ever got that kind of praise from Herb? Hell no. Never a "good job, guys" or a "nice play, boys."
Nothing.
"Hey, OC, we're gonna talk to Herb tonight," Johnson stated.
"Yeah, so?" I asked, throwing my equipment together in my bag.
"So, you're coming with us," Mac spoke up. "We figure you'll say anything without fear of pissing Herb off."
"Oh, so all you want me for is my big mouth?" I quipped. "Way to make a guy feel loved."
"Don't you have a fiance for that?" Rizzo inquired. I quickly glanced at Mac to see his reaction. His face was just expressionless. I wonder if this whole thing with Emily is killing him?
"Yeah, I'll go with you guys," I conceded.
As we filed onto the bus, Emily at my side, Mac, Rizzo, Johnson and I moved to the side.
"Is this a coup?" Emily inquired, holding onto my hand.
"No, we're just gonna set Herb straight about Tim Harrer," Mac told her, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Think it'll work?" she asked, looking at Rizzo. I guess she had the same fear the rest of us had. No one wanted to lose Rizzo. He was our brother, our leader, our confidante, our cheerleader, and our chaperone all rolled into one.
"I hope so," Rizzo muttered. "Coach Patrick, we need to talk to you."
"What's going on, guys? Mutiny?" Craig asked.
"Could we talk with you and Herb for a couple minutes. Just something that's been on our minds as well as the rest of the teams," Johnson said.
"Yeah, I'll get him," the assistant coach replied, walking toward the bus.
"Let me know how it goes," Emma said, placing a kiss on my cheek before waving to the other three.
A couple minutes later, Herb was standing in front of us, as daunting as if we were standing at Heaven's gate.
"This better take two minutes," Herb stated, unpatiently.
We just stood there, waiting for someone to speak up.
Well, it might as well be me, what with my big mouth.
"This is crazy, Herb, bringing him in this late."
"We've got parents buying tickets. Getting rooms. What are we supposed to tell them? And with one of us going home as it is..." Mac stated, before getting cut off by the now very pissed off coach.
"I guess I don't have to ask where you stand on this do I, Rizzo?"
"This wasn't Rizzo's idea," Mac jumped in to defend Rizzo.
"You want me to say "I'm scared of getting cut?" I'm scared of getting cut. Everyone is," Rizzo spoke up, finding his voice. Albeit a shaky voice.
"We just want it to be fair, Herb," I told him. I don't know what's colderthis weather or Herb's glare.
"Don't try to tell me whats fair. He was right back there with us in Colorado."
"That was six months ago!" Rizzo shouted. Whoa, angry Rizzo!
"And you don't think he's been playing for the last six months?" Herb questioned.
"Not with us he hasn't!" Rizzo countered.
"So?"
"So there's a difference!"
"Like hell there is! All I know is that that kid can flat out play."
"What and we can't?" I asked, getting defensive. Insult whatever you want, but don't insult my playing.
"He's got great vision on the ice..." Herb started.
"That's not the point!" Mac interjected.
"You know what else he's got? He's got the attitude I want on and off the ice, so somebody here better tell me why I shouldn't be giving him a hell of a look," Herb stated, going over the deep end of the irritated pool.
"Because we're a family!" Johnson said, loud enough for Texas to hear.
"What?" Herb asked, as we all looked at Johnson.
"A family," Johnson reiterated in a lower volume.
"And this is the family you want to go to Lake Placid with?" Herb inquired.
"Definitely," I stated, hearing similar responses from the other guys.
"Timmy Harrer can help us, and I'm sending him home," Herb replied. "One more til we get down to twenty. You understand?"
Then he walked away. Can you believe we pulled that off?
We walked onto the bus, trying to keep the wide smiles off our faces. Oh, we probably failed that, but trying is all that matters.
"I'm guessing it went well," Emma said as I took my seat next to her.
"Well, we're a family," I replied, draping my arm around her shoulders as he lay her head on my shoulder.
"Good to know?" she half asked, half said. "Is Tim going home?"
I just nodded, letting my vision hold on him for a brief second.
But now who would get cut?
