Page 14 of The Tryout

In the second week, Ramsey starts pairing me with Matthews more. While I liked my time on Sutter’s wing during the first week, it didn’t seem terribly promising for me. After all, they’re not going to use a twenty-year-old AHL callup on their first line.

But Matty’s been holding down the third line and I flatter myself into thinking that is at least a possibility. I guess we’ll find out – sooner rather than later.

“Murph, Coach wants you!’ Matty yells as he walks back in from the showers, a towel around his shoulders.

My stomach drops. We’re a week and a half into camp and we’ve all known this was coming – the time when Coach starts pulling some of us aside and discussing our future with the team.

I know I’ve had a good training camp; my turns are sharper and I’ve been better able to hold my own against hard checks. Still, I’m no Jamie Carter. There’s no guarantee I’m going to get to stay.

Giving my hair one more swipe with the towel, I head back toward Coach’s office. I peek around the edge of the door, seeing him alone at the desk, piles of paper around him, a sheaf of them in his hand, holding his attention. I give the door a gentle knock and he lifts his head, reading glasses slipping down his nose.

“Murphy! Come on in!”

He stands, holding a hand toward the rickety metal chair in front of his desk.

I sit down while he closes the door behind me.

Crap. This really is that conversation.

He drops back into his chair, shoving the papers onto a seemingly random pile.

“I wanted to take a chance to talk with you about camp so far. How’ve you been feeling?”

Right now? Like I want to throw up.

“It’s, uh, been good. I think?”

He holds my gaze, clearly waiting to hear me say more.

“The guys are always welcoming.”

He nods.

“You’re staying with Cap and Carter, yeah?”

My eyes open wide, wondering if this is a trap of some sort.

“Whoa, whoa, chill out. I didn’t mean anything by that. I know all about Ethan and Jamie. They treating you well?”

I exhale a deep sigh of relief.

“Yeah, they’re great. The house is awesome.” Truly, I’ve been very glad I didn’t choose to stay at the hotel, even if the house in Loring Park can get a little loud from time to time.

“And you’ve been feeling good on the ice?”

“Yeah. Always looking to improve, but I was really happy with my performance in Des Moines last season, and I feel like I’ve really been adding to my strength and speed.”

He nods again, an unreadable look in his eyes.

“We were happy, too. You were a big contributor down there, and I know Coach Porter’s been singing your praises.”

That’s good to hear. Remy Porter is a hard man to read, but I know I’m putting in the work.

There’s an awkward lull in the conversation, and I see lines forming between Ramsey’s brows.

Oh.

“I’m, uh, not staying in Minneapolis, am I?”