“What’s her name?”
“Gretchen Morris.”
I grab my laptop, boot it up and then search for her name. “She’s the owner of the Gretchen Agency.” I click the link to her website and a very professional page greets us with an image of a hockey player. “Looks like she specializes in hockey.”
“Can I?”
I hand the laptop over to Hutch and sit down next to him, leaning over so I can read what he’s looking at.
“Her list of clients is small,” he says, “but I recognize all of them.”
“Small can be good. Maybe she keeps it small so she can focus on the clients she has.”
“Most agents have at least three times more athletes than she does.” He worries his bottom lip. “But all of these guys have really good contracts.”
“Did you like the other two?”
“Not really.”
“Then give her a call. No harm in talking to her is there?”
“Now?”
“Why not?”
“It’s almost eleven. She’s probably in bed or something.”
“Your number is gonna come up as unknown. Leave her a message. She’ll call you in the morning.”
He sighs heavily. “Coach trusts her so I guess I can too. You’re right. No harm in talking to her and I don’t like the other two. The last one started at a new agency and the reviews on that agency are all bad. Not sure Coach knows about that.”
“Go on then, give her a call.”
He gives me a sheepish grin and dials not the number on the website, but the number his coach gave him. His eyes widen when she actually picks up the phone.
“Um…this is Jonathan Hutchinson. My coach gave me your number.” He’s silent for a minute. “My coach’s name is David Grimes.”
I didn’t really expect her to pick up the phone. He looks so startled it’s funny. He’s never out of sorts. Except for tonight. His dreams basically came true and he’s in shock. Then he had to deal with my baggage. He’s had a rough night.
“The Raptors want to sign me and my friend Collin Hernandez. He and I play on the same team and Mr. McClure came by after the game tonight. He wants us to come by their complex on Friday to start talking negotiations. Coach gave me your number and said to say he referred us.”
He’s nodding so I’m not sure what she’s saying.
“I can meet you at the airport tomorrow. Just text me the time of your flight. Thank you.”
He hangs up the phone and stares at me.
“She’s coming here?”
He nods. “She says she’ll cancel her meetings tomorrow to meet me and Collin both. She wants me to tell Coach she expects a home cooked meal for her troubles.”
“See? Everything works out. I think she’s going to be a great agent for you and Collin both. He needs the salary ofa professional sports player to feed his bottomless pit of a stomach.”
“True.” He leans back and closes his eyes. “It’s been a hell of a day, huh?”
“For you and me both.”
He turns his head so he’s looking at me and opens his eyes. “No matter where I am, I’ll always come running if you need me.”
