Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
It’s like a completely different group than last night. No one is talking or laughing.
I thought I’d be exhausted after getting so little sleep last night, but I was busy all day at the arena and I’m still running on adrenaline. I had my Zoom meeting, caught up on work emails and helped a Mammoths PR person who needed me to coordinate some things with the Boston PR people.
Keeping busy was a blessing because I didn’t have time to think about my mom. Even after three years, it still hurts. I hope the day comes when I can remember the good times and smile when I think about her.
Dane turns the power off on his phone, sighing heavily.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Fucking awesome,” he says angrily.
“Great.”
He glares at me. “The reason I needed my dry cleaning taken in is because you puked on my shirt the other night.”
“Oh yeah? Is that why you’re so pissed off right now?”
It takes him a couple of seconds to respond. “Might be.”
“So if I take your dry cleaning in tomorrow, will you stop being such a dick?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re projecting. You’re mad at someone else and you’re trying to make me think it’s about your shirt.”
“Thanks, Dr. Phil.”
My stomach turns as I think about getting on an airplane yet again. I don’t have much fight in me right now.
“I’ll take your dry cleaning in tomorrow. Only because I don’t have a busy day and because I’m a nice person. It doesn’t mean I’m your errand girl.”
“Thanks.”
I glance at him. “So I looked into that hashtag thing the reporter mentioned, and as your PR representative, I feel like I should tell you it’s trending majorly. And since I’m here to help rebuild your image, I think you should consider taking that woman on a date.”
He groans. “No. I don’t have time, and I don’t like clingy women.”
“Just one date. One dinner. You show up in a suit with flowers and take her out to dinner and that’s it. The internet would love it.”
“I’ll think about it,” he says, his tone indicating that he won’t.
The bus stops at the airport and everyone starts gathering up headphones and bottled drinks.
Whether or not my stomach is ready, we’re heading to Seattle.
CHAPTER NINE
Josie
“One java chip frap.”
I pass Gina the drink I got her on my Starbucks run and she gives me a grateful look.
“I’m naming my firstborn after you. I couldn’t sleep on the plane because of Parker’s snoring.”
We’re in the training room at the Seattle arena; puck drop still a few hours away. I got lucky last night—I was so tired I fell asleep against the plane window shortly after sitting down and didn’t wake up until the plane was descending. Of course, I threw up immediately, but it was only twenty minutes of misery, which is progress.
Dalton walks into the training room and gives Gina an expectant look.
“Are you gonna wrap my ankle?”
“Yeah, get on the table.”
Dalton nods at me in greeting. “Thanks for asking if I wanted Starbucks, Josie.”
Gina rolls her eyes. “Leave her alone. Coffee gives you the shits, D. Remember that time you didn’t make it to the bathroom in time in Dallas?”
“One doesn’t forget shitting one’s self.”
I take out my laptop to check my email and fall down a rabbit hole, helping a colleague write a proposal for a potential new client. While Gina wraps, massages and ices players, I spend nearly three hours typing on my computer while sitting in a folding chair.
My back protests when I finally stand up and stretch.
“I’m going to the bathroom. Do you need anything?” I ask Gina.
“No, thanks.”
The Mammoths goalie, Lucas Robinson, comes into the training room wearing his bulky gear.
“Hey, Josie,” he says.
“Hey.”
“What’s up with you?” Gina asks him as I leave the room.
I have to walk through the locker room to get to the bathroom, and when I glance over at Dane, he’s engaged in a heated conversation with Tim, his coach.
“Prove yourself with your play,” Tim says earnestly. “Let go of the past.”
Dane shakes his head, his brow lined with aggravation. “I won’t start shit with him, but if he starts it, I’ll damn well finish it.”
Tim rubs his forehead. “That approach lands you in the box every time. I know there’s bad blood between the two of you, but”
“You don’t know,” Dane says angrily. “Until it happens to you, you have no idea.”
I walk into the bathroom, wondering what they’re talking about. By the time I walk back out, Dane is sitting with his back against the wall, wearing headphones. His eyes are closed and it’s clear he doesn’t want to be disturbed.
Back in the training room, Gina is looking through the bag of supplies she takes to the bench for games, and Lucas is sitting in the folding chair I was in before.
“Hey, Josie,” he says, standing.