Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
“Right? He’s trying to warn me off him, but it’s having the opposite effect.”
“Ugh, I have to go. I think Carmen’s here so I can take Eli to school.”
“Okay, we can talk later.”
“If anything happens, text me immediately.”
I laugh. “Anything at all?”
“Anything with stalker daddy.”
“His name is Noel.”
“He’ll always be stalker daddy to me. Gotta go.”
She ends the call and I shake my head, reaching for my mascara. I should really be filming this because I always need content, but I’m too distracted.
I’m going to find a local coffee shop to start my day. I know I’ll spend the first couple of hours watching new content about Noel, updating Deb on it by email, and responding to some comments.
Noel’s growing online female fandom is the biggest positive thing we have going right now. It’s being overshadowed by Carter’s injury, and I’m sure yesterday’s loss will be a hot topic today.
I’m not sure how I feel about that. I enjoy Noel’s frustration with being seen as a sex symbol. But I don’t want other women trying to get with him, because what if it works?
I only want him to see me. It’s a dangerous game. If Deb or anyone else in management catches on to my feelings, it could come back on Noel. I can’t risk that.
Somehow, I have to find a way to be with him alone again.
Lainey Stone flew to Vancouver for tonight’s game, and I’m joining her in one of the boxes to watch it. She’s an adorable redhead with a beautiful smile.
“I heard you spent some time with Olivia and her friends,” she says. “That was so sweet.”
“She’s a doll. I really enjoyed it. How about you and Bash, do you have kids?”
She shakes her head adamantly. “Definitely not. Maybe someday, but we haven’t decided.”
“I totally get that. I have two nephews, and I love them to death, but I don’t know if I want any kids of my own. I’m leaning toward no.”
“Isn’t it funny how people still assume everyone wants kids? I get shocked looks from complete strangers when I say I’m not sure.”
“Shocked looks for women who say it, but respect for men.”
She raises a hand in the air. “Testify.”
There’s action close to one of the nets, our team fighting to get the puck in the net, but Bash’s shot narrowly misses.
“Shit,” Lainey says softly. “So close.”
“How’s he doing over the Carter situation? If you don’t mind me asking.”
She flashes a smile at me. “Of course I don’t. He’s ... I don’t know, trying to handle it well? He and Leo put on a strong front for Carter. Telling him to focus on getting better, that it won’t be long, but I can tell he’s off balance.”
I nod. “They all seem to be that way. To me, at least, but I don’t know any of them well. It was a shock. The pieces were all in the right places, and then it was like a boulder dropping from the sky and smashing up the plan.”
“Exactly. But it happens, and they have to find their way through. Fortunately, Bash said that injury isn’t one that should affect Carter long term. It’s not a hard one to come back from, as long as you stay out long enough and rehab it well.”
I interviewed Caroline, the team doctor, the day after the announcement about his injury, and she said that, too. She’s not releasing him back to playing until she’s confident he’s ready, but she doesn’t anticipate any problems.
Six weeks minimum without him is a lot, though. We’re already down 1–0 in the first period of the game. Isaac allowed a goal early in the game, but he’s been a brick wall since then.
My eyes wander to our team’s bench. Noel is standing behind his players, arms crossed, calling out something to one of the players on the ice. He’s wearing a dark suit with a pale-blue tie.
I want to be down there, watching the game on one of the TVs in the visiting-team locker room and waiting for the guys to come in for the break after the first period. But I’m staying away tonight because I know they’re all feeling a lot of pressure after last night’s big loss. Noel’s made it clear he finds me distracting, and even though I’m secretly thrilled by it, I don’t want to intrude tonight.
“You’re doing a great job with the team socials,” Lainey says.
“That’s nice of you to say, thank you.”
“Have you always been a hockey fan?”
I laugh lightly. “The opposite. I’m still learning the rules. Some people had their doubts about whether a plus-size beauty influencer could do this job well, but here I am. My boss, Deb, really listened to me in the job interview. People on social media don’t want to hear about rules. There are places for that on social media, of course. But on the team pages, people want the curtain pulled back. They want to know who their favorite players are. To see how they get ready for games and what they do on their off days.”