Page 102 of The Hat Trick

She comes flying down the stairs, her hair half done like she was in the middle of styling it, giving me a wide-eyed look. “What did you just say?”

“I quit,” I murmur.

She throws her hands up and screams, “Woo! Finally!”

I smile at her reaction, but then it falls just as quickly. “I fucked up. What am I going to do? Oh my God, I need to find another job. I have no money. Audrey, what the fuck was I thinking?”

“Hey, whoa,” she bounds the rest of the way down the stairs and grips my upper arms. “You got this. I can cover the bills for a couple months andyouare going to start your own business like I’ve been telling you to.”

I nod slowly. “That could take forever to actually start being profitable though, this was a stupid idea.”

“No, this was a great idea. So, you’re going to pull out the good alcohol in the back of the freezer, make us drinks, and spill every single detail on what happened.”

I do what she says even though I still feel like I’m about ten seconds away from spiraling into a full-blown panic attack. Trying to distract myself I make a mental game plan on what I’m going to do. I can do this. I can market myself; I mean I’ve been in the field for years. I can do graphic design. I can build clientele. I can do this.

But what if I can’t. What if no one likes my work? What if I’m not good enough for what I charge? What if no one likes anything I create, and they talk shit and no one wants to work with me—

I’m pulled from my thoughts as the cup in front of me overflows with the juice mixer I was pouring in with the alcohol.

Well fuck.

Audrey joins me in the kitchen and sees the mess I made. She sighs, but not in a rude way, more like she’s understanding what is going on in my mind and what a mess it is in there right now. “Go sit, I’ll bring the drinks.”

I nod sadly while dragging my feet into the living room before tossing myself onto the couch, draping my arm over my eyes. It doesn’t take long before Audrey is returning with two cups filled to normal levels. She hands me mine and I sit up to take it while thanking her.

“Now,” she sits on the other end of the couch, tucking her legs underneath herself, “tell me what happened.”

I replay everything that happened from seeing George to the confrontation I had with him. The whole time she watches me with a wide smile on her face. By the time I’m finished she smiles even wider.

“I didn’t think I could possibly look up to you even more after you started fucking the three hottest NHL players to ever exist.” I roll my eyes, and go to retort, but she stops me. “But you just became my actual hero. Can I have your life?”

“How did that make me your hero?”

“The confidence, the attitude, all of it. How could younotbe my hero?”

“Whatever, you have more confidence than anyone I’ve ever met. Including Matt.” I give her a pointed look because she knows what an egomaniac that man can be, even though as I’ve gotten to know him, he’s seemed less of that and more…real.

She waves me off. “It’s a different type of confidence. I’m confident in my physicality. I know I’m hot and I embrace it. Yours is your attitude and confidence inwhoyou are and what you can do.Thatis what I look up to.”

I chuckle, “You’re ridiculous, but I still love you. Thank you.”

“Do you feel better?” she asks hopefully.

I nod. “Yeah, I do. It’s still scary, but I do feel a bit better.”

“That’s because I’m the best.”

“Yeah, you havenoconfidence at all,” I say sarcastically.

* * *

Two more ofAudrey’s strong ass drinks later, and I’m feeling a bit better. The panic is still lingering at the back of my mind, but I’m choosing to ignore it for now. I finally decide to text the group chat and let them know about my day. They are currently somewhere in the Midwest I think for an away game tomorrow.

Chandler: I quit my job today.

Matt: Is that a good thing?

Vince: Congratulations, baby!

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