Page 11 of What if I Told You

Paige

Holy shit, Ella! What an opportunity!

Me

Right? That’s what I said. Even if it’s a steppingstone…it’s something new and exciting and I need new and exciting.

Paige

Okay so, when do you leave?

Me

Mid-September, so a couple weeks. Once they finally posted about their job search I applied and had a phone interview. Then I waited several days while they interviewed the rest of their top contenders and then I got an invitation to fly out and interview in person but their person in charge is going on vacation so they asked if I could do the interview in a couple weeks.

Paige

And so, you’re not waiting to see how the interview goes before moving your whole self out there?

Me

Would you? I mean, I’ve been in Indigo Bay my whole damn life. And something just felt good on the phone with them. It felt right. I’m getting all the good vibes.

Paige

No, I guess you’re right. It makes me sad that you could be leaving me but this could be a wonderful opportunity for you. I’m positive even if this job doesn’t work out (which I’m sure it will if Auggie has anything to say about it), you’ll have no problem finding something! And as long as you’re living with Auggie, you won’t have to be immensely stressed about living expenses while you’re looking.

Me

I really hope Aug doesn’t insert himself too much into trying to get me this job. I really want to earn it on my own. The last thing I want is for someone to say I got the job because of who I know.

Paige

Meh. I wouldn’t worry about that. It’s not like you’re sleeping with someone to get the job. You just know one of the players. Shit like that happens all the time. Sometimes a connection is what we need to get our foot in the door. After that, you have to show off how awesome you are! Trust me, you’re going to be great!

Me

So, tell me more about the hot kissing goat daddy!

CHAPTER THREE

AUGUST

“Come on asshats! Shoot the fuckers like you mean it!”

“Yikes, Barrett,” Griffin says with a quick smirk. “Are we really deciding to start the preseason with last season’s stick still up your ass?” Griffin circles the net and comes up on Barrett’s left, shooting the puck toward the net, but Bear blocks it with ease.

“Stick feels pretty good up there.” He grunts and gestures to Griffin’s hockey stick. “You’ll see what I’m talking about if you don’t learn to shoot harder and faster the next time you try to sneak around the net. You’re too predictable.”

Griffin flips him off as he skates toward me, but I’m hyper focused on pulling one over on our grumpy goalie.

“Slide it in pretty boy,” Harrison says, standing not far from me. “I’ll distract him for you.”

I smile at myself as Harrison skates toward Barrett, weaving around our teammates and shuffling a puck down the ice with his stick. As he circles around the net, I prepare for my shot, passing another practice puck back and forth between Oliver and myself as I change positions on the ice. Edging closer to the net, Barrett is focused on Harrison’s position, so I take my shot, forcefully hitting the puck toward him at the same time as Harrison. I watch in awe as Barrett lowers into a split, successfully blocking Harrison’s shot with his left thigh and my shot with his stick.

“Dammit,” I groan with irritation.

I really thought I had that.

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