Page 80 of Body Shot

“It looks like we’re the only two women right now,” Dana says to me, looking around.

“Not true,” Randy interjects. “But the others are working from home. Pam and Rhonda are in tech support. Pam is actually on maternity leave for the next two months, so Rhonda’s been handling everything. That’s one of the things we’re going to have you guys do—take a shift a week to give Rhonda a break. But not until you’ve learned the software. So don’t panic.”

“I hate tech support,” Dana murmurs under her breath.

“It’s just part of the training. It’ll be fine.” At least, I hope so. Tech support isn’t my forte either, but it’s actually a pretty brilliant way to get us up to speed.

“So, you went to MIT.” Dana cocks her head. “That’s pretty impressive.”

“It was a lot of work,” I say, “but worth it.”

“I hear they’re interviewing someone else from MIT. And if they hire your friend, that’ll be three of you. You’re going to make the rest of us look bad.”

I chuckle. “The guy with the Ph.D. is the one who’ll make us look bad.”

“True. I considered it, but decided I needed to find a job. I’m tired of being broke.”

“Same.”

We look at each other and grin.

Day one in the real world is going pretty well.

I can’t wait to get home and tell Anders all about it.

TWENTY-NINE

Anders

The first gameof the season is at home against the Las Vegas Sidewinders, which is where Coach Petrov finished his career as a player. It’s also the team his son Anton plays for, so there’s always a lot of excitement when they come to town, especially on opening night. Coach usually spends some part of the afternoon with Anton, and several of my teammates played for the Sidewinders as well, so it’s a different vibe than with any other opponent.

Personally, I don’t have any connection to the team, and this just means I have more time to focus and get in the zone. Despite the familiarity and personal relationships, we still plan to win, and that’s all I care about.

Except today I’m distracted. Something that’s never happened before a season opener. Normally, I’m one hundred percent centered, gearing up my brain and body for the upcoming game. Instead, I’m in the locker room texting Claudia.

CLAUDIA: How long until you have to lock up your phone? I don’t know how it all works.

ANDERS: I have a while yet. It’s only five. We’ve had our pre-game meal and now most of the guys are either involved in some kind of pre-game ritual, clowning around in the hallway, or chilling out here in the dressing room.

CLAUDIA: What kind of pre-game rituals?

ANDERS: Well, Zakk Cloutier likes to douse himself in an ice bath.

I shudder.

He’s fucking nuts.

My balls shrivel a little just thinking about it.

I’ve done it after a particularly hard game, when my body needs to heal, but before every game? Fuck that.

CLAUDIA: That sounds…intense.

ANDERS: He’s an intense guy.

CLAUDIA: Do you have pre-game rituals?

ANDERS: Usually a little meditation and stretching. I do a lot of stretching in general.

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