Page 5 of Conner

“Oh yeah, sorry. How about Wednesday before your road trip?”

“I’m not sure. Let me check my schedule. I need to get going.”

“Okay, just let me know. I'm hoping to have it up and film some other videos by next week.” Her smile pulled at something in him. He liked the feeling this morning, but after that practice it irritated him. She was a distraction he didn’t need.

“I’ll let you know,” he said curtly before turning to leave.

He didn't have time for her and the distraction she would cause. He didn’t have the yips. He just needed to focus, and she wasn’t going to help him with that. It was best if he just stayed away from her.

3

Sasha

Sasha kicked her feet up on her coffee table and nibbled on the pita and hummus she had picked up on her way home, mindlessly scrolling on her phone. She was looking at the other hockey teams' socials and what they were doing. Being hired midseason meant she was playing catch up. Her first day in she had been able to film a little with Wes and Ethan and had gotten to most of the players to fill out the questionnaire so she could start doing player spotlights soon.

Conner McPhee was something else though. She couldn't quite figure him out. He had been so charming when they first met, even before practice he was cheerfully professional, and from all accounts that's who he was. She was excited to work with him, after those initial jitters were over. Sure, she was ridiculously attracted to him, but she was surrounded by professional athletes all day, she would just have to get used to it. Even though none of them affected her like Conner had.

But their last interaction had been different. He was short with her. She got it though, it was the end of the day, maybe he was just tired.

She sat down and pulled out her laptop with footage she was hoping to get out this week so she could start editing and posting as soon as next week. All things considered; it had been a good day.

She dusted her hand on her pants before grabbing her ringing phone.

“Hi dad, how are you?”

“I’m doing good, I was just calling to check and see how your first day at the new job went.”

Sasha was excited to talk to her dad for once. He had been just about as happy as she was when she got this job. She had majored in communication in school but when she graduated, she had trouble finding a job, so she just started messing around on Instagram. Before she knew it a couple posts blew up and a company sent her a swimsuit to wear. That was it. She became a plus size fashion influencer.

She had loved her job, her father not so much. He never understood quite what she was doing and didn't see the value in it. She saw the value. She was showing women that there was no right or wrong way to be beautiful, you just were. She was proud of that.But that was something her father could never seem to quite understand.

“Good, I met with my boss, and she liked my five-point plan for the social media strategy. And I met most of the players and coaches today. I'm hoping to meet some of the trainers tomorrow, but so far so good.”

“And how’s the apartment? Are you settling in?”

Sasha looked around at the unpacked boxes that lined her walls. Her bedroom and bathroom were unpacked, but that was about it.

“Yep, settled right in.”

“I still can't believe you got a job after all you did was play around online for the past couple years.”

Frustration started bubbling inside her. “Dad...we've been over this. I have a degree in communications. I'm qualified. And yes, I worked as an influencer, but it was work and I made good money.”

“But now you have a real job,” he said, sounding proud.

Sasha took a deep breath and bit her tongue. She had a real job before. She was getting traction and by the end she was getting paid thousands of dollars per post. Her dad never understood how it all worked. He was old school. Her grandparents had immigrated from Lebanon before he was born, and he had a strict Catholic upbringing.

“I do, it's going well. Is mom home?”

“Yeah, she wants to talk to you,” he said, handing the phone over.

“Hi baby,” her mom said, “how are you settling in?”

“Good. I still have a bit of unpacking to do, but so far so good.”

Things with her mom had been easier. Her mom was Irish Catholic, so while her mom and dad were high school sweethearts, their families had very different vibes. She loved both of her parents and both of her extended families to the moon and back, but it was just different. At least she had what they considered a real job now, so that would keep them off her back.

“We are looking into plane tickets. We all can’t wait to get out there and see your new place, and maybe a game.”

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