Page 51 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“No problem. You were up all night, weren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you take the day off? I’ve had all-nighters then gone straight to work. Do not recommend.”

“I wish. But I can’t bail on my students last minute again. I did that already, after the Jumbotron fiasco.”

“Well, at least caffeine exists.”

“Yes, thank God for that.”

“Did Jake already ask Wendy to add your name to the WAGs group chat?”

“I don’t think so. Well, I didn’t ask him, and he didn’t mention it.”

“If you didn’t receive a notification on your phone, then he must have forgotten. Wendy is super organized when it comes to her precious WAG group,” Melissa says in a mocking tone, which surprises me a little.

“You don’t like the group?”

She shakes her head. “Oh no. I have nothing against the group chat. But Wendy rubs me the wrong way. I’m certain she thinks I’m sleeping with the players.”

I recall the conversation when I met Wendy, Maya, and Fiona. They were implying the ice girls were all sluts going after hockey players. It seems they view any woman who works for the organization as a threat to their relationships.

“Must I be added to the group?”

“Unfortunately, yes, especially considering you have so much to hide. It’s best to keep your enemies close. But I’m sure you can make friends, and the girls will help you navigate this new hockey world. It won’t be terrible.”

“All right then. I can’t wait,” I reply, letting sarcasm coat my words. A yawn sneaks up on me, and I try to cover it with a fist.

“Boy, I don’t envy you today.”

“I’ll be okay, as long as I stay away from carbs.”

“That’s a rule I follow every day.” She laughs. “I can’t afford to gain weight.”

“Come on. No one would notice if you gained a couple pounds.”

Melissa grimaces. “Elijah would.”

I didn’t get a good impression of Melissa’s Hollywood mogul fiancé, but maybe he was super busy on the evening we met briefly at the charity event. “But I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

She laughs without humor. “Oh, he’d definitely mind. He won’t say it out loud, but I know he wouldn’t be happy. That’s what I get for dating a man who deals with starlets. He’s obsessed with perfection.”

That sucks. I want to tell Melissa she deserves better, but I don’t voice my thoughts out loud. She’s not asking for my opinion, and who am I to judge her relationship? I dated a narcissistic asshole for ten years.

“Well, for what’s worth, I think you’re stunning.”

She smiles. “Thank you, June. By the way, do you have a screenplay to send me?”

“I have a few, but I’m not in love with any of them.”

“Write something new. You know what would be awesome?” She smiles.

“No. What?”

“If you wrote a hockey romcom. It’d be so good, and you’re living it. I bet your story would rock.”

My life has been such a whirlwind that I’ve barely had time to think about writing anything. But Melissa’s reminder about my dream is making me itch to write again.

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