Page 13 of Pucked and Pregnant

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LIV

“So, you want to play this kindergarten style?” Max teases as we get out of his car.

“Are you seriously offering to hold my hand on the way into the building?”

“We can even skip so it can be as historically accurate as possible.” He laughs. “I know how you feel about incorrect reenactments.”

I shove him playfully. “You are ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but you smiled. That means I’m off the hook, right?”

“This time.”

“I’ll take it.” Max bumps my shoulder with his. “You’re going to do great, Squeak. I never would’ve suggested Scott look at your work if I didn’t think you could hack it.”

“Thank you.”

We both get quiet as we approach the doors to the training facilities. I can’t actually hear what he’s thinking, but I know he’s psyching himself up for work just like I am. I’d bet my life savings on it.

“Max, can I ask you for something before we go in?”

“Shoot.”

“Please don’t call me Squeak or Liv while I’m at work. Seriously. I don’t want to draw attention to the fact that you’re my brother.” When I see the expressions on his face, I quickly add, “It’s not that I’m embarrassed by you. Not even close.”

He raises an eyebrow at me.

“Okay, fine. Maybe when you get too drunk and think you’re the next pop sensation you’re supremely embarrassing, but most of the time you’re not too bad. It’s more that over the years, I’ve worked hard to build up a good reputation for myself. My work is already automatically questioned because I’m a woman; I don’t need to have any doubt circling about my capabilities because some jerk in my department thinks the only reason I got hired is because you’re my brother.”

“I get it. I wish I didn’t but I do. I promise—no Squeak, no Liv, no baby sis,” he says. “I won’t even come by sometimes to take you to lunch. I’ll be a total stranger.”

“Well… lunch might be okay every once in a while.”

“Do you want me to meet you in the lobby so no one near your desk sees us?” he asks.

I swear it’s like he can read my mind sometimes, and even after twenty-six years on this earth, I still don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. He knows what I’m thinking in the same way I know he’s hurt by it.

“At least for the first six months or so. By then, I’ll have established myself and settled into the new role.” I grin. “After that, I’ll be able to associate with the likes of you.”

Max pulls the door open and gestures for me to go inside with a matching grin. “After you, strange lady I’ve never met before.”

“Thank you, mister hockey player I’ve only ever seen on TV.”

His laugh gives me the extra boost I needed, and I’m able to walk into my new office with a bounce in my step.

My first stop is to check in with my new boss. Once I get the go-ahead from his secretary, I head into his office.

“Good morning, Mr. Booth.”

He reaches out to shake my hand, “Scott, please.”

“Well, then, good morning, Scott.”

We both take a seat. He starts talking me through the differences between the AHL position and the additional demands of the NHL office. Not surprisingly, there is exponentially more work on the NHL side of things.

As the senior analyst, I’m going to have to juggle behind-the-scenes analytics, color commentary, press conferences, and strategy meetings with my boss and other upper-level management.

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