Page 7 of Nash

Of course there are always the negative comments, but I scroll right past those and focus on the theme of the video. The interaction is off the charts, not to mention the views—well over six million in just a few hours.

I close out of the app, sitting on my bed and staring at my locked screen in shock. It's been my dream since being hired by the Bangor Badgers to have a video go viral, to create a fun interactive account that gives a behind-the-scenes look at our NHL players in the hopes that the team will get the recognition they deserve…

But this?

Ineverintended to put myself in the spotlight, let alone have a video I posted after a wild night go viral.

But the followerslovedit. We’d gained fifty thousand overnight. And if statistics told me anything, those new followers were there for one thing and one thing only, and that was their newly piqued interest in Nash Stokehill’s romantic life.

I know better than anyone that the more followers and the more views you have, the more power you have to make endorsement deals for individual players. That’s been a huge goal of mine since being hired. The more followers and views we gain, the more leverage I’ll have with getting our players the deals and recognition they deserve.

If I want tokeepthis new audience, then I’ll have to keep feeding them the content they want.

And it looks like that content is me and Nash.

Shit, shit, shit.

I scoop up my phone again and click into the group chat with my girls.

Me: I'm so fucked.

I send off the text, shaking my head and hurrying to finish getting ready for the day.

Monroe: You're not fucked.

Blakely: Did you get fucked?

Blakely’s text comes through seconds after Monroe’s, and it makes me laugh out loud.

Me: No I didn't

Me: And yes I am. Don't act like you both haven't seen the video.

Blakely: I thought it was an awesome edit.

Monroe: I loved it. Of course, your camera woman totally did you a favor, capturing the money shot and all. ;)

I laugh again, my anxiety easing a little with my best friend’s playfulness.

Blakely: What are you going to do?

Monroe: Yeah because from the comments it looks like they’re calling for more Reese and Nash edits.

I groan out loud, knowing they’re right but also knowing there isn't a thing I can do about it.

Me: You know that Nash can barely tolerate me.

Monroe: It looked like he was more than tolerating you last night.

Blakely: Yeah you guys may have this whole enemies thing going on, but honestly it's more cute than anything else. What happened after he got you home last night?

Me: Nothing. He walked me inside and made me drink Gatorade.

Monroe: Aww. Got to give the guy points for that one.

I did, I think to myself.

I absolutelydidgive him points for not only bringing me home safely, but also not judging me for getting so wild in the first place. And not only that, he wanted to help ease my hangover with Gatorade and water. People always talk about the little things meaning so damn much, and just from that simple act alone, I can understand. Not that we're together.