Page 88 of Playing to Win

Yeah, me too.

“Anything I can do, let me know. You did great work with the Bonfire. And I can probably swing the rent?—”

“That’s sweet, but no, Megan. I have to pull my own weight. Don’t forget, I know how much you make.”

She gripped me in a hug. “I don’t care. I’ll do whatever I can. We’re friends, and we take care of each other.”

I hugged her tightly back. Bright side: I had great people supporting me.

Chapter26

Just a girlfriend

Jayna

I was getting panicky.It had been a week, and I’d had one interview. It was a bust because they were more interested in the Blaze than me, and they didn’t ask me for a second interview.Assholes.The market was competitive, and my experience in hockey didn’t transfer to many other fields. I’d sent in my résumé to the other sports teams, but they didn’t have any openings.

I’d spent almost every night with Braydon. Most of the time we had sex, and it was incredible, but some nights we just snuggled in bed together and that was just as good. I hadn’t had a relationship like this in…forever. While I was with Braydon, I didn’t question it. But after, I wondered…was it because I’d lost hockey? And my job? Was I clinging to him as the only thing left? Or was there something special there, and it was helping me get through the most epically awful time of my life?

As per usual, the city had playoff madness. Both the local teams’ colors were flying everywhere since the two clubs were in the postseason. The Blaze, as the expansion team, had less history. But since they’d won the Cup a dozen years ago they’d attracted a lot of younger hockey fans. It was nice to support a team that had won in your own lifetime.

The other team played first, but they started their series away. Braydon and I watched it at Ducky’s place, since the Inferno had traveled to Pennsylvania for their first game tomorrow night. I was glad Gerber wasn’t there, but I didn’t really know these guys. And after months of managing the team’s social media it was weird to have nothing to do during the game.

Steve, the guy who did my job—my former job—for the Inferno, had stepped in to cover the Blaze. I’d checked the Blaze feed once and then stopped, even though I knew I’d done better work. With Braydon’s teammates around, I kept quiet, even when I had an opinion.

They lost. Which was a mixed result—they were competition for the Blaze, but they were also local.

On the way home, Braydon asked, “So, do you want to go to the game tomorrow night?” He kept his eyes firmly on the road. “It’s okay to say no. I haven’t asked you before because I didn’t think you’d want to, but Luke told me I shouldn’t just assume things for you.”

Did I want to go to the Blaze arena? I’d been to every home game while I was working there, but I’d avoided the place since I’d left. I’d gotten my final paycheck and deleted any messages from Kira. Returning there wouldn’t be easy.

But hockey was still my sport, even if I wasn’t playing. And Braydon would be there, on the bench if not on the ice. He’d like his girlfriend there. Maybe it was time to rip off the bandage. I, former PR assistant and Bonfire player, wasn’t very interesting, not compared to the game that would be on the ice. So who would notice me? “Can you get tickets this late?”

“Well…”

I turned to Braydon, wondering what made him hesitate.

“I asked, just to know if it was possible and…you could be in a box with the WAGs.”

I blinked.

“That’s the wives and girlfriends.”

“Yeah. I know.”WAGs.I couldn’t. I wasn’t a WAG; I was a hockey player.

But not anymore. Now I was just a girlfriend. Maybe it was time to face up to it.

Braydon shot me a glance. “Totally up to you. There’s about a zero percent chance I’m playing, so don’t do it if you don’t want to.”

“I won’t say I’m not a little weirded out at the thought of seeing Kira or Radner there, but I still love hockey, and I’d hate to miss that zero percent chance of you playing. I’ll go.”

* * *

I stoodin front of the arena, jostled by avid fans pushing their way past. Most wore jerseys. I even saw a Mitchell one. There was a ticket waiting for me inside. I just had to go through the doors to the window and ask for it.

I stood there for at least fifteen minutes. Then I turned and left.

I texted Braydon once the game was scheduled to begin. He wouldn’t get the message until after, but I didn’t want him to look for me with the friends and family at the end of the game.

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