Page 34 of Between the Blue
“I had a feeling this might be your reaction.” Tiffany clasps her hands together, blowing a breath out of her nose. “So I thought ahead.”
My brows pull together, questioning her.
“Remember how I said the dean is a season ticket holder?” she asks.
“Yes?”
“Well, the Texas Storm’s first preseason game is tomorrow night. And it just happens that Dean Wallace is out of state on business this week.” A suspicious look crosses her face, making me tilt my head. “And I may have sent him an email explaining the situation and saying that the team wanted to offer you a position.”
I let her continue, having no idea at this point where she could be going with this.
“And he may have said you are free to use his tickets tomorrow night.”
“What?” I breathe.
“Please, Addison,” Tiffany says, reaching across the desk towards me. “Just go to the game. Bring a friend. Have fun. See how you feel. Try to picture yourself working there. Just…don’t write off this opportunity before you give it a chance.”
“I…” I begin, trailing off.
And for whatever reason, Tiffany takes that as confirmation.
“I’ll have the tickets in your email inbox by tomorrow morning.”
eight
HIM, THIRTEEN YEARS AGO
“Good morning,” I hear as I duck through the front door of our local sports store.
I snapped my last hockey stick in yesterday’s game.
It happens.
But now I need a new one.
Might as well grab a couple, my dad said before he handed me his credit card this morning.
Hockey’s an expensive game. But my parents knew what they were signing up for. I know I’m lucky.
Also know that conversation wouldn’t go nearly as smoothly between Sutty and his dad. Know so well that I may have slipped him one of my extra sticks a time or two.
Mom and Dad didn’t notice. Or maybe they did. But they know his situation too.
Rhett plays rough. Too rough most of the time. But it’s what makes him so good. I’ll help him where I can.
I think I’ve been to Mikey’s Sports a thousand times. Pretty sure I could find my way to the hockey section with my eyes closed at this point.
No one’s around. So I decide I’ll try it.
Turn left. Walk to the back. Take a right. Second aisle.
I reach out, feeling the hockey sticks against the wall. Right where I knew they’d be. Grin a little to myself. Try to feel for my preferred brand. Pretty sure I’ve found it.
And then a voice from the next aisle over makes my eyes snap open.
“Ah, here they are. I’ll admit it. You were right, Mikey.”
“Don’t you trust me by now, Julia Gold?”
