Page 12 of The Tape Job

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I take a hanger from the corner of the room and slip the jersey onto it before setting it to hang from the hook of his cubby. The nameplate on the shelf above gleaming with his name.

I’ve been dreading this shoot. Since I found out he was coming here for the season, I’ve been dreading it. I even considered faking my death, or getting a new job, but none of those plans came to anything.

When my brother heard the official news, he told me, “We always said we’d love to play pro together, Vic. You can’t blame him for wanting to come.”

I stand back from Liam’s jersey and check that it’s as central as it can be before moving towards the tripod I’ve set up.

Mr Lopez, the team’s General Manager, stands behind me. “That looks great, Vicky. Do you think you can get these on the website today?” He and Coach Adams are watching me work.

I never in a million years thought I’d be photographing Liam’s jersey like this. Not in a dressing room and not playing for the team I work for. I just can’t get my head around it.

“Vicky?”

Shit. That’s me.

“Sure, we’ll make it work.” I fake a smile.

“Just let me know as soon as this goes live. I know the fans are waiting to find out more about Liam,” Mr Lopez grins, nudging Coach, but when I glance back, Coach looks only half-interested.

The announcement that he’d signed went out weeks ago, but we’ve been phasing the teasers, and this is the last one. A shot of his jersey in his cubby, next to his brother’s.

“You must be excited, Vicky? Johnny tells us this is like old times for you. When did you get into photography?” Mr Lopez had nothing to do with my recruitment, and I’m genuinely surprised he cares enough to ask.

“I was fourteen when I started. Hockey photos mainly, because of Johnny, and it was something to do to pass the time when I had to watch him practise.”

“Oh right, that’s great,” he says, but it’s clear that even though he asked, he doesn’t want to listen to the answer.

“The guys are still on the ice, Vicky. If you get a chance, can you get some shots of the practice before they’re done? If not, just set up for next practice.” He looks at his watch. “I don’t think they have long, actually.”

“There won’t be time today, Justin,” Coach Adams cuts in.

“Right. You finish up here then, Vicky, and come see me when you’re done. We need to spend some time on the social media strategy for this year. I’ll get Bella to help more, it won’t hurt her.”

A knot of disappointment sits in my stomach. I don’t know why, but I find Bella irritating as hell, and not to mention, what Jen calls ‘a busy-body’.

I nod and turn my attention back to my camera as Mr. Lopez exits with Coach tagging along.

Seeing Liam’s jersey hanging up like this, right in front of me, has brought home the reality of our situation because this sure as hell is going to be a long season.

I take longer than I usually would with these photos, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m trying to spend my time with the idea of Liam, but the real Liam startles me when the door to the dressing room swings open.

“… it’s not even close to being as good,” he says to Danny.

Danny smiles and waves, while Liam nods but doesn’t make eye contact.

“I’m almost done here, Lee,” I snap, feeling his impatience in the air.

“Take your time,” he says, sitting down in Ryan’s cubby. Knowing Ryan, he’ll be last off the ice, so Liam will probably be showered and dressed by the time Ryan rocks up.

Liam’s gloves come off, and he tosses them with his helmet on the floor between his knees, then he loosens his skates. He stops abruptly to pull off his practice jersey, exposing his abs since he doesn’t wear an undershirt beneath his shoulder pads. I can’t help stealing a glance. I know he knows that I’m looking, but I can’t help myself. The tension feels thick in the air, and as soon as he finishes unlacing his skates, he pulls them off and stands up. He reaches past me for his bag, pulling out a towel and wiping the moisture from his face. I get a whiff of his sweat and cologne, and I know I need to get the fuck out of here because it’s delicious, and makes me want to scream with frustration.

I take one last shot as the dressing room fills around me. Once I’m done, I put all my concentration into packing up, then organising Liam’s cubby to be just as he left it.

“Vic?” He stands behind me, and my head swims with lust. “Can we talk?”

I ignore him. Despite knowing we have a lot to talk about, I’m doing the ‘Vicky thing’ of burying my head in the sand, and thinking it’ll all go away.

He tries again.