Page 26 of The Ex Puck Bunny
“Just remember this: Most important is loyalty to the team and the game, meaning personal problems stay off the ice and out of the locker room. We’re one big family. Next, are the fans. They’re family too, which is another way to say fans first.”
That makes sense, I guess.
She adds, “So you’ll get started with the social media management while Ted finishes out the season.”
I laugh out loud. “Me?”
She nods. “He wants daily video diaries and engaging posts. You can put them on your personal account and add the team account as a collaborator.”
“I’m the newbie here and don’t quite understand what it is you want me to do, but I’m pretty sure chasing likes and follows does the opposite of teaching someone humility.”
She shrugs. “He said what he said. Also, if the footage involves you falling on your face your ego won’t puff up too much.”
My lips bunch up. “I did that already. Publicly.”
“Trust the plan,” Cara says as if she too has learned a lesson since joining the Knights in an administrative capacity.
I still don’t quite get it but figure the app will help me make sense of things. I murmur, “For the record, I hate my phone.”
“As I said, you’re not alone in that. Hammer too. The goalie.”
“Yeah. And I have to be Powell’s shadow.”
“Those are big skates to fill. But just think, you get to study one of the greats.” She points to my phone. “Now you have an excuse to watch and record his every move.”
I suddenly feel overwhelmed because this trade is going to involve more than me doing the single thing I’m good at—playing hockey.
After I leave the arena, I cruise over to Derek’s place to give him a hand moving a couch from the garage to the living room. I’d like to stop home first to take out my contacts and switch to glasses. My eyes are tired, but I’m already late since I told him I’d be there twenty minutes ago.
After Derekand I center the sofa against the wall, I say, “Looks good.”
Like a steamroller, Derek moves us back toward the garage. “While you’re here, do you mind helping with the entertainment center too?”
“Sure? Didn’t realize I’d signed up for moving day.”
“You got here just in time. Plus, Dad’s back has been bothering him.”
We get the unit in place and I also help him assemble some bookshelves and then rearrange the dining room.
“Deborah is going to love this.”
“I feel like you’re just using me for my muscle.”
He winks in a joking way. “Don’t all the ladies?”
I snort because there haven’t been any ladies since Alivia.
My thoughts jump to Heidi, hair dripping from the rain after our kiss. Her gaze lifted to mine, searching my eyes. What did she see? What do I want her to?
I stagger slightly as I belatedly realize that I didn’t see the warning, theDo Not Entersign posted with a skull and cross bones. Not because she’s dangerous, but because she’s my best friend’s sister.
What Badaszek said about trust comes to mind. I’d never break Derek’s. Not like Trey did. Not like Alivia.
He tosses me a can of soda and I drop onto one end of the new couch.
Derek sits on the other, pats the cushion, and pulls the lever on the reclining feature. “Ah. This is what I’m talking about. Thanks for the help, man.”
“Next time you ask me to return a favor, I’m going to demand interest.”
