Page 5 of In My Hockey Era
Chase exhales.“Because she’s basically the queen of Stampede fans.Podcast, blog, social media.Knows everything about the team.”
“Oh.”I perk up.“I should reach out.”
“No.”He shakes his head, scrolling again.“Because she’s currently ripping you a new one.”He clicks a link, and suddenly, a video plays.
A woman sits in front of a microphone, eyebrows furrowed, blue eyes practically on fire.Her long golden-brown hair is up high in a messy ponytail, and she’s wearing a royal blue Stampede hoodie—but there’s nothing cozy about her tone.
“Let’s be clear,” she says, voice sharp.“I love the Stampede.But this?This is ridiculous.A book club?What the hell does this have to do with hockey?”
Chase snorts.“Ouch.”
I hold up a finger.“Maybe she comes around.”
The woman—Lucy, according to her username—continues.“It’s a blatant PR stunt.And the worst part?They pickedBennett freaking Wilderas the face of it.”
My eyebrows shoot up.
“Look, I like Wilder fine,” Lucy says, shrugging.“He’s a great player.But if they wanted to do this, why not pick someone who actuallyreads?We all know he’s just going to hold up a book, grin for the camera, and call it a day.”
Chase howls with laughter.“Holy shit, bro.Shehatesyou.”
I’m too focused on the screen, because something weird is happening in my chest.Not anger, exactly.Not even annoyance.
Fascination.
“She doesn’t even know me,” I mutter, my food now forgotten.
“She thinks she does,” Chase says, still laughing.“And she’s dragging you to hell, my guy.”
I pull out my phone and type her handle into the search bar.Her profile pops up immediately, filled with team updates, game analysis, and clips from her podcast.I click one at random.
“…the problem isn’t that hockey players are getting into books.That’sgreat.The problem is that this feels fake.I want authenticity.If Wilder proves me wrong?Fine.But until then…” She shrugs.“#LucyIsRight.”
I blink.“That’s a thing?”
Chase is already laughing again, flipping his phone toward me.#LucyIsRight is trending, filled with fans debating the book club.But right underneath it?
#BennettWilderCanReadToMeAnytime
I grin.“Okay, but look at my hashtag.”I hold out my phone to show him, strangely proud.
“That’s just because you have a nice face.”
“Agreatface.”I lean back.“Man, she’s really coming for me, huh?”
“You soundexcited.”Chase frowns.“You should be mad.”
I scratch my jaw.“I think I want to prove her wrong.”
He chuckles.“You’re about to be obsessed with her, aren’t you?”
I don’t answer, becauseno comment.
“She is pretty cute,” he says, studying his phone.
That’s beside the point.
Maybe I can’t stand the idea that someone doesn’t like me.Maybe I just don’t like haters on principle.Or … maybe, maybe Chase is right.
