Page 30 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“I haven’t posted much since my breakup either. I never announced that we weren’t together anymore, but I took most pictures of her off.” He took a sip of tea.
“My friend Valya keeps telling me that she’s taking me for asingle girl glow-upwhen she gets back from vacation. Maybe I should let her, then post that and leave it.” I took a sip of my latte.
“That seems sound.Let her?Are spa days not your idea of a good time?” He gave me a quizzical look as the server brought our muffin flights, which were cute trays with five mini muffins on each one.
“More like out of the budget. She’s likeno, my brother will get it for us.Which is sweet, but it seems almost wasteful with everything I need. Though a glow-up would be fun. I should update my look. Especially since I should get serious on social media if I’m going to get an agent this year.”
Also, I’d changed my hair from pink to blue in February, but Austin hadn’t like it and wanted me to change it back. I’d wrecked my hair going pink again.
I ended up taking a picture of the tray and my coffee and posting it withnom nomas the caption.
Tenzin took a bite of the first muffin and nodded. “Extraordinary. You need an agent?”
I tried the first muffin and blueberries exploded across my tongue, mixing perfectly with the little sugar granules on top. “Oh yes, this was the best idea. A few agents approached me when NYIT won our division finals this year, but I never followed up.”
When I’d won the finals with my community college the same thing had happened. Austin told me to ignore them. Stupidly, I’d listened.
But not so much time had passed that I’d wrecked my chances with this batch. Maybe.
“I can help you create a professional account. We’ll start with whatever platform you like most. I can edit a couple highlight reels from your games–I’m guessing they’re on the university website? Think of one or two things you might like to share besides hockey. Something that makes you stand out. For example, I like to post pictures of nature. Cooter’s is full of fish. Real fish. Fish tanks. Gummy fish. Fish toys.” He got out his phone and started making a list.
I finished my muffin. “That would be amazing, but you don’t have to help me.”
Something that made me stand out? Not only did I not like to stand out, I was too busy working and studying. Of course, pictures of studying in stadiums had made Mercy’s big sister hugely popular.
“That’s my background. Also, it would give me something to do besides practice hockey and visit museums,” he replied.
“Fair. I’d like that. There’s no way I could pay you. If you’re editing videos for me, that’s a lot of work.” I picked up the next muffin, which was white chocolate raspberry with a little white chocolate curl on top.
“Accompany me to some museums and we’ll call it even. I’m happy to help. Also, finals weren’t that long ago. Make a list of those contacts and we’ll see who to follow up with,” he told me, making some notes on his phone.
I polished off that raspberry muffin and washed it down with a sip of latte. Perfection. The next one was chocolate chunk. “I… I’d appreciate all the help I can get, since I have to do this all by myself now.”
While I handled household finances and logistics, the hockey side had always been Austin’s realm.
“It can be daunting. I’m with a smaller agency, but it works for me.” His head cocked, a lock of hair falling in his dark eyes. “I’m not sure my agent even reps goalies, though she’s not taking clients. She just had a baby.”
He pushed his fancy phone over, and there was a little squishy baby in a black and silver Knights onesie.
“Aww. A Knights onesie?” My eyebrows rose.
“I’m joining your friends at the Knights. It’s finalized, but not announced to the press.” He, too, took a bite of the chocolate chip muffin.
“That’s exciting. I promise I’ll introduce you to the players I know.” Yep, he’d make an excellent addition to the team with Elias gone.
“Do you practice with the team during the season? The Sasquatches don’t have a program like yours. How does it work?” Curiosity tinged his voice.
“We only practice with the entire team occasionally. We practice with the goalies more, and sometimes watch game videos with them and go over strategy. Us EBUGs also have our own practices with one of the Knights’ coaches, too. Some years they let us participate in extra stuff like power skating and yoga. Our universities don’t allow us to miss class, practice, or games for Knights’ stuff without permission.
“The coaches are great with feedback, and the goalies are kind. We can use the facilities and sometimes get to help out or attend other things. But Coach Kirov believes in the program, not all the teams are like that.” I picked up the next muffin, which was apple cinnamon.
“It sounds wonderful. So your plan is to get representation, go free agent after graduation, and get signed?” He took another sip of tea.
“Yep. The Knights are the dream, but I’m not picky–farm team, overseas, really, I’d go anywhere.” Okay, except Canada and the Pacific Northwest. “I know given my size and designation, I’m not a standout, so I’ll take what I can get.”
“You’re as tall as Molly Crewe with the Belugas, aren’t you?” Tenzin took another sip of tea.
She was the other omega goalie in the PHL. Omegas weren’t common in professional hockey–or most contact sports.
