Page 44 of Off Camera
Puck Daddy
You know I love to talk shit.
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Have fun, Uncle Reid! Wish you were here for our tea party!
I burst out laughing at the picture of Dallas, Maverick, Emmy, Maven, and June. All five of them are wearing fancy hats and smiling at the camera. June is holding up a teacup. Maverick is holding a half-eaten scone, and homesickness hits me.
I travel a lot during the season. I’m on an airplane or a football field more than I’m in my own apartment from August until February, but usually, my friends are with me.
When Maven isn’t working as the DC Stars team photographer, she and June are on the sidelines in their Titans gear, chatting my ear off during warmups and helping me pick what music to use over video clips.
Maverick comes to as many games as he can, and when he shows up, he brings half the hockey team with him.
I learned a long time ago family isn’t what you’re born into. It’s the people you pick up along the way. The friends in that photo are my family now, and I really fucking miss them.
Me
Looks like fun. We’ll have to have another party when I get home.
Puck Daddy
Don’t make too many friends, Plant Daddy. I don’t want to be replaced.
Me
You’re number one in my heart, Mav. Don’t tell Dallas.
Puck Daddy
Fucking assholes.
I silence my phone as a round of applause welcomes a woman on the stage in the front of the room. I sit back in my chair and get comfortable, wishing I had brought a pad of paper with me so I could doodle to pass the time.
“Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us this weekend. My name is Meredith Knowles, and I’m the President of Marketing for the NFL. It’s an honor to be joined by you all today. We have an exciting weekend planned, and I hope that when you return to your teams, you’ll take home invaluable information that will help lift you to success as we approach the season.”
I cross my arms over my chest and hold back a yawn. Meredith goes through the usual rah rah rah stuff we hear at all of these events I’ve heard a dozen times. My head starts to lull until there’s another round of applause and I jolt awake, pretending to clap with the rest of the crowd.
“To kick off the conference, I’m going to turn it over to our keynote speaker. This woman is an icon in our industry, and everyone in this room knows her in some way, even if you don’t know her real name. She’s revolutionized the TikTok and Instagram game while helping her expansion team earn a record-setting profit. The Thunderhawks are lucky to have her, and we’re lucky to hear the insights she’s going to share with us. Let’s give her a warm welcome.”
You have to be shitting me.
I crane my neck, desperate to get a glimpse at the woman who’s been tormenting me for years. This is my first time ever seeing her, and I’m on the edge of my seat.
Someone climbs up the steps to the stage, and the blood drains from my face as I recognize who it is.
Brown hair and brown eyes. A bright smile and a soft laugh. That same hand she’s using to wave to the crowd was in my pants forty-eight hours ago, and I suck in a sharp breath.
Averyruns the Thunderhawks’ social media accounts?
Averyis who I talk to every day?
Averydrives me up a goddamn wall?
What thefucking fuckis going on?
FIFTEEN
