Josh
“You’re late!” Coach’s voice bellows as I skate onto the ice.
“I know, I’m sorry. There was a woman…”
“I don’t need to hear about your personal life, Woods. Laps, now, and hurry up. Don’t let this happen again.” He’s clearly agitated and I don’t want to make things worse for myself.
“Yes, Coach.” I skate towards my teammates and come up beside Matthews, my right winger.
“We did try to tell him what happened but he’s clearly in a mood. Wasn’t having it today.”
I grunt in response.
“So, how is she?”
I can’t help but smile at the thought of her. Her golden hair that shone in the sun, her smile that would light up a room, the way she stuttered when she was nervous. Shit, I sound cheesy as fuck right now.
“What’s that smile for?” Matthews asks as he bumps my elbow. “Holy shit dude, are you in love right now?” He lets out an obnoxious laugh and I huff.
“Shut up, man, I am not.” But he’s not listening.
He grabs our left winger, Michaelson, “Listen to this, our one woman every week captain here is in love.” He starts his howling again while Michaelson skates over to me.
“No way, congrats man. Who is she?”
“I’m not in love, for fucks sake. I just met her.” I reply, hoping it convinces him because I cannot deal with this today.
“Ladies!” Coach’s voice booms, “If I wanted to hear y’all cackling like witches, I would take you to a comedy show. Get your asses into gear before I come over there and whip them with your own sticks.” Matthews was right about one thing… Coach really is in a mood.
After showering and changing, I head back out to my car.
I automatically search the parking lot in hopes of catching a glimpse of the beautiful woman I met today.
When my search comes up empty, I feel a slight sense of disappointment.
Obviously, she wouldn’t be here as it’s been almost three hours since I met her.
“So, did you get her number?” Michaelson asks, walking up beside me. I filled him in on what had happened before laps finished and he hasn’t had a chance for follow up questions until now.
“No.” I hesitate, not knowing how much vulnerability I should share.
If anyone else had asked, I’d keep my mouth shut, but Michaelson is basically like a father figure.
Mature and wise. “I did ask though but she wouldn’t give it out.
Said since she might be working here, she doesn't want to risk it.”
“She sounds smart. Can’t have another episode after what happened with Knight.”
“You’re right,” I agree. “I know it's selfish of me to think, but I really hope she doesn't get the job.” I cringe as I say it.
“Well, brother, take it from me, forbidden love sometimes works out. And gives you two little miracles along with it.” He smiles, thinking of his wife and kids.
Daniel Michaelson met his wife, Cassidy, in college.
She was his coach’s daughter and was off limits to all players.
They snuck around for years until he had left college and finally opened up to his old coach.
Luckily, he was a good kid, so even though the coach wasn't completely happy with the couple, he didn’t hate it either.
Now, it’s twelve years later, they’re married with two kids, Jack is 4 and Bailey is 2, and I haven’t met kids nicer than they are. I guess they take after both parents.
“Maybe she just wasn't that into me. Maybe she was just using the whole work thing as an excuse.” I don't want that to be the truth but I've gotta be realistic.
“I’m sure we'll find out soon enough. Either she gets the job and is around a lot, or she doesn't get the job and contacts you anyway.”
I’ve never been so hung up on a girl in my almost 30 years being on this planet. Especially not one that I spent twenty minutes with. It’s currently 3am and I can't sleep. Olivia is consuming my thoughts. Giving up on sleep, I get out of bed and head to the kitchen for some water.
I've been wanting to search for her on socials all day but I've stopped myself every time.
That willpower doesn't seem to exist right now as I pull my phone out of my shorts and open Instagram.
Who would I even search for? All I know is her first name and her job.
With that, I search for Olivia photography which brings up hundreds of profiles.
I search for Olivia sports photography and Olivia sport photography Florida but all the results are the same.
I opened a few profiles but they all look similar.
Photographs of football, hockey, basketball.
No profiles with faces. What if I just follow them all?
Surely one of these profiles has to be her. Christ, that just screams desperation.
I pocket my phone before doing something I’ll regret and make my way back to my bedroom. I flop on my bed and let out a sigh.
“What are you doing to me, woman?” I say out loud before falling into a toss-filled sleep.