22. June
CHAPTER 22
JUNE
M elissa has been quiet since we left the hospital, her face a cold mask. At first, I leave her alone, but as the silence stretches, I get more and more uncomfortable.
“Are you angry with me?” I finally blurt out.
“No.” She keeps staring straight ahead.
“But you are angry.”
“ Angry is not the correct word. I’m annoyed. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I don’t have the spoons to worry about players acting like children.”
I wince, regretting opening my big mouth. “I’m sorry.”
She sighs. “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. And I don’t really think Lachy, Jake, and Ryan are immature. They’re just in love and not thinking with their heads.”
“You’re worried the nurse will blabber.”
“Yes. She looked stunned to see you kissing Lachy so passionately. I’m guessing you were also affectionate with Jake in public?”
My face becomes warm, and I look out the window so she won’t see my reaction. “Yeah. We weren’t hiding that we’re together.”
“Did you kiss Ryan in public too?”
I shake my head. “No, but I hugged him.”
“Well... friends do hug. Anyway, I know last night you were all worried and stressed. But you must be more careful, especially when you go to San Diego with the boys.”
“I know, I will. You don’t have to worry. I’m sorry that we’re stressing you out.”
“It’s not only the job that’s making me edgy. I have some shit going on in my life.”
“Oh...” I study her. She looks the same as always, but she could be a master at hiding her emotions. “I know we haven’t known each other for long, but if you need to talk...”
She glances at me quickly. “Thank you. You have enough on your plate. You don’t need to worry about my personal problems. Besides, they’ll sort themselves out one way or another.”
“Thanks for giving me a ride home,” I say after a moment.
“No problem. You were up all night, weren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you take the day off? I’ve had all-nighters then gone straight to work. Do not recommend.”
“I wish. But I can’t bail on my students last minute again. I did that already, after the Jumbotron fiasco.”
“Well, at least caffeine exists.”
“Yes, thank God for that.”
“Did Jake already ask Wendy to add your name to the WAGs group chat?”
“I don’t think so. Well, I didn’t ask him, and he didn’t mention it.”
“If you didn’t receive a notification on your phone, then he must have forgotten. Wendy is super organized when it comes to her precious WAG group,” Melissa says in a mocking tone, which surprises me a little.
“You don’t like the group?”
She shakes her head. “Oh no. I have nothing against the group chat. But Wendy rubs me the wrong way. I’m certain she thinks I’m sleeping with the players.”
I recall the conversation when I met Wendy, Maya, and Fiona. They were implying the ice girls were all sluts going after hockey players. It seems they view any woman who works for the organization as a threat to their relationships.
“Must I be added to the group?”
“Unfortunately, yes, especially considering you have so much to hide. It’s best to keep your enemies close. But I’m sure you can make friends, and the girls will help you navigate this new hockey world. It won’t be terrible.”
“All right then. I can’t wait,” I reply, letting sarcasm coat my words. A yawn sneaks up on me, and I try to cover it with a fist.
“Boy, I don’t envy you today.”
“I’ll be okay, as long as I stay away from carbs.”
“That’s a rule I follow every day.” She laughs. “I can’t afford to gain weight.”
“Come on. No one would notice if you gained a couple pounds.”
Melissa grimaces. “Elijah would.”
I didn’t get a good impression of Melissa’s Hollywood mogul fiancé, but maybe he was super busy on the evening we met briefly at the charity event. “But I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”
She laughs without humor. “Oh, he’d definitely mind. He won’t say it out loud, but I know he wouldn’t be happy. That’s what I get for dating a man who deals with starlets. He’s obsessed with perfection.”
That sucks. I want to tell Melissa she deserves better, but I don’t voice my thoughts out loud. She’s not asking for my opinion, and who am I to judge her relationship? I dated a narcissistic asshole for ten years.
“Well, for what’s worth, I think you’re stunning.”
She smiles. “Thank you, June. By the way, do you have a screenplay to send me?”
“I have a few, but I’m not in love with any of them.”
“Write something new. You know what would be awesome?” She smiles.
“No. What?”
“If you wrote a hockey romcom. It’d be so good, and you’re living it. I bet your story would rock.”
My life has been such a whirlwind that I’ve barely had time to think about writing anything. But Melissa’s reminder about my dream is making me itch to write again.
“Hmm, I can probably come up with a good plot.”
“You could take inspiration from your own story.” She smirks.
“No! It has to be completely different.”
She laughs. “Okay, okay.”
“Thanks for asking about my writing. I needed that.”
“No problem. I can’t wait to read it.”
The excitement of starting a new project has the effect of ten espressos. I’m wide awake, bursting with energy. And I already have the perfect premise for my story. I look out the window and smile. I’ve been put through the wringer emotionally, and I know there will be more challenges ahead. But I’m excited about getting back to something I love and finding myself again.