Chapter 1 #2
The line goes dead, and I put brunch with her on my schedule for Sunday. We’ve both been so busy since I moved here, we haven’t had time to catch up in person. It’ll be nice to talk with her for more than ten minutes.
Back in my room, I’m relieved to find silence coming from the other side of the wall. My neighbor must be done for the night. I already showered and did a face mask, so I brush my teeth, twist my long blonde hair into two loose braids, and settle into bed.
I have a feeling tomorrow is going to change my life.
“You’ve got to be joking right now,” I whine, glaring at the small coffee stain on my brand new Utah Knights polo. I have other ones, of course, but the light gray one looks the best with my navy blue pants, and I wanted to wear it for my first day on the job.
With a deep breath, I finish putting the lid on my to-go cup before taking my shirt off. I blot away the excess liquid, then mix some dish soap with vinegar and saturate the stain. Not having this shirt messes up my whole outfit rotation, but that’s a problem for after work.
I consider changing into the white polo, but with how today’s started, I opt for the royal blue one instead. Fixing my ponytail so there are no flyaways, I take a look at myself in the mirror. The royal blue still looks good with the navy pants, but not quite as good as the light gray.
Gathering my lunch box and purse, I slip my planner inside before lacing up my white tennis shoes. As I lock my door, my eyes drift to my neighbor’s, so many questions rolling around in my head.
Stop it, Sutton.
As long as he doesn’t contract an STD that inhibits his ability to play, what he does in his personal life is none of my business.
It can’t be, because I won’t do anything to jeopardize this job. I’m extremely fortunate to have been chosen over multiple other qualified candidates, and I’m determined to prove they made the right choice.
When the head doctor for the team, Dr. Branson Kipp, called to offer me the position, I nearly dropped my phone. I started sobbing when I got the official offer letter and realized it wasn’t a cruel joke.
All the late nights and early mornings, sacrificing my social life, working my ass off to take extra credit hours with no summers off, is finally paying off.
Choosing to move across the country and live with my cousin while working two jobs to afford food, seems like a different lifetime now that I’ve secured my dream job.
The team is brand new to the league, and I feel honored to be part of it during their first season.
They’ve been practicing and training together for the past few months, but the previous assistant had a family emergency so they needed a replacement.
While starting weeks before the first game isn’t ideal, I’m hopeful I can make the best out of this situation.
I haven’t met anyone on the team other than Dr. Kipp, head coach Bennett James, HR and Media director Melanie Cross, and the owner Carson Solomon.
I meant to look at the roster and familiarize myself with the players before meeting them, but it kept getting moved down my priority list, so I’m going in blind.
The anxious butterflies fluttering in my stomach flap their wings harder the closer I get to the stadium, churning the egg bites I had for breakfast. The self-deprecating questions in my head start up again before I can quiet them.
What if the team doesn’t trust me?
What if they don’t take me seriously because this is my first professional sports team?
As I park in one of the designated employee spots, I take a steadying breath and shut out that voice in my head that—sounding just like my mother—says I’m not enough.
I check my phone before I get out. It’s silly to hope my parents might give a shit, and send a message, but a tiny part of me still wishes they’d care.
I don’t find anything from them, of course, only messages from Dakota and my cousins.
LEVI: Good luck today! Proud of you, Sutton.
LILAH: KICK ASS TODAY! SHOW THOSE RUGBY BOYS WHO’S BOSS.
I send them a thank you before I open Dakota’s message.
DAKOTA:
DAKOTA: I’m so proud of you, you badass bitch, You’re going to kill it today! We love you!
SUTTON: Thank you! I love you too!
“Alright, Sutton. You can do this. You earned this position, and you’re going to do great.” My internal pep talk doesn’t do much to calm my nerves, but the clock ticks one minute closer to nine, meaning I’ve run out of time to sit and stew.
Melanie is waiting for me at reception in a nearly identical outfit to mine, though her navy blue pants are fitted trousers instead of athletic pants, and her short blonde bob is held back by a matching navy headband.
She greets me with a warm smile that helps ease some of my anxiety.
Like me, Melanie is on the shorter side, and plus size.
It’s nice to know this team doesn’t discriminate based on something arbitrary like weight.
“Hi, Sutton! Welcome to your official first day with the Utah Knights.” She hands me a plastic keycard and a keyring with three keys.
“Here’s your badge, it will grant you access to the facilities here, and the team gym.
The keys are for your office and the medical equipment room.
I’ll give you a tour after the introduction meeting.
I know the guys are excited to meet you. ”
She continues talking, going over logistics for the day, but for just a moment, I run my thumb over my picture and name underneath the team logo.
This is really happening. I’m officially part of the team.