Chapter 6 #3
Bruce gives me an affectionate smile. “Yes, he has. A lot of people have. But it was your idea to make it something new and fresh.”
I wave my hand. “It doesn’t matter whose idea is whose. We’ve all worked on it, and Harley has been integral.”
Bruce’s look is I’m-not-buying-it, but he nods. “Whatever you say.”
Okay, fine—the overall idea of making hockey more fun, more participatory for those watching, and more of an event than just a game was mine.
But I’ve had help with the details for sure.
I didn’t know the rules well enough to know how to bend and twist them.
I didn’t know what was possible and what wasn’t until I got Harley involved. And Ruth. And Leo. And Astrid Olsen.
“We just have to beat Sean Patrick,” I insist. “Whatever it takes. We can’t let the newbies take over.”
Sean Patrick isn’t new to Rebel. He grew up here. Graduated from school here. His parents and grandparents still live here. But he left. For nine years. Didn’t come home for anything other than holidays and even missed a few of those.
Now he’s back. But he’s part of the new part of town. The north part of town where the chain stores, and restaurants, and hotels are going in. Where they’re building new apartments. Where there’s a fancy coffee shop and two new bars that compete with Perks and Rec.
The ‘newbies’ are the people who have moved to Rebel and have expanded the town in ways that have taken away from the quirky, homey charm that those of us who are truly from here love and want to protect.
Has it helped the local economy? Sure. Whatever.
It’s allowed us to add on to the school, bring in more teachers and new programs, and I do have more people coming to some of the Parks and Rec events.
But I also have things showing up in the suggestion box and my emails about things like bringing in bands from New Orleans, hot yoga—as if otter yoga in the park isn’t enough—and Mommy and Me activities.
I don’t think I can swing concerts like that, and people who don’t like otters are highly suspicious.
But I do like the Mommy and Me idea, dammit.
It's just that new people don’t have the heart or loyalty to the town like those of us who have always been here, and it’s hard to trust that they’ll really invest and stick around.
So things have become divided between the old school—those of us who live in the older part of town, hang out and frequent the downtown businesses, and love the traditions—and the newbies who like the chain restaurants, don’t care that they haven’t known the woman doing their hair ever since the terrible incident with cutting their own bangs in fourth grade, and don’t want everyone in the coffee shop to call out “Hi, sweetheart!” when they walk in.
Weirdos.
“We won’t let them take over,” Bruce assures me. “We’ll win the election.”
It’s one thing for them to want a big, fancy, automated car wash instead of Dean Kitch and his sons washing their cars, but to think about one of “them” becoming mayor makes me shudder.
“Then we have to keep Alex Olsen happy,” I say firmly. “He needs to love it here. He needs to lead this hockey league. He needs to sell out that damned arena.”
Bruce nods. “Okay. But…”
I sigh. “But what?”
“He needs to be genuine.” He points his barbecue-covered spoon at me. “He needs to be a part of the town. He needs to try to fit in.”
I nod. “It will just take a little time.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t have a lot of that,” Bruce says, going back to stirring.
No. No, we don’t.
I turn back to my friends. “I need to tell you something,” I say, letting the kitchen door swing shut behind me.
I need to tell them what is going on with me and Alex. We can’t let the town find out we’re faking our relationship, but I also can’t let my best friends think this is real. And I need to tell them before they see us together. They’ll hear about that within about ten minutes of my smiling at him.
I lean my forearms onto the counter across from where Everly, Thea, and Andi are sitting. Ruth has gone back into the kitchen with Bruce. I glance around to be sure no one else is close.
“Alex and I are dating. Pretending to. So that the town will give him a second chance and focus on hockey and the Revelers instead of making him miserable for what happened with Harley.”
They let that sink in.
Thea nods. “That makes sense.”
“It does?” I ask.
“Sure. Everyone loves you. If you love him, they’ll all love him.”
I groan. “It’s not love.”
“You know what I mean.”
Everly grins. “Good for you jumping on that opportunity.”
I smile. That’s Everly. She’s always telling me that I should go out with someone for no other reason than to scratch a few horny itches. “It was Astrid’s idea.”
“You didn’t fight it too hard, I hope,” Everly says. “You’re a smart girl. Take a good deal when you see it.”
Did I fight it at all? I think I said something about it being crazy, but I really mostly remember my thoughts spinning and my body feeling really hot and thinking about how I would probably get to kiss him again.
I should not be this hung up on that one spontaneous kiss at the airport that wasn’t even a real kiss. I should deny that this is anything other than a PR stunt. There will be no itch-scratching or enjoyment.
But my brain instantly rejects that.
Why can’t I enjoy hanging out with Alex?
And I don’t like the word stunt. It’s a PR tactic.
I’m not trying to fool anyone into thinking Alex is something he’s not.
I do actually like Alex, and he’s going to be great for the team, and I think once people give him a chance, they’ll think he’s a good guy.
So this is just a way to cut through the noise and make people shut up and listen to him.
Get to know him. Want to come buy a ticket and watch some hockey.
I’m not asking them for much. And I’m not tricking them into anything.
Plus, this will be good for Alex. His sister is here, but otherwise he’s alone in Rebel. I can be his personal welcoming committee.
Why that makes my stomach flip, and my cheeks heat, I’m not going to get into.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Andi asks.
Andi is the most practical of all of us. She definitely no longer believes in true love. Not since her ex-husband cheated on her after emotionally and financially abusing her for five years. And she definitely doesn’t trust instalove, which is what this would have to be between Alex and me.
“I’m just getting to know him and helping him transition to living here and playing for this team. It’s pretty different for him. And in the process, we’ll actually be essentially dating. And if that helps the town give him a second chance, all the better.”
Yeah, that sounds good.
“Just be careful. I don’t want you to get your heart broken.”
I shake my head. “It’s not serious. It’s not even real. He’s already told me that he’s going back to Portland at the end of the season.”
“Good,” Andi says.
Yeah, these women know how I feel about leaving.
I’m staying in Rebel. This is home. This is family. I have no intention of going anywhere, and I won’t be seriously dating anyone who doesn’t feel the same.
“But you might as well enjoy him while he’s here,” Everly says. “If you know what I mean.”
I laugh. Of course, I know what she means. Even without her wiggling her eyebrows.
“I can’t argue with that,” Thea says.
I laugh at my cousin’s response. That is definitely not something she would have said before Josh. She was a single mom who was pretty determined to stay single. He broke down a lot of walls when he came into her life at Christmastime almost a year ago now.
“Yeah, have you seen him, Thea?” Everly asks.
“Just photos.”
“Even hotter in person. Huuuuuge hands.”
He does have huge hands. And now I’m flushed again, thinking about how he caught me at the airport when I threw myself into his arms. And how those hands felt on my face and in my hair when he kissed me.
That was all a show too but… wow.
Yeah, maybe being careful is good advice.
“Anyway,” I say. “If you hear anything about us, just know it’s part of the plan.”
“Sure.” Everly winks.
“The end of the season is seven months away,” Thea says.
“Yes.” Is she going to say just enjoy that man’s hot mouth and big hands for seven months? What’s the harm?
“That’s seven months of not getting set up with anyone’s nephews, sons, or grandsons,” Thea says. She lifts her soda glass. “Enjoy the vacation.”
Okay, that’s not a bad perk either.
“And the start of the season is only a couple of weeks away, right?” Everly asks.
“Yeah.”
We don’t have much time at all.
“You better get on that then,” Everly says with a grin.
I laugh. But yeah…
I guess I’ll have to date the hell out of Alex, too.