Wildcat

by Rebecca Jenshak

  I can tell he’s done this before. Lindsey too. Their movements are choreographed like a dance, slow and controlled, and Jack seems to know exactly when to look up, flashing a practiced smile that I’m sure the fans love.

  I’m enthralled watching when Leo takes the seat beside me. His shoulder brushes mine and I suck in a breath.

  “You’re still here.”

  “I’m having lunch with my dad.” I move my arm away from his and point to where Jack shoots the puck into the net and then skates toward the camera, coming up short and spraying ice. “They do this with every player?”

  “Yeah. It takes damn near all day to get through everyone. When we’re done here, they send us through another room where they have someone from the social media team ask us questions- like ice breakers that they use as footage during games.”

  Now I understand what Lindsey meant about doubling up with social media. I get why they’d want to do it all in one day while the guys are dressed and available, but she has a long day in front of her. They all do.

  “Still working at the bar?” Leo asks like we’re just old friends catching up.

  “What are you doing over here? Shouldn’t you be in makeup or something?”

  He grins. “You think I need makeup?”

  I look him over as if I’m considering it. He has nice skin. It isn’t shiny and is blemish-free. He has a straight nose and a sharp jaw. His hazel eyes are bright and framed with thick, dark lashes. No, he definitely doesn’t need makeup.

  I mumble as much under my breath. Apparently louder than I mean to because he chuckles softly.

  “I’m up next.” He bumps my shoulder. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

  “Not likely.”

  He shakes his head. “I’m going to win you over, Scarlett.”

  Not in this lifetime.

  I take a deep breath when he’s gone. He sets my every nerve ending on edge. Blocking him out, I walk down to the ice. Lindsey rolls her neck again as she sets the camera down and takes a long drink of water. She smiles as I approach.

  “This is incredible. Did you put all of this together?”

  She nods. “More or less. I come up with a few different ideas, and someone above my pay grade decides which one they like best.”

  “I’m a photographer. Or, I’m interested in it. I don’t do it professionally or anything. I dabbled a little in sports photography for my ex. He is a race car driver.”

  “No shit? If I’d known that, I would have already strapped a camera to your hand. Do you prefer a Canon or Nikon?”

  “I’m very much a newbie. I don’t think I’m ready to shoot anything like this, but I could help with lighting or setup or… whatever you need.”

  “Really?”

  “I can’t seem to force myself away from the action and I’m waiting on my dad for lunch, so…” I shrug.

  “Okay, yeah. If you take over for Joe, that’ll free him up to swap off with me. I’ll take any and all the help I can get.”

  She introduces me to Joe, who’s running the schedule, making sure the next player is ready to go and that everything is set.

  “Got it?” he asks me as Lindsey hands him a camera.

  “I think so.”

  “Good enough for me.” He smiles. “Send the next guy out.”

  Leo’s already close enough that he walks onto the ice without my calling him.

  “Where do you want me, boss?”

  “You’re enjoying this too much,” I tell him.

  “Hell yeah, I am. Did you really block my number?”

  “It isn’t like you were going to use it.” I roll my eyes.

  “I would have,” he says. “Honest.”

  I don’t believe him and the scowl I give him must tell him as much.

  “I should have done it sooner, I know. We were busy with camp, that’s true, but I had plenty of opportunities to shoot you a text.”

  “Exactly.”

  “The thing is, I knew as soon as I contacted you, I’d want to see you, and I couldn’t. I was waiting until I had more time where we could really hang out, get to know one another.”

  My pulse races as he speaks and I swallow thickly. “They are ready for you.” I take a step away from him, but he closes it.

  “How do you follow-up a night like that with a text, you know?” he mutters more to himself than me. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”

  He skates into position and the lights drop. Breathing is easier when he’s a good distance away and not saying all the right things. He looks good against the neon green, too. He looks good. Period.

  I check the schedule to see who’s next. “Ash Kelly?”

  “Here,” someone calls.

  Ash Kelly moves to the front of the pack. He’s about the same height and build as Leo but with longer hair that’s slicked back and touches his ears.

  “You’re next after Leo.”

  “Thanks.” He continues to stand next to me as Leo stares seriously at the camera.

  “Would it kill him to smile?”

  Ash huffs a laugh. “Yeah. After the shit we gave him for last year’s photo, he isn’t taking any chances.”

  Well, I can’t blame him there. He’s nearly unrecognizable in last year’s roster photo.

  “I’m Scarlett,” I say.

  “Oh, I know who you are.”

  My face heats and a memory from my and Leo’s night together flashes in my head. “Right. The neighbor.”

  “That’s right.” His smile is pleased. “He wouldn’t shut up about you last week at camp.”

  Kill me now. I don’t respond. Seriously, what do I say to that? He could brag to his buddies, but not pick up the phone?

  “If I hadn’t seen you with my own eyes, I would have thought he dreamt the whole thing up. Never seen him so spun up about a chick.”

  “I don’t date athletes.”

  “Why not?” Ash gives me a horrified look. “Hockey players are awesome. Or at least we are. Especially Leo. Best guy I know.”

  His face reads sincere and I don’t doubt he means it. I divert my attention back to Leo. He’s skating around, shooting pucks now. He catches my eye and butterflies swarm in my stomach. Wait, no, I’m pretty sure that’s just hunger pains. It has to be. Yep, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. No hockey players. Definitely no Wildcats.

  I’m still helping out when Dad comes back down to grab me for lunch.

  “Go,” Lindsey says. “We’re going to break for lunch soon, too. Thanks for your help. Next time, maybe you’ll pick up a camera.”

  Dad takes me to the cafeteria on-site. We get our food and sit at a small table off to the side.

  “How was it?” he asks.

  “It was really cool. Lindsey’s great. How long has she been here?”

  “Not sure. She was here when I got here. How can you tell she’s good without even seeing the final images?”

  “She has a way with the players. She knew exactly how to get each one to relax. They were having fun.”

  He nods and smiles. “She does do that. I hadn’t really put it into words like that, but you’re right.”

  He asks me about my photography as we eat. I can ramble all day long about it, so I do most of the talking. He smiles and nods along as I tell him about all the things I’ve shot recently.

  When we’re done, I walk with him back to his office. The cyclone that’s still his desk makes me laugh. “When does Anna come back?”

  “I don’t know.” He runs a hand over his hair. “Her mom is sick.”

  “Can you get a temp or someone to cover until she returns?”

  “I could, but Anna knows how I like things. By the time I train someone new, she’ll be back. You know how crazy the beginning of the season is. I don’t really have the bandwidth.”

  “What if I helped?” I stop. “Wait, assistants don’t have to interact with the players, right?”

  “Not often.” He smiles. “I’d love to have you here every day with me, but are y
ou sure? What about your classes?”

  “About that…” Big gulp. “When I was in London, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I want to do and what makes me happy. I don’t think that is getting a college degree. At least not right now.” Before that furrowed brow of his can formulate a question or disappointed remark, I add, “So I dropped all my classes and I’m going to try to make a go of it with my photography. I know it isn’t what you or Mom wanted for me, but it feels right.”

  He makes a noise deep in his throat.

  I charge on. “I’m already so far behind from taking a year off and I don’t need the degree. There are lots of workshops and classes I can take, and I’ve been working on finding something with more hours than the bar so working here with you is sort of perfect.”

  One of the things I love about Dad is that he can just be. He doesn’t need to fill the quiet. That might have something to do with being married to my mother who talks incessantly. Opposites attract, I guess. But right now, as he nods slowly, seconds feel like an eternity. That thing I said I love about my dad being comfortable in silence becomes his worst trait. Mom would have already said something. I don’t know what, but something. I’d know what’s going through her head immediately instead of being in my current hell.

  “Okay.”

  Wait, what? “Okay? Really?”

  “You don’t need to convince me that photography is the right path for you.”

  “I don’t?” A small, nervous laugh escapes.

  “No, sweetheart. You’re an adult and your decisions are your own. I don’t know how it happened. I blinked and you grew up.”

  All the air and nerves I’ve been carrying since I returned leave my body on a giant exhale.

  “Thank you.”

  “Your mother, on the other hand,” he says as he sits behind his desk.

  “Any chance we can just keep her in the dark?”

  He doesn’t respond, so I guess that’s a no.

  One parent down. Dad took it so well, but I am not expecting that from my mother.

  “You really want to work here around a bunch of rowdy athletes?” he asks. The look he gives me, full of pity and understanding, makes me positive I need to, if only to prove that I can. Maybe I need to prove it to myself, too. I can work here, around athletes and Leo, and be fine. Rhyse broke my heart, but he didn’t break me.

  “I think it would be good for me. Less time to sit around and sulk. And maybe I can pick Lindsey’s brain a little when I’m not busy.” I want to know everything about how she got to where she is.

  “Okay. If you’re sure.” Another coach steps in the doorway, and Dad greets him. “This is my daughter, Scarlett. She’s going to be helping out while Anna is gone.”

  He steps forward and extends a hand. “Nice to meet you, Scarlett.”

  “You too.”

  He looks to Dad. “Are you ready to do the film analysis?”

  “Yeah, let me get Scarlett settled and I’ll come down to your office in two.”

  He taps the jamb of the door and nods. “Great. Welcome, Scarlett.”

  Dad glances around the office and works his jaw side to side. “I’m not sure where to have you start. Anna’s office is next door, but I’ve moved everything I need in here.”

  “How about with that?” I point to his desk.

  “Good idea. There’s a filing system, but I don’t really understand it. If you’re not sure, leave it and we’ll go through it when I get back. Need anything?”

  “Rubber gloves?” I push up my sleeves.

  He laughs and starts toward the door, stopping before he reaches it. “This is going to be nice having you here.”

  10

  I LIKE MORNINGS JUST FINE—ALONE AND WITH COFFEE

  LEO

  Tuesday morning, I get to the arena early for a meeting with Blythe. When I was a kid dreaming of being a pro hockey player, I never imagined that would include media training.

  As I’m walking into the building, I spot a dark head in front of me. She walks to the next door, peers in, then continues down the hall. Smiling, I quicken my steps.

  She does it three more times before I reach her.

  “Lost?”

  Scarlett jumps and then stands tall with a hand to her chest.

  “Good morning,” I chirp.

  “’Morning,” she grumbles.

  “You’re here again.” Hello, Captain Obvious.

  “I’m helping my dad until his assistant is back.”

  “No way.” My smile grows bigger and something warm spreads in my chest. “Congrats.”

  She moves along and I follow, passing the stairway to Blythe’s office. Scarlett goes to the next open door, looks in, and then does this cute little growl.

  “Who are you looking for?”

  “Not who. What. I need coffee.” She looks at me and lets her gaze slide over me. “I needed coffee five minutes ago before you appeared.”

  “Not a morning person, huh?”

  “I like mornings just fine—alone and with coffee.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. You seemed pretty peppy and happy the other morning without caffeine.”

  Her eyes narrow. “If I’m going to work here, I’m going to need you to forget that ever happened.”

  “Not a chance.”

  She cocks her head to the side.

  “I’m sorry. Couldn’t even if I tried.” Every detail of that night is burned into my brain.

  “Can you at least not speak about it?”

  I make a motion like I’m zipping my lips and stop outside the break room. “Coffee is in here.”

  She walks in and lifts the empty carafe.

  “Oh. I think Anna usually made the coffee. She was always the first one in.”

  Scarlett groans and tips her head back. After a few seconds of looking like she wants to throw herself to the floor, she moves to the cabinets and opens two, looking inside.

  Without saying anything, I move forward and pull a filter and coffee packet from another cabinet while Scarlett watches my every move. Once I’ve dumped the water and flipped the coffee maker on, I lean against the counter. “It’ll be ready in a few minutes. Do you think you can survive that long?”

  “I knew I should have made my dad stop at Starbucks. He was all, “Five dollars for a cup of burnt coffee is ridiculous.”

  Her impression of her dad loosens a laugh from my lips. “There’s a coffee shop next door, for future reference.”

  Coffee starts pouring into the carafe. She leans in and inhales.

  “Looks like you’re going to make it.” I push off and start toward the door.

  “You don’t want to wait for coffee?”

  “Nah. I don’t drink coffee.”

  She looks appalled. “What kind of monster are you?”

  Her innocent words make me think all sorts of dirty things. She must read it on my face because her eyes widen.

  “See you around.”

  After my meeting with Blythe, we have practice and then conditioning. It’s lunch time when I file into the media room with the rest of the team. Lunch is catered and we fill our plates and take a seat.

  Coach comes in with Scarlett. The way she holds herself so stiffly, eyes trained on her dad, I know she feels me watching her. She’s dying to look and find me amongst the other players.

  “What’s dream girl doing here?” Ash asks with a nod in Scarlett’s direction.

  He and Jack, on his other side, look to me for an answer.

  “She’s the new Anna.”

  His head moves slowly up and down. “That explains why the coffee in the break room was burnt this morning.”

  Oh shit. I forgot to tell her to turn off the burner.

  Coach introduces her and tells us she’ll be coming around to get our sizes for the new warmups and other gear, as well as updating our travel preferences.

  She heads to the opposite side of the room and Coach starts the film.

  “What’s your move, Romeo?” Ash
leans closer and whispers.

  “I don’t know. Looks like she’ll be around though.”

  “Might want to clear your intentions with Coach and Blythe, get ahead of any drama.”

  He’s mostly joking, but it wouldn’t be the first time a player hooked up with someone that worked here and caused a shitstorm. It isn’t strictly against the rules; relationships just need to be disclosed.

  “What am I going to say? Hey, Coach, I’d really like to take out your daughter, but she’s still pissed that I didn’t call her after the last time we hooked up.”

  Ash’s chest shakes with laughter. “Needs just a little tweaking.”

  “No shit.”

  He angles his body toward mine and leans on one elbow. “Are you sure about this?”

  “About what?”

  I meet her gaze from across the room and she looks away. She stands beside Morris as he denotes his choices on the forms she’s shuttling around for us to fill out. Scarlett brings her thumb to her lips staring anywhere but at me. If she’s trying to appear cool and collected, she’s failing.

  A chuckle escapes. I can’t help it. Damn. I’ve never met anyone like her. It’s cliché to say, I know, but it’s just a fact.

  It isn’t like girls are throwing themselves in front of me at every turn, but I’ve never had one try so hard to avoid me either.

  I look back to Ash and take in his lifted brows and concerned gaze.

  “Dude, she’s Coach’s daughter.”

  “I know.” Fuck, he’s right. “I know.”

  “Be careful. All I’m saying.”

  When she makes her way to me and Ash, I pass him the form first and focus on Scarlett. “How’s your day going?”

  “Good. Thanks.”

  Ash chuckles next to me. “Oh boy. This is going to be a disaster.”

  I elbow him and lean forward to block him out of the conversation.

  “Did you get some food?” I tip my head to the spread up front.

  “That’s for the players.”

  “Do you want me to grab you a plate? The chicken wraps are delicious.”

  “I’m good. Once I get done here, I’m going to lunch.”