I shake my head, but give in. “Maybe a little.”
There’s a knock on my door and I look up to see my next client, Lewis.
“See you later?” Alex says with a smile as he walks backwards toward the door.
“Later.”
He walks by Lewis on his way out the door, giving him a friendly smile.
“Holy shit. Was that Alex Brewer from the Reading Rioters?” Lewis whispers under his breath to me. He plays hockey for his high school. I hear he has a lot of potential, which is why he’s here at Sharks. He’s going to get the best treatment so he can get back to the game and one day make it to the NHL.
I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, it was.”
He peaks back out the door, watching Alex walk away. So I do what any nice person would do, and hurry into the hall.
“Alex,” I whisper-shout, wanting him to hear me but not wanting to be so loud that I disturb other clients.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lewis whispers nervously as Alex turns around.
“You got a minute?” I ask him.
His brow furrows but he walks back to us. Lewis’s cheeks turn a bright shade of red.
“This is Lewis,” I say, putting my hand on Lewis’s shoulder. “He’s a defenseman for Hunt High.”
“No shit,” Alex says. “You any good?”
“Uh…”
“He’s good,” I say, patting him on the back. “And he’s a fan. Figured I’d introduce you.”
“Hell yeah. I love meeting fans.” Alex grins at the kid, offering out his hand. Lewis shakes it, his cheeks still bright.
“Sucks you got hurt,” Lewis says awkwardly.
“Yeah.” Alex shoves his hands into his pockets. “But Jordan over here has been doing his best to get me back on the ice.”
“You think you’ll be back this season?”
“If I have any say in it, he sure will,” I add.
Alex only grins wider.
Lewis looks like he wants to talk to Alex but is completely star struck and doesn’t know where to begin. So, I say, “You okay giving him an autograph?”
Lewis’s eyes go wide. “That would be so cool. Everyone on the team will be so jealous.”
Alex chuckles as we head into my office, and he grabs an index card, writing a note for the kid and then signing it.
“How about a selfie?” Alex asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Are you serious?” Lewis looks like he’s about to jump out of his skin, but is pulling out his phone at the same time.
“Dead serious,” Alex says. “This way, your teammates will know the signature is legit.”
Lewis holds out his phone and Alex gets beside him, putting his arm around him, and smiles. They take a couple photos. A few normal ones and a few goofy ones where Alex is sticking his tongue out and Lewis is cracking up.
“Now you’ll be the coolest kid in the school,” Alex says.
