And nothing could make me happier.
CHAPTER EIGHT
MADDY
“Shit, that’s good,” I mumble, crunching on the queso-laden tortilla chip I just shoved in my mouth. Reaching over to the table next to me, I grab the giant to-go cup and take a long sip of my fountain orange soda that is somehow the absolute perfect blend of syrup and carbonation.
With the sky full of stars, the Florida night air is sultry and warm. The hotel’s rooftop pool glitters under the soft lantern lights, and it’s possible there has never been a more perfect moment than this one right now.
It was a long fucking day, standing on the sidelines from warm-ups through the post-game media circus, but I loved every minute of it. I’ve never been a big football fan, much to Tyler and Uncle Asher’s dismay, but watching the game with my proverbial psychologist’s hat on is an entirely different experience. Seeing how the team plays as a whole and how each guy plays individually. How they interact with each other and as a group. How small changes I want to make could yield big results.
It’s not typical for a team psychologist to travel with the team, watch games from the sidelines, or to be a part of thebigger game-day strategy, but nothing about the way I want to do things is typical. I want to make a difference. I want to revolutionize the way psychology is used in professional sports. I want to shine a light on the necessity of treating players’ mental and physical health with equal importance. And hot damn am I good at it.
The nerves I felt on my first day? Totally gone, replaced by a simmering excitement and a great big love for this work I get to do.
Plus, I have chips and queso, a massive bag of kettle corn, and a fountain orange soda which is absolutely the superior way to drink an orange soda.
Everything is coming up Maddy.
When my phone beeps, I grab it, grinning when I see it’s my group chat with my friends.
Smart Bitches
Maya
Mads, did you procure the queso?
Me
[picture of extra-large order of queso and chips]
You bet I did. It was a long fucking day, and I deserve this. I got the one that’s supposed to be for four people, but I’ll be eating the whole thing. I regret nothing.
Sarah
Shit, now I need to order queso. I was going to finish studying and then go to sleep, but now queso is all I can think about.
Emmy
Working on Sunday should be illegal, and I’m fucking starving. I’ll pick up Mexican and come to your house on my way home from the office.
Sophie
Fuck yes, I’m starving too.
Sarah
Have I told you lately that I love you?
Me
Shit, now that song is going to be stuck in my head all night.
Caitlin
It’s better than the Celine Dion you’re usually singing.
Me
