She’d also learned that Ward seemed to appreciate analogies far better than non-specific generalities.
‘No whining either – got it. So should I uh, say something now?’
‘No time like the present.’ Hannah looked up and glanced around. ‘I like this place. It would be fun to tag it. John Doe … not for long maybe. Here, let me get you started.’
She grabbed the device and as she went to take it, his fingers briefly brushed her skin and an unmistakable shiver flashed through her. Just the new device still warming up? Or something else?
Reluctant to meet Ward’s gaze for fear that he’d felt it too (or hadn’t), Hannah swallowed, and her hands quickly went back to work, crafting Ward’s first-ever social media ‘post’ with all applicable hashtags.
‘Seriously? I have to let people know about everywhere I gonow too? I’m just a hockey player, Hannah. No one’s gonna care about where I’m eating. And just so you know, nowayam I taking pictures of my goddamn burger. I mean what’s even the point of that?’
Biting back a grin, she tsked and dropped his phone back on the table, afraid to risk any more tactile contact before picking up hers, intending to loop in some celebrity bloggers and sports reporter connections on the news that famously introverted (or more to the point antiquated) Ward McKenzie was now on socials.
Let the fun begin.
‘You’re wrong in that regard too. I mean, no, of course, you don’t need to take pictures of your food. But a big part of curating and improving your personal brand is by lifting up others,’ she countered. ‘It’s a shame you didn’t grab your handle years ago, though. Kim Kardashian doesn’t need to put a number after hers.’
Ward snorted. ‘The verylastperson I want to emulate.’
‘What? You have a problem with being a billionaire adored by millions?’ she chuckled. ‘David Beckham then?’ He rolled his eyes and Hannah warmed even more to her theme. ‘OK, maybe Travis Kelce more your style … actually, we could even try to set you up with a pop princess … ’
He shot her one of his famed daggers looks and she burst out laughing. ‘Nope, lunch I can give you, but my personal life is off-limits.’
His voice was light yet she knew he wasn’t kidding. ‘Regardless, once we get you verified, everyone will know it’s you.’
‘Verified,’ he repeated eyerolling. ‘As if some blue tick suddenlymakes me a worthy person. Do intelligent grown-ups honestly buy into this crap?’
‘Absolutely!’ Hannah laid the phone back down on the table between them and he stared at the shiny device as if already itching to pick it back up.
‘Holy Hell,’ he muttered. ‘Talk about the kids’ table, I can’t believe I’ve joined a bunch of babies reliant on a tech soother.’ She didn’t reply – her gaze fixed on reply notifications already coming in on her own phone and Ward snickered. ‘Case in point. You know, I’m actually insulted now. So much for my ladykiller charm … ’ Before she could respond, his device duly lit up and dinged with multiple notifications. ‘What the … ?’
Reaching out, she snagged it off the table. ‘Whoops, sorry about that. Let me just … ’ She tapped on the screen and nodded, then passed the phone back to him. ‘All good. Just switched off your screen alerts. That gets old very fast.’
Brow furrowed, he again looked down. ‘What the hell just happened, Hannah? How do I already have … five hundred followers … six … eight … it just keeps growing. You set this thing up like two seconds ago. Who are these idiots?’
Hannah guffawed. He truly was a different breed. ‘They’re not idiots, they’reinterested– lucky for you. Analogue news alert, Ward – this is my job.’ She chuckled. ‘ESPN just tagged you. So did the Bleacher Report. And any moment now, TMZ is about to pass comment on your choice of lunch venue … ’
As if to illustrate what she’d just said, the guy who’d seated them at their table on arrival called out from behind the counter.
‘Hey, man, thanks for the shout-out! This is gonna begreatfor business.’ He was holding up his own phone, now displaying Ward’svery first social media post; a shot of him in the same spot he was sitting in right now.
Hannah’s eyes twinkled. ‘Congratulations, Ward.Nowyou’re famous. But with great power comes great responsibility,’ she warned. ‘Remember what I told you, and for your sake and mine, I’m begging you, please donotmess this up.’
Chapter 28
WARD
Ward needed to unwind. He’d been spending way too much time in his head lately, and if there was one lesson he’d learned in therapy, it was that the worst thing in the world for him was having to deal with all the clutter in his head.
His muscles ached and he knew it was because he’d been weaning himself off the painkillers. The smart thing for him would have been to go to a professional to deal with his problem, but both he and Johnny had decided if word got out that he had an inkling of a drug problem too, his career would be over for sure.
Do not mess this up...
Shelley was doing a great job with him though. She pushed him when it was called for and backed off when she sensed he needed some room.
‘You’re lucky you were smart enough to know you couldn’t handle this on your own,’ she’d told him. ‘Some people think they have things under control, and before they know it, they’re on the edge of falling through the cracks and ruining their lives. You had enough sense to know you needed help – and then showed you werereallysmart by coming to me.’
One of the other things she’d taught Ward was when he was feeling caged in, he needed to get out and get some fresh air.
