Gliding up to where they stand, I step off the ice. “I’d better get over there.”
The muscle in Coach Leek’s jaw moves rapidly back and forth, but he doesn’t stop me. “See you tomorrow night in a suit,” he says.
“I thought we stopped—” I start.
“We started again.” He cuts me off with a withering glare before returning to the players on the ice, ordering them to line up for another drill.
I do a short nod then make my way quickly to the locker room to remove my gear, tossing it into the bins for cleaning and steaming while Haddy waits outside in the hallway.
I pull on a long-sleeved jersey and sweatpants. I’ve done these things dozens of times, and I know they’ll have whatever they want me to wear at the shoot.
When I step out into the hall, she’s ready to go.
“What do you think about the new coach?” Her blue eyes meet mine, and her voice is low as we make our way quickly through the halls of the Crypto.com arena.
I think I understand what he’s trying to do here. Perhaps Sax was right and he’s trying to prove something, but I’m not opposed to his approach.
“He’s tough,” I reply, still deciding on how I feel.
We pass the Bitcoin Lobby, and we’re at the Memecoin Lounge. White sheets are over everything, and large silver umbrellas fill the area.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think we were staging a moon landing. Or that part in Willy Wonka where they send Mike Teevee through the laser machine.
“He caught me off guard,” I whisper.
“You’re the star. Don’t let him ruffle your feathers.”
I glance up at her, wondering how many times she’sdone exactly what I’m doing now. How many times she had to deal with impossible people and not ruffle feathers.
“Trust me, I get it now. I’m sorry I ever questioned needing your help.”
“Apology accepted. Now get in there and say your line.”
“Shock Jock wouldn’t pay, so now I use Memor-eez neck guards?”
Haddy gives me a warm smile, pausing at the door. “No improv. Just read the card.”
I huff a laugh and enter the room, ready for my close up.
7
DOVE
“Can you believe I’ve never been to a hockey game?” I’m standing in the middle of my new bedroom surrounded by Gina and Haddy, Owen’s daughter Maddie, and his sister Heather, who I met earlier today and learned has psychic powers, which has me super intrigued.
She’s also a pet psychic, which I’m a little on the fence about.
“I’d never been to one until Mav moved here,” Haddy says, digging into the white paper bag she brought with her and placed on the bed. “Now I love it.”
“You’re also married to a hockey player and the team’s head of publicity,” I note.
“Just wait and see.” Gina grabs my arm, giving it a shake. “Hockey is so much fun. I’ve been going since we were kids.”
“Poor Aunt Dylan. She had absolutely no idea what a bunch of little sneaks you all were,” I tease, but my smilequickly melts into a frown. “I’m not gonna have any idea what’s going on.”
“Don’t worry about that, we’ll help you.” Haddy whips a large white jersey from the bag. It has purple and black stripes on the sleeves, and the number 74 on the back under a giantMurphy. “Now put this on.”
They’re all dressed in white turtlenecks, matching hockey jerseys, and black leggings and boots. Gina, Maddie, and Heather are wearing number 13 jerseys with the nameStoneon the back. Haddy and Lucy are in number 5Knightjerseys.
