She looks up at me sheepishly.“No.I could find out, but I don’t think he’ll be allowed back.The manager threw him out eventually, and then he was gone.”
I rub at the space between my eyes, trying to breathe through the protective response that craves release.I don’t want anybody talking to Casey like that, and I plan to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“How’s their security?”I ask before taking another sip.
“It’s just the manager.According to everyone else there, they don’t usually have problems like this.But it sure seems to follow me wherever I go.”
I nod, assessing the surface of my coffee.My head feels like the headquarters for a NASA space mission.I’m calculating my schedule today, Casey’s upcoming work schedule, and what I’d have to cancel to be on-site by eight every time she works for the next eight weeks.
Not that she’s asking me to do it.
But I’m not going to let anybody lay a finger or a foul word on Casey while she’s in town.
“You let me know if anybody else gives you trouble, okay?”I say this like I haven’t already decided to cancel a six o’clock dinner meeting in Cleveland just so I can be at Brews that night.I’d planned to give her some space as she settled into the new job after crashing her shift on day one, but clearly the space method isn’t good enough.
I’m not hardwired to let someone like Casey go it alone.
“Yeah.Of course.But you…” She starts and stops a few times, trying to find her words.She finally gets out, “You don’t have to worry, I swear.The manager looks out for us.And besides…it’sBayshore.”
She doesn’t get it.But that’s okay.I nod, sipping my coffee.
I’ll be there that evening.Happily.
My phone vibrates inside my pocket.It’s my agent, Neil.
NEIL: You ready to chat?I’ve got some news.
My stomach does a nosedive.I can think of a thousand things I don’t want to hear from Neil right now, or ever.But I need to know the truth about what awaits me this season…even if it means I’m demoted to the minor leagues.
A wave of nausea crests inside me.
“Are you okay?”Casey looks genuinely concerned, and I realize I’ve probably had a whole story of emotions crossing my face.
“Uh…I don’t know.”I force a laugh, setting down my phone.I scratch my jawline as I stare at the screen.“My agent wants to talk.”
Casey nods, as though she’s encouraging me.“You should do that, then.”
“Yeah.I just, uh…” I don’t know how to explain the situation.“I’m kind of worried I’m going to lose my job.”
“I know how that feels.”
We share a smile that borders on a grimace.
“Seriously though, you’re worried?”Casey looks incredulous as she sips her coffee again.“You’re, like, the most dedicated hockey professional I’ve ever met.”
“I might be theonlyhockey professional you’ve ever met,” I remind her.
She tips her head back and forth as she ponders my words.“Yeah, that’s probably right.”
“I’m not super optimistic after how long this injury has been taking to heal.There are always better and faster rookies ready to take your place in this game.This might just be my time.”
Her entire face crumbles.“They’d get rid of you just because of an injury?That’s so unfair.”
“Well, my job is to play hockey, and if I can’t do that…”
“But you got the injury from doing your job.They must owe you something for that, right?”She looks at me pointedly, as if this solves the entire dilemma.I wish it did.
“It isn’t personal to them.It’s business.And it’s not always fair.”My words are making her brows furrow harder, so I add, “But you don’t need to worry about it, Case.I’ll figure it out.”
