Page 21 of Against The Boards

She gave me a funny look.

“The players don’t count; they’re my brother’s friends. I’m friendly with a few of the WAGs, but it’s different when you’re just a sibling.”

Quinn laughed. “You really picked up your whole life for this job, huh?”

I shrugged. “New me, new city, new hair.”

“New hair?”

I pulled out my phone and went to my Instagram page, then scrolled down a bit to find the last photo I had posted when I was still sporting my long bleach blonde hair. I showed it to her.

Her mouth formed a little ‘O.’ “You look better with darker hair.”

I took my phone back and held up my hands in frustration. “I wished someone had told me that sooner. I’ve had blonde hair since I was thirteen. The black is a little darker than my natural color, but it’s growing on me.”

“It makes you look more like TJ.”

I made a face at that.

We talked about strategy until she had to run to another meeting. I was glad for the distraction, but then I hunkered down and got back to work. She came round much later to grab me to go out with everyone.

In my last job, I worked with all men, and none of them seemed to want to include me. More and more, I felt like taking this job was the right decision for me. Not only was the pay better, but I liked my new boss. I definitely wanted to make sure I got to know my coworkers.

A couple of hours later, we were at Eileen’s, laughing over a couple of beers. The other girls in the office were nice, even if they kept on making fun of me for saying ‘eh’ too much.

“I don’t say it that much!” I argued and downed the last of my lager.

Quinn laughed hard with her hand over her face. “Girl, you do!”

“I’m not as bad as Noah Kennedy,” I muttered.

Kat laughed. “He does say it a lot. I thought it was a Canadian thing.”

“Noah’s such a stereotype,” I said and rolled my eyes. Like truly, thanks Noah for making these Americans think we were all so sugary sweet nice! But that was just Noah’s way. He was too pure for this world sometimes.

“Yeah, but he’s one of the good ones,” Maxine argued.

I pointed at her. “You’re not wrong.”

“It was so sweet last season when he came to me to get tickets for his girlfriend,” Maxine said with a dopey smile on her face.

“He adores her,” I said with a shake of my head.

Kat nodded. “Dotes on her! Seamus told me how down he was when they broke up.”

I forgot Kat was the rookie goaltender, Seamus Metz’s, mother. I didn’t talk to Metzy all that much. Goalies were the weirdest guy on the team, and Metzy was intense. Kat was the GM’s assistant, but Quinn said that basically meant she ran the place.

“How long have you worked for the organization?” I asked Kat.

“Since my twenties when I was an intern. I love it,” she answered.

“Oh, me too,” Maxine cut in.

Kat and Quinn scoffed at her.

“You don’t count; you’re still a baby,” Quinn complained.

It was nice to feel like I belonged, and I was glad we could all chirp each other. I had already transitioned to my glass of water when the server came over and slid another Yuengling in front of me. Yay for two-dollar Yuengling during Happy Hour, but I didn’t order another beer.