Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“I guess I do,” I answer, shrugging.
“What about violence? Is that another draw for you?”
“I wouldn’t call it violence, per se. College contact rules are strict. Fighting isn’t tolerated.”
“Aggression then. The physicality of the sport. You enjoy that.”
“I mean…” I grin at her. “Nothing gets your heart pumping and your adrenaline running the way hockey does. It’s fantastic.”
Tessa’s lips curve. “I believe that is the first genuine smile you’ve given me today.”
“It’s a fun sport.”
“But no plans on going pro?”
“Honestly, I don’t think I want that life. It’s a lot to put my body through. A lot of pressure to always be at the top of my game. A lot of traveling and time away from home.”
“Hmm, and who would you want to go home to? Do you have a significant other?”
“Not at the moment. But yes, I’d hate to be away from my girl for long stretches of time. Professional hockey is a sacrifice. There are men who’ve missed the birth of their children because they’re on the road playing a five-game stretch. It’s a whole other level of dedication. There are guys on my team—Colson, Ryder, Lindley. They’ve wanted to play in the pros from the second they threw on a pair of skates. But me, I never grew up saying I wanted that.”
“What did you grow up wanting to do then?”
“I don’t know. I changed my mind all the time,” I admit. “Sometimes it was a cop, sometimes a firefighter. Sometimes I thought about being a doctor, till I realized you deal with way too many bodily fluids.”
She laughs. “What about following in your dad’s footsteps?”
I grimace. “Hard pass.”
“You wouldn’t enjoy being a politician?”
“No, I don’t need that kind of attention. Media scrutiny all the time, always having to say the right thing.” I pause. “I’m not against the behind-the-scenes stuff, though.”
“Hey, if you like excitement,” she says, waggling her eyebrows enticingly, “there’s nothing more exciting than working on a campaign. Did you ever help out with any of your dad’s?”
“Other than the obligatory photo ops, no.”
“Interesting.”
“But like I said, I wouldn’t be against it. It does sound challenging, taking a raw candidate, polishing them up, bringing them in front of a national audience, and giving them an opportunity to sell their policies and ideals to the public.”
“Yet you won’t do that for your father.”
I shrug. “If I ever worked on a campaign, it would have to be for someone who—”
I stop, recognizing the land mine I almost stepped in.
“Finish that sentence,” Tessa urges.
“Nah, it’s fine.”
“Puff piece,” she reminds me. “Your dad’s staff made it clear not a single negative word will be on the page. They have final approval before it goes to print.”
Shrugging again, I decide to finish the sentence, because she’s right—Dad paid good money for this piece; there’s no way he’d allow them to print what I’m about to say. Besides, I like Tessa. She seems smart. I hope she gets to write the hard-hitting stuff one day.
I meet her gaze. “I would want to campaign for someone who’s more deserving.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You believe your father is undeserving?”
“That’s not what I said. He’s good at what he does. But I feel like I’d probably connect better with someone else’s policies and overall approach.”
She changes the subject again. “What are your thoughts on the UCS scandal?”
Thankfully, I’m prepared for this one. Dad’s PR firm sent me a stock reply I’m supposed to use.
“I keep my head focused on my own program. But if there’s any truth to the allegations, then I would want to see the perpetrators punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
At that, the interview comes to an end, and I honestly can’t say I hated it. Tessa says she’ll contact me if she has any follow-up questions, and I walk her to her car before getting into mine and driving home. I have just enough time to catch a nap and grab some food before I need to head back to campus to meet the bus. Both games this weekend are in New Haven.
I’m pulling into the driveway when a notification lights my phone.
Charlie.
My heart instantly kicks into second gear. I don’t think I’ve ever been more eager to open a message.
CHARLIE:
How about tomorrow night? Your place. No expectations, no promises. We can watch a movie or something?
I waste no time typing back a response. I know Beck won’t mind. He wants this as badly as I do.
LARS & B:
Sounds like a plan. See you then.
PUCKBOYS CHAT
SHANE:
Yo. Who the hell is this Hollis dude??
RYDER:
I got the lowdown from Coach after the game. Former Briar player. Won 3 Frozen Fours under Coach. He was an insurance broker but got laid off this summer and needed a job. I think Jensen is doing him a solid.
BECK:
Awww, I knew Jensen had a heart somewhere in that bitchy chest of his.