Page 1 of (La)Crosse My Heart

1

Jessa

It's been a long day, but at least I'm here. In a new state, trying to mentally prepare for a new job. Jessa from a year ago would not believe how far she’s come, from thinking she’d marry long-time boyfriend, Dan, and never leaving Virginia, to moving across the country as a single gal with no firm future spread out in front of her.

Moving to Utah wasn’t on my radar even a few months ago, but the opportunity to continue building my resume and start fresh made me jump at the chance.

I originally applied for the public relations position, but as a former waitress, as well as a manager for the track and field team in college, they didn’t see that as qualification enough.

But my story about helping Tony Davidson, the star of the 100m and 200m, revamp his reputation after a cheating scandal caught their attention. The school test kind of cheating. I don’t think the guy knew how to talk to girls.

The Stockton Media Group basically created a position for me as Athlete Image and Engagement Manager. I’m pretty sureit’s still on a trial basis, so everything with this first client has to go smoothly so I can make more concrete plans for the future.

Have I lived outside of Virginia? Yeah, for a whole four years, not counting all the breaks in college. I’m a University of Maryland graduate. Go Terrapins!

Even that was within easy driving distance of my childhood home.

Getting to Utah is either a several days’ drive or an expensive flight, so I guess now is a good time to not focus on being homesick. I’ve got goals to reach and an ex to forget, so that should be enough. I hope.

It’ll be different working with professional athletes, though. I’m excited about this chance to help them while also restarting my life.

I’ve done a little research and while I’d love to be working with Trey Hatch, the star forward for the Utah Yetis hockey team, he seems to do well by himself. I grew up a Boston Breeze fan despite living states away. And I may have done a happy dance when I learned more about his wife, Kenzie. She’s the perfect match to him, and I wonder if I’ll get a chance to meet them. Maybe the professional sports world is small in Utah and they all support each other?

A gal can hope.

Maybe I’ll get a basketball player instead, since those are the two sports under the Stockton umbrella. I’d have to do a lot more research if that’s the case.

I glance around at the empty house, wishing I had stuff to unpack. The semi my furniture is on sent a notification saying they’d be delayed because of some road closures in Wyoming. I’m not sure how that relates, but I’m still used to using the maps app to get anywhere, so maybe that’s how they get here.

I bought an inflatable mattress and a pillow before coming to the house, knowing I don’t want to sleep flat on the floor. Then Inapped for three hours, which felt amazing after the stress of my travel day.

I check my calendar and realize the video call I’m supposed to be on starts in three minutes. Where did I put the charger to my laptop? I remember putting it into the carry-on bag before I left my mom’s house in Virginia, but I’d had to rifle through the bag to find a few things and now everything is out of order.

I find it in the bottom of the suitcase I’d checked in on the plane. How that happened, I’m not sure, but I don’t have time to dwell on it. I plug the cord in and find the information to log into the online meeting.

Propping my computer in front of me on the mattress, I wait for my new boss to sign on.

Applying for the position for Stockton Media Group had been a last-minute decision, so finding out I got a completely different job was incredible. And while I didn't know all the specifics for my current job, I know I'll be able to float among the teams the company owns.

The sound dings and Daphne Carter, the woman who hired me, smiles back at me from the screen.

"Good morning, Jessa. How are you settling in?" she asks.

I give a half-hearted laugh and glance around. I don't have a lot to occupy the rental I signed a lease for.

"Well, I need to go shopping, that's for sure." We both laugh together.

"I can't wait to see it when you've got it decorated. Did you hire a moving truck?"

"Yeah, I figured that would be easier than trying to drive out here with a car and a moving truck. My brother didn't have time to take off." And with my parents gone to Dubai for my dad’s work, this was the best option.

Daphne nods. "That's understandable. I'm glad you're using the money we've allotted for you. Now, I'm sure you're curious who your first assignment will be."

That's an interesting way to put it.

"I’m excited to work in any capacity but, yes, it would be nice to get the background information on them," I say, trying to keep my smile bright, but I’m nervous. I’d looked up all the star players on both the NHL and NBA teams Stockton manages and have worked on several ideas to prepare for this meeting. With this being a newly created position, I want to make sure they understand what I’ll bring to the table and why they need someone like me.

I don't know why my whole body is tense. Maybe it's because I've only taken on clients when I've known exactly what I was getting into. In this situation, I'm kind of on retainer.

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