Page 16 of (La)Crosse My Heart

“You first,” I say, stepping up on the curb in front of my house.

She pauses. “There’s a good portion of your old personality there.” She says nothing for several seconds, and I’m wondering which way she’ll go with this comparison of the old and new me. “I think you’ve matured and once we get you comfortable around a camera, we’ll be doing just fine. Your turn.”

I probably deserved that.

“You’re not as short as you once were, but I think this Dan-free diet you’ve got going on agrees with you.”

We’re at the porch and I can see the faint blush on her cheeks in the light.

“Thank you. I think the mountain air is part of that, too. Okay, let’s get in there and get the job done. I have to mentally prepare to work with you again tomorrow.”

I laugh at that. I’m sure she’s super excited about that.

Opening the door, I lead her into the kitchen, where it seems all the guys in the house have congregated to see what’s about to happen with the disposal.

“Do you not have anything else to do?” I asked, pushing Burton out of the way.

“The hockey game got over and we’re just curious,” he says.

“Everyone, this is Jessa. Jessa, these are the guys on the team. Jackson, Burton, Finny, and Stack.”

She blinks a few times before she says, “Are those actual names?”

“You know it,” Burton says, grinning at her. “Where did you come from?”

“I don’t have time to give you a biology lesson, Barton.”

“She lives across the road, in the rental,” I say, pointing at the wall closest to the road.

Jackson looks at me innocently. “How did you convince her to come over here?” He says in a loud whisper.

“He wanted to wake up an elderly neighbor,” Jessa says, pushing back the sleeve of her robe.

Finny turns to me. “You were going to wake up Nora? That would’ve taken all night to get her over here.”

It takes all of two seconds, and Jessa is holding up the chicken bone. She drops it on the counter and says, “Are there any other to-do items on your list?”

It’s the sarcasm I’m used to, and for some reason that’s comforting to me.

“I think that should do it. Thanks, Jessa.”

I walk her over to the door and she leaves, hurrying across the road and back into the house. I don’t close the door until I know she’s inside and then turn to the guys.

“You’re a lot more familiar with her than most of our other neighbors,” Burton says, folding his arms. His eyes are squinting at me, as if he can read the answer he’s searching for on my face.

“What are you talking about? We’re practically Nora’s adopted sons,” I say, walking past him to the kitchen. I need a drink and to avoid their penetrating gaze.

“Didn’t we see her at the arena?” Stack says, tapping his pointer finger against his chin a few times.

Jackson nods slowly. “That’s why she looks so familiar. Is she part of the media team? Maybe she’s the new trainer or something?”

Burton studies my expression closely, and I finally give in.

“She’s not a trainer. She’s the sister of my high school best friend and she’s been assigned to help me with my interview struggles.”

“Really? They hired someone for that?” Burton asks, his eyebrows cinched together looking like a chunky caterpillar.

I frown. “Are you trying to make me feel like a loser? Because it’s not working.”

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