Page 34 of The Fine Line
Dammit.
My thoughts start to spin.
Games where Rhett wasn’t in the zone?Rare.
Win rate when a captain’s half-present?Low.
Chance he pulls it together in the locker room?Maybe.
Odds what I said earlier stuck with him?Probably.
Whether I just helped tank the Texas Storm’s season before it starts?Unknown.
My phone buzzes again. Then again. Notifications flood in.
Me: Gotta go. Will debrief tomorrow. Love you
I close out of messages and switch over to social media. My activity feed is filled.
@TXStorm4Life:Texas hockey is back, baby!
@TopShelfTex:#19 with the C on it—let’s go Sutty!
@SuttysGF_irl:God, Rhett Sutton looks so good.
@PuckYeahTexas:Missing Bennett James. Sutton’s a wild card. Don’t know what to expect. Fingers crossed!
My eyes narrow in on one thread in particular.
@JennaOnIce:Where’s Courtney Evans??
@PuckPrincess_13:I’m wondering the same! Who’s the new girl?
@JennaOnIce:Found her. She’s @Caroline_Barrett.
@PuckPrincess_13:Barrett? As in Coach Barrett? OMG.
I swallow.
@JennaOnIce:Yep. She’s his daughter.
I hold my breath as I scroll further.
@PuckPrincess_13:Wow, I love that! And she really knows her stuff!
@JennaOnIce:I’m a fan. Gotta love women in sports!
I bite my lip, stifling a smile. I let myself scroll for another minute, and it feels like a weight lifts off my shoulders when nearly every comment is positive.
No nepo baby talk—yet.
I know who I am. I’ve worked my ass off to be one of the youngest people—and definitely one of the youngest women—on an NHL TV broadcast crew. I’ve learned not to need outside validation, but… still. It’s nice.
I’d still kill (legally, that’s a joke) for Mick Davis’s job, but maybe this rinkside gig won’t be as bad as I thought.
Suddenly, the arena lights cut. Green and white lasers streak the air as spotlights sweep the crowd.
“Please welcome to the ice… your Texas Storm!”
