Page 48 of Just One Season
CHAPTER 13
Permission Granted
LUCY
Tuesday, October 1
“This might be a career-limiting decision.” I glance over at Kellen, who’s walking down the hall with me to the head of HR’s office. I’m ridiculously nervous to face this woman.
“For whom?”
“Me?” I squeeze my hands together.
“Nah. It’ll be fine.” Kellen is too relaxed, like we’re grabbing a casual coffee instead of to the head of Blizzard human resources to declare ourselves a couple. “Didn’t I tell you that over text a hundred times yesterday?”
When I got to work Monday morning, I talked to Lina about my relationship with Kellen. She thought I was messing with her. I don’t blame her. Just a week ago, I’d reassured her that I’m not going to date anyone.
Yet here we are.
So she said I’d have to go to HR to get the sign off, then gave me a really funnylook.
“Yeah, well, they’re not going to kick you off the team because you’re dating a staffer. They might fire me.”
“You’re a contractor. They’re not going to fire you.”
“I’m hoping that this little monster will be a good enough distraction.” I nod to Bear, snuggled in Kellen’s arms, blissfully happy.
“Maybe.” Kellen rubs his head.
In a last-minute decision, I’d brought Bear to the office this morning. I heard that the woman we’re meeting with is a huge dog person, so maybe this’ll help soften her up to us.
“Want to go over the story again?” After Monday, when Lina made me make an appointment with HR, Kellen and I have been texting a lot to get our story straight. After all, it was only a week ago that Lina mentioned the team policy, and I saidthat won’t be a problem, I promise. And thatI’m not into hockey players.
Sigh.
“No ma’am. I got it. And hey…” Kellen slows to a stop, and I do the same. “Thanks for doing this. I know I get a lot more out of it than you.”
“I wouldn’t just do this to be nice. There are lots of benefits for me besides the thing with my father.”
“Yeah?” Kellen cocks his head. “Like what?” We got an early meeting before his workout and practice, so Kellen’s in athletic shorts and a Blizzard t-shirt.
“Well, we didn’t add pure entertainment to the list.” I hold two fingers up. “So that’s two. And distraction from my personal drama.” A third finger. “And something to do besides stare at the walls of Atticus’s guest room while I’m not working. And?—”
“Okay, okay, got it.” Kellen grins and I lower my fingers. “Let’s go.”
I knock on the door, and we enter when Claire Morgansten calls us in. She stands and when she sees Bear, her eyes widen.
“Oh, hold on—” but before she can get another word out, asmall ball of fur and fury shoots out from next to her desk and leaps up at Bear, who’s still nestled in Kellen’s arms.
Bear reacts by barking wildly and wiggling so much that Kellen struggles to keep ahold of him.
“Shoot! Oh no!”
“Can you put him back in your office?” Claire shouts over the din of two barking dogs.
We back out the door as Claire chases her dog around her desk.
“Shit. I’ll just go run and put him back,” I say, wide-eyed.
