Page 53 of Hot for the Hockey Player
“YoumetJasmine Greengrass,” Jillian asked, on the verge of seriously fangirling.
“Yeah …”
“Amazing!I amsoexcited for you to go on her show.You’ll have to come in here after and tell meeverything.”
Renée smirked at her friend as she walked behind her.“Whatever you do, Mav, don’t tell her what time the interview is.Otherwise, she’ll be knocking on your door to come join.”
Jillian made a face like she was considering it before taking off to go check on one of her tables.
“So what are you guys going to talk about?”Logan asked.
“Order up!”called one of the chefs from the food window.
Logan went and grabbed the burger and fries and carried it to a nearby guy sitting by himself at a table.
He returned behind the bar and jerked his chin at me so I could reply.“No idea.I’m assuming hockey.”I sipped more of my beer.
A moment later, Jillian came up beside me.“Holy shit.Have you checked your newsfeed?”She had her phone out and leaned against the bar so I could see her phone too.“Kyle Henderson is facing multiple charges—not just accusations—but charges of sexual assault, and two of rape.”She brought her voice down a little at that last bit, then turned to me.“He’s on the Storm with you.”
My mouth opened, but honestly, I wasn’t that surprised.Henderson was one of the guys who listened to those alpha-bro podcasts and treated women like playthings far beneath him.
I brought out my phone and found the same article with the headline:Portland Storm, left-winger, Kyle Henderson, charged with four counts of sexual assault and two of rape, by six different women over the last two years.
Logan whistled and shook his head.“I guess we know what you’ll be talking about at your interview with Jasmine tomorrow then, huh?”
Exhaling in embarrassment that I even knew Henderson, let alone called him a teammate, I nodded.“If she doesn’t bring it up, I will.I think it’s high time we address what’s really the problem here.”I glanced at Jillian, and Renée.“And it’s men.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Maverick
Ionlystayedforthe one beer at the bar before heading back to my cabin and listening to Germain Pratt’s podcast: The Valued Man.I was sick to my stomach after just one episode and had to have a shower and blast the water into my ears just to clean that filthy misogyny out.Not that I could scrape it from my memory though.
One episode was enough.I knew what the prick was about.
So I switched to Jasmine’s podcast, and it was like coming up for air after being held underwater by a sociopath until my lungs burned.She spoke like the educated woman that I knew she was, and actuallylistenedto her guests, rather than speak over them.Her questions were relevant and thought-provoking, rather than the drivel so many sportscasters asked after a game.
“How do you feel about tonight’s performance, Mav?”or “Do you feel like the team really brought their all to the ice tonight?”or my favorite of the asinine questions:“Who do you think wanted the win more tonight?You or the [insert random team name here]?”Like, obviously, we both wanted to win the game.What team goes out onto the ice, field, pitch, or turfnotwanting to win?
Luckily, Jasmine didn’t ask any of those mind-numbing questions to her athlete guests.
So while I was a bundle of nerves when I woke up Saturday morning, it wasn’t exactly with worry, but more with excitement.I knew interviews were part of the deal when you were a professional athlete, but I rarely looked forward to them.
I looked forward to this one though.
I did my physiotherapy exercises and stretches when I woke up, followed by a big breakfast of bread from Let it Rise Bakery, and eggs from Maz’s happy chickens.At nine fifty-five, I opened up my laptop and logged into the Zoom room.Jasmine was already there.
“Hey!”she said with a big smile and a friendly wave.
I mimicked her greeting.“How are you?”
“I’m great.How are you?How’s the back?”
“It’s a slow recovery, but I can still walk.So we need to take the W there.”
“For sure.You’re doing PT, obviously?”She tucked her long, straight, black hair behind her ears.
“Yeah.I did my stretches this morning.And I ordered a recumbent bike, which will be here next week.”
