Page 36 of Broken Hearts
My chest tightens thinking about how I’m missing watching her play. Add that to the selling points of Dalton. I could actually see my sister play a few games. “Did your coach say whether or not this was going to be a permanent thing?”
“I hope so. Chelsea is out for the rest of the season.”
“I’m so proud. My little sister is crushing other people’s dreams to make her own happen,” I joke with my hand held over my heart.
“Hey, it isn’t like I injured her. And I’m sorry she’s out, that royally sucks, but you have to take the opportunities given to you.” She’s all sass and fiery determination. We are alike in a lot of ways. We have the same dark hair and same green eyes. But at five foot eleven, she looks older than fifteen. In fact, by the time she was ten, she was already taller than me. I’m more quiet determination and Allison is unapologetically tenacious in everything she does.
“You’re not wrong there. When’s the next game?”
“This weekend. It’s going to be a tough game.” Her expression goes serious, and she gets quiet, presumably worrying about their next game.
My parents jump in to ask about skating and school. Dad hammers me with questions about the interview and congratulates me when I tell him they already sent over an offer.
“They’re a great company,” he adds. “Good benefits, nice office building.”
“It would be so nice to have you living closer again,” Mom says.
“You know I’ll visit more no matter what,” I tell her. “And Kelsie mentioned the great health benefits.” I roll my eyes. “Doesn’t it seem sketchy that they offered me a job without a proper interview. I don’t even have any experience!” I don’t want to tell people how to do their job, but maybe Kelsie should be fired for hiring someone without properly interviewing them.
He waves me off. “No one comes in with any useful experience. It’s about character, and Bob knows you’re a good egg.”
“Bob?”
“I worked with him when I was overseeing the program managers, remember?”
“No.”
“Handlebar mustache, wore flannel before it was trendy.”
I huff a small laugh. “Vaguely sounds familiar.”
“He’ll be your boss. He’s a great guy and has a good team. They’re at the south location with the good cafeteria.”
“Another selling point,” I mumble.
My dad looks like he’s two seconds away from giving me another lecture on working my way up, climbing the corporate ladder, when Olivia walks through the door.
“Game is in five,” she says. “Are we watching it here or downstairs?”
There’s a bigger TV downstairs in the lounge area, but Josie’s already propped up her laptop and is finding the game.
“You’re watching hockey?” Allison asks, brows raised.
“Of course. Valley is in the semifinals.” And my new crush is playing. I run two fingers along my bottom lip thinking about Rhett and wondering if I should keep kissing him.
“If they win, they play the championship at Valley!” Allison says.
“I know.” In the past I probably wouldn't have known but thanks to Rhett, I am well aware. “We’re really excited.” I move my phone so they can see Josie and Olivia.
“Hi girls,” my mom says. Except they can’t hear her because I’m wearing my earbuds.
“My mom says hello,” I tell them.
They wave and say their hellos.
“Here we go,” Josie says. I glance over in time to see the camera zoom in on Valley U’s hockey team warming up. If they win they’ll move on to the championship this weekend. If they lose, their season is over.
As the game starts, Josie and Olivia settle on the floor to do homework, and I listen as my parents fill me in on everything happening there and periodically glance up at the screen to check the score, and okay, to see if Rhett is on the ice.
