Page 90 of Zero Pucks Given
Me: Or you’ll keep ignoring me. That’s totally great too.
I woke up the next morning on the couch, covered in chip crumbs. I brushed myself off and immediately checked my phone. Grayson still had not responded to me, but I had a text from Sharon.
Sharon: You’re not answering your phone, so I’massuming you passed out on the couch while watching Gossip Girl. I talked to our boss before leaving, and explained everything that has gone on with you. If you want to keep your job, he’s willing to give you another shot.
Sharon: You know you can call me if you need me, even if it’s just to vent. Love you <3
The message was comforting in more ways than one. The engagement on my videos had risen dramatically, but views and sales had plummeted. I knew that was bad for the TikTok algorithm. At this rate, my channel would be back to obscurity by next week.
It felt like I’d won the lottery, but then lost the ticket on the way to cash it.
And the one part that made me the most angry: none of it was my fault!
I wasrequiredto go out with Grayson.
The marketing team had scheduled it between playoff games, not me.
Grayson was the one who ordered mimosas at brunch. He chose to drink.
And that night at dinner, I only asked him to take asipof wine.
Yet everyone seemed to believe I was some party girl who had dragged Grayson out and gotten him shitfaced.
I took a shower, then mustered the energy to leave my apartment. After getting lunch and some much-needed fresh air, I returned home and sat down to work on the video editing I should have done last night.
But the more I worked, the angrier I got.
This wasn’t my fault.
If anything, I was the victim here.
And Grayson and the Surge were leaving me out to dry.
Like scratching at a rash that wouldn’t heal, I rewatched Grayson’s press conference.
Then I watched it a second time.
How fuckingdarehe?
Halfway through the third watch, I picked up the phone and called Grayson again. He didn’t answer, but this time I was angry enough to leave a voicemail.
“Hi, Grayson Steele? Steel Wall? Captain of the San Antonio Surge and most eligible playboy in town? It’s me, Josie. The woman youfucked, but apparently have no relationship with and don’t plan on ever seeing again. Yeah,thatJosie. I’m leaving this voicemail because you’re too much of a coward to answer your phone. And I have alotto say to you. First of all—”
I cut off as my phone vibrated. Grayson was calling me back.
“Hello?” he rumbled through the phone speaker. “Josie?”
Hearing his voice was comforting for a moment. “Hi.” I didn’t know what to say. “I was, um, leaving you a voicemail.”
“Oh, I just got the notification. Sorry for ducking your calls. The marketing team told me to go dark.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “They’re the ones who wrote the speech. The one I gave last night at the press conference? I don’t know if you saw…”
“Oh, I saw it all right.” I couldn’t stop a trickle of frustration from entering my voice.
Grayson sighed heavily on the other end. “I’m sorry it had to end this way, Josie.”
For a few seconds, I stared at the wall of my apartment.
“Ended? Past tense? You’reendingthings?”
