You Had Me at Hockey (Bears Hockey #2) - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,48
Except I’m not sure that’s true. I mean, some of them are. The ones who’ve been with me since I started. But I know I get new fans all the time, younger girls…” I sigh and rake a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. She’s the expert.”
“You’re the expert on you,” he says.
I relax a little. I got wound up, recounting my conversation with Harper. “I guess I am.”
“The thing people love about you is you’re real,” he says. “You need to stay real.”
“So you don’t think I need to change?”
“Hey, I’m not giving you advice. I know nothing. I’m just saying, you need to be yourself. Sure, the things that interest you, that you want to talk about, will change as you get older. You’ll start talking about wrinkle creams instead of acne cures.”
I laugh.
“But I think you should do that when you want to do that.”
“There are lots of other vloggers out there doing what I do.” I sigh. “I was unusual and unique at first. Now, not so much. Maybe I do need to change things up.”
“You’ll always be unique.”
“Aw. Thank you. I mean…is that good?”
“Yeah. That’s good.”
I smile.
“You told me…way back when we first met, about a year ago—”
I laugh. But he’s right. It does feel like I’ve known him a long time.
“That you’re giving people something by just being yourself.”
I slouch lower into the couch. “Yeah. That’s right.”
“I forget exactly what you said…you’re giving them the message it’s okay to be themselves, to not be perfect.”
I nod, nibbling my bottom lip. “Yes. Yes.” I sigh. “Thank you for reminding me of that. I got all rattled. Sometimes I need to just chill and think things through. Thank you for helping me.”
“Hey, anytime.”
“You may regret saying that. I tend to lose my shit a lot.”
He laughs softly.
“So what about your move?” I ask. “When does your stuff arrive?”
“Wednesday. I’ve talked to the building manager and they’re going to let them into the apartment.”
“You won’t be there, though.”
“I know. It sucks, but I don’t want to wait until next week.”
“Want me to go over there and supervise?”
Silence beats against my ear for a few seconds. “Would you do that?” he finally asks.
“Sure. I have stuff to do, but I can take my laptop and do it there. If you have Wi-Fi.”
“Yeah, that’s already set up. That would be great, but I hate to inconvenience you.”
“It’s fine. I offered to help, and I can see how hard it is with your schedule.”
“Okay. I’ll tell the guy that you’ll be there. I’ll text you the address and what time they’re supposed to arrive.”
“How was your meeting with your new coach?” I should have asked him that first, instead of whining about my problems.
“It was…good.”
“You sound surprised.”
“No. I mean, not really. He was pretty positive. He says it’s his job to find a way to get us to buy into a system we can play that will help build our confidence. He says we have the skills to do it. We have games where we’re really dominant, and then sometimes we lose that. He talked about his plans. He asked what motivates me and what my goals are, and he made me feel like I’m valuable to the team.”
I smile. His coach sounds like someone who can read people and knew that Josh liked to know what was going to happen. “Of course you’re valuable to the team.”
After I finish talking to him, it’s time for a video chat with Kaylee. I have big news to share with her!
After a bit of chitchat, I say, “So. I have news.”
“What?” She leans closer to her camera.
“I have been deflowered.”
She frowns.
“I no longer have my V-card.”
Her eyes widen.
“My cherry has been popped.”
“I hate that expression!”
“Yeah, me too.” I make a face.
“Oh my God! When? Who? What happened? Tell me everything!”
So I tell her. Not everything.
“Now I most definitely need to meet him.”
“You will this weekend! I hope.”
Hmm. I forgot that I offered to help Josh move on Sunday. But when I check with Kaylee about her plans, she’ll need to leave for the train station around noon, so I’ll be free after that to help.
Then I tell her about my meeting with Harper and how I got upset and how Josh talked me around.
“He sounds like a keeper.”
I freeze. “Oh. Um.” Yikes. “That’s not…we’re not…Jesus, Kaylee! I’m not going to marry him.”
She laughs. “I’m not saying that!”
“Okay, let’s talk about plans for the weekend. Josh got us tickets