She raises a brow at me. “This feels like we have steered into a conversation that doesn’t seem work-related.”
She’s right, but I am also intrigued. “You’re probably right.”
“Oh, I’m most certainly right,” she tells me.
“Catch you around.” I grin, skating off.
“I’m sure you will,” she throws back, but there is laughter in her voice.
3
COLLETTE
It’s Friday night. I’ve survived my first week at the Mavericks, and I’m getting ready to go out in New York City for the first time since I moved here. Which is kind of sad when I think about it. I’ve been here for a couple of weeks, and the only places I’ve been are the training facility, the apartment, and the bodega on the corner where the guy behind the counter already knows my coffee order. That’s not a flex, that’s a cry for help. But tonight is different. Tonight, I’m going out with the girls from work and friends, and I’m going to have fun in one of the greatest cities in the world.Without my overprotective brothers.
“Pick something,” Eve says from my bed, where she’s been sprawled for twenty minutes, judging every outfit I’ve tried on.
“I can’t decide.” It’s not easy when you’re not a fashionista like she is.
“You’ve been deciding for half an hour. Wear the green top, it makes your boobs look insane.”
I look down at the green top, she’s not wrong. “Done.”
Evelina Alessi and her sister Violetta have been friends since Pierre and Felix moved in with their family in New Yorkwhen they were teenagers. She’s unapologetically gorgeous, in a couture boho cool girl way, and her older sister Violetta is that Upper East Side princess who is wilder than her sister and me, just better at hiding it. She’s a man-eater, bossy and gorgeous, and has this allure that draws men in like flies to honey. Where Eve is boho New York, Violetta is old money New York.
“Vi texted, she’s running late, she’ll meet us out front,” Eve says, checking her phone.
“Okay, I think I’m ready.” I grab my bag and check my reflection one more time.
Let’s go.
The bar is loud,dark, and perfect. Zara found it, she swears the team never goes there, which is the entire point. Marlowe and Billie are already in a booth with drinks ordered. When Vi, Eve, and I slide in, they greet us excitedly, and it immediately feels like we’ve all known each other forever.
Zara raises her glass. “To Collette’s first week. You didn’t cry once. That we know of.”
“Low bar, but I’ll take it.” I clink my glass against hers.
“Honestly …” Billie says, already a couple of drinks in, cheeks pink. She leans forward like she’s about to share a secret. “When they told us Pierre and Felix’s sister was joining the team, we were like,great,another family hire who’s going to suck.” The table shifts slightly, nobody gasps or drops a glass, but I feel the air change. “But you’re actually really good,” she adds quickly, like that fixes it. “Like, genuinely. Your content ideas this week were better than anything we’ve had in months. We thought you’d be useless and you’re not at all.”
“Billie!” Marlowe chastises her.
“What?” Billie asks, seemingly shocked at her friend’s response, as if she didn’t just accuse me of being a nepo hire,which I am, but still.
“It’s not like that …” Marlowe says to me.
“It’s fine,” I tell her, waving away her concern. It isn’t the first time I’ve heard it, at least this time they are saying it to my face and not behind my back.
“What I’m saying is that you’re awesome.” Billie grins widely, which makes me laugh.
“Thanks.” I smile at her, the mood shifting again.
“You surprised us,” Zara adds. “We knew you were the Head of Content at the South Dakota Devils, and by coming to the Mavericks, it was sort of a demotion in our eyes. We admired your work at the Devils. You grew that team’s profile by a million percent. We were worried that you thought you were better than us.” Oh, I had no idea they felt like this because, honestly, the girls have been great toward me this week, and I haven’t felt out of place. “And what Billie is saying is we’re happy you’re part of the team.” Zara grins.
“I’m happy I am too. I know my arrival was filled with drama and chaos, and I appreciate you guys giving me a chance. I hate that because of my brothers, I’ve been given a leg up in this world.”
“Difference is you’ve got the talent behind it,” Marlowe adds. “In one week, we have had more eyes on us than this time last year.”
“What we’re saying is welcome to the team, and we can’t wait to see what the four of us can produce this season,” Zara adds.