Jordan: You’ll be great. Youalwaysare.
Me: Aw, shucks…Thanksssssss!!
Awe, shucks – what in the fuck?! I don’t talk like that. This girl was really getting the best of me and I couldn’t help but enjoy the crap outofit.
Jordan: It’s just thetruth.
Me: I’ll talk to you after the game. We’re about to startwarm-ups.
Jordan: Perfect. I’ll be watching as much of it as I canatwork.
Me: Have a goodshift.
Jordan: Give those guys a run for their moneytonight.
Me:I’lltry.
It was nice being able to talk to a chick that cared about my team and the sport I was so passionate about. I had never had that before—Mindie couldn’t have cared less about sports of any kind, always saying they were too hard to understand. Thinking back on it, I realized that should have been a dealbreaker.
“What has you so happy?” Gavin already knew the answer to his question, or at least I assumedasmuch.
I pulled my jersey over my head. “I’m sure you’ve been told the latest Crosby-Batesgossip.”
“Been told what gossip?” Brayden came up to us, stick already clutched inhishand.
“Crosby is taking Jordan out tomorrow night,” Gavinanswered.
“Oh yeah! That’s right. Congrats, man.” Brayden slapped myshoulder.
I shook my head. “Of course youknewtoo.”
“Oh but of course. Karlatoldme.”
I rolled my eyes. “Everyone is going to know everything about this relationship,aren’tthey?”
“When your teammates are married to the best friends of the woman you’re seeing, there is no privacy,” Gavinexplained.
Brayden threw his hands in the air. “Myla knew everything about Karla and me without me even having to tell her most ofthetime.”
“Note to self, never tell Myla a secret,” I saidteasingly.
Gavin nodded in agreement. “For the most part, you’re right on the money withthatone.”
“Can we please get our heads in this game? We’re standing around gossiping like a women’s soccer team when we should be getting revved up for this damn bout.” Brayden was right. I needed to get my man-card back and become the beastly tender the Ottersneeded.
Jordan
This game—ugh!I was so nervous. It was the make-or-break night in the season, and the outcome would determine if the Otters were going to be in the playoffs or not. I hated when it was down to the wire. It was hard to evenwatch.
The bar was packed, which was awesome and terrible all at once. I loved being busy, but I was supposed to be phasing out of this place and the bartenders were still relying on me more than they should. Instead of just observing and offering a little coaching from time to time, I had to dive in and fix mistake aftermistake.
“Excuse me?” A kind-looking lady flagged me down from the other end ofthebar.
“How may I help you?” Iasked.
“I ordered a cosmo and this is notevenpink.”
I took the drink from her. “I am so sorry about that, miss. I’d be happy to make another oneforyou.”