Page 5 of Scoring Chances
I was less concerned about her sister. And more concerned that my celebrity crush was even remotely interested in someone my age.
Joshua Hicks had joined the Houston Heatwave NHL team as a rookie straight from the AHL. Me and my oldest brother followed his career since he was a teen himself. When all my other friends had boy bands and heartthrobs, it was his poster that I had up on the back of my bedroom door.
Not many girls I know are into hockey. But if there was a first family of hockey at the school, it would be Giselle and Stephanie Murray. They’re dad was the head coach for Houston’s NHL team.
“How do I know I can trust you?” Gigi demanded.
I shrugged. “Because I don’t care.”
I sidestepped her and went to the sink to wash my hands.
Lies. I cared. I cared so much. Too much.
But that was the day I realized my crush, might be a player, in every sense of the word. And I think I felt that disappointment that mom always displayed when people let her down.
If only high school me could see me now.
“I need you to tell me everything. You hear me, Sid? Everything!” Lillian’s voice booms through the speaker on my phone.
I drive the kind of car that hit its prime in the eighties, so there’s no Bluetooth connection when talking to my best friend.
Instead, there’s an empty Whataburger cup that I use as both a phone holder and a boombox. I’ve learned to be practical like that.
A perk of being a middle child in a big family meant I always got the hand-me-downs before they were deemed completely useless. Currently, I do have seniority amongst my siblings still living under my parents' roof. But this job… it’ll change everything for me.
“I will spare you no details, Lillian Hartley. I promise,” I assure her.
“Good. Because you might be the only person I know to make a six-figure income over the course of one summer.”
“Well, I have you to thank for that connection.”
“You’re also the only person I know with experience in dealing with a buttload of children. So naturally, you’re perfect for the gig.”
“Three kids isn’t a buttload of children.”
Lillian scoffs, “Of course you would say that!”
“But don’t you think it’s weird that he didn’t want to meet me first?”
“He has met you. The charity event last month?”
“I mean, like, for an interview.”
“Need I repeat? Six-figure income. Why are you complaining about not getting a proper interview?”
I groan. “I’m not. I need this. You know I need this.”
“Girl, if I have to hear your siblings bickering down the hall while I’m trying to give you all my hot girl summer updates, one more time…”
I chuckle. Lillian’s a great friend. She’s also newly single for the first time in eight years. Before that, she was dating and engaged to one of Houston’s most prominent pastors' sons. His family ran in the same circles as mine and Lillian’s.
That’s how she found out about star hockey player, Joshua Hicks, and his desperate need for a full-time nanny. Her ex’s brother plays on the same hockey team. Apparently, the whole thing is real hush hush.
One month ago, I had grand delusions of possibly hitting it off with her ex’s brother. Lillian had invited me to a charity auction and insisted that Michael Ferguson was single and would totally be into me.
I found out the hard way–that it wasn’t the case. Michael’s heart was already taken. But he introduced me to Joshua. And the second we met, my neurons misfired.
Joshua was fun and charismatic. He had everyone wrapped around his finger, the way he could work the crowd.