Page 27 of Mistletoe Face Off

Can they sue me for arguing with one of their players publicly? No, I’m sure they can’t…. can they? If they can, I'll be done, ruined—as a journalist and as a person with a roof over her head and food on the table. Soon, Macy and I could be living on the streets, sleeping under bridges with a cardboard box as our only defense against the harsh Chicago winters.

I stop my imagination from spiraling completely out of control.

There’s a chance I may be overreacting.

“I'm glad you could both meet with us today,” Coach Newton begins. “We've got a situation on our hands that needs to be controlled.”

I'mthe situation. Well, Harrison and me.

I decide to get in with an apology before they call in the lawyers. “Look, it was never my intention for this to happen, and I'm deeply sorry that it has,” I say.

“We’re not here to point fingers,” Abby begins.

I pull my brows together. “You’re not?”

“In fact,” she continues. “We would like to take advantage of the situation.”

Wait,what?

I chance a look at Harrison across the table. He too appears confused. At least it’s an even playing field right now.

“In what way?” Stephen asks.

“The argument between Harrison and you, Holly, at last night's Blizzard Christmas event has gone viral, as I'm sure you're aware,” Coach Newton says.

“It's everywhere. All over the Internet with photos and video and there are even memes of you two,” Abby says.

My jaw drops. I hadn’t seen memes. “There are memes?” I croak as mortification sweeps over me.

“Quite a few, some rather witty,” Abby confirms. She slides her phone across the table and I look at a split image, one side of Harrison Clarke in his Blizzard team gear looking fierce on the ice, and on the other, him in a Santa suit with a shocked expression on his face as we argue. The caption reads, “When you go from checking opponents to getting checked by Mrs. Claus.”

“It is witty, I'll give it that,” I reply, humiliation now officially replacing all the blood in my veins.

“There are more, but there’s no need to look at them now,” Abby says as she takes her phone back.

“What are you proposing?” Stephen asks and I hold my breath.

“It’s unorthodox, but the general feeling within management is that we can use this to our advantage,” Abby says, and I almost fall off my seat in shock.

“Are you saying what I think you're saying?” I ask.

“That depends on what you think I'm saying, Ms. Coleman,” she replies with a smile. “The uncommon nature of a player-journalist feud has generated significant press coverage.”

Both Harrison and I protest.

“It's hardly a feud,” I say.

“It was just a misunderstanding,” Harrison says.

I raise a brow at him. We both know it wasn't a misunderstanding, but now is not the time.

“Come on, you two. Regardless of what actually occurred, the press has portrayed it as a feud,” Coach Newton replies.

“They sure have,” Stephen confirms.

“We see it as an advantage on a number of fronts.” Abby begins to list them off on her fingers. “For starters, it could keep the team at the forefront of people’s minds, even during slower periods of the season. Social media engagement is already up with fans taking sides, most of them at this stage pro Harrison, I'm sorry to report, Holly.”

I shrug. What else can I do? I'm an unknown journalist in an argument with a beloved Chicago Blizzard defenseman. It’s clear I don’t stand a chance.