James
We were flying home from Edmonton when Baller flopped into the empty seat beside me.
“Can I join in? Or is this pity party only for one?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, pulling off my headphones.
“I thought I was going to trip over your bottom lip. You’ve been acting like someone stole all your candy. Or in your case, whatever high protein natural supplements you’re eating this month.”
I debated whether I should talk to Baller or not. He knew Kelly, so maybe he could help. I leaned closer and quietly told him everything that had happened, even though it made me look bad.
“Shit.” He made a face. “Yeah, getting her fired is probably not going to get you guys back together. And that’s apparently what you still want.”
I nodded. Dating Astrid had only proven once again that I was a social freak. It was easy to find attractive girlfriends, but finding someone I could trust was a lot tougher. And Kelly had proven that with her brutal honesty.
And she was right. Sometimes I forgot how privileged my life was and how lucky I was to have gotten everything I’d wanted. I remembered that what I loved about her was that she loved me for who I was—before all the NHL stuff. Yet I had tried to buy her love with expensive gifts and trips. I should have known better. I couldn’t help but think that if Kelly were around to center me, I would be a better person now.
“I know it’s too late. She basically said she could never love me again. But do you think I could maybe earn back her good opinion of me somehow? I was thinking I should get more involved in Blackhawks charity work—I do the hospital stuff like everyone else, but something more.”
“Well, I have a suggestion,” Baller said. “I didn’t mention this before, because first you were all grouchy, and then you were dating the blonde ballbuster. Last fall, Kelly asked me to sponsor this hockey team. They sounded like some Bad News Bears deal. She wanted to get them extra ice time so they could work on their skating.”
That was so Kelly. She was always trying to help the worst kids at camp. Come to think of it, the times she was sweetest to me were when I was feeling low—like after the NHL awards.
Baller pulled up a photo on his phone. There was Kelly standing behind this ragtag team of boys and girls, all of them grinning a mile wide and wearing these green jerseys.
“Tyler’s Organ Donors? That must have gotten a lot of chirping from the other teams.”
Baller laughed. “Kelly said they use it as their war cry. They want to turn their opponents into organ donors. They’ve won only three games, but apparently it’s three more than last season, so everyone’s happy.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been talking to her all this time.”
He shrugged. “She’s the one who called me. You know it’s not like that.”
I nodded. We were teammates. Although if I fell off the face of the earth, I was pretty sure he’d be hitting on her five minutes later.
“I thought she got back with her high school boyfriend, but she didn’t. Do you think I still have a chance to get back with her?”
“I dunno. Why did she break up with you in the first place?”
“A whole bunch of reasons. She was worried about the whole lifestyle in Chicago. Mainly because I’m an arrogant idiot—not the nice guy I used to be.”
Baller blew out a breath. “Who is, really? The game changes all of us.”
We both sat in silence for a bit, thinking.
“Freeze, maybe if you dialled things down a little. Like not making her move in with you and act like you’re all married.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re so intense. It’s all or nothing with you. I know from my personal experience that I run a mile once chicks start talking about china patterns and babies.”
“I never talked about china patterns,” I protested. But I had talked about babies. Shoot. I liked to get things nailed down, it was the way I was.
He laughed at me. “You wuss. You’re so easy to read. But Kelly’s a normal person. Maybe if she had another reason to come to Chicago.” He paused. “I don’t know. You know her best, can’t you figure out what she really wants?”
“She’d like a job that does something with hockey.” I knew Kelly’s first choice would be to play hockey—but I couldn’t create that opportunity for her in Chicago.
I started to worry again. Now that she had no job how was she going to survive? But then I could hear Kelly’s voice in my head telling me not to stress about her. I knew she was smart, beautiful, and resourceful—she was going to find something. I couldn’t let my anxiety take over here. Baller had given me a starting point, and I could take action and not have to sit around and stew about things.
Meanwhile, it looked like we were going to make the playoffs this year, so I’d have to focus on that.
April saw my newly free time as an opportunity to get help with wedding planning. I had picked up a job as a fitness trainer at the rec centre, but I didn’t have many hours yet. It was raining, so we took a bus downtown where she had various appointments set up.
“But you know I’m not good at this stuff,” I protested.
“Yes, my first hint was when you picked that blue bridesmaid’s dress—just because it was Canucks blue.”
“Ben likes hockey too,” I muttered. Everyone had positive associations with colours, I just shouldn’t have told April mine.
“Well, I wanted a second opinion on my food choices. Third actually, since Mrs. Cho is meeting us at the hotel at lunchtime. It’ll be delicious. We get to try all these appetizers and entrées. But I need moral support when she’s there.”
“Free food does sound good,” I agreed. My current food budget was limited to Sapporo Ichiban. And Mrs. Cho was a forceful personality. I figured April was her match though.
“Also, if there’s one thing you do know, it’s flowers. So I can use your help in choosing my floral arrangements.
“Okay, sure. Too bad we couldn’t get everything from my dad.”
“I know. Your dad was a real artist with flowers. My mom’s been complaining that she can’t find anyone as good in North Van. Where are your parents now?”
“They’re in Malaysia now. I talked to them a week ago.”
“That’s so exciting. I’m going to be travelling with Ben after we’re married.”
“Really? What about your job?”
“Well, since the series got cancelled and I don’t have any freelance styling gigs coming up—I’m getting involved in the Ben’s family’s business.”
“Wow.” The Cho family business was a vast and mysterious import/export empire. “But aren’t you worried about nepotism? Like getting jobs you’re not qualified for because of Ben?”
April squinted at me. “I presume you’re asking because of what happened to you?”
“Well, yeah. A lot of people hated me at work. I got a job because Ross Laurie thought I could do it, and because…” I hated admitting the next part, “…I had a certain look.”
“But you’re forgetting the fact that the network president was right. You could do that job. Your final interview with the goon was great.”
“I guess. I was getting better anyway. But it doesn’t change the fact that people were constantly trying to undermine me. It was brutal.”
“I talked to Ben. I would only do a job I am good at. Luckily that covers a lot of things.”
“You are so confident,” I said enviously.
“You are too, Kelly. You’re confident about your hockey skills, right?”
I nodded.
“Have you done your demo reel yet?”
“Kinda.” I’d updated it, but it wasn’t properly edited.
“I think when you look at it, you’ll see how much you’ve improved. You have a great work ethic, and you could succeed at anything you put your mind to. You’ve always worked hard.”
“Wow, thanks, April.”
She smiled at me. “I know you’re a little down now. But when you take stock, you’ll know you have a lot to offer. You’re already more confident than you used to be.”
I felt a lot better now. April sensed this and hit me with the list of things we were doing today.
“Holy crapola. I can’t believe all this stuff. I am never getting married.”
“Seeing as you haven’t dated anyone in months, I would say you’re well on your way. Say, Ben has this cousin who is some kind of programming guru, would you be interested in possibly—”
“Nope.”
“But he does statistics on Canucks games. And he’s cute.”
“N-O, April. Working on your wedding is enough to turn me off marriage for years and years.”
“When Mr. Right comes along, you’ll change your mind,” she replied confidently.
But I was more interested in finding Mr. Right Job.