Page 49 of The Chemistry Coach
Roxie asked a follow-up question.“Has it all been snacks and video games, or do you do other stuff?”
“We went on an overnight trip during our long weekend last week.It was fun.We went out together and danced and sang karaoke.Engaged in a little friendly competition and some games.And then the next day was super chill.That was a super personal trip for us, though.I can’t share too much.”
“Ohhh, karaoke!I love karaoke.What did you sing?”Daisy asked, to rub her win in one more time.
He mumbled into the mic, “Bye Bye Bye.”
Roxie gasped.“Did Beanie do the dance?I spent weeks teaching him!That man has two left feet, but he can do that one specific dance.”
Hazy got excited.“Yes!He did!It was so surprising.The crowd loved it.”
“Incredible.I’m going to tease him about that later,” Roxie’s eye twinkled with delight.“But now that we touched on the hockey stuff and the actions your line is taking to correct some of their issues, I’m hoping you can give me a few juicy details about your guys’ relationship with Daisy.”
“Oh, yeah.Um, I think it’s okay and accurate to say we’re friends.We’ve spent time with her to various degrees, and hanging out as a group is fun when she’s around.”He raised his eyebrows at Daisy, double-checking.She nodded.“We all kind of have different dynamics with her.”
Roxie pouted.“Ugh, Daisy.Why did you have to go and win their hearts?The loyalty you inspire is so frustrating.It ruins my fun.”
Daisy sighed, deciding to take pity on her friend.Daisy would eventually tell her every detail of their trip, anyway.She reached over to switch off the microphones and stood.“That’s enough.We can wrap up later.”She opened the closet door.
“Hazy, there are no secrets.If you’re willing to be interrogated, I’m fine with you answering her questions off the record.I’ve already told her more than you know.”She whipped around to face them and pointed a finger at Roxie.“The same is not true for you.Keep your mouth shut.”
Chapter 18
Connor
Daisyhadn’ttexted.Ithad been over a week and, like a sap, he’d been checking his phone every five minutes.They connected during the cabin trip, but since then?Radio silence.He wished he could text her.
Getting in touch with Roxie had been a pleasant surprise.She lived for sports, so a hockey podcast made perfect sense.She’d always liked the sport more than she liked him.Which was fair.Sometimes he liked hockey more than he liked himself, too.They had one of those relationships they could slip back into, even though they didn’t keep in touch.He didn’t begrudge her their breakup.She had used her time in college to do what college kids were supposed to do—find themselves.And she was a beautiful person, inside and out.
Roxie was a loyal friend.And that meant not giving out her friends’ phone numbers to other people.She also wouldn’t let him barge unannounced into a podcast episode.That was too pushy.Daisy should chase her dream, and having a player on would boost listens.It made sense to offer help.They were friends.It’s something a friend would do.Heck, networking was something a colleague would do too, and if they weren’t friends, they were definitely colleagues.Roxie had finally agreed to Hazy being on the show.Connor hated that he understood the difference.
Of course Hazy didn’t answer his texts about how it had gone either.He kept feeding Connor BS lines about how he’d have to wait until the episode aired.
The entire team was waiting.The Connor line had forced them to listen to every episode after they had listened together.They usually avoided consuming media about the team, even when they were playing well, but especially when they were playing poorly.Those team Reddit threads could be downright hurtful.Hate came with the territory, but players didn’t need to seek it out.
Roxie and Daisy’s podcast was thoughtful, though.It was still horrible to listen to at times, but it didn’t ridicule or call for players to be sent to the minors, or have their contracts bought out.It focused on what the players could work on without being bitchy.Their love for the game came across loud and clear.
Connor made a mental note to get Roxie put on the media list.He’d add Daisy too if he had a way to contact her.He checked his phone one more time before tossing it into his locker and lacing his skates.He had to get his head on straight.
Hazy, always arriving last minute, rushed into the locker room and hurried to get ready.His phone dinged, and he checked it before giving Connor a devious grin and saying, “Daisy says ‘hi’.”
Jealousy was a bitch.Daisy wasn’t interested in Hazy.She thought of him as a baby.A younger brother at best.If he reacted, Hazy won.Connor grunted and yanked on his laces, refusing to engage.He calmed himself with a deep breath.
Lover, ready to go, came to stand next to Hazy.Unaware of what he’d walked into, he said, “It’s our night.”
Connor agreed until Hazy, the smug bastard, immediately pushed his buttons.
Hazy couldn’t let it be.“Daisy thinks so, too.”
“Oh yeah, she texted me good luck this morning.”Connor glared at them, and Hazy started laughing his ass off.“What?”Lover asked.
Hazy cackled.“She hasn’t texted Beanie.He’s been checking every fifteen minutes since we got home from the cabin.”
Connor threw a dirty sock at Hazy, who dodged it.
Lover grinned.“That’s not surprising.”
Connor raised an eyebrow.Lover didn’t elaborate, but it seemed like a lightbulb went off in his head.“Oh, I forgot!I want to try something.”He rushed away from them and rustled through his bags before returning with a grocery bag.He handed Hazy a box of Cheez-Its, and Connor a bag of circus cookies.For himself he pulled out a box of mini Charleston Chews and tore open the bright yellow packaging.
