Page 1 of The Chemistry Coach
Chapter 1
Daisy
DaisyMayeswastheSeattle Freeze’s biggest fan.Hockey was her life.She spent every waking hour plotting ways she could weasel her way into a job with the team.Unfortunately, her background and skills weren’t transferable to the NHL’s open job listings.
After receiving her one thousandth rejection email, Daisy took matters into her own hands.Which is why she was sitting on the floor of her closet talking into a microphone with her best friend, Roxie.
Roxie flipped the microphone off and pressed play on the audio file they’d created.Their voices sounded light and airy in the closed space.
Roxie confidently asked, “What’s your opinion on the new Connor line Coach Bree keeps playing?”
God, what a cliché question.Every hockey podcast in the region had beaten this dead horse into the ground.There must be something more interesting to talk about, but going against the grain wouldn’t help build a following in sports.Fanslikedhearing the same bullshit that repeatedly validated their opinions.
At least her answer seemed semi-intelligent.“It’s not working.The other lines are scoring.Valentine, Greene, and Hale need to start working together.They’re supposed to be the top line.The stars of the show.Yet they haven’t recorded a single point in eight games.Valentine and Hale are young, new faces.Greene needs to show some leadership.He has talent.As a fan, it’s frustrating to watch the small mistakes taking their toll.At this point in the season, I don’t see mixing up the other lines.The rest of the team is producing.”
Daisy paused the recording.“Do you think that’s too harsh?”
Roxie frowned at her.“No, it’s the truth.”
“But what if they listen to this?”Unlikely, but the idea of the players listening to negative media about themselves made her stomach turn.She would hate to have tens of thousands of people monitoring her work performance, even if she were the best.
Roxie gathered their equipment and stood, opening the closet door.Light poured in, and they shielded their eyes.“I know Connor Greene, remember?It won’t hurt his feelings.We’re not saying anything he doesn’t already know.Plus, if we’re doing this, you have to be okay with ruffling some feathers.Journalism is about honesty and integrity.”
A lump formed in Daisy’s throat.If she thought too hard about hurting the players she loved, she’d never be able to continue on this path.Working in the NHL was her life goal.She needed this.She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, gathering her emotions and forcing the anxiety to the back of her mind.
“You’re right.The team will never hear any of our commentary anyway.”
Recording session over for the evening, they prepared to watch that day’s media coverage of the Freeze.Daisy had already watched it, but Roxie didn’t need to know that.Daisy answered the door for the delivery of their dinner, handing the driver a tip, before settling into her favorite spot on the couch and accepting a fork from Roxie.She started shoveling noodles into her mouth while hitting play on the Freeze’s latest YouTube video.
On her TV screen, a larger-than-life Connor “Beanie” Greene sucked his bottom lip into his mouth while he contemplated a reporter’s question.His teeth dragged over the lip as it popped free, now glistening and full as he gave an answer.Daisy had watched this clip four times, and she still wasn’t sure what he said, his lips too enchanting to look away from.
The dreamy sigh she let out had Roxie snorting and tossing a crumpled napkin at her.“You know if you do ever work for the team you can’t ogle him, right?”
“I’m incapable.”Daisy waved a hand at the TV.“Fucking look at him.Why is he so hot?”The Connor on the screen shoved sweaty curls out of his eyes and rubbed at the dark stubble on his jaw.She stared at his striking green eyes, not expecting an answer from Roxie, but she got one.
“You should see him naked.It’s a shame I’m not attracted to men.His body is objectively perfect.”
Daisy swatted Roxie.“Your lack of interest should be a literal crime.Straight to jail.”
Roxie let out a cackle that would rival any animated witch.“Hey, I really tried to make it work.Iwantedto want him!And I’m pretty sure there are thousands of women who would say the same thing about you giving up Patrick Mills.”
Daisy crossed her arms and jutted her bottom lip out in an exaggerated pout.“It’s not the same.I stopped dating him long before he became an NHL hotshot.”
“I dumped Beanie back in college, way before his debut.It’s the exact same thing.You can’t force attraction.”Roxie shrugged and took a massive bite.
Daisy rolled her eyes and transitioned her attention to the beautiful man on her TV, rewinding the stream a few seconds to try to listen to his words instead of mentally undressing him.
The conference room overflowed with people, and an executive spouted off nonsense that wasn’t applicable to two-thirds of the people in the room.Daisy loathed all-staff meetings.They served no purpose other than to waste her and everyone else’s time.
She slipped her phone out of her pocket and tapped her password in by muscle memory alone.Glancing around the room to be sure no eyes were on her, she leaned back in her chair and surreptitiously studied her lap.The podcast had ten listens so far.Daisy did some mental math.Two of those were her and Roxie.Roxie’s sister and her brother Grayson had listened.Maybe her mom and maybe Patrick.That meant four of the listeners were strangers.More, if her biggest supporters hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
Hope sprang in Daisy’s chest.Four people saw the cover photo and description of her podcast and were interested enough to at least click through.And she only posted five hours ago.
A chorus of whoops and cheers filled the dull meeting room, and Daisy shoved her phone into her pocket.She pasted her brightest fake smile on and focused on her boss, Rob, who watched her and clapped.She had no clue what they were talking about, but Rob motioned for her to stand.
“Daisy has shown over the years that she can handle whatever we throw at her,” he said.“She’ll be the go-to for our new client.If you have questions or suggestions, you can direct them to her.”When the overeager and unnecessary applause died down, Daisy plopped into her seat.
She held back a groan.She’d been through this song and dance before.When Rob gave her the ‘exciting new clients,’ it always meant they’d be difficult to work with and nobody else wanted them.
