Page 10 of Playing to Win
“Are there any other positions available?” I ask, offering a weak laugh at the sharp look Jim sends my way. I don’t mean to act ungrateful and I do want to work with the football team. Sort of. Though there is someone on the team I’d rather avoid…
I’d rather not think about him at all. That’s been my plan since I walked onto this campus.
“Not that I know of,” Jim answers. “You can ask Marilee that particular question, but I figured you’d jump at the opportunity to work with the football team.”
“Oh, I want to. Of course, I do.” I smile and nod, hoping I look more enthusiastic than I feel.
Minutes later, I’m walking around campus, the notepaper crammed into the pocket of my denim shorts with the meeting details written on it. I should probably change into something more professional. Or maybe I should go to the student store and buy a Golden Eagles T-shirt. Would that be too obvious?
Whipping my phone out of my pocket, I FaceTime Natalie. My new roommate and bestie. She answers on the second ring.
“Why can’t you call like a normal person?” She’s still at home. From the looks of it, she’s still in bed.
“I like to see your face, especially when you’re so cheerful,” I tease.
I lucked out getting Natalie as a roommate. My brother’s girlfriend, Joanna—and Natalie’s best friend and now former roommate—left campus to be with Knox. She’s still a full-time student, taking her classes online and she’ll come back to graduate here in May, but she wanted to be with Knox during his first NFL season after he begged her to go with him. The man is obsessed with her and she seems to feel the same way about him. I guess I can’t blame her.
They’re madly in love. They want to be together as much as possible.
With Joanna gone, Natalie needed a roommate and so did I, since Blair did the same thing as Joanna and she’s now living with Cam. Considering Natalie and I got along so effortlessly when we hung out over the holidays, it made sense.
Natalie rolls her eyes. “Why are you calling so early?”
“It’s eleven,” I point out. I’m not a total early bird, but come on.
The day is almost half over.
“That’s still early for me. My first class doesn’t start until one.”
“Must be nice,” I mutter, plopping down on a nearby park bench. “I need advice.”
“About a guy?”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “You wish. No, not about aguy. About a job.”
Natalie makes a face. “Why do you need a job?”
“It’s for my major. I spoke to my advisor and he said there’s a social media manager position open for one of the teams.”
“That sounds perfect.” Natalie sits up a little straighter, pushing the hair out of her eyes. “Why do you need advice?”
“I still have to interview for it, though he made it seem like I already have the job.” I can’t count on that though. I can’t really count on anything unless I achieve it myself.
“Would it be for the athletic department or for a specific team?”
“A specific team.” I hesitate. “The football team.”
Natalie is a shit friend because she immediately starts laughing.
Like…hysterically.
“It’s not funny,” I try to interject, but she’s not listening to me. And she knows how I feel about the football team, but it’s obvious she doesn’t care. “Seriously, Nat. What am I supposed to do?”
“Take the job if they offer it to you. Make his life a living hell,” Natalie says, sobering up quickly.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I just ignored him?”
“How can you? He’s the freaking quarterback. He struts around campus like he’s the top dog and damn it, heisthe top dog.” She sounds irritated. I appreciate her undying loyalty to me, I really do. Even if she was laughing at me only a moment ago. “I hate him.”
