“So? That’s over and done with. We’re moving on, sister. You’ve been holding on to whatever you’ve got against him since Christmas. Let it go. He just wants to play, and if he makes the cut, that’s great.”
“Of course he’s going to make it if you’re helping him!”
I scrunch up my face in confusion, just as Posey does. The Assassins have been built on the notion that they are a family and care for everyone who skates into their life. Shelli’s words don’t match the foundation and philosophy I just spent hours listening to. Since I have no leg to stand on, I don’t say anything.
Posey, on the other hand, has a lot to say. “So, let me get this straight. You want him to fail?”
Shelli presses her lips together. “Posey, he won’t be an asset to this team.”
“I disagree. Mom disagrees—hell, I bet if your assistant knew his background, saw the tapes, with my commentary, she’d see it too.” Then Posey shakes her head. “Is this why you’ve been dodging Dad’s calls? ’Cause you know he’ll tell you the same? You’re being ridiculous, Shelli. And since you aren’t getting your way, your spoiledness is hanging out. Tuck it back in and do your job.”
Shelli takes a step toward her sister. In her heels, she’s Posey’s height, but in my view, Posey doesn’t even back down an inch. Though, I may have taken a step back.
Snap, snap, snap, and snap.
“Watch your tone with me, Posey. I am your boss,” Shelli says in a very low and demanding voice.
Posey laughs at that, and even I react. By cringing and backing away more. Shelli, she starts shaking. “A boss is a leader. You aren’t acting like a leader. You’re acting like a spoiled brat, mad ’cause the guy you tried to sleep with wouldn’t sleep with you a thousand years ago. You’re married, pregnant, and have a child at home. GM of the best team in the NHL, and you’re holding a grudge against a guy who doesn’t give two shits about you.” Posey moves closer. “Get your hormones under control, Shelli. God don’t like ugly.”
With that, Posey turns on her heel, but then she pauses. Her eyes fall on me, and she says, “Sorry, she’s hormonal, and I’m not one to deal with her. It’s nice to meet you.” She holds out her hand to me. I take it, wide-eyed, as she adds, “I’m Posey Adler-Hoenes. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Austen McDavid.”
Her lips curve as she adjusts her child, who isn’t really on her hip, but in a sling against her body. “Are you the new farm team GM?”
I grin, and whoa, talk about a 180 in tone. “I am.”
“Nice. I met your grandpa. He speaks very highly of you.”
I smile proudly. “I’m ready to learn from the best.”
She chuckles, nodding. “I mean, we are, not that she’s showing that right now.” She cuts her gaze to Shelli. “Do us all a favor. Have her take you to the med concourse, and check her in for some therapy.”
Shelli flips her sister the bird, and Posey just laughs as she walks away. As I watch her and Shelli seethes with fury beside me, I wonder what it’s like at family events. They both seem like such firecrackers, and I assume their mom is the same.
“Don’t you have three brothers?”
Shelli looks over at me. “I do.”
“Are they all like the two of you are together?”
“What do you mean?
“You two are explosive.”
Shelli scoffs. “My brothers are worse.”
I smile because even though she is trying to be mad and serious, she has a small smile on her face. “I bet holidays are fun with such a big family.”
Gone is the loving look as she shakes her head. “It’s World War Three, but none of us has died yet, so we keep gathering. But I see our demise on the horizon if I don’t get my hormones under control.”
“I mean, you’re passionate,” I say kindly, and she laughs.
“I’m a handful, and she’s right. But…” She pauses and then exhales loudly. “This is completely unprofessional—hell, all of this has been—but I need you to know. I did sleep with him when we were sixteen and they were visiting. I was under the impression they weren’t going back. Posey suspected what was going on, and I told her I hadn’t, but I did. I don’t want him here because he’s a shitty player—and because he told me he loved me, and then the next day, he told me he was leaving for Russia and that he wasn’t really in love with me. Pretty sure he said what he did to get in my pants, and I was dumb enough to allow him to do it.”
With that, she walks away in a huff, and I’m speechless.
I have no clue what to do with that information, but I feel for the girl she was. I know, as a sixteen-year-old girl, I didn’t have the luxury of being brokenhearted by a guy. That would have entailed my feeling something for the men who were thrust into my body, but I can feel for Shelli. She was scorned. But given who she is, I’m sure she knows better than this. I don’t approve of her letting personal things from her past affect her business dealings. It must be hormones or something, but I sure don’t agree with how any of this is playing out.
But who am I to even question her?
Snap.
I’m learning from her.
Snap. Snap.
But. I. Don’t. Agree.
When I don’t snap myself, I exhale as I look at the red marks on my wrist and how the rubber band is digging into the bend of my thumb. I feel my body vibrate with uneasiness. I was raised to always listen to the powerful people around me, but I’m not that girl anymore. I am my own person. I slowly bring the rubber band back to my wrist and exhale once more. When I look up, I find Shelli watching me.
“You okay?”
My chest is shaking from how hard my heart is beating. “I don’t think it’s right that you are allowing your feelings from so long ago to bleed into your business.”
She turns to face me and holds my gaze. “It’s more than my feelings. It’s the fact that I don’t think he belongs.”
“Because of your feelings.”
She shrugs. “And because I lost the salary space for a really great player. Though, you and Posey are right. I am wrong. But it doesn’t change how I feel.”
I slowly nod, understanding what she means. “Which is fair, but you must control how those feelings seep into everything around you. You are my example, and I want you to be what everyone says. And all this has been very messy.” I’m hesitant because I really don’t want to lose my opportunity to work with her. But I also know she must respect my honesty.
Slowly Shelli nods as she holds my gaze. “Noted, and thank you.”
I let out the breath I was holding. “I hope my candor won’t cause you to hate me.”
She laughs. “Not at all. I may be coming off as a spoiled brat, but I’m not. I’m just frustrated, and I’d rather you be honest than kiss my ass.”
“I assumed so,” I say as I move toward her, walking in step with her. “But for real, screw him on a personal level.”
She smiles, her eyes sparkling as she nods. “For sure.” She looks ahead and tips her chin forward. “Let’s hit up the med concourse. I wanna show you all the cool stuff we have, and maybe I should look into some therapy.”