The Hockey Life

PART FORTY-EIGHT: NEW JOBS
Since it was September, a lot of things had to change. The weather began to cool off, which was bittersweet. Tess and I had to search for better, more permanent jobs than our summer ones. However, out of all the changes, the biggest one was the fact that hockey season was coming back. That meant that the party was over and the Hawks had to get back into the habit of practicing for the preseason.
“So, how does it feel to be going back to practice?” I asked Patrick one morning. It was time for his first practice to prepare for the preseason, and it had been a while since he had played hockey in a professional setting.
“Pretty good. But I still don’t understand why you decided to get up early and come with,” he answered.
“I miss coming to your practices. It’s not like I have anything better to do,” I told him.
When we got inside he went to the locker room and I found a seat. I sat down in the 100 level and smiled to myself when the players got out on the ice a few minutes later. The last time I saw the whole team playing together was when they won the Stanley Cup. That thought sent a chill through me.
“Hello, Lena,” a familiar voice called out from below me. I spotted Brad and waved at him. It had been a while since I had seen him, too.
“Hey Brad. Long time, no see,” I grinned.
“I know. I’m really glad to see you. I was hoping you’d be here, actually. I have a proposal for you,” he told me.
“A proposal? About what?” I asked.
“Well, I would say that we should go to my office and talk to make things more professional, but by now I think we know each other well enough. You remember our trainer, Alyssa, right?” I nodded. “Well, she and her family have to move, so she’s not able to work here anymore. I heard that you worked a little over the summer, and now that you’re graduated, you’re able to work as a trainer virtually anywhere. However, I’ve spoken with a few others in the organization and we’ve come to the conclusion that the Blackhawks would love to have you working here full time as an athletic trainer.”
“So, you’re offering me a job?” I asked.
“Yes, I suppose I am,” Brad smiled. I grinned from ear to ear and my eyes lit up, but at the same time, I almost felt bad. I owed Brad so much after all the amazing opportunities he had given me, and here he was, giving me another one. But then again, what better way would there be to repay him than by working for him?
“I would love to work here! When can I start?” I joked. We talked it over for a few more minutes, though, and he actually gave me the schedule. I would be very busy with my new job, but I knew I’d also be satisfied with it. I’d be able to travel with the team now, so I wouldn’t ever be very far from Patrick, plus I’d be doing the job I wanted with the best team in the NHL (in my opinion, at least). What more could I ask for?
“I knew you would go far as soon as I met you in the internship, I’ll be honest,” Brad admitted. “You were part of a great group.”
“Yeah. I just wish Dylan could be more involved here,” I sighed.
“More involved? The only way he could be more involved would be if he joined the team!” Brad chuckled. I just gave him a look. I was a little puzzled by his joke.
“What are you saying?”
“Oh…you didn’t hear about Dylan’s new job?” I shook my head. “Dylan has joined the Ice Hogs.”
“I knew he would go far as soon as I saw him play hockey!” I exclaimed. Maybe he wasn’t exactly playing in the NHL, but he was getting there. Being on the Ice Hogs meant that he had a chance to move up to the NHL, and that would be huge for him. His dream seemed to be coming true like mine had so far. If I received any more good news, I probably would have exploded. I had a hard time sitting still in my seat for the rest of practice, actually. I wanted to jump around or dance or do something to celebrate. I thought I was all partied out from the Cup win, but apparently I had a little bit left in me.
“I’m so happy for you, Lena!” I received a chorus of similar messages from almost everyone it seemed: Patrick, Tess, my parents, Brian, my hockey girls. I appreciated the support from everyone, but I was more concerned with something else. After I told everyone else the good news, I pulled out my phone and composed a new message. Once it was typed out, I sent it to Dylan.

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw a response show up on my phone a minute later.
>Why? What did I do now?

>It just happened yesterday, Lena. Was I supposed to let you know the second it happened?

>Well damn, I messed up big time then. Sorry :/

>It’s extremely amazing. I’m so close to joining the NHL that I can almost taste it!

>I will, I promise.

>What new job?

>No way! That’s awesome!

>Well congrats to you too! I’m so glad he chose us for that internship. I seriously feel like that’s the only reason we’re involved in the jobs we have now. Otherwise nobody in that organization would even know we existed.

>True that

>I know, we’ll have to work something out with our new schedules. Maybe we can do something this weekend?

>Okay. I’ll talk to you soon, then

>Later
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I started working the next week. Preseason games had officially begun, so I had to be there. Even though the games didn’t technically count, the Hawks weren’t doing too bad. Since the regular season hadn’t even started, I didn’t have a whole lot to do at my new job, but I immensely enjoyed being with the team for games and practices. Traveling so much would take some getting used to, but I knew I could adjust. I was just glad Brad saw enough potential in me to give me the job I had been working towards for years.

Notes

Happy early Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you like the update :) Thanks for reading!