Public Relations

We’re in Toronto. This is the last game before we head off to Western Canada. I’m sitting in the press box. There are two minutes left in the second period. I close my laptop and grab my phone off the desk. I start toward the elevator to go down to the dressing rooms. As I step into the elevator I press the button for the bottom floor when I hear someone call my name.
“Alex.” The male says. I recognize Beau’s voice. “Hold the elevator.”
I quickly press the button to open the doors again. The doors stop right before they close and start opening again. Beau, steps onto the elevator and smiles at me.
“Thanks.” He says.
“No problem.” I say smiling back at him. We don’t speak for a couple minutes. Finally I break the silence. “How’s your arm feeling?”
“Better.” He says holding up his arm, which is in a cast.
“I still can’t believe you broke it again.” I say shaking my head. “How can one person be so unlucky?”
“You’re telling me.” Beau says. We both laugh.
“I know you don’t want me to tell people how you broke it, but can you at least let me in on the secret?” I ask. “It won’t be part of the press release. I promise.”
“I don’t know about that.” Beau says as we step off the elevator.
“Please?” I ask pouting just a tiny bit.
“Fine.” He says. “You’re pretty evil with that pout.”
“I know.” I say laughing.
“I’ll tell you when we go back up to the press box.” He says holding the door for me with his good arm. “It’s a bit more private up there.”
“That’s because I sit by myself unless someone like you sits near me interrupting my work.” I say pretending to be upset, but my smile shining through.
“You love sitting with me. Don’t deny it.” He says. I laugh again.
“Meet me back here in fifteen?” I ask.
“Sure.” He says. He wanders into the dressing room. I stay outside the doors where a CBC and Root are getting ready for interviews. CBC is interviewing a Toronto player, so I stop in front of the Root camera.
I set up my laptop on the chair they have here for me next to Dan Potash.
“Hey Potash.” I say sitting down on the chair across from my laptop, next to Dan.
“Alex, hey.” He says looking up at me.
“Who are you interviewing?” I ask. I have a pretty good idea of who it is already, but I ask anyways.
“James.” He says.
“Yeah.” James says from behind me. Crap. I turn to look at him.
“Hey.” I say as casual as possible. I guess it’s impossible to avoid him at work.
“Hi.” He says. I hand him a towel. He wipes his forhead avoiding his hair. I can’t help me chuckle.
“What?” He asks looking over at me a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
“You and your hair.” I say.
“Got to keep it looking fresh.” He says.
“Always.” I say.
“Ready for the interview Dan asks from behind me.
“Sure.” James says. Dan and him step in front of the camera. I step back behind the cameraman and watch. I take out my phone and snap a quick picture. I post it to twitter with a caption about the interview. Right before the interview finishes James thanks Dan before walking off. He doesn’t even look back in my direction. That was fun. I stay to talk to Dan for a minute before I get my laptop and head in the direction of the elevator. Just as I’m passing the hall the dressing room I see Beau waiting for me up ahead.
“Ready?” He asks.
“For you to bug me? Not so much.” I say trying to hide my smile.
“You love it.” He says swatting at a strand of my hair.
“Sure. I love it when you bother me.” I say, the smile breaking through.
“Told you.” Beau says. We get on the elevator and I press the button to get up to the press boxes. Once we get up there and we’re seated I send out a tweet saying that Beau is here next to me. I scroll through my timeline on Twitter answering a couple people who mentioned me. The second period starts and I take a couple notes for some posts I have to make on social media after the game. Beau is mostly quiet through the period. He makes a couple comments about the game, but doesn’t say much else. There’s a bit of a long stop in play when some pushing and shoving starts happening in front of the net. The referees are sorting out penalties when Beau turns slightly toward me.
“So what’s going on with you and Captain?” He asks. I turn to look at him.
“Nothing why?” I ask.
“Just curious, you guys seem to spend a lot of time together.” He says. He looks back toward the ice.
“We’re friends.” I say.
“And James?” He asks.
“Beau…” I start. I’m not sure what to say at first. “It’s really none of your business.”
“Look I know I’m younger than you guys.” He says.
“Not by much.” I say.
“But I am.” He says. “I just want you to know I’m a good listener.”
“Oh.” I say. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He says. We’re both silent for a while.
“It’s complicated.” I say. “James I mean.”
“I figured.” He says. We’re silent again.
“I really liked him.” I say.
“Liked?” Beau asks turning to look at me again.
“I’m not sure if I’ve fully moved on, but I know I have to.” I say.
“Why?” Beau asks. I shake my head.
“It’s complicated.” I say again.
“I get it.” He says. “Just remember I’m here.”
“I will.” I say. We don’t talk about it again for the rest of the game. I wasn’t going to bring it up again right now and I think he knew better.
We ended up winning the game and everyone was pretty excited. I knew a bunch of the guys were planning on going out after the game and a couple of them asked if I wanted to go as well. I got out of it by saying I was tired and wanted to just relax tonight. That wasn’t exactly true. I really just wanted to get back to the hotel and hide in the room. I couldn’t wait to just get back to the hotel so I didn’t have to avoid anyone.

Notes

The month is almost over and this story is coming to a close.
I know that seems confusing but you will all understand soon enough.