Page 21 of Broken As Puck

Coach shook his head. “If you liaise with Chelsey, we can organize suitable times. Do you want to speak to any particular players or have me send along a random selection?”

Patrick pursed his lips. “In the first instance, we’d like to speak with Austin Harris, but we’re open as to who else to include. Later in the season, we might have particular requests, depending on how things unfold.”

“If you do, let me know and I can facilitate that,” Chelsey said, speaking up for the first time.

“I will.”

“Any other suggestions, Matt?” Patrick asked.

I intertwined my fingers and tamped down my nerves. “Depending on what angle you want to take, you could interview some of the players’ partners or family members.”

“We’re considering that,” Patrick replied. “We haven’t come to a decision yet, but it’s a good idea if we want to make it more of a human-interest piece.”

I snuck a peek at Chelsey, wishing I could read her expression. “That’s everything I had.”

Coach Dunn leaned forward, his elbows on the table, and began talking through his ideas. I relaxed back and let the conversation wash over me, stealing looks at Chelsey out of the corner of my eye. Hopefully, no one noticed. I didn’t think I was being obvious, but if Jesse had picked up on my interest in her, then I was clearly putting out some signs I wasn’t aware of.

Coach’s last suggestion caught my attention and forced me to follow their discussion again.

“You mean having one of the players as a liaison for the team?” Patrick asked, interest piqued.

Coach nodded. “Considering that Matthews here was willing to help out today, I thought he might make a good representative if you need a player’s insight or if Chelsey or I are unavailable.”

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Patrick said, scratching his stubbled jaw.

“It’s a good idea,” Kim broke in, surfacing from the phone she’d once again become engrossed in.

My heart pitter-pattered. If I was made the team liaison for the documentary, that meant I’d get to spend more time with Chelsey. It might even give me the opportunity to woo her.

“What do you think?” Coach asked me.

I grinned, my spirits lifting. “I’d be happy to.”

Thrilled, more like it.

I glanced at Chelsey again and my stomach dropped. She looked horrified. As if she could imagine nothing worse than being forced to interact with me. Guilt clawed at my insides. Perhaps I should take back what I’d just said, but then I’d look bad in front of Coach, and I really didn’t want that.

Besides, I couldn’t throw away this golden opportunity to get close to her. It was the only way I’d be able to see if there was even the slightest possibility of us rekindling things.

“Excellent.” Kim slid her phone across to me. It was open to a blank contact page. “Add your details here. Both phone number and email address, please.”

I typed my details in and passed it back to her.

“That about wraps things up,” Patrick said, rising from his chair. Coach Dunn did the same. The two men shook hands and Coach lumbered out, leaving me behind.

Chelsey shimmied around the table and headed for the door. I stood, intending to intercept her, but Max called my name before I had time to move. I looked from him to Chelsey and back again, then sighed. I’d be able to catch her later. If I was going to be a part of this project, I needed to do it properly and not just as a means to an end.

Max held up a finger, indicating for me to wait, and then reached into his camera bag and pulled out a photograph. When I looked more closely, I realized it was one of me. It must have been taken last season because I was wearing the team’s new uniform and was in the process of passing the puck to one of the forwards.

“I hate to be that guy, but would you mind autographing this?” he asked, smiling shyly.

“Of course.” I took it from him and scrawled my name in the corner. “Do you follow the team?”

“I do.” He grinned. “Chelsey and I were just talking about that yesterday. I’ve been a loyal fan and I’m hoping you’ll all reward me this season by kicking some ass.”

I laughed. “We’ll try our best.”

I handed the photo back and went after Chelsey. She was sitting at her desk, apparently fascinated by her inbox. I hovered at her shoulder for a good twenty seconds before I realized she had no intention of acknowledging me.