My Hockey Alpha Neighbor

Carol’s POV

Soon enough. Aiden has fully reimmersed himself in the familiar routine of practice, skirmishes, and intense drilling. The team had no small amount of happiness, of course their last game had been a resounding success. Still, beneath the surface, the pressure has begun to mount as public expectations soar higher and higher.

The next game has even more weight placed on it. The Freeze had to prove their mettle as a team finally managed to achieve. There has been no small amount of buzz around their success.

a feat which they

Still, the matches are nowhere close to over! Most people are predicting that the Freeze will have to go up against the Capital after their next game. Even though Aiden hasn’t expressed his fear on the subject yet. I have the sense it hasn’t been easy.

With each passing day, Aiden and I see less and less of one another. Our schedules pull us apart more often than they pur n together. My work schedule has been only becoming more intense as Aiden’s training continues.

USCòntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Amidst the chaos, we do everything to find moments that we can steal away together. We find even the most fleeting solace in one another’s presence. Small moments cuddling in the evenings or sharing small kisses in the morning keeps the both of us going.

It’s just when I’m concerned my schedule couldn’t get any busier that my boss approaches me with a request. I can’t help but feel a pit of dread as he knocks on the door to my cubicle and steps inside.

Every time he has come to me recently seems to be some new public relations scheme. Today is, unfortunately, no exception. He smiles and leans against my desk beside me.

“There’s my favorite employee. Hey, I have some good news.”

My heart immediately drops. I force a professional smile. “Oh? What is it, sir?”

“Another promotional interview!” He declares proudly. “This one is going to be even bigger than the last, I can promise you

My hopes only sink further. All I can do is grit my teeth and nod as politely as possible. I don’t want to face the cameras again. I can’t help but think of the humiliation I felt last time.

My heart still feels heavy when I get home from work. I have a few hours to think about what to tell Aiden before he finally comes home. I try to remind myself that he wasn’t upset last time, but still, I want to speak about it with him

Aiden is just as kind as I knew he would be. “You’ve got this, Carol,” he says with unwavering confidence. “You’re a good person. I know you can handle anything and still come out on the other side with your morals intact.”

I smile, but I can’t help the worry still hanging heavy on me. “I’m not so sure. I could barely hold my own last time murmur. He squeezes my shoulder.

“Don’t let them push you around, if you can avoid it. You have every right to discuss your business on your own term

1 feel a wash of relief at Aiden’s kindness. I huff out a quiet laugh I guess it makes sense you’d have some good tips- sure you have plenty of experience dealing with pushy interviewers,” I say. Aiden nods knowingly.

“Oh, tell me about it. Here I’ll give you the crash course”

Of the course of the next week, Aiden spends some time giving me tips on how to shut down pushy interviewers and steer thar conversation bark to morr appropriate territory. He gives a few suggestions on how to keep my facial expressions quanded and how to be polite, yet firm. We practice all the way up until the night before the interview

After work and just an hour before my call time, Aiden is sure to take a moment to give me encouragement before I head to

the event. He pulls me into a tight hug

“I’m so sorry that I can’t be there,” he says, genuinely remorseful He had tried to get excused from practice, but unfortunately they had a conditioning day that had been planned months beforehand. I laugh dryly.

n

“Oh, please, don’t apologize. I’m glad you won’t be.” I half-joke. Although Aiden’s help has bolstered my confidence slightly, the attention was still nerve wracking.

“Hey, don’t worry, okay?” He smiles at me softly and gives me a kiss on the forehead. “How about this after your interview tonight, I’ll pick you up and take you on a nice date. Something to celebrate the success I’m sure you’ll be.”

1 smile thankfully at Aiden and squeeze his hand. He drives me to the studio and is sure to give me one last sweet kiss before I head inside.

As soon as I step out of the car, I’m intimidated by the sight of the studio. This talk show, Statford Nightly, is even bigger than the last one. The show is much more known for celebrity gossip and press tours than it is for any business news. I swallow my dread and step inside.

I immediately find myself surrounded by the glitz and glamor of celebrity culture when I step in. I’m swept away by a stage manager and a few hair and makeup assistants and am bustled to my changing room.

The atmosphere is electric as the team helps me get ready. They pull, comb, and spray my hair so much that I fear I’ll lose feeling in my scalp. The makeup artist glares at me like an unfinished painting and puts on makeup products I’ve never even heard of before.

A few members of the stylist team also take a disliking to my oudit and resolve to pick me something else out. They throw option and option on me until they’re finally satisfied. By the time they’re all done, I feel dizzy from the activity and the thick, perfumed air.

When the stylists spin me around to face the mirror, I’m shocked by natural I look. They’ve put me in a smart forest- green paint suit and coiffed my hair in a way I didn’t even know it could move. I blink at myself in shock and touch. almost expecting it to have been replaced by a wig.

my

hair.

The stylist team is apparently satisfied, and they move to head out of the room. I turn toward them awkwardly as they leave.

“Oh thank you so much

“You’re going on in ten,” one cuts me off. “The stage manager will get you and take you to your place in a few minutes.”

I snap my mouth shut and stare in surprise as they leave. I hutt Well, so much for saying thank you. I pace around the room. for a few painful minutes and try not to allow myself to be overwhelmed by all of the intense preparations.

Sure enough, the stage manager knocks on my door. “Follow me he says flatly. I follow after him through the winding hallways backstage. I get the impression he doesn’t want to make small talk

The atmosphere is electric, anticipation hanging heavy in the air as I prepare to step onto the stage. I can hear the chatte of the studio audience on the other side of the curtain. I feel another bubble of dread rise inside me.

Daniel is waiting backstage for me. He looks the same as always te claps me on the shoulder with a satisfied grin. “Carol, you look perfect, Just the look for our company’s leading lady,”

I try not to grimace. I feel certain that this interview won’t be any more professional than the last. I can only hope that Aiden was right

Drawing on Aiden’s advice, I take a deep breath and remind myself of my worth. I see the stage manager wave to and I. At last, I hear the fateful words.

arer wave to my boss

“And now, let’s welcome to the stage. Girlfriend of hockey play Aiden Cruz, it’s Carol

ol Miller!*

The audience bursts into applause. My boss steers me out from behind the curtains and under the bright lights. I swallow hard and try to strengthen my nerves.

Let the show begin.