Page 16 of The Keeper


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“We’re happy to do it,” Alicia says. “Tara, why don’t we go talk in more detail while Billie meets with Cal about his role in all of this?”

“Sounds good,” Tara answers. “Billie, just bring Cal up to my office when you’re done chatting?”

“No problem,” Billie says, giving a thin smile.

As the two other women leave, Billie turns to me. “Well, this is awkward.”

Indeed.

8

i thought you said valium

Billie

“So, new guy, your name is Cal, then?”

“I said ‘Calum,’ the night we met.”

“I thought you said ‘Valium’ to be honest, but I knew that couldn’t be right. It was loud at the party.”

“Okay.” He looks at me, his profound statement aside.

Well, well, isn’t he the charmer.I walked in all excited this morning to have a way of getting this music thing going, and the guy I have to partner with is the same guy I randomly kissed after the show over the weekend.Oy vey.

“Look, I’m sorry I kissed you the other night. I’d had a few drinks and I thought you were cute, but obviously you weren’t that into it, so…” I give a helpless shrug in his direction.

“This is awkward for me, too. We’re adults, though. We can handle it, Billie.”

He’s not soft about this. It should make me feel better, right? To have him say we’re cool, that we can manage through this weird turn of events and work together? I mean, I guess that’s what he’s saying, right? It’s hard to tell because he’s still just as awkward as the other night, kind of standoffish and uncomfortable. His body language is stiff, like he’s just totally uncomfortable, even though his words are meant to make me feel more comfortable. It’s so weird. I feel weird.

I’m gonna try to shake it off, as the pop juggernaut Taylor Swift would advise.

Not a Taylor Swift fan, though. Just for the record.

“Just so we’re on the same page, Cal, you’re cool about the awkward stuff from the other night, and we can move past it to do this thing together with the kids and the music?”

He nods once. “It’s fine.”

I cringe. “Fine isn’t really the ringing endorsement of enthusiasm that I’m looking for here.”

He just shrugs at me and keeps nailing me with those eyes of his that remind me of the deep blue sea…and other things I shouldn’t be romanticizing. Nope. Not at all.

Holy hell.

I throw my head back and sigh. “Okay. Let’s start over.” I shove my hand out. “My name is Billie Hirsch. I’m the program director here, and I also play drums in a killer three-piece band with the unfortunate hipster name of Love Scrum. We are much better than our shitty name. I love music and hope to help the kids who come here to the club to love it too.”

He shakes my hand…and then he speaks.

“I’m Calum Lefleur. I just moved here from Canada and I’m the new goaltender for the Crush now, even though I didn’t want the trade. The Crush beat us in the playoffs last season. They’re the best overall team. I’m pretty much the best goalie in the league. It makes sense they called me in, but I’m still not thrilled about it.”

“That’s…arrogant,” I say, pushing my lips together in a dubious smirk. “Not sure I’m into the cocky. Dial it back a bit for the kids, okay? They’ll be starstruck and think you’re great anyway. I just want you to be accessible.”

“What does that mean?” he asks, sounding genuinely curious.

“It means that these kids come from all kinds of backgrounds. They weren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths, and it will be a treat for them to meet you, let alone learn from you, and I don’t want them to be disappointed if you act like an asshole.”

This seems to surprise him. He leans back, almost like he’s been slapped, and bites his lip, frowning. Or pouting. I think he’s pouting.

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