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“You’re new.”
My cheeks heat. “Is it that obvious?”
She waves me off. “Not at all. I’ve covered the Kingsmen for the past three years and I would have recognized you.”
My shoulders relax. “I just moved here to take this job.”
“Good for you. Great opportunity, but still, it’s scary, right? At least that’s how I felt when I moved to take the job at theChronicle.”
“Oh, where were you before you came here?”
“Idaho.” Her tone suggests I’d think less of her. “Go ahead with the potato jokes. Don’t be shy.”
“I won’t say potato if you don’t ask me about cheese.” I raise my hand. “Wisconsin.”
She chuckles. “Deal.”
I’ve always liked my home state, but it’s true that being surrounded by vast farmland and cows leaves you itching for more. “I take it you like California?”
Her smile transforms her face and makes her eyes sparkle. “Love it. There’s so much to see and do. The weather is almost always perfect. I don’t even mind the foggy days in the city.”
“Do you live around here or are you in San Francisco?”
That was one of the big questions when I moved here—would I live in the San Jose area, closer to the arena and training center, or base myself in nearby San Francisco? I opted, for financial reasons, to live in San Jose. San Francisco rent is insane and I don’t want to be scraping by to make ends meet.
“I pay a small fortune to live in San Fran, but it’s worth it. That’s where all the action is.” She grins, and I’m instantly attracted to her personality and want to be her new best friend. “What about you?”
“I’m in San Jose. Would’ve liked to be in the city, but then I’d be forced to maintain my college student diet and I enjoy my expensive lattes too much.”
She laughs. “I hear you. Believe me. Every month when my rent clears my bank account, I cry.”
We both laugh.
She studies me for a moment then says, “What are you doing this weekend?”
My head draws back.
“Any chance you might want to come into the city for some fun?”
I continue to stare at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her forehead wrinkles.
“Sorry, it’s just… you don’t even know me. Is this some reporter thing where you befriend me and try to get me to spill dirt on the team?”
We’ve been warned about talking to the press. If they ask us questions, we have to keep our responses noncommittal and not say anything about any of the athletes’ health.
She laughs so hard she’s folded over at the waist. When she straightens, she looks at me with a smile. “Not at all. In fact, we don’t even have to talk about the team if you don’t want. I just figured you’re new in town and you probably don’t know a lot of people. I remember how lonely I felt.” I eye her skeptically, and she holds her hands up in front of her. Damn Lee for making me insecure about people’s intentions. “I swear. I have some colleagues I consider acquaintances, but I’ve never really connected with anyone around my own age since I moved here a few years ago. And I thought you might have the same dilemma here among mostly men.” She eyes me and I giggle. “Who knew making friends as adults was so hard? I briefly thought I might need a kid, but I’d be that lady with a baby at a nightclub, grinding.”
She’s right about that. Dating is hard, but I swear, making friends is even harder.
The tension leaves my body. She’s just looking for a friend like I am. “Sure, that sounds like fun.”
“Awesome. What’s your cell number? I’ll add you to my phone and send you the details.”
We exchange numbers and a warm feeling spreads through my chest. I’m hopeful I’m on the way to having my first friend in my new hometown. Especially someone as outgoing as Bryce. I need someone to pull me out of my introverted ways and force me out of my comfort zone from time to time.
“Perfect.” Bryce slides her phone into her cross-body bag. “I’d better go get some quotes, otherwise my editor will have my ass. Looking forward to this weekend.”
