The Day Has Come (Counting on Hockey #4)

Chapter 1: Fresh Meat

"Well, I have the new guy coming in today, and I have to meet him in the lobby in ten minutes. I'm having him work until four-thirty. I should be done here by five, and then we need food in the house, so I'll go to the store after that, then I have a meeting here at seven, so I'll be back here at six-thirty. We can have whatever you want for dinner, so you can text me a list, and I'll pick it up on my way through the store, and I'll make it when I get home, which should be around eight-thirty", I rush, trying to spit to all out before I forget it, telling it to Cole.

We walk our way into the stadium. I have three bags of stuff hanging off my shoulder. I did the same thing that Maria did for me, got a large supply of notebooks, pens, pencils, and other writing supplies. The others are filled with random things I've been needing to bring in over the passed few weeks. A new coffee mug, another sweatshirt, because mine went missing last week, another lunch box, because I lost my other one somewhere that is not at the stadium.

I'm about to start on another thought when Cole pulls me to his chest, planting a kiss on my lips, then releases me from his grip. He says, "Meredith Adams. One thought at a time, please. Calm down", he pauses, taking in a deep breath, making me copy his motions. "Okay Mere. What's the first thing?"

"I meet my new employee in ten minutes in the lobby", I say back.

"Okay, next thing?"

"I'm going grocery shopping after work".

"Then?"

"I have a meeting here at seven".

"What's the last thing?" 

"I'll cook whatever you want for dinner, so send me a list of what you want so I can get it when I'm out".

"Now then, we have that all sorted out, and I can understand you. So, go up to your office and drop everything off. Practice starts at ten, so the team and I will be on the ice. Bring this kid down so we can meet him. I will see you later". Cole places another kiss on my lips, this time a little longer than the first. 

"Okay, I love you", I say to him, walking away. "I'll see you at practice".

"I love you too, Baby". His nicknames, whatever he happens to call me, always makes my stomach flutter, and my cheeks turn red with blush.

I rush into my office and stock Jamie's desk with the notebooks and office supplies before putting everything of mine away and making my way back down to the lobby. I wait at the counter, then I see a young man, in his late twenties, maybe, I am only twenty-four, rush up to the front door and into the lobby. He looks out of breath, and his eyes connect with mine. 

The man, who I now can see is Jamie, walks up to me. He holds his hand out to me. "Hi there, nice to see you again".

I shake his hand, which are kind of sweaty, in a nervous way. His hand shakes slightly. "Hi! It's very nice to have you back. Please, don't be nervous. I won't bite". Jamie laughs, a little less nervous than his handshake, though. "Okay, so I'm head of journalism and marketing. Though I don't deal with much of the marketing, we let another person handle that, even though it's in my job description. Anyway, we'll be handling the top stories having to do with anything and everything about the team. I'll teach you more about it later, but for now we can head through our tour of the stadium, then to our offices".

Jamie smiles as I show him around. The different departments, even the ones I've never had to work with, the doors into the different parts of the rink, the offices of our coaching staff, where the locker rooms are, though I can't take him in because the team is getting ready for practice, and then finally, up to the journalism department. It's the smallest space, though most people consider that we have the biggest job, apart from the head coaches. There's usually nobody in the office, since I'm usually the only person working for the department, our marketers like to sit in a group on their laptops in the one conference room that we never use.

"So, this will be your new desk. I have stocked it with notebooks, pens, pencils, and other writing supplies that you will need to write everything down during the games. You can look through your desk and organize it the way you want for the next few minutes. Then, we will go down to the ice and meet the team that you will be writing for. They have practice this morning and they wanted me to bring you down to meet you", I say to Jamie as he opens the top drawer of his desk. "I will be in my office at the moment. Let me know if you have any questions".

I go back into my office and turn on my computer. I check my email and find one from Mr. Fletcher, saying that he wanted to meet my new employee, and a few more emails saying the same thing from our head coach and trainers. I answer the emails, telling them that Jamie was going to be at practice this morning.

"So?" I hear Jamie walk into my office door, he still seems quite nervous. "You said we would've gone over my work hours if I was to get the job. I was just wondering what they were".

"Oh, well when I started, I was told the same thing, so don't be nervous about that", I say smiling at him. He sits in the chair across my desk. "So, I was thinking, for normal days, when we don't have games and practices, which you'll get a schedule when the season starts, you'll start work around nine, I'm usually here around eight forty five. As for after work, I'll usually be here until between four thirty and five. If you had plans and you needed to leave early, I wouldn't have a problem, but you would need to work first", I say sarcastically. Jamie laughs.

"Okay. Thank you. So, eight thirty to five. Got it, thank you Miss. Adams", Jamie says.

"Jamie. Before you go back, can I just say something", I look up at him with a kind smile. He looks a bit worried. "One, please, don't be nervous. Just, take a deep breath, I promise, you don't have to be. Two, if you wouldn't mind just calling me either Meredith, or Mere. You are three years older than me, and it's already a little weird for me that I'm a boss of somebody else".

"Thank you, Meredith. I'll try to remember that".