The Inside Edge: Chapter Six

            Brianne was sitting at her desk, a half-eaten slice of pizza lying, half-forgotten on its plate, beside her mouse, checking the inventory list when there was a knock at the door. Without bothering to turn around, without bothering to take her eyes off the screen, Brianne called out a brisk, “Come in.”

            “Ah, hey girl…”
            At the unusually hesitant sound of Shana’s voice from behind her, Brianne finally pried her eyes away from the numbers ahead of her. Shifting slightly in her seat, she brought her eyes up—and stilled uncertainly at the look of bemused curiosity in that younger woman’s gaze.

            “What’s up?” Brianne was already half out of her chair as the words came out of her mouth. There was a drunk brawl about to break out, a woman had passed out in the bathroom…the fears of a restaurant manager swam dizzyingly before her.

            “There are people here who requested to see you?”

            “Huh?”

            Shana smiled mysteriously, almost slyly. “I didn’t realize you had family in the area?”

            “Family?” Brows furrowing, Brianne shook her head. “I don’t.”

            “You sure?”
            “What are you talking about?”

            In answer, Shana only laughed. “Okay, this I’ve got to see. Come with me.” Without a backward glance, Shana pivoted, her steps retreating smartly from the doorway, her heels clicking sharply on the polished hardwood floor.

            With a last, lingering look at the computer screen, Brianne did as requested. Her ballet slippers were almost silent as she followed behind her Service and Beverage Manager. Though she didn’t want to admit it, Shana’s words had sparked a swell of curiosity in Brianne.

            Her mother? But no…if she’d planned a trip to Idaho, she’d never have been able to keep it to herself. Brianne knew it wouldn’t be her father. He was at a business conference in Colorado. She’d spoken to him only that morning…

            These thoughts took her down the back staircase and into a narrow hallway located off to one side of the main floor. Navigating down the corridor and rounding the corner, her steps quickly bypassing the bar area, Brianne took herself toward the main dining room, only to stumble to a hard stop when she saw where Shana was headed.

            The table was situated in the middle of the space, the checkered table-cloth all but disappeared underneath four pizza pie pans, three pitchers of soda and at least seven plates—huddled around all of which were hockey players. Familiar hockey players.

            “Brianne!” Turning in his seat at her approach, Cory raised his hand in the air, waving at her in an endearingly frantic fashion.

            Standing beside his chair, one eyebrow raised incredulously, was Shana.

            “Hey Cory,” Brianne answered, though her voice was quiet, constrained as she hustled quickly nearer.

            “See, I told you she’d be here,” Cory said, turning back to the table of boys, which included Charlie, George, Beau, Fred, and Coach.

            “Guess what?” George asked, before quickly swallowing down a slice of pizza.

            Brianne smiled, but out of the corner of her eye, she noted that Shana hadn’t departed from the table. Indeed, the younger woman seemed only too comfortable standing there, observing what was undoubtedly a fascinating turn of events.

            Brianne cringed internally, wondering how many people would hear about this before Shana was through.

            Forcing her concentration back to the boys, Brianne smiled at George. “What?”

            In turn, he looked from Charlie to Beau and Cory and, in unison, they all shouted: “We won!” This was accompanied by four fists pounding excitedly on the table.

            “Hey, enough of that,” Coach insisted, but his voice was level, laid-back as he spoke to the boys.

            Still, they all apologized, but the smiles on their faces belied any true remorse.

            “You did?” Brianne asked excitedly. “That’s—that’s amazing! Great job guys!”

            “That’s why we’re here,” Cory informed her, with a quick incline of his head toward his father. “We thought it deserved a celebratory dinner.”

            “And for some reason, the boys got it completely stuck in their heads that they needed to come here,” Coach intoned, giving her a dry look. “Guess we know why now, don’t we, Fred?”

            The assistant coach chuckled. “Guess so.”

            “We knew Ms. Kelling would be excited.”

            “And I am,” Brianne was quick to assure the boys. Scrambling, her eyes leveled over the table as a small smile curved across her lips. “In fact, these pizzas are on the house tonight.”

            “What’s that mean?” George mouthed to Coach.

            “It means they’re free, idiot,” Beau answered.

            “Thanks,” Coach said, lifting up a hand, his eyes steady on Brianne, “but that’s not necessary.”

            “I never said it was,” she returned. “But it’s certainly within my rights as the general manager.” Leaning down she gave the boys a conspiratorial wink. “And you guys are right—this is a celebration!”

            Feeling the steady, unrelenting wide-eyed gaze of Shana behind her, with a sharp turn of her head, Brianne caught the tail end of that girl’s goofy grin. Raising one eyebrow pointedly, Brianne stared back at her, refusing to acknowledge the heat rising up her neck, refusing to acknowledge the embarrassment and conspicuousness clinging to her body. “Shana? Is there something else you need?”
            “No,” Shana assured her. Still, she didn’t make a move to leave.

            The dirty rotten little eavesdropper. Only, Brianne wasn’t sure how to express that without admitting that, well, that she didn’t want anyone to overhear her part in this conversation, her obvious familiarity with this group…

            Stemming the thought, refusing to admit to the guilt of where her admission was headed, Brianne refocused her intention. Being direct with Shana was out of the question. So Brianne opted for redirection. “Okay, well, in that case, I’m sure the chefs would love it if you helped them in the back. Probably they could use an expo right about now,” Brianne said, turning to look pointedly at the crowded tables. “Considering how busy we are.”

            There was absolutely no denying the order in that suggestion.

            “Of course,” Shana said, the cheekiness gone from her voice now. “I’ll just head back there now then, shall I?” But it wasn’t a question.

            “Hey, don’t let us keep you either,” Coach insisted as Shana took her hasty leave. The sound of his voice brought Brianne’s attention back to the table.

            ‘No, no, not at all,” she insisted, turning to make a face at the boys when she grumbled, “You only interrupted me from boring paperwork.”

            “In that case, it’s too bad you missed our game,” Cory said. “I got a goal.”

            “You did?” Brianne realized she was probably too pleased by the mention of Cory’s success, but it did little to lessen the rush of happiness at the news.

            “Me too.” This came from Beau.

            “You wouldn’t have if I hadn’t checked that guy…”
            “I wish I could have been there to see all this in person,” Brianne said, her voice rising quickly over what was fast going to turn into a squabbling match.

            As it happened, she would come to regret that comment.

            “Well, we have another game on Tuesday,” Cory informed her, turning to look up at her with baleful, innocent eyes.

            Brianne’s smile froze just the tiniest bit on her face. In her mind’s eye, she saw again that mocking little smile on Shana’s face, heard again her incredulity in Brianne’s office, her exaggerated amusement when Brianne greeted the table. It was only a matter of time before she’d be asked to explain this odd little community of hockey players, until she’d be forced to face the reality of the particularly mortifying (maybe even creepy) position she currently found herself in. Friends with a bunch of high-schoolers.

            And suddenly, it all felt a bit…different.

            “Oh. Well, geez, guys. I’m sure I’d love to go…”

            “We also have one on Thursday, as well,” George chimed-in.

            Brianne felt her face heating up once again as she fidgeted from one foot to another, trying to find the right words, pleading for diplomacy and tact. “Well. I mean, thanks guys. I-I, look, my schedule is pretty hectic right now though…”

            “We typically play Tuesdays and Thursdays, but sometimes we play on Mondays.” George again.

            Cory. “Or Wednesdays.”

            Charlie. “We even have a couple of tournaments.”

            “Those are fun. We stay in hotels,” George notified her.

            At the onslaught of words, Brianne nodded, but her eyes refused to meet those of the boys staring at her. “Yeah, sure. And like I said, I’m definitely going to try to make a game but I can’t promise anything right now.”

            “Right,” Beau snorted, the sudden inclusion of his voice, sharply edged and gritty, brought all other voices to a close. Snapping her gaze over to him, Brianne felt a pang at the petulant expression she met. “Where have I heard that before?” Looking down at his plate, Beau stabbed his fork into his slice of pizza. “Listen, if you don’t want to come, then don’t. It’s not like it’s a big deal.”

            The words, so angry and vehement, landed against Brianne’s ears with the force of a blow. They landed against the table with a slap, each of the boy’s smiles slowly lessening as they looked from Beau’s scowl to Brianne’s open-mouthed gap and back again.

            “No,” Brianne rushed to say, “that’s absolutely not––”

            “Whatever.”

            Brianne’s eyes swiveled helplessly now in search of the Coach’s gaze, looking for a little reinforcement. She was unnerved at the look of dismissal she caught there instead. Her voice lowered, pleading now: “No. No, you’ve got it all wrong. We just, we just had someone quit a few days ago.” A bold lie. “So I’m just filling in a couple of extra shifts lately.” Her arms swung out to her sides as Brianne turned back to the boys, braving their expressions. “But I’m definitely going to catch a game this season. I just meant, you know, that it might not be in the next week or so. That’s all.”

            Cory smiled up at her disarmingly. “No problem. Seasons just started.”

            “Yeah. Maybe Coach could give you our team schedule.” This offer came from Charlie. “It’s got all the games listed on it.”

            “She doesn’t want a damned schedule,” Beau muttered.
            Brianne stuck out her chin. “Yes, she does want one.” In retaliation, she turned to smile at Charlie and then Cory and George. “I can’t wait to watch you guys kick butt.”

            Coach cleared his throat. “If you want it, I can get you a copy on Sunday.”

            Brianne smiled tightly. “Perfect.” She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea anymore, these Sunday skates.

            Clasping her hands together, Brianne nodded to no one in particular. “Well, that sounds great.” Taking a decisive step backward, she gave each of the boys a fleeting smile, or at least she tried to. Beau still refused to meet her glance, his shoulders hunched and his head bent low as he scarfed down another slice of pizza.

            Waving absently behind her, Brianne made another move in retreat. “Well, I really should be getting back to it. Boring paperwork and all…”

            “Thanks for coming over to say ‘hi’,” Coach offered quietly. “And for the pizza, though you really don’t need to—”

            “No, no, I insist,” Brianne said, her words forestalling the argument she could feel brewing on his lips. “And hey guys, again, congratulations!”

            With those slightly-tuneless words peppering the air, Brianne turned and walked back the way she’d come, her feet taking her quickly out of the dining room and into the bar. Giving the full counter a cursory glance, Brianne took a sharp left, back down the dark hallway that, at its end, offered a set of stairs up to her office.

            She’d just grabbed the railing with one hand, her left foot already lifting to the first step, when she heard his voice.

            “Ah, Ms. Kelling. Wait up just a minute.”

            Pinning a determined smile on her face, Brianne turned her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Coach lumber toward her. On the one hand, she was glad for the darkened corridor, which partly shielded the weary lines etched across her face. On the other, she also couldn’t gauge his facial expressions, either.

            “Yes, Coach?”

            He grinned at that, the flash of his straight white teeth clearly visible. “My name is Mitch.”

            Brianne swallowed, feeling her face flush. “Right.” Tugging restlessly at the hem of her shirt, she squirmed. “Well, actually no, I didn’t know that…”

            “Listen,” rubbing a hand against the side of his neck, Mitched frowned, “don’t lie to them, okay?”

            Brianne’s eyebrows arched. “Excuse me?”

            “The kids.”
            “Yeah, I mean, I knew who you were talking about…”

            “If you have no intention of ever going to a game, just say so. They’d rather hear that I promise. I know you mean well, but––”

            Brianne’s lips puckered. Hands coming to rest on her hips, she jutted out her chin. “Why is it that everyone just assumes that I’m not going to a game?”

            “Maybe because we all saw your face when the boys mentioned it.”

            At the words, a rush of shame flooded Brianne’s person. “I was just…”

            “Trying to be diplomatic,” Mitch supplied for her.

            “It’s not that.”

            “Listen, it’s fine. In fact, I probably owe you an apology.”

            Brianne’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

            “Maybe I was too encouraging of them helping you learn to skate. It’s just—” sighing again, Mitch’s fingers were now running through his close-cropped hair. “These kids. They’ve had a hard year…some more than others.”

            “Beau?”

            As her eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting, Brianne saw Mitch’s shuttered expression at her guess. With a mental step, she backed off.

            “It’s none of my business, of course…”

            “It’s just, with you, these kids forget it all. The politics and the losses. For the first time, they started working together.”

            “Yes.” Brianne bit down slightly on her lower lip. “Yes, you said something like that before.”

            “And I’m sorry if I was putting you in a position that you didn’t ask for…”

            “Okay, hold up.” Raising one hand for emphasis, Brianne cut him off. “You’re right, I didn’t ask to be the boys, I don’t know, mediator on the ice or whatever, but I certainly didn’t decline the offer once it was made, either.”

            Mitch nodded once. “No, I know.”

            Brianne took a deep breath.

            “I’m saying, be careful. These kids, they need consistency right now. They need reliability.” Mitch shook his head. “So if you don’t want to go to a game, if you can’t make a single one, that’s okay. It really is. Just don’t feed them false hope. They’ve gotten too much of that lately.”

            Brianne took in a deep breath, battling back the urge to deny his charge. “You really love these kids.”

            Mitch smiled. “Yeah. I do.”

            “They’re lucky to have you.”

            Mitch averted his gaze.

            “And look,” reaching out, Brianne brought her fingers against his forearm. She figured, by this point, she owned him at least something of the truth. “You’re partly right. I was being evasive with the boys.”

            Mitch snorted.

            “But it’s not what you’re thinking.” Shifting on her feet, Brianne started to have reservations about her confession. Ducking her head, she mumbled. “It’s just…I’m new in town. And you know, I don’t know many people. In fact, I don’t really know anyone.”

            Cocking his head to one side, Mitch clearly wasn’t picking up the thread of her loose ramblings. “Okay?”
            “So. You know, it’s just…I wouldn’t have anyone to go to a game with.”

            His lips jerked into a smile. “It’s a spectator sport. Not a lot of conversation happens at games. Or at least, not a lot needs to happen.”

            Brianne rolled her eyes. “Obviously. I know that, but….”
            “But?”
            “Well, I mean I guess it just seems weird. You know, that my entire social structure is based on a high school hockey team.”

            Mitch bit back a laugh. “This is about your ego?”

            “No!” Brianne gritted her teeth. “But it’s just a bit…weird, you know?”

            “Too old to be their friend?”

            “No. But…”

            “Would it make it less weird if I said that I wanted you there, too?”

            Brianne’s mouth dropped open a little bit.

            “…and Fred and Brian do, too.”

            Smiling quickly, Brianne nodded inanely, oddly disappointed by those last additions. “Right.”

            “So hey, your social circle is definitely aging. And growing.”

            “Great. Mockery. That’s just what I need.”

            “Oh, chill out, Kelling.”

            “My name is Brianne.”

            Mitch smiled at that. “Brianne.”

            Almost against her will, Brianne found herself smiling back. “Okay, when you put it like that, it sounds kind of ridiculous.’
            “So? You going catch a game?”
            Brianne nodded once. “Yes.”

            “Okay.” Nodding toward the stairs, Mitch took a quick step backward. “Well, I won’t keep you any longer.”

            “Oh,” Brianne followed the direction of his gaze. Responding in kind, she reached for the handrail once more. “Yeah. I really should get, ah, back to it,” she ended lamely. Giving him a last half-smile, she climbed up the first couple of steps only to twist back around abruptly.

            “Mitch?” she called out.

            Slowing to a stop, he turned back to her, his eyebrows raised in question.

            Brianne hated the lie, but she figured it was the lesser of two evils, really…

            “I wasn’t lying earlier. The next week or so my schedule is crazy here but, but after that…well, after that, I’ll be more free.”

            With a slight incline of his head, Mitch acknowledged her words. “Sounds good.”

            “Okay. Well…see you Sunday.”

            Climbing up the stairs, Brianne wasn’t sure if she wanted to smile or cry. She couldn’t back out now. Not on any of it.

            She’d be there for open-skate like always.

            And she’d make it to a game.

            No matter what, she wouldn’t disappoint those boys.