Chapter One
Kortney Brooks P.O.V.
The familiar high-pitched ringing sound blasts out of the phone speaker. My warm brown eyes flutter open, and I stumble out of my comfy bed sheets. I feel my way down the dark brown hallway to the phone and lift it from the holder.
"Hello?" my groggy morning voice travels through the phone speaker.
"Hey, Kortney. It's Herb. How ya doin'?" I recognize my Uncle Herb's Minnesota-accented voice immediately.
"Oh hey, Uncle Herbie. I'm doin' alright. How're you?"
"I'm doin' good. Hey, listen I was just wondering if you had any interest in helping me with a hockey team?"
I yawn and say, "What do you mean? Your team at the university?"
"No, no a different team. A more important one. The, uh, the U.S. Olympic team actually."
I rub my eyes, processing the information.
"The United States Olympic hockey team, eh? How'd you land that one?"
"It wasn't easy," he chuckles. "So, what d'ya think?"
"Of course it would depend on what I would be doing," I say.
"Well, I was thinking that you could just hang around and help out where we need ya: working with Doc on some medical stuff or putting out gear or something."
I sigh and stare at the ceiling, contemplating. I was thinking about taking a year off school. Just to take a break, as I have no clue what I want to really major in.
"Yeah, I mean I was thinking about taking a year off school anyway. Sounds good. Is Julie gonna be there, too?"
"Yeah, just got off the phone with her. She's real excited about seeing ya. I was also thinking that you and she could serve as a kind of…counsel office. Ya know, kind of bring the boys together or help them out with any problems they might have with each other or any of the coaches."
"Oh, yeah. Of course, when should I come in?"
"I was hoping you could make tomorrow at 8:00 am. Just come on into the U's main lobby and tell Cherie your name," he replies.
"Alright, sounds good, Uncle Herbie. See ya tomorrow," I say.
"Okay, thanks, Kort. See ya tomorrow."
Uncle Herb hangs up. I place the phone back into the holder on the wall and turn to shuffle back to my bed. I make it about halfway down the hallway before the phone rings again. I groan and turn back.
"Hello?" I say after I pick up the phone.
"Hey! Listen, I have to drive your way anyway, so I'll just pick you up and drive you to the U with me. Okay?"
I realize that I am talking to my best friend in the entire world, Julie.
"So Uncle Herbie already told you, huh?"
"Yep," her cheery voice rings through the phone.
"Um, yeah, I guess. Julie, I don't know if I should do it."
"What the hell are you talking about? You have to go! I can't go by myself. Do you know what that would be like?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just that you know how I get around guys, and that's all who's gonna be there. Twenty-six guys all coming to me for a pep talk? I don't know if I can handle it."
"Listen, it's been almost eleven months since you've had a boyfriend. You need this. You need to find a guy," Macy replies.
I sigh and rub my temple.
"Okay, okay. I'll go. But you are not gonna push me into a relationship, got it?"
"Yeah! Great! Okay, bye! Goodnight! Better get your beauty sleep in. You don't wanna look tired in front of the guys."
She has already hung up by the time I start to say goodbye. I shrug and scuffle back to my bed. Almost as soon as I lay on my side, my dreams envelope me.