As hard as I try, I can't get the image of Sidney Crosby staring out of my head. I'm not sure if his eyes are green or brown but I do know that they're intense. His body is incredible, and that ass – wow, but it's those eyes, that seemed to try and bore a hole in mine, that keeps flashing through my mind. I need to focus. My first team meeting is in ten minutes and it's going to be uncomfortable to say the least. I definitely can't be thinking about a hockey player, at least not in that way, when I'm supposed to be thinking about all of the hockey players. Besides, he can't be more than twenty three, twenty four years old. He's a kid. So why can't I get him out of my mind? I shake my head, as if that would shake my thoughts loose, and gather my notes. I won't have to refer to them but it's better to have them just in case.
I enter the meeting room and everyone but Tom is there. Checking my watch, I see that I'm right on time and Tom is late. This is not a good start but I refuse to wait for him; my meetings always start on time. "Thank you all for coming. I know it's the first week of camp and you're supremely busy so we'll be short today." I look around at the team and they look a little nervous but mostly interested. That's a good sign. "Over the next week, I'll be setting up one on ones with each of you." That's the moment that Tom comes in and doesn't even have the good grace to apologize for being late. I keep going. "So, I'll be setting up one on ones with each of you for this week. There are a few things I'd like you to prepare before our meeting." Everyone but Tom prepares to take notes. "First, I want to know one thing you love about your job. Second, what is one thing that could make your job easier? Lastly, what is one thing, as a communications team, that we could be doing better?" I look around the table and see some surprised faces. "There are going to be changes and things that I want to see happen; however, you have been involved with this team and this organization so I'm sure that you have ideas and I want to hear them." Now I see a few smiles so I think that I can let some air out of that tire.
"I have been spending the last week, since it looked like the lockout was going to end, on conference calls with coaches, office staff, media and the owners of course. The good news is that they all like you and respect your knowledge and abilities." Now there are more smiles so here comes the pin. "They also all agreed that we could be better. We're seen as complacent and without the drive to strive and be the best. I'm sure you're aware that this would not be good for any organization to think of the communications team. It's especially not good when it's from a sports team who pride themselves on being gritty and hard working." I pause a moment and let that sink in and glance around the table. Some faces show concern, some are surprised and Tom looks pissed. I continue "I haven't seen anything first hand so it could be fact or perception. In my experience, it's often a little bit of both. To be candid, I don't care what happened before I got here. What I care about is what we're going to do from today forward. There are a few things that we are going to do right away. Jennifer, I want a recommendation from you on how long the pressers should be. We will have time limits so that our players aren't over burdened by interviews. Be sure to consider how long it really does take to answer pertinent questions and when they start getting repetitive or off topic. Sam and Michelle, the In the Room series has been incredibly popular and we are continuing that series under Tom's direction." I hoped that this would give him an ego stroke but he stays stone faced. Oh well. "I would like you both to think of another behind the scenes idea that can be short and easy to produce by you." I continue and give similar assignments to each of the team members. I give one last thought to them. "I am not hierarchical. I believe that it's important to know who you work for and to take direction and be accountable to them; however, I will always have an open door. I encourage you to make use of that and tell me your ideas. I'm a firm believer that the solutions are here within our team and we just need to develop them. My vision for our group is to treat our clients, the players, like gold while still feeding the media beast. It's a very difficult line to walk but we will walk it well. I look forward to meeting with each of you during this week." With that last thought I dismiss the group.
Tom immediately storms out of the room. A few leave quickly too but tell me that they have deadlines before they head out. A couple want to chat a bit, welcome me and seem quite sincere about it. When I'm alone in the room, I sit down in a chair, collapse actually, and drop my head to my hands on the table. I'm going to have to deal with Tom's shit before it gets out of hand. I'd hoped it would be kept to private moments but he clearly showed in this meeting that he's bitter and doesn't care who knows it. "It hasn't been a full day. Is it that bad already?" I look up at the voice and see one of the coaches standing in the doorway. Shit, what's his name? I run through my mental rolodex and find it. He's Bill Guerin. "Hi Bill, no, everything is great. I think that the jet lag has finally caught up with me." He chuckles and comes in to sit beside me. "Liar" he says. I look at him surprised. I only met him this morning and he's calling me a liar. I arch an eyebrow at him, a move that usually makes men squirm but he just continues to smile at me. Ok, I guess I'll play along. "What makes you call me a liar Bill?" He considers the question and says "I'm only guessing but I'd bet your father talked you into taking this job. You probably made a deal to come in for the season and that's it. The CBA deal happened quickly so you weren't able to get here before training camp and then you swoop in and have to deal with Tom. He's a good guy, don't get me wrong Sloan, but he's also very prideful. Having someone come in to take over his department won't sit well with him."
I look at Bill again and he looks sympathetic. I decide in an instant to trust him; my instincts rarely let me down. "Are you a mind reader Bill?" He chuckles and replies "no. I've been around a while and I know this organization from top to bottom. I hope you'll give us a chance. You may not have wanted to come here but you're here now. This place can be so stressful that you want to shove a fork in your eye sometimes but the people are worth it. You won't find more caring or hard working people around and that includes your team. Like hockey teams, they need leadership and someone to coach them. From what I hear, you're the right person for that job." He pats my arm, stands and makes his way to the door. "Sloan, we will win you over" and with a wink he's out the door. What a character he is and yet oddly comforting too. I look at my watch and see that it's already five o'clock. I have no idea where the day went and yet I have so much more work to do. I gather my things and head out the door to my office. As I round the corner, at a fast clip of course, I run right into a hard body, trip and drop everything in my hands. Thankfully, he grabs my arms and keeps me from falling with my files. As I look at my rescuer, I see that it's none other than Sidney Crosby himself. Oh, and his eyes are green, an absolutely gorgeous green.
Most of the guys are gone when I get out of the change room. It's training camp so no need for suits yet. I thought I saw Mario here earlier so I head up to the offices to look for him. If you didn't know that the season had started you would know by the buzz in the offices. Phones are ringing constantly and people are moving around quickly and with purpose. Everyone looks to be happy that the season is under way. Mario's office is empty and dark so I guess he left already. Heading back down the hall, I come around the corner and collide with a woman. She's falling so I grab her arms to hold her up. That's when she looks up and I see that it's Sloan. We stare at each other for a moment with me holding her close to me. I can't break away from her incredible blue eyes although I also notice her perfume, how warm she is under my hands and that we're the same height in the impossible high heels that she's wearing.
She breaks contact first and tries to pull back. That snaps me to the situation and I drop my hands quickly. "Sorry about that" she says. "I wasn't looking where I was going" and she bends down to pick up her things. I bend too and end up colliding with her again so that I have to grab her so that she doesn't fall backward. She smiles at me and says "thanks again. Wow, I'm not usually such a klutz." She bends to pick up her things again and I'm transfixed by the way her skirt rides up to reveal an enticing amount of thigh. When she has her things, she straightens and says "we haven't officially met. I'm Sloan" she says and sticks out her hand. Her head tilts and I realize that I haven't said a damn thing the whole time. "Hi, I'm Sidney" I tell her and take her hand which is impossibly small in mine but her grip is strong. She smiles and I see that sexy dimple again. "I sort of figured that out. It's great to meet you Sidney. We'll most likely be spending time together so I was going to ask if I could have a few minutes of your time this week. I don't want to take away from your training but if you could find just a few minutes, I'd really appreciate it. Most of the media demand is going to be for your time and I want to be sure that the disruption to your routine is kept to a minimum." As she finishes, she smiles and that dimple winks. Damn, this woman is hot. "Um, yah, sure we can talk. Whenever is fine." Great Crosby, smooth as silk as usual. Army said it all those years ago and it still holds true six years later; I have no fucking game. "Great" she replies. "I'll look at your schedule and see when we can fit a chat in." I just nod and smile back. "Ok then, I'll see you later Sidney." She looks directly at me so I say "yep, see you later." She doesn't move but says "Sidney, I'm going to need my hand." Oh fuck, I've been holding her hand this whole time. "Sorry" I mumble, turn and almost run the other way.
As I walk to my car, I wonder again what the hell is wrong with me. I've never really been able to talk to women. The few girlfriends I've had, and there have been far less than I'm sure people think, I've met because someone introduced us or we were friends first. When I meet a woman that I'm attracted to and don't know, I simply freeze up and become stupid. Great first introduction to Sloan and she said we're going to spend time together. She must think that I'm an idiot. I cringe when I think of how I kept holding her hand. I'm so preoccupied that I don't even notice the fans looking for autographs until I'm almost past them so I stop abruptly and roll down the window. There are a few kids and I hate that they wait, especially in the cold, so I like to stop for them. With that chore finished, I drive to meet the guys for dinner. A few of us decided to have an unofficial team dinner. There's a few of us who don't have wives or girlfriends and we often go out for dinner together. Sometimes coaches or trainers join us.
After using valet parking, I head into the steak house and am escorted to the table. Most of the guys are already here so I sit in one of the empty spots and listen to the conversation. It centres on the moves in the league, who was injured in Europe and what's going to happen during the rest of camp. This is what I've really missed; being with the guys and having fun. The talk is usually about hockey or they're ripping on each other. I stay out of that fray but do enjoy it. They must have ordered a bunch of appetizers before I got here because food starts coming out and everyone digs in. I join in because I'm starving. Between the workout and practice, I definitely need to replenish some calories. As we talk about the day, it doesn't take long for the conversation to turn to the new staff member. "What about that Sloan? Who knew that Burkle had such a hot daughter? Have you ever met her Sid?" Nealer, who asked the question, and everyone else turn to look at me. I shrug and say "nope" but that's it. The guys go back to discussing her best attributes. It seems that there is a debate between her legs and her ass that begins to get heated. We're all surprised when we hear a throat clear loudly and look to see that it's from Sam Kasan who is also looking a little embarrassed. When we see who he's with then we know where the embarrassment is from; standing beside Sam is Sloan.
Without missing a beat, Sloan steps forward, grabs a piece of celery from TK's plate and says "don't stop on my account boys. A girl takes every compliment she can when she can" and then she sits down next Simon Despres, one of the new guys, and asks him about his season so far in the AHL. It takes a moment but conversation begins again only this time the conversation has gone back to hockey. Sam sits next to me and whispers "maybe I should have told someone that I invited her. It's her first day in town and I thought she shouldn't eat alone." I smile at Sam and say "it's not your fault. It was a nice thing to do Sam, really." He looks a little relieved. I'm sure he's nervous about getting a new boss and, although he really is a nice guy, he was probably hoping for some brownie points too for inviting the boss out. I glance over at Sloan and see her laughing at something Despres says. Her gorgeous blond hair sweeps over her face and she swipes it back once again revealing her beautiful blue eyes. I know that I'm staring and I can't help it. Thankfully the waitress comes to take our order.
As I watch Sloan throughout the evening, trying to do it so that no one notices, I see that she's very at ease. She flirts with Nealer and teases TK. She picks at something off of Tangradi's plate and laughs at a joke Morrow makes. I don't know how she does it. I always feel so awkward when I'm thrown into new situations. If it's about hockey then I'm fine; hockey has been my life since I was two years old. If it's anything else then I'm out of my depth and don't know what to do. Right now, everyone's attention is centred on Sloan. She's telling a story and every guy at the table is hanging on her every word. This makes it easier for me to study her. I notice that she's taken her jacket off and rolled the sleeves on her shirt. It plunges as I thought it did and reveals just enough to make me salivate for more. When she runs her fingers through her hair, I follow every movement. What is it about this woman? She must have finished her story because the guys laugh. "How come we've never met you before Sloan?" TK asks her. "Your brother and sister came out in 2009 when we won the Cup but you didn't." Everyone's eyes go back to her. For a split second I see something come into her eyes. I'm not sure if I'm seeing sadness but there is something there for a flash then it's gone and is replaced by a saucy smile. "Tyler, if you lived in LA, would you want to come to Pittsburgh?" The guys all laugh and then the argument about west coast versus east coast begins and everyone gets involved. I notice that Sloan is quiet now and seems almost detached from the group even though she hasn't physically moved. It's weird but I feel oddly protective of her and want to take away whatever it is that put that look ever so briefly into her eyes.