Page 1 of Eye of the Hurricane (Weathering Doves Harbor #2)

Katherine

“No one’s going to take you seriously dressed like that.”

A deep voice echoes from beside me and I know when I turn my head, I’ll find some freshman who’s here for his first practice.

“Bite me,” I scoff, turning to face him.

Clearly, teaching your sons manners before sending them off to college is a lost art. At this rate, I’m not sure the art ever existed in the first place. The way men act sometimes, you’d think I was the first woman to ever pursue a career in sports.

You’d think I have on a clown costume the way he addressed me. I’ve got on a black dress, nothing crazy. I wear a dress every day and I’ve yet to have any issues with higher-ups. The players don’t tend to give me any issues either. When they do, it’s always a freshman.

“Just trying to be helpful,” says some guy I’ve never seen before.

I have no clue who this kid is. I’ve been with the team’s PR manager for a couple of years now. First as a shadow, now as a paid intern. It’s safe to assume if I don’t recognize someone, they’re new.

“I dress like this every day. They seem to take me plenty seriously.” I push past the newbie and over to the coach, who’s currently off to one side watching practice.

“Coach Black? I was hoping I could talk to you for a second,” I announce from beside him. He tears his eyes from the rink and looks down at me. On skates, I’m easily over a foot shorter than him.

“Of course, what’s up?”

“Well… this is my last semester here. I’ll actually be done in just over a month,” I start, fidgeting with my nails.

“When I’m done with school, Jacob said he would be putting in a good word for me with the PR team for the South Carolina Sea Dragons.

I was… uh… hoping I might be able to get a good word from you as well? ”

The stoic look on his face turns into a smile. “Of course! You’ve been great to have. Shooting for an NHL team straight out of college is quite the leap. I’m proud of you for trying.”

Hearing an adult tell me they’re proud of me is unfamiliar and honestly, a little strange for me. I thank him regardless, to be polite. I know deep down he comes from a good place, I’ve just never had those kind of people around.

“Thank you. It’s always been my dream. I just always assumed I would have to put in time with another college team or maybe even high school first. But Jacob said he has connections over there and asked me to try.”

“I think it’s amazing you’re shooting for the stars. I just hope you know it’s not a failure if you don’t get the position.”

I’m sure Coach Black knows me well enough by now to know that’s exactly what it will be for me. I don’t take failure well, nor anything that looks or feels like it. I’ve given everything I have to this dream.

“I’ll be happy no matter where I end up.” It’s only a partial truth. I’ll be happy wherever I end up. I just know nothing will be as great as ending up with The Sea Dragons. The Sea Dragons are South Carolina’s NHL team. The team that I’ve dreamt of ending up with my entire life.

“The freshman aren’t giving you a hard time this year, are they?” Coach asks. I consider lying but there’s no point. He knows the answer. It’s the same every single year. Also, I have no reason to protect sexist little boys from learning their lesson.

“I got the classic ‘you’ll never be taken seriously dressed like that’ from Lockwood,” I laugh. Coach Black doesn’t laugh. Instead, his lips press into a firm line like a disappointed dad. His reaction puts a halt to my laughter.

“I’ll talk to him,” he assures me. I nod my head.

Two years ago, I would have begged Coach not to say anything. I was so hell-bent on keeping the peace, and not drawing attention to the fact that I’m a woman in a traditionally male field. Now, I know I deserve as much attention and respect as anyone else.

I also know that if I keep covering for them, they never learn that what they’re doing is wrong. If making myself uncomfortable helps protect another woman down the line from comments like this, I’ll speak up every time.

Practice wraps up quicker than normal. Coach doesn’t keep them too long for summer practices. On my way off the ice, the newbie, Lockwood, stops me.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I was just joking around,” he says.

I should probably leave it there. Take his apology and move on with my life. And I would, except that he said he was joking. But no one laughed, not even him.

“Don’t come telling me you’re sorry just because Coach Black gave you a slap on the wrist,” I snap, pointing my finger at his face.

His cheeks are beet red and he looks like he might either start crying or stomping his feet.

He starts to cut me off, but I continue before he can.

“I forgive you, only because I don’t care enough not to.

Before you go looking down on women in spaces you don’t think they should be in, consider how much work it took.

” I turn on my heel towards Jacob, our PR manager’s, office before Lockwood can say anything else to me.

I make my way to Jacob’s office to find he’s not there, which almost always means he’s in the locker room talking to the players. I drop myself down on the couch in the corner and shoot Luna, my best friend, a message while I have a second of free time.

Katherine

Please say you’re free tonight.

Luna

I’m very expensive actually, but I don’t have plans.

Katherine

You get on my nerves. Can we go to The Sand tonight?

Luna

Bad day?

Katherine

I just yelled at a freshman for apologizing to me.

Luna

Sexist?

Katherine

Always.

Jacob walks into the room with a smile on his face, one that never seems to waiver. He’s annoyingly positive, but in that infectious way. On good days, it’s so fun to work with someone like him. On bad days, his incessant good-humoredness is nearly enough to make me rip my hair out.

“So,” Jacob starts as we lock eyes, “I had another conversation with the PR manager over at The Sea Dragons.”

My heart sinks to my toes and I think I stop breathing. This is the thing I’ve been pushing for my entire life.

“Yeah?” I ask, pretending to keep my cool. I’m not fooling Jacob, though. He knows how bad I want this.

“When the time comes, you’re going to have to go through the same interview process as everyone else. But, me vouching for you will definitely give you a leg up. You’ll still have to wow them, but you knew that already.”

“Okay, yeah. I can do that,” I nod.

A position on their PR team is all I want. Whatever needs done, I’ll do it.

“There’s something else,” he says, taking a seat across from me. “I don’t want it to make you psych yourself out.”

I straighten up, trying to regain my composure. But hearing that there’s something else, calm is immediately out the door. Internally I’m a forest fire.

“Go ahead,” I encourage as if my pulse isn’t thumping through my entire body.

“I don’t want you to freak out. You’ve got more experience than nearly anyone coming into the market.

You’ve gone above and beyond for the team here at DHU, and being brought on with us under a paid position also looks great.

” He’s telling me all things I already know meaning he’s looking to soften the blow of whatever comes next.

“The position changed. The Sea Dragons are now looking to fill the spot of their PR manager.” There it is. My heart stops. “I told them I still wanted them to consider you and they’re still encouraging you to apply. They love what I’ve told them about you.” I don’t know if I can do this.

I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled. Even more than being a part of the PR team, being its head is everything I’ve dreamed of. On the other hand, this is more than just shooting for the stars. This is like shooting for another galaxy.

“Shit. Okay, I’ll get my stuff together and I’ll wow them,” I assure him.

“Atta girl!”

Luna shoves open the big, wooden double doors of The Sand as a small bell rings above our heads.

The sight of the familiar interior alone is a weight off my shoulders.

It’s all bright blues, yellows, pinks, and oranges.

It’s exactly how you’d expect a coastal bar to look.

The bar itself is even painted to look like an ocean and its shore.

I’m sure Marco, the owner, thought he was hilarious when he named this place The Sand.

“What’s the vibe tonight?” Luna asks me, climbing up to sit on one of the bar stools. “Casual drinks? Shit-faced?”

“You know I don’t really get drunk. I just needed to get out for one night before I really hammer down to make sure I get this job,” I explain, while I slide myself onto the bar stool next to hers.

“Sooo… what I’m hearing is I’m getting shit-faced,” she pauses, pointing slyly to herself with her omnipresent manicure.

“And you’re sipping on fancy rich girl cocktails all night?

” She finishes her question by turning her pointer finger towards me while tilting her head and flashing me her million-dollar smile.

I roll my eyes but nod. She’s not wrong, but I could have gone without the rich girl comment.

“Yes. You’re getting drunk and I’m sipping on rich girl cocktails all night,” I confirm with a laugh.

“Marcoooo!” Luna calls out loudly, slamming her hand on the little service bell over and over again. If we didn’t put so much money in his pockets, he’d probably kill us or at least ban us.

“Oh no, not Thing One and Thing Two,” he does a fake drag of his feet, walking over to us. “Milkshakes and loaded nachos?”

Usually, if Luna and I come here during the week it’s for dinner, not drinks. So I can’t blame him for assuming.

“Not this time. Kat had a rough day, she needs one of those fancy little drinks. I’m here for moral support, so give me a double shot of… I don’t know. Pick something and pour,” Luna says with a shrug. I just shake my head .