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Alice

I t was New Year’s Eve, and Alice was home in her townhouse. She was still supposed to be in the cabin, but she had flown home the day after Taylor left because she just couldn’t be there without him. That was silly, as they’d spent a few days together. Nothing should have been life changing, but it was.

But since he left, she hadn’t heard anything from him. The way he had seemed just as upset about leaving as she was made her think he wanted to try something, but all she got was the “I’m home” text.

When she got back, she texted him... still nothing.

This was familiar. This felt like ghosting, but she had been so sure of their connection. She would try one last time. It was two in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve. Her dad had mentioned a New Year’s Eve party the Magic was giving. Some players would be there, but it was not mandatory. She was hoping maybe he would be there.

She pulled out her phone and decided this was it. She had thought something was there, but she’d gotten it wrong before. One more day in this year, before her new self would not pine after any man.

But at this moment... there was definitely pining.

Alice: I was thinking about going to the New Year’s Eve party at the center tonight.

She set her phone down and pushed it away. How was she so nervous to text someone who had just made her feel incredible for three days? She got out the sketch pad and decided to draw while she waited.

About fifteen minutes later, her phone dinged.

Taylor: Have Fun

That was it... Anxiety was pulsing in her veins. Maybe she made it all up? But how was that possible? It felt so real.

Alice: Are you going?

Taylor: No

That was it. That one made her set the phone down and push it away again. She was so vulnerable, but she had to at least try.

Alice: Well I’ll be there if you change your mind.

The phone dinged, and this was it. Did she start her New Year, New Self with a hot hockey player boyfriend or was she flying it solo, trying to figure it all out?

Taylor: I hope you have a good time

Welp, that’s it. She had clearly read too much into it. She tried to push the tears from pooling. Fresh slate. Wiping at the tears streaming down her cheeks, she went to make a cup of tea. She had her plan: sit and wallow for an hour. Grieve what could have been, then get ready to go.

It was almost three, so she walked upstairs to her bathroom and opened the cabinet. It was time to get back to her natural color. She needed to get it right this time, needed to get her life figured out. New Year, New Alice, right?

She opened the boxes and got to work. Goodbye, colorful, cheerful hair... Hello, corporate-ready dishwater-blonde hair.

As she pulled up to the party, she gave her keys to the valet and made her way inside. Her sister was the first person she found. She was out on the dance floor with her husband. They looked like such grown-ups, which she supposed they were. Since they were the same age, it only made Alice feel even more behind in life. She caught her sister’s eye, and she smiled at her and headed to the dance floor.

“Alice,” she said, pulling her into a hug, “I missed you at Christmas.”

“I miss you guys, too.”

Her sister laced her arm through hers, and they made their way over to the bar.

“I can’t believe they had you out of town on Christmas. I think you should just move to the city and work for me. You could even live with us for a while. It would be great. You could help out with the girls and be closer to us.”

“That’s an . . . idea,” Alice said.

There was no way she was doing that.

“I just worry about our sweet little Alice,” she said, giving her shoulder a small squeeze and looking at her like she was a lost little puppy.

“No need to worry, Isabelle. I’m good.”

“I know you are,” she said, with condescension dripping from her voice.

Her sister meant well, but Alice always felt like a perpetual child in her eyes.

Later that night, she was sitting at the bar by herself. Her dad had been happy she came, but he was busy. And he was the only family member to accept her as she was.

“Alice?” her mom called.

“Hey, Mom.”

“We missed you at Christmas, baby. How was your trip? If they are using you over the holidays like that, you must be doing well.”

“Yeah... my project ended. So, I’ll have more free time?—”

“What are they going to put you on next?”

Alice was about to say she would look for another job, little white lies to get away from the shame of being fired... again.

“I’m not sure... I think I might be looking for a change of pace.”

Her mom gave her a look she knew all too well, one that indicated she was on to her.

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

“What is it you’re doing at this new job?”

“Oh, um... it’s mostly content creation for brands.”

“Oh, really? I was just talking to Sasha. You know Sasha, right?”

Alice nodded, unsure of where this was going.

“I think she might be looking for someone in content creation. If you started working for the Magic organization, you could be so much closer to all of us.”

“You just want all of us to work here,” she said, trying to joke her way out of it. Her brother was the team’s physician, while her sister was the only one who, somehow, didn’t still live in Glendale and work with the Magic.

“It’s just handy to have all my chickees in one nest,” she said, pinching her cheeks.

This is why she couldn’t work here. She was fairly certain her mom would show up to work and pinch her cheeks, then tell her she needed to take her job more seriously and buckle down and leave.

“Sasha,” her mom said, calling over one of the most beautiful women she’s ever seen in real life.

She walked over in a low-cut purple satin dress with a high slit. Her silver shoes sparkled, and a big, fat diamond ring on her hand collected all the light in the room.

“Hello, Mrs. Wagner, What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to introduce you to my daughter, Alice.”

Sasha turned her gaze on her and smiled and brushed her wavy ebony hair behind her shoulder. “I believe we met at the gala in the spring, but it’s nice to see you again,” she said, offering her hand.

“I was just telling her that you are looking to hire someone in content creation,” said her mother, smiling at Alice.

“I am. I hired two new people at the start of the season, but one didn’t work out. Are you experienced in content creation?”

Alice nodded and went to open her mouth, but before she could get anything out of her mother said, “She is. Her job has her working on Christmas and traveling, and I think having her here would be great.”

Sasha peered at her mom, taking her in. She got the feeling Sasha could see through her mother’s bullshit, which was good. But did that mean she could see through her bullshit, too? That might not be as good.

“Here, let me get your contact information, and after our road trip, I’ll set up a meeting and see if we can make something work out.”

“Oh, umm, okay. Thanks,” said Alice, giving Sasha her contact info.

“Excuse me, can I steal her for a moment?” said Conner McPhee.

Alice’s nerves went through the roof. He was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen in real life. Though more than that, he reminded her of Taylor, who she had been checking the door for every five minutes.

“Of course, you two have fun! This is a party, after all,” her mother said to them.

They left, leaving Alice alone with her mom.

“Why did you do that?” Alice demanded.

“Do what?” her mom asked innocently.

“Tell her I’m looking for a job.”

Which she was... but her mom didn’t know that.

“I just think if there is a job you could do and be close to all of us, it’s probably the best-case scenario.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alice asked, her hackles starting to rise.

“Nothing, darling, I’m just saying with your track record?—”

“Don’t.”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to help.”

“Well, I don’t need your help!”

“Alice,” she said with a pleading look, “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Excuse me, but I need to go to the bathroom.”

After grabbing her purse, she beelined for the hallway to slip into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her boring blonde hair was pulled back in a bun, making her face a little too round. Her perfectly suitable green wrap dress was fine. She was fine. But why did she feel like screaming, This isn’t me ?

Tempted to sneak out of the party and go home, she pulled out her phone... It was 11:30. She still had thirty minutes before New Year, New Me started. Maybe she could just go home and sleep.

“You can do this!” she told her reflection. “You just have to go out there and be a person for the next hour, then you can go home and go to bed.”

As she was finishing the last sentence, a woman walked into the bathroom. She was about the same height and build as Alice, and she had on a simple black dress, but her gorgeous red curly hair stole the show. She was beautiful. And she had just walked in mid mirror pep talk.

Alice hung her head in embarrassment coursing through her veins.

“Hi, I’m Kate,” said the woman who just entered the bathroom.

“Hi . . .” Alice mumbled and turned to leave.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Don’t worry. We’ve all done the mirror pep talk. I’m not always a huge fan of big parties like this,” Kate said warmly.

Letting her guard down, Alice chuckled. “Me either... They are so loud, and I always feel so awkward.”

“Same! If it were up to me, Wes and I would have just stayed home and celebrated that way.”

“Wes Darling? Wait . . . Are you Conner’s sister?”

Of course she was... The red hair gave it away.

“Yeah, I haven’t got your name yet.”

Before she could answer, the door opened and yet another woman more glamorous than Alice would ever be entered.

“Party in the bathroom,” she said before opening her purse and fixing her lipstick.

Alice had seen her out on the dance floor with Cash Hawthorn. She had recognized the beautiful woman almost immediately but didn’t say anything.

“Do I know you?” she asked Alice.

“Not officially, but I think your townhouse is right across from mine.”

While her voice sounded questioning of this fact, she was sure of it. She’d seen this beautiful woman coming and going. Not in a creepy way. Her desk just overlooked the parking lot, where several of her neighbors came and went.

“I think you’re right. Are you here with anyone?”

“No, I’m Coach Wagner’s daughter. I’m Alice,” she said.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Evie.”

And then the door swung open again.

“Wow,” said Sasha, taken aback by the number of women in the room. “I was wondering where everyone went,” she said with a soft chuckle.

“You good?” Kate asked, who didn’t seem to be forgetting that she walked in on Alice mid pep talk.

“Yeah,” said Alice, her mask firmly in place. “I’m good. It was just getting loud out there.”

“Are you really interested in the job, or was that a weird family thing?” asked Sasha. “I am looking for another person, but I got the sense she was bombarding you.”

Alice gave an actual smile and laughed at that. “You picked up on that, huh?”

“What’s going on?” asked Evie.

“Just my mom overstepping boundaries.”

“Girl,” said Evie, reaching out and grabbing her arm, “I totally get it.”

Sasha laughed like they knew something she didn’t.

“How about this?” Sasha said. “I’ll call you Tuesday, when I’m back in the office, and we can set something up. No pressure but just enough to get your mom off your back. And you never know it could be a good fit. If you want to send over some of your work, I can take a look at it beforehand.”

Alice nodded. Working for the Magic wasn’t ideal... It would put her around Taylor more than she cared to think about because just the thought of him brought tears to her eyes. But maybe if she worked with women like this, some it would rub off on her, and it would be good for her new self. Plus, if she had this new job, maybe she wouldn’t have to tell her mom she’d been fired from her last one.

Slowly, she nodded. “Okay, that sounds good.”

“I really like your necklace,” Kate said.

“Oh,” Alice said, clutching it. “Thank you, I made it.”

All three of the women examined the necklace. It was a vibrant, multicolored star pendant she’d made with small crystals and resin. It felt good because this was her own piece. And it was a splash of the color she craved. But she’d been told her whole life her outfits were too loud, she was too loud, her body was too much, her entire existence was too much. Which was so disorienting—because how could she be too much and feel so invisible at the same time?

“Wow. Do you sell these? I would love one,” said Evie.

“Really? I can just make you one. What colors would you want?”

“Hey, now! I need her to help me with social media, no poaching.”

The women laughed and joked, and Alice felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Camaraderie. How was that possible in this room full of beautiful, put-together women she didn’t know? But they all seemed really nice.

Evie shoved her phone in her purse and snapped it shut. “It’s almost midnight,” she said as she turned to leave.

“It was really nice to meet you,” Kate said with a genuine smile.

“You too,” Alice answered back.

“I mean it about the necklace. You know where I live,” Evie said with another smile before they all made their way down the hallway.

“And I was serious about calling you when I’m back in the office. Feel free to tell me no, but it would be nice if something worked out. You’re basically a part of the Magic family anyway,” Sasha said, taking her by the arm.

They entered the party, and the women all made their way to their men. Alice blinked back the tears. She wanted so badly to be going to Taylor and have him wrap her up in his big, strong arms, but he wasn’t hers. Not like the couples she was watching. The love was written all over their faces. These handsome hockey players adored their women, and they equally adored them. Alice had thought she had the same with Taylor... but that was just in their magic little cabin, not here in the real world.

Alice reclaimed her seat at the bar and ordered a Coke. She would wait until midnight, then turn into the pumpkin. She only hoped that when she woke up in the morning, she could find a way to be more like the women in the bathroom. They all had their shit together, but they were also kind. Maybe Alice could find a way to be more like them. Maybe working with Sasha would help her to figure out how to do that.

The countdown started, and the couples were all utterly lost in each other. At midnight, they all kissed and cheered and she couldn’t take it anymore. She shoved dollar bills into the tip jar and made her way to the door. She pushed through the door and booked it to the parking light, brushing away the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Tomorrow was the day. She would find a way to get her life together, find a job she liked and keep it. But most importantly, she would find a way to get over Taylor Campbell.