Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Hey, you okay?” Suzette asked as she came closer to me. She pulled off her helmet, a few strands of black hair falling from her bun.
I sucked in a deep, calming breath before nodding. If I was going to lead this team, I had to keep a cool head. How could I hold us all together if I couldn’t even collect my own bearings?
“Yeah, sorry. Stupid boys got in my head,” I muttered, feeling glad that they were gone now.
Suzette huffed.
“I’m already sick of them. I don’t understand why they act like they’re Yale’s sweethearts,” she said.
“Because they’re good. And well-funded,” I replied. We needed to get our own sponsors or at least get their sponsors to like us too. If we wanted to attend any notable tournaments or events that would put our name in the papers, we needed money. It always came down to money.
“Well, we should put a game plan together. This team hasn’t ever gotten the sponsors and attention we need,” Suzette told me.
She was right. We needed to be more hands-on and involved in the business side of all this if we wanted a shot at being as known as the men’s team. It was a big feat since it was already a male-dominated sport, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
This year, everything would be different for this team. The boys weren’t going to run us out or run us over because we were going to be bigger, tougher, and better than ever before. They wouldn’t know what the hell hit them.
I tapped my stick against the ice to get everyone’s attention.
“Come on! Again!”
Chapter 5
Leah
After downing the last sip of my coffee, I tossed my cup into the trash outside of the athletic building, hoping that I had enough caffeine in my system to even keep me standing.
Between practices and classes, I was exhausted, but now wasn’t the time to slow down. Now was the time to do everything in my power to get the women’s team funded and acknowledged because there was a tournament across the country happening next month. We needed to go, but traveling that far was expensive.
So, I did a little research and some poking around until I found something promising. Edith Harlow was the CEO of a regional smoothie and protein shake shop that was incredibly popular. She was visiting the head of the athletic department today for a meeting, and I figured that there was no better opportunity to talk to her about being a sponsor for the women’s ice hockey team.
Over the past two weeks, me and the rest of my team reached out to as many business owners as we could, trying to secure more funding. We also talked to local people in the media, hoping for an interview spot or even a write-up. So far, we had moderate success with a spot in the school newspaper and a sponsorship from Lily’s dad’s local auto shop business, but we had a little more time to keep working.
Today, I was going to get us a win.
After adjusting the white blouse, fitted black pants, and black heels that I picked out for my “coincidental” meeting with Edith, I walked into the athletic building and made my way to the second floor where the executive offices were located. I lingered near the elevators and waited, acting like I was reading an informational poster on the wall and forcing myself not to tear off my uncomfortable heels. I couldn’t remember the last time I wore these things.
As expected, Edith emerged from one of the offices and headed toward the elevators. Even if she was nearing her fifties, she had the power walk of a younger woman, donned in a white pantsuit that complemented her short haircut.
I hit the down button for the elevator, acting like I was about to head down as well.
“Going down?” I asked her.
Edith gave me a polite smile and nodded.
I faked a double take, my eyes widening.
“Oh, wow. Are you Edith Harlow, owner of Shake It Up?” I exclaimed as I held my hand out for a handshake.
Edith tilted her head at me, seeming surprised.
“Oh, I am,” she said as she shook my hand. “And you are?”
“Leah Carney. I’m captain of the women’s ice hockey team,” I introduced myself.
Now, she looked intrigued.
“Really? Wow, I’ll admit I haven’t watched any games, but I can imagine they’re quite intense,” she said.
When the elevator doors slid open, I walked inside with her and hit the button for the first floor.
“Very. Constant action,” I told her. “It’s one of the most physical sports.”
Edith’s eyes grew bigger.
“Are you playing any games soon?” she asked.
“We’re actually hoping to play in a tournament in Denver next month, but it’s just a matter of funding and sponsors,” I explained to her.
Edith lifted an eyebrow at me.