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“So,” Nessy says when the conversation doesn’t immediately pick up.

“What’s up?” I decide to get straight to it since he doesn’t look particularly relaxed about whatever it is he’s going to say.

“We heard you made Sarah GM.”

He says it with a neutral enough tone, so I decide not to get offended on her behalf.

Not that his opinion would change much for me, if I’m honest.

Yes, he’s a great captain and hockey player, but at the end of the day, his job requires very little interaction with the GM on a day-to-day basis. Mostly, it’ll be Nessy’s agent who’s going to be negotiating with Sarah in two years when his contract runs out.

“I did.” I think about adding something, any kind of intel on my thought process when it comes to my choice, but I kind of want to see what he’ll say or ask next.

“She’s the first female GM in the League,” he points out, though . . .

“Is she?” I ask, almost conversationally. “I think Gabrielle Darnell has been acting as more of a GM for the Pirates than owner, but I guess in title, yes. Sarah is the first female GM for an NHL team.”

“Barry,” Hannah says, tone low and with a hint of a warning that amuses me.

Mostly because he straightens instantly.

“I think it’s fucking awesome, but it’s going to rub some people the wrong way.” His voice goes up with every word.

“Good.” I say, and this time I let my voice go hard. “If people get uncomfortable with me pushing back at the blatant sexism this organization and the League has stood for for way too fucking long, then I’ll sleep better every night.”

Hannah is the one snorting this time, and to my relief, Nessy smiles.

“Hell yeah, man.” He nods once.

“If anyone says shit, let me know, yeah? I’ll be all about weeding out the bad shit this off season.”

“You got it, boss.”

I grumble a bit at the title, but it’s true so there’s not much I can do there.

“And if they’re mad about the GM when we announce it next week, just wait until we announce the new head coach.”

Nessy’s eyebrows jump up his forehead.

“Can I get some inside info?”

“You’re such a damn gossip, Barry, I swear,” Hannah says with a sigh and rubs gently at her belly.

“You can’t,” I tell him and let a shit-eating grin take over my face. “I’m still working out the contract, so you’ll have to find out with everyone else. But I’m hoping to get it done by next week.”

“Can’t wait.”

I clap him on the shoulder, and realize suddenly that Sunny is his brother in law, that he’s been living with them.

A tight ball of awkwardness settles in the middle of my chest, which is ridiculous. No one but me knows how attracted I am to Sunny.

Don’t know yet what I think about that, but I do know this is already too much for a Monday afternoon.

Sunny

I knew the moment I saw them they’d be a lot more than Tucker, and I’m not wrong.

They go right for my resumé and want to know everything I think about early developmental pedagogy.