Sin Bin (Carolina Comets #4)
: Chapter 13

Emilia: I’d like to set up a day where our film crew can follow you around your apartment when you get back.

Emilia: We did this with Woodworth last year, and the fans loved seeing glimpses into his life outside of the rink.

Smith: Well, hello to you too.

Emilia: Sorry. In work mode.

Emilia: Hi.

Smith: This being-followed-around thing…do I have to?

Emilia: Yes.

Smith: Okay, fine.

Smith: But I’ll probably complain about it the entire time.

Emilia: I’ll make a note of that.

Smith: Can you also make a note that I’m being forced to do this stupid player profile? I’d like a content warning before every video, please.

Emilia: No.

Emilia: Also, you’re extra sassy today. Did someone piss in your cereal?

Smith: I drew the short stick and have to sit next to Miller during travel today.

Emilia: Wait…do you guys really draw sticks to see who has to sit next to him?

Smith: Yes.

Emilia: OMG!

Emilia: That is so mean!

Smith: You’ve met Miller, yeah? He’s exhausting on a good day.

Emilia: Okay, fine. That’s fair.

Emilia: Sorry you have to endure that.

Smith: Trust me, I’m sorry too.

Emilia: Try headphones?

Smith: Did. They don’t work. He keeps talking.

Emilia: Sleeping?

Smith: Also doesn’t work. He just talks and talks and talks. Even when I pretend to sleep, he still talks, and I can just FEEL him there, so I can never actually fall asleep.

Emilia: Have you tried kneeing him in the nuts?

Smith: That would be breaking dude code, so no.

Emilia: Protect all nuts, not just your own?

Smith: Are we really discussing my nuts right now?

Emilia: No. We’re discussing Miller’s.

Emilia: I’m glad this is on my personal phone and not the company’s.

Smith: That wouldn’t be awkward at all.

Smith: He’s still talking, by the way.

Emilia: What’s he even going on about?

Smith: Right now, he’s listing the acting credentials for Leonardo DiCaprio.

Smith: Just a few minutes ago he was detailing the timeline of STAR WARS. I have no idea how he’s made this jump.

Smith: I’m exhausted and in desperate need of a nap before the game tonight.

Emilia: Go nap so you can win.

Emilia: Oh, and let me know what day works best for you for the player profile.

Smith: I already told you, none of them.

Emilia: And I already told you, too bad.

Smith: You’re about as annoying as Miller.

Emilia: YOU TAKE THAT BACK, OWEN MITCHELL SMITH!

Smith: Cancel the player profile.

Emilia: What’s that?? You want to do not one but TWO TikTok dances?

Smith: *glares*

Emilia: Oh no, I’m oh SO terrified.

Emilia: ^Pure sarcasm, by the way.

Smith: Yeah, I caught that.

Smith: Okay, fine. We can do it the day after I get back since we’re off for two days. Happy?

Emilia: About the profile? Yes. About you insulting me? No.

Smith: I apologize that I called Miller annoying. He’s like, the HOTTEST guy on the team. Nobody with that great of an ass can be annoying. It’s statistically impossible.

Emilia: I’m really not sure you know how statistics work, Miller.

Emilia: Also, looking forward to seeing your black eye during the game tonight.

Smith: What bla

Smith: Sorry. Clearly Miller stole my phone.

Smith: I’m going to go murder him now.

Emilia: I’ll allow it.

Emilia: I was kidding about Miller’s black eye, but I’m pleased to see he was in fact sporting a fat lip.

Smith: Little shit stain deserved it too.

Smith: Can you tell me why the guys are sending me memes?

Emilia: Memes?

Smith: Yeah, you know, those funny pictures people make and post on social media.

Emilia: I know what a damn meme is, Smith. I’m asking you WHAT memes they’re sending you.

Smith: Oh.

Smith: Memes of me. During arrival photos.

Emilia: Oh. That.

Smith: Yeah, THAT. You knew?

Emilia: I’ve…seen some.

Smith: Okay, but WHY are they happening?

Emilia: It kind of went viral in the hockey community. It’s all over.

Smith: I’m viral??

Emilia: Yep. Great exposure for the team. Not so much for you.

Smith: What’s so great about the photo?

Emilia: I guess it’s because of the intense look in your eyes. You looked like you were ready to murder someone.

Smith: I was.

Smith: The other team, of course.

Emilia: Of course.

Emilia: Also…the comments didn’t help the situation.

Smith: THERE ARE COMMENTS?!

Smith: Okay, wow. I just read some of them on the team’s Instagram.

Emilia: Do you even have an Instagram account??

Emilia: The team is required to follow you if you do.

Smith: I do now, but I don’t intend to use it any. I’ll probably delete it, especially after reading some of that…stuff.

Smith: Should I respond to them?

Emilia: NO! Never respond to the comments!

Emilia: Actually, don’t even read them. Rule number one of the internet is to not even READ the comments. They’re dangerous.

Smith: They’re…something.

Smith: A lot of people were calling me daddy.

Emilia: It’s a compliment.

Emilia: You should have seen the ones we deleted.

Smith: There were MORE???

Emilia: Yes. Some are quite detailed. Reading them was…something.

Smith: All because of a picture??

Emilia: Welcome to the internet, old man.

Smith: *glares*

Smith: I’m not THAT old.

Emilia: Whatever you say, gramps.

Smith: Emilia…

Emilia: Owen…

Smith: You don’t do that often.

Smith: Call me Owen, I mean.

Emilia: Oh.

Emilia: You’re right. I don’t. I guess I never really thought about it.

Emilia: You’ve been Smith since we met.

Smith: That’s fair, I guess.

Emilia: Do you…want me to call you Owen?

Smith: Yes.

Smith: No.

Smith: I’m not really sure, honestly.

Emilia: I can see that.

Emilia: Is it weird being called by your last name all the time?

Smith: Likely nothing different than what military personnel experience, though sometimes it makes me feel like two different people.

Emilia: Which one is the real you? Smith or Owen?

Smith: Which one do you like better?

Emilia: Some days? Neither.

Emilia: But other days? I like them both.

Smith: I’ll make a note of that.

Emilia: You do that.

Emilia: Good luck tonight.

Smith: Thanks.

Emilia: What are some of your hobbies?

Smith: I don’t really have any.

Emilia: None??

Emilia: Puzzles count as a hobby, especially as much as you do it. I already have that listed, so I need a few more, something to build off of for content.

Smith: I don’t puzzle anymore.

Emilia: WHAT? Why not??? You loved it!

Smith: Lost interest.

Emilia: Hmm. That’s…sad. You seemed to really use it to help you unwind.

Emilia: You didn’t replace it with anything?

Smith: Not really.

Emilia: So what do you do when you’re not at the rink?

Smith: Wish I was.

Emilia: Come on. Give me something here.

Smith: I don’t know, Emilia. I eat, sleep, and breathe hockey. That’s pretty much all I do.

Emilia: That can’t be ALL. I get that hockey is a full-time job, but there’s no way it takes up all of your time.

Smith: Sometimes I volunteer down at the hospital.

Emilia: I know. I cover those.

Smith: No. Outside of the team events.

Emilia: Wait…really???

Smith: Yeah. Keeps me busy.

Emilia: That’s… I didn’t know that.

Smith: Not really something I do for the accolades, so I don’t advertise it.

Emilia: That’s really something, Owen.

Smith: I’d like to keep that out of the profile if we could.

Emilia: Of course.

Emilia: I’ll figure something else out.

Emilia: Thank you.

Smith: You’re welcome.

Smith: See you tomorrow?

Emilia: Tomorrow.

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