Page 71 of In It to Win It

“Is that speaker plugged in?” she asks, pointing at the Bose speaker on top of a bookcase.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I plugged it in.”

She picks up her phone and moves her finger over the screen, and music begins to play through the speaker. “There.”

“So, Taylor,” Dutch says. “If I said I’d like to score on you tonight, would you think I was being too forward?”

Taylor laughs nervously.

“Ever kissed a guy with no teeth?” he asks.

Her eyes fly open. “Um . . .”

“Because less teeth means more tongue.”

“Oh my fuck, I can’t believe I brought you guys here.” I blow out a breath. “Ignore him, Taylor.”

She laughs. Looking at Dutch, she says, “But you appear to have all your teeth.”

“Yeah, I wear my fake ones out in public.”

“Don’t even think of showing us,” I warn him.

“I didn’t plan to.” Dutch looks affronted. “Anyway, there are other reasons you should consider dating me.”

What the hell? Is he coming on to her? He can’t do that!

I narrow my eyes at him, but he doesn’t appear to get the warning.

“I’m good on the ice,” Dutch continues. “But I’mgreatin bed. Also, I have a long stick.”

Taylor bursts out laughing, unoffended by his inappropriate comments. “Good to know.”

“His stick isn’t that long,” Copper says dismissively. “And it’s curved.”

“Aren’t all sticks curved?” Taylor asks.

“No!” Dutch jumps in. “The blades are curved. Not the shaft.”

“Uh-huh.” Copper lifts an eyebrow.

“A player’s stick is like his fingerprint,” Abs put in. “No two are alike.”

“A stick’s a stick,” Taylor says, her tongue in her cheek.

I smile.

“No way!” Dutch leans forward. “There are so many differences. Curve, thickness, roundness, stiffness . . .”

Both Taylor and Lacey crack up. Taylor meets my eyes, hers dancing, and I have to smile.

“It’s true,” I concede, even though I hate that some other dude is making her laugh. Not to mention flirting with her. “Also the size of the knob.”

They laugh more and I relax a little. “And the way they’re taped,” I put in. “I like to leave the tip bare.”

“Just the tip.” Dutch smirks to more laughter.

The pizza arrives. We all eat and drink more beers, the guys continuing to be inappropriately entertaining. When they start taking their leave, Dutch says to Taylor, “Well, Taylor . . . if I can’t score, can I get an assist?”

---