Page 11 of Hockey 101

We’ve reached Humphrey Hall now, and I invite her up.

Ugh, I’d love to, but I have an art history reading to do. Message me and we can meet for lunch this week. And admire the mural. Before leaving, she adds, Get Jack’s jeans back, and then get them off him again.

On the way to my room, I notice that Jenny’s door is ajar. I knock and poke my head in. She’s touching up her nails, each one decorated with a complex 3D flower. I could never type with nails like that.

Oh, hey, Andy. Sorry about last night, she says.

No big deal, I lie, since I must ask her for a favour. Again, I wonder why I’m doing all this for someone who needs to learn to clean up his own messes. Attractive guys take everyone’s goodwill for granted. Is Toby gone?

Yeah, he’s in his room sleeping it off.

I step closer and lower my voice. So, this naked guy came to my room last night. Jack?

She nods, completely unembarrassed. I have to admire the Real Freshmen of Monarch College—nothing seems to daunt them. He’s a cutie, right?

Oh, can’t say I noticed, being half-asleep and all. Anyway, he’s still afraid of running into your boyfriend, so he asked if I could locate his phone and clothes?

She motions vaguely with the nail polish brush. Yeah, sure. They’re all under my bed. I can’t get them or I’ll ruin my mani.

Sighing, I get down on my knees and curse Big Ass Boy yet again. Jenny’s under-bed treasure trove includes many pairs of her shoes, a textbook, and a bundle, which turns out to be Jack’s missing items. At least, I assume they’re his. Given Jenny’s casual attitude, I wouldn’t be surprised to find the wardrobes of multiple men down here.

I pull his stuff from under the bed. His silky boxer briefs are on top and I blush. Clearly I’m the only one of the three of us with an embarrassment gene.

Thanks so much, Andy. I was wondering how to get rid of all that crap. Jenny gives me the regal nod of a queen acknowledging a serf. Which is exactly how I’m starting to feel.

Maybe I need to assert myself more, so I don’t get involved in these situations again. So, this middle-of-the-night stuff with Toby won’t be a regular thing, right?

She shrugs. I hope not. But boys can be so stupid, you know?

That’s something we can agree on.

4

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

JACK

SWANNY LAUGHS. I think this message might be for you. He holds out his phone.

Tell Big Ass Boy I have his stuff now.

I grin. I like her.

Who?

Andy the RA. She thinks of me as Big Ass Boy, and in my head she’s Andy the RA. We already have nicknames for each other.

He looks back at the text and shakes his head. You into abuse?

That’s her style. Kinda sarcastic. But she’s chill.

Andy reminds me of a tiny, bossy instructor I had in summer hockey camp when I was twelve. She was this dynamo with wicked skills. I learned a lot from her, and she was also my first crush. I fantasized about her every night at camp. Nothing happened, of course. Even if she had been my age, I had no game then. Not that I have game now.

No accounting for taste, Swanny sniffs.

Man, another date? You have more luck with women than anyone. What’s your secret? Bergy jumps into the conversation, as he does whenever we talk about women.

No secret. Besides, it’s not a date. I haven’t even asked her out yet. Mats said not to rush into anything, but I did some thinking. I want to be with someone who is honest and straightforward. I’m not smart enough to figure out what a woman wants unless she tells me. Besides, all that second-guessing stuff is too much work.

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