Page 4 of Hockey 101

He walks gingerly, probably worried that the spandex fibres of my leggings are going to give up their battle and explode into shreds like the Hulk’s clothes. When Jack skirts Jenny’s door like it’s radioactive, I can’t help but laugh. My anger dissipates. What do I care if someone I’m never going to see again has read my journal?

When he finally disappears, I shed my robe and glasses, and collapse onto the bed. I close my eyes, but my brain is too wired to get back to sleep. For the billionth time this year, I wish I could have afforded my own place off campus.

2

THAT GUY

JACK

WHOEVER SAID THAT women are like delicate flowers never had to walk across a college campus on a Saturday night in too-tight leggings.

The latest catcalls come from a group of drunken girls across the street.

Hey baby, why don’t you bring that package over here so we can unwrap it?

Like to take a bite out of that fine ass, another girl calls out.

Thanks for the offers, ladies, but I’ve gotta get home, I reply with a wave. There are a surprising number of people out at 3:00 AM, or whatever time it is. Since I don’t have my phone, I have no idea.

My admirers continue to taunt me. You can see his everything! Thank you, Lord!

Screeches of laughter follow me down the street. Christ. Will I top off this night by getting arrested for public indecency? The sweatshirt seemed to cover everything when I was sitting down, but now that I’m walking, my junk is very much out on display.

Only two hours ago, my new life at Monarch was going great. I went to a party with a bunch of my teammates, and everyone was so friendly. And then, um—Jenny?—got extra-friendly and invited me back to her room. Now I’ve lost my clothes and my dignity. Not that I’m big on dignity.

Fuck me. Was Cori right? I can still hear my ex-girlfriend warning me that moving to Minnesota was a big mistake. That I was a small-town boy who wasn’t smart or savvy enough to handle things in a whole new country. But why should I believe anything she said? She made it clear when we broke up that she hadn’t told me the truth for ages.

The front door of my hockey house is locked, something that never happens back home in Saskatchewan. And of course, my keys are back in Jenny’s room. But there’s a glow in the front window. Luckily, I live with four other guys from the team, so someone’s up.

I tap on the window until Swanny throws back the drapes and peers out into the dark. He looks nervous until he recognizes me, then he disappears and yanks the door open.

Fuck. You scared us, Sinc, he says.

Sorry. I make my way into the living room where he and Bergy are playing on the PS5. Karl Swanson and Tyler Bergstrom are sophomores and best friends. Although I’m still getting to know all the guys, I’ve noticed these two spend a lot of time gaming at night and sleeping by day. Guess that’ll change once hockey ramps up.

I collapse into the armchair across from them.

We weren’t expecting you back tonight. Bergy smirks, then squints at me. What the hell are you wearing? Are those yoga pants?

I yank the sweatshirt down over my junk. You know that woman I left with?

He nods. The tall blonde with the short skirt? She was hot.

If hot means psycho, then yes. I exhale. Well, it turned out she had a boyfriend she never mentioned, and I had to leave in a hurry. Without my stuff.

What stuff? Swanny asks.

Everything. My clothes, my phone, my wallet, my keys.

They both laugh loud enough to wake up our housemates, but nobody yells down at us. Good, because I’ve already done my share of waking people up tonight. That Andy chick was pretty pissed off.

Well, at least you got to have sex, says Bergy. He is obsessed with scoring, both on and off the ice.

Actually, I didn’t. Her boyfriend called her before we…you know. I was surprised she’d even answered it since we were making out at that moment, but maybe it was his special ringtone.

Then what happened? Swanny asks.

She shoved me out of bed and said I had to leave right away. That her boyfriend was coming, and he would kill me if he found me there. Obviously an exaggeration, but she seemed genuinely panicked. The only thing I had time to grab was my shoes.

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