Page 63 of Hockey 101

Either the timer or the smell of dinner has brought the other guys to the kitchen already. Everyone serves themselves and takes their plate out to the dining room.

Who’s getting booty calls? asks Bergy with his mouth full.

Ethan motions to me with his elbow as he cuts his chicken. Sinc. His girlfriend invited him over tonight, but he turned her down for us.

Bergy fist bumps me. Way to be. Bros before—

Don’t finish that sentence if you want to live, I growl.

Bros before respected members of the opposite sex, Swanny finishes.

Was she upset that you turned her down? Bergy asks.

Naw, she’s chill. Besides, we have an honesty policy. I eat some of the zucchini, which tastes great.

That sounds dangerous, says Ethan. You can’t be honest about everything.

I swallow. Why not?

This is really good, Mats interrupts. We need to keep this recipe in the rotation.

Thanks, Ethan says. And to answer Sinc’s question, what if your girlfriend wore some fugly new clothes and asked for your opinion? You’re going to have to lie.

Like those new big-ass pants. Bergy curves out his hands to demonstrate. You can’t tell anything about a chick’s body in those. I hate them.

Or if she asks you, ‘Do I look fat in this?’ That has to be the world’s stupidest question. Unless you have a death wish, there’s only one answer, says Swanny.

I mean honesty about important stuff. My sisters taught me that positivity is the only way to react to a woman’s new clothes if I wanted to live.

So, if Andy was DTF, she’d ask you straight up? That’s pretty sweet, says Bergy.

I consider this. Maybe, at some point, but we’re definitely not there yet. We haven’t even had sex yet, and I can tell she’s not really into coming here with all the guys around. So, it would have to be at her place…

Shit, did I just pass up a golden opportunity?

Interesting. You can actually see the gears turning as Sinc thinks. And he’s realizing he did pass up his golden opportunity. Swanny waves his fork at me. I’m right, aren’t I?

I make a face. Possibly.

I would never pass up a booty call, says Bergy. Hey, did I tell you that Andy’s friend Dawn wants me to model for her?

Everyone starts mocking Bergy, but I’m worried about Andy. I hope I didn’t hurt her feelings by turning her down.

Mats leans over and quietly suggests, Why don’t you offer to bring over dessert tonight? It’s still pretty early.

That’s a great idea. I pull out my phone and message Andy. When she agrees, I inhale the rest of my dinner, rise from the table, and load my plate into the dishwasher. The best thing about cooking is that I don’t have to help clean up.

Gotta jet.

The guys give me knowing glances as they continue to tease Bergy.

It takes me only twenty minutes to shower, dry my hair, change clothes, pick up dessert, and rush over to Andy’s residence. I take the stairs two at a time and barrel down the hallway.

I halt outside her door, smooth out my hair, and check my breath. Then the door opens.

Andy looks up in surprise. She’s wearing a red sweater that’s unbuttoned enough to reveal a glimpse of those gorgeous breasts. Her hair is down and her lips are stained red too. She looks spectacular.

Jack? You’re here already? Did you knock?

---