Page 91 of Hockey 101

He jumps up and gets right in my face. He’s shirtless, as usual, and his chest is as red as his face. The guy looks like a heart attack candidate.

Yeah, I’ve got an issue, he snarls. You come in here, sucking up to the coaches and trying to take minutes from guys who have been here longer and earned their time.

The anger that’s been simmering ever since I had to back off from Bryce is now boiling over. I’m tired of being the peacekeeper. O.D. and I will never be friends.

Seniority doesn’t mean shit in hockey. It’s about hard work. And if by sucking up, you mean that I do what the coaches tell me instead of trying to showboat in front of a few scouts? Then yeah, that’s exactly what I do.

Tonight O.D. was playing for himself instead of the team, and that’s how our opponents managed to score their third goal. We ended up busting our asses to fend off a comeback that was all his fault.

The room is tense as everyone watches us warily. O.D. looks like he wants to take another swing at me, but a fight means neither of us would play the next game. I scowl at him, refusing to back down. Finally, he sputters and backs off.

I’m astounded. Is that all it takes to get him to lay off? I should have stood up to him long ago. Again, I have this urge to tell Andy what happened, but instead I start peeling off my gear.

The new sports editor, Joey Vincent, is here trying to be buddies with everyone. I already hate the guy. Two seconds after introducing himself, he joked that we must be happy to have a man on the job again. Nobody even smiled, because we’re all in Andy and Jacob’s corner.

Joey’s presence makes me imagine what it would be like if Andy were here in Wisconsin instead of him. Maybe she’d have her own hotel room, and we could get some privacy. The sex would be amazing, but joking and talking with Andy is what I really miss.

After a team dinner, some of the guys go out barhopping, but I go straight back to my room. I’m not exactly in a party mood. Seeing Andy in person this morning reminded me how damn much I want her back in my life. In the end, I just go to bed early.

The mood on the bus to our second game is amped. One more win and we could finish atop the tourney standings. Beside me, Bergy is yakking non-stop. I’m only half-listening when one word catches my attention.

Wait, did you say Dawn? Dawn Wheaton, Andy’s friend? I ask.

Yeah, were you not listening? I did that modelling gig for her and I’m pretty sure she’s crushing on me now.

Burly turns around from the seat in front and gapes. Modelling? Like in designer clothes?

Bergy preens. No. Artist modelling. She said I have the body of a Greek statue.

And the brain too, Swanny from calls across the aisle.

Wait, so you had no clothes on? Burly asks.

I kept my tighty-whities on. But everything else was gonzo.

Including all your body hair, Ethan taunts, and Bergy swears at him.

From what I know of Dawn, Bergy doesn’t seem like her type, but maybe seeing him half-naked changed her mind?

Still, I’m desperate for more information. Has Dawn ever said anything about me and Andy?

Bergy shakes his head, then pauses. Oh, wait. She said that you’re good for Andy.

This is great news. Really? In what way?

No clue. I was wrapped up in this plaster shit that kept getting hotter, so I had more important stuff to worry about.

As usual, Bergy is zero help. I return to tuning him out and worrying about Andy. Usually, I like to imagine what she’s doing when we’re apart, but right now we’re out of sync.

The bus pulls up to the arena, and we file out. I go down the steps after Mats, and he glances back at me with a smile. As I head towards the arena entrance, a woman calls out, Hey, Sinc! Can you sign my friend’s jersey?

I turn to see Emily, Andy’s friend, giggling. Beside her is someone with her back turned, so all I can see is a Mustangs jersey with my name and number. But I’d recognize the back of that head anywhere—shiny black hair pinned up in a messy bun. Andy. In my jersey.

I rush over and spin her around. She smiles up at me—with real joy. That haunted look I saw earlier is gone from her eyes. She looks almost as happy as I feel right now.

What are you doing here? I demand.

I came to see your game, she says—like it’s a completely normal thing to do and not a two-hour drive from Monarch.

---