Page 143 of Hockey Bois
mags says two when you going?
“So what is this thing with you and hockey boy? You guys friends-with-benefits or boyfriends? Is this an ongoing thing or a summer fling? Not sure if Canadian road trips are normal summer romance fodder, but maybe for hockey players they are?”
Jenna went on and on, and he let her so he could type.
Nick (12:19 p.m.)
prbly closer to 3 still gotta swing by the liquor store before they close & was gonna run/shower
you?
“I’m not sure romance factors in,” Nick said absentmindedly and hoped Jenna wouldn’t notice he was distracted. “It’s more like take-out, beer, and sex. And hockey, I guess.”
He briefly turned off speaker phone and had the phone almost to his ear when it vibrated.
He switched it back.
“I mean, didn’t that one guy dump you because you forgot to get him flowers for Valentine’s Day? Maybe romance isn’t really your thing and you just needed another non-romantic guy.”
Brady (12:20 p.m.)
k meet you there at 3. I’m bringing pbr can you get something with hops?
“Gary? Back in high school? To be fair to Gary, I think high-school relationships require more romance and drama than most. Also, what are you talking about? I’m super romantic. I got him a Jaromir Jagr bobblehead for Christmas, remember?”
“I refuse to dignify that with a response.”
Nick hesitated, then went ahead and typed what was in his head.
Nick (12:22 p.m.)
we could drive together
i could swing by your place if you want…
It was over text. Brady wouldn’t feel pressured to answer immediately or to answer the way he felt Nick wanted him to.
“What are you even doing?” Jenna whined. “I’m reading you the riot act here, and it sounds like you’re playing video games or something.”
Nick held his phone for an extra couple seconds, knowing Brady was on the other end, and waited hopefully. When no answer came, he sighed and turned off speaker phone again.
“Sorry, I was texting about something.”
“That party Terry’s ditching me for? I even got bottle rockets for him.” Jenna sounded genuinely disappointed, and Nick suspected the bottle rockets were as much for her as they were for Terry; he was just a convenient excuse.
“Probably the same party. Think most of the team is going.”
“No fair. When you gonna set me up with a guy on your team? Some of them presumably look decent under their helmets.”
“Unless you want to date a twenty-year-old, I think everyone on the team’s accounted for.”
“Boo.”
“You could come too. Brady’ll be there, so you can spy for yourself instead of bribing Gail to do it.”
“Gail works pro bono. I tip her with mojitos.”
“Mojitos? Really? Seems more like a hard-liquor kind of gal.”
