“Oh, so she’s your sister-in-law.You’re family,” Stone says happily.
“No,” I say as calmly as I can when I want to throat-punch my teammate.“She’s mybrother’ssister-in-law.She’smyfriend.”For good measure, I add, “And we’ll be living together as soon as my stuff arrives.”
Stone’s whole demeanor changes.Good.I know I have no claim to Phoebe, but I want to, and if I must be an asshole and mark my territory, so be it.Just because I’m inexperienced doesn’t mean I’m stupid or uninterested.
Warm-ups end, and my line is on the ice for the national anthem.Carter takes the face-off and flicks the puck to me.I skate forward with the puck on my stick and use the bulk of my body and the length of my reach to keep it away from the opposing team.I pass it to Mac, who passes it to Carter.We skate toward the Aliens’ net as a trio, the two of us flanking Carter like we’re bodyguards.Carter fakes like he’s going to shoot on goal, but at the last minute, lifts the blade of his stick so the puck is free for me to snag as I follow behind him.The defenders for the Aliens weren’t expecting that.They’d focused on Carter and were slow to react to me.Taking advantage of their inattention, I fire the puck over the left shoulder of their goalie, scoring.
The goal horn sounds, and the crowd goes wild.I’m not one for flashy celebrations, so I do a simple fist bump and accept the hugs from my teammates.As I skate along the boards to get fist bumps from the guys on the bench, I glance up at Phoebe.She has a huge smile on her face and is wiping tears from her eyes.When she sees me looking, she waves and yells, “Yay, Ollie!”Somehow, over the din of the crowd, I hear her.Maybe not with my ears, but with my heart.
* * *
“All right, folks!”Bedard, the team captain, says.“Great game!Brick, you lived up to your name with that shutout.King and Mac, you’re now the Big Mac line.We gotta have Daphne see if she can get free burgers for our fans.”My teammates clap and yell, and it feels good.In Spokane, there was plenty of yelling, but no clapping.I could’ve gotten a hat trick every night and twice on Sunday, and there’d be no celebration—only grumbling about a goal that got through or that I was hogging the puck.But this is only my first game with the Devil Birds, and it’s easy to be jolly when we have a win.Let’s see how we do when there’s a loss and some pressure.That’s the true test of a team’s character.
We shower and change.Phoebe works early in the morning, so no chance to see her tonight.I can’t wait until my stuff arrives and I go home to her every night.I know I’m probably only here until the end of the season, and then I’ll move to wherever I find a job in computer engineering.I can’t imagine the Devil Birds extending my contract—they don’t really need me.Yeah, I got a hat trick, but the Aliens didn’t score any goals.That’s a testament to Brick Waller’s goaltending.We would’ve won with only one goal.They didn’t need three of mine.
It's lonely back in my room.Phoebe should be home asleep.My brother’s on vacation with his wife.My sister is a senior in her final semester of college.If she’s not out being social, she’s painting to prepare for her graduate gallery exhibition.I don’t really have other friends, since I’ve always been a loner.
My phone chimes, and I scoop it up in hopes it’s Phoebe after all.It’s not.
Devil Birds Group Chat
Stone: Hey, King.There’s an adult arcade downstairs with pool tables.A few of us are there.You’re welcome to join us if you want to hang out and unwind.
That’s unexpected.What should I do?This would solve my loneliness for tonight.I should try to be more outgoing for these few weeks.Or at least tonight.
Me: Yeah.Sounds good.Be down in a few.
The arcade is a floor above the main casino floor.Stone, Brick, Alvarez, Nathan Crosby, and Sven Lindholm are all there.I know everyone from playing against them, but I haven’t spoken to Crosby and Lindholm since joining the team.Crosby is a wombat shifter, and Lindy is the youngest player on the team and one of the few Europeans in the PHL.I think he’s a brown bear shifter.
Stone waves me over.He’s the friendliest player on the team.If I didn’t know he was a moose shifter, I’d swear he was a golden retriever.Everyone says hi, and several point me to a pitcher of beer and glasses sitting nearby, so I pour myself one.
“Thanks for the invite,” I say.“Do you do this after every home game?”
Brick laughs.This is the first time I’ve seen her out of her goalie gear.She reminds me of my sister, Violet, with her chestnut-colored hair, but she has green eyes, while Violet has brown eyes like me and Finn.They’re of a similar height and build, neither as tall and curvy as Phoebe.
“No.But all of us hang out here a lot.”Brick gestures to the group.“We’re about the only single ones left on the team.Everyone else is falling in love and coupling up.”
“The teammates are coupling up?”I ask.
Alvarez quirks an eyebrow.“Would it matter?”
I respect the direct question.
“No,” I answer, shaking my head.“I’m not homophobic, I don’t care if my teammates are gay, so long as they play well.But I am nosy, and I want to know things.The entire country knows my situation—it’s only fair.”
That makes everyone laugh.
“We need the whiteboard back at the Nest to draw this all out for you,” Brick says.“But you’ll have to pay close attention instead.Bedard is dating Coach’s younger sister, Kendall.Coach is engaged to Carter’s older sister Mallory.Carter is dancing onCelebrity Dance Darewith Mac’s sister Sophie, and they’re hooking up.Mac and Randi are in love.”She takes a deep breath.“Me, Stone, Bedard, Carter, Mac, and Randi all live together on the Carter family homestead.We’re in apartments above a converted barn.Coach and Mallory live in the main house.Sophie is staying in the pool house.”
Stone looks at the ceiling, tapping his chin.“Oh!Also, Daphne and Mallory are close friends because they worked for the company owned by Logan and Coach’s family.Daphne’s husband Logan is Coach’s cousin and the team photographer.Oh, and Kendall, Carter, and Randi went to college together and are best friends, and Sophie and Randi were best friends as little girls, and Mac has loved Randi since they were kids.”Stone inhales deeply as if he’s run out of breath.
I can only blink and picture the meme with the hyper looking dude in front of a bulletin board filled with papers and red string.“Wow.Okay.That’s a lot.There won’t be a quiz, will there?”
“There is,” Lindy says.“I had to take it three times.They took away my cup until I passed.”
I start to laugh but realize he’s completely serious.I shoot a glance at our other teammates, and Alvarez raises an eyebrow and gives the slightest of shrugs.
“Good to know,” I say as seriously as I’m able to.“I’ll be sure to study.”
