Finally, Cori looks up and smiles. Yeah, that save was nice.
I slap her on the knee. It’s a team game, and we’re a fucking team. Just worry about getting better each time you play, which you’re totally doing.
She nods and finishes undressing. I move back to my place beside Becks.
Doing all your captain stuff? she asks.
I can’t help it. When I sense someone’s down, I have to try to cheer them up. Like a fucking birthday party clown. I unlace my skates, then pull off my breezers.
No, it’s all good. Next time I’m sad, you can do the Mashed Potato for me. Becks raises her arms and wriggles her seated butt. We both laugh.
I wish there was video of Mats dancing. I imagine it was a lot hotter than your lame demo, she says.
He looked okay, I lie. When Mats shook his ass, the temperature of the entire mansion shot up.
Becks sees through my bullshit. Translation? He looked totally hot. You’re finally coming around to what everyone else knows: Mats is very desirable.
Wait, are you guys talking about dating guys on the men’s team? Jinx calls out. Because if so, dibs on Big Z.
Only if you want your heart broken. He doesn’t do relationships, Caroline Kelly declares. She’s dating Ross Murphy on the men’s team, so she knows all the players.
Players start tossing out the names of various hot guys on the Mustangs. Of course, Mats gets mentioned several times.
Most of them already have girlfriends, Caroline says.
And a lot of those girlfriends are in Alpha Zeta Mu, Cori points out. Obviously, that’s Lana’s sorority. The hottest guys on campus gravitate towards the hottest women.
And that’s the injustice of our sport. Guys that play hockey are in big demand, but women that play are considered to be too athletic, like that’s a problem, complains Jinx.
A lot of us are into women who do like women hockey players, Gilly points out gleefully. And she’s right; it’s an advantage for her.
Since the PWHL started, women hockey players are getting a lot more respect. We’re becoming role models to young girls, says Ella Smith. Trust Smitty to elevate a discussion on dating to bigger concerns like the professional league. That’s why she’s a leader on this team.
I like Ethan Unger, Becks whispers to me.
Really? He’s Mats’s housemate, you know. Ethan is a junior like us, so we’ve had classes together. I find him grouchy, but he’s not bad-looking.
Duh. Why do you think I offered to go over and help with the kitten that night? she says.
At the time, I had cursed Becks for trying to extend my time with Mats, and celebrated when he turned her down. Was it only a couple of weeks ago that I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as him?
Mind-reading as usual, Becks asks quietly, So, do I sense a softening of your feelings for Mats?
Maybe. I scrunch my nose. I hate admitting this.
Wow, don’t get carried away by all this passion, Nellie. She laughs. So, how come you don’t hate him anymore?
He’s nice. Like a decent human being.
Mats seems very steady. He’s the kind of guy you’d bounce problems off because he’d give you good advice.
Becks mimes pulling her hair out. Do I have to drag everything out of you? What exactly has he done to change your mind?
Lots of things. He’s a good sport. Everything I’ve thrown at him, he’s handled.
From making him eat fatty foods to repeatedly calling him Roy, I still haven’t gotten under his skin. Last Tuesday, Geraldine got Mats to help her rewind a skein of wool. Seeing him sitting there, with wool around his hands and Mr. Fluffer in his lap—it destroyed my image of him as a snobby jerk. He’s endlessly polite to me, even when I’m being a total brat. He treats me better than any guy I’ve dated, and he’s not even getting fucked for his efforts.
Becks leans closer. What about the stuff with Jordan? Did you ask him about that?
