Nellie, Jinx calls out. You have a gentleman caller.
What the fuck are you talking about? I ask as I jam my stuff into my gym bag.
He’s waiting in the hall. With a present. She’s smirking.
Of course, this has the whole team stampeding to the door to look out, even the half-dressed ones. Since I’m ready, I shove my way through the crowd. Mats is leaning against the wall. He looks gorgeous, dressed in his varsity hockey jacket and jeans. And he’s all alone, no Marjorie.
Hey. Are you waiting for me? I ask.
Yeah. Nice game, he says. Then he lifts one hand and presents me with a bunch of red carnations wrapped in cellophane.
Oh. Wow, I stammer. I have never received flowers from a man in my entire life, and I’m not sure what to do. I sniff them, and they smell spicy. Or maybe that’s Mats’s expensive cologne, which has been haunting my dreams.
Thank you, I finally mumble. But how did he know I was going to score the winning goal?
He peers at me. Um, you know they’re from Marjorie, right? I think she confused a hockey game with a ballet performance.
Oh, sure, I knew that. My attempt to sound casual would be better if my voice hadn’t squeaked. Fine, so I can’t cross getting flowers from a guy off my bucket list yet.
I can hear my teammates hooting and hollering behind me. I raise my free hand to throw them the bird.
When the chant, kiss, kiss, kiss, goes up, I say, Let’s get out of here.
Sure. Mats seems completely unembarrassed by all this. He is so chill.
We walk down the hallway.
Does it bother you that they think we’re going out? I watch for his reaction, but he only looks puzzled.
Who? Your team? Is that what you told them?
I shake my head vigorously. Of course not. But they assume the worst.
He raises an eyebrow.
Oh, fuck. I didn’t mean that you’re the worst. Everyone on the team likes to tease me, that’s all. Logically, it makes zero sense that first my teammates knew I couldn’t stand him, and now they think we’re going out. But maybe that’s me: someone so mercurial that nobody can predict my mood swings. But it doesn’t bug you, right?
He scowls. I don’t care what people say about my personal life. This campus is way too gossipy.
Whoa. That seems harsh, especially coming from Zen master Mats. It must be residual damage from his breakup with Lana.
We make our way into the arena lobby.
Where’s Marjorie?
Barb drove her home, he replies.
Wait, did she see my goal? I demand. Because maybe I did point at Mats, if Marjorie wasn’t even there.
Of course. It was the highlight of her evening. In fact, she left right after. She said that things weren’t going to get any better.
I turn towards him. Does this sound insane? I thought that if I dedicated a goal to her, it might help cement the donation.
From the way Mats looks at me, he does think I’m insane. How do you do that?
Do what? I ask.
Have so much confidence that you can dedicate a goal before you score it? Most players would point afterwards.
