She smiles. Well, thank you. It’s nice to be appreciated. Look, since you’re the captain, I thought I’d ask you first. I’d like to write another player profile on someone from the women’s team. Do you have any suggestions?
In the fall, Andy wrote a profile on Ella Smith, which was epic. Of course, I knew all about Smitty’s injury, but even I didn’t know the full extent of her setbacks and frustrations before she could play again.
I go over the women’s team roster in my head. Maybe Woolly? She’s a two-sport athlete who does sprints with the track team. Jenny Fry, who is president of the LGBTQ+ club at Monarch?
I’ll have to think about it. Let me send you some suggestions, I offer.
What about you? she asks.
Me?
Yes. You scored a hat trick on the weekend, right? You do a lot of charitable work. And I hear you’ve got a ton of personality.
I snort. You mean I’m a show-off, right?
Actually, Jack and Mats both suggested you, she says.
Oh, right. You’re dating Jack Sinclair, aren’t you? Mats said we should go out with you guys sometime, I reply.
She nods. That would be fun. But what about the profile?
I’ll be honest with you. Smitty’s profile was good because she had been through so much. Nobody wants to read about someone like me—I haven’t had any hardships. I’m just—eat, sleep, hockey. And incredible sex with my awesome boyfriend, but again, TMI.
Andy frowns. I can tell she’s someone who’s used to getting her way. After all, she must have had to fight the power at the Messenger, where they thought that just printing the Minks’ scores for years was enough.
I’m sorry, Andy. But I will find you someone good, I promise.
We exchange contact info, and I head for the dressing room. But as I’m passing Burty’s door, she calls out to me, Got a sec, Nellie?
I detour into her office and plunk myself into a chair. Sure, Coach. What’s up?
I’ve been contacted by Monarch social media. They’d like to interview you.
Wow. This must be my day in the spotlight.
Halle-fucking-lujah. So, they’ve finally acknowledged that women’s hockey exists? I quip.
Monarch social media consists of the college-sanctioned accounts, which are geared more towards parents and prospective students, but most students follow them anyway. They regularly interview players from the men’s team, like new players or the first star of the latest game. But they’ve never done a single story on the women’s team. We may not be considered as sexy as the men’s team, but we are better right now. The Mustangs are only in second place.
Coach Burton snorts. I trust you’ll keep the sarcasm and profanities to a minimum while you’re interviewed.
Me and who else?
She shrugs. They only asked for you. Either because of your hat trick, or because you’re the captain.
That’s fine with me, but I prefer to share the spotlight. Hockey is a team game. Though I guess you can’t have too many people on camera at once.
When’s this interview happening? I ask.
She consults her notepad. Would today after practice work for you?
I pull out my phone to double-check my schedule. Yeah, I’m clear.
Fine. I’ll let them know. Make the program look good, okay?
How can I not? We’re awesome. I head to the dressing room, where everyone is grilling Fryer about a date she drove all the way to Minnie for.
Fryer is like me, someone whose dating life is disastrous and hilarious. But I can’t claim that title anymore. I don’t talk about dating Mats because—like I said to Andy—who wants to hear about someone’s perfect life? He’s smart and considerate, and he challenges me to be better. And anyone with eyes can see how hot he is.
