Mustangs!We cheer and then hustle out of the room.
The game starts off well when we take a two-goal lead.Burly takes an iffy penalty, and then Brandon scores on their power play.They’re energized by their goal and start to really come on.We’re spending way too much time in our own zone now, and almost inevitably Brandon scores to tie the game.
Fuck.Shoulda stopped that,Mats says as he settles onto the bench beside me.
You had your man,I reassure him.Because all we can do is our assignments.We’re a team, and we have to rely on everyone to do their jobs.We both know who actually blew his coverage, but there’s no point in finger-pointing either.The coaches will do that with the game film.
I stretch my neck to ease the tension, and that’s when I spot her.Evie is at my game.Her heart-shaped face is bright and smiling, and her dark hair is electric.She’s wearing a toque in Monarch purple.
Then I notice the blond guy she’s talking to.He’s round-faced and innocent-looking, exactly the type that she should date.But just because he looks like a nice guy doesn’t mean he is.That asshole Dougie looked like a fucking cherub.
I tear my gaze away; no distractions during a game.I skate onto the ice and line up to take the face-off.I focus on winning the puck and sliding it over to D.J.He moves into the offensive zone, and before being checked, he slides the puck to Murph.I get myself into an open space and yell for the puck.When Murph delivers it, I can see everything: D.J.being shoved by a Brandon defenceman so that both of them are screening the goalie, and the wide-open top corner.I fire the puck at that spot and watch it sail right into the net.
The goal horn sounds and the crowd screams their approval.I glide towards the boards with my arms raised.Murph hugs me and then Sinc tackles me from the back.Coty drapes an arm around my shoulder as we skate towards the bench to hand-slap with the team.We stay out for another shift but then the buzzer sounds to end the second period.The mood in the room is high since we’re back in the lead.But Coach Norman is not satisfied and talks about a couple of adjustments he wants in the third period.
Let’s bring this home, boys,I call out once he’s done.One of my skates feels loose, so I retie it quickly.When I stand, I’m the last guy in the room.
Without forethought, I dig out my phone and send a quick message, then shove my phone away.Coach hates distractions during a game, and I’m supposed to set an example.But I’ll make it up to him.I resolve to have a huge third period, to impress both the coach and…anyone else watching.
11
CHANGE OF PLANS
EVIE
KEEP YOUR EYE ON NUMBER19,THE CAPTAIN,KYLEBANKS URGES ME.HE’S OUR BEST PLAYER, and one of the best in the league.
I grit my teeth, but Kyle doesn’t notice.He keeps explaining the game, even though I’ve told him twice that I understand hockey.
Besides, number 19 is the last player I should watch.I’ve done what Viktor asked and stayed out of his way, avoiding all the places the hockey team hangs out.But that doesn’t mean that I can avoid thinking about Viktor himself—his kindness, his compelling personality, his vitality, his good looks.He’s the first man I’ve ever been sexually attracted to.So I certainly don’t need to see him on the ice as he demonstrates his superiority over mere mortals.
How unfair that Viktor is not only the best player, but also stronger and handsomer than anyone else.Although, Jordan was right about the men who rescued me.When I took my thank-you gifts to Roy Matsumoto and Jack Sinclair, I stood stammering on their doorstep.Mats looked like a fashion model, and Jack was exactly the kind of cheerful, clean-cut guy I had fantasized about dating here.Until I met Viktor and he became my new standard for male perfection.
Kyle is now explaining the offside rule, even though I didn’t ask.He’s blond, blue-eyed, round-faced, and pleasant enough.I came to the game with my Alpha Z sisters, but Monarch games are a big social event, so now our section is full of guys from Delta Theta Pi, the top fraternity on campus and our brother frat.
Many of our sorority events seemed to focus on meeting men.It’s not my preference, but I do need help in male/female socializing to reach my goal of getting a boyfriend.
Is Kyle a good candidate?He’s a nice guy, and he seems to be interested.But where’s the excitement I felt with Viktor?
Kyle moves from hockey to my lack of pop culture knowledge, something I’m becoming infamous for.While I understand that it’s a conversational device, I still dislike the teasing.Do I mock people over their inability to identify European countries on a blank map?
How can you never have seenPeaky Blinders?Euphoria?Okay, what aboutThe Office?Everyone’s seenThe Office.Were you living under a rock?
Luckily, Viktor scores a goal at this moment, saving me from having to admit to my under-rock existence before Monarch.
We’re all up and cheering as Viktor glides towards the bench.He looks up at the crowd, and for a moment he seems to look right at me.How would he even—no, I’m being ridiculous.It’s all part of my crush, imagining interest where there is none.
See, I told you to watch him,Kyle brags, as ifhewere the one who made the perfect shot while being crosschecked to the ice.I excuse myself to go to the bathroom.
Dawdling there, I wash my hands, brush my hair, and then check my phone.There’s a message from an unknown sender.
Can you meet me after the game?V
My entire body freezes.Then I look again to make sure I’m not hallucinating.I mean, it must be from Viktor, right?I run through everyone I know at Monarch, and the only otherVis Vanessa on my residence floor who has never even said hello.
Also, heknowsI’m at the game.He saw me in the crowd.Wow, wow.
Of course I want to meet him.When I made those varenyky for him, I hoped to hear something, but all I got was an assurance from Antoine that Viktor enjoyed them.
