She doesn’t look up. “It’s very educational.”
“It’s porn.”
“It’s romance.” She turns a page without glancing back. “With plot.”
“The plot is him scoring. I can tell from the cover.” I pause. “Wait, do you even know what the five hole is?”
“You’re just mad because it’s about a goalie,” Brody calls from across the aisle, grinning. “Cap’s got goalie envy.”
“I don’t have goalie envy.”
“You literally just complained about her book choice.”
Marnie finally looks back at me, eyebrow raised. “Are you jealous of a fictional goalie?”
“I’m concerned about your taste in literature.”
“My taste is fine.” She turns back to the book. “Maybe if captains were more interesting, authors would write about them.”
Dex decides this conversation is worth joining. “Maybe she wants someone who can actually find the five-hole.”
Rodriguez leans over the seat. “Oh shit, he went there.”
“I know where the five-hole is,” I say, but I can feel heat creeping up my neck, which is unacceptable. I never let their chirping rattle me. Especially not about this. Especially not in front of her.
Brody’s grin widens. “Knowing and scoring are two different things, buddy.”
“Captains are plenty interesting,” I say, trying to redirect.
“Name one captain in a hockey romance,” Marnie challenges.
I can’t. Because I don’t read this shit.
“That’s not the point.”
“That IS the point.” She’s trying not to smile now. “Goalies are mysterious. They’re weird and intense and they live in their own world. Captains are just... bossy.”
“I’m not bossy.”
“You literally just told Rodriguez to sit down three times before takeoff.”
“Because he was being anidiot?—”
“Bossy,” Marnie says, and goes back to her book.
Brody’s laughing hard enough that Dex elbows him in the ribs. “Cap, you just got destroyed by the PT.”
“I’m aware.”
Jake, sitting behind Marnie, leans forward. “I think captains are very interesting.”
“Thank you, Jake.”
“But goalies are definitely weirder. That’s just facts.”
“You’re all fired,” I mutter, and try to focus on the game tape.
Twenty minutes later, I lean forward again. “What’s it about?”
