Page 19 of Final Score

“You’re going to be great. Just picture him on the ice in his underwear if you get too anxious. That should clear it right up.”

“Have I mentioned lately how weird you are?” I ask.

“Yes, now quit stalling. We need to make it to the arena before this snowstorm hits.” Fallon answers, checking the radar on her phone.

The local forecast was calling for a blizzard this weekend. I may have been born in the land of sun and palm trees, but I had always wished for a white Christmas. It looked like this year; I’d be getting my wish.

Fallon’s suggestion of imagining the players in their underwear would never work. An entire zoo of butterflies and anxiety had taken over my body the second we arrived at the arena. When Jenner said he had seats for us, I assumed they’d be decent, but I never imagined they’d be rink side. I guess that’s what dating the captain of the team will get you. Fake dating Kat. Fake. Dating.

It’s not lost on me that there are more than a few glances and whispers being thrown our way from other bystanders. Fallon threw daggers back, before snapping a candid picture to ‘commemorate your first game as his girl.’ Her words, not mine.

With every passing second on the clock above the center rink, my anxiety grows. Bouncing my knee, I narrowly avoid spilling popcorn across my lap while looking around the arena. The stadium was filling up with college students and parents alike despite the threat of imminent weather. Sensing my discomfort, Fallon started people watching adding her commentary on relationships, wardrobe choices, and overall cleanliness to make me laugh. It helped, but only for a second.

At the five-minute mark, my phone buzzes with an incoming message.

Jenner:

Have Fun

Relax Kit Kat

I’m keeping score. Every goal we get tonight equals one orgasm you’ll get tonight.

Enjoy getting to watch your boyfriend kick ass

Be at the house at 11. Don’t be late beautiful.

I blush, angling the phone away from Fallon’s prying eyes. She didn’t need to know about this message. Though she would have been overjoyed if I had shared. Before I could respond, a booming voice came over the speakers, announcing the starting lineup for each team. One by one, the players exited a tunnel to our right, starting their warm-up drills.

Jenner was the last man out of the tunnel for the home team. I’d have to be blind not to notice how good he looked in that uniform. Damn. Even underneath the pads and gear, you could still his muscles move as he skates around the rink. On his second pass by our seats, Jenner smiles underneath his helmet before tapping on the glass three times. He turns skating backwards for one last glance in our direction, as I wished him good luck. Blowing a kiss in his direction. He caught it in midair tapping his chest.

For the next hour, Fallon and I watched the Devils crush their opponents. Individually, Oliver and Jenner were talented players. Parred together? They were unstoppable. The team was leading 2 - 1 when the refs called for a pause in the game. Snow was already accumulating on the road. The game canceled and the scores final. 2 goals. 2 orgasms. I wondered what I was getting myself into as both teams exited the ice.

“You alright?” Fallon asked, noticing the change in my demeanor.

“Yeah, I’m great. Let’s head over to the guy’s house before the roads get any worse.”

By the next morning, six inches of snow and ice covered the ground, just five days before Christmas. That meant Oliver, Fallon, Jenner, and I were stranded inside the boy’s house for at least another day until the roads cleared. Thankfully, none of us had flights out of the city until the day before Christmas Eve, so we had no reason to be out in the elements.

Stocked with enough food and drinks to feed a small army, we were set up comfortably for a nice long weekend. That is, if we could keep Fallon and Oliver from killing each other. They were currently in a heated debate about wither or not Die Hard was considered a Christmas movie.

Fallon was not backing down. She’d even gone as far as creating a chart to back up her side of the story. She really would make a brilliant lawyer one day.

“Alright enough, you two.” Jenner called from the kitchen, as the scent of popcorn filled the air. “We’ve already watched our favorite Christmas movies. We need a new activity.”

“Have any ideas?” Oliver asked, pausing mid argument.

“I don’t care, just anything to get you two to shut up.”

“We could play poker.” Fallon answered leaning across the poker table, picking up a deck of cards.

“I don’t think you could handle playing with us, my dear.”

“I’ll take that bet.” Fallon shot back, expertly shuffling the cards as Oliver watched eyebrows raised. What he didn’t know was Fallon’s grandmother lived in Vegas. She was an avid gambler and had been teaching Fallon the best card tricks for two weeks every summer since she was ten. “Care to make it interesting?”

“Always. What did you have in mind?” Oliver asked, eyeing Fallon like she was little red riding hood, and he was the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Two words. Strip Poker.”