Page 59 of Slap Shot
“It would be nice to leave them here for the rest of the night. But I guess I should step in, right?”
“That’s why you wear the big C on your jersey.”
“Could be because of my big c?—”
“Ow, you fucker.” Ethan flips Grant onto his back and straddles him. “Apologize for pulling my hair.”
“Never,” Grant yells.
“If you don’t want to apologize for acting like a toolbag, you have to answer one of my burning questions.” Ethan smirks. “What the fuck is up with that notebook you carry around with you?”
“It’s full of numbers I get from girls,” he’s quick to say. “A way to keep track of their names.”
“There’s no way you’re pulling that much pussy,” Ethan says.
“Fuck you. I can pull whoever I want. I get plenty of action.”
“Maybe you should try and pull Hudson’s new roommate. If he’s not going to, someone should. I hear she’s hot as fuck. You could show her you know how to use a stick. Get it?”
“Hey,” I say sharply, and everyone stares at me. I’m not one to raise my voice, but I hate hearing this kind of shit. “I don’t care if that was a joke. Knock it the fuck off or save it for the bar when I’m not around. And keep my roommate’s name out of your mouth. None of you are touching her, and you’re not going to talk about her like that again. Got it?”
“Sorry,” they both mumble, and Ethan hangs his head.
“I come to book club to talk about books. Why? Because the last five years have been really fucking shitty for me, and this right here? This is what I look forward to every month. I get to hang out with my brothers and not think about hockey for a couple hours. It’s one of the only bright spots in my life right now, but I’m not going to stick around if this is how it’s going to be every month.” I pause to take a breath, fired up. “I know y’all like sex. I like it too, even though it’s been a while. I just don’t want it to be my entire personality.”
“We can talk about Dave’s Dogs instead? And how they’re going to name a hot dog after me.” Ethan climbs off Grant and offers him his hand. “They could cater our next book club.”
I laugh. “I’ll take Dave’s Dogs over learning how many women Grant has slept with.”
“It’s not as many as you think.” Grant stands and drapes an arm over Ethan’s shoulders. “Let’s listen to Huddy Boy and get back to the book.”
“Are you good?” Maverick asks when everyone starts arguing over the lack of third act breakup in the story. “Not sure I’ve ever heard you so fired up about something.”
“Sorry.” I laugh again. “I didn’t mean to go off like that.”
“Wish I could’ve gotten a hundred bucks for every time you said fuck. I’d be rich.”
“Says the guy with the league’s biggest contract.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I turn to the chapter with the grand gesture Ethan’s raving about. “I’m with you guys. Doesn’t get any better than this.”
SEVENTEEN
MADELINE
I tiemy apron around my waist and smile at the food spread out on the counter.
I always love this part of my job: mise en place. Getting my hands on the ingredients I’ll be using and bringing my visions to life.
It’s when everything goes from an idea, a concept in my planner to a full plate of food, and I’m still pinching myself I get to create dishes in a kitchen as nice as Hudson’s.
I start the playlist I like to listen to when I’m knocking out smaller tasks like cutting onions. Cooking meat and shredding carrots, and I hum as T. Rex fills the space around me.
“I never would’ve pegged you as an English rock band fan,” Hudson says, and I look up from the head of lettuce I’m slicing in half. “And ‘Jeepster’ too? Solid choice, KG.”
“Seems like you judged too quickly, hockey guy.” I laugh. “I like the tempo. It’s not too fast where I feel like I’m going to start sprinting around the kitchen, but it also keeps me on my toes.”
