Page 41

Nicole

When I’m an hour outside Austin, I punch in my friend Christina Donovan’s number on my car’s display. She made me promise to call when I got back from Christmas at my family’s. We’ve been friends since attending UT together, although she’s a few years older, so she knows how I feel about trips home, and she worries about me on the long drive. She’s also a billionaire and part-owner of the new Austin NHL team, the Texas Tornadoes, so she has the resources to send help should I need it.

“Hey, are you home?” she asks.

“No, but I’m less than an hour out. I can almost see the skyline.”

“How was it?”

“The same.” I shrug even though she can’t see it. “They barely sat down for the meal before they were out doing ranch chores again.”

“I guess that’s better than pestering you to help with them.”

“True. What are you doing? I’m beat from almost nine hours in the car, but I sure could use some company and a drink.”

“Oh, uh, we were going to get Mattie from the airport in a bit.”

Mathieu du Près is the most charming, beautiful man I’ve seen in a long time and an excellent hockey player to boot. I’ve met him a few times at after-game celebrations at the unofficial team hangout, Chasers. But the last thing I want to do is see him after three days with my family surrounded by two long days of driving. I’m not in a good state of mind, and I probably don’t smell all that great, either.

I open my mouth to suggest Christina’s boyfriend Cameron Hill, starting goalie for the Tornadoes, get his teammate while she comes and drinks with me, but Chris beats me there.

“We could swing by after we get him if you’d like? I’ll order snacks for the guys and we’ll bring the drinks. You don’t have to do anything.”

“You better give me time to shower if you’re bringing a single guy to my place.”

She laughs. “Ha! It’s just Mattie.” At my silence, she asks, “Nicole? Are you into Mattie?”

“First, I’d want to shower after this drive for anyone, probably even Cam now that I think about it. You’re willing to deal with me with road grime, but there’s no reason to subject others to it. Second, I’m pretty much into any hot single guy about now. It’s been a long dry spell. But I also know my place in the world. I’m invisible to someone like him. He sees the exotic fun girls, the ones with legs for miles and honey blonde hair like you, or the spicy tiny dancers like Maria.”

“Okay. I’m sorry. I know you’re beat. We won’t stay long. But having the guys there could perk you up, or take the pressure off if you don’t want to rehash your annoyance at your family just yet…?” She trails off, hopeful. “But I could come alone if you prefer.”

It means a lot that she offers. Cam and she had a rocky few months as their secret, supposedly casual, relationship turned into real, long-term love. They’ve been fused at the hip—as much as hockey travel schedules allow—since then.

And now that I’ve wrangled the promise of shower time out of her, the eye candy that is Mattie and the tons of food that comprise hockey player “snacks” sound great.

“Bring ’em. Just no sooner than eight o’clock please.”

“Perfect, he doesn’t touch down until almost then and I’ll order food to be delivered from the car. Love you!”

“Love you, too.” But she’s already gone, high on life and love. If I had her looks and money, I would be, too. But I’m the ugly duckling of the group. Not ugly, but not a beauty or unique like any of my close circle, either.

No matter. After this Christmas, I’m determined to start the New Year as the new me. I’m going to wear lower cut tops, push-up bras, more makeup, and flirt like mad. And I’ll sleep with whoever strikes my fancy. I’m tired of holding out for someone who wants all of me, and I don’t have time for a relationship until I finish my MBA anyway.

Mattie is the perfect practice target, even if he is beyond my reach.

Mathieu

As the plane touches down in Austin, Texas, I recall a similar flight only four months ago, when I started for the Texas Tornadoes. New city, new team. Again. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, having played for the Florida Fury before being nabbed by Greg Donovan in the expansion draft. And I am. We have the first two months of the season under our belt and there are some good guys on this team. Great players, too.

I also love that there are more single players like me. More opportunities to play. Every city has puck bunnies, but more importantly, my guys here are up for new adventures. If I feel like playing disc golf, I can call someone. If I want to go spelunking, there’s someone up for it. And they don’t have to check with their wife or girlfriend to know if they’re available.

Austin isn’t as hopping as Miami, but at least here less girls are looking for my paycheck as much as my body. And they’re less plastic. People are also more active, which suits me, as I don’t sit still well. They go out on a boat to kneeboard, or ski, or fish, rather than just be boat decorations that want you to “rub sunscreen everywhere.”

Despite the ridiculous late December temperature of 18C, I’m surprised to find myself happy to be back in my new city. I’d bounced home for a day and a half, as we only had a three-day break and the weather for flights is unpredictable at this time of year.

Ottawa at Christmastime is amazing, although I might be biased. The Rideau Canal is decorated beautifully in readiness for when it opens to skaters next month. And my family home has all the best memories—handmade decorations from my sister’s and my childhood art projects, silly holiday sweaters, all of it. Far more important, it has my family. My sister is finishing university this year, so we were both home for a couple weeks this summer. But winter is what Canada does best, and I’ve missed the colder temperatures and the snow almost as much as I missed my maman’s cooking.

We’ve got practice tomorrow morning, then fly out to an away game followed by a home game on December 30, and another on New Year’s Day.

Prancer and his owner-girlfriend (owner of the team, not him, although…) are supposed to pick me up tonight, and I’m starving, as I usually am, so I’m hoping they’ll be up for a quick meal before dropping me at home.

I turn my phone on and it lights up. The team texts have been sparse as almost everyone was focused on family for the holiday, but they’ll get going again as we all return.

I skim the ones waiting for me from Christina. Sweet! They’re taking me with them to Nicole’s apartment from the airport and Chris will ensure there are snacks.

I’ve met her friends a couple times, mostly at Chasers, our after-game go-to bar. The accountant one seems like a hardass, and the dancer is a firecracker. But the quiet one, Nicole, has promise. A no muss, no fuss interlude of fun until I’m bored. We had fun the couple times she came to Chasers, and the second time, she even sought me out.

Half a dozen puck bunnies did as well, and while their asses might have been a little tighter, and their hair a little silkier, I also like that I don’t have to work as hard or worry about Nicole. She’s not going to poke a hole in a condom, or hide a camera, or cling and try to keep me overnight.

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