Page 45

Six weeks later

JACK

H OW DO I look? Andy pirouettes in front of me.

You look great, I reply. Yes, it’s an automatic reaction to that question, but it’s also the truth. Andy is wearing a fuzzy white turtleneck with dark jeans, and she looks adorable.

I’m lying on Andy’s bed as she tries on a variety of outfits. Hey, I’m always up for seeing her undress. I’m a big fan of this pretty bra and panty set she’s wearing, and I really wish there was time to give her a good fucking. But Andy’s on a mission. I sigh and adjust my jeans.

She holds out her purple scarf. I’m wearing my white coat, so should I wear this too? Or will that seem like I’m trying too hard with the Monarch colours?

I’ve never seen Andy fuss so much about her clothes before.

Well, maybe once before. When my parents and Amelia flew down here to celebrate my birthday and watch my game, Andy was really nervous about that first dinner.

But she aced it, of course. My parents loved her, and Amelia gave me two thumbs up.

She’s a smart one. She’ll keep you in line, my sister told me.

I smile at Andy encouragingly. I think the Monarch colours are a nice touch.

She nods and takes one last look in the mirror. Okay. This is it.

I pick up the paper on her bedside table. This is the final schedule, right?

Yes. Everything is all arranged for Jim Hargreaves’s visit.

It’s the itinerary for this guy from the Minneapolis Star Tribune .

He’s going to give a talk to the Messenger staff and go on a campus tour with Andy and Jaz.

Jaz is in charge of the newspaper now, and she and Andy are pretty tight.

This extra face time with Star Trib staff is a bonus for Andy.

After all, Jaz has another year before she has to worry about getting a job.

Not that Andy has to worry either. She’s already had virtual interviews with a media company in Los Angeles and a technical writing site. But her real dream is to work for a newspaper, so today’s tour is a huge deal for her.

Come here. I make Andy sit on the bed so I can massage her shoulders.

She’s managing her anxiety a lot better these days, thanks to the work she’s been doing with her counsellor.

Andy’s never going to be someone who shares all her feelings, but she’s getting more comfortable at expressing love and emotion.

Besides, I don’t need to hear the words every day—her actions show how much she loves me.

The counselling has also helped her grow in other ways. She’s even tackled conversations with her parents about issues from her childhood. It’s difficult for Andy, but she’s hoping to forge a better relationship with her family. And she’s always got the support of her Monarch family.

Andy stretches her neck as I work my thumbs into her traps. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I really want today to go well. They have an available position, and I’ve made the initial cut. If I impress Jim Hargreaves today, maybe he’ll put in a good word for me.

I don’t see how someone can meet you and not be impressed. You’re smart, organized, and you have great social skills.

You’re sweet. She turns and gives me a quick peck. Then she jumps up and finishes getting ready. She puts on her coat and scarf and twirls in front of the mirror one last time as I put on my shoes and get ready to head out with her. We walk down the stairs together.

We’re meeting for dinner tonight, right? she asks.

Yup. I’ll see you at Peggy’s. Peggy’s is a casual place in St. Viola with great food. When we want to talk without getting interrupted by friends or teammates, it’s the place we like to sneak off to. Then you’ll be able to tell me how everything went.

She holds up crossed fingers. Ugh. I hope it goes well.

The January wind is bitingly cold, so we hurry along. When it’s time to split up, I hold out my arms for one final hug. Andy curls into me and she fits perfectly, as always.

You’ve got this, I assure her. And then I head off too, because I have plans of my own.

A RE YOU SURE it’s safe up here? Bergy’s voice is higher than normal. We’re standing on the arena catwalk, high above the ice.

I told you not to come if you don’t like heights, I reply.

Bergy hates missing out on anything fun, even if he’s afraid of heights.

But I wouldn’t volunteer for something in a broom closet, even if that was the scene of my first kiss with Andy.

It’s totally safe though. Andy and Jacob watch the games from up here sometimes.

Wally snorts. Andy’s a badass though. She volunteered to get thrown around at wrestling practice so she could write about it.

Yeah, that wasn’t my favourite of her many ideas, but there’s no stopping her when she’s inspired. For once, I was the one counting the bruises on her body, which was surprisingly fun.

My phone buzzes with a message from Mats: Incoming .

Okay guys, they’re on their way. Get ready, I call out.

My teammates are all here helping me. Mats is down at ice level and I’m up here with Swanny, Bergy, Wally, and Coty.

Yeah, now that Coty and I are defence partners, we’ve been hanging out off the ice as well.

Once I made the top defence pair, I’ve worked my ass off to stay there.

We spread out along the scaffolding and hoist the long banner, getting ready to release it.

Right on schedule, Andy, Jaz, and the Star Trib guy walk into the arena. I can see Andy talking and motioning. The arena is her turf, as much as it is ours.

We wait until the moment that they’re walking through the middle of the stands opposite us.

Now, I command, and we drop the banner in unison. It unfurls with a gentle swish and hangs suspended over centre ice.

At first, the three of them just stare in shock. Jaz is the first one to laugh, followed by the newspaper guy. Andy’s eyes widen and she turns pink. Maybe she’s embarrassed, but the banner only speaks the truth:

ANDY ROBSON IS THE BEST SPORTS EDITOR EVER

Both Jaz and the newspaper guy pull out their phones and take photos of the banner. That seems like a good sign.

I pull out my own phone and message Mats: Release the horse.

From the Zamboni door, out skates Musty the Mustang. Instead of his usual Monarch College flag, he waves one I got specially made.

Everyone watches the mascot zoom to centre ice, where he dramatically waves the flag back and forth, allowing Andy’s group to read his message:

HIRE HER!

Andy buries her face in her hands, but the newspaper guy is full-out howling now.

As the trio makes their way out of the arena, his shoulders are still shaking with laughter.

Andy is the last one out. She turns and looks towards the scaffolding.

I’m sure she can’t see us from there, but she still raises her hand and flips us the bird.

Uh oh. You’re in deep shit, Sinc, says Coty.

I laugh. I think the newspaper guy liked it. I won’t be in trouble if this works.

Besides, that’s how Andy is. She’s not really into surprises, even good ones. Still, I can’t help trying. Because if she got a job in Minnie, it would be so sweet. We could see each other on weekends, or whenever she gets time off.

Thanks so much, I call down to George, the guy inside the Musty costume. He waves the flag at us and skates off.

As we roll the banner back up, Wally asks how I got Musty to cooperate.

Yeah, I heard he’s kind of a prick, Swanny says.

The ironic secret is that our smiling school mascot is a people-hating grouch. But he has great upper body strength, which is all that counts when it comes to waving a flagpole around.

I paid him, I say.

Hey, we didn’t get paid, Bergy complains.

How about I treat you guys to dinner this weekend? I offer. They agree happily, and we head down to meet up with Mats. I already can’t wait to see Andy and find out how it all went.

I’ M THE FIRST one to Peggy’s, so I snag a booth and wait. When Andy spots me, she scowls and marches over.

Do you know how embarrassing that was? she asks, hands on hips.

I widen my eyes and smile up at her.

No. Do not give me sad puppy face. I will not fall for that. She takes off her coat and slides into the booth.

I ordered you your favourite drink. I push a steaming mug of hot apple cider towards her. She growls at me, then takes a sip of the cider.

So, what happened? I ask.

The whole tour? Or just the most embarrassing moment of my life?

Let’s start with the embarrassing part. Maybe I’m going to get reamed, but I still want to know the details.

Well, you saw everything. The only reason I haven’t killed you already is that Jim Hargreaves found the whole thing hilarious. He said it was ‘one to tell the folks back at the office.’

Just then, we’re interrupted by the waitress. We order our usual hamburgers, then Andy continues. So, then he asks if the hockey team are fans of mine. I literally had no words. What was I supposed to say, that one of the guys on the team is my boyfriend?

Maybe I am in trouble. I swallow nervously.

Luckily, Jaz jumps in and tells him that the players are just so appreciative of all the changes I’ve made to sports coverage at Monarch.

And how there was a whole letter-writing campaign to reinstate me as sports editor after I was unfairly removed.

She glossed over exactly why I was fired in the first place, thank god.

Finally, Andy smiles, so I can relax. But maybe I should thank you, she adds.

Really? Well, you know I’m always here for your gratitude. I waggle my eyebrows, and she smacks my arm.

Don’t start. You’ll be lucky if you get any ever again, she chides.

I only smile. Andy could never keep that promise. She enjoys sex too much. So, why are you thanking me?

Because I was so nervous up until then. But once the banner dropped, I gave up trying to impress him and acted more like myself. How can I take myself seriously after Musty the Mustang pimps me out?

We both laugh. So, what are the job possibilities there?

Well, that’s the best part. Hearing about everything I’ve done, especially for women’s hockey, reminded Jim that they’re trying to beef up their coverage of women’s hockey as well. You know the PWHL, right?

Of course. The women’s professional league is really growing the game of hockey among female fans and young girls starting to play.

Andy glows the way she does when she’s enthusiastic about something.

So, you know there’s a team in Minneapolis.

The Star Trib covers the games, but they’d like to do more.

Someone on their staff read my profile on Ella Smith and used that as an example of what they want to do with the Minnesota Frost.

Andy, wow. That’s incredible. Sounds like you’re in, then.

Well, he didn’t offer me a job on the spot, but he made it clear that my chances are better since I can be useful to multiple departments. She hides her excitement by taking another sip of cider.

Hockey one day and muggings the next? I tease.

She snorts. What’s the difference, really?

Hey. Do I have to take you back on the ice to prove that hockey is really the best game you can name?

I reach across the table and take her soft hands in mine. Amelia’s right, Andy keeps me in line. But I like the challenge of being her boyfriend.

No, she replies sweetly. Because when I see you flying down the ice, I know that hockey can be a thing of beauty—fast, graceful, violent, and exciting.

As always, Andy makes things sound so much better.

THE END