Page 79 of Playing the Pucking Game

“Cheers to that,” Brooke says, holding up her glass of Jack and Coke.

“Cheers,” I say, tapping my glass to hers.

“And if we’re really lucky, we might just find some guys to dance with.”

I try to think back to the last time I hooked up with a guy in a club. It’s been a while.

I’ve been dabbling with online dating, but I’m yet to find anyone who doesn’t have some serious issues. I’m starting to think that all the decent men have already been taken. Which is sad, considering I’m only twenty-three.

“Last hookup?” Brooke asks, and I grimace.

“Guy from Tinder. He seemed okay. We had dinner, then he invited me back to his place. I agreed, and we were standing on the sidewalk waiting for an Uber when he kissed me.”

“Okay, so far so good.”

“Oh no, there was nothing good about it. He had so much tongue. I swear, a dead fish could have done a better job.” Brooke giggles. “I turned away, desperate to get away from the assault, and do you know what he did?”

Brooke stares at me, biting the insides of her lips as she shakes her head.

“He stuck his tongue in my ear. IN MY EAR,” I shout, pointing at my violated body part in case she isn’t aware where an ear is situated.

“Oh my god. What did you do?”

I can’t help but laugh.

“His Uber came, and being the gentleman that he was not, he climbed in first, so I closed the door behind him, rapped my knuckles on the roof for the driver to go, and watched him and his wild tongue sail away. I blocked him and then called my own car. Okay, your turn.”

“Well, my guy was a great kisser. In fact, I thought he had it all. Until I did go back to his place, and no sooner had I walked through the front door than I was introduced to his mom and little sister.”

“W-what?” I blurt.

“Turns out, he was religious and there would have been no sex before marriage.”

“And I’m assuming that there will be no marriage?”

“Hell no. I fully respect those who want to wait. Fair play to them. But it’s not for me; I need to test out the goods before I commit.”

“Amen to that, girl,” I say, lifting my glass again. “When we get back, we need to arrange a night out with Casey and our friend Freya.”

“Just tell me when and I’m there.”

Leah joins us a few minutes later, looking like a knockout in a leopard print jumpsuit, and true to her word, she orders a soda. I can’t say the same for me and Brooke. I was good last night, knowing that I had work in the morning. Tonight is a different story.

“That guy down there hasn’t taken his eyes off you for about five minutes,” Leah tells me, jerking her chin toward the other end of the bar.

I take a sip of my drink before slowly looking around.

My breath catches when I find a cute blond guy staring right at me.

He’s about as far away from a hockey player as you can get. And that’s exactly what I need in my life.

He probably works in finance or law. Something stable and reliable.

“He’s cute,” Brooke says. “I’m pretty sure I’d eat him alive, but he’d be great for you.”

“I reckon he could handle more than you think,” Leah says. “It’s always the quiet ones, remember?”

“Let’s go dance. See if he’s brave enough to make a move.” Brooke finishes her drink and grabs my hand. “Let’s go and find you a man.”