“I said, I need to go to the bathroom, Jenna.”

  “No, no I got you.”

  Samantha sighed. Audibly. “No, I mean would you mind going with me.”

  “Wait, why? OH! Yes. Duh. Of course.”

  I had never seen Jenna flustered, but I could also tell she was doing everything she could to keep herself superglued to her seat. To be next to Brock. The guy very clearly not as into her as she is into him.

  I shot Sam a text thanking her for a reprieve from Jennand and then went back to an earlier conversation we had before.

  “So, you pyed in London right?”

  “Yeah, juniors up there. Thought I was going to skip college. My parents then flipped.”

  “What was that like?”

  “I mean winning the Memorial Cup at 17 was pretty cool, not going to lie. But, I’m a legacy at Descartes. That…that mattered to them.”

  “Wouldn’t know.”

  “Must have been nice”

  “I’m from Vermont, you got to The College of Vermont.”

  “You guys came out of nowhere that year though.”

  “We had a group that was just peaking at the right time. And I thought we were going to do it.”

  “Yeah, but even the year before, did you even make the tournament let alone the Frozen Four?”

  “We were a four seed. Just happy to be there. Won our first game.”

  “Gotcha.”

  “Look, not all of us had the pedigree.”

  “No, no I get it. I mean I don’t. I’ve had expectations hyped on me since minute one. I think my Dad basically courted my mom to have an athlete child. Its kind of creepy when you think about it for anything more than a second.”

  Well that was interesting. And certainly out of left field. Hockey is kind of a small community, you get to know people even if they’re not in your org. I had old teammates scattered around the UHL and two or three in the show. We talk.

  “What was the LA org like?”

  “Shit, to be honest. Said one thing, actions did another. But you know how it is.”

  “Not really, New York has kind of been honest about their expectations of me.”

  “You don’t say.”

  “They’re run like shit, except the guy who is their prospect coordinator or whatever the position is. Have you talked with them?”

  “We had one conversation. They did mention that this team is looking to win, so we’d touch base more in the summer.”

  “Yup, that’s like them. I think he got the GM’s ear for the deadline. That franchise has not made future facing moves for a minute.”

  “I was so shocked when I got traded.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “You go from being told you’re the next big thing to driving from fucking Boise to Oregon without so much as a goodbye.”

  “That sounds like shit,” both Brock and I looked up at Sam, who was returning with Jenna by now.

  “It absolutely was shit, Samantha. Thank you for saying that.”

  “You ftter me Lazenby. You’re not getting free drinks from either of us.”

  “I’m wounded. Like I would need to pay for anything out in public.”

  I audibly groaned.

  “Don’t mind Jamie, Lazenby. He works his ass off to avoid being seen by the Olympic City popution.”

  Jenna eyed me suspiciously after that comment from Sam. She was right though.

  “Look, Brady, Cude and Scott draw enough attention. I’m happy to be in the background and treat you like a human being.”

  “And I’m so happy you’re considerate sweetie.”

  “Are you two, like, a thing?”

  We burst out ughing at that. We wanted to have a little fun at Brock’s expense.

  “Absolutely not, I’m a giant Lesbian.”

  Fuck fuck fuck, Samantha went off script. Jenna proceeded to choke on her drink.

  “You alright, Jenna?”Samantha asked genuinely incredulous at the situation she just caused.

  “Just didn’t peg you being into dies.”

  “That’s not going to be an issue is it? Because you know you will be working for me tomorrow?”

  “No, no I’m bi.”

  “May need to get your gaydar recalibrated, babe.”

  “So, Brock. How are you enjoying Olympic City?” Wait, where did that come from? Why did I actually want to redirect the conversation?

  “I mean I’ve been here what four days? Haven’t gotten to see much.”

  “Probably have seen more than our friend Jamie, here.”

  “I’m not that bad, Sam! I do yoga! I even have a favorite coffee shop.”

  “I’m excited to explore, too, Brock. It would be fun to learn about this pce from someone else who’s never been around.” Oh, sweet Jenna. Even I can see this isn’t going anywhere.

  “What’s it called Jamie? I need an espresso fix before practice.”

  “Its on the main drag. I actually forget its name. I was there with a friend yesterday, its right next to the hot yoga studio. Their cold brew is fantastic”

  “You have other friends?”

  “Yes, Jenna I do. I ran into Riley there.”

  “Who is that?”

  “Jamie Marks working the beat reporter to get favorable coverage. Nice, my guy!” Brock tried to high five me for that one. I sheepishly obliged.

  “No, its not like that. We just happened to be in the same yoga css. We text outside work, its not something I’m used to. Having reporters that are just around.”

  “I guess C of V didn’t have a thriving journalism department?”

  “Not all of us are private schools like Descartes.”

  “You wound me! But fair. That pce does produce nepo reporters like no one else.”

  Jenna shot me a gre, clearly upset I’m monopolizing conversation from her.

  “That tracks. Kind of like nepo sports stars?”

  “Marksy from the top rope!” Brock was ughing now. Dare I say it was kind of cute? Where these jokes were coming from I had no idea. But I did not want them to stop.

  “Look what can I say, proper public school education.”

  “Jenna what was this asshat like in college?”

  “He was the nicest guy on the hockey team that’s for sure.”

  “No, shit. He asked about me when you all were in the bathroom, more decency than I’ve ever gotten on a date in Boise or in college.”

  “I didn’t really hang out with Jamie’s hockey buddies.”

  “That’s because I didn’t really have hockey buddies.”

  That piqued Sam’s interest.

  “You know that does track you were the college team loner?”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Look, I’ve worked at Markus’ for about five years I’ve seen a lot of young guns come through this town. None of them shut up about college.”

  “Let me guess most don’t make it to New York either?”

  “Nah, most end up on some other UHL team or down in the C. Takes a lot for me to remember them and I can tell you who the Mariners’ leading scorer was in like 2011.”

  “That I don’t believe.”

  “Alright Brock pull up hockeydb. Its Sean MacAllister.”

  “I bet you have that memorized to impress dudes.”

  “Big fat dyke here remember? Were you only paying attention to Jamie?”

  By this time both Jenna and I were staring daggers.

  “No, I meant more. You know what fair. How about 2007. That way you’re not controlling the year.”

  “Damon Descartes.”

  “Damn, girl.”

  “I grew up here. Dad pyed for the team in the 80s. Never left. He’s worked as an usher. I know the team better than anyone else on earth.”

  “Alright let’s all take it down a notch,” that should break this impromptu pissing contest up. Plus, I needed to redirect Brock back to Jenna.

  Thankfully, the waiter came with our entrees at that exact moment providing us with a break in conversation needed to avoid any sort of escation.

  “You never did talk about Jamie, Jenna. How did you two meet?”

  “Umm, alright Brock. Well, we had a few csses together freshmen year, and Jamie was super shy. Kind of in his own world and not really wanting to pay attention in css. I thought he was kind of just conceited at first, but then I realized he was just watching hockey highlights the entire time. Some goalie from Sweden or something.”

  “Henrik Lundqvist.”

  “The king.”

  “My idol.”

  Brock shot me a fist bump for that. Confusing Jenna even more.

  “Anyway, halfway through the semester we’re grouped together for a project in this poli sci css we are taking and Jamie and I ended up doing most of the research together for it. We spent like a week in the library together. It was the first semester so it was before hockey season really started, and I was so confused why he had like zero social life. I basically dragged him to a fraternity party and somehow he saw a guy try to spike my drink. He intervened, threw the kid off the front deck and then took me back to my dorm. We ended up staying up til about 3 am just talking that night. He didn’t even try to kiss me or anything, but I guess I realized he was just a legit good person. We’ve been best friends ever since.”

  “You were probably the only person at that school who had ever seen Dancer in the Dark, so I was never going to not be your friend after I found that out.”

  “The Bjork movie?”

  “The Lars von Trier movie, Brock. But I found out that night Jamie is obsessed with Bjork and her music so we had a little fun learning about what makes him tick.”

  “You really do surprise me every new thing I learn about you Jamie.’

  “That was basically what I told him for two and a half years at school, Brock. And then he just up and left me! That’s why I’m here.”

  “I’m gonna take Jamie’s side and say when the New York Spires offer you an entry level contract you don’t say no.”

  “Thank you Brock.”

  “Jenna told me about how she felt you ditched her that night you were in Eureka. Lights out by the way, sad I wasn’t in that game. Just the one where I had to score six points to bail your ass out.”

  “Okay mister I’m going to py hero puck when up in a 5-4 game with a minute to go.”

  “Yeah, well the less I say about your first period the better.”

  “Touché pretty boy.”

  “Jenna, watch out for your roommate here, he may be the one going home with me tonight if he keeps talking like that.”

  And that’s when I spit my soda on to my steak frites.

  “Woah, woah calm down there boy. Sorry about that.”

  Quickly, Sam I guess went into server mode and had two napkins ready to go to clean me up, and I wanted to move to another country out of sheer embarrassment. Conversation kind of died down a little after that moment with Brock making sure to ask questions about both Sam and Jenna to learn about them. I shut down almost immediately after giving my French fries a coca-co bath they did not ask for, only butting in occasionally to keep conversation flowing. Thankfully Brock was more than adept at giving away as little information about himself as possible while making both Jenna and Sam seem like they were the focal point of the night. No wonder this guy had a woman eating out of the palm of his hand the second he came into town.

  Soon the waiter came back and asked how we’d like the check, and I immediately tried to pay for Sam and myself’s food hoping Brock would pay for Jenna. I genuinely did not know how much money she had given she probably spent a ton getting herself to Oregon from Vermont while blowing off her final weeks of csses.

  To the table’s surprise Brock took the single check and had a card out for the waiter before any of us could even attempt to intervene.

  “Nope. You all showed me a great night and I’m new in town. Plus, Jamie now can tell the vets what a lovely teammate I am.”

  “I really don’t know what kind of social cache you think I have with everyone. Because its not that.”

  “You’d be surprised goalie boy. People talk, And sing your praises.”

  “Yeah, that’s true Jamie.”

  “What are you even saying Sam?”

  “People like you. You need to accept that.”

  “Oh god he’s the worst at it. He’d go out of his way to help so many people on campus and never expect anything in return. If he genuinely wasn’t the nicest person I’ve ever met it would have been insufferable.”

  Is it possible to be unched into low orbit? I’m sure some tech bro has figured this out. Just send me there so people would stop staying anything about me.

  “He’s turning red! Jenna I don’t know how you live with him, I’d bully him constantly.”

  “Oh, I do. And he’s a great sport about it. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to see if we can make him go past nonverbal.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  “Alright, alright, let’s get out of here so they can turn this table over and before Jamie evaporates into a pile of steam. I haven’t told him yet but he is my ride home and I would like him to be coherent enough to drive back to Olympic City.”

  “I guess that leaves me with you Brock?”

  “You got it. I’ll get you home before Jamie does, let’s race!”

  And with that Brock sprinted out of the restaurant beckoning Jenna to join him.

  Still in a daze I made my way out to the parking lot with Sam in tow trying to find my car in the parking lot. Smiling at me as she stepped in the front seat I could tell there was a lot she wanted to discuss.

  “Jamie I want you to know that I love you and I think your friend Jenna is going to be a great partner in crime while you’re busy with the final stretch of the season, but boy oh boy that guy Brock thinks you’re cute.”

  “What the fuck are you even on about?”

  “God, I love this so much. I knew being friends with the quiet nondramatic guy on the team would pay off.”

  “Okay, what?”

  “That boy was flirting with you and I cannot wait for your wedding.”

  “I’m not gay Sam.”

  “Oh I know that’s even better.”

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I smmed on the brakes to emphasize just how royally fucking pissed off I was at that comment. “Who told you what?”

  “No one told me anything? I just assumed you were bisexual Jamie, you’re too sweet to be some boring het. But, jeeeeeez-sus do I need to call an Uber because you gave off some real serial fucking killer vibes with that brake sm.”

  At this point I started to hyperventite.

  “Oh, god. I’m sorry. Fuck, I didn’t mean to. Of course I said something that hit a nerve. Calm down. No that’s not going to work. Okay, tell me five things you see in this parking lot.”

  Steadying my breath, I slowly turned to Sam. “I know how to deal with a panic attack, you don’t have to walk me through anything.”

  “Sorry.” She started to stare at the floor as I drove out back to her apartment.

  “I don’t know where you live, but just give it a few minutes before you start giving me directions.”

  “Yeah, of course.” Her voice was just above a whisper at this point.

  “I’m not mad. I’m just trying to figure out how much to let you in on.” I started ughing thinking about how I would be coming out to people two days in a row in god damn cars.

  “What’s so funny?” Sam said, chuckling herself.

  “Is it really a thing to come out to people in cars?’

  “Oh god yeah.”

  I started ughing hysterically then. As did Sam.

  “So, I really don’t have the energy to do a whole thing after that.”

  “You’re fine, you don’t even have to say anything.”

  “I’m trans.”

  “Well that is not what I expected you to say.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Pull the fuck over so I can give you a hug.”

  “No I’m going to keep driving.”

  “Fair!” Sam reached out to grab my hand on the gearshift, squeezing it once. “Who else knows?”

  “Uhh, Jenna.”

  “Figured.”

  “How?”

  “You two have a real co-dependent vibe.”

  “Okay why does everyone keep saying that?”

  “Because its true.”

  I took a deep breath. “Stop reading me for filth. Okay?”

  More ughter. Good. Laughter I can do.

  “Oh Jamie what are we going to do with you? Is there another name you want me to use. Oh god, I owe Cra five dolrs now.”

  “What the fuck does Cra know?”

  “Oh, we hang out from time to time. You know since there’s like three dykes in this town.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Are we adding a fourth?”

  I made the mistake of pausing right here.

  “Oh so that’s why that Brock comment, huh? Oh you like himmmmm.”

  “I don’t know what I like.”

  “Okay, fair. But yeah we hang out. Not many queer bars in this town.”

  “But how did she know?”

  “Jame, you got her toner for Christmas. No cis man on earth knows what toner is for a skincare routine.”

  “I just thought it looked nice!”

  “And it did! She was really touched. That stuff was expensive.”

  “I wanted to do something nice for the training staff.”

  “Well she pegged you. Wait, she didn’t actually peg you after did she?”

  “SAM!”

  “What? You should see her strap on collection. Its fantastic.”

  “I’m going to pull over and throw you out of this car.”

  “Please don’t, I have a nice bottle of wine I was going to open!”

  “What is my fucking life?”

  “I don’t know dude, I thought you were the boring quiet one.”

  “That’s what I want to be!”

  “Alright, turn left here, I’m just down the road.”

  “Oh that’s quick.”

  “Yup.”

  “Look, we can talk more about this soon. We should hang out, I do like you Sam. Just not in that way.”

  “Hey I didn’t think I did either, but you threw the possibility out there!”

  “Oh my god! I like boys okay!”

  “Now, I know that!”

  I pulled into her apartment parking lot and we just broke down in giggles. I could do this. I think? Could I do this?

  “Alright, give me your phone Sam, I will get text you okay? I just need to get home and figure out what the fuck my life is right now.”

  “Yeah that’s fair. Just remember though, Brock is hot you’ve got good taste.”

  “He’s dating my best friend.”

  “Psh. No he’s not. That was a courtesy date at best. He had eyes for you all night. I don’t think he realizes he does but he did. Get some rest Jamie. I won’t tell Jenna tomorrow I know unless you tell me I can.”

  “Just, don’t make a big deal out of it.”

  “Oh I am so excited she’s working here. But for real, get home. Get some rest. Nothing changes. Just, for my dad, fucking win us something this year?”

  “Now, that. That is something I’m working on.”

  Sam had the biggest shit eating grin on her face as she walked out of the car. As she left she turned to me and winked, “Good girl, goalie boy.”