Page 11 of Rival Season
I set my pint glass down and blink at Fisher. “How the hell would I know that?”
My roommates all burst out laughing. “Very helpful,” Fisher drawls.
“I think I’ll just put kangaroo?” Ally asks.
“That’s a safe bet.” Noah kisses her temple, and her cheeks go pink.
She looks at me for the final vote, and I shrug. “Sounds good to me.”
Ally writeskangaroodown on the white board and holds it up. My roommates all cheer when the answer is confirmed to be right.
Trivia night wouldn’t have been my first choice, but here we are. Ally is always wrangling us guys into doing all kinds of roommate activities with her. We have a weekly ritual where we all watch a trashy reality TV show she loves (okay, fine, we’re all hooked), she drags us guys on regular morning runs with her, and we’ve even spent a few nights helping her bake cookies.
Not exactly the rock-n-roll lifestyle I was expecting would come with being a pro athlete, but honestly, I’m notcomplaining. I like hanging out doing these wholesome activities with my little Loft 3B family.
Recently, Ally registered us as a team for this weekly pub quiz here at Big Ed’s. And even though I suck at trivia, it’s been fun so far. It goes all winter, tournament style, and the overall winning team gets a grand prize of free beer and nachos for a month.
“Next question,” the emcee announces, and my roommates immediately snap to attention.
Our team is called “No Pucks Given”—Fisher’s idea, of course—but that’s the biggest lie of all time. We’re athletes; competitive instincts run through our veins and we play to win, no matter what we’re doing. Which means there are actually a lot ofpucksgiven at this table.
“In the TV showFriends, what was Chandler Bing’s middle name?”
The only thing I know about that show is that Jennifer Aniston was hot in it, so I tune out as my roommates start discussing. I pick my phone up and read Cassie’s text under the table.
Cassie
Liz called me this afternoon.
Penn
Nice, how is she?
Cassie
Good! She was checking in to see how school was going. She also told me Mike is still talking about watching you play your first NHL game in Canada a couple of months back.
Liz and Mike are a couple from Calgary, my hometown in Canada, who turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to Cassie and me.
Penn
Ha. I barely even got any ice time that night; he’s being way too generous.
I pretty much owe Mike—or Coach Smith, as he was to me back then—everything. He coached me all the way through high school and helped me get a full scholarship to my first choice D1 hockey program for college, and then he and Liz took Cassie in and fostered her when I left because I didn’t want to leave her to fend for herself. If it weren’t for Mike’s influence in my life and his unfailing belief in me, even when I thought I’d messed up my whole future, I’d never have believed in myself enough to make it.
Instead, I would have ended up just like my dead-beat dad. The very thought of being anything like that guy makes me shudder.
Cassie
I’m about to head to study group. Talk later!
Penn
Talk soon. Be safe.
Cassie
Yes, Penn, because study group is just riddled with potential dangers. But do try not to worry. I’ll do my best not to incur any grievous bodily harm by textbook.
