Chapter 15
MARNIE
I’m packing the medical bags for our upcoming road trip when my phone buzzes.
Then buzzes again. And again.
By the time I pull it out, there are twenty-three notifications from the PUCKS group chat.
Twenty-three.
I have a sinking feeling I know exactly what this is about.
I scroll back to where it started.
PUCKS
Brody
URGENT UPDATE
Just walked in on Cap confessing his undying love to Doc in the training room
Dex
Finally
Rodriguez
WHAT DID SHE SAY
Brody
Didn’t get that far. Cap told me to get out
Very aggressively
Luca
Did you leave?
Brody
Obviously not. I had a legitimate ankle injury.
Jake
Your ankle was fine
Brody
It FELT injured
Dex
So what happened?
Brody
Doc examined my perfectly healthy ankle while Cap gave me his best murder face
Then Coach “needed” him and he had to leave
Rodriguez
Cockblocked by Coach Barrett. Tragic.
Dex
Someone needs to lock them in a room
Luca
That seems unsafe
Brody
The tension is killing me. This is worse than waiting for playoff brackets.
Rodriguez
Doc if you’re reading this just PUT HIM OUT OF HIS MISERY
I shouldn’t respond. I should put my phone down and finish packing like a professional.
I’m trying to work
Brody
SHE LIVES
Dex
So are you going to say yes?
Rodriguez
When’s the first date?
There is no date
Brody
YET
I hope none of you need PT that would bench you from the next game
Because I have those resources
Dex
...is that a threat?
It’s a professional observation
Rodriguez
Doc’s got HANDS
Brody
Phrasing
Jake
You all need hobbies
Rodriguez
Hockey is our hobby. Meddling is our passion.
Rodriguez your PT is scheduled for 2pm
Don’t be late
Rodriguez
Yes ma’am
Dex
“Yes ma’am” he says, like he wasn’t just part of this
Unlike SOME PEOPLE, Rodriguez follows his PT schedule
Brody
OOOOOHHHHH
Dex
SHOTS FIRED
Rodriguez
Luca
She’s referring to Captain Varga’s tendency to add unauthorized exercises
Jake
Thank you Luca, we all got that
Brody
Cap’s gonna see this
Good
I shove my phone in my pocket and try to focus on the medical bags. Ice packs, tape, the good scissors that keep disappearing because someone—probably Brody—keeps stealing them.
My phone buzzes again.
Roman
Really?
Oh no.
Really what?
Roman
“Unlike some people”
I don’t know what you’re talking about
Roman
The group chat disagrees
Maybe you should follow your PT protocols
Roman
I follow them
You ADD to them
Roman
That’s called being proactive
That’s called being a pain in my ass
Roman
You like it
I do like it. I definitely don’t smile at my phone like an idiot.
I’m working
Roman
So am I
Then stop texting me
Roman
You texted first
In the group chat. That doesn’t count.
Roman
Still texted
Goodbye Roman
Roman
Marnie
WORKING
Roman
Tonight. After practice. Let me take you to dinner.
I can’t tonight. Mom has an appointment.
Roman
Tomorrow then
You have Colorado tomorrow
Roman
After the game
Roman
Roman
After the game, Marnie. Say yes.
I stare at the screen.
My phone buzzes again and a third chat pops up.
WAGS
Elliot
So I hear there’s been a development
Goldie
Dex just told me EVERYTHING
Elliot
Define everything
Goldie
Cap tried to ask Doc out. Got interrupted. Team is losing their minds.
Elliot
Marnie you’re in this chat now btw
Welcome to chaos
Why did I get added to this?
Goldie
One of us now
Hope that’s okay
Too late if it’s not
Elliot
So. Cap. Spill.
There’s nothing to spill
Goldie
The group chat says otherwise
Elliot
Also Brody says Roman looked “emotionally devastated” when he had to leave
Brody is dramatic
Goldie
Are you going to say yes?
He hasn’t actually asked me anything
Elliot
...didn’t he literally ask you this morning?
He got interrupted
Goldie
So if he asks again?
I think about Roman’s text. “After the game, Marnie. Say yes.”
I don’t know
Elliot
BOOK CLUB NEXT WEEK
This is mandatory now
We need to debrief
Goldie
Wine will be provided
I don’t think that’s a good idea
Goldie
NOT OPTIONAL
Jake
Can you stop breaking the internet and help me with this ankle tape?
On my way
I head to the training room to see Rodriguez already on the table, grinning like he knows every single thing that just happened. Which he probably does.
“Don’t,” I say before he can speak.
“Wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Rodriguez.”
“Just that Cap’s been walking around looking like a kicked puppy.”
“That’s saying something.”
“It’s an observation. Medical observation. His posture suggests emotional distress.”
“You’re not a doctor.”
“I’m perceptive.” He watches me prep the tape. “You should just go out with him, Doc. Put us all out of our misery.”
My phone chimes in my pocket. Then again. Then three more times in rapid succession.
“You gonna get that?” Rodriguez asks.
“Nope.”
“It might be important.”
“It’s definitely not important.”
But I check it anyway after he leaves.
PUCKS
Brody
Update: Cap just snapped at me for blinking too loud
Dex
That’s normal Cap behavior
Brody
This was AGGRESSIVE blinking commentary
Rodriguez
He’s got it bad
Luca
Perhaps someone should intervene
Jake
Perhaps everyone should mind their business
Brody
That’s not the team way
Jake
What team way?
Rodriguez
The meddling way
Roman
I can see all of these messages
Brody
Hi Cap!
Dex
How’s it going Cap?
Rodriguez
Emotionally devastated, Cap?
Roman
Bag skates
Brody
Worth it
Roman
They’re not wrong
About?
Roman
Having it bad
My face heats.
I’m staring at my phone like it might explode when it buzzes again.
Roman
Tomorrow. After Colorado. Come to my place for dinner
That’s not asking
Roman
I’m done asking
Done being careful. Done pretending. Done letting everyone interrupt.
Tomorrow night. You and me. Say yes
I should say no. Should list all the reasons this is complicated—Winters, the team, my job, his career, the impossibility of privacy in a professional sports organization.
Fine
Roman
Fine?
Yes. Dinner. After Colorado.
Roman
Good
This is still a terrible idea
Roman
Probably
Worth it though
I’m still looking at the screen when the PUCKS chat explodes.
Rodriguez
DID IT HAPPEN
Brody
WHAT HAPPENED
Dex
Someone tell me what’s happening
Jake
How do you people get ANYTHING done
Luca
I believe they’ve reached an understanding
Brody
How does Luca always know everything
Luca
I’m observant
Rodriguez
SOMEONE CONFIRM
Roman
We’re having dinner tomorrow
Brody
FINALLY
Dex
FUCKING FINALLY
Rodriguez
I WON THE POOL
Jake
Which one?
Rodriguez
The when
Brody
Who gets the where?
Dex
I have “supply closet” for location
Still holding out hope
Roman
Not happening
Brody
Never say never Cap
GOODBYE
I put my phone on silent and shove it in my pocket.
Then immediately pull it back out to check one more message.
Roman
Thank you
For?
Roman
Saying yes
You didn’t really give me a choice
Roman
You always have a choice
This is still terrifying
Roman
I know
We’ll figure it out
And looking at those words, thinking about how he just told the entire team we’re having dinner, how he’s done being careful, how we’ll figure it out.
Maybe we will.