STRAIGHT SHOOTER
VIKTOR
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE KIND OF WEEKEND: A WIN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND WAKING UP WITH EVIE on Sunday morning. It’s only nine, and we’ve already had some excellent sex. I can’t stop touching her, one hand cupping her breast and the other stroking her thigh.
Mmm, purrs Evie. I think morning cock is my favourite cock.
I snicker proudly. Innocent Evie talks dirty these days because I enjoy it. And yeah, her words are pretty tame but they’re hotter coming out of those sweet pink lips. Well, you did come pretty hard.
She smiles. You promised that sex would get better each time, and it really has.
We’ve been seeing each for almost two months now, which may be a new record for me.
But so far, nothing has happened to trigger a breakup.
Usually it’s when a woman wants something from me that I can’t give, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Evie makes zero demands of me. In fact, I was the one who insisted we go to a Hallowe’en party together.
She’s indifferent to the status of being the captain’s girlfriend and would rather be alone with me.
And for someone so submissive in the bedroom, she’s quite strong-willed about other things.
She prioritizes schoolwork over dates, and she’s over-scrupulous about things like the pub or sexting.
We shower and go downstairs for breakfast. I make us toast and scrambled eggs, and while we’re eating, Grecs comes in.
Ah, just the people I need to see, he starts. Are you guys in for the laser tag tournament next weekend? My girlfriend’s coming to visit.
Shit. I’ve been putting off giving him an answer since I didn’t really want to go, especially with Evie.
Not only does it seem like the last thing my old-fashioned girlfriend would enjoy, but anytime you put a bunch of hockey players together, the mood will be cutthroat.
Do I really want to show her my insanely competitive side?
But if the whole team is there, I should go.
How do the teams work? I hedge.
He unfolds a paper. I’ve divided us into six teams of six players. Each team has to have at least two girls on it to make it fair. Mats said you guys would be on his team. Joe’s finger underlines our team: Mats, Cleo, Sinc, Andy.
I’m already calculating the odds of us winning.
Having an extra woman puts us at a disadvantage, but Cleo is an excellent athlete.
Andy is definitely not an athlete, but she runs.
What about Evie? Well, the heaviest thing I’ve seen her lift is her purse, so it seems likely that she will be our weakest link. I’ll have to rein in my need to win.
I sigh and turn to Evie. Do you want to go?
What is laser tag? she asks. My hopes of victory are fully extinguished now. Of course she’s never done anything like this.
It’s like tag. But you wear vests and carry guns.
Her eyebrows rise. Guns?
Grecs breaks in. Laser guns. You try to shoot someone on their vest. He points to his chest. That tags them out until they go back to their base to get their health back. We’ll be doing a Capture the Flag-style tournament.
Every word he says throws Evie into further confusion. Normally I would find this hilarious, but the competitive demon in me is rising.
Look, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to, I say hopefully.
She smiles. No, I’d like to come. After all, it sounds like your whole team is going.
Atta girl. Grecs writes our names onto his sheet with a big grin on his face. I can tell he wants to whip my ass at this tournament. He resents me for reasons I can’t figure out. Maybe that incident with Destiny? All I do know is that there’s no way I’m letting him beat me.
He leaves, and Evie sips her coffee, oblivious to all my competitive angst. But then she asks, Where do we play laser tag?
It’ll be some kind of game centre. You know, with a video game arcade?
She blinks. An arcade? Like a county fair? I hope there’s a place where I can win a stuffed animal.
I laugh. That is such an Evie thing to say. Shouldn’t I win the stuffed animal for you?
Oh, that’s even better, she says brightly. And you’re such a good athlete too.
Now I feel guilty for even hoping that she might not come. I’ll work out a signal with Mats so he can let me know if I’m being too competitive.
ON THE NIGHT WE’RE PLAYING, SINC DRIVES OUR TEAM IN HIS TRUCK, WHICH SEATS SIX. I’M SITTING in the back with Cleo and Evie in the middle.
You wanna talk game plan? Cleo asks me.
I notice Evie watching me, and roll my shoulders to relax them.
No, I’m good if everyone has fun, I reply.
Who are you, and what the fuck have you done with Big Z? Cleo demands.
Mats turns around from the front seat. Chill, Cleo.
Chill? I’m sorry, but I’ve scrimmaged with this guy and he’s fucking relentless. He scored so many goals that our goalie had to go into therapy afterwards. Anyway, I’ve got a strategy. It’s Greco’s team we have to look out for. Did you know that his girlfriend is a biathlete?
Of course. It’s always the person who organizes the event who has an advantage.
Cleo eyes Evie, who’s wearing a grey cloth coat and an embroidered green velvet scarf, and looks more like a cute pixie than a laser tag assassin. Are you wearing black under that?
She nods. Viktor told me to.
Andy turns around. Were we supposed to wear black? I’m wearing navy.
That’s fine, just not white. They can spot you a mile away in white under the lights. Cleo turns back to Evie. How good are you at laser tag?
I’ve never played it before.
Cleo nods. Okay, we’ll protect you. We’ll go as a group. The key is to keep moving, okay? It’s easier to tag you if you’re stationary.
Evie nods. What about shooting people?
Cleo’s eyebrows rise. Well, if you can hit an opponent, go for it. But the main thing is to keep up with the group.
Fine.
What are your strengths? Do you do any sports? Cleo asks.
I do a brisk walk each day, as well as some calisthenics. Of course, even Evie’s exercise routine is out of the past. Not that I’m complaining about the results; her body is lithe and supple.
Okaaay, says Cleo and then turns to Andy and asks her similar questions.
I’m relieved that Cleo is taking on this role so I don’t have to. I once broke up with someone after an Ultimate game because she wouldn’t put any effort in. You have to at least try.
Evie slips her hand into mine. Is laser tag important to you?
I shrug. It’s not like a hockey game.
She lifts a skeptical eyebrow.
Okay, do I need to get everyone else here as motivated as I am to beat Greco’s ass? Cleo asks. Fine. Andy.
She turns around from the front seat. Yes?
Greco once told me that women’s hockey wasn’t real hockey, and to let him know when one PWHL player made as much as the worst player in the NHL.
Andy’s eyes narrow. She works as an intern at the Minneapolis Star Tribune and helps with coverage of the Frost. What a dick. She turns back around and says to Sinc, We have to beat him.
Cleo looks at me next. Release the real Big Z once we start playing, okay?
I laugh and shake my head.
Then she turns to Evie. I don’t know you yet, but what if—
Evie interrupts, Don’t worry. I know how competitive Viktor is. I’ll do my best to make sure we win.
How does she know how competitive I am? I can’t think of anything intense I’ve done in front of her, other than play hockey.
What about Mats? I want to see how you motivate him, I say. He always brings his A-game for big games, but I don’t think laser tag qualifies.
Cleo sighs. He’s too fucking stubborn. Believe me, I’ve tried.
I chuckle again. So Mats is an enigma to her too.
You’re in a good mood these days, Zee. Cleo nudges Evie. Must be your influence. I’ve never seen him smile this much. He’s usually all… She makes a face like an Easter Island head.
Oh, that’s interesting. Evie turns to look at my reaction. Her sweet exterior covers a sharp intellect that sometimes makes me nervous. Usually it’s easy to tell what the women I date want from me, but not Evie.
The arcade is bright and chaotic. A host outlines the rules of the laser tag game. It’s a Capture the Flag game where you have to hit the other team’s base. Grecs posts the schedule, and we go off to get ready.
Evie and I share a locker. I watch with amusement as she sheds her coat, sparkly scarf, and a ruffled green cardigan, and all that remains are black turtleneck and black pants.
Then she exchanges her boots for a pair of black trainers.
Finally, she pulls out a black toque and tucks her hair underneath that.
I put my arms around her. You look like the world’s cutest ninja.
She smiles up at me. I’m excited. I love this kind of role play.
I pull her in closer and whisper, You should have told me that earlier. We can role play in the bedroom.
Her cheeks flame immediately. Oh my. Well, yes.
Hey guys, let’s go, Cleo calls to us as we walk towards the laser tag area. We’re on the opposite side of the draw from Greco’s team, so we don’t have to meet him until the final game. How about we split up? Three of us can protect the base, and three can capture the flag?
Sounds good, I agree.
Me, you, and Mats will go. Sinc, Andy, and Evie will protect our base.
Part of me wants to stay and protect Evie, but Cleo’s strategy is probably the right one. Send your strongest players out to get there as fast as possible. The only other option would be leaving the women to protect the base, but Sinc will be more motivated if he’s alongside Andy.
Yeah, let’s do that, I agree.
We’re playing against a team of Mat and Sinc’s housemates: Bergy, Karl Swanson, and Ethan Unger, two of their girlfriends, and Burly.
Once the game starts, we approach their base through the darkened maze. They’ve left the two women there to protect the flag.
No scruples about shooting women, okay? Cleo whispers.
Mats shakes his head, although it’s not clear whether that means he won’t have scruples or he can’t believe Cleo’s intensity.