Page 16 of Puck Like A Girl

“Should someone take her to a doctor?”

“Is she home alone?”

Their smug smiles have changed to identical concerned frowns. I know Britt is like the sister I never had, but their concern seems a little much for someone they aren’t related to or in a relationship with.

“She’s fine. She thinks it’s a bout of food poisoning.” I’m saved from any more of their questions as Royal, Fin, and Coulter skate up behind me.

“Are you ready, Teagan?” Fin asks.

“Yeah, almost. Um, guys, I want to introduce you to my family. Mom, Dad, Tarek, Torin, and Talen, this is Royal Reynolds, Fin Baxter, and Coulter Collins,” I wave my hand between my teammates and my family. “Royal, Fin, and Coulter are our team captains.”

“It's nice to meet you, and thanks for taking care of our girl. She’s told us all about the three of you.” My dad pulls me in tight for one of his famous Hayes Hugs. Just my luck, I come from a family of huggers.

“Nice to meet you too, sir.” Royal, Fin, and Coulter say as one. Maintaining an air of professionalism and not cowering under the stress of meeting my famous father and siblings.

Pointing at the scoreboard, counting down the start of the game, my mom says, “We better take our seats. Good luck, honey.” She waves, leading the rest of my family to their seats.

At five foot three inches, my mom rules our family with a firm but loving hand. She looks so tiny next to my father and three brothers, all well over six foot three inches, just like Fin, Coulter, and Royal. While I’m a comfortable five feet ten inches.

Mom has dressed my family in matching jerseys for today’s game. It’s a nice change of pace to see my brothers all wearing my number thirteen jersey.

“Are you ready to start your first official College Men’s Hockey game, Teagan?” Fin says, pulling my attention away from my brothers.

“Did you say start?” I must be hearing things. I know I’ve been working hard during practice, but I never expected to win a starting position this quickly.

“Yes, you’re starting. Coach Johnson made the decision before we left the locker room. You’re starting in place of Mark.”

The excitement rushes through my body, and I want to scream at the top of my lungs, but I school my features, not letting my excitement distract me from performing at the highest level. It's time to go out there and show all the doubters and haters how much I deserve a starting position on the team.

thirteen

Royal

Teagan looks damn good on the ice. The other team’s defenders are having a hard time keeping up with her. It’s not until the second period that things go downhill.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of their defenders nod to the other one in a silent gesture meant for only their eyes. But since my eyes haven’t stopped surveying the ice for potential problems that might occur while Teagan is on the ice, I don’t miss the look.

I leave my guy and skate next to Teagan. I take a shoulder to my side that was meant for her, thwarting the attack on her blindside. It gives her a direct path to the net for the first score of the game. She does this with a fake to her right before slicing to the defender and shooting the puck in the net.

“What the fuck Royal? That’s not your assigned zone,” Coulter uncharacteristically questions my actions on the ice.

“They were coming for her. Royal stopped them.” Fin skates next to us, explaining to Coulter my reasoning for doing what I did.

“Those assholes.” Coulter grounds out, his jaw flexing with fury. “They better not lay a hand on her.”

We nod in unison, knowing we will do whatever it takes to protect Teagan.

For the rest of the game, we take turns intercepting the other team's plan to take out Teagan. With the distraction, it wasn’t our best game. But thanks to Teagan’s goal, we still won 1-0.

“What was that all about?” Teagan grabs my arm as I pass by her on my way to the tunnel.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know goddamn well what I’m talking about. The three of you spent more time babysitting me than actually playing hockey.” Her eyes dart from me to Fin and Coulter, who have skated up behind me. “And don’t try to deny it. I watched all of you flank me instead of staying in the play formation. You didn’t do it for any of our other teammates.”

“Look, Teagan,” I start to say, but she pushes past me and skates down the tunnel to the women’s locker room.

“That didn’t go over very well, did it boys.”

---