Page 29 of The Bro-code

I suppress a chuckle when the tips of Topher’s ears turn red. “This isn’t how it works. We organize a lot of parties and events as a team and as a fraternity.”

“Fine,” Ryker bites out. “Then let me know which events I need to be at and I’ll show. But I’m not living in your frat house.”

Damn, I wish I could afford to do the same thing. My scholarship provides a dorm room and the Gamma house is a much better accommodation. To have my own apartment, or to share one, I’d need to get a job. That’s impossible if I want to keep my grades up so I don’t lose my scholarship and I want to play hockey, which is also a condition of my scholarship. Unlike some other, less prestigious colleges, Star Cove doesn’t give its elite athletes any “leg up” when it comes to academics. Grades have to be earned and this means living in a cramped dorm or enjoying a much nicer accommodation but having to live with Topher.

Jagger offered to rent a place we could share and I know his family is loaded, but I can’t mooch off my best friend. It’s not the way I roll.

Speaking of Jagger, he hasn’t cracked his usual jokes and has been kind of quiet since he arrived—way later than usual, he’s always one of the first to show up for practice.

I’m about to pull him aside and ask him if he’s ok, but I don’t get the chance as Coach Harrison chooses that moment to step into the locker room.

“Good morning, ladies,” Coach barks, his usual smile that doesn’t reach his eyes firmly in place. “For those of you who were at summer training, it hasn’t been long enough. To the ones who trained with a NHL team this summer, you better have some awesome things to show, I expect one hell of a lot more from y’all. I see a new face here this morning. I trust y’all have met your new teammate Ryker Moore. Welcome to Star Cove, son. There will hopefully be some more new faces after we conduct tryouts on Monday. I’m not gonna lie to you guys, after winning the championship last season, the eyes of the country will be on us.”

As if to emphasize that statement, Coach Harrison pins us all with a hard stare. “We’re the team to beat. After losing Hanbury, Dunne and Rossi to the pros, everyone expects for us to crash and burn. It’s your job not to let that happen. This college has never won two back to back championships in any sport. We want to be remembered as the team that did that. So this year y’all have a lot to prove. I expect you to sleep, eat and breathe hockey from today, until we lift the championship cup again. Of course some of you have more to prove than others,” he looks at Ryker. “Either because you’re new or you’re a part of this team by the skin of your teeth and because your daddy bought us a car park. Regardless, each and every one of you will have to deserve their spot on the ice. Last year’s shenanigans won’t be tolerated, am I clear?”

There are a few murmurs of “yeah.”

As predictable, Coach Harrison isn’t satisfied with that. “I don’t think I heard you, Cove Knights. AM I CLEAR?”

We all roar “YES COACH!”

I swear to God, Coach’s smiles are scarier than his scowls. “Then step on that ice and show me what you’re made of. But most of all,” he says with a withering glare in Topher’s direction. “Show me that you’re a team.”

CHAPTER 6

UNSUITABLE

BAY

An incoming text message wakes me up from a fitful sleep.

Unknown: Hey sexy girl, it’s Toph. Yeah, I know you don’t wanna speak to me, blocking me delivered that message loud and clear. But I was just hoping I could convince you to talk later, after the Rush Week Fair is over? Look, I know I fucked up big time. I swear this isn’t about me trying to talk myself out of what I’ve done.

But we were together for over two years, can I at least get to apologize without Cole threatening to beat me up and your Zeta sisters trying to claw my eyes out? All I ask for is ten minutes of your time. You don’t have to answer me now. Please, just consider it. If after we talk you still hate me, I promise I’ll keep our communication strictly related to Greek government. I still love you and I miss you. I hope we can at least be friends.

Ha.

If this whole thing didn’t make me want to bawl my eyes out, I would laugh.

I don’t even dignify Topher with an answer, but if I did? The answer would be no.

My friends don’t lie and cheat, they don’t bully and blackmail my sister and most of all, they don’t make me feel like I’m not good enough.

They don’t make me feel ashamed of my “middle class family.”

Last December, Hartford, CT.

These bedsheets are like clouds. I always buy the highest thread sheet count I can find, but I’ve never slept in anything this soft.

I stretch, spreading out starfish style in the big king-sized bed and I’m not surprised when I find that I’m alone.

Rupert and Christine, Topher’s parents, put us in different rooms. Topher explained to me that they’re very conservative and care about appearances. That means that we’ll never get to share a room until we’re married.

Married.

Topher has been talking about marriage more and more since we started our junior year. Graduation means starting our adult life and bringing me here to meet his parents is the first step toward the future we’ve imagined many times.

Of course being given separate rooms didn’t stop Topher from sneaking into my bed last night, once his parents had retired for the night.

---