Page 41 of Puck Shots
“No worries,” Eli replies. “Come find us though if you change your mind.”
“Yeah, totally,” I say, but I don’t mean it. I’m actually really glad that he’s leaving us to do this date right. Thankfully, after the president of the frat hooked up with a pledge during rush a few years back, they loosened up the rules about active brothers and pledges dating. Not that I would actually expect it would stop me from dating Eli, but I would have to be stealthier about where we dated.
The quad is full of students; most sit on the ground in groups chatting as they wait for the first film to start. There is a giant screen set up on the far side in front of Foxworth Library, between two trees that are as old as the school. Most of the trees in the quad are just as old, and they’re positioned mostly around the border, meaning there is no obstruction to watching the films being put on today. The air is scented with buttered popcorn, and my gaze follows my nose to the stand set up on the left side of the space, and my stomach growls. Maybe I should grab us some popcorn while the line is still short.
“This looks good,” he says when we’re about lined up perfectly with the center of the screen, but far enough back that we’re not sitting elbow to elbow with other students.
“Looks good to me, too,” I reply, and his finger unloops from mine, and he sits cross-legged on the grass.
I sit beside him and stretch my legs out in front, resting back on my elbows and the delicious popcorn scent wafts past my nose again having the same effect as last time only louder.
Eli glances down at my stomach with a smirk.
“Are you hungry?”
“Always, but now I’m kicking myself that I didn’t grab us drinks or something to eat, a blanket to sit on, anything really.”
“I’m good with sitting on the grass. But you’re hungry, so let me get you popcorn,” he says, climbing to his feet before I can say no. I watch as he jogs through the crowd, long thin legs weaving between groups of students like he’s a chess piece moving across the board. I never thought I could play a game like chess. It involves using more of my brain cells than I ever thought I even had, but now, after a few weeks playing with Eli, I find I’m able to see a couple of moves ahead, and while I haven’t beat him yet, and likely never will, it’s become a really fun way to spend down time away from the ice and the pressure of trying to prove I’m good enough for the NHL.
“Yo, Flash,” Riley says, plonking down behind me., I sit up and we’re joined by Gareth, Rover, and Micky. Sam stays standing, arms crossed over his chest, surveying the crowd like he’s searching for someone.
“Hey, guys, I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say, glancing back at where Eli is lined up for popcorn.
“Yeah, Sam’s girlfriend, Cherry, and a bunch of her sisters are here. You should come join,” Gareth says, and I shrug.
“I’m good,” I reply, and Sam chuckles.
“Yeah, the sisters aren’t really his thing.”
“True. But it’s the company they keep that I’m really not a fan of.”
“Funny,” Sam replies with a smile that almost looks real.
“The pledge did great helping you land that slap shot, you think he’s got more tricks in that laptop of his?” Sam asks, and I can’t help but wonder, is that who he’s looking for?
“They’re not tricks, but yeah, he’s got footage of a few of the guys now to work with.”
“I’ve been hearing he’s getting on with a lot of the brothers, pitching in around the house, not causing any dramas.”
“If you’re trying to ask me if I think he should be voted in, my answer is yes. He’s a legacy, and he’s a decent guy.”
“I wasn’t asking, but do you think he’d be open to testing that program of his on a sport other than hockey?”
There it is. The real reason he’s here and asking about Eli.
“Why? You still sore over your loss to the Pythons last week?” I ask with a smirk, leaning back again on my elbows again.
“It was brutal. We couldn’t seem to get a shot in. They dominated possession the whole fucking game,” Riley says, and I laugh.
“So why come to me? Just ask him yourself. Or if you really want to play rank, he’s a pledge, you can always order him to help you.”
I’d never order Eli to do anything, and even suggesting it makes my stomach turn.
Sam shifts to face me.
“Do you think he would help or not?”
“Ask him yourself,” I say, glancing back to where Eli was waiting in line, only he’s already headed back now, large popcorn in his hands and two bottles of water shoved under his arm. I stand up and jog over to grab the waters.
