Page 101 of Pucking Good Girl

The answer to my question surprises me. “What he gives me monthly doesn’t even reach four figures. I used to spend more on makeup in a month. And once I’m done with the community service, I’m on my own. He expects me to get a job and support myself. I don’t know what’s worse if working a soul-crushing job for minimum wage or this job. I wish they had made me work anywhere but here. But the judge was my daddy’s friend, and Daddy insisted that I had to do my community service on campus and possibly at the arena.”

Her manager chimes in. “Her father convinced the judge that it was only fitting to have her serve the same community she hurt with her actions. And I agree with that sentiment. And you better get back to work, Genevieve. If you think I’m signing off on your hours for you to chit chat with your friends, you’re sorely mistaken. This will cost you one hour.”

“What? But we’ve only been talking for a couple of minutes. And they asked me; I didn’t even want them to see me. And now that they have, it’s only a matter of time before the team knows too. My reputation is ruined; there’s no coming back from being the help.”

I think it’s ironic that Gen is more worried about being seen working here can do to her reputation rather than all the things she’s done to get here.

“Not my problem,” it looks like the manager is enjoying making Gen’s life as hard as possible. “I was told you were not to get any preferential treatment. So serve your friends and move on, before the people in line start complaining.”

The guy has a point. The line behind us is growing, and I’ve heard several people express frustration about the waiting times.

We watch as Gen fills my bucket with popcorn and assembles Sam’s hot dog.

“I’m glad her manager is watching her like a hawk,” Sam whispers in my ear. “Or I bet she’d totally spit in our food.”

Knowing Gen, very few things would surprise me at this point.

“I don’t know how I feel about all this,” Sam muses once we settle into our seats with our food. “Is jail worse than working here? I’d take freedom over pretty much anything else.”

Sam’s point is totally valid, but it’s Gen we’re talking about. “I think her father knows her well. Losing her privileges and her money and being forced to work here will probably hit home more than jail.”

“As long as her father doesn’t cave and give her back her credit cards.”

Families are always complicated, no matter their circumstances, financial or otherwise. “Maybe he will eventually. But hopefully he’ll stay the course long enough to get Gen to learn some important lessons.”

Our conversation ends as the players take the ice for their warmups. I wave at my two men and my heart beats faster when they wave back at me.

We all have a lot riding on this game. Much more than just Macklin and Becks’s professional futures.

As the game begins, I do the only thing that comes as naturally as breathing. I cheer for both of them.

CHAPTER 25

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Becks

Nash passes the puck forward after stealing it clean off the UCLA winger’s stick.

Vaughn receives it with ease, like he’s been doing every time he’s been on shift tonight. With our place in the playoffs already secured, and enough points to win our conference regardless of the result of tonight’s game, Coach Harrison has changed our usual lines to experiment with pairing different players. It’s especially important since Colsen is graduating and Vaughn will be the most experienced center next year.

He’s been crushing it so far.

The second Vaughn takes possession of the puck, two UCLA players close in on him, determined to thwart any attempt to score.

But Vaughn has a killer natural instinct to create open space even when every avenue looks closed. He dekes both opponents like he was born to do it and then passes the puck to me with a precise wrist shot.

With every UCLA player covering Mack and Vaughn, I’m alone on my wing. I take off and unleash one hell of a slapshot before the other team even realizes what happened. Cove Knights one, UCLA zero.

Of course Mack scored another hat trick, but I provided the assist for each of those goals.

Tucker denies UCLA every time they get even remotely close to his crease. Talia’s brother is having the best season of his career so far.

The game is over before we know it and we won. The arena explodes in cheers and celebrations; our school and the whole town are ready to support us through the playoffs and all the way to the Frozen Four final.

I look for her face in the sea of jubilant fans. Finding her is easy; Talia always stands out even in a crowd.

She’s jumping up and down, screaming something I can’t really hear, and then she blows me a kiss.