5. Teagan

five

"How do I look out there?" Kelsey and Ashley flank each side of me while Britt stands in front of me, blocking out the curious stares from the players and coaches, straining their necks to get a glimpse of my face. I lift my visor to take a drink of water from the bottle Britt hands me.

"You look amazing. There is no way you won't get a spot on the team." Britt's enthusiasm makes me smile. She's the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Growing up together, we were more like sisters than friends. I've often hoped one of my three brothers would marry her someday so we could be real sisters, but for some reason, my brothers have always been a little standoffish around Britt, except over the last year.

Ever since Britt didn't come home with me for Thanksgiving and Christmas break last year like she always does, my brothers have grilled me on her whereabouts. They question me on who she's dating or who she's hanging out with, acting more like jealous boyfriends than family friends.

"You're skating circles around the other four guys." Kelsey hands me a towel, nodding at the four other newbies across the ice, all trying out for one of the two coveted spots on the hockey team.

Kelsey and Ashley answered our ad for roommates when Britt and I first transferred to State College over the summer four months ago. They have both been super supportive in my quest to join the Men's Hockey Team. I'm going to miss living with all of them when I get picked for the hockey team. But I'm going to miss Britt most of all.

One of the team requirements is for the whole hockey team to live under the same roof at the Hockey House. Something about bonding and building team relationships. I'm not looking forward to sharing the same space with nineteen horny guys, but it's a small sacrifice to finally accomplish my dream of playing on a high-caliber hockey team.

Except the thought of sharing the same living space with Coulter, Fin, and Royal doesn't seem like a sacrifice at all. It sounds more like a dream come true. I imagine sharing the same bathroom with them, conserving water by showering together. Maybe living with them won't be so bad after all.

Stop thinking about them like that. I tell myself. They are going to be my teammates, not my fuck buddies.

I snap down my visor, not looking at anyone on the other side of the ice and trying to wipe the image of sharing more than a living space with Coulter, Fin, and Royal. But it doesn't help that my clit decides to pulse at the thought of being with all three of them at the same time.

The coach motions for everyone to gather around for the unveiling of the two open spots, "Wish me luck." I smile over my shoulder at my girls as I skate to the other side of the arena to stand next to the other four potential candidates. Britt and the girls" shouts of encouragement give me the strength I need to finish what I started.

If I don't get one of the spots, I've already decided to skate off the ice, not removing my mirrored visor to lick my wounds without the ridicule of the guys on an all-male team. If I make the team, I"ll gladly remove my mirrored visor, still prepared to withstand the negative reception.

"We've made our final decision. If we call your number, please forward." The assistant coach, Greg, calls, and I hold my breath. It's now or never. My dream will either become a reality or a distant memory. He glances at the clipboard in his hand, his eyes scanning the top sheet of paper. "Number twenty-six."

A skinny player gives a shout, thrusting his hockey stick into the air. He skates towards the assistant coach, stopping inches away from him. His smug smile makes me want to punch him in the face. I can't believe they picked him for the team. His skating is choppy, and he pulls his arm to the left when he shoots.

"And the other spot goes to." The assistant coach hesitates, glancing up. His eyes passing over the four of us remaining players before landing back on the clipboard. I take a deep breath and hold it, knowing my whole life hangs on his next words. "Lucky number thirteen."

I let out the breath I was holding in a woosh, letting his words sink in. I did it! I made the men's hockey team. Britt and the girls jump up and down, yelling and whistling at the announcement. I don't move, letting my mind take in the good news.

Coach Johnson coughs, gaining my attention. I snap my eyes at him as he nods his head in the direction of the other new player on the team. I take the hint, giving my little cheering section a wave as I take my spot next to number twenty-six.

"Like I said before the tryouts even started, this year we're picking our new players by their skills. No names, no stats," Coach Johnson addresses the veterans on our team before turning to the guys who weren't selected for the team. "I'd like to take this time to thank all of you who tried out for the team. If I didn't call your number, you are dismissed."

The three guys left standing by themselves mumble a thank you to the coaching staff as they skate off the ice to the locker room.

Coach Johnson respectfully waits until the last of the three guys leaves the ice before continuing. "Receiving the least amount of votes out of the two players selected is Jared Polich. He'll be playing one of the defensive positions. And receiving unanimous first-place votes from our three team captains is Teagen Hayes."

I unhook the strap under my chin and place my hands on the sides of my helmet.

"She'll be playing the left wing position."

Masculine gasps and feminine shouts of joy fill the rink as I slip the helmet over my head, shaking out my long blonde hair so it falls in waves down my back.

"What the fuck, Coach? We'll be the laughingstock of the college world if we have a girl on our team." Royal stands, clenching and unclenching his hands at his sides.

"You picked her, Reynolds. You see what she can do. Her skills complement the team, and you know it."

"But Coach…"

"No buts Reynolds. She's a part of the team now, and you will treat her like any other member of this team."

Royal stares unflinchingly at our head coach, neither one of them breaking eye contact.

"That goes for the rest of you guys." Coach breaks eye contact first, his eyes sliding from player to player daring them to argue with him.

I'll be forever grateful for Coach Johnson"s help with tryouts today. But I hate that my being on the team causes him problems. I open my mouth to defend myself instead of letting Coach Johnson fight my battle for me, but Fin beats me to it.

"Come on, Royal. You saw her out there. She outskated the rest of those guys. Hell, she beat all of them and was the last man standing for the suicide drill, and she barely looks like she broke a sweat." Both Royal and Fin swing their gaze at me. One pair of eyes filled with anger, and the other filled with mischief. "Besides, she's better to look at than the rest of you assholes." Fin smiles and winks at me, his playful behavior making me return his smile.

It feels like forever before Royal speaks again. "Fine. Are we done here?" The side of his jaw pulses.

"Not yet. I've arranged for Teagan to use the women's locker room for home games and practice. I'll reach out to our opponents to make the same arrangements for away games. Other than that, Teagan is to be treated like any other of your teammates. Got it?" Coach Johnson scans the faces of my new teammates before finally landing his gaze on Royal.

"Is that it?" Royal seethes, his anger coming off of him in waves.

What the fuck is this dickhole's problem?

First, Royal yelled at me for spilling my drink on him when it wasn't my fault, and now this.

"Yes, everyone is dismissed." Coach Johnson blows his whistle, officially ending the tryouts.

Royal brushes past me in his hurry to leave the arena. I bite my tongue, holding back the insults I want to throw his way.

"So you're Teagan Hayes, Teddy Hayes's daughter." Fin slides next to me, drawing my attention away from Royal's retreating back. "And the girl in the white dress from last night."

"Yeah, that's me."

"You don't have brown eyes. You have violet eyes," Coulter says, his voice sounding accusatory as his gaze stays glued on my eyes.

Thankfully, Britt and the girls interrupt our conversation, so I don't have time to question his tone. "This is so exciting. We have to go to the Dean's List tonight to celebrate." Ashley gushes, grabbing the sleeve of my practice jersey.

"We don't have to go to a bar to celebrate. Why don't we go back to our apartment, order pizza, and celebrate there?" Britt suggests, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Ashley.

"Come on, Britt. Why are you always a stick in the mud? You never do anything fun." Britt opens her mouth to object, but Ashley holds up her hand to stop her. "And before you say anything, the romance books you read are not considered fun."

"I don't know about that, Ash. Have you seen some of the tropes she reads? I bet our little virginal Britt is a freak in the sheets." Kelsey giggles, sidestepping Britt's hand as she attempts to swat her arm.

"I'm not a freak in the sheets, and I'm not a virgin," Britt protests a little too strongly.

I know for a fact that Britt's not a virgin. She dated her ex-boyfriend Troy for over a year. They met during their freshman year of college, and he seemed like a sweet guy. When they broke up, all Britt said was they weren't compatible. She never elaborated, and I never pushed for more.

"Suure you're not." Kelsey stretches out the word sure to emphasize her disbelief in Britt's sex life.

Fin and Coulter watch their exchange with a mixture of amusement and anger, which seems like a weird reaction to our conversation.

"Are you really going to the Dean's List tonight?" Coulter finally asks.

I glance between a smiling Ashley and Kelsey to a more subdued Britt with her arms crossed over her chest. She shrugs her shoulders, letting me know she's not happy about going to the bar, but she'll go if I want to go.

"Actually, I think staying home and ordering pizza sounds like a great idea. Especially since this will be our last night together before I move into the Hockey House." I say, noticing Britt's shoulders relax, putting her out of her misery at the thought of going out to a bar.

A look I can't describe passes between Coulter and Fin. But I don't have the energy to dissect what they are thinking about. All I want to do is take a hot shower, eat pizza, drink wine, and not worry about moving in with my male teammates tomorrow.

"I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow at practice." I don't add that I'll be moving in after practice tomorrow once I get the moving company lined up to haul my things to the Hockey House and my new bedroom.