Post Olympic

One Word: Bowtie

STL Blues? I think yes. Congrats on the Stanley Cup, but I'm a Boston fan, so also like, uhhh. 

Song for this chapter doesn't match well at all, but it slaps so: 3 Nights - Dominic Fike 

Side note, the OHL team I like (only because they're terrible, like seriously) has won 3/4 of their preseason games and if that's not worrying, idk what is.

enjoy, comment, like, do as you wish with this,

-rabid

******************

St. Louis is kinda weird. I rode a plane for the second time in my life, and now I'm standing in the visitor locker room, looking it over. The guys should be here for game time soon. Suits and beanies. That's how it works apparently.

I saw the arch on the way in, it's significantly smaller than I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, it's huge. I just thought it was way bigger.

"Alright, they're coming." Hadley is also in a suit, but I don't quite know the dress code, so, in proper fashion, I'm in jeans and a hoodie. I'm pulling a Bill Belichick.

"Awesome." I look out the door. Sauerkraut leads it off.

He's wearing a TU Munich beanie with the puff on the top, the blue and grey on his hat match the blue suit he's got on. I'm frustrated by how easily he pulls off a blue suit.

Okay, I'm frustrated by how easily he pulls off goddamn friggin everything.

Is he wearing a bowtie? I'm gonna strangle him. I'll strangle him with the bowtie.

"Do you appreciate the bowtie?" He asks. I roll my eyes at him, trying to ignore how he looks. He looks so good that I'm lost in it. I was never into suits until I was into him. Then that one changed and now I don't ever want to see him not in a collar.

"I'm surprised you know how to tie one."

"It took me an hour."

"Well," I struggle to respond.

"Alright, Belichick, game time." Hadley closes the door behind Paxton and I look around. The room is thick with testosterone and I slowly realize I'm the only girl here.

"Game time." I agree.

****

Should it come as a surprise that we lost? No.

What should come as a surprise, however, is that we scored.

Twice.

Our captains are both one up on the season. Ireland lit the lamp early second period, and Sauerkraut closed the third out with a 5-hole goal on a breakaway.

"To be honest, I walked into that rink fully accepting a complete and total obliteration. So thank you guys for exceeding my expectations." I'm up on a table in the locker room. "I still feel like this team doesn't work together. Notice how both goals were breakaway. Our team relies on individual skill to succeed. We need to mesh. Like a good salsa. You cut up all the tomatoes and peppers and onions and toss them in a bowl. Then you get them really cold. And the next morning, you have salsa. The night before, it's just shit in a bowl. You guys right now are just shit in a bowl." I give them all a once over. Hadley did the post speech with all the excitement and yelling. Now I just need to explain why we lost. 

"So, now I get to talk about what I'm doing to get you guys cold and leave you overnight." I get an evil grin and Sauerkraut gives me a look. He pulls his chest protector off and I have to forcefully take my eyes off him. Screw you, Fenrir, for not wearing a shirt under your gear. Jesus. "Late November. I'm bringing you all up to Candle Lake, sticking you in an unheated cabin, and leaving you overnight."

"You're what." Ireland protests.

"Dear, it's already been scheduled."

"Am I allowed to skip it, Hadley?"

"No." Hadley deadpans.

"So, we've got a fireplace, and ten rooms. Four to a room, two nights. It's on a haunted lake too, so you guys better come out of there as some good ass salsa." I look back at Sauerkraut, he's covering a laugh. His shirt is just around his neck, and I let my eyes drift to where his body slips into his pants. I've always known hockey gear makes everyone more attractive, but shit. "Then we play the Wild, and then, winter break." I want to ask Sauerkraut about the white scar that he's got on one shoulder. He catches my eye and nods toward Hadley. I break my trance and flip my attention back to the room. Is he going to ever put that shirt on? Or am I going to have to just suffer.