Page 49 of Taking Sides
Me
I had this terrible teacher who made us do board work at the front of the class. She’d call on us randomly. It was basically my nightmare.
Whitney
Okay that is awful, but algebra is fun! And there are so many practical uses in hockey. Shooting angles, skating speed, I could go on and on!
I snort a laugh but smile at my phone.
Me
I bet you’re a good teacher.
Whitney
Did you hear the part about kids falling asleep in my class?
Me
They probably stayed up too late. I doubt it has anything to do with you.
Whitney
Maybe, but I’m still pretty new to this. It’s possible I love math so much that my lectures are boring to kids who don’t enjoy it. What would have made you like math more?
Me
You standing at the front of the classroom would have been enough to keep my attention.
The next morning, I send Whitney a picture of my morning drink order. I switched it up this morning and got her favorite tea instead of my coffee.
Whitney
What do you think?
Me
Not bad. I like the touch of cinnamon. Feels festive.
I’m staring at my phone, waiting for her next reply, when I walk into the rink and almost collide with Penn.
“Shit. Sorry.” I hold my cup away from him as I let him go ahead of me.
He quirks one brow and aims a half grin at me. “Rough morning?”
“Nah.” I pocket my phone. “Everything’s good. How are you?”
His gaze lingers on me a beat longer, like he’s trying to determine how truthful I’m being, before he looks ahead and nods. “Good.”
“Are you in the net tonight?”
We have a home game tonight against St. Louis. I’m looking forward to beating them. Even more than usual because I know Whitney will get a kick out of it. She might not admit to being a Moonshot fan, but she watches most of our games now.
When too much time has passed without Penn responding, I glance over at him. We’re walking side by side down the long hall that leads from the parking garage to the locker room. He’s staring at me with a look that’s a mixture of concern and amusement.
“What?” I ask.
“Something is up with you.”
