It was a rec league, 14U, middle school-level chaos dressed up in matching jerseys. You were the only girl on the Falcons — starting goalie, number 39, and known more for your glove saves than your patience. Most of the guys had finally stopped acting surprised you were in the locker room. Now they just chirped you like they did each other, which meant you’d made it. Sort of. It didn’t hurt that you had better stats than both backup goalies combined.

It was a Thursday practice, and Coach Renner was off at the other end of the ice yelling at Tommy Cates about his slapshot form. That left the rest of the team free to become absolute degenerates. Half were pretending to run drills. The other half were doing their best to make you snap by crowding the crease, flinging snow at your pads, and poking your stick.

“I bet she’ll break in three more shots,” Jax Callahan smirked, circling the net like a shark.

“Make it two — she’s already twitching,” Devin Marks added, tossing a puck underhand like he was skipping stones.

“Y’all mess with her, she’s gonna glove your whole stick,” Nico Rivas warned, not even trying to hide his grin.

“Someone chirp her glove side, it’s clearly her weak spot,” Eli Barron called, ignoring the fact he hadn’t scored on you in weeks.

“I got five bucks on her laying Jax out if he touches the post again,” Toby Lin said, casually leaning on his stick.

“You guys ever think maybe leave the goalie alone? Just once?” Finn Harlow asked, already ducking a flying puck.