Contents
Chapter 15
Overview
Briar blows a 2–0 lead and loses to Yale after costly penalties and weak goaltending. Coach O’Shea confronts Dean over an Instagram photo and bans alcohol, provoking Dean’s defiance and reigniting resentment tied to Miranda. On the bus, Dean impulsively friend-requests Miranda, declines a party invite, and trades late-night sexts with Allie he can’t act on.
Summary
Dean narrates a Saturday game versus Yale. Briar jumps ahead 2–0 after goals by Garrett and Fitzy, but defensive lapses and weak positioning by goalie Patrick Corsen let Yale tie it before the second intermission. In the third, a cascade of penalties and a clean even-strength goal sink Briar, ending 3–6 despite Hunter’s tally.
Postgame, Coach O’Shea confronts Dean with an Instagram photo from a bar, invoking alcohol restrictions and Dean’s supposed “history with alcohol.” Angry and defensive, Dean challenges O’Shea’s authority, insists they weren’t drunk, and barely restrains his temper before walking away to board the bus.
On the ride, locker-room banter distracts the team while Dean broods. He searches Facebook for Miranda O’Shea, finds her private profile, and impulsively sends a friend request, signaling unresolved feelings tied to O’Shea’s animosity.
Beau Maxwell invites Dean to a party, but Dean declines, still upset. He notices Tucker’s evasiveness about where he’s been staying, hinting at a secret. Dean then sexts Allie; although they tease each other, Hannah’s presence blocks a visit, leaving Dean aroused and frustrated as the bus approaches campus.
Who Appears
- Dean Di LaurentisNarrator; struggles in a collapsing game, clashes with Coach O’Shea over drinking, messages ex Miranda, sexts Allie.
- Coach O’SheaAssistant coach; confronts Dean with Instagram evidence, bans alcohol, references Dean’s past, intensifying their conflict.
- TuckerDean’s teammate and seatmate; observes Dean’s mood, evasive about his whereabouts, suggesting a hidden situation.
- AllieDean’s secret fling; trades late-night sexts but refuses a visit due to Hannah being home.
- GarrettScores early to open the lead; later joins team bus banter during the tense ride home.
- FitzyScores Briar’s second goal; chats about video games and books during the bus ride.
- HunterNets Briar’s third goal; part of the brief momentum amid the team’s collapse.
- Patrick CorsenGoaltender; poor positioning contributes to multiple Yale goals in the loss.
- LoganTakes a slashing penalty leading to a Yale power-play goal; joins team chatter.
- WilkesTakes a hooking penalty resulting in another Yale power-play goal.
- BrodowskiDefensive miscue early gives Yale a breakaway, foreshadowing later breakdowns.
- Beau MaxwellInvites Dean to a party to forget the loss; Dean declines.
- Miranda O’SheaDean’s ex; he finds her private Facebook profile and sends a friend request.
- HannahAllie’s roommate; her presence prevents Dean and Allie from meeting.