‘What, you think we wouldn’t?’ Jordan shakes her head. ‘Coach is more than just an authority figure for us, Colt. When we’re not home with our families, she’s Mom. For the record, the two of us had a whole talk about Bradlasco last practice. We can’t tell exactly how May’s feeling about it all, you know she’s hard to get a read on, but she’s letting it fly. For the team, I think, considering she has so much weight on her shoulders after last year.’

I still don’t know the entire story about May’s junior year, but from what Coach told me, I can put some of the pieces together. It’s not the kind of thing you ask to dig deeper about.

Jordan clears her throat for dramatic effect. ‘So. I continue requesting your attention. This is Maddie. Attacker. Miss Bellmare. She spends most of her day in classes, spends some time with us, and whatever time is left is spent doing her duties. Civic title, technically, so not really your traditional beauty queen. She’s a political science major. She has thoughts, and she lives to make them known.’

In similar fashion, Jordan takes me through the Riders’ starting twelve: the midfielders, attackers, defence, and the goalie, Lexi, who frankly terrifies me more than any other member of the team (except maybe May).

‘She’s definitely walking, talking fear,’ Jordan ends triumphantly, wagging her stick at Lexi’s team photo – which is more like a mugshot – complete with a glowering stare. ‘Brianna – quick, pop quiz, who’s Brianna?’

‘I – uh …’ I’m notoriously terrible at pop quizzes, so I wiggle uncomfortably in my seat. ‘Um. Midfield. Hair?’

‘Good. Hair Brianna starts shaking when Lexi asks if she can braid her up for a game.’ Jordan clucks her tongue. ‘That’s what you call bad energy, if you ask me. And there’s your first-string twelve. We’ll start there. Know us well. You’ll travel with us cross-country, probably body some buffets with us, a couple of college dining halls across state lines. You’ll definitely get asked about us in relation to May in interviews. You’ll definitely get asked … about May. Segue.’ She raises an eyebrow, then puckers her lips in thought. ‘Let’s do some more trivia, Colt.’

Oh, no. The mischievous look on Jordan’s face tells me all I need to know about the upcoming trivia I’ll have to endure. I’m literally about to start biting my nails. ‘Um. Sure?’

‘Question!’ She clicks forward in the slide deck, to a giant photo of May with the Riders’ mascot, a comedic-looking horse standing on its hind legs. Even with that thing next to her drawing attention to its googly eyes, May’s stunning grin is what captivates me. She’s a knockout, always has been.

‘May’s favourite colour.’

‘Hot pink.’