tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64428525722128713012024-03-05T21:09:26.656-05:00Make Me Believe...HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-40186446149437720912011-11-08T15:39:00.001-05:002011-11-08T15:39:45.120-05:00Ulterior Motives<br />
I've been thinking of making a blog for just my one-shots and short stories for a while now and today I finally got the ambition to do so! As of right now I have one story posted... I will be posting some others as the weeks go by and I get them proof-read. Obviously this is just a space for the extra things I write which might not all be on hockey players... we shall see... click on the link, check it out and follow!! :o)<br />
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<a href="http://www.needabreakdownhere.blogspot.com/">www.needabreakdownhere.blogspot.com</a>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-18786411013364998902011-10-26T15:54:00.002-04:002011-10-26T15:54:32.798-04:00Don't Give Up On MeWell, I said I wouldn't do it. I said I wouldn't be writing full-stories, but <a href="http://alexovetjkin.blogspot.com/2011/09/ovechkin-talks-about-trade-life-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FDXuq+%28Alex+Ovetjkin%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher">this article</a> and a talk in Philly with K and RebelHeart made the gears begin to turn on a player that people either hate or love. I can't say he's gorgeous, but I can't say he's ugly... I guess I want to say that he is intriguing and makes for a good story character. I am not a Capitals fan, so please don't think of me as one. However, with some help from some willing people, I've had some help in making this story seem as authentic as possible.<br />
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I am sure I will have some readers that won't be willing to read this because of the character, and that is fine, but I ask you keep an open mind (like me) and remember I have yet (at least I hope) to steer you in the wrong direction with my random pick of guys... Enjoy and please let me hear your comments (whether you like it or not)!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.dontgiveuponme8.blogspot.com/">www.dontgiveuponme8.blogspot.com</a>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-2038326818435822372011-09-28T11:30:00.001-04:002011-09-28T11:30:31.837-04:00Check it Out!!Posting one of my archived stories... <a href="http://www.loveandflowers19.blogspot/">www.loveandflowers19.blogspot</a><br />
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Check it out!! I'd love to see you all over there and hear your comments!! Also keep on a look-out... I am planning on making a page that will just be my short-stories and one-shots... some will be old and some will be new as the year goes by! I'll let you know when and where! Hope you're all well and thanks again for the support!!HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-40362419215249834572011-07-23T16:27:00.002-04:002011-07-23T16:27:49.106-04:00New Story...Well, the whole reason there isn't a final chapter up here for this lovely story is because I've cheated and started a new project... Look for the finale of MMB to be up within the week.<br />
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As for the new story I've been building... <a href="http://www.ifnotnow89.blogspot.com/">www.ifnotnow89.blogspot.com</a><br />
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Well, I'm sad to say that this will probably be the last story I write for roughly a year. For those who don't know me, I'm starting paramedic school in September and my friends and instructors have already warned me that I will have no life but studying, practicals and sleeping. So, I wanted to have one last hurrah before it is time to buckle down and become a full-time student for the first time since I graduated college a few years ago.<br />
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I will definitely be posting the rest of the stories I have written and posted on the Hockey Fantasy Fiction board since many have expressed interest in that...so no worries.<br />
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I only have a few chapters written of this so far and I contemplated on waiting to post it until it was finished, but like any writer, I am looking for feedback!! It will be a chapter or 2 until we learn about my new hockey muse... strangely, he has been someone that I've been attempting to write about for some time now, but nothing ever seemed to work until this time. I hope you all enjoy and will follow me along on this last adventure before my hiatus!!HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-3060055169887355212011-07-17T14:31:00.001-04:002011-07-17T14:48:58.806-04:00Chapter 11<strong>Well... I hate to say this, but it seems this story is coming to an end... there will at least be another chapter or epilouge, so stay tuned!!</strong><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I have waited<br />
Dined on ashes<br />
Swung from chandeliers and climbed Everest<br />
And none of it's got me close to this<br />
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I've waited all my life<br />
If not now, when will I?<br />
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Stand up and face the bright light<br />
Don't hide your eyes<br />
It's time<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/uyjV0AfGRVo">It Not Now, When? - Incubus</a></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch. 11</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I figured talking about now was probably the best thing for both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no need to leave it until the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt her tense as soon as I said something about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We can make this work,” I murmured, trying to soothe her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How?” she mouthed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“There are jobs in the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city> area…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But I’m not even sure I want to leave <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Glens Falls</st1:city></st1:place>,” she turned over so that she was completely facing me now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Even if I asked you to move in with me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words were out of my mouth before I could even think them through, but I didn’t regret them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can’t just quit with a couple months left in the season to move in with you, James…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m not asking you to, in fact I don’t want you to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, not right now at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is obviously new for both of us and it’s probably in our best interest to take things a little slow, not counting this weekend of course,” I smiled, unable to hold back a laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t want you to give up your dreams and goals, but I think we can find a middle ground where we can everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Having everything only happens in the movies, James,” she sighed as she rolled out of my arms and to the edge of the bed in an attempt to get up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What if I said there is a job opening at the Heinz Field?” I blurted out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t some research and talking to some people in their front office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person that had the position before just took a job with us over at the Penguins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know its football, but I thought it might be an option…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’ve obviously been thinking of things before you even came to talk to me the other night, haven’t you?” she asked quietly, sitting back down and turning towards me with no readable expression on her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I propped myself up on my elbow and nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, yes I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you Hanna, I love you and I need you in my life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to need some time to think about it…I mean, not about us, but just the job switching…” she said quickly, probably noticing my look when she talked about needing time to think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She crawled back over to me, grabbed my hands and commandeered my attention away from her naked body so that we were staring into each other’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love you and I want to make this work, don’t doubt that,” she said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t doubt it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I just want to make sure I take a job that I actually like and not take one because it puts me closer to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d be miserable if I didn’t like my job…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can understand that,” I nodded, allowing a smile to cross my face before I leaned in to kiss her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Wow, a job with the Steelers organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had to remember I was offered a job in Philly too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both would be dream jobs, yet only one would make everything the way it should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I got back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Glens Falls</st1:place></st1:city>, I began writing e-mails and making phone calls to the people James wrote down for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sent out portfolios and links to my things on the web that I had done over the last year and a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hockey season was winding down quickly and I wanted to have all my ducks in a row before I gave final answers to Mr. Snider and the wonderful organization I had been involved with.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So my cousin is settling down, eh?” Brad chirped into the phone one evening while I laid across my bed, writing out a list of questions I wanted to ask at my interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hoped the Steelers organization wouldn’t be put off too much by me asking some questions, but I wanted to make sure this was a job that would make me happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just moving to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city>, it’s not like I’m getting married…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sighed and rolled my eyes, “Yet,” I echoed slightly unwillingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t want to rush things, especially for the simple fact that I feel as if we’ve sped things along at Mach1 speed since we’ve gotten back together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are moving to where you should have been after being together for a year…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But that’s the thing Brad, we haven’t technically been together that long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You just happened to be on a detour and now you’re paths have gotten back on course,” Brad said sincerely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You sound like a romance novelist,” I chided.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just older and wiser, that’s all,” he chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, and is that why you are still single?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He stopped laughing and growled, “This has nothing to do with my personal life, Hanna Montana.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Whatever, hypocrite.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are in love with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You two balance each other perfectly and you’re happy, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, then, there is nothing wrong with the pace of your relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop making such a big fuss about the norm and just go with it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let my head drop down onto my arm and shook it, knowing he was right, but for someone who is very goal oriented, it was sometimes hard to let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I remember correctly,” Brad continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You had to get James to realize having a girlfriend was okay, am I right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeeeaahhh,” I drew out, trying to figure out where he was going with this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, it seems the tables are turned now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like he has to get you to believe the same damn thing this time around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t say anything for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That is a very good point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have my moments,” he grinned into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So she’s moving to the ‘Burgh?” Matty Niskanen asked excitedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m thinking it all kind of hinges on if she gets this job with the Steelers or not…” I said evenly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been trying for the last 4 weeks not to get my hopes up too much, but it was so hard not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop and be back at square one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She should have no problem getting that gig,” <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city> piped up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a group of us out eating lunch after practice in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city>; we were playing the Rangers that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can imagine the Flyers aren’t going to be overly excited to hear that a Penguin has stolen her from their organization…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I laughed, “Yeah, especially since she’s boosted the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Glens Falls</st1:place></st1:city> organization 10-fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her work is crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I always liked her stuff down in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place>,” Matt remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just excited to have another hot ass to be walking around in the events,” <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> remarked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If you want to dump her again, you can definitely send her my way…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just rolled my eyes and shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That hot ass is all mine,” I remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Really, now?” Hanna said from behind me, making everyone’s mouth drop at the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city> seemed to be the only one who wasn’t surprised by her arrival.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I almost knocked my chair over, standing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna?!” I exclaimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What…How…Wow…” I sputtered, pulling her into my arms as she smiling broadly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You seem surprised,” she giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t remember you saying anything about coming to NYC…” I said, still shocked that I was holding her in my arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t say anything because I wanted to surprise you, I just didn’t think <st1:place w:st="on">Crosby</st1:place> over there had it in him to keep a good secret.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you I would be silent!” <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city> cried, launching a french fry in our direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I pulled back, looked down at her and kissed her firmly on the lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi,” I whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey,” she whispered back, her eyes sparkling with humor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was actually a beautiful day in the city, so Hanna and I decided to take a stroll before I went back to the hotel to take a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have a few days off, so I figured I’d drive down here and see you and Brad play against each other,” she informed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, so I’m not the only reason you are here,” I mockingly sulked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, you are totally the reason I’m here,” she elbowed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Seeing my cousin is just an added perk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ve missed you…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Same here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus I needed to tell you my news in person.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stopped, not wanting to miss a word she said because something in her voice told me I wouldn’t want to miss a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ve handed in my resignation to the Brooks and wrote a letter to Mr. Snyder turning down his job offer in Philly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked at her curiously and waited a moment, just in case she had something else to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Isn’t your interview with the Steelers at the end of the month?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She smiled and nodded before looking down at the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, it is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I put my hand under her chin and lifted it so her eyes were looking back up at me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So what’s up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Her hand reached up and covered mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve decided that even if I don’t get the Steelers job, I would just look for something else in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city>…It’s my turn to show that I am 100% committed to this also.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So either way you are going to move to the Burgh to be with me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I quickly dropped my hand and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her against me tightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That is almost as good as hearing you say that you love me,” I exclaimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What made you make this decision?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let’s just say my cousin reminded me of somethings that are important in life and how you have to be willing to make some compromises to get to where you want to be…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I promise to make you happy,” I whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You already have.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love you Hanna.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love you too, James.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Glad to see Nealer hasn’t taken you fully to the dark side!” Brad chirped as he walked down the hallway of MSG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hanging out with some of the Pens, already being razzed about my choice of hockey sweaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brad had given me his new Ranger’s jersey a week or two after he had signed with <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming here, I knew I would have to wear it because everyone knows that family always outranks significant others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, what’s more fun than wearing a jersey with your own last name on the back?!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t want you to feel as if you didn’t have a fan in the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly doubt a lot of people wear your jersey around here,” I joked, knowing full well his was the highest selling jersey for the Rangers since he’d been signed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Missed your sarcasm, little one,” he laughed, pulling me in for a hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s definitely good to see you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you free after the game?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Only if you don’t mind hanging out with some Pens,” James jumped in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re leaving tomorrow afternoon for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newark</st1:place></st1:city>, so we have a night off in the city after the game tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure we can come up with some good places to take you guys,” Brad smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, like the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Empire</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Building</st1:placetype></st1:place>!” Dubinsky chirped while he walked into the locker room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I hear it’s a long way down when someone pushes you off the top…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Everyone just laughed, but it was a somber reminder that shortly they would be enemies out on the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kissed Brad on the cheek and wrote down a place to meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then kissed James and wished him luck before pushing him towards his own locker room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The game was crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was evident that both teams were fighting for position in their division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t say I was totally surprised when James got into it with Dubinsky, during the 2<sup>nd</sup> period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also can’t say that I wasn’t turned on to see my man throwing a few punches and coming out on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he would still have a fat lip from one of the punches that Dubinsky actually connected with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Penguins won 3-2, so the boys were a little rowdy as they walked out of the locker room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sorry Hanna, but I couldn’t resist putting your cousin into the boards tonight,” Duper chided.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, yeah,” I waved him off, shaking my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a solid hit that had a positive outcome for the Pens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duper took the puck from Brad and passed it over to Sid, who quickly found a hole to fire the puck past Hank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a good defensive play, but I still cringed with the rest of MSG as my cousin took the hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Soon we were in downtown <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Manhattan</st1:place></st1:city> at a swanky club, both teams intermingling with one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always amazed me how they could be so vicious to each other one minute and then next they were practically holding hands together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Your girl is smoking hot,” Brandon Prust commented when she got up to use the restrooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I always thought this, but tonight she was looking untouchable in a silky dark purple halter that hung loosely, in a draping like fashion around her cleavage and a short white skirt with pair of nude Jimmy Choo’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hair was down, falling naturally over her shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time she dressed like this, it made it harder for me to believe that this was the same girl who didn’t mind being in hip boots, fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just nodded at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brandon</st1:place></st1:city> and tried to hide the big smile that said, “Yup and she’s all mine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When she came back she pulled me up off the chair and drug me out onto the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I’m here, you are not allowed to just sit here and watching…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But I enjoy watching you dance,” I whined, not totally feeling comfortable dancing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Then watch me while I do this,” she winked before she turned around, bent forward and ground her ass up against me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re evil.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do I have your attention now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’ve had it for a while now,” I played.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She turned back around to face me and threw her arms up around my neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well if you are paying attention then you must know what ideas I have in my brain at the moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I leaned down and breathed into her ear, “It wouldn’t have anything to do with heading back to the hotel and having you grind your ass up on me with less clothing, now would it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled, feeling her shiver in my arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are very attentive it seems.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She can’t move to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city> soon enough…</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-12619364994604165032011-07-10T07:54:00.000-04:002011-07-10T07:54:25.390-04:00Chapter 10<strong>Don't know what else you might have expected, but this is loaded with Adult Content... just in case you didn't know. :o) But, from your comments, I'm thinking ya'll knew it was just around the corner. hehe</strong><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It's not the pale moon that excites me<br />
That thrills and delights me, oh no<br />
It's just the nearness of you<br />
<br />
It isn't your sweet conversation<br />
That brings this sensation, oh no<br />
It's just the nearness of you<br />
<br />
When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me<br />
All my wildest dreams came true<br />
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I need no soft lights to enchant me<br />
If you'll only grant me the right<br />
To hold you ever so tight<br />
And to feel in the night the nearness of you<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8We0SwZHd9A&feature=related"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Nearness of You – </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">performed by Nora Jones<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch 10</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Hanna’s flight was 30 minutes late, which gave me 30 more minutes to think about what I wanted to do to her this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have two nights together and I wanted to make the best of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so excited last night driving home that I’m shocked I didn’t get a speeding ticket for my happy lead-foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was still the unspoken problem of not having a cut and dry plan of where we were going to go after this weekend, but I figured we’d have more than enough time to hash that out in-between the times I had her crying out my name.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face when I caught my first glimpse of her as she walked down the terminal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dark brown hair was covered by a black and white printed fedora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:city> coat was a plain, dark olive green and her dark stone-washed jeans flared out to cover her brown hiking boots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was dressed practical for the weather instead of dressing to impress me, which for some reason was a huge turn-on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was definitely one of the things I had loved about Hanna when we were in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place>, she wasn’t hell bent on perfecting her looks, instead she was just happy to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t a high maintenance guy and I sure as hell didn’t want a high maintenance woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Of course my flight needs to land late,” she half grimaced and half smiled at me before wrapping her arms around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wanted to beat you here,” she laughed, her competitive side shining through.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just glad you’re here,” I admitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You ready to go get our rental and head up to the lake?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She looked up and smiled broadly, “I’ve been waiting since you suggested it last year already.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It wasn’t a large cottage, but it was the perfect size for a getaway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sat right along the lake, which was now frozen over with snow piled all around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were numerous ice-fishing shacks scattered about, but soon I would only be able to see the glow from their windows because night was quickly coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How are you making out with that fire, boy scout?” I chirped over to James, who was attempting to get a fire started in the fireplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cottage had electric heat, but we definitely needed a fire to take away the bitterness out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It probably didn’t help that the one whole wall of the place was all window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful picture frame of the lake, but not very heat efficient.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you want to try?” he growled, obviously annoyed that he didn’t have it started yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can at least get dinner started since you are feigning incompetence in that department.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m not feigning incompetence; I’m just saying my specialty is grilled cheese or trout!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, we don’t have trout and I’m thinking you’d need to at least make 3 grilled cheese to even begin to fill my stomach,” he smiled, patting his belly while he climbed up off the floor, giving me the sign that the fire task was all on me now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We kissed before switching places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No wonder you can’t get this thing started!” I chirped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just throwing the logs in on top of each other never gets things done!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly pulled everything out and began with a Tee-Pee of smaller kindling and some crumpled newspaper in the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In no time at all, crackling could be heard and the comforting smell of burning wood was faintly filling my nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you serious?!” James whined from behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was a girl scout.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I was a boy scout.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Obviously we are more superior or you just didn’t pass your campfire merit badge,” I giggled, using his arm to pull me up off the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s for dinner Julia Child?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Spaghetti and meatballs?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sounds like a plan,” I stood on my tip-toes to kiss his cheek before turning to flit away towards the bedroom, announcing I wanted to freshen up a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you ever going to come out here?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called out from the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The table was set, the wine was poured and the candles were lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rushed getting it all together thinking she wasn’t going to take a long time to get ready, but now I was sitting at the table tapping my foot while my stomach growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t you know patience brings good things to those who wait?” she sang down the hall, letting me know she was walking this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think a year is enough patience…” I began to remark but my words were taken from my throat when I saw her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Holy shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hope you don’t mind that I wanted to get more comfortable,” she smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, my, look how beautiful this looks!” she exclaimed, fawning over the romantically set table.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I somehow stumbled over to her chair, but I wasn’t going to pull it back so she could sit in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead my goal was to now turn her around and take her back to the bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hair was piled on top of her head, with wisps falling out all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her idea of something comfy was a short black silk teddy that barely covered her ass, a sexy lace garter holding up knee-high fishnets that bottomed out in a pair of black stilettos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mouth was dry and my dick was hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food was no longer on my brain, only dessert.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Something wrong, Neal?” she asked in a seductive yet playful tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled back the chair and sat down, crossing her legs with some added dramatics.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, yeah, you are sitting in that chair…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, it’s dinner time and I’m starving!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned towards the table, picked up the glass of wine by her plate and took a slow sip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The candle light accentuated everything and I’m sure she knew it played in her favor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she set the glass down, she turned back towards me and looked up at me with an innocent face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you going to just stand there and watch me eat?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I…but…ugh, I’m starving but I’m fairly sure I could hold out until I get you out of that outfit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She smiled and waved her finger back and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, no, not until after dinner; besides, reheating spaghetti is a sin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She was a menace, a tease and I am completely whipped by this woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowly sulked back over to my side of the table and took my seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was going to be complete torture to sit across from her, especially with the way her breasts were practically falling out onto the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’m fairly sure he was still chewing the last bite of his spaghetti when he ripped me up from my chair and pulled me against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first the game was fun to play, but it became increasingly difficult to sit on the chair, feeling myself getting wetter with anticipation as each moment passed by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to make the night a little more memorable and my idea seemed to be doing just that, despite feeling slightly hooker-ish sitting at the dinner table dressed like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m positive they would frown upon this in charm and beauty school, unless it was the Playboy Bunny semester.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hanna,” he breathed into my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had missed hearing my name on his lips for way too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I want you to know before we do this, that there was only one other I had in my arms while we were apart...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Same here,” I whispered back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">No more words needed to be spoken about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no need to say that the other person never lived up to the expectations and that the sex wasn’t as good as it had been between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was another time and another part of our lives now and we were here to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sighed as his hands slid hotly down my back, over the silky material and to my ass, where he cupped my cheeks and squeezed firmly while pulling me against him so that I could feel his hard erection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My arms clung tightly around his neck, keeping me in an upright position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lifted my chin and looked up into his grey eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His lips came crashing down onto mine and kissed me into oblivion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He traced my mouth with his tongue; I sucked on his lip, never wanting to break with him again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Pulling back ever so slightly, I broke off the kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is what has been missing…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love you Hanna,” he said hoarsely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love you too,” I echoed, looking deep into his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As soon as the words were out of my mouth, the hands still cupping my ass, coaxed me up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrapped my legs around him and he carried me back to the bedroom, laying me gently onto the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She finally said the words I had wanted to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no turning back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I climbed over top of her, dipped down to kiss her deeply and began working my way down, biting at the silk covering her beautiful body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was squirming all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mixed laughter and moans echoed throughout the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I arrived down between her legs, I found a piece of flimsy material that I assumed was supposed to be underwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ripped it off like I had done the night we first made love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m still waiting for you to replace the other pair you ripped,” she mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just hoping you’ll eventually run out and have to walk around without any on all the time,” I smirked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She attempted to make some remark about my thoughts being dirty but her words became nonsensical as soon as I began lightly tracing her nether lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is one thing that makes you feel like you have all the power in the world, it is going down on a woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My taste buds were instantly reminded how sweet she always tasted, yet this time she tasted even better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was obvious I was not the only one turned on during dinner time because she was already swollen and dripping wet, making her even more sensitive to my motions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her fingers threading through my hair, coaxed me deeper, forcing my tongue into her treasured center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I was getting at the right spot when her moans turned into cries and she bucked against my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came within moments after I slipped a finger into her, touching her g-spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, pleeeaasssseee, yeessss, FUCK!” she yelled out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite her clawing for me to come back up and kiss her, I stayed between her legs and went back to the dessert dish that I couldn’t get enough of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“James!” she hissed after she came the third time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, I’ll leave you be for a bit,” I chuckled before laying kisses down the inside of her thigh and running my tongue over her fishnet stockings all the way down to her high-heeled shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After placing a kiss in the arch of her shoe, I stood up and stretched her legs up, putting her in a very vulnerable looking position. “You are so fucking hot,” I growled, sliding my hands down her thighs and to her hips to pull her closer to the edge of the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat up and crooked her finger in a come-hither kind of way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are a master,” she groaned before pressing her lips to mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I knew it, she had me undressed and I was dragging the silky black lingerie up and over her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He has always made me feel so beautiful, even on the days I wasn’t feeling it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was something about the way he looked at me and the way he touched me…he has always done it in such a loving way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight was no different, in fact he made me feel like a supermodel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His large, calloused hands brought an extra abrasive pleasure, causing me a shiver to run through my whole body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fuuuckkk,” I whined, throwing my head back to revel in his touch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Damn right. You look like a porn star sitting like that on the bed,” he growled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just kept my eyes closed and shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess my pose was a little on the provocative side, considering I was in a modified crab walk position on the bed, minus the movement, and at his insistence, my stilettos were still strapped to my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way I was feeling at the moment, I didn’t care that I was spread eagle for him to see, it just made for easier access when he finally pushed his length inside of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still standing at the edge of the bed, he pushed my knees back against my chest and entered me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I cried out when he completely filled me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yesssss.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mmmm…” he hummed in harmony with me and smiled sedately before setting a slow pace, achingly pulling in and out of me so that I’d feel every inch of him with every movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The position made it feel like his cock was hitting my diaphragm, causing me to gasp every time his pubic bone hit mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also gave him the freedom to keep exploring my body with his hands that were now grasping my sensitive breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before too long we were lost in the rhythm of each other moving together as if we had never lost course on the map we had created a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I came first, crying out his name and in another thrust; I felt my walls milking him dry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As the night wore on, more positions were tried and more moans and name yelling continued until I thought I was no longer able to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time the sun came up, I was fairly sure he was not going to be able to touch me in certain places for at least a month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was woken up by his fingers lightly touching my wrist, where my floss bracelet was wrapped around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was spooned against him with his arms and legs wrapped around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How are you even awake?” I whined hoarsely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Even my throat hurts…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt him chuckle beside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m not sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t want to move…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Then don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can lay here all day if you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything I planned has already been done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I turned my head ever so slightly, at which he kissed my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s obvious you aren’t very creative,” I giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, I’m fairly sure you found some of the positions creative last night,” he smirked, kissing my temple this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mmmm,” was all I could think to say as the memories flooded my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hungry?” he asked, gently putting pressure on my stomach with his forearm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I nodded my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll get up and make you something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There aren’t IHOP’s out here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can’t imagine why,” I smiled lazily, enjoying the feel of his fingers twirling small pieces of my hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I guess we have some things to figure out, eh?” he spoke quietly in a tone that told me he was no longer speaking of breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I guess so,” I whispered, kind of wishing we could just push the inevitable far down the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decisions needed to be made, but I wasn’t sure yet what that would mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-12177023140629097752011-07-07T11:57:00.000-04:002011-07-07T11:57:20.120-04:00Chapter 9<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm back!! Thanks Mel for posting for me while I was gone, I would have had some more, but I didn't have this chapter finished yet. </span></strong><strong>I also want to thank my commenters, I see that I have some new readers and just some that have gotten caught up and I wanted to say thanks for your encouraging words!! </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Some business: </strong><br />
<strong>The reader's poll is closed and it was quite the battle between Stamkos, Ryan and Lupul... but I could only pick one, just for the simple fact of keeping my stories straight. So Stammer has won this time around. Don't fret if your choice wasn't picked, eventually all my other stories will be posted on here. So please go over and check out my newest story to be posted on blogger, <br />
<span id="goog_741786274"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Kisses and Mistletoe<span id="goog_741786275"></span></a>... follow, comment and tell your friends! It's a cute story and probably one of my favorites that I have in my aresenal. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>And now onto the our next chapter!!</strong><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I'm on the road of least resistance<br />
I'd rather give up than give into this<br />
So promise me only one thing, would you?<br />
Just don't ever make me promises..<br />
No promises, no promises<br />
<br />
I've never done this before<br />
Promises, promises,<br />
I'm enjoying the illusion<br />
And the things my body says<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yExPBSDnbU8"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Promises, Promises –</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Incubus<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 9<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Despite the game in progress just on the other side of the wall, it was as if the air had been taken from the hallway and the silence was deafening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, I had no clue what she was going to say or do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was up to the heavens and I was now just waiting for an answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She didn’t look anything like she did that night at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city>’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked like Hanna, my Hanna, the girl who seemed to be more comfortable in a pair of jeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dark, thick hair was pulled back in a pony-tail, making her look like a teenager when coupled with her height. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you really believe this can work for the long term?” she asked quietly, finally breaking the tension after a few minutes that had felt like hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I wanted to hear her say that she loved me too, it was a legitimate question, especially since our lives hadn’t been connected for the past year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean, we’re not in Dallas anymore…Hell, we don’t even live in the same damn state now and look how crappy everything ended up when I was in Europe…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stepped back, clasped onto her wrists that were planted by her sides and looked down at her and locked eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna.” I said a little louder than I probably needed to, but it was the only way to get her to shut-up when she went on one of her rambling rants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked up at me again, her brown eyes filled with surprise and confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before she could say anything I continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do believe this can work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously it’s going to take a little to get to where I want us to be, but we will be able to figure things out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have told you while we were still in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city> that I was in love with you but I was scared to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with someone in such a short amount of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured I was just over exaggerating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I didn’t want to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I said about breaking it off, I kind of hoped you would be dead set against it, but then you agreed without much of a fight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured that I had been correct in my thoughts, that I had embellished what we had between us and I decided that it was time to move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I found myself unable to move on and unable to stop thinking about you, even though we hadn’t seen or spoke to each other in so long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I only said okay to splitting because I thought it was what you wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to seem like the crazy, overly dependent girlfriend…Plus, I felt like I was probably holding you back.” she said quietly, breaking eye contact with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And then I thought I was over you but everything still kept coming back to you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She paused, looked back up at me and this time there were tears in her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m just afraid of taking the first step.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Believe me, this was one of the hardest things for me to do…by coming here and seeing you, not knowing if you would be okay with it,” I chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I have to admit I was shocked to see you standing in the hallway talking with Mike and Ben,” she giggled with the smile caressing her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You don’t usually take the first steps…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I am this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need you back in my life, Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise to make this work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t promise me, just make me believe,” she said sincerely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m not even sure if I believe you are standing here with me at the moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I smiled before leaning towards her, invading her personal space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the musty scent of the arena hallway, I could still smell the faint vanilla scent radiating off of her, just like I did that night at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city>’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna, you’re the one who told me that people find nice balances.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She laughed nervously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, I think I remember telling you that in that bar in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city> the first night you put your hands on me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’m fairly sure she was picturing the same memory I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been an awkward moment we had shared, yet it was such a turning point in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never forget how it felt touching her for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without even thinking, I put my hands on her hips like I did that night, but this time there was no music and no 10 foot space between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved in and pulled her against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lifted her chin up, giving me free access to kiss her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We can make this right,” I whispered just millimeters from her lips before sealing my promise to her with a gently kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I gently guided her arms up around my neck, to which she hooked her fingers around, pulling us closer together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon we were making out in the hallway of the arena; my body pressed against hers so that she became one with the cold, cinder-block wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We jumped apart when the horn blew, signaling the end of the first period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but laugh at the jaded look on her face, in fact, it was the only thing I could do besides go right back to kissing her and risk getting caught by both teams coming off the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I need to get in the locker room…” she said in a barely audible whisper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll be up in the stands waiting for you,” I nodded, laid a kiss on her head and walked away, feeling like I was floating on air.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re blushing,” Mike grumbled as he stood next to me in the locker room during the intermission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coach had already gave him his little pep talk, so the guys were just getting themselves back together to go back out for the next period.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shot a look over at Mike and looked away, feeling slightly ashamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No comments from you,” I scolded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think I have every right to comment,” he shot back in a tone that warned me he was hurt and that I had to either say the right things or just keep my mouth shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked back over at him and saw the jealousy in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I really meant it when I said I will fight him the next time we play.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I’m fairly sure you are more mature than that, Mike,” I stated simply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is personal business and has nothing to do with the game.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Just please be careful, that’s all I ask,” he pleaded, his facial features softening, letting me know that I won this battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t want you to get hurt…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I appreciate your worries, but I promise not to jump into this head first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, let it be known that he never treated me bad and that we broke up because the time was just not right for us,” I said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mike sighed and planted his one foot against the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that’s what makes this a little tougher to swallow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are in love with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I discreetly reached between us and grabbed his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He squeezed it and held onto it until we went to leave the locker room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I followed Mike and Ben up to their seats and found James sitting close by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked over at Mike, silently asking permission for James to sit with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He nodded and forced a close-lipped smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably rude of me to ask so much from him just a few weeks after our break-up, but the friendship we had meant more than anything to either of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mouthed thank-you and then turned to motion James to come over and sit with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was a close game but not because both teams were playing well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a terrible outing for both sides and all Ben and Mike did was yell and complain about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Seriously?! Shut the fuck up!” I hissed at the two of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I definitely don’t miss watching games with the two of you…” I grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mike stuck his tongue out at me and Ben shot back, “Well, it’s not like you’re any better, Miss I scream at the TV while watching hockey games.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I went to defend myself, but James was laughing hysterically next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to look at him as he’s nodding his head up and down in agreement to Ben.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She totally does!” he laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s so annoying!” Mike piped in his input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden I found myself in the middle of a roast and I was the main target.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you kidding me?!” I screeched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do not believe this is happening!” I fumed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You have to agree with us babe,” Mike clapped me on the shoulder, drawing the last straw.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m not your babe and I don’t even understand how this turned into let’s pick on Hanna, but I’m totally done,” I growled, abruptly standing up and attempted to crawl over James’ lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course my escape route was blockaded and I soon found myself pulled onto his lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily we were in the back of the arena, so no one really saw the drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let go of me Neal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Take a chill pill, Richards,” he said in a tone that always seemed to get my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We were just having a little fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you rather me and Mike sit here and punch the shit out of each other instead?” he joked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked over at Mike who shrugged with a shit ass grin on his face and then huffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I really hate the 3 of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh come on Banana, you love us,” Ben declared.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shook my head and James finally relaxed his grip on me, allowing me to take my seat again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This is my crazy life.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So what are you doing for the rest of your All-Star break?” Hanna asked before the end of the 3<sup>rd</sup> period.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t really have anything planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about you?” I smirked to myself as ideas tumbled around in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She just kept her head forward, watching the game as she spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just plan on relaxing a bit…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I swiftly sat forward to whisper my idea into her ear, attempting to be respectful to Mike because I was fairly sure he was listening to every little thing being said between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was kind of like sitting next to your parents and you didn’t want them to know you were planning on meeting up after curfew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I want to take you to my cottage for the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think some time alone will be good for the two of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Won’t it be cold?” she turned towards me, now just inches from my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure we can think of ways to keep each other warm,” I winked and threw on my best come hither smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She slapped at my arm and pushed me away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll need directions,” she said nonchalantly yet the amusement in her tone seeped through.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We’ll meet in Toronto and drive in from there,” I said quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you want me to buy your ticket?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She rolled her eyes and shook her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do have a job now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yes, you do, but I am trying to be a gentleman here…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">At this Mike snorted and confirmed my initial suspicions about his eavesdropping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, like it’s being all gentleman-like to plan a sex filled weekend!” Mike chirped and shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I immediately went to reach overtop Hanna so that I could grab onto his collar and possible cold-cock him but Hanna beat me to the collar grabbing part and was already hissing at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just laughed and sat back into my seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Call me when you get back to Pittsburgh,” I said as we stood out in the cold in the parking lot of the arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I got on the bus I was going to order my plane ticket; it was as if Christmas came late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not going to lie; I was looking forward to this weekend at his lake-side cabin since he told me about it last year when we were in Whitby.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It might be late…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m riding a bus back to Glen Falls, I’m sure you’ll be off the road before I am,” I grimaced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This made him chuckle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled me to him and rested his chin on the top of my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved how it felt to have him completely wrapped around me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt like home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I plan on holding you like this without as much clothing by this time tomorrow night,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“As long as we’re inside, I’m quite okay with that plan,” I grinned up at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I wish we could just pick-up to where we left off,” he said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“If we did that, we wouldn’t be building a stronger us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m okay with starting at halfway; this is what makes it all worth it, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He nodded and kissed me lightly on the lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is what I’ve missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re the only woman, besides my mother that has been able to talk sense to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I’m fairly sure you’re the only man in the world that finds that sexy,” I laughed before pulling his lips back to mine and kissing him deeply, giving him only an ounce of what to expect for our upcoming weekend together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-4729434922324177092011-07-03T13:01:00.000-04:002011-07-03T13:01:08.594-04:00Chapter 8<strong><em>Hey guys, this is Mel. Posting for a certain someone since she's off enjoying the sun. Enjoy the next chapter!!!!!</em></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It was my turn to decide<br />
I knew this was our time<br />
No one else will have me like you do<br />
No one else will have me, only you<br />
<br />
You'll sit alone forever<br />
If you wait for the right time<br />
What are you hoping for?<br />
I'm here I'm now I'm ready<br />
Holding on tight<br />
Don't give away the end<br />
The one thing that stays mine<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">23</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> – Jimmy Eat World<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0085_FUpics"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0085_FUpics</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 8</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So okay, what the hell was that all about last night?!” Sid questioned dramatically as he pushed himself into my apartment with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kris</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place> and Geno in tow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One minute I’m introducing you to this amazing girl, then you’re making out with her, and then you two are arguing outside in the freezing cold!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I walked over to the fridge, grabbed 5 beers, handed them out and then flopped down on the couch, letting my head fall backwards against it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry guys, especially you Sid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely didn’t mean to put you in an awkward spot at your own party, I obviously didn’t know she was going to be there…there of all places.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I thought you were gay until you dated Shelly…” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place> piped up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kris punched him immediately in the gut as soon as the words were out of his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I left out a laugh and shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can understand why you might have though that, especially last season.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So it looks like you and Hanna had known each other pretty well at one point,” Sid spoke up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I nodded my head and looked around to find all of their eyes on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She’s Brad Richard’s niece...” I began.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You met her in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place>,” Kris said quietly, quickly picking up on things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always one of the attentive ones in the group.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I nodded my head and gave them the abridged version, keeping out most of the sappy, love-sick bullshit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t need to go into the major details, they could put it together and they did.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What happen now?” Geno asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Dunno,” I mumbled before taking a long sip of beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I tried calling her, but it went right to voicemail.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Matt said she was flying to Philly this morning,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sidney</st1:city></st1:place> said helpfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Probably to see Mike…” I grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> dating him,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place> pointed out unhelpfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But maybe she’ll break it off with him in Philly,” he piped up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean, keep calling her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep texting her, send her flowers, say your sorry, girls like when you make a fuss over them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How many women you have Jordy?” Geno laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shut your yap, Russian!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place> fired back, causing us all to laugh because Geno had a very good point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, what <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place> said did make sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Please, I want to talk to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to fix this.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was probably the 5<sup>th</sup> text I got from him in over a week and a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one I deleted, cursing him for even trying to get in touch with me, especially since I hadn’t even talked to Mike about what happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mike and I had such a lovely time in Philly that I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him I saw James and that we had kissed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like total shit about it, but to be in his arms again made me want to believe that what Mike and I had was something very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He picked me up at the airport on New Years Day and we didn’t spend a minute apart, until the game on the 2<sup>nd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We skated together at Penn’s Landing as we caught up on everything we missed together while he had been in Philly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things felt comfortable between us and I was happy with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trying to sell myself to the fact that I was happy enough with Mike and that I didn’t need to uproot my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this didn’t help the sudden night-time restlessness I was facing due to my thoughts about James constantly bouncing around my head at night-time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re up again?!” JP teased me as I walked into the kitchen at 1am to make myself a cup of hot tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And what is your excuse?” I smiled, tiredly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Insomnia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I knew this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always had problems with it and Mike said it always got worse as the season wore on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days he would end up finally crashing and sleeping for almost 18-20 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never noticed you having problems sleeping, Little Miss Sleep Anywhere and Everywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He was totally right about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guys picked on me when we were on away trips because I would literally curl up in a ball in a hallway or airport chair and take a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just have a lot of things on my mind I guess,” I sighed, dipping my tea bag in the hot water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It wouldn’t have anything to do with James, would it?” he raised a curious eye brow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My eyes shot up at him and I just stared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How do you know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He sat down next to me with a bowl of cereal and sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You left your cell phone sit the other day and it rang, and I saw the caller ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t answer it and I didn’t say anything to anyone about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I consider you one of my best friends, and best friends don’t blab certain things to everyone,” he said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I saw him in Pittsburgh New Year’s Eve…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re still in love with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be in love with Mike.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s not always your choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sipped my tea, allowing it to burn my mouth and throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just wanted to move along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want to be able to have my career and keep achieving my goals…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why don’t think you’ll be able to have that with James?” he asked curiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m up here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place>,” I turned to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, and Mike’s in Philly right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But I’ve been offered a position next season with the big club,” I admitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the first person I told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ed Snider had been in contact with me just a couple weeks ago and I had yet to give him a final answer, which he stated was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just needed to know by the end of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s awesome news.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Exactly, so I can’t see things working overly well when I’m in Philly and James is in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:city></st1:place>…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can’t see you selling yourself short either.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You need to figure it out for yourself, Hanna, but just remember, true love is a once in a lifetime thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just don’t know if I can believe that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure the right person could make you believe,” he gave me a look that reminded me he was older and wiser than me and that I should probably listen to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The weeks crept by and I still hadn’t heard from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was literally driving myself crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to see her and apologize and tell her how much I needed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got to the point that I couldn’t even focus on hockey, which made <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sidney</st1:city></st1:place> finally pull me aside for an intervention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You need to go to her and lay it all out there,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We need your head in the game and not in some far away land.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know if going to her is going to help,” I grimaced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You won’t know if you don’t try.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wilkes-Barre</st1:city></st1:place> two nights from now and we are off for the All-Star Break…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Then you better get good directions,” he smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Two nights later I was on I-80 heading East to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wilkes-Barre</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nice 5 hour trip, giving me all the time in the world to figure out what the hell I was going to say or even do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sid actually gave me Matt’s number so I could apologize and talk to him in a more civil manner this time around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After speaking with him, I realized that even though he had feelings for her this past summer, he cared for her more as a big brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also gave me a little hope when he told me I was doing the right thing by seeing her and telling her how I really felt, something I probably should have done New Years Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Excuse me sir,” a guard stopped me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You need a pass to get down there…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I flashed him my player ID, to which he began apologizing profusely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just smiled and brushed it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um, actually, can you help me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking for someone who works with the Phantoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her name is Hanna Richards?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s it to you?” a male voice called out in a not so friendly tone from behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I turned around and found a semi-familiar face, but I wasn’t quite sure why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m here to see her,” I said slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was standing there with Ben Holstrom, one of the Flyer’s rookies and it was then I realized it was probably Mike Testwuide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m assuming you are Mike?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yea, I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does Hanna know you are here?” he asked, clenching his jaw and definitely on the defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I tried looking around him as I saw someone leave the locker room with a dark brown ponytail along with a similar build of Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, she doesn’t…Hanna?!” I called out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She instantly turned around and just looked at the group of us standing there with not much emotion in her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You aren’t welcome here…” Mike continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Let it go, Mike,” Ben spoke up, putting a hand on Mike’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hi, Mike,” Hanna walked past me, hugged Mike and gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning and doing the same with Ben.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike held her for a moment longer than Ben and I knew right away that they were no longer together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The look in his eyes was the same I had seen in mine every time I looked in the mirror the weeks following our break-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hanna then turned around and looked at me, again with no emotion in her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“James.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This was not really the welcome I was expecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her cold, stone face worried me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi Hanna,” I said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What are you doing here?” she asked evenly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“To see you…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This is not the place to do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I left out a nervous laugh, “Well it’s not like I really have a choice when you don’t answer my calls or texts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Maybe that should be a hint,” Mike piped up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She glared over at him and he quickly shut-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Guys, just go sit down, I’ll be up in a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll see you out on the ice Neal…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Same here, Testwuide,” I nodded, accepting his challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would see each other at the end of the month and I would be ready.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When I looked back at Hanna, her arms were crossed and she was trying to hide a smile as she rolled her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I instantly knew it was him when he called out my name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A rush of emotion flooded through me but I knew I had to keep my cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not the time or place to be jumping on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike was here and I would never throw this in his face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He deserved better than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were in the process of trying to save our friendship, he didn’t need to see me go all ga-ga over James; especially since I wasn’t 100% sure what James was doing here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not getting ahead of myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I saw that smile,” he instantly started in with a smirk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You saw nothing,” I bit my lip, trying my hardest to stay serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’ve never been a good liar,” he leaned in and whispered into my ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Plus, I don’t ever remember you holding anything back from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What changed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I crossed my arms and left out a huff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I tried to forget you and I think in the process I tried to forget the person I was when I was with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I never forgot about you,” he whispered again, backing me up against the cold cement of the hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could hear the crowd getting loud as the two teams took the ice, but I was unable to focus on much else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To reiterate his declaration, he held his left wrist up in front of me, showing me the black and olive bracelet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I never did either,” I admitted, holding up my left wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why are you here?” I asked again, already knowing the answer; however, hearing it from his lips shook me to the core.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because I love you,” he spoke softly as his grey eyes looked searchingly into mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-30750072881876646942011-06-30T23:16:00.000-04:002011-06-30T23:16:59.982-04:00Chapter 7Hey All!! Loving the feedback on the poll... I knew there were more of you out there reading!! You've been caught! haha. Anyway, I will be closing out my little poll when I get back on Tuesday and let you all know which story I will be posting. If it's not your pick that gets posted, don't worry because I will be posting all of the stories somewhere along the way!!<br />
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Anyway, I wanted to post this, this AM, but I didn't have this finished until later on during the day... Sorry to keep you all waiting. I hope you enjoy the song too, it's one of my favorites and it fits just perfectly!!<br />
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Oh! And one more thing before the main event. It's a holiday weekend (Happy Canada Day!! and of course Happy 4th of July!) which means I'm heading North and that equals no computer nor phone service (thank GOD)... but I'm going to see if I can't sweet talk one of my chicas into posting Chapter 8 on Sunday... it's not proofread or tweeked, otherwise I'd schedule it... so I will finish that up tomorrow and hopefully you can look for it on Sunday... if not, I'm sorry, but you'll be waiting until Tuesday!!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Something always brings me back to you.<br />
It never takes too long.<br />
No matter what I say or do I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone.<br />
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You hold me without touch.<br />
You keep me without chains.<br />
I never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and not feel your rain.<br />
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Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.<br />
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.<br />
But you're on to me and all over me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLHQ4H93P2Q">Gravity – Sara Bareilles<o:p></o:p></a></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 7<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Stay right here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be right back to countdown the New Year with you!” <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city> smiled happily, letting his hands fall from my sides for the first time in over an hour of dancing together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After asking a couple people who were close to him within the last year, my question on if he was gay or not was finally put to rest with an invite to spend the night with him after everyone left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I informed him sweetly that I was unable to, but thanked him politely as my inner monologue was screaming out, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What?! Are you Crazy?!”</i> Despite the fact of declaring numerous times over the past several years that I wanted to be in line to marry <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s Most Eligible Bachelor, I was in no way comfortable being a one night stand with the Captain of James’ team, nor had I ever been the type to cheat on my boyfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The guy isn’t </i>that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> dreamy and I’m not </i>that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> kind of girl, even with all the alcohol bubbling through my veins at the moment.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">They started the countdown and I saw <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city> come down the stairs with a whole bottle of expensive champagne in his hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was smiling at him until I noticed the dark clothed man following him down the steps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His hair was shorter than the last time I ran my fingers through it, but it was obvious I would still be able to thread them through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was purposely tousled, giving him the preppy look when it was coupled with the form-fitting black knit sweater he was wearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His dark, custom jeans accentuated his ass and strained perfectly across his thighs as he walked down the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I froze when I felt his eyes train on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body burned and I shivered when I finally worked up the nerve to look him in the eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Happy New Year’s!” everyone yelled out in unison, but I was unable to move or speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She looked nothing like my dreams, probably for the simple fact that in the 2 months we were together, I am 100% sure she never dressed like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dress looked like it had been sewn onto her body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hair was longer with layers that framed her lightly make-up painted face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dark brown eyes were sparkling with anticipation and surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After a minute of staring at each other, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city> finally found her and he was obviously too drunk to realize that we were lost in another time and place.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nealer! Meet Hanna!” he said loudly, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I clenched my jaw, taking everything I had not to punch my friend for touching Hanna before I could even touch her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna,” I nodded politely, offering her my left hand to shake, hoping she’d notice I still wore the same matching bracelet she was wearing that I had made her almost a year ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She glanced down, looking slightly confused on why I was shaking her hand with my left one, but soon she reached out with her right hand to lightly finger the floss bracelet on my wrist, still holding tightly to my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then lifted her hand and pressed my lips softly to the top of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You look beautiful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You don’t look bad yourself, Neal,” she flashed a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Happy New Year,” she whispered, taking a step towards me and placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel the heat radiating from her body and was intoxicated by the faint smell of vanilla on her skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she began to pull back, I wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her to me like I had that night we first made love at her apartment in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left out a surprised breath and looked searchingly into my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hanna,” I mouthed right before pressing my lips to hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her lips felt like home and I could have sworn I saw the two wonderful months we spent together flash through my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shivered as her fingers tips pressed to the back of my neck and into my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hands were firmly holding her against the whole length of my body and I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to be able to let go.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Geesh, Nealer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You sure do know how to step up the game!” Staal yelled close by, pulling me back into reality and ending the deep, endeavoring kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept my arms around Hanna, keeping her against me while I turned to find a drunk Sid scowling and Jordan nodding proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think we need to talk,” Hanna whispered lightly in my ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I nodded and allowed her to step back from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She moved over to Sid, kissed him on the cheek and whispered something into his ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His scowl melted away and he just smiled and nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave her a quick hug, kissed her on the cheek and then winked at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I wanted to know what she said, there was a lot more I wanted to talk to her about, so I took her hand and led her upstairs and to an empty guest room, locking the door behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My mind was racing a million miles a minute and I felt light headed as he led me up the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were so many things I wanted to say and so many things I wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure which one was more important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it seemed James already had a plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was standing in front of the bed, with my hands at my sides, nervously flexing and unflexing them as I looked at the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was staring at the top of his shoes when his hand gently lifted my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Something interesting down there?” he smiled playfully at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, not really…” I smiled back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I-I didn’t know you would be here…Matt didn’t tell me whose house we were going to for the party…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Would you have still come if you knew I would be here?” he asked seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I paused for a moment and answered truthfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He nodded his head once and looked intently at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could tell his mind was also racing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I flinched in surprise when his large hand cupped my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There are so many things I want to say to you, but then again there are so many things I want to do to you…” he laughed nervously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, how about I just tell you now that it is probably safer if we just talk because I am not a single woman,” I spoke, truly unaware how I was able to get the words out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to be truthful with him because lies were only going to make things worse for both of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A look of surprise flashed across his face as he nodded but his hand did not leave my cheek and I could have sworn it was going to burn a hold through my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So you are with Matt,” he said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, actually I’m not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt is my best friend, we met over in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sweden</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m seeing one of the guys in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How long?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“For a few months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Is it serious?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I like him a lot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you love him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I had to look away when I answered him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are taking it slow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s probably a good idea,” he chuckled sadly, finally dropping his hand from my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned and began pacing back and forth like an unsettled leopard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tension in the room was unbearable and all I could do was sit down on the side of the bed and drop my head in my hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gulped in a few breaths and left out a quiet sob, willing myself not to cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not at all how I pictured our reunion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should have been naked and intertwined in one another by now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I didn’t have the respect and feelings for Mike, I would have let that all happen, but I was not that kind of girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not cheat on people I was seeing and I would definitely not do that to Mike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be unfair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So yeah, my first love was locked in the same room with me, but it didn’t change the situation between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were still in two different places.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was about to blurt this out when my cell phone began blaring obnoxiously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James stopped and looked at me as I answered it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mike?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Happy New Year, Baby Girl!!!!!!!” he yelled into the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but smile sadly into the phone when I replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Happy New Year, Mike.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s wrong?” he immediately said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m fine,” I answered, totally not wanting to get into a conversation about the current situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up to find James looking sadly at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then turned, unlocked the door and walked out, leaving me alone in the room with Mike persistent that I needed to talk to him because it definitely did not sound like I was okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Damn him for being so perceptive.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You leaving?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>someone yelled as I grabbed my coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the person was standing next to me and I realized it was Matt Murley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where is Hanna?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s upstairs on the phone with Mike,” I informed him through clenched teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to walk out the door, but he grabbed onto my arm, stopping me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What did you expect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to move on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s none of your damn business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t know shit,” I snapped, surprising myself because I didn’t normally become nasty to people I didn’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“See, that’s where you have it all wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my business because I was the one that had to keep her smiling when all she wanted to do was cry after you broke it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was the one who had to listen to how much she was in love with you and how she couldn’t live without you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was the one who had to listen to all that shit when I myself had fallen for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So don’t stand here and tell me I don’t know shit,” he hissed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, so you want to rub it in my face that you slept with my girl?” I growled, taking a step into his personal space, suddenly feeling like I needed to punch something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before Matt could even begin to make excuses or push me away, Hanna was between us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She pushed me backwards, grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside into the cold, snowy night, slamming the door behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What the fuck is your problem?!” she cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now you have not only made me look like some tramp, but you’ve also made a complete ass out of yourself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need to say this, but I will because I don’t want you to think bad of Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s my best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not sleep together even though I probably had more than my fair amount of chances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are pissed off because we aren’t upstairs in that bedroom making up for the past year, then get over yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For you to think I am a slut who cheats on their boyfriend is real low, Neal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured you thought more of me than that,” she hissed, the steam coming from her breath making her seem like she was a fire breathing dragon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I overstepped my boundaries and I should understand and be respectful of the fact that she was seeing someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran my fingers through my hair, only to find that it was covered in snow because it was coming down harder and harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was when I realized she was standing out in the cold without a coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly slipped off my coat and attempted to wrap it around her but she dodged out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna, I’m sorry,” I pleaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve been an absolute wreck since you left for <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re not the only one who suffered.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sighed, knowing she still very agitated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know this, but it’s not like you put up a fight when I said about splitting…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What did you expect me to say?!” she yelled, the fire burning in her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, James, I know you don’t want to keep this going, but let’s just stay together anyway and pretend this is all going well…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the right time and now obviously isn’t the right time,” she finished, tears streaming down her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But what if we made this the right time,” I spoke hoarsely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can you stand here and tell me you don’t love me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She looked up at me and stared for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, I can’t,” she said firmly before turning and walking back into the house, leaving me outside to wonder if she meant that we couldn’t make this the right time or if she couldn’t not say she loved me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I had to walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t give him the right answer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t tell him I loved him because it wasn’t the right time and I obviously had some things to fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad he didn’t follow me back into the house and I was even more glad that Matt was there waiting to hold me while I cried in a dark corner of Sid’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t long after that we left and headed back to the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next morning I flew to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:city> just as Mike and I had planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beautiful snow covered land made me yearn for the simplicity it portrayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After staring out the window for a while, I leaned back, closed my eyes and focused on my next step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-91229873537336011782011-06-28T12:22:00.000-04:002011-06-28T12:22:39.861-04:00A Reader's PollHey All!!<br />
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I was thinking the other day... I have several other stories that I have yet to publish on Blogger and I know some have asked about other players (because if you haven't figured it out, I write about all the one's that barely get attention.) I was going to put up a poll thing on the right, but it won't let me put more than 4 choices up, so you are just going to have to put your 2 cents in the comments of this post!! So get at it... I'll tally it up myself (I promise to formulate an absolute awesome math formula to make it all happen) in about a week and go from there!!<br />
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So basically your choices are the following:<br />
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Carey Price<br />
Steven Stamkos<br />
Marc Savard <br />
Joffrey Lupul<br />
Mike Richards<br />
Bobby Ryan<br />
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Vote in the comments!!HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-5849827246461547072011-06-28T11:40:00.000-04:002011-06-28T11:40:50.417-04:00Chapter 6Keeping up with posting every other day!! YAY me!<br />
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Another DMB song on tap today for the soundtrack... I'm still in that mood and it's so hard not to get lost in this tune. This is version is just Dave and Tim again from Radio City. Enjoy reading and listening. Oh! And don't be too mad at me for ending this Chapter where I'm ending it... how else am I supposed to get you to come back and check it out?! LOL<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">All at once the ghosts come back reeling in you now<br />
oh, Tell me What if they came down crashing<br />
It used to be that you and me played for <br />
All of the loneliness that nobody noticed until now<br />
I'm begging slow I'm coming here<br />
I’m only waiting <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I wanted to stay<br />
I wanted to play<br />
I wanted to love you<br />
<br />
I'm only this far<br />
And only tomorrow leads the way<br />
I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/Amvtyb-efbU"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">#41</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> – Dave Matthews Band<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 6<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well at least the Phantoms have one good looking thing going for it!” a very familiar voice rang out down the hallway of the Mohegan-Sun Arena in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Wilkes-Barre</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">PA.</st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was walking down the hall with Rowe, going over an idea that two of us had come up with for a prank video when I heard him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Matty!” I squealed, spinning around and jumping into his arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh my gosh, what are you doing here?!!” I continued in a high pitch voice, not even noticing some team members of the Baby Pens looking at me like we were crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I came here in hopes to see this awesome Media/Communications Director that I’ve been hearing so much about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has supposedly single handedly turned around a struggling franchise in Glen Falls and everyone raves about her game night playlists and funny internet jaunts,” he smiled, laying it on think.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I slapped at him and shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Shut the fuck up, you are such a god-damn suck-up!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hi, I’m Matt Murley,” he grinned at Andrew, jutting out his hand in an attempt to stop me from giving him shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Once introductions were done, Andrew excused himself to the locker room, leaving me alonde in the hall with Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So what are you really doing here?” I turned and asked Matt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ve been spending some time in the Burgh with some friends and I thought it would be nice to come check out the baby team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and I noticed who they were playing, so I thought it was an even better excuse to see my favorite girl,” he smiled and pulled me into a tight hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So things are going well?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah,” I drew out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The job is going amazing…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But life isn’t?” he raised an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shrugged my shoulders, not really wanting to get into the whole discussion about Mike and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After my slip of my tongue in my sleep the other week, tensions were up a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were still “together,” but I finally had to come clean about James to him and he was more than a little disappointed in the fact that I didn’t feel the need to talk to him about it sooner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at it as a trust issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I on the other hand saw it as something in the past, but in all reality it was still a present issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I glanced down at my black and olive green bracelet and looked back up at Matt and smiled sadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m kind of seeing one of the guys on the team…” I said quietly, feeling lightly strange talking about it in front of the two super-star strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">About an hour later, I was sitting in one of the suites with Matt, watching our teams duke it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So who is the guy?” Matt whispered towards the end of the 1<sup>st</sup> period.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mike Testwuide,” I answered quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Who’s J. Testwuide?” he asked, nodding to JP who was just getting back to the bench from his shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s Mike’s older brother and one of my roommates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live with Mike, Andrew, JP and Ben Holstrom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, both Ben and Mike are in Philly right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well then you have some company to keep you occupied,” Matt chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I feel like a den mother sometimes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So what’s the deal with you and Mike?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I kind of didn’t tell him about James and then I kind of said something about him when I was sleeping with Mike…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, that sounds really baaaaad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, tell me about it,” I laughed pathetically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re just taking things slow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why isn’t he playing tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He’s playing in Philly right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a sneaky suspicion he just might stay up with the big club for the rest of the season…he’s doing really well,” I said proudly, unable to keep myself from smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really was proud and happy for him, despite the fact that I missed my best friend and still felt bad that things weren’t progressing like they should be due to my stupidity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I see,” Matt smiled politely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went back to talking about how his high school coaching was going and out of the blue he took my hands and looked intently at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What are you doing for New Year’s Eve tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I gave him a curious look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um, nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just planning on hanging out with the guys…I’m heading to Philly on the 1<sup>st</sup> to spend some time with Mike and then catch the Winter Classic the next day…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Good, then you are coming with me to a party!” he exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s at a friend’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need a change of scenery for the evening and we need to celebrate another year in hope’s it plays out even better than this one!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I bit my lip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know…” I started slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m kidnapping you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have no choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know what happened in Europe when I had no choice in things,” I shook my head and groaned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, and you had the time of your life so it’s going to be awesome!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">New Year’s 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where has the time gone?!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I had some amazing memories from the past year, I was looking forward to another year in hopes it wouldn’t be the tilt-a-whirl this had been.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I finally found my scoring touch and found a niche of comfort with my new team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sidney was back to original form and we complimented each other perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Penguins were sitting comfortable in the Eastern Conference Standings, looking like the strong contender we were expecting to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Tonight I was toasting to new beginnings and to forget the one’s that haunted my dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I thought about this while I got dressed and looked at my new hair cut in the mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a while since my hair had been this short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t really bring myself to cut it after Hanna said she liked it long, but it was a new year and I needed a new me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sidney was having a huge blow-out party at his house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supposedly there was going to be ample amount of women to go around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max and Staal were telling stories around the locker room about how they had been recruiting women for the last week and a half after Sid gave them permission to invite a few ladies to mingle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’m fairly sure Sidney didn’t expect them to invite every girl from every one of the bars in Pittsburgh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t mind having someone to ring in the New Year with, but one had to be slightly wary of anything Max and Jordan found to be “worthy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no way to know what the criteria was to be invited, including what kind of favors were given in return.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">You could hear the music pouring out of the house as I walked up the sidewalk with snowflakes falling and framing the large home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped into the foyer and was immediately greeted by the two “women recruiter’s” automatically, giving me the lay of the land and which women they thought I should check out immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“There was this brunette beauty that came in with Matt Murley and he insisted she was not his girlfriend, which gives the okay for you to hit on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s smoking hot and it wearing this tight, short, satin, navy blue dress that is pleated to hug all the right curves she’s packing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a one shoulder type dress; believe me buddy you won’t be able to miss her!” Jordan practically drooled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And why aren’t you going after her?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because I’m already lined up with at least three beauties tonight and there just isn’t enough of me to go around,” he scoffed, popping the collar of his shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked over at Max and raised an eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And your excuse?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, don’t worry, she’s already on my list of midnight kisses, but I’m thinking I might end up fighting Crosby for her,” he nodded his head over towards the direction Sid was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned and noticed him laughing, but I all I could see was a sliver of the blue dress Jordan gushed about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was evident Crosby was enjoying her company, along with the guy I assumed was Matt Murley, because I could hear Sid’s distinct laugh even over all the guests and music.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, if the Captain already has a bead on her, what other options do I have?” I asked with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way these guys were obsessed with women always made me laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“There’s a red-head right over there that looks like she is in need of a drink,” Jordan motioned while not so gently pushing me towards her direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked with the very nice red-head, but I quickly lost my interest when she talked about how she was in nursing school at Pitt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, for the next hour I mingled with various teammates and guests before heading downstairs to the make-shift dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was packed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had to have been almost 100 people in the house, making it challenging to move around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oops! Sorry!” Sid yelled loudly after he bumped into me, almost causing me to spill my beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No problem bud, it’s your house, not mine,” I yelled back with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Having fun?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fuck yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My buddy, Matt Murley brought this amazing brunette…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, Jordy said she’s a looker,” I chuckled, following upstairs with him to grab another drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Midnight was coming soon and I wanted to make sure I had some champagne to toast with.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s fucking hot and seems really down to earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She works for one of the AHL teams in NY, but I can’t remember which one at the moment,” he laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Where is she?” I asked, looking around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Downstairs with Murley, she didn’t want to come off the dance floor, so I figured I’d just grab a bottle of champagne and take it along downstairs with me instead of worrying about glasses,” he said as if he was being overly daring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all actuality he was being daring for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every now and then the creature could get loose, and tonight was one of those nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grabbed a bottle and motioned for me to come back downstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There are a few girls down here who are going to need some loving at midnight…” he giggled like a school girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just shook my head and followed him downstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were pushing through the throngs of people when the countdown began. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">10…9…8…7…<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Over here Nealer!” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">6…5…4…3… <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shit! I don’t know where she got off to!” Sid yelled, looking in the exact opposite direction than where she was standing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as if time was suddenly standing still and only the two of us were able to move towards one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was my Death Star and her gravity pulled me in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">2…1… Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Everyone was yelling out the happy cheers and wishes of good times, but Hanna and I were oblivious to it all as we stood staring at each other, just inches apart, unable to move any closer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-79522871014961720712011-06-26T08:00:00.001-04:002011-06-26T08:00:10.075-04:00Chapter 5<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Are you still in love with me<br />
Like the way you used to be or is it changing?<br />
Does it deepen over time like the river<br />
That is winding through the Canyon?<br />
<br />
Are you still in love with her?<br />
Do you remember how you were before the sorrow?<br />
Are you closer for the tears<br />
Or has the weight of all the years left you hollow?<br />
<br />
Are we strangers now?<br />
Like the Ziegfeld Gal and the Vaudeville show?<br />
Are we strangers now<br />
Like rock and roll and the radio?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn9x_9Gt5q0"><strong><em>Like Rock and Roll and the Radio</em> – Ray LaMontagne</strong></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 5<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My work life was coming together like I had always hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plans I had put into motion were coming off without a hitch and everyone was loving it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the fact the team’s status here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place> was up in the air, the arena attendance was growing by leaps and bounds. (The team could possibly move to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Allentown</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">PA</st1:state></st1:place>, which is closer to Philly in a season or two)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The management could only attribute it to the popularity the website was drawing and the great reviews we were getting in the press.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also helped that the team was doing really well this season and every time one of our players went up to play in the big club, they were making a noticeable impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The guys were even enjoying the new things we implemented, especially the player play-list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It became a competition between the guys on whose play-list got the most thumbs up or thumbs down on the website after the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up becoming the go-to person for help with the playlists which of course caused even more flack to be thrown my way if someone ended up with more thumbs up votes than another guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out quickly that there was never a dull moment in my job, and I loved it that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sooooo…” Mike drew out while we sat together in a booth at Friendly’s one night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a date night, so it was just the two of us instead of the whole crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our date actually started out on the slopes after practice, which suited me just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I obviously wasn’t high maintenance and Mike was easy going like me, just happy to spend alone time with me since that wasn’t really an option back at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things were progressing slow between us, which suited me just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had actually just returned back from Philly yesterday after being with the big club for a week and a half while Andreas Nodl was out nursing an injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, with his absence it took some of the pressure off of both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He too didn’t want to push anything quickly, so I was lucky to have him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to use him as a rebound; I cared too much about him to make him that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hmm?” I mused with a mouthful of ice cream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Will you be my date to Riley’s Christmas Party he is hosting this Saturday?” he asked, sounding slightly nervous.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Riley Cote used to be an enforcer for the Flyers, but he retired last year and became an assistant coach for the Phantoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a fun guy and the whole team was stoked to be invited to his house for a party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was kind of a big deal that Mike was asking me to go with him because we had kept our relationship kind of quiet up until this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By going with him, the whole team was going to know, thus making everything official between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up at him to find his blue eyes smiling at me, despite the look of anxiousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess that means I have to go dress shopping,” I sighed like it was going to be a big inconvenience, even though I was holding back a huge grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You wear dresses?” Mike played like he was shocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I try not to, unless it’s a suit…” I answered honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And you look hot in them, so I’m looking forward this,” he winked at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Even though we had been “dating for a month” there hadn’t been much more than kissing between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I was just slightly apprehensive about moving forward, and Mike never pushed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple times we had fallen asleep together in each other’s bed, but nothing more had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a feeling Saturday night we going to be an evening filled of firsts for us and I was okay with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“James, I’d like you to meet my Mom and Dad, Rachel and Dean Trainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom, Dad, this is James Neal,” Shelly beamed while she introduced me to her parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were in town to pick her up for Winter break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got the whole crew tickets for the game the night before she was leaving, feeling slightly obligated to when she told me Dean was a huge Flyers fan and it just so happened they were in town playing us that night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Great to meet you James, sorry to hear you play for the shitty team, but I won’t hold that against you,” Dean laughed loudly, drawing the attention from some of the other people standing in the hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was obvious he was drunk and I felt bad for Shelly as she cowered against me, embarrassed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just smiled and nodded politely, dreading what he was going to say next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His wife, Rachel just stood politely by his side and shook my hand weakly with a meek smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well Shelly, time to make the trek back to the better side of PA,” Dean informed Shelly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thanks again for the tickets James, guess it’s the least you can do for boning my daughter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Whoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a winner.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Later that night Shelly called me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“James, I’m sooo sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have warned you that my father is an alcoholic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Of course I told her not to worry about it and that it wasn’t a huge deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, it wasn’t like I was dating him, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the puzzle pieces were slowly falling together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Shelly drank, it was obvious she had a problem with alcohol too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we went out, she would always get trashed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no middle line for her; she either didn’t drink anything at all or went all out and when she did, she became a completely different person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d end up all over me or some other guy pulling the stripper moves she did on me the first night we met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as if she became two different people and it was certainly taking its toll on me and our relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">All these thoughts rolled around in my head while Shelly talked on about when she was coming back into town and what she was planning on wearing to the New Years Eve party at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sidney</st1:place></st1:city>’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um, Shelly?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spoke up while she was in the middle of her sentence, surprising her and me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t even worry about coming back early for the party…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh? Why not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shelly, you’ve been great, but I just don’t see this working out and it’s not fair to string you along in thinking this is actually going somewhere, because honestly it’s not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Dead silence on the other end.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish you all the luck…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Click.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are one lucky mother fucker,” Andrew jabbed at Mike when we walked into Riley’s house for the party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could do was blush as everyone in the joint turned and looked at me and Mike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too easy to notice some of the jaw drops around the place and double takes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt really exposed, despite my dress covered everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, so it might have covered everything, but it was tight and it didn’t leave much to the imagination. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the little black dress every girl should probably own, but standing here was giving me second guesses about that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you want something to drink, beautiful?” Mike whispered warmly into my ear when everyone went back to acting “normal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“A beer please,” I said through my teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He chuckled lightly, kissed me lightly on the cheek and walked away, leaving me with JP and his girlfriend Tammy to talk with.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You two look amazing together,” Tammy remarked with a smile and a wink.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thank you,” I smiled back, starting to feel a little more comfortable, despite the fact that I felt 5 feet taller in the 4 inch heals I was sporting for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We figured it was time to come clean with the whole team.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can understand you being nervous about going public, but I think everyone will be cool with it,” JP hugged me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks JP,” I hugged him back, leaving a kiss on his cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It wasn’t that I was afraid of going public, I think it was more of the fact that I was admitting to myself I was moving on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We got a lot of positive feedback from the whole team, including the higher-ups on the bench and front office throughout the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of the night Mike was grinning from ear to ear and seemed hell bent on taking advantage of his new found liberties with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just walked out the bathroom when he moved out from the shadows as I walked down the unfamiliar hallway of <st1:place w:st="on">Cote</st1:place>’s house and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me into a guest bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I could start scolding him, I was pressed up against the wall and his lips were against mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pressed the whole length of his body against me and I instantly felt the heat of his hardness against my stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I kissed him back, wanting his heat to fill my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was working his way down my neck when I finally had enough sense to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mike?” I croaked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?” he mumbled against my skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m thinking this is not the smartest place to be making out like this…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He quietly laughed, his warm breath making me shiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Probably not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Take me home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t need to ask twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon we were practically running around the house, saying our goodbyes and the next thing I knew we were shivering more from anticipation than the ice cold temps of the <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were quiet, the sexual tension in the car was completely out of control and all I could do was laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What are you laughing about?!” Mike cried out, now laughing along with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This is totally ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are running home to jump in bed like two horny teenagers!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mike began laughing harder as he shrugged his shoulders and nodded in agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then abruptly stopped laughing and looked over at me while we were waiting at a red light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you okay with this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cause, I mean if your not, we don’t have to do…well, you know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you think I bought a dress like this for nothing?” I giggled, peaking down at my stocking clad thighs, unable to see the hem of my dress because it was hidden beneath my winter coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yup, it’s that short.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mike smiled broadly again and grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was hoping you’d say that,” he laughed before stomping on the gas pedal when the light turned green.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He had me out of my dress in a minute flat and I was going to owe him a new white dress shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mouths were all over each other, tracing the lines our hands made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere in the middle of Mike’s gentle caresses the thought of James came into my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I instantly felt ashamed and immediately pushed the thought away, focusing on the man whose name I was crying out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hanna?” Mike whispered softly into my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had fallen asleep wrapped around him at some point in the early morning hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was warm and hard and made an amicable pillow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hmm?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was fairly sure it was still dark outside, but I wasn’t even bothering to open my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Who is James?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Now he had my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You just mumbled his name in your sleep…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I did?!” I asked, now lifting my head and willing my eyes to adjust so that I could see Mike’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, you said, “I love you James.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Fuck me.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-9749085200846214422011-06-24T08:44:00.000-04:002011-06-24T08:44:59.182-04:00Chapter 4Lucky for you (and my sanity) this story is flowing out at a decent post, allowing me to post every other day... hope that works for ya'll. There is a lot going on in the hockey world, depsite the fact the season is soo far away. Many of you know that I'm a die-hard Flyers fan, so as you can imagine the trade events of yesterday have completely devistated me. Mike Richards is my first hockey love and my Captain. By trading him and Carter, Holmgren has completely changed the face of a franchise I am passionate about. I'm excited about getting Simmer and Schenn and probably even more excited to have a true #1 goalie between the pipes, but it's still a shock. With that being said I found writing these next few chapters to be a nice way to throw all my energy into... so hopefully that comes out a bit.<br />
I'm going away for the weekend for a wedding, but I am scheduling Ch.5 to post on Sunday morning, so keep an eye out for it!!<br />
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This is a song I heard on Pandora while writing the Chapter and I thought it fit so perfectly...<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This is the last song that I write while still in love with you<br />
This is the last song that I write while you're even on my mind<br />
'Cos it's time to leave those feelings behind<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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But I know that it's hard<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifq4bYZnYrc"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Blue Skies – </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Noah and The Whale<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 4<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Way to go Nealer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Score for you and the college chick!” Max clapped me hard on the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She looks familiar though…” he said thoughtfully, probably wondering if she was one of the many he had hooked up with throughout the ‘burgh.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shrugged my shoulders and walked with them towards the center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were having a morning skate in lieu of our first game of the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She’s the girl from Diesel the other week…” I informed them unwillingly, but I knew that if I didn’t give them some of the 411, they would be harassing me even worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You should invite her to the game tonight!” TK spoke up excitedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truthfully, I don’t think she even knows that I’m a hockey player.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, well that could be fun then,” Max winked and elbowed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sometimes it’s better when they have no clue about hockey, that way they don’t feel the need to console you or get all emotional when you lose a game or play bad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Actually it was one of the things I missed most about Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew when to console me or when to give me my space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was also knowledgeable enough that we could have intelligent conversations about the game and I didn’t have to worry about her being all nervous around the guys because she didn’t look at them any differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls I had dated that had no clue or interest about hockey really got weird around the guys and the one ended up becoming way too into the sport because she ended up banging one of the guys from the away team one night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For right now I didn’t really care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just didn’t think it would hurt to go out on a date and have someone new to talk to, despite the simple fact that there was probably only one woman I wanted to talk with but I ended that and I had moved on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Later on that day I was back at my apartment getting ready to lay down and take a nap when a text message came across the screen from my brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a picture of Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was accompanied with the message: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I’m fairly sure this is the chick you were telling me about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems she is a something here for the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place> Phatoms.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I texted him back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Yeah, that’s Hanna, I didn’t know who she got a job with…”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Michael texted back: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Do you want me to give her a message from you or anything?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sat there and thought a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“No, not necessary…”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Again he replied: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“She’s hot.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I left out a laugh and set my phone to silent for my nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before I rolled over to close my eyes I looked at the picture and saw she looked happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was talking in the hallway with a few of the Phantoms player, wearing a pair of jeans that hugged her ass perfectly with a tucked in black polo shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I met James’ brother, Michael about a month ago when the Texas Stars came up to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place> to play a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He surprisingly just walked up and introduced himself to me, despite the fact that Andrew and JP were standing there glaring at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly walked Michael down the hall to get out of ear shot and eye sight from my protective boys.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We made short small-talk, I asked how his parents were and he asked me how the job was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made a comment about wishing he had gotten to know me in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place> because he had heard so much about me from his mom and from James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked him, wished him luck on the game and we said our goodbyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart clenched a bit seeing some of the familiar facial features I had imprinted into my brain, but I wasn’t left much time to dwell on it because my name was being yelled over the radio to get up to the media room to fix a computer that one of my interns seemed to have messed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life was moving on and so was I.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m still not totally sure about this…” I whined, biting my lip as I watched Mike put my suitcase in the back of his truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You said that the front office was okay with it,” he reminded me with a reassuring smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Plus, we are giving you the room in the basement, which is the largest out of all the rooms!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The front office did okay the move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing how lax this management was compared to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they said I was allowed to basically fraternize with the team, they meant it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I was still hesitant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was my job, not some play time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were the same words I told Mike when he came to me with his offer a couple days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He, JP, Andrew Rowe and Benny Holstrom had a huge house they rented and shared on the upper-side of the town and they all insisted that I move with them so that I didn’t have to live in the hotel or an apartment “all by my lonesome.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first month and a half of the season had trucked full steam ahead and already a couple of the guys were bouncing back and forth between the big club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike and Benny being two of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m fairly sure this is all a ploy to have a woman do all your cooking and cleaning for you,” I laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shit, you figured it out before we moved you in!” Mike poked at me before grabbing my hand to pull me towards the passenger side of the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He opened the door and helped me in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a decent lift-kit with no step bar, so he always felt the need to help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You better have something planned for dinner because I’m starving!” he exclaimed cheerfully with his blue eyes sparkling playfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was learning that Mike was an amazing mix of James and Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a fun guy who loved to make me smile and laugh like Matt, yet there was this seriousness and goal oriented side of him that caught my attention and of course that side reminded me of James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike and I were quickly becoming very close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If your starving, then you better stop at McDonalds before we go home because my cooking skills are seriously lacking,” I frowned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Guess we’ll have to fix that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grill up some mean fish dinners,” he grinned while buckling his seatbelt and starting the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll teach you some tricks so you can be the next Betty Crocker.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This comment just made me snort and shake my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, okay Julia Child.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was obvious Mike was pulling my leg when we stepped in the front door of my new home because the smell of steak on the grill filtered in through the open windows at the back of the house and the place was decorated with streamers that were hung terribly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally the crey-paper streamers were supposed to be twisted into pretty spirals, but that was not the case as they hung droopily from the wooden rafters in the renovated barn/house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also a poster with “Welcome Home Hanna!” written in decent block letters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tears began welling up in my eyes as I stood there looking at the picture before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had definitely made the right decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hanna Banana!” Rowe called out from the back porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get your ass out here and drink a beer with us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to be put through the proper hazing!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A couple hours later I was feeling good, lying out on the couch, laughing my ass off at the boys as they showed me their Rock Band skills they honed last summer while living together after they were signed by the Flyers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is quite the party entertainment!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t expect private concerts every night,” Benny smiled, poking me with his drum stick.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, make sure you always have at least 3-4 drinks in you before they start playing because they usually sound terrible,” JP chirped as he lay on the other couch across from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the only one in the house that wasn’t apart of the band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He claimed it was because his skills were too exceptional and he didn’t want the other guys to look bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike said it was because his older brother was just plain old terrible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think Hanna should sing!” Mike suddenly announced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In fact I have the perfect song for you!” he exclaimed, pulling me up off the couch as I protested loudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t sing!” I protested adamantly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Liar!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were signing this song the day JP and I stopped in your office…” Mike argued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I know it the microphone is in my hand and I’m belting out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Undo It</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Grammy award would definitely be the next goal on my bucket list.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh wow,” Shelly breathed, blushing a little as it became obvious she was thrown off course a bit when I announced I was a hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were eating dinner at a quiet Italian place near the Duquesne Incline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess I should have known, but I don’t watch sports…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s okay,” I smiled over at her, still debating if this even had some sort of chance of being more than random dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a pretty girl and very nice, but she wasn’t Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, no woman was going to be Hanna except for Hanna and this was a fact I was just going to have to accept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the worst apart about this deal was I was acting like Hanna was dead when in reality she was living, breathing and possibly kissing another man at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I liked to entertain the idea that she too was constantly thinking about me and constantly dialing my number and hitting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">end</i> before it could connect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I called Shelly a week after we had met up in the coffee shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling overly lonely and was tempted to call Hanna, so instead I thought it wise to call Shelly instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily she didn’t seem to put off by the fact that it took me a week to contact her and she also didn’t seem to have a problem with my aloofness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been on a few dates before this one, but I found out quickly her school schedule was a little crazy, coupled with my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it was slightly troublesome finding a night or two free at the same time. “Have you ever been to a game?” I asked, getting back to the task at hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shook her head no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well then I guess I’ll have to get you to one,” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I would like that a lot,” she smiled broadly back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A few hours later I found myself standing outside of her apartment building, ending another nice evening together and already planning our next date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably shouldn’t have planned another one because I was still on the ledge of uncertainty, but instead I made myself dive head first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were at the awkward moment of the goodbye where you don’t know if you should just walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shelly was just about ready to turn away when I grabbed her hand to get her attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I really had a nice time tonight,” I said softly, leaning closer with each word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She met me halfway and kissed me hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her lips were soft and she tasted like the after dinner mint we had been given, yet something was totally off kilter with it all but I allowed her to wrap her arms around me and pull me in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed something to help me forget and there was something in the kiss that told me she was feeling the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why couldn’t this work out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were both what seemed to be similar situations and we both needed to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The next morning I woke up confused in a small bed before realizing that Shelly was lying in the crook of my arm, still sound asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an awkward night of hushed cries and cold touches, but in the end we both fell asleep probably dreaming of what we couldn’t have.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m impressed with your snowboarding skills, Richards!” Mike called, stopping next to me at the bottom of the mountain, spraying me with the fresh powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited to find that one of the perks of living here was the close proximity of the ski slopes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado</st1:place></st1:state>, but it quenched my thirst for feeling the cold air in my lungs while flying down a mountain of snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, the Catskills had their own distinct picturesque beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you forget that I lived in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado</st1:place></st1:state> for the better half of 4 years?” I raised an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I try to forget because I’m just a little bummed that you were in my home state that whole time and I never met you until now,” he answered honestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little taken back by the comment, trying to figure out if I was supposed to take that as him hitting on me or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just laughed the comment off and shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the first time he had made a similar remark and it wasn’t the first time that I found the butterflies in my stomach when he spoke like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was attracted to Mike but for once I found myself afraid to take the step in letting the attraction be known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With James, I was open and more than forward, but seeing where being that open got me, I wasn’t planning on being so cavalier this time around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It probably didn’t help that I still thought of James more than I probably should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Too often I was watching or listening to Penguins games, just to catch a glimpse or hear information about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That had cooled off though since I moved into the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys kept me busy and I was learning how to rot my brain away with movies and video games.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I still don’t understand how you haven’t seen any of the Harry Potter movies!” I exclaimed as Mike literally came waltzing into my room later that night with a huge bowl of popcorn and a bag Hershey’s Drops, on which my attention immediately diverted to. “Oh my gosh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are my favorite!” I squeaked, quickly clambering to the edge of the bed to snatch them from his hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He spun around and stuck his ass in my face, standing just far enough away that I couldn’t reach him or the sacred bag of chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Uh, uh, uh! You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> be sharing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found them and I remembered seeing you get all happy about them on the last road trip when Backlund had them on the back of the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I figured you might want some, but I want some too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I will share…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I want more than just a few,” he frowned playfully, knowing me all too well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fiiinnneee.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He handed me the bowl of popcorn and I slid myself back against the headboard and propped against the pillows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the guys were out for the night; JP’s girlfriend was with him upstairs, so Mike and I decided to have a movie night when we got back from the slopes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sunshine, daisies, butter, mellow; turn this stupid fat rat yellow!” I recited in perfect Weasley English.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I swear if you are going to recite all the movies, there will be issues,” Mike proclaimed with a mouthful of popcorn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Whatever, it cannot be as bad as you and Rowe reciting every line of the Simpson’s movie in unison at the top of your lungs!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But we do all the voices…” he pouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Pathetic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re just jealous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I snorted, “Okay, I don’t know of what though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, I live with you guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I have to smell your stinky asses constantly, clean up after you all, hear noises that a girl never wants to even think about hearing from hot guys, and then dealing with all the sexual harassment that would probably get people fired and put in jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So seriously, there is definitely nothing to be jealous or envious of except for maybe a girl’s night out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So are you sorry you moved in with us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does all that stuff bother you?” he asked worriedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I tried to act like it bothered me, but I couldn’t help but letting a smile escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nah, it’s like living with my brothers that I miss a ton,” I said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you really think I’m hot?” Mike’s eyebrows shot up with the most adorkable puppy face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I pushed him back, “I said hot guys; I didn’t say who!” I rolled my eyes, trying not to let the secret out through my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike had gotten very good at reading my thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh come on Hanna…Do you think I’m seeeeexy?” he drew out like Sandra Bullock in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miss Congeniality</i> while moving closer to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you want to kiiisss me?” he joked while attempting to move over top of me as I tried to squirm away from him, but it was impossible because I couldn’t stop laughing hysterically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Get off of meeeeee!” I squealed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you want to looooove me?” he asked, finally capturing me and pinning me to the bed by straddling my hips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Because I think you’re beautiful and I’ve wanted to kiss you since you stood nervously in front of us at our team meeting,” he finished seriously, his blue eyes staring deep into mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How could you tell I was nervous?” I asked quietly, trying not to smile and trying to ignore the rush of emotion I was feeling bubbling through my whole body.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because your brow furrows slightly, like it’s doing right now,” he answered softly, brushing his fingertip across the crease to prove his point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s cute.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was going to say something else, but I didn’t know what and I didn’t have time as he leaned down and softly kissed my lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t an invading kiss, it was just a sweet (and salty from the popcorn) kiss that probably was probably inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, however, denied it until the moisture of his lips left the proof on mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mike pulled back and carefully evened his weight on my thighs while he looked intently at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat staring at each other for a bit before he broke the silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Will you share your Hershey’s Drops with me, Hanna Richards?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I guess since you’ve asked so nice, you can have more than one,” I grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leaned in and kissed me again, this time he nibbled at my lip, coaxing me to open my mouth to him, which I obliged after the 3<sup>rd</sup> nip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again he wasn’t demanding, but I enjoyed the slow, languid strokes he took with his tongue as he familiarized himself with my mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled back to end it again with a please smile on this face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled back, telling myself I had to be careful and take this slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t even begin to compare the kisses we shared to the kisses I shared with James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn’t be fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike and James were two different guys and my feelings for them came from opposite sides of the spectrum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a lust for James that drew me to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike became my friend first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His kisses made me feel comfortable and made me realize that life sometimes held more options than it sometimes advertised.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-62609753082314865922011-06-22T08:53:00.001-04:002011-06-22T09:15:46.285-04:00Chapter 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It's okay in the day I'm staying busy <br />
Tied up enough so I don't have to wonder where is he <br />
Got so sick of crying <br />
So just lately <br />
When I catch myself I do a 180 <br />
I stay up clean the house <br />
At least I'm not drinking <br />
Run around just so I don't have to think about thinking <br />
That silent sense of content <br />
That everyone gets <br />
Just disappears soon as the sun sets<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZo8gUCt2hM"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Wake Up Alone – </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Amy Winehouse</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 3<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The end of July and the month of August flew by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I knew it, the team was arriving for their first day of camp at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place>, ready to begin the new season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was now that I would be able to start the ball rolling on all my plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was overly excited and crazy nervous as I stood in front of the guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them looked thrilled to be here, others looked annoyed that they were sent down from the big club and then you had the ones that could barely sit still because they had ADHD or something.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“My name is Hanna Richards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the new media director here for the club, so if you played here last year, you are going to see a lot of changes and hopefully you will see them as positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a ton of ideas for getting you guys more accessible to the public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fans like feeling connected to their teams and one of those ways is to know about their prospects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year some of you did some one-on-one interviews but they seemed to have fallen by the way side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, I’d like post a new interview each week of the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I or one of the interns will also be traveling along with you guys on some of your road-trips to catch behind the scenes footage and basically put a weekly “show,” for lack of better terms together for the fans to access on the web.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The internet is a great tool to get this team out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another new thing this season is that you guys will be in charge of the music that gets played in the arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what I’m asking for is your playlists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one of your teammates only listens to country, then that is what you will hear the whole game you are out on the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’d really appreciate it if you put a couple minutes of your time into the list and think about your teammates who might or might not be appreciative of what you play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be posting a calendar that will have your scheduled game night, so please get me your list within a week of your scheduled date so that I can put a warm-up mix together and what-not.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I paused and quickly surveyed the room to see if I could get some sort of vibe and when I did I noticed a couple of the guys nodding and smiling at each other and then back up at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took it as a good sign and finished up the speech that was making me seem like a professor or mother hen to guys that were roughly my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This thought suddenly made me feel slightly insecure and worried if my hair looked alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Get a grip Hanna, who gives a shit?!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um, if you guys have any ideas or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My office is always open,” I finished my long winded introduction with a nervous smile and nodded my head towards Bob Brooks, the President, knowing he had a few more words to say to the guys before he broke the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Well, that went well.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was humming a happy tune as I walked to my office or what I called my office. I immediately slipped off my dress heals and flipped on my IHome, flipped to a pop-playlist and cranked up the volume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually a little closet that was most likely an equipment room at one time and quite possibly still is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple times over the last few months I walked in and found an errant tool box or a bag of stinky towels that needed to be laundered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning I was surprised to find 2 gear bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They looked to be the same bags that players carried around, but I didn’t do much snooping because I didn’t have much time to worry about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I went to work on some paper work while shamelessly singing along to Carrie Underwood’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Undo It</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice being on the other side of the arena where no one really bothered you…<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Excuse me,” a male voice said from the doorway, behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mouth was still open from singing one of the “undo it’s” in the song when I spun around in my chair to find a tall, fresh faced, brown eyed boy in an orange Flyer’s shirt and black gym shorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was smiling curiously at me when another guy in practically the same outfit stopped next to him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had like facial features, but one was definitely younger than the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">…okay, so cross out that part where I said that no one really bothered me here.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Can I help you?” I asked, sounding obviously flustered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately began smoothing out my hair and tugged down the hem of my skirt as I abruptly stood up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not quite sure why I stood up, but I think it might have had something to do with the fact that I was now practically cornered in an office by two well built hockey players.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The first one’s smile got bigger as he took a step in and picked up one of the equipment bags that I had forgotten about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just picking up our gear,” he said happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hope you don’t mind, but JP and I often hide our stuff in here, especially at the beginning of the year because we don’t want people messing with it in the locker room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rookies think they have something to prove in the prank department, so we didn’t give them a chance this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was Bob’s office last season and he never cared…I guess we should have asked your first though,” he finished up as JP also took a step into my office.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, um, no, that’s fine…you can leave your stuff in here when you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leave the door open, so you won’t have to worry about it being locked…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We already have a key,” JP winked at me as he held up his set of keys, jingling them a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Handy,” I laughed nervously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m Mike Testwuide, by the way,” the younger looking of the two suddenly blurted out as he reached over my desk to shake my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed to be about my age and it was easy to see he was well built like the majority of all hockey players I had come in contact with over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I graciously shook it and then shook JP’s when he also offered his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turned out the boys were brothers and it was actually their 2<sup>nd</sup> year playing in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I knew it, they were both sitting in my closet office on folding chairs they had found in the hallway, talking with me about anything and everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nealer!” Coach Bylsma yelled out at practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re next up for mustache boy!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple hoots and hollers came from the mob of hockey players that were either waiting to attempt their shoot-out attempt against Flower or had already gone against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in rare form, chirping everyone that came forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Eees, Neeeeeaaalller! What ya got for me this season, ya fucker!” he called out in his thick French accent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Instead of saying anything, I kept my head down, passed the puck between my skates a couple times, spun around and went top shelf over Flower’s blocker pad, garnering a string of curses from him and loud cheers from the rest of the boys and the large crowd that had gathered for our last pre-season practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still found it strange to have such an enthusiastic turn-out for our practices; <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city> has die-hard fans, but this was a whole different situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city> bled for the Penguins and Steelers and I have to say it was nice playing for a town that supported the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when you’re popular in town, the puck-bunnies are 100 times worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today there were about 4 signs with my name on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One read, “Hey Nealer, I’d be okay if you’d nail me!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pretty girl, but yeah, HUGE turnoff in my book.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the guys ripped me mercifully throughout practice about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey <st1:place w:st="on">Crosby</st1:place>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks like you have some competition in the bunny department!” <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> laughed as he flipped the puck up at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Aww, just shut it Staalsy, you’re jealous that Nealer has more game than you!” Sid chirped back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He might have better looks, but I’m fairly sure I got the better game…” <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> laughed, not so subtly reminding me how I ended up totally blowing off this hot blonde at Diesel last night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was standing at the crowded bar when she bumped into me, spilling some of her drink on my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was as tall as me, had impossibly long legs and beautiful long blonde hair that cascaded down over her almost bare shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lights accentuated her curves that seemed to be in all the right places underneath her shimmery spaghetti-strapped top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything about her screamed exact opposite of Hanna which is what made me revert back to my shy stupidity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, I’m soo sorry!” she apologized enthusiastically, grabbing a napkin off the bar and pressing it to the front of my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her touch burned, as if she was the devil himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I knew it, she had me pulled out onto the dance floor, giving me some excuse to pay me back for the alcohol abuse I witnessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She moved smoothly and I felt like a stripper poll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of the 2<sup>nd</sup> song her tongue was running up along my neck and towards my ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was turning me on but I suddenly felt the need for space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, I had a few one-night stands, but tonight was not going to end like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your place or mine, she suddenly whispered into my ear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Neither,” I said shortly, finally getting enough courage to walk away and back over to the rest of the guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Dude, she was hot and you just left her standing there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How the fuck do you do that?!” TK cried.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Not my type,” I mumbled before taking a swig of my beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“New season, new start,” Letang said quietly next to me with a raised eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t a question, it wasn’t a dare, it was just his way of reminding me that I was moving on to another part of my life and that I needed to take a couple more chances in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I really think you have a lot of great ideas planned,” JP said sincerely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The guys were already talking about what they would put on their playlists when the meeting broke.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I hear Rowe saying he wanted all TV show theme songs played one night…” Mike laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s actually an awesome idea!” I exclaimed, not even thinking that some of the guys might get totally silly, which I was sure the fans would love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Excuse me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there anything else you guys would like?” the young waitress broke in, only looking at JP and Mike while totally ignoring me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that the Testwuide brothers were well known at the hamburger joint across the street from the arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys insisted I go out to eat with them after we sat and talked to almost dinner time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I spoke up and asked for a chocolate milkshake, forcing her to look at me, which garnered me a snot-ass glare from the lovely waitress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as she walked away, Mike had something to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s Tammy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thinks she has claim on all the guys of the team.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I guess I should just come here by myself next time,” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hell no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, that brings me to my next question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone in the front office seems a little too old to hang out with, except for Dave, the equipment guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So who have you been hanging out with?” JP asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um…no one really I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave has a girlfriend that he is constantly on the phone with and seems to be integrated into the community, so it’s just me,” I said, realizing instantly that I must sound totally pathetic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Where are you living?” Mike instantly asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“At the Ramada Inn,” I pointed out the window to the building just a block away from where we were eating.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ouch, Leights stayed there last year and it was a little… well, definitely not a place to live for long term…” Mike noted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I didn’t really have time to look for an apartment and it’s convenient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I really should start looking for something though,” I said thoughtfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Nothing more was really said on the matter because soon my milkshake came and we began a conversation on where to buy the best ice cream in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you always leave people standing out on the dance floors?” a semi-familiar voice spoke up while I walked by a table in a downtown coffee shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stopped and looked down, seeing the familiar blonde from Diesel a couple weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, hey,” I said, realizing things could possibly get really awkward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have an empty seat if you’re interested in having some company while you drink your coffee,” she smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I promise not to invade your personal space this time…” she laughed lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today she was wearing a Pitt sweatshirt and jeans with her hair tied back in a messy pony-tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only make-up she had on was some light eyeliner and a hint of mascara, making her actually prettier than she was at the club.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, sure,” I said hesitantly as I pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t think you told me your name the other night,” I began.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shelly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shelly Trainer,” she smiled, reaching across the table to shake my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And you look familiar, but I’m not quite sure from where…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I could tell she was being sincere but I still couldn’t help but laugh a little because I found it slightly odd she didn’t know who I was for the simple fact that most of the women who threw themselves at me knew exactly who I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m James Neal,” I said simply, not really feeling the need to elaborate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nice to meet you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you go to college here in the city?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, I just work here...you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m a senior nursing major at Pitt,” she happily informed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Um, I want to apologize for the other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually am not normally like that,” she suddenly began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is probably going to sound pathetic, but I did it on a dare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see I broke up with my first love at the end of the last semester and my girlfriends think I need to move on...” she paused, blushed profusely and covered her face with her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Something wrong?” I asked, finding it slightly odd with the way she was acting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m not supposed to be telling you about my tragic love life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the rules my friends said I had to stick to!” she laughed lightly while shaking her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Rules?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You aren’t supposed to talk about your exes to strangers or possible boys you wouldn’t mind going on a date with,” she recited the sentence like it straight out of a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hmm, now that is interesting advice,” I chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I should talk to this friend of yours because I’m kind of in the same boat it seems,” I heard myself admit to this complete stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before either of us could say anything my cell phone beeped with a text message from Max.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I see you chatting it up with a lady! I knew you had game!”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt the heat instantly rise up my neck and into my face as I began frantically looking around the small coffee shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, are you looking for them?” Shelly giggled as she pointed out the window to Max, Jordan and TK making faces and dancing around like fools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way TK crossed his eyes, made him look like some sort of drunk pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was horrendous and everyone in the shop was looking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, look, I’m sorry but I have to go…” I grumbled as I gathered up my coffee and money off the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Maybe I’ll see you around,” she said, sounding hopeful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something made me stop, pull out my cell phone and get her number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave it to me easily and we said our goodbyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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A/N: here are some pictures of the new boys that you were introduced to in this Chapter... I did some of the research for ya'll. :o) Enjoy!<br />
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Mike Testwuide <br />
<img height="150" id="il_fi" src="http://nfhl.eu/image/players/Mike%20Testwuide.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="100" /><br />
<img height="145" id="il_fi" src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nhl/players/full/5752.png&w=350&h=254" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /><br />
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JP Testwuide<br />
<img height="200" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBftfCXEVGitQ0vv7MJR1u6mVIRCpZnz0xm5dtqVuhITDLezrA8DrdlAfom9PXw58ey_HQ3ZPcqr1IuZ0k22sSLZSgCwAOPrNOjVskkoH4XQthuiLb-Z0PQVjgwP_L2Jz0wJaL9HQhgOGI/s200/Testwuide.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="150" /><br />
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Center: Ben Holstrom Left: Mike Testwuide Right: Andrew Rowe<br />
<img height="301" id="il_fi" src="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/8d/44f/58d44f2c-dd52-11df-90fa-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4cc0a3683c50a.image.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-11565531291421610152011-06-20T10:54:00.000-04:002011-06-20T10:54:13.264-04:00Chapter 2Hi All!!! Thank you sooo much for all the followers!! I probably sound silly always saying that, but I really do appreciate knowing people actually want to read what you write!! :o)<br />
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So apparently I thought I posted all of Chapter 1 of Part 2, but when I read through it a day later, it's not all there. Soooo the first paragraph is actually the last paragraph of Chapter 1 (which means we are still in James' point of view) I was going to go back and update it, but it didn't make much sense since you might not go back and read it, so I figured I'd just add it to this post. The rest of this Chapter is all from Hanna's point of view... because obviously she's been through just as much.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So now here I was back in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city> for my first full season with the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, the split between Hanna and I was amicable, but it still took its toll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily the summer gave me all the time in the world to heal and move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hanna’s blog ended at the end of June when she returned back to Canadian soil and so did the sparse contact we had with each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no clue what she was up to, despite the fact that I still talked to Brad on a regular basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Hanna’s name was never mentioned except once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as if Brad knew it would only keep the wounds open and he was doing his best to help them close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one time he did say her name was when he called to tell me he wasn’t going to resign with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there were a lot of factors that made him want to become a free agent but the one thing that put the icing on the cake for him was the way they handled the Hanna/Rachel situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have to say that the way they handled Hanna’s situation really left a sour taste in my mouth,” he said the night before they announced his free agency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I agreed whole heartedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The organization was not the same I had been drafted to and in a lot of ways I was glad to be gone, especially if Brad was now leaving.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So the goal this season is to move on to bigger and better things for lack of better terms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Where are we headed, Staalsy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Diesel, of course!” he threw back a huge, cheesy, white toothed grin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now this is the way for you to start the season, buddy!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I smiled back as we bumped fists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Doesn't happen over night, but you turn around and a months gone by, <br />
And you realize you haven't cried.<br />
I'm not giving you an hour or a second or another minute longer.<br />
I'm busy getting stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m8GSnIkxPM"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A Little Bit Stronger –</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Sara Evans<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 2<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I acted strong on the phone, but when we hung up my legs fell out from underneath me as I slid down the side of the stucco wall, allowing it to dig deep into my skin as I went to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t care about the tourists decked out in party gear walking in and out of the doors that were to the left of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I barely heard the loud island music pumping outside to the beautiful picturesque resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing I saw was my eyes filling with tears and only heard the sound of my heart breaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day that went by was building the foundation towards this, but it still didn’t make it easy to take, especially knowing he was on the same continent that I had been living on for the past couple months and now I wasn’t even able to see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything suddenly felt hollow inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though everything had cooled down from the boiling water we had become in such a short time, I still felt whole knowing he was there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I had been day dreaming about finally being in his arms again when I got back to <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now all those dreams would stay dreams because there was no more us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He must have found someone else.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess this is why I’ve stayed so independent for so long…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Of course I ended up drinking away my sorrows in the Canary Islands, and what a better place to do it than on a far away islands off the western coast of <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was there with some of my new friends from the Red Eagles, the Swedish hockey team that I had interned with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, one of my travel partners was American Matt Murley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt was a forward for the team and it was likely he wasn’t going to be back for another year, so he too wanted to see the continent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He had done his tour around the NHL/AHL teams, including the Penguins. Supposedly he was a legend back in PA for going as Sid Crosby's date for Ryan Malone's wedding a few years back. <em>Of course I asked him the same question I asked James. He swears the guy is straight. With my new relationship status, my goal in life has been set in stone.</em> </span>My other travel buddy was Stephan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been playing for the Eagles for 2 seasons now and was from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sweden</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also knew how to speak a few languages, that included Spanish, German and enough French to be treated politely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steph came was just along for the ride and to act as our tour guide, since he had been to several of places we had on the itinerary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Both were characters and both had become really good friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I had never told them about James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew I was seeing someone, but I never told them who or that he was actually playing hockey in the NHL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night Matt walked out and found me sobbing was the night I finally opened up and began the healing process.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You need to tell me what is going on,” Matt spoke quietly as he lead me back to our room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was actually a very perceptive, humble guy who I probably would have fallen in love with if my heart hadn’t belonged to someone else at the time I met him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know you have been keeping parts of your personal life, personal; which is totally understandable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it’s time to come clean, Sunshine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sunshine</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> was the nickname he gave me because he claimed my brown eyes sparkled even when the sun wasn’t hitting them, so I was obviously my own ball of fire, he insisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over half of the team called me that during my internship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I loved my time in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>, Timra was even that much better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was definitely something about waking up and looking out at the beautiful, historic view from my window every morning that was totally romantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s just a shame I couldn’t share that with James.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I blew my nose and before he pulled me into his chest to coax me to just relax while I told my story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m fairly sure I fell in love for the first time this past January…” I began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He listened to me, only stopping me a few times to ask a question or two but then pushed me to keep talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I spoke, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and by the end I had no more tears to cry; it was as if I finally could move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I feel pathetic considering it was only a month and a half and I act like it was a 10 year relationship…” I mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sometimes you can go through a roller-coaster of emotion in a very short-time and sometimes it might be a lifetime to feel all the feelings you felt in that short amount of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nothing to be ashamed about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m fairly sure we all dream about falling in love like that at some point in our life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’m just confused on why you don’t tell him how you really feel,” Matt asked quietly, running his fingers loosely through my hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because it’s obvious to me that we are both at different points in our lives,” I said, actually believing my words for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have goals that I want to reach in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess you could think that selfish, but I just don’t think they are possible to achieve if I’m tied down to anyone, especially James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already feel like I failed him for not being home to cheer for him and support him, and I’ve always been a firm believer that if you are going to be a couple, you need to put your all into the relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often I saw my parents slack in that department and too often I was kept up at night by them arguing about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Surprisingly Matt didn’t have any words of agreement or disagreement for my last statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead he was the perfect friend for not saying anything for a few quiet moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he finally spoke, he spoke the words I needed to hear most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let’s go back to the bar and drink.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Time heals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alcohol numbs the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And tromping around <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> with two friends helps fulfill the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of our trip it was decided we would be buying a medieval castle in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region>, get into the gondola business in <st1:city w:st="on">Venice</st1:city>, propose marriage on the <st1:placename w:st="on">Eiffel</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype> in <st1:city w:st="on">Paris</st1:city>, say our wedding vowels at St. Stephens Cathedral in <st1:city w:st="on">Vienna</st1:city>, party-crash Oktoberfest in <st1:city w:st="on">Munich</st1:city>, and run with the bulls in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Despite my short time in Europe I found</span> I made more memories than I could have ever imagined and had more fun than a kid at a water-park in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt renewed and ready to tackle all the new opportunities ahead of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I swear you are doing the jitterbug in your seat, even when you sleep!” Matt smiled over at me while we flew over the <st1:place w:st="on">Atlantic Ocean</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This plane can’t land soon enough,” I divulged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t think I realized how homesick I was until we boarded the plane.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have a secret,” Matt leaned over and whispered playfully into my ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s that?” I played along.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I feel the exact same way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but giggle at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt and I had become very close over the month, especially after we had the talk about James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a complete character that never really seemed to be serious about much of anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the friend I needed to teach me that it was okay to move on and live my life the way I wanted to and that it was sometimes acceptable to be selfish when it came to making myself happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part about our friendship, he helped me enjoy my last hurrah before real life set-in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Miss Richards, we are very impressed with your portfolio and I have a feeling you are going to be a great fit for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can see we are in need of getting the team out to the public and your ideas are phenomenal!” <st1:city w:st="on">Rob Brooks</st1:city>, the President of the team, exclaimed while sitting across from me in the board room of the Glen Fall’s <st1:placename w:st="on">Civic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype> in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>, which was an hour southwest of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Albany</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a small town, but it was a beautiful location that I immediately fell in love with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky for me, I didn’t need the bright lights of a big city to make me happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Catskill’s weren’t the Swiss Alps, but they had a certain lure that made me feel right at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, my goal was to someday end up in the big city, being the head of Media Relations for an NHL team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now, I’d have to hone my skills in the AHL, but I this seemed to be the perfect place to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So when can I expect to hear your final decision?” I asked politely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Probably tonight,” he answered, looking around at some of the other big-wigs who nodded with approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If you are offered and accept the job, we would expect you to begin as soon as possible since this is an open position.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That is reasonable,” I said with a smile, already knowing I had a fairly large task to tackle with it only being a month before the season was set to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a whole website to revamp and I needed to get my plans all in line for the season, including hiring an assistant and taking on a few interns of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So all in all, things were quickly coming together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A few hours later I received the phone call that I was officially the marketing and media director of the Adarondak Phantoms and that I’d be expected to start work on Monday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was now only Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Wednesday morning I was back in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Murray Harbor</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">PEI</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By early evening I was swimming up to the back of Brad’s boat after messing around on wake-board.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks for dropping me!” I complained playfully as my cousin pulled me back up into the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think you just need to learn how to wake-board, Hanna!” my brother Wyatt chirped from the driver’s seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He always drove the boat like an ass-hole when I was hanging off the back, it was something I’d grown used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I’d never give him the pleasure of knowing it, but I did enjoy the challenge and I was disappointed when he wasn’t driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my brother’s own way of telling me he loved me, know matter how fucked up it seemed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s obvious you’ve been working out because I’m fairly sure you weren’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> ripped when you were in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>” Burish chuckled while squeezing my bi-cep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and Otter were up spending the week with Brad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t realize they were here until Adam came running down the hallway of the airport screaming my name dramatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have died, not from embarrassment, but more from laughter and happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t realize how much I missed my two rowdy friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit I felt a mix of emotions when the boys let it slip that James had been up for the weekend, but went home last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jared Boll was getting married and James was the best man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure my heart did a little flip-flop, but I’m not sure if it was disappointed or happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I couldn’t let anything bother me for long because the guys had me talking about my adventures in Europe and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I had nothing better to do but to work out with the team over in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sweden</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was either that or go back to my hotel room and be bored out of my mind…” I reminisced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sure as hell looked like you didn’t even sleep with all those pictures on your blog!” Ott remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I did see and do a lot,” I giggled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But there is a lot of down-time too that can’t always be filled up with sight-seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I was on a bit of a budget.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What are you going to do with your free time in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Falls</st1:placename></st1:place>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t imagine there are a ton of things to do there,” Brad said, handing me a beer out of the cooler.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hopefully I’ll be able to make a few friends,” I sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I seriously don’t think you’ll have trouble in that department,” Adam laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You will have to fend those young guys off with a 10 foot poll if you want to keep your panties on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left a red welt on his back when I slapped him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was still rubbing it and pretending that it actually hurt when he went right back at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But then again maybe Matt Murley will be there to fend them off?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Both Otter and Burish had kept in touch with me via my blog, but of course they wanted to hear more of the in-depth stories I had been hesitant to write about due to the fact my family was also following it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What is that supposed to mean?” I scoffed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> that all about?!” Brad joined in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You two were in a lot of pictures together…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He was one of my travel buddies…” I began to defend myself, but it was hopeless with 4 rowdy boys that had wandering minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Whatever guys, nothing happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a great <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">friend</i>!” I cried, putting an emphasizing tone on the friend word but I knew it was not worth anymore argument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were going to believe what they wanted to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just prided myself in being smarter than them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Besides mentioning that James had been here, just miles from my house, nothing more was said about him until that night when we were sitting by the campfire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was technically just me and Steve because Burish, Brad and Wyatt were already passed out in their camp chairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So are you going to be a little more open about the situation than James has been?” Steve asked quietly while looking at me sincerely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was such a jokester/loud mouth, that sometimes I forgot how serious of a man he could be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I left out a nervous laugh and pressed the beer bottle to my lips so I could have a moment to think if I really wanted to talk about the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a long breath, I spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Everything came at the wrong time I guess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Steve’s abrupt laugh at my remark woke up a snoring Adam for just a moment, but he quickly drifted back to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s like pulling teeth with you two,” Steve shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What did he say?” I asked against my better judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was slowly moving on in my own way, but it didn’t stop me from wondering if I should just call him or show up at his house to profess my love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was actually thinking of doing the latter part up until I was offered the job yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long distance did work before and there was no way it was going to work this time, especially with all my new responsibilities that I was going to have to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“The same damn thing,” Otter confessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s not seeing anyone, if you want to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seems happy, but there just seems to be something missing in his personality…” he paused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s the same spark you seem to be missing,” he finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I let out another nervous laugh and shook my head in denial; the alcohol giving me that lulling feeling that told me I would sleep well tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Shut up, Otter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to fall for that bullshit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You can call it bullshit, but I do know what I’m talking about, sweetheart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-65704494178996469052011-06-16T21:55:00.000-04:002011-06-16T21:55:51.143-04:00Part 2: Chapter 1Thanks for all the positive comments!! I'm excited to be starting Part 2 of this story!! A word of warning, I won't be posting on a regular basis like most of Part 1 because this is all completely new material, but I promise to post as often as I can. I was going to make you wait for this, but I couldn't be mean!! <br />
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Enjoy!!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Stay or leave<br />
I want you not to go<br />
But you should<br />
It was good as good goes<br />
Stay or leave<br />
I want you not to go<br />
But you did<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2p_yNPBKVE"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Stay or Leave –</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Part 2 – <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ch.</st1:place></st1:country-region> 1</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey Nealer!” Staalsy called out after me as I walked down the hall of the Consol Energy after practice in early September.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s up <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place>?” I turned around, continuing to walk, but backwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So Max and Tanger said something about going out tonight, you interested?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stopped and took in a breath, holding it for a moment, puffing out my cheeks like a blow-fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m fairly sure the guys in the Penguin’s locker room thought I was gay because I rarely went out and always ended up with some sort of excuse, last season after I was traded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a girl would come onto me, I’d push her over to Max or even TK because I felt so bad for the kid’s pig-nose that I figured he deserved every chance at a girl possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I never talked about her, except to Brad when we’d have our weekly chat or texting sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only person on the team that knew the truth about me was Nisaknen, but that’s because he came along from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city> with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the only one who wasn’t surprised when I came to camp last week laughing and smiling again because he knew the real me; the person I was in Dallas before I was traded and before there was no Hanna and me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Everyone just figured I was the quiet, introvert on the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time was healing things, it was getting easier for me to laugh and be myself but there were still things I saw or heard that would bring my thoughts back to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It wasn’t sudden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was gradual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left for <st1:city w:st="on">Denver</st1:city> a day or two after we left for our roadtrip and by the end of that week she was on a plane to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sweden</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out Jimmy had contacts all over the world, including one that got her a gig with a Swedish Elite team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was probably crossing the <st1:place w:st="on">Atlantic Ocean</st1:place> when I got a call from Ray Shero welcoming me to the Pittsburgh Penguins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life became a sudden whirlwind, causing Hanna and I to be tossed to the farthest ends of the universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a total shock when we went from whispering sweet nothings in the night while tangled together to an errant phone call once a week if we were lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Hanna was able to get a phone that worked over-seas we were at least able to talk every other night but by that point it felt like everything we knew about each other had changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She was learning a new language and immersing herself in the culture of a new country while making sure she was putting everything into her 2<sup>nd</sup> chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was lost in the cold streets of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city> and struggling to put even a point on the scoreboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the trade to be a complete surprise, especially after all the trouble I had gone through over the summer, re-signing with the Stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never expected to be the one to get the boot, especially with all the speculation circulating around Brad and his pending Free Agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between getting to know a whole new locker room, plus the added pressure of being brought here to basically help fill the shoes of Sidney Crosby, I found myself floundering miserably.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“They don’t expect you to be Cindy Crosby,” Hanna tried joking over the phone after I expressed to her how annoyed I was with not being able produce on the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Although I’m sure all the puck bunnies are thrilled to have some eye candy on the team that could give the kid a run for his prince charming role…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sidney</i></st1:place></st1:city> is now my team captain and he’s not the enemy anymore, so no more of your silly nicknames for him,” I scolded her, unable to help myself from smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be truthful it was still hard to comprehend the league’s golden boy was my team captain, especially since he still wasn’t allowed to be on the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now he was still a name tag on the locker next to mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a little surreal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well in that case, you better dish everything you can about him because I am dying to know if he’s gay or not,” she declared into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“If he’s not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well then tell him I’m waiting in line with all the other single Canadian women, hoping he’ll ask me to marry me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And what about me?!” I scoffed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll let you live in our pool house, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind,” she giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Gee, thanks,” I grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“In all seriousness, I do not find him that attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brown eyes don’t do it for me I guess...” she mused. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Except…” she began slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There was that one Winter Classic poster where it was just him, close up…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Really Hanna?!” I cried into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She began laughing hysterically on the other end, helping me picture her rolling around on the bed like she did when she found something really funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh James, lighten up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know I am only joking.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know,” I sulked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I miss you soooooo much,” she continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I sighed into the phone, wishing it was her I was holding instead of the cell phone in my hand that was quickly becoming over heated from use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I miss you too, Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When do you think you will be back in the States?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Beginning of May?” she said, not sounding 100% certain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean, that’s when I graduate and their season ends about that time…but I was hoping to get some sight seeing in considering I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to get back over here to <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>,” she spoke truthfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You might not come home for graduation?” I asked skeptically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“My parents already said they won’t be able to get out to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city> because they are going to be on a cruise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They planned it the other year and didn’t even think about the fact that it would be close to my graduation,” she sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So I was kind of thinking of foregoing the whole walking part and just stay over here for an extra month of something, you know what I mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt my chest constrict at the thought of possibly not seeing her for an even longer period of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that my plans were set in stone yet since we were set to make the playoffs so it wasn’t like I would be heading to the summer home right at the end of the season, but I wouldn’t mind having her in the stands to cheer me on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“James?” I heard her ask, pulling me from my thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I thought maybe you hung up on me…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, I’m here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re upset because I’m thinking of staying here for a bit, aren’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s an awesome opportunity and I understand why you want to stay and do more sightseeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know when you might get back there, so I say go for it,” I said resolutely, even though it pained me to be truthful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jealousy and selfishness was dripping on each word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted her home in the States to be with me and I was jealous because I didn’t have the freedom to be over in Europe experiencing everything she was.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mean to be selfish…” she began.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I guess we both are to an extent.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah,” I said solemnly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I haven’t made my decision yet, but I will let you know as soon as I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shit, I have to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to meet with the media crew here before the game tonight,” she suddenly spokeup.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Alright, well I’ll talk to you later on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be safe and have fun.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And James?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Put the puck in the damn net, would you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but laugh at this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Just for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I scored my first goal as a Penguin that night in a shoot-out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A couple weeks later she called to tell me she was staying in Europe until mid-June.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After losing game 7 in the quarter-finals I got a phone call from Team Canada, asking if I would like to come over to Slovakia and play for my country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was exhausted from a rollercoaster season, but I couldn’t turn down the chance to play for my country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I found myself on a plane over to Europe, the same continent my Hanna was in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m soooo sorry about the Game 7 loss…” Hanna said loudly into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Where ever she was, it was loud, but she didn’t seemed bothered by my phone call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been almost 2 weeks since we spoke because it seemed like our schedules never crossed at the right time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Did you get to watch any of the games?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really fought hard.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I got to catch stuff on the internet every now and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the guys on the team here, Stephan, he somehow gets CBC feeds so he allowed me to hang out his place to watch some of the playoffs,” she informed me cheerfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I was glad she was able to catch some of my games, it was just another reminder that we were very far away from each other and I had no clue who she was hanging out with, when she was with them, or where she was spending time with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So what are your plans?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you heading back up to the mother land?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m actually in Frankfurt,” I said simply, curious to hear her reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Frankfurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only know one Frankfurt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I left out a tight laugh, attempting to picture her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So what brings you to Frankfurt, Germany, Nealer?!” she squeaked into the phone, the background noise suddenly becoming quieter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She must have stepped out of the room or something.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m waiting for my connecting flight to Bratislava, Slovakia,” I informed her, knowing she was going to yell at me soon for not giving all the info at once.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why?” she asked in a higher pitched tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to be playing in the World Championships.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh my God that is sooooo awesome!!!!!” she yelped into the phone, yet I sensed some disappointment in her tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is she upset that I’m not here to visit her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I have even thought about just showing up in Europe to see her if I wasn’t asked to come here and play? </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">That was when it hit me that the relationship Hanna and I had begun to build a few months ago had cooled down to basically nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had both gone our separate ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t totally a bad thing and I was immediately reminded by the words Brad spoke to me on the phone the day before I left for Slovakia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“James, sometimes people come into our lives at the wrong time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They leave behind some irreplaceable memories, but you will always be able to look back at them as good memories,” he said evenly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love her, Brad,” I spoke, feeling the denial I had been dealing with over the last couple months rise up in the back of my throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I’m fairly sure she loves you too, dude, but I think it’s the wrong time for you two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you just need to let it go and see where it takes you both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s meant to be…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“…it will happen,” I finished with him in unison, refraining myself from rolling my eyes at my friend’s words of wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounded cliché, but I had seen proof of the words with a few of my friends and teammates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Have you sold her the same spiel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“In an e-mail the other week, I did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What did she say back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think that is something you will need to talk to her about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The words came back to me and I found myself suddenly blurting out my question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna, do you think we’re just going through the motions?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">There was a pause on her end and I could have sworn I saw the wheels turning without even being able to picture her face at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I still care for you, James.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I for you, but I feel like we are just hanging onto nothing right now,” I said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think this all happened at the wrong time,” she spoke slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m guessing you and Brad talked about this too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I tried to laugh, feeling my throat beginning to constrict with emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably over a while ago, but I didn’t want to see it or even think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, he gave me the same old lines they give in the movies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I heard her giggle, but with sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Same here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I want to believe he’s right,” I said honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my whole heart I do,” she said sincerely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This time I did leave out an ironic laugh while toying with the bracelet I had made during our short stay together in PEI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I definitely didn’t think this would be the conversation I thought we’d be having this moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured we’d possibly be making plans to meet up while I’m over here…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She laughed too as she spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’d love to see you and I’d love to be there to cheer on team Canada, but I’m actually in the Canary Islands on a little vacation of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed some warmth and sun after spending my time in the Nederlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few days I’m heading back to the damp chills of Ireland and Wales…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll be in touch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll add you to my trip blog if you like.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Send me the link.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Go Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kick some American ass.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-81253043032644988542011-06-13T13:25:00.000-04:002011-06-13T13:25:43.312-04:00Chapter 11 (end of Part 1)This is the last Chapter in Part 1. As you can assume, the new part will put our hero in a new city with a new team... So, let me know what you think of Part 1!! I want to hear from all you creepers!! :o) Part 2 will start in a few days... so keep an eye out!! <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I'm asking for your help, I am going through hell<br />
Afraid nothing can save me but the sound of your voice<br />
You cut out all the noise<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I don't understand the meaning of love, but I do not mind if I die trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0Fxx3ZbNo"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">How –</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Maroon5<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch. 11</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you ever going to stop fidgeting?” James mumbled into the pillow as we lay, spooned together on my bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I just can’t sleep,” I sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry; I’ll at least stop moving so you can get your nap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Everything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I just have a ton of shit racing around in my brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would have thought I’d be out like a light with the minimal amount of sleep I got last night, but I’m having the same problem I had last night, my brain just won’t shut up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Things will be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything will work out, stop worrying your pretty head and just relax Hanna,” he said soothingly while he began gently rubbing my arm to reiterate the “relax” part.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How do you do it?” I asked, suddenly rolling over so I could look into his grey eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well you are kind of in a scoring slump as of late…doesn’t that bother you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean I kind of liken that to me not having a job thing and failing my senior internship.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He left out a small chuckle, tugging at me so that I was now lying on my side, facing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just deal with it I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hockey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slumps happen and I just don’t think of it in a negative way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get over my slump once I put the puck in the back of the net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the things your cousin has ingrained into my thick skull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just like you shouldn’t think of this failed internship as a negative thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got experience and you made some contacts in just the short time you were here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jimmy already said he was going to start making contacts and get in touch with your professor back at school to make sure you didn’t get an F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything will be fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You should be one of those motivational speakers…” I teased, leaning in and kissing the tip of his nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Funny because I’m fairly sure you told me I didn’t talk enough when we first met,” he poked at my stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fine, then you can be my own personal motivational speaker since I found ways to make you talk,” I winked, sliding my hand down below the waistband of his boxers and firmly cupping his manhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I squeaked when he suddenly moved, pushing me backwards on the bed and forcing himself on top of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You shouldn’t have done that,” he growled hotly in my ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now I have to motivate you into crying out my name…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but giggle while he began laying kisses along my jawline and then going pushing his tongue into my ear, knowing it would make me squeal and claw at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sure, the scoring slump didn’t make me feel very good about things, but like I had told Hanna, I wasn’t going to let it get me down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had an extra hop in my step walking into the locker room for tonight’s game knowing that Hanna would be in the stands as my girlfriend and not as an intern for the team.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How is Hanna taking everything?” Burish asked while we were taping our sticks for the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s a little depressed, but that is to be expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we leave for our roadtrip, she’s going to head back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Denver</st1:city></st1:place> to get things squared away with her professor and find out what she needs to do to at graduate without her GPA completely bottoming out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s hoping to maybe get another internship to prove herself, even though it’s already half-way through February,” I said evenly, trying not to let the thought of her possibly not being here everyday, bother me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So she’s leaving <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place>?” Adam asked, sounding as bummed as I felt talking about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Big possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless Jimmy pulls through with something in the area.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to miss her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still feel really bad about the whole Rachel ordeal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know, shit happens.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks for not being mad at me, but I still owe Hanna, big time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll see if I can’t get with any of my connections…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that,” I smiled, wondering what kind of connections Adam had besides the phone numbers of strippers in each state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The game ended up going to a shootout and despite my 4 shots on goal I still was a -1 on the boxscore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However I wasn’t as down as I could have been every time I looked up into the stands and found Hanna’s smiling face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brad and I both waved to her at one point during warm-ups and instead of blushing and getting all shy, she bounced up and down and waved with big arms, laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I definitely need that ball of energy in my life.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You used my mix!” I yelled at Jimmy as he walked into the family room off the locker room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How much do you want for it?” he smiled, pulling me into a friendly hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m thinking I enjoy this no team polo-shirt for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fan girl look is so much better!” he exclaimed while taking a step back and giving me the once over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was wearing a black, fitted Stars shirt where the graphic conveniently stretched across my chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks Jimmy,” I rolled my eyes and smacked him in the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have a couple things in motion for you, so no worries,” he smiled, squeezing my arm before walking into the locker room to do some post-game interviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was talking with Loui Erikisson’s wife when some of the guys finally walked out of the locker room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hanna Montana!” Otter yelled out boisterously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re heading out on the town tonight and you are coming along so we can get your all liquored up baby girl!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I turned around and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What, now that I no longer work for the team you all think you can get me involved in your antics?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fuck yea,” he laughed throwing an arm around me, immediately forcing me to walk towards the exit as James came out of the locker room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Taking my girl, Otter?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s all mine tonight!” Steve chirped back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played along by turning around and sending James a devilish wink.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We’ll see about that!” Burish chimed in, pushing past James and throwing his arm over my other shoulder so that I was sandwiched between the two locker room goofballs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The rest of the night was spent drinking and dancing Charlie’s Bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends and to think I had only known them for a little over a month was slightly mind boggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just sad knowing that I my time with them was going to be shortened.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are quite the hit, Hanna Montana,” Brad observed as we danced together for one of the slow dances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The boys are going to miss you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to miss them, but I’m going to miss you the most,” I sighed, laying my head on his shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m family, so you don’t have an excuse, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have </i>to see me and stay in touch,” he grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This is true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Besides, I’m sure you’ll be down to visit Nealer…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This totally bites.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You two will be fine, he’s head over heals for you and a very faithful guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I nodded in agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh no, I totally agree, I would never question his devotion to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But you’re young, so take care of you first and then focus on everything else,” my cousin warned easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew all too well how things worked in the uncertainty of the hockey world and saw many failed relationships, including a few of his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You have too bright of a future ahead of you to throw it all away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have to admit that I’ve been thinking of telling him that we should just take a break,” I said softly, a little surprised that the words came out of my mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Might be a good idea,” Brad seemed to agree reluctantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think he’ll take it a little rough, but I also think he’ll understand…at least just let things cool off and re-evaluate in the summer when you have a little better idea of where things are going.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s what I was thinking,” I paused and looked up into my cousin’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love him, Brad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know you do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I just don’t want to mess things up…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’ll do the right thing,” he whispered encouragingly before squeezing me tightly in a hug as the song ended.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to miss you, I’m so sorry I won’t be here to see you off to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Denver</st1:city></st1:place>,” I murmured into her soft hair as we stood together in her apartment for the last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart was breaking already and she wasn’t even out of my arms yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to tell her I loved her and I’m fairly sure it was on the tip of her tongue more than once our last night in bed together, but it was if both of us knew it wasn’t the right time to say the binding words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed her in my life and I showed her that, but fate was one to play cruel hands, so time would either be our best friend or worst enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hopefully I’ll be able to travel either here or somewhere else to see you play,” she sniffed, pressing her nose into my chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“As soon as you figure out what’s up, let me know and I’ll fly you wherever, even if it’s only for a day, I want to see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Call me when you get to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Edmonton</st1:city></st1:place>,” she said, pulling back and wiping the tears from her eyes in attempt to stay strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I poked at where her dimple normally formed when she smiled, smiling myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What?” she asked, looking at me confused.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Smile for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Without even meaning to, she did as she asked, “What?” again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I pushed my finger in the dimple that had formed on her left cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Right there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always love when you smile and this cute dimple forms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She pushed playfully away from me and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Give me a break, Neal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m serious,” I grabbed after her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re beautiful,” I said sincerely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And I’m going to miss the little things like that, so I figured I should tell you that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re a hopeless romantic, Nealer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And you have fallen for it, Richards,” I smirked before kissing her firmly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want it to end, so I wrapped my arms tightly around her, pinning her against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It would be the last time we kissed or even saw each other for almost a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-38437331129843588522011-06-10T11:52:00.000-04:002011-06-10T11:52:49.432-04:00Chapter 10<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Crash, crash, burn, let it all burn<br />
This hurricane's chasing us all underground<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0wOrcxLwe0"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Hurricane – </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">30 Seconds to Mars<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“The one thing I’m finding that I enjoy about being in Dallas in the middle of winter are the days when it’s warm enough for the women to be walking around in shorts,” Adam said as he took a bite of his sandwich, growling like a feral dog as he does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your woman has smoking legs,” he declared with a mouthful of food as he proceeds to stare at Hanna’s legs while she’s walking by the team room with some DJ equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Hanna does have beautiful long, lean, tanned legs that almost make me forget that she is almost a foot shorter than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look over just in time to see her glance over, smile, and nod at the group of us eating lunch after running a youth clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned back around to Adam and asked, “Don’t you have your own pair of legs to stare at?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, anyway, how is that snotty ass twit of yours?” Otter piped up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve was not one to hide his feelings about Rachel and her attitude, especially after a couple of the guys found out how much shit she was causing with Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adam had become smart enough not to bring her out when the group of us would go out for dinner or an evening at the club, but he was still tapping her, so obviously he didn’t wise up enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time she was mentioned, he would look away like he was being scolded for something he did wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s fine,” he mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Dude, you need to get rid of that shit,” Krys Barch chirped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She’s bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t tell me there ain’t nicer pieces of ass out there for you to hit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She doesn’t have many friends around here…” Adam began slowly but soon shut up when the whole table burst out laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She doesn’t have friends because she’s mean and nasty!” Wandell snorted as he held his nose from the water that threatened to come out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You guys don’t know her,” Adam mumbled as he shoved the rest of his sandwich down his throat, grabbed his water bottle and got up from his chair to leave like a child about ready to have a temper tantrum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After he left the room, Morrow came over and sat down with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So what do we need to do to get Burr unhooked from this chick?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Get her fired!” Wandell said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Can you fire interns?” Otter asked in a serious tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think so,” I said, adding my two cents.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll talk to the GM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gotta do something because she is really pulling him down,” Brendan said as he got up and walked out the door, presumably heading to the front office.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hanna!” Jimmy yelled up the steps to me as I finished editing the game night video for tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Boss man is requesting your presence in the board room.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, let me finish this last part…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, let me finish, it kind of sounds important,” he informed me as he walked into the room with a raised eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Not quite sure, I can never get a real read on the guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hmm, okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be back afterwards to clean up my shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sounds good,” Jimmy said as he patted me on the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I walked into the front office, waving “Hi,” to Juliet the secretary who was always so nice when I stopped by. Oddly, she just nodded back with a worried look on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh this can’t be good.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I knocked on the board room door and was immediately let in by Assistant GM Provenzano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach dropped to the floor when I saw Joe Nieuwendyk sitting across from bitchy Rachel with a grumpy look on his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fuck me now.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Have a seat, Hanna.” He said in a pinched tone that I never heard from him before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always very nice and outgoing any other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could only assume Rachel had something to do with this impromptu meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It was brought to my attention earlier today by one of the players that there was some extracurricular activities going on between a few of the interns and the players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we have never had a rule in place about this, we have always expected everyone to uphold themselves in the most professional manner while at work or in public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When relationships become an issue that a player is suffering and his work is affected, I have no choice but to step in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The room was so quiet you probably could have heard an ant fart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tension was ridiculous and I swear I was going to need CPR to get my heart restarted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who the hell would have said that I was affected James’ game?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s been scoring goals and playing awesome as of late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything I affected him in a good way… </i>Joe took a deep breath and looked back and forth at the both of us, almost like he didn’t want to open the can of worms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To be honest the original complaint was lodged against Rachel with her relationship with Adam.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I swear I could hear Rachel purse her lips and shake her head back and forth, but I didn’t dare to turn my head in look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly in fear that I would knock her the fuck out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My ears were beginning to ring when Joe began speaking again, letting me know why I was brought in on this little meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“When we spoke to Rachel about this, she acknowledged her relationship with Adam but she also brought up that your relationship with James has hindered your performance as an intern and has caused a riff amongst the players…to be fair we have to let both of you go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t even hear the rest of what he was saying because at this point I was not shaking like a leaf with complete fury ready to blow up as soon as he finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you kidding me?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wretched little bitch,” I freaked out like a mad woman that just had her baby taken away from her for no reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood up abruptly and turned towards her; my roar must have been louder than I thought because I could have sworn I saw her cower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have always acted in a professional manner out in public and even if it was just a couple of the team members because I respect the organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You seem to have some sort of high school complex where you are jealous of anyone who appears to get more than you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well let me tell you something honey, I’ve worked my ass off for this internship and I think I’ve cranked out some pretty awesome things and now because you are a petty whore who will probably live off daddy’s money for the rest of your life, I have now possibly lost my career.” I screamed as I pointed a finger in her face causing her to slide farther down in her chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then turned to Joe and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Provo</st1:city></st1:place> and went off on them because I was more than disappointed in the fact that they would believe her dirty ass mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As for you believing her, I’m sorry to hear it because I had a lot of pride in this organization and figured you would double check your sources before making a decision on cutting someone who actually cared about their internship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure if you’d talk to the team they would have nothing but good things to say about me and how I’ve acted over the last month and a half despite the fact that I was dating one of your players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say that I’m probably relieved that I will not be working for an organization who believes girls who stoop to levels that prostitutes do!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was out of breath by the time I finished my rant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had thoroughly surprised myself in my spazz-attack, but damn it felt good after putting up with the stupid extra shit they were making me do for no reason over the last couple weeks after Rachel’s first complaints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could tell they were shocked also by my outburst because neither of them made a move as I went to the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I held my head up until I got out of the office and began walking down the lower corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I soon found a corner and broke down into tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I don’t know how long I sat in my little self-made corner, but it must have been a while because I was at the point where no more tears could be shed, causing me to make a God awful wheezing sound when Brad found me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat down on the cold, cement floor and wrapped his arm around me so that I could curl into him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I just talked to Juliet,” he said evenly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I got screwed by the dumb cunt,” I stuttered out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They needed to make an example of someone, she fed them lies and now my future is fucked and I fail my last college class that will mean the most on my resume.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you think it would help if the team went in and talked to Joe and Povo?” he asked quietly, but before he could finish I was already shaking my head back and forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh hell no,” I chuckled sadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They soooo saw my evil side when I flipped shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, Juliet said you got a little loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She called me because she figured you didn’t make it back to your apartment,” he said with his easy smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just told her that was the Richards temper that only people in our family usually see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A sad smile crossed my face because he was totally right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I had only unleashed that attitude on my brothers and occasionally my parents and cousins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So now what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want to look for a job around the city?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have to call my professor and find out what I need to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if I’ll be able to graduate now without my internship completed, or hopefully they will let me submit the things I already did the past month and half and count it for some partial credit so I can get my degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most likely I will be headed back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state></st1:place> for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry for failing, Brad,” I whimpered as I looked up at Brad with tears finding their way back into my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You didn’t fail me, girly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know for a fact that you were one of the best interns Jimmy has had and he’s going to be royally pissed when he finds out what happened, including the team.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What do I do about James?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure he’s not going to want to be with me if I’m not going to be in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place>…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t be stupid, it would just be like the rest of the guys whose girlfriends and wives don’t live in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That boy is head over heals for you and I’m pretty sure you feel the same way,” Brad said as he wiped a tear away from my face with the pad of his thumb.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a deep pouty breath and slammed my head back against the cement wall, letting the pain numb me for a moment until the sting of it made me rub the now sore spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m pathetic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Whatever, you need a drink,” Brad declared as he got up off the floor and pulled me along up with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I need a tissue and a cold wash rag because there is no way in hell I am going out like this,” I whined as I wiped at my swollen eyes that I could only assume looked completely blood shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, Burr?” I asked as I answered my cell phone while pumping gas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Dude, have you talked to Hanna?!” he asked frantically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“They fired her and Rachel today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What?!” I yelled into the phone loud enough to make people look at me like I was a crazed freak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What the fuck did your piece of shit ho-bag do?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s no longer mine and I am sooooo sorry,” he pleaded into the phone quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She supposedly made up some lies, saying that you and Hanna were inappropriate in public like her and I had been and said that Hanna wasn’t doing her work, causing other interns to pick up her work load.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to kill her and possibly you too,” I grumbled as I hung up the pump and crawled back into my Escalade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll talk to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> later,” I snapped as I hit the end button and dialed Hanna’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, she didn’t answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove over to her apartment to find her car there, but when I walked into the apartment she was nowhere to be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took out my phone and dialed Brad as I stood in her living room, looking up through the sky-lights to see the darkening clouds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That is one lovely omen.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey James!” Brad yelled into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you with Hanna?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, we are at Charlie’s Grille if you can’t tell,” he said happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna needed to get a few drinks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, let her know I’m heading there now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Alright, we will see you soon!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I walked into Charlie’s where the crowd was watching the Cowboy’s Monday Night Football pre-game show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scanned the people and soon found a bleary eyed Hanna sitting in a booth across from Brad as she leaned up against the wall looking sadder than the droopiest faced basset-hound.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I quickly scooted in next to her and pulled her into me as I kissed her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey baby,” I whispered loud enough for her to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked with her large brown eyes and my heart broke when I noticed their normal sparkle was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Looks like you might need another drink,” I said with a sad smile as I smoothed her hair off her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Once the waitress brought over another round of drinks, the three of us sat and hashed out the events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t believe that Joe and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Provo</st1:city></st1:place> just basically fired her without checking with the rest of us first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was furious enough that I decided I was going to stop by the office the next day to spout out my two cents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured that Hanna’s future with the Dallas Stars was done, especially if her freak-out was as bad as she claims it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I was at least hoping the organization could at least send in a couple good words to her college to make sure she got the degree she deserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her work around here did not go unnoticed by my teammates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“James, just go home and get some sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a big game tomorrow that you guys need to win to stay in playoff contention and I do not want to keep you up all night,” she pleaded with me as I walked her to her door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m going to be up all night worrying about you…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped speaking as she laid a finger across my lips and gave me a look that only a woman can give that shuts a man’s mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not take the blame if you play like shit tomorrow,” she growled semi-playfully as she stood up on her tip toes and kissed my cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I pulled her towards me before her heals hit the ground again and captured her lips in a deep kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few moments she pulled back, leaving us both panting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” I asked in a husky voice as I leaned down against her ear, causing her to shiver in my arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Go home you mess of a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you,” she said, grabbing a hold of my face with her hand to make sure I didn’t send chills through her again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love you too babe, I’ll come over here after morning skate and we’ll do lunch and possibly my pre-game nap together?” I asked hopefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She nodded her head slowly as a sad smile crossed her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That sounds like a good idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You will be coming to my game tomorrow night too…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know…” she began saying but this time my finger came across her lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are now officially a WAG and not an employee, I get to flaunt you around without having to worry, so let me spoil you,” I said, leaning down to steal another good-night kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She pulled back before I could get my lips on hers and said in a slightly defiant tone, “I’m going to get a job or something, James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to sit here in my apartment that my cousin is paying for and do nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was slightly taken back by her attitude, but I knew she was hurting so I said, “Hanna, I expected you to find a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are independent and believe me, I’m not going to ask you to sit around and wait for me with nothing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just trying to tell you that I’m glad we can go out in public and act like a normal couple, that’s all,” I said softly as I brushed her cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go get some sleep, I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She sighed, realizing what she had said came out a little harsh and said, “I’m sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise to try really hard not to be cranky for the next week or two.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And if you are, that just goes with the territory.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A small smile that resembled the ones I am used to on a regular basis showed and I was finally able to get that last kiss I had been trying for the last few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was shorter than I had hoped and kept me wanting more, but I was willing to wait until tomorrow when I could hold her in my arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-42455407557616915842011-06-08T17:27:00.001-04:002011-06-08T17:28:54.534-04:00Chapter 9Hey All!! Back from my jaunt to north central PA, so I figured I'd better get posting again!! Thanks for the lovely comments!!! You peeps are great!!<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I wanna live life, never be cruel,<br />
I wanna live life, be good to you.<br />
I wanna fly, never come down,<br />
And live my life, And have friends around.<br />
We never change, do we? <br />
We never learn, do we?</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZSobH1wiiM"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">We Never Change – </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Coldplay<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> 9<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you realize how many hits we’ve had on your first team-mate mayhem video?!” Jimmy exclaimed when he came crashing into the booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was finishing up my pre-game music mix, so he easily startled me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“W-wait, what?!” I asked loudly, pulling my head phones off my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“The website has blown up from everyone viewing the Burish team prank video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were right; people want to see more team interaction on the Stars Vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The front office is a buzz with compliments.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well that’s good news,” I smiled and gave Jimmy a high-five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am actually just putting together some of the individual interviews I did when we were in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking the first one we should put up is the one on Brendan, since he is the team captain and all…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was looking through some of them yesterday,” Jimmy spoke, sitting down next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You had some really good questions, meaningful ones and it showed that the guys were impressed, just from their answers…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I wanted to ask questions that would get them to open up about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often interviews are the same old questions, ‘Who was your favorite player growing up? How old were you when you first played hockey…’ these are all good questions, but I wanted to ask them more personal things and it seems to have worked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s obvious you’ve put a lot of thought into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hanna, you really aren’t going to have a hard time getting a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your editing skills are amazing and your creativity pushes everything right along.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but blush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not one to take compliments very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thanks,” I said meekly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Just don’t sell yourself short, sweetheart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just saying that I can’t wait to have you as my assistant here at the rink for the next season, but if something else opens up, give it a good look because there really isn’t any reason that you couldn’t be a media/marketing director for a team as soon as you get that degree in your hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand you probably have more than one reason to stay here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city></st1:place> now, but I’m your mentor, so it’s my place to remind you not to allow a relationship to dictate what decisions you make with your career.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sounds like you are lecturing me,” I frowned slightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Jimmy chuckled and shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, honestly I’m not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just trying to give advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are seeing Neal and I realize how easy it probably is for a young girl to get caught up with some of these guys, but you have your head on straight and I just wanted to keep you on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to see good talent possibly go to waste because they fall in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can definitely have both, just remember that balance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I bit my lip and nodded, looking down at my left wrist that was now sporting a hand-made handmade bracelet James had made me on the last night of our mini-vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was helping my mom make dinner while he decided to snoop around my bedroom and find my thread kit I had since I was a kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was actually surprised he had found it when he came bee-bopping downstairs with it in his hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I see you are quite the jeweler, Hanna!” he smirked while dangling one of the floss bracelets I had made in Jr. High.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Playing super-slooth in my room, are we?” I grimaced, feeling myself blush while I swiped the bracelet out of his hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No need to be embarrassed!” he laughed, swiping it back and clutching the container of probably 100 different colors of floss against his chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I had tons of these things growing up…I was the coolest guy in school.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I snorted, “Oh, I’m positive you were the coolest guy…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was,” he pouted as serious as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I got all the girls since I knew how to make the bracelets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Dork.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Like you are any better?!” he scoffed, tapping the container with his forefinger.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just shook my head and went back to helping make dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we were getting off the plane in Dallas he was tying the black and olive green bracelet on my wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just a simple round barrel pattern, but it had actually been my favorite growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I looked up to give him a kiss and thank him, he dangled an identical bracelet in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took it from him and tied it onto his right wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure if any of the guys noticed they would make fun of him for it, but for now it was our little secret.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I found it slightly ironic that Jimmy was talking to me about balance between career and relationships when I had been the one talking about the same thing with James more than once already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it was a reminder I probably needed, especially since lately I found myself daydreaming about James more and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was hard not to lose myself when I began thinking about how he treated me like a princess, top it off with his thick, unruly hair and grey eyes…well, I was a pile of goo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole relationship seemed surreal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some on the outside might say it was perfect, too perfect, but I was excited to finally have someone that treated me the way I had always felt I should be treated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many of the guys I had dated in the past were losers with not on a terrible habit of treating me like shit but also a huge lack of direction in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a woman who thrived in an environment where I had a constant plan and goal to work towards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice being with a man who had those same ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Even though everything was going amazingly well, I wasn’t jaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew things could change at the drop of a dime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been there before, this wasn’t the first time I dated a hockey player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, probably every guy I dated played hockey, but this shouldn’t be a surprise since I grew up in a hockey playing family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I learned to live and love in the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My previous relationships seemed to have failed for numerous reasons, but the main one was the simple fact that I was too focused on my own goals to follow through with commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never cheated on my boyfriends with other guys, I just cheated on them by becoming too attached to whatever project I was working on at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in essence, James and I are the perfect match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both needed help in the balance department, and so far it was working quite well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Our mini-trip to our hometowns was a complete success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mom was already planning for me to come home with James during the summer and my mom and dad were already planning on me bringing him along on the family vacation to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bahamas</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily only my youngest brother was home because I’m sure my older brother would have put James through the 100 question test that he had insisted on putting every one of my boyfriend’s through in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad seemed to like him, but James was still made to sleep on the couch downstairs, despite the fact my mother even argued over the fact that he had to have known we were probably sleeping in the same bed on a nightly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I was happy to have her stick up for me, I was probably even a little more embarrassed by her calling me and James out on that little fact; both of us just sat at the dinner table blushing profusely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This is soooo weird to me!” Hanna laughed as she cast her line into the stream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s weird?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going fishing on a date?” I asked, slightly confused by her reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh no, definitely not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every one of our dates could be a fishing trip,” she smiled brightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t agree more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to practically drag her out of the arena today so that she would just come out for a relaxing afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I informed her that she deserved a break from her video work, just like I deserved a break from the hockey scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few pleading kisses, I had her thinking my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked adorable in a pair of jean capri’s and light pink GAP t-shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hair was pulled back in a messy pony tail that popped through the back of her plain black baseball hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled off the tom-boy look in style and I was enjoying the view each time I glanced over in her direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state></st1:place> right now, I’d be snowboarding and all bundled up in my winter gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the beginning of February and I’m wearing sandals!” she cried happily, kicking out her one foot to show off her perfectly pedicured toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s definitely one of the perks of playing in a non-traditional hockey market, I’ll give you that,” I laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I gotta say, I feel like it makes me more of a chicken when we get up north and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always loved winter when I was a kid, but now I’m finding I slightly despise it because of how the cold actually gets to me,” I admitted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have to remember to pack warm clothing for the road trip,” she sighed, reeling back in her line so that she could cast out once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe you’ll let me borrow that silly hat…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh no!” I cut in right away, knowing exactly what she was talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That is off limits and it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> silly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She lowered her rod down towards the water and turned to face me with her hand on her hip, giving me a look of attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m your girlfriend,” she said in a slow broken sentence, emphasizing each word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as she was done speaking, she popped out her lower lip and produced a heart-wrenching puppy face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Seriously?!” I laughed, throwing my hands up in the air and almost dropping my fishing pole in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How am I supposed to go up against that?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She some how kept the puppy face, even though her eyes gave away the fact that she was dying from laughter inside, and shrugged her shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You truly are evil, Hanna Richards,” I sighed, finally able to tare my eyes away from her fake sad face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My niece gave me that hat and I have never let anyone wear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m afraid they’d lose it or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh,” she said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">There was a moment of silence between the two of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If it’s cold enough, I’ll let you borrow it,” I murmured, silently hoping she couldn’t hear me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“James, you know I’m just joking with you,” she giggled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Brad told me you were really protective of it, so I wanted to find out for myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Brad’s an ass for telling you that but yeah, he’s totally right,” I conceded, shaking my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Within the blink of an eye she was by my side and hip checking me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would never make you part with something special like that, but I have to say it’s completely adorable on how protective you are over it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Adorable is not a word that should be used when describing me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it’s not manly enough?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I do have a reputation to hold up out on the ice,” I chuckled and winked at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re not an enforcer…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, but I am a professional hockey player and we are supposed to be all intimidating and intense,” I laughed, failing miserably when I attempted to make a severe looking facial expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I find your dark, inquisitive side is much sexier,” she informed me in a low whisper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re flirting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you having a problem with it?” she took a step back and raised an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I was just thinking that I don’t normally take girls fishing because they can be such a distraction…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So now I’m a distraction?!” she took a step back, trying to act like she was appalled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’ve been a distraction since day one,” I laughed, reaching out and wrapping an arm around her waist so that I could pull her towards me and kiss her; but before I could she left out a squeak and turned towards the water, watching the end of her rod bend towards the water surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ve got something!” she yelled like a small child, bouncing up and down as she began reeling it in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I set my fishing rod down on the ground and stepped behind her, reaching around to take a helping hold onto her fishing rod while she reeled in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Slower, you don’t want to bust the line,” I instructed her patiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This isn’t my first time, Neal!” she bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just trying to help,” I informed her, playfully pinching at her side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re going to make me lose the damn thing!” she whined and giggled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after she reeled in a beautiful 8 inch trout, surprising me when she reached down and picked it out of the water herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve got my dinner, how about you?!” she grinned broadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After taking a picture of it with my phone, we went back to fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a perfect afternoon spent together and I was quickly realizing how much better life could be with someone to share it with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure I had ever dated a girl who was so down to earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Constant banter was being thrown back and forth between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a real turn-on to be dating a woman who was goal oriented and independent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the more time we spent together, the more I found she sometimes became too enthralled in her work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy to see that she had the same problems I did when it came to balancing the important things, which in a way I felt comforting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was doing a great job at keeping me entertained, which was the reason I didn’t take no for an answer today when I approached her about going fishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks for making me come out this afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed this,” Hanna yawned, while reclining the passenger seat of the Escalade as we headed back to mine and Brad’s place to cook up the fish we just caught.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You seemed a slightly stressed earlier, so I wasn’t taking no for an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your internship is an internship, not a job, so I figured you needed to be reminded of that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But it’s going to get me a job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are already going above and beyond for the organization, Hanna.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She sighed and looked over at me with knowing eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just a perfectionist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Which is exactly why I brought you along,” I chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Besides, you already have your foot in the door, there is no reason to blow all your ideas during your first few months with the team, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-11339568147823670422011-06-01T07:03:00.000-04:002011-06-01T07:03:26.050-04:00quick notehey all!!<br />
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just wanted to let you know that I won't be posting for the next week... I was going to set it up to automatically post, but I'm still doing some tweeking to the next chapter. I'm heading to my cabin for a much needed and well deserved vacation. The best part in my book is there is no cell service and no internet but I will at least have TV to watch the SCF!!<br />
I promise to get back to posting every other day when I get back!! Thank you all for such the awesome comments and thanks for reading my musings!!HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-70413604493536766792011-05-29T08:03:00.000-04:002011-05-29T08:03:21.087-04:00Chapter 8<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope Everyone is having a great holiday weekend here in the states!! If you see one of our military personnel, make sure you say thank you for our freedom. I have a few friends serving across the seas, and I'm sure many of you do also, so let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">And you never would have thought in the end how amazing it feels just to live again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Should’ve done something, but I’ve done it enough.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">By the way your hands were shaking, rather waste sometime with you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/j0ckP2JKy_U"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Blue & Yellow</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> – </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Used</span></b></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Ch.</span></b></country-region></place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> 8</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“This has to be the creepiest ass place I’ve ever been to!” I whispered as I walked between Brad and James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I really wanted to do was jump on James’ back so he could carry me through the old prison, but I was staying as professional as possible and only engaging in physical activity with James when we were behind closed doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not that alone time was easy to come by on this trip.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chill of the building, coupled with the old, musty smell, really put a spell on any of the visitors who walked through the abandoned halls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">This was the first time all trip that I was filming the antics of James’ group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a majority of my time with a couple of the defensemen and the Swedish gang of Loui, Tom Wandell, Fabian Brunnstrom, and Nicklas Grossman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal was to get as much of the team as possible involved with the videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of the guys weren’t too keen on it, but many of them had a great time goofing off for the camera, including Captain Morrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and Brad even pulled a few pranks on the youngsters of the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We were in Philly for our day off and the Eastern State Penitentiary was part of the team scavenger hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even on the outside the place looked creepy and as soon as we walked through the doors I felt the hair on my body stand up at a tension.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“She’s gonna have bad dreams for the next couple weeks,” Brad chirped over to James who was laughing unmercifully at me as I walked in a crouched position.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Good thing Burish has the camera for this part, otherwise all the fans would end up getting sick from her shaking camera shots,” Jamie laughed getting in on the act of picking on me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Shush you youngin’!” I whispered loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped when my echo came back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made it even worse was Burish’s phone ringing loudly at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know for a fact I wasn’t the only person in the group that jumped at the sudden burst of noise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hey, Rachel,” Adam growled into the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had to have been the 10<sup>th</sup> time today she had called and it was only 3pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I found it kind of funny, but then I realized that I wasn’t wishing ill thoughts on Adam, it was Rachel that I disliked and Adam that I felt bad for.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The bitch almost ruined my trip with the team by spreading lies about me to the front office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had the nerve to say that I was handing in false time records and not doing my assigned jobs (i.e. Program Selling).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was right; I wasn’t selling programs because Jimmy needed me to taking care of the music on game nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interns with specific job game duties were exempt, which if I was a normal intern in this position I would have more than enough time to sell programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However with my assigned duties, it was not possible for me to be two places at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Jimmy cleared it up with the intern-supervisor, I was good to go again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But of course my work-load was upped once again because now I had to submit a full list of my team activities for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the supervisor said I wasn’t being punished, it sure as hell did feel like I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They basically wanted to keep tabs on me to make sure I wasn’t “free lancing my time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just made me mad that a big stink needed to be made of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was literally making things hell and I was soon going to say my piece to Adam.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So, I want to take you to dinner tonight…” James whispered in my ear as we walked back out into the cold winter air.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to stay back in the room and work on editing today’s activities so I can send them to Jimmy to post on the website,” I grimaced, really just wanting to spend some alone time with James.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Fine, then we are getting take-out and I’ll sit in the room with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise to behave,” he said with a wiggle of the eyebrows.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s not you that I’m worried about on the misbehavior part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have all that hockey discipline,” I joked as we walked up to <street w:st="on"><address w:st="on">Broad Street</address></street> to go to the Art Museum for our next clue.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I don’t have much discipline around you,” he chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Especially when I have to stare at your ass in those jeans while walking up the steps in the Penitentiary,” he said in a low voice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“James Neal!” I exclaimed, smacking him in the stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m shocked you have such dirty thoughts.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s your fault.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What?! For putting clothing on this morning?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He paused for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nah, it probably would have been worse if you walked down to breakfast naked.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“That’s what I figured,” I snickered, walking a little faster to catch up with our group.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">It was weird having my girlfriend along for the road-trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was almost a little awkward at times because she had to be professional and actually get work done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My only job was to sleep, play games and relax in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course when I wanted to relax she was busy with work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad when the game in Philly was over and we were on a plane headed to <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Canada</country-region></place>, away from anything that had to do with the team.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I looked down at her as she was sleeping peacefully against my shoulder, holding my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as we were in the taxi to the airport she was back to her affectionate way and my girlfriend again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she actually got a job with the organization and things work out for us, it was going to take a little getting used to the fact that there were times she had other things to worry about besides me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not going to be the WAG’s that just stood by and waiting for their men to come home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hanna was independent and focused on getting a job that she could support herself with; something that made me very proud to be bringing her home to my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“James!” my Mom yelled and waved frantically as we walked out from getting out luggage.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">As I tried hard to keep a smile on my face as the heat rose up my neck from being slightly embarrassed, Hanna just giggled and said, “I can tell you didn’t get your shy-ness from your mom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like her already!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just rolled my eyes and snorted at Hanna’s comment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Soon I was hugging my mom tightly, breathing in her familiar scent of honeysuckle that always reminded me of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey Mom, I missed you,” I said sincerely.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Missed you too, James,” she said in a voice that told me she was about ready to cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled back quickly and introduced Hanna before she could make a scene.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Mom, meet my girlfriend Hanna,” I announced as I pulled a smiling Hanna in front of me with her arm already stretched out to shake my mom’s hand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Look how beautiful you are!” My mom gushed, causing Hanna to blush this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hunnie, put your hand away, you get a hug!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just stepped back and watched the scene unfold as both women were giggling as they embraced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After hugs and introductions were done we headed to my hometown of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Whitby</city></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad my mom let me drive because she and Hanna didn’t shut up the whole way to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was safer because my mom constantly uses her hands to talk, so I imagine we would have most likely hit something or someone if she would have been driving.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I can’t believe it took him two weeks to actually make a move!” My mom exclaimed, causing me to smack my head with my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I would have been stopped I probably would have used the steering wheel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s always been shy around women, but was always the most sensitive out of all 3 boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just needs to be shown that love can be a real thing.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Maybe this was a bad mistake on bringing her here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again, I wouldn’t trade seeing my mother for anything in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was right, I just needed to be shown that love is real.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You kids hungry?” Mom asked as I pulled into the driveway of my parent’s home.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yes.” I blurted out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Glad to see some things never change,” Mom laughed as she got out of the Expedition.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I always love coming home and taking a deep breath when I step through the front door, the smell brings back all the memories like they happened yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but grab Hanna’s hand and take her straight down to my room.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Where are you taking me?!” she squeaked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“My room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have all kinds of things to show you,” I said excitedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I knew Hanna as much as I thought I knew her in the last few weeks, I figured she would appreciate checking out all my old trophies and photos.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh my God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your mom hasn’t changed your room since you’ve gone pro, has she?” she asked, clapping her hand over her mouth as she inspected my trophies and posters around the room.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Nope,” I said as I plopped down on my bed to relax as I watched her take it all in.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Look how cute you and your brothers look!” she squeaked as her eye caught the picture of me, Michael and Peter on the ice together when we were in PeeWee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s like a shrine of you,” she turned around with a big smile on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m pretty sure you came home here just so that you could get your ‘I’m James Neal, the greatest hockey player that has ever lived!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t want you to lose that swagger after not scoring on this away trip,” she teased, turning back towards my pictures. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t say anything, I just left her babble as I was enjoyed her reactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lookin’ pretty smokin’ here in your prom picture, Nealer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely the ladies man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was her name?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Kari,” I said evenly, trying not to break the spell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She was my neighbor growing up, not even my girlfriend.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Pretty girl.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“She’s with my best buddy, Boll.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Boll, as in Jared Boll?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hooked them up.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Cool,” she said as she fingered my gold medal from the Under20 Championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I remember watching this game with a couple of my friends and family, I didn’t remember that you were on the team,” she reminisced.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I had no points and got put in the penalty box a couple times for stupid things,” I said with a silly smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I earned that medal just as much as the next guy.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Definitely would never pick on you about not getting any points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an honor to be selected by your country,” she said thoughtfully as she looked up at the team picture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I couldn’t stand watching her any longer; it hit me suddenly that I needed to be near her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got up quietly from the bed, walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She leaned her head back against my shoulder and sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Was there ever a time where your life wasn’t about hockey?” she asked quietly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I took in a deep breath and sighed, “Yeah. Right now.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She looked up at me with her milk chocolate eyes and blinked a few times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I think I’m falling for you, Hanna,” I said evenly as I stared into her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know I probably sound stupid saying that I ‘think’ but I’ve honestly never been in love before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’m thinking that if there is such a thing, this could be it.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“That was a very honest answer,” she said with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t use the word lightly, and obviously you don’t either.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“No, no I don’t because frankly, I haven’t really believed it was possible until now.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She turned around in my arms to face me, never breaking eye contact. “I’m falling for you too, James,” she said in a barely audible whisper as she caressed my cheek, lightly with her hand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I was standing in another universe as the realization of the words we just exchanged hit me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let my arms slide down her back and rested them low on her waist, pulling her firmly against me as I kissed her gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 2-3 easy kisses they became harder and needier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon she was wrapped around me, moaning into my mouth as I pressed her against the wall of the bedroom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Without hesitation, I ran my hands up under the layers that kept me from getting to her breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my hands swept over her heavy breasts, she left out a little cry of pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A moment later I found myself leaving out a similar noise as I felt her hand slide down the front of my jeans, applying pressure to my now hardened length.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Don’t start what you can’t finish, Neal,” she warned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I looked over at the clock on my table and saw it would at least be another 20 minutes until my dad got home from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can you promise to be quiet this time?” I whispered as I turned back around to face her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She bit her lip and nodded her head feverishly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A second later I was running over to my bedroom door locking it and stripping down as I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I turned back around I found her lying already naked on my bed with her dark hair sprawled out like a halo around her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but groan as pulled her down and off the bed, making sure my squeaky bed springs wouldn’t give things away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m fucking 23 years old and here I am basically sneaking around to have sex with my girlfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How pathetic.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Once she was situated on the floor with pillows and a blanket under her, I pressed between her legs and slid my thick length into her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a couple days since we had sex because there hadn’t been much time on the road trip, so I couldn’t help but leave out a silent moan as my eyes rolled back in my head when I felt her welcoming warmth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You feel like home,” I murmured into her ear and I thrusted deep into her, setting a pace to be reckoned with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I bottomed out in her she left out little gasps of pleasure and I could feel her fingers press harder in my back with each hit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Kiss me or I’m going to give us away,” she moaned, pawing at me to turn my head so that she could have my lips.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I couldn’t help but smile as I pressed my lips to hers, feeling her pussy tighten around my dick, pulling me over the edge with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pumped deep into her, making sure all of me poured into her as I parted lips and whispered, “You are amazing Hanna Richards.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You are tooooo,” she drew out as quietly as she could as another convulsion seemed to rip through her.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Definitely felt a little awkward walking upstairs to meet his father after just having a down and dirty sex session on his bedroom floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad we had it though because I didn’t know how much longer I was going to last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last couple days had been torture from being around him and not really being able to show him much affection when all I wanted to do was be glued to his dick.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Glad to see my son isn’t gay,” his dad joked as he shook my hand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I couldn’t help but chirp back, “My sex-change doctors did a great job on my surgery didn’t they?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">His dad stood there for a couple long ass seconds before busting up laughing and clapping me on the shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh Hanna, you are gonna fit in here just right!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Dinner was full of stories about James when he was younger and me talking about my life in PEI and college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad to see that both of our families seemed so much alike, making me feel even more comfortable with the fact that I was with a man that was brought up with the same values as I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">After dinner James decided that he wanted to take a ride into town on the snowmobile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I don’t have a snowsuit,” I informed him as he began bouncing around the house finding all of his own gear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m sure mom has extra stuff around here,” he yelled loud enough for his mom to hear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh, yes dear! Come upstairs and I will give you one of the suits the boys grew out of,” she said as she took my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood at the top of the attic steps as she pulled out a couple suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finally held one up that looked like it fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This looks like it might be a match,” she said cheerfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This was James’ when he was in Jr. High.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I giggled as I took it, finding it a little sad how short I was compared to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I turned to walk down the steps his mom put a hand on my shoulder and said, “Hanna, I just wanted to say something to you.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yes?” I asked, a little nervous she was going to say that I was a wicked witch that didn’t belong to her son.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m so glad he’s found you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sounds happy every time I call him now and seeing you two together proves that he is the happiest he has ever been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let him push you away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just put your foot down if you need to, sometimes he needs a good kick in the ass,” she said quietly with a smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I might break my foot if I kick him,” I joked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We ended up laughing all the way down the stairs to find James already waiting for me in his suit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m roasting down here while you two talk about me?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get a move on, ladies!” he protested.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Soon I found myself sitting in front of him on the snowmobile as he took me into town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Dallas</city></place> had spoiled me because I could have sworn it felt like hell had frozen over by the time we stopped at a little bar with other snowmobiles lined up outside.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We walked into the dimly lit bar and I found that my snowsuit was not out of place amongst the other visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a corner booth, James sitting on the same side, right next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but smile over at him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“This is nice,” I said as he took my hands into mine, trying to warm them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“The bar or you and me?” he asked with a silly grin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Both, but mainly you and me being able to be a real couple; it’s definitely like living in a fish bowl in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Dallas</city></place>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He left out a snort.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Loui said basically the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said it would be good for us to have a little time away from everything, to get out of the fish bowl.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Well I’m glad we have gotten away…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I can’t wait until summer,” he said with a sly smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Why?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Cause you are going to look good at the lake in a bikini,” he grinned.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">And his dad thought he was gay.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-63087580646572375802011-05-28T07:53:00.000-04:002011-05-28T07:53:09.335-04:00Chapter 7A/N: @Mimi - I am able to promise 3 chapters because I had already started this story a while ago... I have about 12 chapters done... so after that, it might not be that close together because I'm still in the process of writing it. hehe. But yea, I hear ya... sometimes it's tough to keep writing the chapters and banging them out like a parts machine. :o)<br />
Lovin' the comments ladies... I tried looking for some shirt-less pics of Neal, however it seems none are available... seen a few of him in tight stuff that gives a fairly good idea, so that's what I'm sticking to. haha.<br />
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Alright... putting on the warning label. Adult Content.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Come on closer<br />
I wanna show you<br />
What I'd like to do<br />
You sit back now<br />
Just relax now<br />
I'll take care of you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/QWaqqWUfneg"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Come On Closer</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> - Jem</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"></span></b></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Ch.</span></b></country-region></place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> 7</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hello?” she answered in a sleepy voice that made me smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to wait and just see her in the morning, but I couldn’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one thing I kept dreaming about on the plane ride home was having her in my arms, so I needed to make it a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past week was filled with a lot of question and answer phone conversations, learning about one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brad even yelled at me one night because I wouldn’t stop asking questions about her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Why don’t you save these questions for her when we get back home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know everything about her, you won’t have a damn thing to talk about,” he laughed as he threw a pee at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For someone who didn’t want anything to do with her a week ago, the tune has sure changed since you spent the night with her,” he teased.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You’re right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to back off…” I said as I put my fork down and ran my hands through my hair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You don’t need to back off, Nealer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just take it a day at a time,” Loui said, throwing in his 2-cents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She’s not going anywhere anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said, I think you have the right idea about taking her to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Whitby</place></city> for a day to meet the family, definitely nothing wrong with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take your time; get to know her without feeling the need you need to move in with her tomorrow when you get home.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I was hoping to see her when I got home…” I mumbled more to myself but loud enough for my two friends to here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“There is nothing wrong with seeing her when you get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sex and moving in are two different things,” Loui said with a wink.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Aah! Don’t talk about my cousin and sex in the same sentence please!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember her in diapers!” Brad freaked as he dramatically covered his ears with his hands.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Loui and I busted up laughing and each threw a pea off our own plates at him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Now I was leaving the airport and hoping to at least see her long enough to give her a kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey Hanna.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You are a lucky man that tomorrow is Saturday and I don’t need to be at the rink,” she said with a groggy whine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Can you make me even luckier by unlocking your door for me?” I asked sweetly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hmmm,” she breathed into the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where are you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“20 minutes out.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Just let yourself in and lock the door behind you.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Are you sure?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Even if I wasn’t, I’m too tired and delirious to say otherwise,” she giggled into the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be careful to not steal all my blankets when you crawl in; I just might have to kick you out then.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“See you soon.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I was ramped up when I walked into the house to find it quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only noise was the tick-tock of the clock in her living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laid my jacket over her couch like I had done almost a week ago and then carried my overnight bag up the steps, trying to be as quiet as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked into her room that was dimly lit by the night-light in her bathroom to find her laying on top of the blankets wrapped in what looked to be a short, silky wrap with her back facing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stripped down to just my boxers and carefully crawled across the bed to spoon behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gently kissed her ear and whispered, “I’ve missed you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped a bit when her hand grabbed mine that was resting on the small of her hip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Show me,” she whispered as she rolled onto her back, revealing that her silk robe was not tied in the front as she split open to display her nakedness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes were heavy with sleep and desire as moved my hand up to her stomach and pushed apart her robe even farther.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but devour her with my eyes for a moment, reminding myself that she was real and that this was the woman who was going to change my track record of failed relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">If this would have been a normal night with one of my past girlfriends I had in the past, I would have just come home and slid into bed, telling them that I was too tired because the long road trip had taken the energy out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hockey was my excuse for everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had explained this to Hanna during one of our phone conversations this past week and she promised to make sure we began this relationship with good habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course she made fun of me a bit for only being 23 and making excuses a man in his 50’s would make when he couldn’t get it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also told me that she was surprised because the few times we had sex, I really seemed to enjoy it and that I was very good at making sure both of us finished satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her that was because I actually had a partner that I cared about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just laughed at this telling me not to bullshit her, but I had meant the words with all my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not the girlfriend that cared about me only for my status.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not the girlfriend that had the personality of a brick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a woman who I could actually see myself settling down with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t get carried away yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again, how the hell can’t I when she’s laying here purring my name and making me fall in love with her every time she says something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Tonight no excuses would be made as I leaned down over her and captured her lips in mine while my fingers wandered across her smooth skin.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I wanted him to realize that when he was away from the rink I demanded his full attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to show him that there was life away from hockey and that he could revel in both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was exhausted when he called but as soon as we hung up I found that my body was betraying me as I reached down between my legs and felt the moisture that was already present with just the thought of him crawling into my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew what I needed to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dug in my drawer and pulled out the silky short-wrap thing my best friend Angie had made me buy on impulse the other summer to spice up my sex life with my boyfriend at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never wore it because it turned out nothing was going to spice up our sex life when he was getting laid by my best guy friend. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eeewie.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">It took all I had not to roll over the moment I heard him enter the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had ideas of meeting him downstairs when he got here or walking out of the bathroom with the robe open, but I decided it was just best to pretend I was sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goosebumps played across my flesh when he placed his hand on my hip and whispered in my ear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Show me.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> Show me he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began with leaving paths on my skin from his kisses and I couldn’t help but cry out as he nudged my legs apart with his hands so that he could run his tongue on the inside the sensitive part of my thigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh yessss...” I hissed as he swirled his tongue around my folds with painstakingly slow strokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched through half covered eyes as he repositioned himself down between my legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moonlight the crept into my room illuminated his muscular back as he moved, causing me to haphazardly drool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thank goodness he is involved with more important things.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is that day old facial hair?” I asked as I sucked in a sharp breath when his chin grazed my leg.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“More like 4 day old,” he mumbled, causing me to laugh and basically slammed my legs shut on his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully he anticipated my reaction and quickly wrapped his arms around my legs so that I wouldn’t be able to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without any more words he went to his full-time job and began using his tongue and fingers in ways I didn’t know were legal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed onto his hair and hung on for the ride as I came twice to his charms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After my second orgasm I felt his tongue graze over my now over-stimulated folds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I pulled up on his hair, garnering eye contact as he rested his chin on my mound, looking like a sexy mess with his hair all over and 4 day old facial scrub that barely covered his chin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, Hanna?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“No more,” I breathed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can’t take anymore of that right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are too good and I am completely unraveled at the moment.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He chuckled as he did a push up and crawled up over top of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How about this?” he whispered in a sexy voice as he slid his hardened length inside of me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“As long as you don’t expect me to do much,” I murmured while enjoying the feel of him inside of me again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He just gave me a cocky smile and threw my legs up on his shoulders as he began fucking me senseless and building me up to what would become another orgasm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">This guy is way too good for his own good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I saw bright lights as he shot his warm goodness deep into me, moaning out my name in low tones that sounded terribly sexy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">When he finished, I just left my jello feeling legs slide down his shoulders and hit the bed with a thump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How did I find you single?” I mumbled almost incoherently as I laid my arm above my head on the pillow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What do you mean?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You are a sexual master and yet you were single.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not quite sure how someone could leave you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you decided to kick <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> to the curb I’d have to handcuff myself to your bedpost and just beg for sex.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He laughed quietly as he laid down beside me, propping himself up on an elbow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“First of all I never felt the need to pleasure those other women like I feel I need to when I’m with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, I didn’t lo-l-like them the way I like you,” he said with a sheepish smile that turned to a big grin, “But please, feel free to handcuff yourself to my bed and beg…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">My breath caught when he began to say the “L” word but I was able to breathe a little easier when it came out as “like.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was falling hard for him, but I knew we should be nowhere near the word I believed was a serious word that shouldn’t be thrown around easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I swatted at him for the last part as I pushed myself up on my elbow so that I could reach his lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped centimeters from his lips when I said, “With how horny you seem to be, I don’t think I’ll have to beg much.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He nodded as I giggled at him blushing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Welcome back from you trip babe, it’s time for sleep,” I cooed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then ran my tongue across his lips before he crushed me back onto my bed and pillow, kissing me sweetly.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I can’t believe I almost blurted out that I loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You idiot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ruin this!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again I am falling for her very quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, however, was not the time to be professing the four letter word that I do not use lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, I never used the word, which was basically the main cause for my failed relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I would never compare this relationship to any of my previous ones, I still was not going to just use it for the sake of using it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Once again I awoke with her curled up against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not usually one to sleep in close quarters, but for some reason I refused to move to a place on the bed where she wasn’t at least touching me in some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad that she seemed content to be held all night because I don’t think I would have been able to sleep otherwise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So I have a question for you,” I asked quietly as I ran her soft hair through my fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was half laying on me as we had the sheets wrapping tightly around us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yeah?” she answered.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Would you be interested in coming to <city w:st="on">Whitby</city> for a day before you head up to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">PEI</state></place> after Philly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to stop at home and see my rents and surprise them.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I could feel her lips curl up against my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, I’d like that,” she said with no hesitation, “Under one condition though…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“That condition would be?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You have to come to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">PEI</state></place> with me,” she instructed as she lifted her head and rested her chin on my chest.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“We would need to be home by Wednesday even because we have a home game Thursday night,” I informed her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“That would be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to be able to hug my momma.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I couldn’t help but smile back at her, thinking about how much she sounded like a homesick child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay, sounds like a plan; now the next item on my agenda.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Next item?” she asked, raising a curious eyebrow that I couldn’t help tracing with my thumb.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So can I call you my girlfriend?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She giggled shyly, causing my body to move with hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her brown eyes had that distinctive sparkle shining in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can, but we kind of need to keep it a little on the down low.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What do you mean?” I asked slightly confused.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I talked to the GM the other day who said that even though they don’t have rules about interns dating the players; he warned not to flaunt it around because they wouldn’t want ‘anything getting in the way,’” she air quoted the last part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Already I had one of the interns accusing me of sleeping with Burish to get higher in the internship,” she grumbled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I don’t want to put your career in jeopardy,” I frowned.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I appreciate that,” she said softly as she leaned in and kissed me gently, pulling back before I could get my fingers threaded into her hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know most of the guys know about us, but we should just make a conscious effort to not be all over each other at team functions and public events.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m not that much of a public affection guy anyway…” I said truthfully.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I like holding hands.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Well I think we can do that,” I said as I pulled her back against my lips again before she could protest.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You two wanna come to the Cowboys/Eagles game this evening?” Burish asked on the other end of the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s a 4pm start-time so I figured we could meet up for a late lunch and then go to the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richie and Otter are on board and I am bringing a chick along.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I looked over at Hanna who was feeding her face with some eggs and bobbing her head up and down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll meet you at Charlie’s Grill. See ya, Burr.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw the cell phone on the table and flopped back down onto the couch, opening my mouth for a bite of Hanna’s scrambled eggs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It will be weird watching a football game where I won’t be freezing my ass off in the middle of January,” she mused as she fed me a fork full.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Have you been to a lot of football games?” I asked as I chewed my food, gaining a furrowed eye-brow look.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh yeah, tailgated like idiots for the Colorado State games and even went to a couple Bronco’s games, although I can’t say I have a favorite NFL team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could probably borrow a <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Tampa</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Bay</placetype></place> jersey from Brad,” she said thoughtfully.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Um no, we will have to pick you up a <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Dallas</city></place> jersey because if you are caught in a Buc’s jersey tonight it won’t be pretty,” I informed her.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We walked into Charlie’s Grill all “Cowboy’d up” in our blue and white, fitting in with a bunch of the other pre-gaming fans.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I let you out of my sight for 5 minutes and you return in Cowboy’s colors!” Brad whined as he opened his arms to show off his Buc’s black and maroon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m just trying to keep her safe,” James said as he fist bumped the boys.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I soo would have went in <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Tampa</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Bay</placetype></place> colors,” I informed Brad as I hugged him, already feeling like I was apart of some big cult in the Cowboys colors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Brad held up his hand to my face and said, “See what happens when you get a boyfriend? You just forget to talk to you cousin about decisions you need to make.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I laughed as I shook my head and swatted at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were having a fake slap fight when we heard a boisterous voice behind us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hey boysss!” Adam loudly yelled as he walked over to us with a familiar bitchy blonde on his arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took all I had not to scowl when I saw her prissy little face smiling evilly at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is Rachel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s one of the interns,” he said with a broad smile, obviously oblivious to how much of a witch she was.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh hey, Hanna!” she said sweetly as she walked over and pulled me into a hug.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I threw on a fake smile and said, “Rachel, surprised to see you using my so-called terrible methods to get ahead,” I said quietly through my teeth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Believe me hunnie, I have this down to a science. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daddy didn’t pay for my boob job for nothing,” she said snidely.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I wanted to vomit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking forward to a fun day out with the boys, but now I was going to have to watch my step because I figured if she could find anything to use against me, she would.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">James noticed my change of attitude instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s wrong, Hanna?” he asked as we walked over to the salad bar together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You know that whole no public affection thing?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“But the guys know…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yeah, but Rachel doesn’t need to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is the one who was bullying me the other day and the sick part is that she is just using Adam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that dating him will get her out of selling programs,” I growled quietly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Adam’s a big boy, he’ll figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for me and you, we will just act our normal selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not worried about stupid cunts like her.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I covered his mouth with my hand, “That is one nasty ass word, Neal.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Even for someone like her?” he asked, still muffled by my hand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I lowered my hand, turned back towards the salad bar and began putting lettuce on my plate as I made him wait for my answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nah, probably a good word for a biotch like her,” I smiled to myself, not even daring to make eye contact with James, knowing I’d lose it in laughter like he was doing as soon as the words were out of my mouth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You are an evil woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should have come with a warning label,” he picked, giggling like a school girl.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Never a dull moment with me, buddy,” I turned to him with a wink.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Never a dull moment,” he echoed.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Wow, Rachel was a world class whore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No two ways around it, she was a whore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure Adam only saw 15 minutes of the 1<sup>st</sup> quarter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the football game they had tongues down each others throat and by the 3rd quarter they were leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not that I am complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally I don’t have to act like I’m doing something wrong by being in a relationship with Hanna.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Guess they aren’t coming back…” Otter grumbled as he rolled his eyes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I leaned back and put on my moves by doing the “exaggerated arm draping” across Hanna’s shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can finally relax,” I announced as Hanna sat forward in her seat trying to get away from my arm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Eeewie, don’t think you can put your arm around me!” she squeaked with a playful smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Don’t make me sit between you two!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen enough disgusting things today,” Brad declared.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I have to agree with you there, Cuz,” Hanna said as she leaned back in her seat and into my side comfortably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I told you she was bad news.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I wouldn’t mind having something like her for a good anger fuck after a bad game, but that would only be because she is definitely one of those chicks you could kick to the curb and not feel bad afterwards because she deserved it,” Steve said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I felt Hanna flinch a bit at his brutal honesty and I guess Brad did too because he instantly stood up for our friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna, believe me, Steve does not treat women like that but I have to say in this profession you find the women out there who are just a disgrace to your kind…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Shit Hanna, I would never do anything to hurt a woman,” Steve defended himself with a sorrowful smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can ask these guys, I’m probably one of the biggest saps when it comes to women.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I know you are with me,” she said, giving him a reassuring smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“That because he knows I’d kick his ass,” I piped up as I puffed out my chest.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh please,” Hanna said before anyone else could knock me down a few pegs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Otter would kill you,” she informed me as she stretched up and kissed me on the cheek while patting my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel the heat rising up my neck as the guys busted up laughing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“She’s got you figured out, Nealer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are finished,” someone chirped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t I know it.</i></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-51186345453649954382011-05-27T08:49:00.000-04:002011-05-27T08:49:44.485-04:00Chapter 6A/N: Sorry for missing a day... some of you already know that I work like it's my job, meaning I have 1 full-time gig at as a unit clerk at a hospital and then have 3 part-time gigs as an EMT, plus we can't forget my volunteer gig as a firefighter... oh and a house wife. HAHA. Love it. But sometimes it takes a toll. Yesterday I had a day off and finally just completely vegged and damn did it feel good. So needless to say, no chapter posted yesterday. So to make up for it... I'm going to post a chapter for the next 3 days... so check back each morning! Hello to my new followers, glad to have you aboard and I look forward to hearing from you!! I find it funny that my regular commenters are already waiting for the drama to happen... You really don't think I can write a drama free story, do you?! I'm appalled. haha. NOT. Flattered that you know my style... ah yes, just hang in there this is gonna be a good ride, I hope!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">My oh my, you're so good-looking<br />
Hold yourself together like a pair of bookends<br />
But I've not tasted all your cooking<br />
Who are you when I'm not looking?<br />
<br />
I wanna know</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://youtu.be/0xXD9-1mLBY"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Who Are You When I’m Not Looking – </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Blake Shelton</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"></span></b></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Ch.</span></i></b></country-region></place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> 6</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So I thought someone said you were going to be traveling along with us to do some video work?” I asked her as she sat cross-legged on my bed, supervising my packing for the away trip I was leaving for in a few hours.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Probably the next one because you guys are headed out to the east coast so I will be able to get a short flight up to PEI after the Philly game to say hi to my parents since there will be a couple days before the next game which is here in Dallas.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh,” I said, realizing once again that I was still out of the loop when it came to her life, even if it was something as simple as her visiting with her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since it’s a short trip from <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Boston</city></place> to Philly, they said you guys will probably be doing some off-day sightseeing somewhere which will be great to get some silly action shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adam has already volunteered to tape some silly footage for me to compile of this road trip.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I stopped folding my shirts and looked up at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You do know what ‘silly footage’ means, correct?” I asked as I air quoted the words.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Things that make people laugh?” She asked innocently.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Pranks.” I simply stated in a serious voice that almost came out harsh to get my point across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Did you never see Adam and Patrick Sharp’s prank video’s from the Blackhawks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man is a menace.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">An evil smile crept across her face, “Even better,” she proclaimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Aren’t you his roommate?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I am,” I said as I went back to packing my suitcase.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Well then I’m sure you can get in on the act,” she said wistfully as she flopped backwards onto the bed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You are trouble, Hanna,” I said, throwing a pair of my rolled up socks at her head.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh you haven’t seen anything yet,” she giggled as the balled up socks came flying back at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I batted them into my suitcase and then jumped onto the bed, straddling myself above her as she squeaked in surprise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You could always give me a taste before I leave for my roadtrip,” I growled heavily into her ear, causing her to squeak even louder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dropped my body on top of hers, effectively pinning her to the bed as I began nibbling at her ear and down her neck, smiling to myself as I noted the fading hickey on the side of her neck that I had left there on Sunday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon her squeals of silliness faded to a faint mewing sound and instead of trying to push me away, I felt her hands clawing at my shirt as I met her lips and probed her mouth with my tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sighed when I felt her hands in my hair and became instantly hard, pressing my erection against her thigh.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What time do you need to leave?” she asked, breaking our kiss to look at my bedside clock.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“2 hours, enough time to make you come at least twice and get a shower with you,” I informed her as I began lifting up her shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just remember, your cousin is upstairs, so keep your yelling to a minimum, I don’t need him kicking me out to the curb.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She giggled, placing her finger over her mouth as a promise to be quiet and arched her back, pushing her plump breasts towards me so that I could pull her shirt off with more ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat up, still straddling her, set my suitcase on the floor and then pulled off my t-shirt to her spouting out “oo’s and ah’s.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Shush,” I growled playfully to her when I leaned back down to her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“But I can’t get over how sexy you are,” she breathed, lightly running her hands over my skin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s all apart of the profession…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Don’t be so modest and kiss me,” she whined, pulling me back down against her naked chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We quickly shimmied out of our pants and soon we were rolling around naked on my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a little found myself lying underneath her with her thick hair surrounding me as she slid herself down over my dick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How did I go for so long without having sex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably because I was waiting for a woman like her. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Fuck, Hanna, you are so hot,” I groaned as she set a rigorous pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but thrust up when she pushed herself down over me; I just wanted to be deep inside of her as much as possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yes, please don’t stop that,” she whimpered and dug her nails into my shoulders.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Don’t worry, I can’t because I’m about to lose it all together.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And lose it I did only after a few more thrusts as I felt her pussy clamp around my dick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She latched her lips to mine to muffle the sounds of us hitting our orgasms together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as we both stopped shaking I sat up and carried her into the shower, still inside of her, causing me to become semi-hard again with the movement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Ready to go again?” she grinned as she noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled her off of me and set her down on her feet as I started the water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m pretty sure I could go on forever with you,” I laughed ironically because I was never this turned on by any other woman I had been with in the past, even the one’s I thought I as in love with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pulled from my thoughts as I felt her finger trace something on my shoulder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oops,” she giggled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I looked over and saw the red lines her nails had left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well I guess it’s just pay back for this,” I shrugged as I traced the mark on her neck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We just smiled at each other for a moment and then stepped into the warm shower, allowing it to lubricate each other and I went to work on giving her the second orgasm I promised her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also worked on giving myself some memories I planned on thinking about for the next week.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What is your favorite color?” he asked sleepily into the phone as we played our nightly game of 20 questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would be home in two days and I couldn’t believe how I missed someone I barely knew.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hmm…that’s a tough-y because I just love colorful things,” I said as I lay on my couch, twirling a piece of my hair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Pick one,” he basically whined into the phone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Um, olive green,” I blurted out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You look sexy in olive green,” he growled into the phone, reminding me that I had worn that same color the first night we met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It makes your eyes sparkle.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So you were paying attention to me that first night,” I remarked as I felt the heat rise in my cheeks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you,” he simply stated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I realized I had to be more careful when you caught me that one time.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I giggled, “Yeah, I remember I caught you and it so totally gave me butterflies,” I said, never once thinking that our conversations probably sounded totally corny right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like we were two love struck teenagers; it was a shiny new toy that we couldn’t stop gushing over.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Stop the phone sex!” I heard Adam yell, most likely barging into the room in an oaf like manner.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Guess I should go,” James mumbled quietly into the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We do have to be up early for practice in the morning.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Okay, sleep well and I’ll talk to you tomorrow afternoon at some point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be busy compiling some of the funny stuff Adam has already sent me, so I’ll be waiting for a break.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Sounds good, night Hanna.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Night, James,” I said with a smile before hitting the ‘end’ button on my phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dropped it onto my coffee table and relaxed back with a Cheshire cat grin that nothing could wipe away.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I spent most of my days at the arena while they were away, working on my little side projects that Jimmy had set aside for me as he traveled with the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed the fact that I basically had my own office upstairs in the arena, by the sound and lighting booths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would turn up the music in my office and let my creative juices flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was editing some video footage that Adam had sent me and cracking up as Adam interviewed some of the players about how the road trip was going and caught some funny footage of the guys playing Wii.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help my wrap my arms around my stomach as I lost it watching James play Mario Kart while wearing this teddy-bear winter hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was definitely some a kid would wear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Adam: “Nealer, tell our fans the story behind this hat of yours…”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">James: He looks over at Adam, shoots him some goofy look and goes back to focusing on his Mario Kart race that he is involved with Benn and Otter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was given to me by my niece a couple years ago.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Adam: “Are you sure you didn’t just steal it from your niece</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">?” He asks as he turns the camera towards himself and gives a wink.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">James: Of course he is still staring at the video game and making inane faces as I assume he is hitting things because Otter is laughing his ass off in the background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nope, it was a present she gave me the night I played my first NHL game and got my first goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make sure it’s packed for when we head up north on road trips to keep me warm.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Adam: Turns the camera back towards him and says, “Well I’m glad he has something to keep him warm on the road trips, otherwise I’d be afraid he might ask me to cuddle with him since he is my roommate on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least he has the goofy hat to keep him warm.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Otter: “I think Brad needs a hat like that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hasn’t stopped whining about being cold since we got up here to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Calgary</city></place>…”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Brad: “I heard that!” Brad’s hand comes out nowhere and I see it smack the back of Otter’s head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next thing that comes into view is Steve throwing down his controller yelling something about Brad getting what he has deserved and bodies dive over the back of the couch and the camera blacks out.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Oh boy. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So you are dating Brad’s cousin?” Otter slyly brings up the subject as we were lacing up for morning practice in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Calgary</place></city>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m shocked it’s taken you this long to say anything,” I remarked with a smirk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s about time he got his head out of his ass,” Loui chirped from the other side of Otter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think she’s had it bad for him since she got to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Dallas</city></place>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yeah, she was getting pretty frustrated with your cold shoulder act,” Brad agreed with Loui.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But from the noises I heard in my house Tuesday afternoon, I’m thinking you’re keeping her pretty warm.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I instantly felt myself blushing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Seriously?!” I groaned, looking back down as I taped up my skates.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Dude, it’s definitely more embarrassing for me to hear that shit considering she is my family…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“No, I meant seriously do you have to announce it to the locker room?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Brad just snorted and said, “You know no one’s relationship is off limits in here, buddy.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just shook my head, honestly not as annoyed as I was acting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So she said something about heading up to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">PEI</state></place> after we play Philly…” I said to Brad.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yeah, she wanted to pick up a few things and see the family for a couple days.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Do you think it would be too soon for me to ask her fly to <city w:st="on">Whitby</city> with me so that she can meet my rents and then she can head to <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">PEI</state></place> after that?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Whoa!” Loui piped up before Brad could answer me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The tables have completely turned for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess you really must be serious about her.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I would just like to show her where I’m from,” I defended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not like I’m going to ask her to marry me…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“She would probably appreciate that,” Brad cut-in, ignoring the banter between Loui and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Probably good for the two of you to get out of the hockey fishbowl for a couple days and get to know each other away from the crowd here,” he finished, sending a warning glare at Loui.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just nodded as Loui piped up, “Seriously James, I might bust your balls, but Brad is right, getting out of the fishbowl with your woman helps with that whole balance thing we talked about the other night.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just smiled at my friends as I thanked them for the advice.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The internship was moving along quite nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did feel a little out of place with most of the interns when we would have group meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly found that I had a lot more responsibility than most of the group; to the point that I actually kept some things to myself when we talked about what projects we were involved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The front office knew what I was up to, since Jimmy kept them informed, but I didn’t think it was necessary for the others to catch wind that I was being groomed for a permanent position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was already awkward enough to explain why I would be traveling with the team on their next road trip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Must be nice to have family on the team?” Trevor, one of the marketing interns said snidely as we wrote down our weekly goals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s nice to see my cousin everyday,” I said politely, trying to ignore his rudeness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You are one of the first interns to go on the road with the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t tell me that having your cousin on the team doesn’t get your special perks,” he grumbled loud enough to get the others at our table to look over at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Before I could explain, Rachel, one of the prissy PR girls piped up, “Probably helps when you are fucking Burish…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Whoa,” I said, holding up my hands as I became completely floored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You all don’t know what you are talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not having relations with Burish except for the fact that he is a friend of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not the only intern to go on road trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jason and Kerry, the equipment and physical training interns travel with the team; hence why they are not here for our little get together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, it just so happens Jimmy and I have a lot of projects we are working on so I’m going along to help oversee them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all apart of my internship and it has nothing to do with who is my family or if I’m having relations with someone,” I hissed back at the two nosey pricks and to the rest of the table just in case they also felt the need to trash me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Your point has been made, but know that interns who sleep with the players always end up dumped and on the outside looking in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t be finding me sleeping my way to the top,” the Rachel smirked as she got up from the table and walked away with her blonde hair swinging back and forth as she moved like she had something long shoved up her ass.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I gathered up my paperwork, shoved it in my bag and walked out the opposite way of the room making sure no one saw the tears that were threatening to well up in my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expected some backlash of some sort for being Brad’s cousin; especially after the extra introduction I received and the cat calls from the guys, but I didn’t prepare myself enough for the jealous bitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grow some skin, Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know that you aren’t sleeping your way to the top and that everything you have acquired with this internship has come earned honestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I just hoped that my peer reviews didn’t squash all that honesty.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I was walking down the hall with my head down, swiping away some of the tears that had accidentally escaped when I ran into a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry,” I’m mumbled as I went to side step him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hanna Richards?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I stopped and looked up to find Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk looking at me concerned.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m sorry, Mr. Nieuwendyk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t paying attention,” I rushed as I quickly wiped at my face again hoping he couldn’t see I was upset.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Rough day?” he asked with a friendly smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I couldn’t help but leave out a small laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, guess you could say that.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I was in the conference room, sitting in the back corner watching how the interns were interacting with each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but notice your table.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I sighed as I dropped my heavy bag off my shoulder and onto the floor, staging myself to explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry about that, but…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He held up his hand stopping me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna, Jimmy has spoken to me about you several times already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve only been here two weeks and already you have made yourself a force to be reckoned with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re ideas have been sensational so far and I’m excited to see what you come up with the videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep proving yourself worthy around here and you’ll be seeing a job offer come the end of April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let the smart ass kids get under your skin; you have a job to do, so just keep focused on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for hanging out with the players,” he started slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit, here it comes.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We don’t have dating rules but if you have something going on with one of them, I’d keep it secret as much as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that it is hard to do but we don’t want it interfering with your future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay?” he finished with a smile that warned me if I didn’t plan my steps I might be walking out the door in April without a job offer sheet, effectively giving up everything I’ve worked hard for over the past 4 years in college.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I understand, Mr. Nieuwendyk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you very much for the kind words and advice,” I said with an actress smile, as I felt my stomach drop to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is your shot, don’t fuck up.</i></span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-32786350936686452192011-05-24T08:00:00.001-04:002011-05-24T08:00:09.868-04:00Chapter 5<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I'm home alone tonight.<br />
Full moon illuminates my room, and sends my mind aflight.<br />
I think I was dreaming up some thoughts that were seemingly possible...with you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_d16gPukVs"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Summer Romance</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> - Incubus</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"></span></b></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Ch.</span></b></country-region></place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"> 5</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I woke up to the sun peaking through the cloth blinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I opened my eyes I found a pair or brown eyes looking back at me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Mornin’” she grinned shyly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Mornin’” I said hoarsely, very aware of the fact that I probably had a nice case of morning breath, but she didn’t seem to care as she leaned in and kissed me deeply.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hungry?” she asked as she left me light headed from her kiss.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just nodded my head slowly, debating on if I wanted to pull her back down on top of me to replay some of last night’s events.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What is your favorite thing for breakfast?” she inquired with a smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Pancakes and Canadian bacon but I’m thinking it might be you…” I informed her, going with my initial idea of not letting her out of bed just yet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She giggled as I rolled her underneath me and pressed my case of morning wood against her leg, kissing her senselessly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon my length was back inside of her, stroking her core once more as she cried out under me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">No fancy positions were taken up this time, just a good old fashioned morning fuck that left us both breathing heavily when we finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I collapsed, I fell aside of her on the bed but kept myself position so that I could rest my head on her soft breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She giggled at first but I soon was lulled into dream land as she ran her fingers repeatedly through my hair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“This is probably the best feeling in the world…” I murmured.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Making love to a woman you care about and being able to just relax with her running her fingers through your hair.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s called cuddling, James,” she said with smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Whatever you want to call it, I’m in heaven,” I sighed, plopping a hand on her other breast, making us both laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I love your hair,” she purred.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I was thinking of cutting it…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Nooooo!” she whined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love how it curls around your ear lobe and how it looks curling out from underneath your helmet.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Pay attention to me much?” I asked, not being able to stop myself from making fun of her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Need to check out the goods before buying, I guess,” she stated with humor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">After laying there for a couple more minutes I asked, “So what is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> favorite thing for breakfast?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“French Toast and Canadian bacon.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hmm… I think that just might be what we need to either make or go out and find ‘cause your stomach is really having a conversation with itself right now.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">She shyly grabbed at her stomach and I couldn’t help but cover her hand with mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt her take a deep breath before she spoke slowly, “You know, I have no clue about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure you know more about me than I do about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am actually kind of shocked that you have a personality,” she smarted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I moved my head so that I could see her, “I have to admit that I’m a little worried now.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Why?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Because maybe you won’t like me when you find out how not cool I am,” I said with a smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What do you constitute as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> cool?” she asked, coaxing me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Well for starters I’m a big country music fan, in my summers I like to fish and go wakeboarding, I like to watch old kung-fu movies and I am just not the most exciting person on the block.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I enjoy country also, in fact, I think I fell in love with line dancing Friday night…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Burish made a comment in the locker room Saturday morning about taking you,” I said with a raised eyebrow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yeah, he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little surprised he was so creative,” she said with a giggle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“And here I figured he’d fake the getting lost act…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Nah, after I didn’t kiss him back when he thought it would be okay to walk in my door and kiss me in the first minute of our date, I think he got the hint.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Ahh,” I said, trying not to get jealous because it was only my own fault that I wasn’t the one with her on Friday night.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“As for the fishing and wake-boarding…I did grow up on <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">PEI</state></place>; fishing and boats are a bit of a lifestyle there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I’m sure you figured out when you had pre-season camp there and I’m also sure you see the pictures of my family’s camping and fishing outings hanging by the steps you walk up and down every day.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Mmm, yup.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I couldn’t help but smile as she was still absent mindedly twirling my hair in her fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And I’m positive you saw my Christmas card picture, because I think I saw it hanging on the fridge…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yeah, I look at it every morning wishing I could see your face without the big, oversized goggles.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">At this I felt her giggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was more of the backdrop I wanted people to notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it beautiful?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">At this I got up on my arm and pulled myself up to her lips and kissed them lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are beautiful, Hanna.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> a dork,” she laughed pulling me down towards her so that I would kiss her again.</span></div><div 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I didn’t know this was going to be a group date,” Adam grumbled when he showed up at Brad and James’ house to pick us up for the rodeo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I had 4 tickets, I couldn’t let them go to waste!” I exclaimed cheerfully as I pulled him into a friendly hug.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What’s up Burr,” James said over dramatically as he clapped him on the shoulder and walked past him to head over to Adam’s truck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Adam just shook his head and followed me and Brad out of the house, closing the door behind him as I just giggled quietly to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought Adam was going to flip shit when I crawled in the seat behind him, so that I’d be next to James.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hanna, aren’t you going to sit up front with me?” he asked in a slightly frantic tone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I figured I would let my elders sit up front,” I chirped back as I winked at him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh gee thanks cuz,” Brad grumbled as he leaned back and swatted at me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The charade wasn’t kept up very long because as soon as we arrived at the rodeo, Adam pulled me back from the group as we were walking towards the arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hanna, what’s going on?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Adam I can only be friends with you,” I said, really wanting to string him a long a bit just to knock his ego down a notch, yet hating too because I really did like him as a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I had a blast with you on Friday, but I totally see you as a big brother,” I informed him as I looked him straight in the eyes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“It’s Neal, isn’t it?” he asked but sounding more like he was making a statement as he looked up over my head, presumably looking at James and Brad who stopped a few feet away from us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I just nodded my head slowly and said, “Adam, I’m sorry, if you want to leave us here you are more than welcome to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It honestly just worked out this way…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He took a deep breath, puffed out his chest and held out his arm for me to take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well Miss Richards, you are still my date so I will be showing you to another fun evening.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I looked up at him and smiled broadly as I took his arm, skipping past Brad and James who just laughed and followed us in.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I was slightly worried about how Adam would take the news, but he seemed fairly cool about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However he still insisted that it was his and Hanna’s date, so he had to be able to sit next to her during the whole rodeo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course he put her on the end and I ended sandwiched between him and Brad in the stands.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">This wasn’t my first rodeo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always enjoyed coming to them because these guys definitely had more guts than I ever would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, we put our bodies through a lot during the season, but these guys put their life on the line every time they strap themselves to a bull and for very little money.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Hanna got up during one of the intermissions to go use the bathroom, leaving us three guys behind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So what moves you up on the totem pole, Neal?” Burish elbowed me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I shrugged my shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just kind of happened last night,” I said quietly, not really wanting to talk about this, considering her cousin was sitting just aside of me and listening intently.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“She likes the shy, dark ones,” Brad piped up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You were way to forward with her,” he winked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Actually, I'm cool with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s an awesome chick, but I think she fits better with Nealer here,” he laughed, elbowing me in the ribs again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He needs someone to man handle him and I think she can do that.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Gee, thanks Adam,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Any time buddy.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“You can stay here with me tonight,” James whispered into my ear as he pressed up against the side of my car, out in the driveway of his and Brad’s place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I have to be up early tomorrow morning to be at the arena, just like you do,” I smiled, standing up on my tip-toes and placing a light kiss on the tip of his nose.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Well, if you stay here with me tonight, you can just ride along with us…” he leaned down and began laying light kisses on my neck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I shivered and pushed him gently backwards to put some space between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You know, Neal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For completely ignoring me for how long, you sure have put the accelerator down to the ground.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m sorry,” suddenly looking shy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I grabbed at his collar and pulled him back against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t want to skip over the good parts that come along with the beginning of a relationship,” I said gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So I think it’s best that I spend the night in my own bed and you spend the night in your bed so that way when we get together again, it will be that much better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m hoping that any time spent apart will get that fantasy of yours working in full force, making everything as hot as it was last night in your arms.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">He smiled, kissed me and pulled back, his grey eyes sparkling, “I don’t think we’ll have a problem making it that hot the next time, but you’ve already sold me to your idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodnight pretty lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweet dreams and I’ll see you tomorrow at the rink.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that he took a step back and opened my car door for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I pulled out onto the highway I began screaming happily and bouncing up and down in my driver’s seat.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Hanna go home?” Brad asked, already stretched out on the couch, watching TV.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Yup,” I answered, flopping down on the other couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you cool with it all?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“If I wasn’t I wouldn’t have told her to be patient with you,” Brad smiled over at me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Be patient with me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he definitely had my attention.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“She was complaining the other day about how she couldn’t figure you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called her out on the fact that she had a crush on you, which she initially denied, but soon changed her tune and admitted that she was interested in you.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“So why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, raising my eyebrows in an effort to make myself look a little annoyed at my best friend.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Brad just laughed and threw a pillow at my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re a grown man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t figure it out yourself, then that’s your own deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I don’t want to deal with my Aunt’s wrath when she finds out her daughter is dating a hockey player…” he chuckled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I gulped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is she really going to have a problem with it?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Nah, I’m just joking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, seriously, I don’t want to be blamed for anything if something goes haywire in your relationship because I will not be put in the middle of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your one of my best buds and she’s my cousin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you can see the conflict of interest here,” Brad smiled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">I laughed, letting my head fall backwards onto the pillow he had originally thrown at me and closed my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Kapeesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Totally understandable.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“Oh, and one other thing.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“What?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m not going to be paying for your ass if you decide to move outta here and into her apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can take over the rent at that point…you’re a grown…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">“I’m a grown man,” I finished his sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thanks for the reminder, Brad.”</span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442852572212871301.post-61607861442125067782011-05-22T09:43:00.000-04:002011-05-22T09:43:29.011-04:00Chapter 4A/N: YAY!! Thanks for the extra comments... it really does make it easier to continue to revamp and finish this story... for this chapter we have a little Adult Content. Always fun of course. :o)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Put your hands all over me, please talk to me, talk to me<br />
Tell me everything, it's gonna be alright<br />
Put your hands all over me, please walk with me, walk with me now<br />
Love is a game you say<br />
Play me and put me away</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNmMDcN_24c"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Hands All Over –</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Maroon5</span></b></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ch.</span></i></b></country-region></place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 4</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She’s good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s too good and I want more and more to give into her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was right there for the taking, yet I just left her standing on the dance floor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Man, what’s wrong with you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s beautiful and down to earth…” Loui growled at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You just left her standing on the dance floor and I’m pretty sure she just ran to the bathroom with tears running down her face.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I only break their hearts and I get mine broken in the mean time,” I answered back, feeling defeated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Man up, she’s there for the taking and you are going to push away something that could be the best thing you’ve ever tasted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can have hockey and love, believe me buddy, I thank God for that balance every time I see my wife and baby girl.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was going to say something but I was interrupted by Brad returning to our group with his blonde hook-up standing in the background, flushed and waiting patiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey guys,” he said breathlessly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t often he hooked up with someone out at a bar, but tonight seemed to be not the norm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“What ya got there, Richie?” Otter chirped a little too loudly for my taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated when the guys were bawdy and acted like women were just candy for the taking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Um, well, her name is Kristy and I’m heading back to her place so…” he drew out slowly as he looked at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew what the question was going to be so I just piped up before he had to ask it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I will get a ride from someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just go and have some fun,” I said as I patted him on the shoulder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Okay, wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is Hanna?” he stopped abruptly as he looked around the room for his cousin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“She went to the bathroom,” Loui stepped in, helping me not have to stutter out an answer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Oh, well, just tell her I’ll catch up with her tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said something about going to the Rodeo tomorrow night, so just tell her I’ll call her,” Brad said with a hazy smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Sounds good, see ya sometime tomorrow, bud.” I clapped him on the shoulder one more time, sending him on his way out the door with Kristy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A few moments later, Hanna walked back into our presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where is Brad?” she asked, acting like nothing had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only tell tale sign that showed she was upset was the little redness of her nose.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“He went home with the blonde chick,” Steve piped up as he handed her a shot that she slung back with ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wanna dance?” he asked as he got up off his stool and laced his arm through hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She nodded and shot him a beautiful smile that would have stopped a high-speed train in its tracks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I sat with Loui and watched as her, Steve and Jamie acted like nuts for at least another half hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then decided I had watched enough and that it was time for me to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was getting off my bar stool to go out and call a cab when the crew was returning from the dance floor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“You headed home?” Jamie asked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Yeah, I’m tired.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’ll give you a ride home,” Hanna blurted out with a hiccup, causing everyone to laugh at her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Um, how about I drive you home, drunk,” I said, with a slight smile.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Actually, I’m not drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just get the hiccups after bouncing around out on the dance floor with a little alcohol on board,” she said sincerely, causing me to actually believe that she wasn’t drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reality she didn’t drink more than us, except for the one shot of hard liquor and she seemed to be the type who could hold her alcohol.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Aw, just let him drive,” Loui chirped at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s jealous of your little Focus, besides, I’m sure it will give you a good laugh to watch him cram his long legs behind the steering-wheel.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She giggled at this and handed me the keys out of her purse, “Good call!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as she gave hugs to everyone we headed out the door into the cool night air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So what’s the deal, Neal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You decide to be nice to me again?” she confronted with a hint of attitude in her voice, but the hurt was more noticeable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I just walked over to her car, opened the door for her and closed it as she climbed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then opened the driver’s side door, pushed the seat back as far as it would go and climbed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head almost hit the roof of the car as she giggled once again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Uh huh,” I grumbled and started it up, making sure my big foot wasn’t going to step on the clutch and brake at the same time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“So how does this work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are driving me home, but how are you going to get home from my apartment?” she asked, seeming amused with herself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It wasn’t something I had really thought about until she noted this, but of course I wasn’t going to let her know this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I figured I’d just drive your car home and either Brad or I can drop it off tomorrow for you,” I said quietly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Oh, okay, whatever,” she mumbled sleepily.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Too much partying for you?” I asked with a smile beginning to form on my lips as I caught a glimpse of her sleepy brown eyes half covered by her long, thick eyelashes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She yawned and nodded her head, “Days get long when people play games with you,” she murmured as she leaned her head back on the head-rest and closed her eyes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Shot to the stomach on that remark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, you deserve it.</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A few moments later I pulled into her apartment complex and parked in her spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shut down the car and walked over to her side of the car, opening the door for her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“You don’t have to pull the knight in shinning armor act,” she grumbled as she stepped out of the car, almost losing her balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I reached out and steadied her without thinking twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shrugged me off and began walking towards her apartment, leaving me behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I knew it, my feet were propelling me forward, towards her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without even asking I followed her through the door, turned and locked it behind me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I took off my jacket and laid it on the couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I looked up I realized she was watching me intently with her arms crossed in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her face was twisted up in a look that said she was confused, hurt, and nervous all at once.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Plan on staying for a bit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need a babysitter,” she snapped.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“No, but I need to apologize for what I said earlier,” I said quietly as I took a step towards her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are you doing Neal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know once you take another step that you are falling deep down into the bottomless canyon.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“No apologies needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand when I’m not wanted,” she mumbled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I left out a long breath of air before speaking, trying to keep my cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course my words still didn’t come out as nice as I wanted them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Damnit, Hanna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do want you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the fucking problem.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Just get out of my place, I don’t want to hear your excuses,” she cried with a flip of her hand, quickly turning away from me to walk to the other side of her apartment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Something inside of me shattered and with a few strides I was able to put my hands on her waist and turn her around to face me once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ve been in my dreams ever since the night I met you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m been a horny mess, having to jerk off twice a day because otherwise I’d end up bashing someone’s head in on the ice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You prance around in front of me, dangling yourself in front of me and all I can do is try and be mean and ignore you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it isn’t that easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stay away from relationships because I don’t want them clouding up my mind, instead you have blacked it out ever since you arrived and I haven’t even touched you until tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so jealous that you went out with Burish on Friday night that I had half the mind to drive around town until I found you, to make sure you weren’t letting him have his way with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I don’t want this to happen, I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything before,” I spouted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She just stood there wide eyed and obviously taken back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That has to be the most words I’ve ever heard you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I’m not quite sure if I should take any of that as a compliment or as the biggest insulting I’ve ever taken from someone.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I took another step towards her, making it so that I could feel the length of her body against mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t say that I didn’t warn you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m fucked up,” I breathed against her hair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’d rather have you fucked up than not at all right now…” she whispered so low that I could barely hear her over the pounding of my heart.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We stood still for what seemed like hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped when I felt his hand move from my waist and up to my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hesitated before touching my skin, but when he did I could swear I felt the ground move beneath us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pad of his thumb lightly traced my cheek bone and I could feel his grey eyes studying me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just stood still, staring through him, afraid any movement from me would scare him away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple strokes of his thumb, I felt his other hand come up and cup the other side of my face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’m sorry for making you cry earlier,” he said in a hoarse, quiet voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sincere and almost sounded like a scared child.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I just nodded my head once, finally daring to look up into his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were soft but full of hesitation; some of his long blonde hair framed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our eyes connected I watched patiently while he sucked in some air and held it in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only the second time he had actually looked straight into my eyes with no reservations and it was a devastating moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there on out everything seemed to move like a rain flooded stream.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">He leaned down and gently kissed my lips, pulling back before I could really lean into him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I wasn’t kept waiting long as he dipped down once more and brushed his soft, full lips against mine once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked to be in pain during the first few chaste kisses, but I decided he was putting me through more torture by these teasing movements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next time his lips touched mine, I reached up and wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling him into me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began kissing him back with some urgency and want, running my tongue across his lips a couple times until he opened his mouth to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I was allowed to really taste and trace him, I could feel him begin to un-tense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt his arms move back down low on my waist and soon his one hand was caressing my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I surprised myself when I left out a moan as he entered my mouth with his tongue, drinking heavily from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He responded by pulling me even closer to him, if I was any closer we probably would have had to been forged together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I couldn’t help but lace my fingers through his soft, thick hair that curled underneath his ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I swear I could feel him purring as I did this, sending happy shocks through my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our kisses were past the hot and heavy stage in a matter of moments as we began biting and nipping at each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I soon found myself leaning backwards, putting my weight into his strong, supporting hands, giving him room to leave a trail of heat down my neck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“J-aaaames…” I whined, tugging at his hair while goosebumps sprung up all over my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My nipples had begun to ache under the lace of my bra and I could feel my cleft almost quivering in anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My whole body was humming to the tune of him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Hanna, please tell me to stop…” I felt him plead against my throat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I don’t want you to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strip me down and take me, pleaseeee,” I cried out when I felt his one hand move up under my shirt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I felt him groan at my directions but I soon felt the cool air on my belly as he lifted my shirt up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped back and held up my hands, allowing him to pull it up and over my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before it even hit the floor I was clawing at the buttons of his own shirt and nearly ripped it off of him, revealing to me the beautiful hard chest I had caught a glimpse of earlier in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt like it was ages ago, especially with the emotional rollercoaster he had put me on but none of it mattered as I watched his hesitant eyes fill with lust.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I moaned when his large hand came up and cupped my one breast, dragging his thumb lazily across my lace covered nipple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thankful at that moment I had decided to wear my good, black lace bra and matching thong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cringed as he pinched my nipple and without a thought I reached out and pinched his.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Ouch!” he pulled back, rubbing the now red nub.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Well let me tell you something buddy, pinching mine felt the same way with how worked up you have me right now,” I growled as I reached back and attempted to un-hook my bra.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Wait,” he whispered as he grabbed my arm, stopping my efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I want to be the one to take your clothing off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been fantasizing about this for the past week and a half.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I reluctantly dropped both of my arms down to my side and shivered under his intense gaze as he hooked his fingers underneath the straps and drug them painfully slow off of my shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gasped when he leaned down and traced a nipple lightly with his tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is that nicer?” he asked while he blew some air on the sensitive area and looked up at me with his grey, puppy dog eyes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Fuck yeah,” I breathed out, rethreading my fingers into his hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt the warm air from his chuckle before he took my nipple into his mouth, sucking on it gently and kneading my other breast, gently with his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was getting light headed by the time he paid attention to both of my heavy breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“James, I’m not going to make it standing much longer,” I informed him, running my hands over the smooth, taught skin of his muscular back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as the words were out of my mouth he picked me up and placed me on the cold medal of my spiral staircase and quickly had me out of my jeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was positioned over top of me like a cage and I couldn’t help but reach down and unbuckle his belt, pulling his suit pants down, revealing his long, thick, hardened erection that was pointing straight up on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked down at me and I watched as an adorable coy smile grow on his face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“A little turned on, Neal?” I smiled back teasingly as I took him in my hand, causing him to shutter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Instead of answering me I watched him put all his weight on his one arm and reach down between my legs to lightly run a finger over my sensitive folds that were drenched with anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Seems you are right there with me,” he breathed, leaning down and kissed me hard, while he pushed aside my barely-there thong and pressed into my warm core causing me to cry out into his mouth from the shocks of pleasure he was working on me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">His mouth muffled my cries of bliss as he stroked me and it didn’t take long to succumb to his magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as he felt my breathing become more ragged he pressed a thumb to my clit and rocked my world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“James!” I cried out, pulling away from his smiling lips as I let the orgasm rip through me, clawing my fingers into his side, attempting to hold on for dear life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I stopped shaking, I looked up to find him still smiling as he leaned in and kissed me on the forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What are you smiling so slyly about?” I asked, amused by the look on his face, realizing I had so much to learn about this man but the only thing I truly cared learning about at this moment was how his body was going to feel with mine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’ve been waiting to hear you scream my name like that,” he whispered heavily into my ear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“If you had played your ducks a little better, you wouldn’t have been waiting this long,” I giggled as he picked me up once again and skillfully carried me up the narrow spiral steps to my bedroom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I just had more time to perfect my fantasy on what I am plan to do to you right now, so it works out better for you,” he grinned back as he set me down, keeping my body pressed up against him so that I could feel his thickness against my stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quickly undid the clasp of my bra, letting it finally fall to the floor and before I could protest I felt his hands go down to the side of my left hip and a sharp ripping sound echoed off the bedroom walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I went to complain he shushed me with a kiss, running his large palms up and down my naked body and mumbled something about buying me 50 more pairs if he could do that each time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">After running his hands up and down my body several more times he cupped my ass and placed me onto my soft, king sized bed, and then crawled over top of me, pushing my legs apart with his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laid trails of kisses down my skin, whispering almost inaudible words of how beautiful and soft I was and how much he wanted to feel the inside of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was wriggling around on the bed with so much anticipation by the 2<sup>nd</sup> time he was heading down past my breasts with his lips that I hooked my arms through his and pulled him up towards me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“James, please just take me and make me scream out your name again,” I begged and I kissed him roughly on the lips, even drawing blood as I bit his lower lip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another cocky smile covered his face and I found myself wrapping my arms and legs around him when he pushed his length slowly into me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was dripping wet, so his large diameter caused no discomfort as my body eagerly accepted him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Shit you are so tight, Hanna,” he breathed heavily into the comforter while he rested his head next to mine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Do with me what you want,” I whimpered in a heightened state, feeling every inch of him as he pulled back out to push in once more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">He obliged me by starting out slowly with methodical strokes as he coaxed me to wrap my legs low around his waist while he leaned over-top of me, resting on his elbows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon he was up on his hands, like he was going to do push-ups over top of me, I bit back a sigh as I watched his muscles move and prove their strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His new position brought my hips off the bed, effectively giving him a deeper angle into me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple thrusts, I felt him hitting my g-spot and I knew I’d soon be a goner.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“I’m going to come,” I whined out in a long exhale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A surprise look seemed to cross his face as he stopped mid-thrust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Noo, noo, not yet, if you come I will too and we are not done yet,” he exclaimed, quickly pulling out and stepping back, allowing me to get a glimpse of his dick shimmering with my juices on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My chance to admire was cut short by him pulling me up off the bed and turning me around so that my back was facing him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“What are you doing?” I asked, slightly sad because I was quite happy with how the last position was working out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Turn around and sit on my lap, just let me position you…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“What are you doing?” I asked again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Just let me be in control of this, I promise you will thank me in a moment,” he commanded patiently as he guided me backwards onto his lap where he was sitting on the edge of the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With his hands splayed my hips, he moved me down over top of his now air cooled erection, causing me to shiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Bend your legs so that they are up on the bed, giving you a way to help out, okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t do all the work by myself on this one, babe.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Okaaayy…” I said, unsure how this was going to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you some sort of Karma Sutra master?” I giggled while I positioned myself the way he asked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“You are going to find out,” he growled into my neck, tickling me until I completely forgot about it as his hand easily snaked around my belly and his fingers began tracing my very sensitive clit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Shit,” I breathed out, relaxing my head back onto his shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I could even revel in the feeling of his fingers once more, I felt him lifting me up and lowering me down onto his shaft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both began moving together as he latched onto my neck with his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That is going to leave a nice mark.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was bouncing me up and down with so much force that I was forced to hold onto my breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He obviously knew how to use his strength outside of the hockey rink, thrusting up as I bounced down onto him, making me cry out each time he bottomed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This position was working wonders and it turned me even more feeling his abdominal muscles clench and release against my back as he moved.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“James, this time I’m really going to come,” I whined, broken up between bounces.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Good, cause so am I,” he grunted out as I felt his one hand squeeze my hip roughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two more thrust/bounce combinations and I was seeing stars and literally screaming out his name along with some other explicative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about the same time I felt him shoot his load deep inside of me as he too called out my name, wrapping an arm around me to pull me close and down over top of him as he emptied himself into me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was spent as he finished and I found myself leaning my head back down onto his shoulder to relax a bit, also realizing that it was going to be hell getting my legs unbent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I just didn’t want to leave the intimate position we were in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So?” he cooed into my ear, causing me to shiver once more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Amazing,” was all I could slur out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can’t wait to try out other positions you’ve read up on…” I half giggled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Damn, probably should have saved that for another time because now you are going to expect even more out of me,” he joked, his laughter jolting me a bit since our bodies were still connected.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“One problem,” I said as I raised my index finger.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“Yeah?” he asked, pushing a piece of hair back behind my ear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“You are going to have to lift me up because I think I am stuck.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If this is what it feels like for our first time, I can’t imagine what the next time is going to feel like…</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She totally threw me over the edge and I can feel myself still falling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I barely know her, yet the way we just made love makes me feel like I’ve known her all my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Or, I’ve been waiting for her all my life…</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’m supposed to be sleeping, but I can’t get over how she feels curled up against me, breathing softly into my neck mumbling incoherent words every now and then as she drifts deeper into sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am unable to stop running my hands up and down her smooth skin, wishing I could just touch her forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad I realized I needed to stop making excuses, even more thankful that Loui told me to man up because I it’s quite possible I would have missed the world by not being in her arms tonight.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I don’t know what made me decide to change my way of thinking besides the fact that something kicked me in the ass as she turned away from me in her living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hurt her once tonight and I couldn’t let it happen again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course my little speech made me sound like a crazed maniac, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">which is what she has made me,</i> but I just spoke the truth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I’m sure this is going to complicate everything in my life, but Loui was right, there has to be some sort of balance and if there is anyone I hope to find it with, I want it to be with her.</span></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com6