Ice in My Veins (13 page)

Thanks.

Peterborough had beaten us badly on Sunday 8-3. We arrived back in Toronto in the middle of the night on Sunday. Alex was waiting at the rink to drive me back to the Peat’s.

Moose seemed grateful, he wanted to go to Lena’s for the night. Lena and him had worked through their issues. Things were going good between them. I had been tagging along with them most of the week. He deserved a break.

On the drive home I told Alex about my interview. He told me that he had watched it. He thought I handled the questions extremely well for my first interview.

When we got to the Peat’s the lights were off. They were obviously sleeping. I invited Alex in for a little while. He didn’t want to let go of me. It was nice to have his arms around me. His kisses were more passionate than usual. He must have really missed me. He only stayed for an hour and then I insisted he leave. I didn’t want him to fall asleep and the Peat’s find out that he stayed over.

Michigan

The next few weeks passed without incident. My life was almost back to normal. Alex had become my running partner and drove me to and from school as well as practices daily.

This weekend we would be in Michigan. My parents had promised me that they would be at the game. Coach told me I would be playing this game, but I would sit out the Erie, P.A. game.

I got the feeling Coach suspected something going on between Alex and myself. Since we always kept things professional he didn’t say anything to us about it. Coach was a very observant man. You couldn’t get too much passed him. He never gave anyone a hard time about things unless he saw it becoming a problem. I figured he realized Alex and me were being responsible about the situation, or he would have made an issue about it.

I was excited to have my family watch me play. My parents said they would make sure they were in Saginaw the night before. Saginaw had a good team this year. They had only lost three games. It would be a close game.

I left tickets for my family at will-call. I got them good seats behind our bench. I hoped that my brothers wouldn’t try to hard to embarrass me. My father mentioned that he warned them not to. I still worried. My brothers weren’t known for listening to my parents. Phil had told me a few days earlier that Tyler was working on some hilarious signs to hold up. I could only imagine what they said.

In the first period the score was 2-1. Our one goal coming from Joe Sim. I managed a fluke goal from a dump-in that fooled the Saginaw goalie with two minutes left in the first period. The game was tied.

I hadn’t noticed my family sitting in the stands. I had been too focused. I took a glance up before skating off the ice and noticed Tyler’s sign. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Actually it was lame and unimaginative for him. It read ‘I thought these were football tickets’.

In the second period our team managed to generate a 3-on-1, and my attempt pass to Mitch went into the net off the skate of a Saginaw defender for an unassisted goal. Two fluke goals, but I wasn’t complaining and neither were my teammates.

In the third, Alex picked up a huge rebound off the goalie, spun around and beat him on the far side. Late in the third we were not winning the battles along the boards. Then suddenly with 38 seconds to go Welsh picked off the top corner as he and Alex were skating in on a 2-on-1. Moose got the other assist. The game finished sweet and we won 5-2. I was third star. It would have been nice to be first. Our goalie (Plouffe) got first star, he stopped 42 shots.

I met my parents out front after the game. They watched me sign some autographs and take pictures with fans, before they approached me. I gave them all great big hugs.

“I’m so proud of you Christine.” Dad beamed with pride. “I was amazed with your playing. I never thought a girl could play so well. I am happy to say you have proven me wrong.” He admitted and hugged me again.

Mom didn’t want to let go of me. I introduced my family to Alex, Moose and Myles. My mother noticed the way I had introduced Alex, she asked me if I liked him. I said that we were just very close friends. No need to get her worried.

I mentioned the stalker incident to my father when my mother was out of ear shot. He was worried. I told him not to worry, that everything was being handled. I told him it was very common for most of the guys to have stalker run ins from time to time, that this wasn’t anything new.

My brother Tyler was complaining to me about his sprained arm and how he wasn’t able to work out or play any sports.

“Awww, I’m sorry to hear that Tyler, would you like me to get you a straw, so you can SUCK IT UP!” I gave him a slight push jokingly.

He laughed. So did my father.

We weren’t staying in Saginaw for the night. We had to head out right away to Erie, P.A. I kissed them all goodbye, and thanked them for coming to my game. Mom told me that she had taken many pictures and she would tag me in them on Facebook. She was so happy for me.

When we boarded the bus I sat with Alex. It was late and most of us were going to end up sleeping for a good portion of the seven hour bus ride to Erie. I pulled out my blanket and covered us both up. He let me put my feet across his lap. My head was resting on my pillow, which was leaning against the side panel wall. Just him touching my feet gave me shivers. I loved being with him. It never mattered what we were doing. As long as he and I were together that was all that mattered.

We arrived early in Erie, P.A. The team had a free day. We weren’t playing until the Sunday. It gave the team time to rest and relax. Some of the guys went to the movies. I didn’t feel like going. I stayed in my room. It was after supper and there was nothing on the local television. I decided I would just take a bath and hit the hay early. Before I got the chance to run the water. Alex was at my door.

“Do you want to go for a walk Christine?” He asked. “Maybe grab a coffee?”

“Umm, sure just let me get my shoes on.” I said. He waited patiently.

When we were far enough from the hotel. He grabbed me in his arms and started kissing me. I wish things weren’t so complicated between us.

After a nice long walk, we headed back to the hotel. When we got there we noticed several girls running down the hallway. Great! These players were terrible. It was like they had a harem of women sex slaves in every city we went to. It was maddening to me. I felt that what they were doing with these guys reflected bad on all girls, not just them.

I invited Alex into my room. I really didn’t want him going back to his room. I knew the guy he was rooming with was a huge player with the ladies. He probably had several in his room with him. He had a girlfriend back home also.

As much as it bothered me to witness what the guys were doing, I always kept my mouth shut. I had no choice. They were my teammates. I had to back them up, whether I agreed with what they were doing or not. Only another player could understand the commitment and bond to each other we all had.

I decided to run my bath. While I was getting it ready I heard Alex’s cell phone ring. I listened at the door.

“On Wednesday?” I heard him say ”What happened? That’s brutal. See you then.” He hung up the phone. He knocked on the bathroom door. I knew what he was going to tell me before he even started to speak.

“You’re leaving again aren’t you?” I asked him sadly.

“Yes, I might be in Providence for a while this time Hun?” He lowered his head almost feeling guilty.

“Alex, this is a good thing, don’t be sad.” I told him. “I’ll miss you, but your career is the priority right now. This is good for you.” I teased him “You’re playing with the big boys now.”

He looked at the bath tub filling up and smirked. I suppose I was more ready now then I had been. This didn’t mean we had to have sex. I could share a bath with him. It might be romantic. Besides I didn’t know how long he would be gone. I didn’t want to waste a moment. I nodded my head. He was out of his clothes and into the tub before I even took off my t-shirt. I giggled.

“You’re such a loser!” I smiled, then finished undressing.

“Wow, you have the hottest body I have ever seen Christine.” He complimented, starring up at me from the bath tub. “I’m glad you cover it up. I wouldn’t want anyone else to notice how smoking hot you really are.”

I rolled my eyes and climbed into the tub with him. He scrubbed my back, it was nice. We laid in the tub holding each other for a while. We kissed tenderly. I told him I still wasn’t ready for anything else. He said he was fine with that. With me, he had the patience of a saint. I know that he had a bad reputation as a womanizer, but with me he was always gentle, kind and loving.

After our bath, he decided he wanted to brush my hair for me. It was different, but I liked it. He even tried to braid it. What a guy! I think he enjoyed playing with my hair. We cuddled in bed for a while, then I noticed the time. He had been breathing heavily into my ear. I knew he had been sleeping for a while.

“Alex, you better go back to your room. It’s 3:00 a.m.” I nudged him awake. I had laid awake my mind racing with so many thoughts.

“Give me another hour Chrissy, then I’ll sneak into my room.” He whispered. I stayed awake to make sure he would wake up in an hour. He needed the sleep, he was playing. I was only watching from the stands.

Once again it was my turn to be a healthy scratch. I played with his hair while he slept. I took in his wonderful, intoxicating smell. It was musky. I liked it. He rolled over onto his back and I traced his chest with my finger. I leaned my head closer to his chest and softly kissed him. He opened his eyes.

He flipped me over onto my back quickly, then he was suddenly on top of me. Kissing my lips, neck then moving down to my stomach. I felt tingly all over. Electricity flowed between us. It was the most intense make out session we ever had. He left me breathless.

He kissed my forehead “I love you.” He told me smiling as he was getting ready to leave.

“I love you more.” I blew him a kiss. He left my room and snuck back to his.

The game against Erie was brutal for me to watch from the stands. It was a chippy game. Lots of fights and lots of penalties called. I wanted to be out there on the ice with them. McAvoy did also. It was hard for him. He had been out since the start of the season. It looked as though he was almost ready to get back out there. Coach told him to see how practices went this week. If all was well, he would play the following weekend.

It would work out nicely, because Alex would be gone. We beat Erie in an overtime win. Joe got the game winner. Joe had impressed me lately. He seemed to be on a bit of a point spree. Good for him!

On the bus ride back to Toronto, I rotated seats between Moose, Coop and Wellie (Welsh). It was a long grueling ride. I couldn’t wait to get back and sleep in my own bed. Well.... it was the Peat’s bed but it was mine for the season.

People were talking about the up coming Christmas break and possible trades. I prayed Coach wouldn’t trade me. I would hate to have to go through getting to know another team. It was brutal the first time around and I went through a shitload to prove myself to these guys before they started to accept me.

There was a possibility that Alex would get traded. He had a no trade clause in his contract with Toronto, but he could always wave it. We had discussed it. I told him to do what was best for him and his career. Not to worry about me. I was tough and could survive a long distance relationship.

When Moose and I arrived home, the Peats greeted us with a huge breakfast. They were so sweet and thoughtful. Cathy and me discussed how the Saginaw game was and how nice it was to see my family. She asked me if I was going home for the week I had off for Christmas. I told her yes I was, and I was looking forward to it.

She told Moose and myself that her and Harry would be leaving the next day to go down east to visit her son and his family for a week but they would be back before we left for the Christmas break.

She was worried about leaving me there with Moose because of the stalker. I told her not to worry. He hadn’t been around and maybe the police being called had scared him off. I figured he was just a fan that didn’t like the fact a girl was playing in the league. Moose reassured them that he was capable of babysitting me. I smacked him for the comment. Everyone laughed.

Alex was leaving Wednesday for Providence. The Peats were leaving Tuesday morning. I asked Alex to spend the night. Moose was going to stay at his girlfriend’s place to give us some privacy. Before Moose left he gave me the birds and the bees lecture again. He was too funny. I had no intention of having sex yet. Making out sure, just not sex.

I decided to try and cook dinner for Alex on Tuesday night. I made a meatloaf. It turned out a little dry. He pretended to like it. It was adorable. It tasted terrible and I knew it. I decided to order a medium pizza. He was thankful for that. He told me I needed to practice cooking with Cathy, so I would know how to cook when we got married. I laughed at the thought of marriage. I was only sixteen. Although I looked and acted older, and was treated as an adult; the reality was I wouldn’t be seventeen for another week and a half.

We had a wonderful night together. I loved him very much. The chemistry the two of us had was undeniable. That night we talked about the future. He was hoping to be playing in the NHL the following year for Boston. He wanted to know how I would handle the situation. I told him not to worry about the future, to live in the present and take one day at a time. I didn’t want to rush anything. He was the first and only boy I had ever been with. I needed time to adjust to it all.