tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16699250195533958132024-03-13T06:19:11.100-04:00Love and FlowersHockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-6702530888588087412011-11-08T15:35:00.001-05:002011-11-08T15:35:33.019-05:00Ulterior 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 />
<br />
<a href="http://www.needabreakdownhere.blogspot.com/">www.needabreakdownhere.blogspot.com</a>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-45133155116921145502011-10-28T10:58:00.000-04:002011-10-28T10:58:05.102-04:00EpilogueAnd thus comes the end to another story!!! From all your comments, it seems that you have enjoyed it!! I can't thank you enough for your comments and following, it really does mean a lot to a writer when you get feedback. (Which is why I make sure I thank you every time!)<br />
<br />
These are better than any flower picture...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/3538476704/1/tumblr_lh9fh6eWyu1qejg3o"><img alt="hockeyshtuffs:
Smiling about his first goals as a Leaf.
" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh9fh6eWyu1qejg3oo1_500.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/4002387902/1/tumblr_lie7gqvDzj1qh3ias"><img alt="" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lie7gqvDzj1qh3iaso1_500.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Epilogue – The following Summer…</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Daddy,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> called out as she
skated over to the boards where Evan and I were sitting watching her practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah,
Grasshopper?” “Yeah, Sof?” Evan and I both asked in unison, laughing about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That boy over
there told me that I had to kiss him after practice,” she said, pursing her
lips like she just ate a sour lemon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt Evan sit
up a little straighter to listen to what his daughter had to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What did you say?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t say
anything,” she said with a wicked smile and sparkling green eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I just
punched him instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a bloody
nose now,” she announced proudly as she looked over her shoulder towards the
bench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Evan and I followed her eyes
back to the little boy sitting on the bench holding a bloody paper towel to his
nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Who told you
that was okay to do?!” Evan freaked in a loud whisper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just looked
the other way, pretending to not hear a word of what <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was going to say next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Daddy Loops told
me that is how you settle things out on the ice…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt Evan turn
towards me, so me being the polite guy I turned to face him with a sheepish
smile on my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey Evan!” I said
with a shit eating grin, trying not to bust up laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well Daddy Loops
should have told you that fighting is what boys do, not girls,” Evan said with
a sparkle in his eye as he scolded me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Are you in trouble with the coach now?” he asked, turning back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have to sit
on the bench for the rest of practice and say sorry to Luke after I talked to
you guys,” she said, not seeming a bit sorry for what she did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, well go
back over and say sorry and we will talk about this after practice,” Evan said
as sternly as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had really
taken to the father role easily and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
loved him for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course when
something needed to be addressed, I addressed it but all in all I was fairly
lax with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an adjustment for
the four of us that was filled with temper tantrums, tears, laughter and a lot
of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time the baseball season
rolled back around, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
was on terms with Evan being her real father and was involved with his family
as much as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not that it is hard to love the curly,
blonde haired beauty.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the
summer <st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city> traveled with Evan’s family to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tampa</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place>
a couple times when he had long home-stands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And like tonight, of course when he played in the area she was by his
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a slight media back-lash
but nothing we weren’t prepared for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Nana passed away
in her sleep after Christmas, unexpectedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously we were all heartbroken, but <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> kept us smiling every time we talked of
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In February Avery and Sofia moved
into my house in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Newport</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Some people
could say that the family arrangement we had was like a Jerry Springer show,
but we saw it as an extra happy family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Evan and I got along like brothers and Avery often got annoyed when we
would gang up on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily the only
time we only spent joint time together was during <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s hockey and baseball practices and
games, events that Avery wasn’t always available for because her flower
business had seemed to bloom, pun intended, over night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Evan was still
glaring at me when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just winked and answered the phone, “Heylo
beautiful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What did you do
wrong?” Avery chirped into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How do you know
I did something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You don’t
answer the phone like that unless you did something wrong,” she said, smiling
into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Evan was
chuckling besides me, obviously hearing the phone conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I punched him in the arm and said, “Don’t
worry, I’m sure Evan will tattle on me later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Until then, what’s up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have
all the flowers done for the wedding?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yes,
finally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ugh, I’m so exhausted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s tough doing the flowers along with
getting everything together for you and Sofia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Did you get
yourself a dress?” I asked, knowing that she had been having trouble finding
something for her swelling belly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
was already 6 months along and complaining about how fat she was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I heard her sigh
into the phone, “Yeah, Krissy helped me pick out this baby-doll type dress;
either way I’m going to look like a balloon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, a big
blimp,” I chirped sarcastically into the phone as Evan raised an eyebrow at me,
reminding me that I might be talking my way into a death sentence for when I
arrived back home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I knew it!” she
cried into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Avery, you are
too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look beautiful pregnant,
so please spare me the drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love you
and I will be home after <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s
practice to rub your feet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay,” she
said, hormonally happy once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Love
you bye!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Love you bye,
baby,” I said into the phone, thinking about how truly beautiful she was
pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night she told me she was
pregnant she was a complete wreck, going on about how once again she was
pregnant and not married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her we
could go to Vegas that night if she thought it was so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t care either way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of Vegas we settled on the Justice of
the Peace in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Newport Beach</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being that it was <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>, we were able to have a tiny
wedding on the beach behind our house in the middle of February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avery said that she had spent too much time
over the years helping plan for other people’s big weddings that she was happy
just having a tiny wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t care;
I just wanted to be able to call her my wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mom was a little miffed when I invited her down for the weekend and
told her to bring along a wedding gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My parents had only met Avery and Sofia once, which was when we played
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Edmonton</st1:city></st1:place> and
I flew them up for the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course
my family instantly fell in love with my two women, but my mom was surprised
because she knew my track record with relationships and how I had a habit of
jumping in too quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you sure
this is what you want to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, we
love Avery and Sofia, but I just want to make sure this is what you want,” Mom
said over the phone when I called to ask for my Grandmom’s diamond ring that I
was to inherit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mom, I found my
soul mate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loves me for me and I
love her for how she makes me feel, which is the happiest man on the planet
when she’s near me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well then you
need to marry her,” my mom said as I heard her begin to cry happy tears into
the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I of course just rolled my
eyes because I had enough of crying women the last couple weeks with my
pregnant, soon to be wife and Sofia being upset about Evan leaving for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tampa</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Back to hockey practice…</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked over at
Evan who was laughing to himself about the conversation that just happened with
Avery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“God bless you
when she is 8 or 9 months pregnant…” Evan snorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So are you
saying you are glad you missed this part?” I asked, eying him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup,”
he said with a smile that told me he probably wished he hadn’t missed it for
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are in so
much trouble when she gets older,” Krissy smiled as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> jumped down from the make-up chair all
dolled up in her flower girl dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
really did look like a princess with her wild hair all pinned back and a little
make-up bringing out her cute little cheeks and lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nah, according
to Evan, Joffrey already taught her how to fend for herself,” I said with a
smile, laughing inside at the story of her punching a kid at the hockey rink
for asking her to kiss him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, Bobby
told me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems Joffrey was pretty proud
of her,” Krissy laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Of course he
was…” I rolled my eyes before finishing up my own make-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby and
Krissy’s wedding was a fairy-tale and I was happy to be the one to help make it
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flowers were beautiful and set
the tone for the whole celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
already had appointments scheduled from two people who talked to me during the
cocktail hour that followed the wedding ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why hello, Mrs.
Lupul,” Joffrey growled in my ear as he came up behind me, wrapping his arms
around my swollen belly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mr. Lupul,” I
cooed back as I leaned back and kissed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think it’s
time for a dance together,” he said as he twirled me around, moving us out onto
the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled me into him
and I was happy that I still wasn’t big enough to not be able to rest my head
on his chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You look stunning,” he
breathed into my hair, causing me to shiver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You look pretty
sexy yourself in that tux,” I quipped back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“But I’m sure the tux will look a lot better crumpled on the floor next
to our bed when we get home tonight…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I like your
thinking, horny pregnant woman,” he laughed back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We were swaying
together, getting lost in the music until we were interrupted by a little tug
on the hem of my dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can I dance
with you?” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
asked as she looked up between the two of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Of course!”
Joff exclaimed as he scooped her up into his arm and I wrapped my arm around
the back of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love my
family,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
sighed as she laid her head on Joffrey’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Joffrey and I
just looked at each other and smiled at her comment, agreeing 100% with the
little girl’s observation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>the end.</em></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-28506243691947709772011-10-26T15:54:00.000-04:002011-10-26T15:54:00.667-04:00Don'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 />
<br />
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 />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dontgiveuponme8.blogspot.com/">www.dontgiveuponme8.blogspot.com</a>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-25884537539760273532011-10-26T13:41:00.002-04:002011-10-26T13:41:20.724-04:00Chapter 11<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://img.wylio.com/flickr/3894/500/464046403&sa=X&ei=PEWoTrKvEsr10gHR78n_DQ&ved=0CAwQ8wc4owE&usg=AFQjCNHpsPnwSZiwDKGImhffFqxvWexY2Q" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Tulips...the flowers of love</em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<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";">
11</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It was rough
getting back into the groove of things on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first road trip of the season was always
a tough one, but I think it made it even harder that I was having my first road
trip a couple months into the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone already had themselves in their own schedules and I had to
figure out where I fit in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was stuck
in a room with one of the rookies, Matt Beleksey, who was a good kid, but he
had some odd habits that I frankly found annoying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest one was sleeping with the TV
turned onto Lifetime where they showed old episodes of the Golden Girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Dude, I have to
figure out how we can be roomies again,” I whined quietly to Bobby as we sat at
breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I have to hear one more
sexual innuendo from Rose on the Golden Girls, I’m going to go AWOL.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I thought you
liked the Golden Girls…” Bobby chuckled as he took another spoonful of his
eggs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s not
funny,” I growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’re older
than him so just put your foot down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
never seemed to have a problem pulling the age rank thing on me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m just afraid
if I say anything right now, I might come across as a real ass and I don’t want
to put the poor kid through it,” I said honestly as I ran my hands over my
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tired and I was even more
miserable about what I left behind in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Anaheim</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Have you talked
to her at all?” Bobby asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked up at
him through my fingers and just shook my head back and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, I think we need this week to cool
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I want to give her some space
with the whole Evan thing,” I said slowly, trying to get myself to believe that
I was doing the right thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why couldn’t
you be understanding in the first place, you stupid ass?” Bobby asked without
holding back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So you think I
took the whole dishonesty thing a little tougher than I should have?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby took a
breath, wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it down before answering
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dude, I know you’ve been with a lot
of slutty, lying girls over the past several years but Avery is not even close
to being like any of those girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
understand that the situation seems a little fucked up on the outside, but you
have to remember that mothers do whatever they need to do to protect their
little ones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even imagine being
in Avery’s shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you have every
right for being hurt, but to just walk away from it all and throw in the rag is
just a weak cop-out; especially since I’m pretty sure you were in love with her
and Sofia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby was a
couple years younger than me, but he seemed to know a hell of a lot more about
life than I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, whenever he gave
advice, I tried to listen with open ears and really think about his words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Should I call her now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, I probably
would…”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
found it pathetic that I had to be told to call the woman I had fallen in love
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had basically turned my back on
her, waking her up from the dream I had promised wasn’t a dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Way to
go asshole.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That was a
really good dinner,” Evan said to my Nana as he relaxed back in the kitchen
chair, patting his stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you,
Nana,” he said with a charming smile as she came around behind him and kissed
him on the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Thursday and
Evan had basically been living at my apartment, spending a ton of time with the
three of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was almost as if Joffrey
had never been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Too bad my heart tells me different.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It probably
should have bothered me how easily my little girl took to strange men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sofia was completely enthralled with Evan to
the point that he would have to put her to bed every night and read her bedtime
stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he would put her down, we
would go for a walk and talk about the plans we both had for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only were we working on the new
relationship between him and Sofia, but we were also working on our rekindled
friendship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Or at least that is what I thought we were working on together…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So, I was
wondering if you’d be interested in going out with me tomorrow night,” he asked
while we sat on the park bench in the cool evening air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His hands were interlaced with mine, which
had become the norm for us this past week, but I never thought of it as
anything romantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was more of a
comfort thing for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked over to
find him looking at me with an easy smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Go where?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know. I
was going to take you out to a nice dinner, maybe catch a band or something…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“A date?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sure,” he said
with a wink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know if
that would be a good idea,” I said slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I don’t want <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
getting the wrong idea about us,” I said plainly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As soon as the
words were out of my mouth he was leaning in towards me and his hand was
caressing my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What if it wasn’t
the wrong idea?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His hand was
warm, yet the electric current that I always felt when Joffrey touched me was
not there in Evan’s hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think it
would be,” I said quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was in
love with you a while back, but unfortunately we all grow up and find that
maybe there are others out there for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>4-5 years ago I longed to hear you say you still wanted to be with me so
that we could be a big happy family, but I think there is someone else I long
to hear those words from now,” I said honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I saw a look of
sadness pass through Evan’s beautiful eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a
look of understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re in love
with Lupul.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I rolled my eyes
as a stupid smirk forced its way onto my face, without my permission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, I think I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hope he still wants me, especially
since I haven’t been answering his phone calls…” I said as I faded off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why didn’t you
answer him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t you learn the first
time about not calling or not answering phone calls?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you retarded when it comes to phone
communication or something?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I snorted, “I
didn’t think I was, but now that you’ve said something… Ugh, I dunno Evan! I
just haven’t answered him because I didn’t know what to do about you and me,” I
said honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He leaned in
towards me again, taking both of my hands into his and looked deep into my
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you love me, Avery?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yes, but not in
the ‘I wanna go have hot sex with you right now way.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry, I just don’t look at you like that
anymore, even though you are very sexy,” I added with a happy wink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He laughed as he
pushed a piece of my hair off my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Thanks for the compliment, Ave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I have to say I agree with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess I just want to make us the perfect family…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And we can
be…we just won’t be married to each other,” I exclaimed with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As long as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> is loved by both of us, it will be
perfect.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A smile slowly
crept across his lips as he nodded at my statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is why I do love you, as my friend I
mean; you have such an optimistic outlook on life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help
but snort again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t let word get out
because everyone else thinks I’m the most pessimistic person on the
planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I blame this on you and Joff.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Anything
to see that beautiful smile more often,” Evan said as he got up off the bench
and pulled me up with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then stood
there under the starry sky holding each other in a tight hug, sealing our new
fate as a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The road trip
crawled to an end on Friday night, with us getting back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Anaheim</st1:city></st1:place> early Saturday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was physically and mentally drained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst part was is that hockey had nothing
to do with any of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was homesick for
Avery and Sofia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had myself such a
wreck after calling her numerous times to find no answer that Bobby had to take
my phone away from me by Thursday.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Saturday
morning I dragged myself out of bed and began my mission of getting my girls
back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I heard the
bells jingle, signaling that someone had entered the store but I was busy
finishing up an arrangement so I yelled out, “I’ll be right with you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one answered, which I found a little rude
but 2 minutes later I walked out from the back room, wiping my hands on my
smock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I finally looked up, no one
was to be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing I
noticed was a bouquet of Red, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Orange</st1:city></st1:place>
and Cream tulips wrapped in cellophane lying on the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stapled to the clear, plastic wrapping was a
handwritten note that stated: “For the Flower Girl.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What the heck?”
I said to myself as I looked at the beautiful flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tulips were by far my favorite and they must
have come from a ritzy flower shop because even as a florist, I did not have
pull in getting the flowers during this part of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I jumped when I
heard his voice speak from behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
was told that tulips are a symbol of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They claim that red stands for ‘believe me’ and are a declaration of
true love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Orange</st1:city></st1:place> stands for passion and cream colored
tulips mean ‘I will love you forever.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I slowly turned
around, staring down at the flowers as he spoke, trying to hide the smile that
was creeping across my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry,
but you can’t bring flowers bought from one florist and try to return them to
another…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shit,
really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured you might have changed
your policy on flower returns since some guy gave you a hard time about it before,”
he said as serious as possible as he took a step towards me and removed the
bouquet from my hand, laying them on the counter next to me before backing me
up into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess it’s good that I
bought them for the flower shop owner, hopefully she’ll keep them and not tell
me to shove them up my ass.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His body
was now centimeters away from mine, even though the energy between us made it
feel like we were glued together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
heat that radiated off of him made me want to melt onto the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My breathing was now shallow and quick,
causing me to consciously try and slow my respirations, afraid I’d
hyperventilate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sounds like a
cranky flower shop owner,” I said breathlessly, almost not getting all the
words out coherently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nah, just one
that didn’t believe in love it seems but I worked some magic and brought her
around to the idea of smiling again…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What happened
that you are bringing her flowers?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I fucked up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, the first
time she needs all the support she can get from a decision she made long before
we met, I get all emo and worry about my own feelings instead of hers…” he said
while he looped a piece of my hair around his finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She didn’t answer her phone when I tried to
apologize, so I’m hoping that seeing her in person will make things a little
different.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What, do you
think you have some physical power of her?” I asked, trying not to squeak when
he began to run his fingers lightly up and down my arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mmm,” he purred
into my ear, causing the rest of my hairs to stand up on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What if I said
that I am not much better than you in the relationship department?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I stand here and tell you that I’m
sorry for not taking your feelings into context? What if I told you that I’ve
been miserable ever since you walked out my apartment door?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’d have to say
I’ve been the same way and that I’m glad to hear those words out of your
mouth,” he said, slowly snaking an arm around my waist, pulling me fully
against him now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Before we go any
further, Avery, I need to tell you one thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help
but smile broadly at this as my heart began beating even faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love you too,” I said straight-forth as I
looked up at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry for keeping
you in the dark about Evan…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sssh,” he murmured
as he leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt his hands move up my back, leaving a
path of fire as they moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My arms
wrapped around him, pulling him even closer against me so that I could feel his
warmth that I had missed so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
easily parted my lips as he sought entry to my mouth with his tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He retraced the last path he had taken when
we had kissed the last afternoon we spent in each others arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt so long ago, yet he felt so
familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but smile as
his body gave him away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel his
hardened length against my stomach, even through our clothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you the only one here?” he asked huskily
as we parted lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">All I could do
was nod.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Good, cause I
already locked the door and set the sign to close,” he announced proudly as he
reached down, cupped my ass and picked me up, taking me into the back
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a swipe of his large hand, he
cleared the flower garbage off the metal working table and sat me down
hurriedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fumbled with the back tie
of my smock, pulling it off quickly and then going for my shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already had him out of his and I was
working on his belt as my shirt went over-top my head and onto the counter
behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon I was crying out in delight
as his lips came down on the sensitive skin of my neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fingers were intertwined in his hair,
pushing him towards my aching breasts, wanting to feel his mouth caress
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt him laugh at my insistence
but he seemed happy to oblige me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
felt his tongue flick one of my sensitive nipples, I arched back onto the
table, letting go of his hair and focusing on the pleasure he was giving
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“God you are so beautiful, Avery,”
he said with my nipple still in his mouth, causing me to buck off the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Joffrrrreeeyyy…”
I began to say but of course the last part of his name came out as a high
pitched whine as he began giving attention to my other nipple while kneading
both of my breasts with his hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hmm?” he asked
humored as he looked up at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yesssss,” I
hissed, realizing I was no longer able to form coherent sentences or thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Before I knew it
my bare ass was sitting on the cold metal table with my legs wrapped around
Joffrey’s waist, opening up for him to slide his long, hardened length into
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fuuuuck,” he grunted out, pushing
deep inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the sound of our skin
hitting together echoed off the work room walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The table was at the perfect height for him
to hit my g-spot, in-turn giving me one hell of an orgasm that people on the
street probably heard me having as I screamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon I felt Joff emptying his warm fluid deep inside of me and I
couldn’t help but smile sedately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fit
me perfectly and I knew I never wanted another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He pulled my
rag-doll body up into a sitting position so that I could rest my head on his
shoulder while he was still twitching inside of, making me giggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No laughter,
that act was very serious,” he grumbled, hiding his own laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mmm, I will
agree that it was very serious,” I whispered as I ran my hands up and down his
bare, muscular back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Because, I’m very
serious about loving you,” I said, opening up for the first time to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No more
secrets,” he said as he pressed his lips to my neck.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No
more secrets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-16904301952934538422011-10-24T08:00:00.000-04:002011-10-24T08:00:08.684-04:00Chapter 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Glad to hear from you all!!<br />
<br />
Just an FYI, I have another story that will soon be getting posted on Blogger!! I'll let ya'll know when it's up!! I wasn't supposed to be writing another full story, but if you have patience and don't care that it doesn't get posted overly regular, then we are in luck! :o) Until then enjoy this one!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMJKQOSCgzTahnyFA7I-j61gtEvOWYp3vL4rg_B2hA2HLDJs7Q" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="242" data-width="208" height="242" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMJKQOSCgzTahnyFA7I-j61gtEvOWYp3vL4rg_B2hA2HLDJs7Q" style="height: 242px; width: 208px;" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>White Chrysanthemum...truth</em></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ch. 10</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The whole ride
to his house was filled with small talk about how his career was going and how
my flower business was starting to pick-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I saw your
commercial on TV at the beginning of the baseball season for New Era and I had
laughed out loud,” I informed him, thinking about that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your hair
that short.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He laughed back,
“Yeah, I like it longer I think,” he said as he unconsciously picked up his hat
and readjusted it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I like it
longer too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your ears look too big when
it’s shaved,” I said giggling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He looked over
at me and jabbed a finger into my side like he used to when we were
younger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed at his hand to stop
him and as I went to let go I found that he was not going to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of our car ride was in an
electrically charged silence as his warm hand held onto my cool clammy one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nice place,” I
quipped when we pulled up to his house in the hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sat along the cliff edge, over looking the
<st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Ocean</st1:place>, built in a modern, sleek
shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t overly large, but it
was definitely larger than what a bachelor needed; especially one who only
lived in it 4 months out of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks, I
bought it last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s become a
retreat of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom, Dad and the rest
of the family come up here to get away from things when I’m in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place>, so it gets
used,” he said with a proud smile as he turned off the engine and left go of my
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quickly came around to my side
of the car and opened the door for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I stepped out he took my hand in his once more and led me into the
house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you want a drink?” he asked as he threw
his keys on the kitchen counter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sure,” I said
nervously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled and watched him pour
me a glass of orange soda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ah, so you
remember.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He laughed
lightly, setting the glass of my favorite soda in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, cause it’s still my favorite and I
think of you every time I taste it,” he said as he sat down across from me,
taking a gulp out of his glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Although sometimes I add a little vodka to it to make it better.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mmm,” I said as
I swallowed the fizzy drink that also would remind me of him and the warm
winter <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>
nights we spent in each other’s arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So were you
ever going to tell me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just
shrugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I probably should have told
you the day I read the pregnancy test, but I didn’t want to ruin your career, I
didn’t want to be the reason you didn’t reach your dreams,” I admitted quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He surprised me
as he reached over and grabbed my hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Avery, you wouldn’t have ruined those dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted you to be apart of them, it killed
me to leave for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tampa</st1:city></st1:place>
and not have you there with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted
to marry you, to give you the life I have now, to have you wearing my jersey,”
he spoke and tugged lightly on my jersey, “to have a family…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You know that
it would have not happened that way, Evan,” I said flustered by his
admissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You would have dropped out
of college and gotten a job to support our asses, giving up your career because
that is how you were raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, please,
don’t sit here and tell me it would have been fine because you know damn well
it would have not been.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He took a
calming breath and whispered, “Doesn’t mean things can’t go the way we want
them now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t have
words for what he was insinuating, I just looked at him and stared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When I didn’t
say anything he asked, “When was she born?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“June 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>,
2005,” I answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She was 5lbs. 8oz.
and 20 inches long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came out kicking
and screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t start sleeping
through the night until she was almost 1 year old…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you have any
pictures of her from when she was little?” he cut me off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I thought for a
moment, “Yeah I do if you have a computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I guess that is a stupid question,” I said, instantly
embarrassed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Come with me,”
he said, as he walked around, took my hand and walked me into what seemed to be
his living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow, is that your
Rookie of the Year trophy?” I asked as I walked over to his trophy shelf that
was illuminated with some recessed lighting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I heard him
chuckle as he came walking up behind me, “Yeah, I forgot that you never saw
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m really
proud of you Evan,” I said sincerely, only to turn to find him standing right
by me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked nervous and broken at
the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It broke my heart to see
the normally happy man, so upset and it was my entire fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry,” I whispered, reaching out and
touching his beautiful face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He lifted his
hand and covered mine with his as we stood and stared at each other for what
seemed like an eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry too,
Ave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have given it all up to
have you both in my life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words
came out effortless and could have easily been construed into him just giving
me a line, but the look in his eyes made me know that he had meant every
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The small place in my heart that
had been locked for so long seemed to open with his warm look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After another long moment of silence he
whispered with tears in his eyes, “Let’s look at pictures of my daughter.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I signed into my
flikr account and we sat together for a few hours while I told him stories
about little <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>,
stories that he could have been apart of if I had told him sooner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So she is a
hockey player?” he asked with a silly smile as I brought up the pictures I had
taken last week of her in her new hockey uniform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help
but laugh… yeah, Joff helped me get her enrolled in one of the neighborhood
programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he created a monster,”
I said thoughtfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So how long
have you two been together?” he asked while he looked back over at the picture
of me, Sofia and Joff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“A little over
three weeks actually, even though it seems longer,” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at the picture, I realized how happy
we looked together, how much we looked like a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Does he know
about me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t you think
he should know?” Evan asked quietly as he raised an eyebrow in my direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m pretty sure
he figured it out after the game tonight,” I mumbled as my heart ached,
realizing I now had lied to the two most important men in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just hope he can forgive me…” I said out
loud but to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He’d be a fool
not to,” Evan murmured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly, he
reached out and touched my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a deep
breath and quietly asked, “What do we do now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Evan took his
hand off my face and sat back in the chair as the wheels in his head turned,
“Well, I want to get to know my daughter this off season.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’d say that we
would have to take it one day at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t want to confuse her by throwing this on her lap… she is still
only a little girl.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I understand
that,” he spoke softly, taking my hands back into his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I want to be apart of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be her father and give her
everything she should have gotten a long time ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She doesn’t
need your money.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She deserves a father and I want
to be that for her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stood up and
began pacing around the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you
going to go after me for custody?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because I really don’t have the money to fight you on anything and I
don’t know what I’d do if you took her from me, she’s my life, I don’t know
what I would do without her…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
still spouting off when Evan pulled me into his arms and held me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m not going
to take <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
from you, Avery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I want my name on
the birth certificate and I want her to have my last name some day if she will
take it, but I will not be taking her away from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as I’m concerned, nothing needs to be
taken to the courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I might
lead different lives now, but once upon a time we created one life,
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I think we can obviously
do what is best for Sofia together, without fighting like some stupid divorced
couple,” he consoled as he ran his fingers through my hair, calming my nerves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So how do we want to do this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How about you
come to her game tomorrow night with me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That sounds
like a great idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Can you take me
home now? I’m sure I have a very upset kid at home…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So I see she
has your temper,” he chuckled as he walked over to the counter to pick-up his
keys.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh
no, definitely not,” I said with a sarcastic smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Loops?” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> asked half asleep in
my arms as I rocked her back and forth in the recliner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are
supposed to be sleeping,” I growled quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know, but I
have a question,” she whined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Just one more
question, grasshopper.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you going
to be my daddy?” she asked innocently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">How can one innocent question rip me in
half?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was upset with Avery in the fact
that she did not tell me about Evan, feeling like she didn’t trust me enough to
tell me her secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I think my heart
exploded with joy, knowing that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
loved me as much as I loved her.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a deep breath, unsure how to answer
her question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I will always be here for
you and I will always love you,” I said carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A small, sleepy
smile lit up her face, “Good, cause I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Love you too,
hunnie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Night,” she
said as she yawned and curled into my chest, finally falling asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I must have
dozed off with her because the next thing I knew Avery was home, gently
scooping a zonked <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
out of my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through half open eyes,
I watched her carry her into their bedroom and soon she came back out, closing
the door behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi,” I mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey,” she said
with a small, nervous smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can I curl
up in your arms?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I patted my
thighs and opened my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kind of
surprised me when she actually came over and sat on my lap, curling up on the
chair with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re a lot bigger than
the other one I was just holding,” I laughed quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Gee thanks,”
she said sarcastically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What are you
doing here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, Nana
called me and basically demanded that I come over,” I said with a smile
thinking about the old woman’s phone call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She told me that if I didn’t come over, she was going to drive to my
place and put <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
on my front porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Plus, for some
reason the one person I wanted to see after the game was not there to greet me
when I came out of the locker room tonight,” I whispered as I kissed her hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sorry,”
Avery said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What is going
on Avery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why didn’t you trust me enough
to tell me everything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You know?” she
asked as she lifted her head and looked up at me with tears in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“After putting a
few things together, I figured it out…” I said, letting my annoyance show a
little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I never meant
to put you in such an awkward spot,” she said as she nuzzled back into my
chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s not that I didn’t trust you
Joff, it’s just been a secret for so long…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why wouldn’t
you tell Evan that he had a child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
could be living in a much better place and driving a truck that wasn’t
threatening to break down every time you drove it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could have Avery enrolled in a private
school with the best teachers and she could be involved in whatever her heart desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, here you are barely making ends meet and
keeping secrets from people who love you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I instantly regretted how harsh my words came out but there was no
turning back now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The battle lines were
instantly drawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She sat up and
got off my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“See!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s exactly why I didn’t tell people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to ruin Evan’s dreams; I didn’t
want <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> to
have a father that just paid for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would rather we live like this and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
grows up knowing more how love can make life than what money could offer her,”
Avery exclaimed with emotion as quietly as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You shouldn’t
have to be the martyr and have to give up all your dreams,” I pressed, not 100%
sure where I was going with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t give
up my dreams,” she said as her face twisted in some confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wanted the best for my daughter and at the
time I thought I was making the right decision.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So what about your
decision on keeping me in the dark?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Joffrey, we
have only been together for a few weeks…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But you weren’t
honest with me,” I threw back, hurting more about the untruthfulness than I
initially realized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my other failed relationships
were based on dishonesty and here I finally thought I found a relationship
where that wasn’t the case, yet here I was once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I watched her
look down at the floor and then back up at me with a defeated look across her
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can’t stand here and make you
believe that I never meant to hurt you or make you understand the decisions I
made 5 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t expect you to
completely understand that as a non-parent; I would do anything to protect my
child from harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will just have to be
something that you either get or you don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d love to say that I have all the time in the world to stand here and
beg you to forgive me for not being perfect, but I don’t have time for
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So either you will look past all
this and move on with me or leave me and Sofia alone so that we can move 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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
looked at her in disbelief, not remotely expecting to hear what I just heard
from her sweet lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, her eyes
had become the hard, green emeralds I had seen the first couple days after I
met her and I knew that this was no joke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to take a step towards her, but I decided against it mainly for
the fact that I refused to just let something like this slide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t ready to forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am leaving in the morning for our road
trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please tell <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> that I wish her luck for her game
tomorrow and that I will visit her when I get home…” I said quietly before I
brushed past her, trying to not show any of the emotion I was feeling as she
stared right through me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I cried myself
to sleep after Joffrey walked out of the apartment and possibly out of my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had thrown up my walls of
defense when he was obviously hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
had every right to be hurt; I should have been honest with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately after all these years of
protecting my daughter I found it all to easy to just walk away and tell myself
that I was better off being alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
had been all too easy to tell him that I wanted to move on without him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just kept telling myself that I had bigger
things to worry about with Evan now in the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I somehow needed to bring him into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s life without
confusing her even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As long as my daughter is happy, that is all
that matters.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You look
tired,” Evan commented the next night as he took a seat next to me in the
stands of the neighborhood hockey rink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m fine,” I
mumbled, looking out over the ice was the kids came out from the locker
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just didn’t sleep well last
night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It wouldn’t
have anything to do with this, would it?” Evan asked as he pulled out his cell
phone with a text message on the screen that read: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I won’t be in the way of you getting to know your daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just please love her like she deserves to be
loved. –Lupul.<o:p></o:p></i></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 10pt; 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 little gasp, quickly covering my open mouth and turn away from
Evan’s intense gaze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t want to
talk about it,” I mumbled, putting my hand back in my lap and tucking it into
the sleeve of my sweatshirt, feeling like the temperature in the rink went down
10 more degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have officially fucked it all up.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
</div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-3105644685038822832011-10-22T09:33:00.000-04:002011-10-22T09:33:10.195-04:00Chapter 9<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sorry for the delay!! I promise to get back on track!! LOL</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjPvXrGWkgTDGdQIFTLSMfLMrEJQ7vHN-vzwuWf3Pr76NFlhCt" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><i>Anemone flowers...fragile</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I came home from
the early morning practice to find the house quiet, even though Avery’s truck
was still parked out in my driveway.<span> </span>I walked
upstairs and found her where I left her this morning except this time, her face
was tear stained and I could tell the pillow was wet from her crying.<span> </span>I crawled across the bed and lay down next to
her on my belly as I gently pushed some of hair out of her face.<span> </span>“What is wrong, beautiful?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nothing,” she
mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I left out a
quiet chuckle, “Okay, I’ll believe that when it snows in LA.<span> </span>You slept like a fitful mess last night and
now I come home to find your pillow soaked with your tears…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t want to
talk about it, Joff,” she mumbled with pleading eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This wouldn’t
have something to do with Evan, would it?” I asked, knowing that I might be in
trouble for crossing the line, but the whole situation has bothered me ever
since the first episode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She took a deep
breath through her mouth and bit on her lip.<span>
</span>“It does, but I really can’t talk about it right now, Joffrey.<span> </span>I just need time to explain it to you and
right now is not the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Did he hurt
you?” I pushed, wanting to know because if he did I was going to give the guy
my two cents and possibly a few punches.<span>
</span><i>He’s a baseball player and I’m a
hockey player, I’m trained to fight, he is not.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Not
in the way you are probably thinking.<span> </span>Please,
leave it go,” she said with an edge that told me to listen or otherwise I’d be
starting a fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span> </span>“Mommy!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
yelled happily as she let go of Nana’s hand and ran across the parking lot to
me.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I had been at
the rink for almost an hour already, talking with Krissy and just pacing around
the concourse, worried about how the evening was going to go.<span> </span>I was glad to finally see my little one
again, feeling a little more normal.<span> </span>As
much as I loved my weekend with Joffrey, I still felt like something was missing
when she wasn’t near me.<span> </span>I was trying to
focus on my excitement for Joff and his big return to the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We spent the
afternoon napping and then I made him, Krissy and Bobby dinner as I put on a
happier persona, hoping he wouldn’t see through my screen.<span> </span>My heart was breaking because I knew I would
have no way of getting around the whole Evan deal.<span> </span>This was it and I truly had no idea how
either of the boys would react.<span> </span>All I
could do was hope that Evan wouldn’t figure it out when he saw <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> this evening at the
game.<span> </span>I wanted to be able to tell him
somewhere private, just in case a big scene was made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Joffrey seemed
to think that whatever was bothering me earlier had passed, so he was back to
his normal hyperactive self, which only made it easier for me to smile.<span> </span>Tonight we were celebrating his return to the
ice and I wanted to make sure all my attention was on him.<span> </span>He was so pumped and was literally bouncing
around like a little kid when I watched him and some of the boys kicking the
soccer ball around for warm-ups.<span> </span>It was
even cute when he asked if I would wear his jersey for the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Before we got in
the Jeep to head to the arena, I felt him grab my hand.<span> </span>I looked over at him in confusion.<span> </span>“Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span> </span>“Um, I was wondering something,” he asked with
his adorable puppy eyes blinking at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yes?” I asked
slower this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Would you wear
my jersey tonight?<span> </span>I mean you look good
in what you have on, but I’d really like to have both my girls wearing my
number tonight,” he said with a shy smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help
but giggle as I nodded my head up and down.<span>
</span>“Yes, I will wear your jersey, even though I think it’s just your
attempt to label me as your bitch…” I said with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, that’s
what it’s all about,” he said sarcastically as he pulled me in towards him to
kiss me deeply.<span> </span>“You are alll mine,” he
said in a demonic voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked down at
the jersey I was now wearing and couldn’t help but giggling at the fact that I
was swimming in the damn thing.<span> </span>It was a
game worn jersey, so it didn’t fit nice like Nana’s and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s, but this one felt more special for
the fact that Joffrey had worn it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mommy! You are
wearing Loops’ jersey!<span> </span>It looks big on
you.” She exclaimed as she jumped into my arms for a hug.<span> </span>“I’ve missed you Mommy.<span> </span>Are you coming home tonight with us?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It felt longer
than two days since I had seen her last and I couldn’t help but holding her a
moment longer as I breathed in her scent.<span>
</span><i>I don’t know what I’d do without
her.</i><span> </span>“Yup, I’m coming home with you
tonight,” I choked out as tears threatened to cloud my vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I put her back
down on the pavement and we headed towards the arena where Joffrey was waiting
for her.<span> </span>He was already in his uniform
and I couldn’t believe how much taller he looked in his skates.<span> </span>“Hey Grasshopper!” He scooped her up, making her look even smaller than she was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hi Loops,” she
said with a big smile as she kissed his cheek and squeezed his neck.<span> </span>“Good luck tonight!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks baby
girl,” he said as he kissed her back and handed her off to Bobby so she could
give him a good luck hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was busy picking on
Bobby, Joff pulled me into him and whispered, “You look hot in my jersey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I look like I
lost a ton of weight and forgot to buy clothing that fits me,” I said with a
frown as I looked down at the jersey dress I was wearing.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Aah, but this
way people won’t be tempted to take my goods,” he said with a cocky smile.<span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Before I could complain he leaned down and
kissed me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Eeeeew!” I
heard <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
squeak as everyone around us began to laugh.<span>
</span>We both started laughing as we stood with our foreheads still pressed
together.<span> </span>This was the first time he
ever showed any affection towards me in front of her.<span> </span>“Mommy, you told me not to kiss boys because
they have cooties!<span> </span>Now we need to take
you home and wash them off!” She said as I looked down to find her with her
hands on her hips along with a disgusted look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Nana just walked
over and said, “Shush young lady and mind your own business.<span> </span>Where do we go to get to our seats?” she
asked, trying to hold back her own laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stepped away
from Joffrey and said with a smile, “See you after the game.”<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Bye, ladies,”
Joff called out as we walked down the hall to the elevator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Once again we
were up in one of the club seat boxes.<span>
</span>As soon as I took a step into the room I found myself wanting to step
out.<span> </span>I knew he was going to be there,
but seeing him always brought back a flood of memories that I thought I had
buried.<span> </span>I was pulled from my thoughts as
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> went
running over to Krissy who was talking to Evan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why hello, Miss
Sofia!” Krissy exclaimed as she picked up my little girl.<span> </span>“I’m so glad you came to watch the game with
us tonight!<span> </span>Are you excited to see Loops
play tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No,” she
pouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A look of
surprise crossed over all of our faces, even Evan’s.<span> </span>“Well why not?” Krissy asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because he gave
mommy his cooties,” she said seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I snorted loudly
and scolded, “Now Sofia, really you don’t need to worry about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And who is this
precious gem?” Evan asked as he was still laughing like the rest of us but with
a curious expression across his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>,” my daughter
blurted out, always excited to meet anyone who was new and interested in her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nice to meet
you Sofia, I’m Evan,” he said, amused as he bent over and held out his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You have pretty
eyes,” my daughter said as she shook his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help
but laugh when he blushed at her compliment.<span>
</span>“Thank you,” he said as he looked over at me and raised an eyebrow.<span> </span>“She’s definitely you,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just shrugged
my shoulders and smiled nervously, hoping to God he didn’t see his likeness in
her; the likeness that I saw daily with so many of her mannerisms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The game started
and we cheered loudly as Joff got on the ice for his first shift.<span> </span>He looked a little rusty but after few shifts
he was out hitting with the rest of them and had a couple shots on goal.<span> </span>Of course <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> insisted on sitting on Evan’s lap and
explaining all her new found knowledge about hockey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t think
he needs a play-by-play, Sof,” I chirped over to her at one point.<span> </span>“He has two eyes and probably has a clue
about what is going on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Evan started
waving his hand back and forth in disagreement.<span>
</span>“No, please, I’m enjoying what she has to say.<span> </span>I do play baseball and not hockey,” he said
with a kind smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So how old is
she?” Evan asked as I walked back and got a drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Five,” I said,
not meeting his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s
beautiful, why didn’t you tell me you had a daughter?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t think
it was very important.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Huh, because
she sure does seem very important to you and I have a feeling she’s a big part
of your life,” he said as he rubbed his chin, looking like the wheels were
beginning to turn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Here we go.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You know, I had
the same colored hair when I was that young.<span>
</span>Everyone always thought I was adopted because both my parents had dark
hair.<span> </span>Little did anyone know that the
blonde hair came from my mother’s side, along with my blue-green eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I see,” I said
as I tried pouring the soda into my cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Plus I got the
thick curly hair from my dad’s side,” he said as he picked his hat off his head
and mussed his own hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh,” I said in
a, ‘I don’t give a shit,’ voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I went to turn
and walk back to my seat as his hand stopped me.<span> </span>He lifted my chin and leaned down so that he
was staring into my eyes.<span> </span>“Why didn’t
you tell me <i>I</i> had a daughter, Avery?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a couple
deep breaths, trying to keep the tears from coming but it truly was
useless.<span> </span>“I can’t talk to you about this
right now,” I pleaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He stepped
closer and grabbed onto my arm, not tight, but enough to get my attention.<span> </span>“We will be talking about this.<span> </span>I won’t cause any trouble here, but I think
you owe me a very lengthy explanation after the game.<span> </span>Until then I will be sitting with my daughter
and enjoying our first time together,” he said in an upset tone that told me he
was hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I reached out
and grabbed his arm this time, “Please, don’t say anything to her.<span> </span>Not right now, Evan…” I pleaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Not right
now…but she will know soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As soon as the
words were out of his mouth, the goal horn sounded and I could hear <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> screaming,
“Looooooops! Looooooops!<span> </span>Mommy,
Looooooops scored a goooooaalllll!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
quickly wiped away my tears, glued on a happy face and went over to my bouncing
daughter as I watched Joffrey’s first goal of the season replay on the
jumbo-tron.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I knew something
was wrong when I got into the family room, expecting to see my cheering section
and instead I found Krissy standing by herself with none of my girls to be
found.<span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">“Where are Avery and Sofia?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“They stayed to
watch the game, but Avery said she had to leave and to tell you that she would
call you tomorrow.<span> </span>She also said
congratulations on your goal,” Krissy said hesitantly, giving me a hint there
was more going on than what she was saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What
happened?<span> </span>Does this have anything to do
with Evan?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Krissy looked at
me with worried eyes and shrugged her shoulders.<span> </span>“I think it might but I’m not sure.<span> </span>They seemed fine the whole time; <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was even sitting on
his lap for the whole game.<span> </span>However,
right before you scored I noticed them talking quietly over by the drinks.<span> </span>They looked to be in an emotional conversation;
Evan even leaned close to her as he held her chin.<span> </span>When you scored I watched her wipe some tears
away from her face and then put on this happy face that truly was not
happy.<span> </span>The rest of the game she seemed
quiet yet still stayed involved for probably <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s sake.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How was Evan
after the conversation?” I asked, thoroughly confused by everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He just paid a
lot of attention to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
and stared a lot at Avery, seeming very at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">tentive to her even though she acted
like nothing was different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Did you get a
chance to talk to him at all today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She took a deep
breath like she was afraid to tell me but decided that she would speak.<span> </span>“Apparently they ‘dated’ on and off over the
last several years, and I use the word dated loosely because it sounded more
like a series of hook-ups.<span> </span>I guess at
one point they were pretty serious about one another in college but then he
went to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tampa</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span>
</span>It seems the clincher was when he admitted he had messed around with
several women, like any kid who gets thrown into the limelight.<span> </span>He said he had asked her to move with him to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place>, but after
telling him she would let him know her decision she basically disappeared.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, she had a
kid, it’s not like she could just up and move in with him without knowing if it
was going to work or not…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t think
he knew about <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>,”
Krissy said point-blank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Really?” I
asked, shocked because of how much <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
was apart of Avery’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, it sure
seemed that way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you
think…nah, never mind,” I said deciding at the last minute my idea was most
likely way off base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do I think
what?” Krissy asked curiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Never mind,” I
said, now sorry I even said anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do I think <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> has Evan’s nose and
chin?” Krissy asked with a raised eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You think he is
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s
father?” I asked, almost glad I wasn’t the only one wondering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Krissy
took a deep breath and nodded quietly.<span>
</span>“There is a good chance of it and it would explain a lot of how Avery
has reacted around him.<span> </span>I just don’t
understand why she didn’t tell him if our thoughts are correct.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t
understand why I can’t see Loops!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
cried as her temper tantrum kicked into full force as I carried her, kicking
and screaming, to the truck.<span> </span>I just left
her cry, wishing I could do the same.<span> </span>I
wanted to be down in the family room, waiting for Joffrey to come out of the
locker room so that I could congratulate him on his first game back and his
first goal of the season, instead I was shipping my daughter home with Nana so
I could have the talk I have dreaded ever since the day she was born.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sorry, Nana,” I murmured as I closed the
door to the truck, still able to hear <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
screaming at the top of her lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This is what
you need to do.<span> </span>I love you child,” she
said as she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.<span> </span>I watched as she looked over at Evan and
nodded with a sad smile.<span> </span>He reached out
and shook her hand and said goodnight.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I stood still
until they drove out of the parking lot and then I looked over at Evan, “Well
that was my ride…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I figured we
could go back to my place; I’ll put some coffee on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
shoved my hands in my pockets and nodded, following him over to his black Lexus
sports car.<span> </span>He opened the door for me
and I got in, buckling my seatbelt, trying to hold on to any normalcy I thought
I had to hold onto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
</div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-29405813025890370072011-10-18T20:29:00.002-04:002011-10-18T20:29:30.741-04:00Chapter 8<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Well, I'm back!!! I'm back with a new wall decoration, I might add. Shot a trophy moose 4 hours into our week long hunt... totally crazy and totally exciting all at the same time. Northern Ontario was absolutely beautiful. Can I say that I kind of realized how pathetic I am for the simple fact that many of the towns we passed through, I was able to rattle off an NHL player that was from there?!! Ugh. Totally not a puck, but writing these stories sometimes makes me seem like one. Ooops.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Well, we are back at it and hopefully ya'll didn't leave me!! Can't wait to hear from you!!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2Wwlhu7aWc-3-wu6nJ8FP78NLV66yrMUByh6yXf1ZnUflEFGnvQ" /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><i>Rhododendron (here in PA we have the wild version called Mountain Laurel, which is actually our state flower)... this flower says, BEWARE.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What time is
it?” I asked as I attempted to untangle myself from Joff’s arms and sheets that
were wrapped around my naked body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Time for you to
fall asleep in my arms and not worry about the time,” he mumbled sleepily.<span> </span>I had come over around 6:30pm for dinner and
instead we skipped it and went right to the dessert in his bed.<span> </span>“It’s Friday night and I told Nana that she’d
get you back on Sunday evening at the game.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I folded my arms
in front of me and left out a huff.<span> </span>“But
I’m still not sold on spending the whole weekend with you, besides you went
behind my back to ask Nana to watch my daughter so that you could take
advantage of me all night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He rolled over
onto his side and leaned down over top of me, placing his lips just centimeters
from my neck so that I would shiver as his breath caressed my skin when he
spoke, “I don’t think I’ve heard one word of complaining out of your mouth so
far tonight.<span> </span>Besides, I need to have all
my ducks in a row when you try and give me excuses on why you don’t want to
stay with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, are you
insecure now?” I asked, laughing at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, just very
horny,” he growled, biting into the side of my neck, making me to curse loudly
as I clawed at him to stop, but failing miserably when his strong arms wrapped
around me, pinning my arms to my sides.<span>
</span>I wriggled underneath him as his mouth moved up to my ear and he began
whispering nonsense into it, causing me to get worked up once more for him to
take me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Let me be on
top,” I begged when he went to push my legs apart.<span> </span>He obliged me by quickly flipping me over,
allowing me to slide my pussy down onto his dick.<span> </span>I placed my hands on his defined hip bones to
steady myself as I set a pace, pushing him deep inside of me so that he was
balls deep and moaning out my name.<span> </span>I
had quickly come to enjoy the way he was very vocal during sex and I loved the
faces he would make when we hit the right spots together.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Every time I was on the edge of an orgasm he
would do something extra to push me over and give me a mind blowing
experience.<span> </span>“I’m supposed to be in
charge of this,” I complained when his hands wrapped around my ass and began
lifting me up so that he would thrust into me, feeling him bottom out.<span> </span>After two or three times I retracted my
complaint. </span>“Okaynevermindthisssfeelssamazing,” I breathed out, allowing myself to
focus on my next orgasm.<span> </span>“Fuck!” I
yelled when he slammed into me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A cocky smile
played across his face as he left go of my ass cheeks and began rolling my
nipples between his fingers effectively bringing me to the top.<span> </span>I couldn’t help but lean backwards onto his
thighs as I quivered on top of him. <span> </span>A
relaxed smile played across my lips as I felt him convulse inside of me and
leave out a deep moan that vibrated through me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Haven’t you learned not to complain when I decide to do something?<span> </span>When will you trust me?” he growled, pulling
me back down towards his chest as I felt his hardness begin to go soft again
inside of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I laid my head
in the crook of his neck as I laid somewhat awkwardly on top of him, but not
minding.<span> </span>“When you prove to me that this
is just a dream,” I murmured</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How would I do
that?” he asked curiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“By telling me
that this was all a mistake and that you don’t want anything to do with me and
my daughter,” I answered honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt him
lightly chuckle, “Well then I guess you’re never gonna wake up, because I don’t
think I could tell you that, ever.<span> </span>I’m
too in love with your daughter and I’m falling way too hard for you to even
think about walking away now,” he said as he looked down at me.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span> </span></span>“These last three weeks have been amazing
with you and Sofia…” he whispered sincerely, causing me to look up and kiss him
on the chin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I agree,” was
all I could say as I fought from keeping my tears back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He
was right, everything had been simply amazing.<span>
</span>I don’t think I had ever been this happy, except for the day <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was placed in my
arms after giving birth to her.<span> </span>Joffrey
made an effort to see us both at least once a day, even if it was only for
lunch.<span> </span>A lot of times he volunteered to
pickup <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>
from school if he didn’t have a late practice or he would take her to her own
hockey practice in the evenings when I would get stuck at the shop with a
project.<span> </span>Tonight was only the second
time since our first “date,” that we had “adult time,” just proving the fact
that Joff was a saint when he needed to be.<span>
</span>Of course there were a couple times that he’d push me into the work room
of the shop or the bathroom and lock the door for a quick fuck, but he would
always make sure Sofia was no where to be found.<span> </span>I just never realized there were actually men
out in the world that really didn’t mind dating a woman with <i>extra baggage,</i> for lack of better
terms.<span> </span>He still didn’t ask who <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s father was and I
still didn’t tell him. However, I knew I was going to have to tell him sooner
than later, I was just dreading it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That sounds
great! We’ll meet you guys at the hotel before dinner!<span> </span>Later, Scottie,” I said into my phone and hit
the end button.<span> </span>I was going to be back
on the ice for my first game tomorrow night, playing against my best buddy,
Scottie and the Phoenix Coyotes.<span> </span>I was
excited the guys were in town an extra day from playing the Sharks last night,
the team had a bunch of fun dudes and I figured it would be a good night to go
out and celebrate me getting back on the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You and Krissy
game to go out tonight?” I asked Bobby as he walked past me in the locker room
after practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sure, wouldn’t
see why not.<span> </span>You bringing Avery along?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, she’s at
my place right now, probably trying to catch up on her sleep,” I said with a
cocky smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You better not
be tired for the game on Sunday night,” Bobby quipped back as he punched me in
the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nah, I’m
feeling great, I’ll be ready.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby just
smiled and nodded his head, “Alright, I’ll see you tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“See you then!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Later on that night…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You look
smokin’!” I chirped as Avery walked out of the bathroom in a bright colored
mini-dress with black high heels.<span> </span>Her
hair was pulled back in a high pony-tail with her bangs teased and pulled back
into the pony-tail.<span> </span>Her green eyes
sparkled with the dark eye-liner and shadow that outlined them and her lips
looked like a juicy strawberry; I found that they tasted like one too as I
pulled her against me and stole a kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So you like
it?” she asked. She pushed me away and did a little turn for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yah,” I answered
like it was a stupid question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Krissy helped
me pick it out this afternoon while you were at practice…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, and here I
told the guys you were back in my bed, waiting for me, naked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She rolled her
eyes and smacked me with her clutch as she turned to walk out the door.<span> </span>She then abruptly stopped and turned around
as she said, “Oh, and by the way, you look fucking sexy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As I looked down
at my get-up I heard her laugh in a lusty tone as she turned back around to
head out the door.<span> </span>I looked down at
myself and smiled in satisfaction at my jeans and coal grey dress shirt that
had a subtle texture to the material to make it pop.<span> </span><i>Fucking
sexy, eh? I like the sound of that.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After an
eventful dinner with Uppy, Biz, Pyatt, Lepisto, Bobby, Hiller, Sbsia, and the
girls, we headed out to club LAX.<span> </span>The
place was loaded with people dancing to the beats of the guest DJ.<span> </span>Avery and I found ourselves in the middle of
it, wrapped up in each other, not paying much attention to our surroundings.<span> </span>I couldn’t help but notice how Avery knew how
to handle herself in these upscales clubs and seemed to feel comfortable in
them.<span> </span>Even I was not 100% relaxed with
places and I was fairly sure I found myself in these situations more often than
her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Have you ever
been here before?” I enquired at one point while we were walking back to our
table to get a drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, a couple
times actually,” she said as she wrapped her arm around my waist.<span> </span>“Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, I don’t
know,” I said uncomfortably, feeling bad because I didn’t want to bring up her
money situation, but she caught on quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I wasn’t always
a single mother with money problems, plus I grew up in LA, I got to know
people,” she said with a wicked smile that made me laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I didn’t mean
to be judgmental,” I said into her ear as I squeezed her tight against my side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No harm, I know
I don’t tell you a lot about my past life, so it’s only natural for you to have
questions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“When are you
going to tell me more?” I asked sincerely, wishing I could know every secret
about her, only to share every one of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She looked up at
me with her sweet green eyes and said, “In time.”<span> </span>I kissed her and then left go of her hand so
that she could head to the bathroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As I walked out
of the bathroom and into the crowded hallway I found myself walking smack into
a hard chested man.<span> </span>“Sorry,” I said
without even bothering to look up, already embarrassed enough about the
situation.<span> </span>But as I went to side step
the guy he gently grabbed my arms, getting my attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Avery,” Evan
said as I looked up and found his greenish blue eyes looking down at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What are you
doing here?” I asked stupidly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A sexy smile
graced his face as he laughed at my question.<span>
</span>“Probably doing the same thing you are; enjoying a night out on the
town,” he said.<span> </span>“I saw you earlier on
the dance floor with Lupul, but you seemed too wrapped up in him for me to get
your attention.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t even
bother saying anything; I just raised my eyebrows, coaxing him to get on with
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He took my hand
and led me outside to the little outdoor garden that was adjacent to the club,
where people would get some fresh air.<span> </span>“I
tried calling you the other week…” he started saying as I instantly nodded my
head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why didn’t you
call me back?<span> </span>I’ve thought about you
ever since I saw you, but I was afraid you might get upset if I stopped by,” he
said sadly.<span> </span>“In fact I’ve thought about
you since the last morning I woke up with you in my arms, Avery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh spare me the
bullshit, Evan,” I grumbled as I folded my arms in front of my chest, in hopes
it would protect my heart that had begun to hurt.<span> </span>There were many nights I dreamed of hearing
those words from him, but now hearing them I just wanted to run away screaming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I would if it
wasn’t bullshit,” he said as he grabbed my arms again, causing me to look up at
him again.<span> </span>“You know me, I can’t lie to
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He was
right.<span> </span>He had never been a good
liar.<span> </span>He tried telling me that he hadn’t
slept with anyone during his first season in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tampa</st1:city></st1:place>, but one look into his eyes and I knew
he wasn’t telling me the truth.<span> </span>Of
course this was after he asked me to move to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tampa</st1:city></st1:place> with him and that was the last night I
spent in his bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why didn’t you
ever call me to give me an answer?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was pretty
sure you’d get the hint on what my answer was if I didn’t contact you,” I said
simply, not trying to be mean but just trying to guard myself. “Besides, you
obviously knew where I worked, it’s not like you couldn’t have gotten a hold of
me if you really wanted to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You know how
hectic things get…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t want to
talk about this here,” I said to him as my teeth began to chatter from being
sweated and standing in the cooler night air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Then please…”
he started to say before he was interrupted by Krissy finding us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Avery! There
you…Oh, hey Evan!” she said in her normal cheerful voice.<span> </span>“You two know each other?” She asked as she
came over and gave Evan a friendly hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You two know
each other?” I asked, not allowing Evan to answer for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah,” she said
with a bright smile.<span> </span>“We were in school
together from grade school on up.<span> </span>Right
Evan?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, it’s been a
while,” he said with the smile I had once adored so much.<span> </span>“Are you two here together?” he asked,
looking back and forth at me and Krissy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah my fiancé,
Bobby, is best friends with her boyfriend, Joffrey.<span> </span>We are out with a bunch of the guys from team…
Actually, you should come to the game tomorrow! That way we can all catch up,
Avery will be there too!” she suddenly exclaimed.<span> </span>As much as I loved Krissy, she was sometimes
way too friendly with people, thinking that everyone in the world had to be as
happy as she was.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Please say you have something better to
do, please say you have something better to do…</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sure! I’ve
wanted to get to a game since I’ve been back,” he said with a smile as he
looked over at me, obviously looking for a reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Fuck Me.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span> </span>“That’s
a great idea,” I said with a fake smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s a great
idea?” Joffrey asked, completely making me jump out of my skin since I had no
clue he had now come out to join the happy crowd we had become.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Evan is going
to come to the game tomorrow,” Krissy said with a big smile.<span> </span>“It will actually be Joffrey’s first game
back tomorrow!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, cool,
that’s great,” he said as he nodded over to Joff yet still keeping an eye on
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, here’s my
number…” Krissy said to Evan, effectively pulling his attention to her and away
from me and Joff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was getting
worried about you,” Joffrey whispered as he wrapped an arm around me.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m soon ready to kick this joint and go
home, you game?” he asked with worried eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah,
this has been a long enough night for me,” I quietly agreed as we walked back
into the club, forgetting about Krissy and Evan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</span><br />HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-2681368117985921482011-10-10T08:00:00.002-04:002011-10-10T08:00:01.109-04:00Chapter 7<div style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7WrGxiJTu5E1c4loVgn3bELwM8ritBjyu5YQ_nEE1BQsDJIau" data-sz="f" height="136" name="U1uPmRCqLt3jtM:" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7WrGxiJTu5E1c4loVgn3bELwM8ritBjyu5YQ_nEE1BQsDJIau" width="218" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>The Pansy... the flower of loving thoughts</em></div><br />
Just a note... I will not be posting for the rest of the week...I am headed to the Great White North (Folyet, ON to be exact) to go Moose Hunting... I would schedule a bunch of posts, but I haven't gotten a chance to completely proof-read and I don't want to just post messes, so a vacation it will be. The next chapter will hopefully be posted next Tuesday!! Sorry to keep you waiting, but I hope you understand!!<br />
<br />
Thanks again for all your enthusiastic comments!! You peeps are the best!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I really have to gooooo…” I whined when Joffrey pulled me across the console of his Jeep to kiss me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked adorable with his bed head and I just couldn’t get enough of his kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like a love-struck teenager who just realized the joys of kissing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“After you get her off to school, you are more than welcome to come back over to my place,” he breathed into my ear, making the idea almost sound sane.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have a business to run,” I said, finally taking initiative by pushing on his shoulders to separate us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Bad enough I didn’t get any sleep and I’m sneaking back into my apartment at 6:30am so that my daughter doesn’t know I stayed out late.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Can I take you out to lunch then?” he asked with a puppy-dog face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I frowned as I thought through my day’s plans, “I have to pick up <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> from school at noon…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well then I’ll take you both out to lunch,” he said with a confident smile before leaning back over the console to capture my lips in another kiss, reminding me once again of the amazing night we spent together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think in total I had about 2 hours of sleep since the rest of the night was spent rolling around in the sheets crying out in satisfaction from his touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was an attentive lover who enjoyed giving out pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, after not being in a man’s arms for an extended time, I reveled in the attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I was not sure where I wanted to take this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still had major reservations getting involved with anyone, especially another professional athlete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cause we all know how well the last relationship with one turned out.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, okay,” I said as my heart said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that’s the right idea</i>,” and my head said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t do this</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Alrighty, I’ll meet you at the shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you again for an incredible night, Avery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See you later,” he said with a smile as I crawled out of the Jeep so I could do the walk of shame into my apartment building.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">No one seemed to be stirring when I quietly unlocked the door and let myself into the apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phew.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a beeline to my bedroom to find <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> sound asleep on her side of the bed, hugging my pillow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled at the cute picture and then quietly stripped down to go stand under the scalding water of the shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I came out of the bathroom, I found Nana making our morning pot of coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Morning, Avery,” she said with an amused smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Morning, Nana,” I echoed and walked over to give her a kiss on the cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sleep well?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Quite well thank you. You?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sorry I didn’t come home last night,” I blurted out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You know what I’ve said hundreds of times before…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know, but it’s not fair,” I said as I hung my head while stirring in my sugar and cream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s not fair is that I’m too old to compete against you for that boy’s attention,” she said with a chuckle.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just slapped my head and laughed, “Oh Nana, you are too much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So when are you going to play hockey again?” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> asked me as the three of us sat by the park eating lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hopefully soon,” I said with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Will you come to my first game back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You betchya!” she said, bouncing up and down on the bench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can my mommy come along too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Of course she can,” I said while I looked over at Avery who rolled her eyes, trying to hide a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It took all I had not to hug, kiss or touch Avery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to make things awkward with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sofia</st1:place></st1:city> around, but it was very hard with some of the looks Avery was giving me from across the table while we ate lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think she was doing it on purpose but just her smile would send my nerves on alert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So much for not being my type; she was that and more.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We better get back to the shop,” Avery announced as she gathered up our trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you for lunch, Joffrey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, before you go I was wondering if <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sofia</st1:place></st1:city> had any plans for the afternoon,” I whispered while following her over to the trash can.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Avery looked back over at her daughter still sitting at the picnic table just a few feet from us, paying attention to a caterpillar crawling on the seat next to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, what do you have in mind?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I’d really like to take her mother back to bed with me,” I growled as I leaned in towards her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But, I was wondering if I could take her down to the neighborhood hockey rink and get her signed up for hockey…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Avery bit her lip and nodded slowly before speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sure, that will be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please bring all the paperwork along with you so I can read through everything and get a check written out for them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, can do,” I said with a reassuring smile and a quick glance towards <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> to make sure she still wasn’t paying attention to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then leaned back in, pushed Avery’s hair back behind her ear and kissed her on the cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly stepped back and walked over to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So, grasshopper, you want to spend the afternoon with me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have some errands to run and I’d love to have you as my buddy,” I said as I sat down next to the little girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes grew big before becoming hesitant in a split second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I worried, and then I realized she didn’t know her mom already approved of the activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned towards Avery who was standing next to her and said, “Mommy, can I go along with Loops?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Avery put on a little bit of an unsure act to draw out her daughter’s anxiety and then smiled, “As long as Loops doesn’t mind having a little girl tag along with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sofia</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> looked up at me with her big doe eyes and said, “You don’t mind me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Of course not!” I exclaimed as I scooped her off the bench and set her feet down on the ground next to me, taking her hand to walk back to the shop to get her booster seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Before heading to the rink, we stopped to pick up Bobby.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And how are you today, Miss Sofia?!” Krissy asked happily as she lifted <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> up and hugged her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m great! Loops is in charge of me for the afternoon,” she said with a big smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh? And how come?” Krissy asked as she raised an eyebrow at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because he promised to make up for not taking me along with him and Mommy last night,” she proclaimed while putting on the most adorable pouty face and almost making me feel bad for not taking her along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But only almost.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oooh,” Krissy drew out while she elbowed me in the ribs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just frowned and shook my head to make sure she didn’t ask any questions about the situation in front of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Is Bobby here?” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> asked, effectively getting me off the hook or so I thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, he’s downstairs playing guitar if you wanna go get him,” Krissy said as she opened the basement door so <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> could go down and see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went follow the little girl, but the door was promptly closed and I found myself running into Krissy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Soooo??” she berated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So, what?” I played.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How did last night go?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I didn’t have to wait a week to see her again,” I said with a cocky smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The three of us just had lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Aren’t you glad you made the first move?” she asked coyly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“If you want me to stand here and tell you ‘thank you,’ I’m not going to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just one night together…” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One incredible night together.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s a start,” Krissy said with a big smile as she stepped aside to let me pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Before I did open the door, I looked at her and said, “We did have one problem last night though,” I said slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Evan Longoria was at the Sushi restaurant last night and he came over to our table and the too of them looked like they had seen ghosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t you graduate with Evan?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I did…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Did Avery go to school with you guys?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Krissy eyebrows furrowed together as she thought about it for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, not that I am aware of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think there was something between them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m assuming so because he made a comment her changing her cell phone numbers and I’m pretty sure she blatantly lied about losing her phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a feeling she changed the number on purpose, but I don’t see Evan being the stalker or abusive type,” I pointed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, he is definitely the biggest sweetheart and a heck of a nice guy,” Krissy said, reaffirming my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Huh, I don’t know…you didn’t ask her about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, she was really upset about it and I decided to leave it alone, not wanting to get her more upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I didn’t need anything ruining our first date,” I said honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I understand,” Krissy said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, I’m sure in time you will find out or maybe I will make sure to cross paths with him in the near future,” she said with a wink.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks,” I said as the door pushed open into my shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Loops! I have Bobby, can we go to my surprise now?!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> begged as Bobby pushed through the door with her dangling over his shoulder.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took the liberty in tickling her, causing her to kick and squeal with laughter as I said, “Yup!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See you later Krissy,” I said as we paraded out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost forgot!” Jess said when she walked into the work room where I was putting together some arrangements for one of the local café’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“An Evan called.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His name made me slip with my knife, causing me to cut open my finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Shit!” I squawked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly brought my finger to my mouth, tasting the metallic blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t a bad cut, but I knew I’d have to get a band-aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked over to the sink as Jess came rushing over to see if she could help me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh my goodness, are you okay?” she exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Just get me a band-aid,” I grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In a flash, she was back with a dry paper towel and band-aid in waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So,” she said as helped patch me up, “I told him you were out to lunch and that I would have him call you. He then said not to worry about it and that he’d just call you later.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He sounded really hesitant on the phone,” she said in an attempt to get more information from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just shrugged my shoulders and said, “Okay, thank you,” once more and turned back to my awaiting arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stuck a couple more flowers into the foam before acknowledging her again, even though I was quite aware she was still standing at the sink, staring at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What is it Jess?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You know what,” she said with a raised eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Last time I checked, we are best friends and best friends are supposed to talk about shit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked over at her and attempted to glare but instead I just looked at her with a blank face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can’t </i>talk about it, Jess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are my best friend and I’m glad that you are but I truly cannot talk about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I watched Jess take a deep breath and give an understand nod of the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fine, but you know I’m here when you need to talk about it, which I’m sure will happen sooner than later since you still are pale as a ghost.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thank you,” I mouthed and went back to my creation, glad that the smell of the flowers always seemed to take me to a land where life was simpler.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-49042224387010878402011-10-08T08:00:00.000-04:002011-10-08T08:00:02.909-04:00Chapter 6<div style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="196" data-width="257" height="196" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjLHrnx1Lw3FKK3Iin_KglTS4lDyP_LkI8j8H7HqtMJ-rkVsRQkQ" style="height: 196px; width: 257px;" width="257" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Passion Flower</em></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Not quite sure what was up with the whole Longoria thing, but I’ll let it rest for a more appropriate time. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If I would not have known any better, I would have thought my hand was not attached to my arm, but I could feel the numbness rising through my arm, so I knew it was the energy of her hand in mine that was causing the wonderful sensation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stayed close by my side when we exited the auditorium and headed to the parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were shivering in the cool night air, laughing at each other when our teeth began to chatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as we got to the Jeep I went around to the back and pulled out two sweatshirts, handing one to her that she immediately put on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was huge on her, but she seemed content to nestle herself in it after she buckled herself into the seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put the heat on full blast and we both laughed at how pathetic it seemed since we lived in SoCal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The lights of the dashboard basically blinded me and my heart dropped a bit when I saw it was already 1130pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you hungry?” I decided to ask, despite knowing that she’d probably say no so that I could take her right home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She smiled and chuckled a bit, “Um, yeah, actually I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ice cream?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Only if it has hot fudge,” she giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can take care of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just need to stop by the store and pick up the ingredients.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We walked into one of the quickie marts, raided the ice cream freezer and picked up a couple different toppings and off to my place we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon we were sitting down at my counter across from each other, chomping down on our creations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Is this on your diet?” she asked with a sly smile and a raised eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, definitely not but considering I didn’t get to finish my sushi, I think I can splurge a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way I will get in an extra work-out to make up for it tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sorry,” she said sincerely with a mouthful of whip cream. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before she could say anything more, I was leaning across the counter and swiping my thumb across the corner of her lips where some left over whip cream clung to her skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without even thinking I popped my thumb in my mouth, cleaning off the sweet goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She raised her eye brows with a little bit of surprise and giggled, “I think you need a junk food intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right there just proved you can’t handle it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but snort at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dropped my spoon into my empty ice cream bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You really are a funny person when you want to be, you know that?” I remarked as I got up to rinse out my bowl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I usually don’t perform this side show around people that annoy me, but you did well this evening not to do that, so…” she said, walking over to hand me her bowl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I set the bowls in the sink and turned towards her, trapping her against the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Like I said before, you make the wrong assumptions about me,” I said in a low, husky tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She looked up at me with the same doe eyes I had seen numerous times on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> as a smile slowly crept across her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh no, I don’t think my assumptions were wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew you’d eventually put me in a situation where your true intentions came to light and here you are trapping me against your kitchen counter, putting me in a very vulnerable position.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I knew she was right but couldn’t help but lean down and try my luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had gone too far and I needed to taste her, even if it meant all hell was going to break lose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay, you win, you can now say you were right,” I breathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leaned closer and closer to her, bringing my hand under her chin and tilting her lips up towards me without much resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy being a liar for at least a small moment when my lips touch yours,” I continued just far enough from her lips that you might have been able to place a sheet of paper between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doubtful.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">My body instantly heated when I pressed up against her and the area around us combusted as our lips touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She instantly kissed me back, pulling me closer towards her as she ran her tongue across the crease of my lips, begging for entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I opened my lips and immediately tasted the hot fudge and whip cream that lingered on her tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maybe she just always tastes this sweet.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kissed me with a fierceness that I didn’t expect, but reveled in when I felt her begin to wrap her arms around my neck and run her fingers up into my hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I placed my hands flat on her back, pulling her into me, allowing me to feel the heat now radiating off her body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kiss was so intense that I could have sworn I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I finally stepped back, I found myself having to take in a big gulp of air.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Holy fuck,” I breathed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Whoa,” she whispered at the same time, gingerly touched her lips like she was making sure they were still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What was that?” she asked seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know, but I don’t think I can let you leave my house until we do that again,” I growled before abruptly wrapping my arms back around her and picking her up to carry her into my bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of putting up a fight she ran her hands up under my shirt so that when I put her down on the bed she pulled my shirt up and off when I leaned down over top of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She quickly shimmied her way back into the center of my bed as I sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I had cleaned my room and put fresh sheets on my bed just the other day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I crawled over top of her and didn’t let her back hit the pillows before I had her undressed from the waist up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I positioned myself between her legs and pressed my chest against hers as we went back to kissing each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only time I pulled back from her was when she accidentally pressed too hard on one of my incisions that were finally healing like it was supposed to.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh my gosh I’m so sorry!” She cried. She dramatically threw her hands to either side of herself on the bed in a gesture to stop everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I moved over to the side so that she could see where the incisions were and said, “Now, you know where they are, please don’t be afraid to touch me,” I pleaded to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I was able to move back over top of her she sat up underneath me and I felt her lips on the incisions, like she was trying to heal them herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shivered as she blew cool air over top of it before pulling me back to face her so that she could kiss my lips once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I felt like we were two teenagers afraid to make the next move and get completely naked because we were too busy kissing each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found myself trying to relieve my painful erection by rubbing up against her crotch, enjoying the friction our clothing created.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Joff,” she said between kisses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know about you, but I think we are adults and I really wouldn’t mind being completely naked with you right now…” she whined heavily into my ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just get a condom first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but let out a laugh as I pulled back to reach into my night stand drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sorry, but I can’t get enough of your kisses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mmm I agree,” she groaned while attempting to take off her pants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly hopped off the bed and pulled her to the edge, removing her tight capris in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I wanted to be inside of her, my mouth watered at the site of her snatch, nicely trimmed with a small landing strip that pointed to her glistening folds, illuminated by the dim light that shined into my room from the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Uh huh, and what do we have here?” I questioned as I caught sight of her clit piercing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Does Nana know about this one?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laughed before I leaned in and swiped my tongue over her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A low moan erupted from her mouth, effectively drowning out whatever response she had to my evaluation. “Yes, please Joffrey, taste me,” she pleaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I wrapped my hands around her thighs and draped her legs over my shoulders, opening her world to me for the taking and delving in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took long languid strokes with my tongue, dipping deep into her, receiving moans of satisfaction from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon I heard her breaths become shorter and the grip on my hair became stronger as I dipped my fingers deep into her, finding her core and stroking it as I lapped at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fuck, yes!” she yelled out as she convulsed on the bed, ripping at anything she could latch onto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within seconds I tasted the rush of her juices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Quickly, I unbuttoned my shorts and pushed them down over my hips so that when I stood they fell to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked down to find her licking her lips and smiling as she stared at my cock in my hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is this okay?” I asked sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I dunno, I better make sure this fits, cause it might be too small,” she said with a wicked smile before she ripped the condom wrapper with her teeth and handed it to me, obviously still unable to put much effort into her post-orgasmic sated body.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I watched her lick her lips once more as I slid the rubber down over my length and placed my dick right by her entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you ready?”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Bring it,” she said like a dirty school girl with a wicked smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I gasped when he pushed into me slowly, allowing my body to accept his thickness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt myself spasm around him when he pushed his pubic bone against my sensitive clit, effectively hitting home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So does that piercing makes everything that much better?” he asked curiously, but obviously in a full state of pleasure nestled in me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If you put my legs back up on your shoulders and press me down into the bed you will feel the full effect also,” I grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He eagerly pushed me back towards the center of the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled a pillow over and placed it up under my hips, propping me up, allowing him to pound into me from his knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quickly pushed himself back into me, causing us both to moan out in pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh fuck, yeah,” he cried out and began setting a hard and heavy pace, clawing at my breasts and causing me to arch my back off the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew by morning I’d have bruises in the shape of his hand prints around my breasts, but I didn’t care because I was being bounced up to cloud 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried keeping my eyes open enough to envy his muscular body, his defined six-pack that tapered down at right above his hip bones, his muscular thighs and defined arms that the veins were bulging out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but focus on his tattoo of what I assumed were initials of a family member and the Canadian maple leaf that was engraved above his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was like a god and I felt like a goddess being sent into the heavens as I came underneath him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We were both trying to catch our breath as he pulled the pillow out from underneath me, lying down next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So how was your reward on being right?” he grinned, lightly tracing his fingers over my aroused nipples and causing me to shiver.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“A lot better than a gold star,” I smiled back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoughtlessly I ran my fingers over his chest, stopping where I felt his heart pounding underneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Does this count as your extra workout?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He looked down at my hand and placed his large hand over mine, capturing it as he smiled happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would think so, but of course I won’t be writing that one down in the books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So is this how your non-dates always work out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if so, I’m thinking I can plan many more non-dates with you and not have a problem with it…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I pushed him back with my hand that was still resting on his chest, making him land on his back with an “umph,” as I quickly maneuvered myself over top of him, caging him in with my hair that had fallen out of the tie sometime during our romp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” I whispered seriously unable to not look into his sky blue eyes that were sparkling with my reflection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In fact, I’m pretty sure I still loathe you and you promised not to bother me for a week just for going out with you tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking this adds on an extra week.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You can loathe me forever if this is the reaction I get from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never have to say you love me, even though I would always know your secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the not seeing me for a week or two…Well let me say that you won’t want to be away from me for that long” he said trying to hide a cocky smile while attempting to push some of my hair behind my ear without much success.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Still stuck on yourself, aren’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t think you’d want me any other way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I pressed my lips together and looked away; pretending to think about this thought for a moment and then looked back at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You would probably be correct if I didn’t think you were better when you are inside of me.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This got an instant reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly, he flipped us so that he was over top of me, capturing my nipples in his mouth and causing me to see stars once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-58201160579618804112011-10-07T08:00:00.000-04:002011-10-07T08:00:05.030-04:00For Your Viewing Pleasure!Since this isn't a chapter posting day, but it is a Friday, I figured it would be nice to post some pics of the boys you've been reading about in this story thus far!! Let me know what ya think and Happy Friday!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Joff and Bobby...yes, playing their guitars in the cargo hold of a charter bus...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSajcXImJRD1snjD_eViY2mjV84KAxlgCTlM_AMWv4K62SD7dvb4g" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSajcXImJRD1snjD_eViY2mjV84KAxlgCTlM_AMWv4K62SD7dvb4g" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQI4BQqN3tSdy5qTl4lrrc5KeQ7kZOVwYUatFjmGiGIk4oh08t5rg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="288" data-width="175" height="400" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQI4BQqN3tSdy5qTl4lrrc5KeQ7kZOVwYUatFjmGiGIk4oh08t5rg" style="height: 288px; width: 175px;" width="243" /></a></div><img class="rg_hi" data-height="174" data-width="290" height="174" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8rexh6P9AqmR46ErnfeMS0k4qStrXKGgv1Lo3o49aU7jA_wqExg" style="height: 174px; width: 290px;" width="290" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
He was the Shake-Weight guy for Halloween last year according to his Twitter... looks like it's working good, eh??<br />
<a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoQ_7RtlkYmHCM_JTviwZvCjC4MSZqGU4bN7kkCgRppeOZeOpR" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoQ_7RtlkYmHCM_JTviwZvCjC4MSZqGU4bN7kkCgRppeOZeOpR" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Below are some pictures of Evan Longoria... 3rd Basemen of the Tampa Bay Rays (and the baby daddy in our story... LOL)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjlljoW1U6L7xxnvAr-r8UcHq3ijhwxZyWNqOGtXvgF3UGnSmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="266" data-width="189" height="266" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjlljoW1U6L7xxnvAr-r8UcHq3ijhwxZyWNqOGtXvgF3UGnSmp" style="height: 266px; width: 189px;" width="189" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFY0VQtjoLMcwQ_4Rv3Bi23atSISTKHMy9Xsf1trwVp9KBk-8RLg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="190" data-width="265" height="190" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFY0VQtjoLMcwQ_4Rv3Bi23atSISTKHMy9Xsf1trwVp9KBk-8RLg" style="height: 190px; width: 265px;" width="265" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlcbGwVVxWvJ2SRSMvKc680cTUQBoXpvy-LTJlTMH5dg8hLMp7" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="177" data-width="284" height="177" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlcbGwVVxWvJ2SRSMvKc680cTUQBoXpvy-LTJlTMH5dg8hLMp7" style="height: 177px; width: 284px;" width="284" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkg1sBcALUUgCSqeH2bak_YHfEAUNIsksIOisOOlnZrFVreI4qjw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="225" data-width="225" height="225" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkg1sBcALUUgCSqeH2bak_YHfEAUNIsksIOisOOlnZrFVreI4qjw" style="height: 225px; width: 225px;" width="225" /></a></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-88642413664072911022011-10-06T08:00:00.005-04:002011-10-06T08:00:13.665-04:00Chapter 5<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSxS_Yy-Thv6W3aUrCm-Qa2tP9TMG5Ev1oitSL1DBbyCKCknSdP2A" data-sz="f" height="159" name="mXMwTU2CqalMFM:" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSxS_Yy-Thv6W3aUrCm-Qa2tP9TMG5Ev1oitSL1DBbyCKCknSdP2A" width="196" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Bachelor Buttons...the flowers of anticipation.</em></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mommy, why can’t I go along with you and Loops to the concert?” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> cried as I put the finishing touches on my make-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because, this is an adults only concert and believe me, I’d rather be staying at home with you tonight instead of being with Loops,” I said the last part through my teeth, putting on a fake smile for my daughter who adored the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Earlier in the day Jess answered the phone at the shop and instead of telling him I wasn’t available like I had told her to when I saw the caller ID; she had placed the phone to my ear, forcing me to talk to Joffrey who asked me once again to go along with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t seen Arcade Fire live in forever and as much as I wanted to tell him no once again, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the real clincher of the deal was that he promised to leave me alone for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I was still completely annoyed that he insisted on taking me out to dinner before hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I had just finished applying my eye liner when I heard our intercom buzz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to run out and answer it to tell him to wait downstairs, but Nana got to it first and invited him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Really Nana?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think he needs to come up to the apartment…” I growled before bending over to put on my shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure it would help things if <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> could see him before you two go out,” she said as she consoled the child who was clinging to her leg in tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Besides, we have nothing to hide here,” she remarked with a warning smile that reminded me once again not to be too proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just shook my head and walked into the bedroom to grab a light, long sleeved zippered sweatshirt in case the restaurant was cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I walked back out Joffrey was standing in the living room of our apartment, looking like a giant and completely out of place while my daughter ran over to him, begging to be picked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kneeled down to scoop her up into his arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She immediately put a death grip around his neck, pleading her case to be taken along to the concert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just stood in the doorway observing the whole scene as my heart constricted a bit, watching him face the same feelings I dealt with everyday when having to say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no</i> to my daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He looked up at me with a look that said, “help,” but I just gave him a smirk and stood in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I was having just as much fun admiring how he looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a little gel in his hair to tame his semi-curly hair and wore a tan colored v-neck shirt with a dark brown pattern that faded across it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shirt clung to his muscular body, accentuating his broad shoulders and muscular torso while bringing out his blue eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again he had on a pair of custom jeans that hugged his thighs while still giving him that relaxed style I had become accustomed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have a hot date for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, not date…um, yeah.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked down at my own clothing which was a pair of tight, black short capri’s with a white tank-top dress made of light cotton that came to mid-thigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was layered with a tight black tank-top underneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my hair pulled back in a low, sleek pony tail, showing off my many ear piercings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hoped my high heeled ankle boots weren’t too much, but my thoughts were interrupted by a sudden invasion of my personal space.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked up and held my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You look perfect,” Joffrey said quietly with a look that made me pause and look back longer than I wanted to.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t need your approval,” I mumbled, side stepping him before he could see my appreciative smile. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked over to Sofia who had crawled back up onto Nana’s lap, hiding her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smoothing back the disappointed child’s hair, I knelt down beside the two of them to whisper to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, I will be home after you go to bed, so I love you and I will see you in the morning before you leave for school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please behave for Nana and I promise that Loops will make it up to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She lifted up her head enough so that I could see her eyes look at me and then over to Joffrey who was standing beside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You promise?” she sniffled as she asked the question more to Joff than to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I promise, Grasshopper,” he answered with furrowed eyebrows to act sympathetic, trying to hide his smile that would have told how funny the whole situation was.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay,” she sniffed in as she sat up and put her arms out to hug me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love you, Mommy.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I leaned in and hugged her tight, “Love you too pumpkin.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then gave Nana a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door after Joff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I could tell she was having second guesses about saying yes to me as I watched her look over her outfit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took all I had not to ignore <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> and pay all my attention to Avery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked perfectly punk/chic for a night out at a concert and I was more than ready to walk around with her on my arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little additions of a couple silver bracelets jingling on her wrist and a long silver chained necklace with a simple green stone hanging down to just below her breasts made her look like a million bucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, with her hair pulled back I felt something stir down low as I thought about how perfect her neck looked and how much I wanted to kiss her there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I helped her into the Jeep and then we headed to my favorite Sushi place in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Malibu</st1:city></st1:place> called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nobu Malibu</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ride over went rather well because we talked about music, something that Avery seemed to be very passionate about.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I always end up blowing my Christmas and birthday money from my Nana on concert tickets,” she divulged with a shy smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m the same way,” I admitted with a smile that earned me a smack in the arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I’m sure you have to rape the piggy bank to go to your favorite shows,” she said sarcastically as she rolled her beautiful green eyes but smiling broadly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, it oinks at me every time to show its disapproval,” I laughed, basically cracking myself up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news was that she too found it funny and again I was rewarded with another smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yahtzee!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Before I knew it, we were pulling into the parking lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nobu Malibu</i> and I was helping her out of the Jeep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I wanted to, I didn’t take her hand, but I did offer her my arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at me, rolled her eyes and grumbled as she threaded her arm through mine saying, “Remember, this is not a date.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just smiled in return.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The restaurant was a trendy one that a lot of LA’s younger crowd frequented it and of course the Paparazzi were out in full force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we got closer I heard ramblings of people in the reservation line saying that Evan Longoria and baseball rookie Mike Stanton were inside eating, along with one of those chicks from the Hill’s or whatever MTV show was popular at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to take a step forward but I felt Avery’s arm pull me back a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um…” she said quietly, looking pale as a ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know if I’m hungry for Sushi.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked at her confused, mainly because when we got in the car and I announced where we were headed, she seemed very excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to her and took her hand that was nestled by side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Avery what is wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“There just might be someone here that I am not really fond of seeing…” she answered nervously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, if someone gives you a problem, I will take care of it,” my tough hockey player guy complex kicking in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No one is ruining your adult night out,” I said with a wink, earning a weak smile and a slow nod of the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left me hold onto her hand as we walked into the restaurant and headed to our seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first she looked around nervously, but then seemed to relax when we began ordering our food.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So, I was thinking,” She said in an uncommonly shy voice, “Can you get me a list of the names of these kids hockey clubs you mentioned last night?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but smile brightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sure, actually I’ll get the paper work and everything together for you too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way we can get her enrolled for November, if you like.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, that would be great,” she said with a sincere smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She talked to me about it some more today and Nana also said it would be good for her to get around some more male role models.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can understand that…” I began to say but was interrupted by a man’s silhouette that was now shading our table in the dim lights, causing Avery to go pale white once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, hey Evan,” I said to the 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> baseman of the Tampa Bay Rays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had run into each other numerous times over the years since I’ve lived in <st1:city w:st="on">Cali</st1:city> and often hung in the same crowd when he was in town for his off season, since he was from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Downey</st1:city></st1:place>, right outside of LA.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey,” he said, yet he wasn’t looking at me, instead he was looking at Avery like he too was looking at a ghost.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hi, Evan,” she said, not able to conjure up a smile, yet she didn’t look like she felt threatened by him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You changed your number…” he said like he still couldn’t believe he was seeing her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, I lost my phone and decided to change carriers,” she spoke nonchalantly, but for some reason I could tell she was lying.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, well here is my number, call me, I’d like to catch up if you’re not too busy,” he said as he glanced over at me and looked back over to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t make any move to say that I wasn’t her boyfriend and I didn’t make any effort to tell him otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just watched in a tension filled silence as she handed him her phone so that he could punch in the numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He handed it back and nodded to me, “Nice seeing you Loops,” he said half heartily and nodded to Mike Stanton who was standing behind him to leave and away they went leaving in their wake a very awkward situation between Avery and I.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m done,” I announced quietly as I took my napkin off my lap and laid it on the table next to my half eaten plate of sushi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt bad as I looked over and saw that Joffrey still had a decent amount of food on his plate, but I needed air and fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For a person who sometimes acted dimwitted, he got the hint quickly and handed me the keys to his Jeep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go, I’ll get the rest of our food packed up and pay for the bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll meet you outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thank you,” I said sincerely before hopping out of the booth and darting towards the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Evan.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> He looked amazingly beautiful and the years have only made him better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we first met he was still in an awkward, gangly phase, but it was obvious with more years of training in the big leagues, he was now a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The father of my child.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was not the college baseball player any longer; he was now a team MVP and starred in commercials for the MLB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He now dated supermodels and cheerleaders, not the art student he met at one of the college bars after a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course we had been together a couple times after he made it to the big leagues, but after not seeing or talking to him for two years, it definitely felt like a million years ago and he was now on a lot higher standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not that Joffrey is much different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But hockey players seem more down to earth than baseball players…or once again I find myself thinking in my pessimistic way about the whole situation.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Joffrey ended up beating me to the Jeep and was waiting for me when I walked out from behind the bushes after throwing up my dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I hated doing it, I felt better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The downside was that I was sure I looked like shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked over to the passenger side of the Jeep where Joff was holding the door open and just stopped and dropped my shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No need to say sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel bad for talking you into going in there…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was going to run into him again at some point I mumbled as I climbed up into my seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have any gum?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked, changing the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He just laughed and jogged around to his side of the Jeep and climbed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lifted up the center console, revealing a couple different kinds of gum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Damn, this is like a fresh breath arsenal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kiss a lot?” I quipped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I never kiss and tell,” he said with a dangerous smile that made my stomach flip for a better reason this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You still up for the show?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hell yeah, now more than ever,” I exclaimed and popped a piece of gum in my mouth, thankful that he seemed to know not to ask questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The Shrine Auditorium was packed by the time the opening act took the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no real choice but to stand against Joffrey, nevertheless with a drink or two to loosen myself up, I really wasn’t bothered by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time the Arcade Fire took the stage I had completely forgotten the evening’s earlier events and was ready to rock out to my favorite band with my “date.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the intermission, Joffrey grabbed my hand and drug me through the crowd to get some water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were both drenched in sweat but enjoying every minute of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Eeew, I haven’t been this sweated at a show since I was in high school,” I announced while peeling my shirt away from my skin to get some air to my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And you sure as hell don’t seem to be fairing much better,” I pointed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my finger and drug it down his arm, leaving a line behind on his skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Doesn’t it feel great?!” he asked excitedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think that’s one of the best things coming to live shows, you can just feel the energy,” he smiled broadly, genuinely happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Besides I’m enjoying the sexy sweaty look on you.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">His forwardness took the breath away from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides his comments about my smile, this was the first time he actually seemed to make any advance on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I had loathed him in many situations, tonight I couldn’t help but flirt back and say, “It doesn’t look so bad on you either.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s not a lie…</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked down at me like he wanted to make a move, causing me to hold my breath but the band struck a chord and then next thing I knew we were moving together back into the crowd to enjoy the next set.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-18301375096310960502011-10-04T12:48:00.000-04:002011-10-04T12:48:27.630-04:00Chapter 4<div style="text-align: center;"> <img class="rg_hi" data-height="186" data-width="248" height="186" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJYLjZ5CZDFp65rJ8pOvXOqnLt29oLricGmaG-7e8aqID-2Vojfw" style="height: 186px; width: 248px;" width="248" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Delphinium...the flower of boldness</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Thank you for all the awesome comments!! I'm also glad to see you seem to be enjoying it! :o) </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m glad you told him we’d take the tickets,” Nana remarked to me as we sat drinking our morning coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> needs something like this; she deserves to be treated to something special now and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, she needs a good male role model in her life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know Nana, it’s just that I can’t give this to her and it makes me feel like we are taking charity or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Never be too proud, Avery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Joffrey truly does have innocent intentions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if not, what is the harm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no reason why you shouldn’t be dating a guy like him…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shot Nana a warning look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do not like him at all, not even as a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is definitely not my type.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How do you even know what your type is anymore?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You haven’t even been out on a date in how long…except for the occasional hook-up with You-Know-Who.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I haven’t seen him in over two years…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s because you changed your phone number.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you blame me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to move on, I felt pathetic hoping that some day he would tell me he wants to make it something more serious,” I said, feeling defeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think he deserves to be told about his daughter,” Nana said for what was probably the thousandth time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He will just think I’m lying.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Is he really that bad of a person?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, he’s not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really is a sweet man; a man that I would never date again just because I know about his track record with women, but he is a good man,” I said honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Someday you will choose the right thing to do,” Nana said with a sad smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As for this new problem, I think you need to look at it with a more open mind and give things a chance…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t think there is anything to give a chance to,” I said, cutting her off before she got anymore ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Joffrey promised me yesterday that he has no ulterior motives except to put a smile on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s face.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I watched as my Nana shook her head as she pushed back her chair to get up, “Well, I can only hope the boy puts a smile on your face too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I didn’t even say anything else because I was done arguing about the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We showed up at 11:30 in the parking lot Joffrey told me to go to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The security guard just waved us through when I said my name and next thing I knew we were parking my old beat-up pick-up truck next to a Lexus SUV that probably cost more than I would hope to make in a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh boy.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was just getting <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> out of her booster seat when I heard Joffrey and Bobby’s voices introducing themselves to my Nana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> crawled across the seat and began yelling out “Loops!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quickly came over and scooped her up into his arms, giving her a big kiss on the cheek that she enthusiastically reciprocated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but giggle when Nana snapped a picture of the scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby came over and pulled me into a friendly hug, welcoming me to the arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Krissy will be so glad to see you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She insisted on coming to the game when we told her of our plan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“See I told you that it wasn’t all my idea,” Joffrey chirped over at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just looked over at him and rolled my eyes as I stuck my tongue out, getting an interesting reaction out of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a goofy laugh spiked with a lustful face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Note to self, don’t do that again.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Nana and I followed the boys who walked on either side of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, holding her hands, swinging her between them as they walked towards the arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as we got into the door of the arena we were greeted by a couple of the players like Ryan Getzlaf and Jonas Hiller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joffrey was the only one in a suit, the rest of the guys were in shorts, t-shirts, socks and sandals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The tour started out in the locker room where we met a few more of the players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to laugh when <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> began asking questions about the guys’ different accents.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You speak funny,” she said to Hiller who was taking his turn at carrying her around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think you speak funny,” he said back to her in his Swiss accent, laughing at her innocence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, I learned my English from watching <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">Sesame Street</st1:street></st1:address>, so I speak the right way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This earned some loud laughter from our crew as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> looked around at them all; trying to figure out what she said was so hilarious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we got down to the ice, Joffrey once again had <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a couple guys out skating around at this time doing some warm-ups and he called over to Bobby before turning back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So grasshopper, how would you like to go out on the ice?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Her eyes got larger than I had seen them get all day as she whispered excitedly, “But, I don’t have skate, Loops.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You don’t need them; Bobby informed her, quickly reaching over the bench and picking up Sofia to place her on the ice next to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nana took probably a million pictures of the two of them as she shuffled her feet along the ice, having the time of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobby then let her shoot a couple pucks at the net, impressing the guys with her slap shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time the game started we were in our seats up in a club box with a couple other team family members and Krissy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She looks like she is having the best day of her life,” Krissy exclaimed as she looked over at Sofia who was sitting on Joffrey’s lap, intently watching the game with my Nana sitting beside them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It probably is the best day of her life,” I said with a bittersweet smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I could have never done anything this great for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never be able to thank the guys enough for their generosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know my Nana is enjoying it just as much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have the boys won you over to hockey?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I couldn’t help but smile, “I just might have to watch a few games with Nana and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, especially after seeing how cute some of the guys are.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both laughed loud enough to attract Joffrey’s attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned around and just raised an eyebrow at the both of us before shaking his head and turning his attention back to the game and the million questions <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was asking him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He has really taken to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>,” Krissy said in a more serious tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know how much he misses his niece…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, he mentioned that to me at lunch yesterday…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t be too hard on him, I promise that he truly is a gentleman when he wants to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said the other day, he seems to have trouble picking the right women but I think his luck might be changing,” she said with a wink, causing me to blush for some unknown reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh no, I am not involved with him…” I immediately disputed as I shook my head back and forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But with the way he looks at you, I’m sure you easily could be,” Krissy said with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you seeing anyone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked down at my drink and murmured, “No, haven’t had much luck in that department, especially since I have a kid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Is her father involved in her life at all?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, he doesn’t even know about her,” I answered, still wondering why I felt so comfortable blabbing out my private life to a woman I just met the other day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A meaningful look crossed over Krissy’s face as she took my hand and said, “I’m sure that’s been really tough on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a deep breath and shrugged my shoulders, “Yes and no, my Nana has helped me out so much, if it wasn’t for her I probably wouldn’t have the shop and I probably wouldn’t have Sofia,” I spoke honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s definitely a gem,” Krissy smiled as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s laughter rang out in front of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, not to change the subject, but I was wondering about tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you and Sofia join us for dinner tomorrow and then we can over what you have gotten together so far?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure the boys will keep <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> occupied,” she said with a broad smile, making it impossible to say no to her.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Sure, that sounds like a great idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can I bring?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh good, I’m glad you’re here!” Krissy exclaimed when she walked downstairs to find Bobby and me jamming on our guitars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are staying for dinner,” she said with a voice that told me I had no choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, okay…?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Since when have you ever questioned me about staying for anything that has to do with food?” she asked with a suspicious smile, a smile that told me she had something up her sleeve.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You definitely have something in the works,” Bobby pointed out, also picking up on his fiancé’s sudden sneakiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I asked Avery over for dinner so that we could go over what she has so far with the wedding flowers and decorations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I told her to bring <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> along, hoping you guys could watch her while we work,” she said with another devious smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why do I get the feeling you are trying to play matchmaker?” Bobby asked straight-up, not beating around the bush.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well why not?” Krissy pouted as she put her hand on her hip and stomped her foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You obviously have a thing for her, Joff,” she said accusingly to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Whoa, I told you both that I have sworn off women…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I am telling you that she could possibly be the woman you need in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> needs you too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I am not getting involved with Avery just because <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> needs me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I already decided the other day that I can take <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> under my wing without getting involved with Avery,” I retorted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Besides, I’m still not sure if her dad is in the picture…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“He’s not,” Krissy quickly cut in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> doesn’t even know who her father is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“See, that could end up becoming a big mess in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t know enough about Avery,” I said, voicing the worries that had been floating around in my head this whole weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can’t see it any being any bigger of a mess than what you have had with the blonde skanks you seem to have no problem hooking up with,” Krissy snapped, obviously becoming frustrated with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Krissy,” Bobby hissed under his breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let the man make his own decisions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, she’s right,” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just don’t want to fuck this up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a little bit of a delicate situation if you haven’t noticed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This statement seemed to cool Krissy’s temper as she smiled and nodded her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Dinner was nothing short of the excitement that always seemed to ensue when Avery and Sofia were present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was a bundle of laughters who felt the need to basically reenact her whole day at the game, like we had not been present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually humorous to see it from a 5 year olds’ perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like yesterday, Avery was fairly pleasant to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only a couple times did I get an evil glare when I brought up about possibly getting <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> into a youth hockey league.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After we ate, Bobby and I took <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> out to play a little driveway hockey as Avery and Krissy got to work on their wedding stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After an hour of playing, Bobby took <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> inside to get a drink and I sat down on the steps to take a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never heard the door open and close, but soon I felt a presence standing over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned around to find Avery standing behind me with her arms crossed and looking her slightly annoyed normal self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did look exceptionally sexy for some reason in a pair of cut-off capri’s that hugged her ass just right and a worn navy blue Anaheim Angels shirt that clung to her curves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few whisps of hair had escaped from her pony-tail, adding to her sensuality, causing me to be thrown off balance more than once tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What’s the problem this time?” I asked before turning back to facing the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help but smirk as she sat down on the step next to me in a huff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Can you please stop putting ideas in my daughter’s head?” she pleaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I cannot afford to put her into hockey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“They actually have a lot of programs for families like yours, giving kids a shot to play hockey basically for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The NHL has some huge initiatives based here in the greater LA area that would be close enough for Sofia to be involved in,” I informed, not daring to turn towards her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But what if I don’t want her to be involved in something like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you ever think about that?” she asked like a worried mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why wouldn’t you want her to be involved in something that builds character and puts her around good role models?” I asked sincerely, this time turning to look at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She slapped her hands on her thighs in frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are totally missing the point, Joffrey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get that you mean well, but I am her mother and I am the one who makes the decisions, not you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next time talk to me before you go and put ideas in her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never hear the end of it until I get her enrolled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think you understand how hard it is to be a parent, especially a single one with not much means,” she said almost like she was talking to herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can help,” I said, taking her hands without even thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Something flashed through her eyes as she looked down at my hands touching hers and then back up at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was almost if I melted something, but if I didn’t melt something in her, touching her skin was definitely melting something inside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole moment seemed to move in slow motion, but it ended abruptly when she pulled her hands back and crossed her arms back in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t need your help, nor do I want it,” she said firmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why must you have to be so fucking stubborn, Avery,” I asked with a little more anger than I intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why do you feel the need to be apart of my life when I’m pretty sure I told you to stay out of it more than once already,” she puffed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I had to look away and I shook my head, considering I had asked myself the same question a hundred times over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t want to be your charity case,” she mumbled once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t want you to be either and I don’t think I’ve made you one,” I said somberly while looking back over at her, feeling defeated from hitting my head against the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you like live music?” I asked suddenly, even surprising myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The look on her face was priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her features softened and her eyes widened; it was like she forgot she was angry at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What?” she asked, once she got a grip and remembered she was supposed to be sassy with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I asked if you like live music.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I put a little more confidence behind the question.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I do, but I don’t know what that has to do with anything,” she snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I thought you did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You seem like the melodramatic type so I was wondering if you’d like to go see a band with me tomorrow night,” I asked along with trying to give her what I thought was a complement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She on the other hand did not see it as such.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So nice of you to stereotype me as a melodramatic type person,” she scoffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And you are the most off the wall person I have ever met,” she continued as she attempted to stand-up quickly, but instead sat back down because she lost her balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Tell me, how do you switch from one subject to the next just like that?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I have ADD,” I answered honestly.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>“Well, you still haven’t answered my question,” I pressed, raising an eyebrow at her and attempting to hold her attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She was obviously flustered and thrown off course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her skin was flushed bright red and it seemed that she wasn’t used to being asked out on a date, at least not lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course she threw up the walls and responded with an insult, which was nothing I hadn’t heard before from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve taken you for the dense, stupid type, but now I’m trying to figure out what word to use that implies the amount of stupidity you really seem to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> go with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Not even to see Arcade Fire?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This made her stop and look at me like I had two heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Arcade Fire… they are a band out of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I know who they are,” she snapped, cutting me off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, great, then you must know how awesome they are to see live?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She looked down at her shoes and then back up at me with a twisted expression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They are one of my favorite bands,” she said through her teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Huh, mine too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do you want to go with me tomorrow night?” I asked as I leaned on my hand with my elbow resting on my knee, trying not to act too smug before getting my answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She huffed and said, “What time and where at?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll pick you up at 7pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can get a bite to eat before hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, no dinner, this is not a date.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No dinner, no concert,” I said simply.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are ridiculous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And you call me the stereotypical one,” I simply stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You really are fucked up or something,” she whined dramatically, almost like she was trying to hide a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Besides, I don’t date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boys aren’t worth my time anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, so you’re a lesbian?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well then that makes everything that much easier,” I said, now trying my hardest not to laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I really crack myself up sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**SLAP**<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fuck off,” she spat once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was just joking…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what, shove your tickets up your ass,” she growled as she finally got up from the steps and stomped back off into the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just watched her ass as she walked away from me with a smile playing across my face.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">What is it with chicks and wanting me to shove things up my ass?!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-53712053451084720532011-10-02T12:52:00.001-04:002011-10-02T12:52:00.796-04:00Chapter 3<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></b><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><img class="rg_hi" data-height="275" data-width="183" height="275" id="rg_hi" sb_id="ms__id3202" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTywWPCztJV1tFHpG_Nz5g33CfeuaA5StypYxl-o5RCyR7ip9b5" style="height: 275px; width: 183px;" width="183" /></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>...snapdragons, the presumptuous flower</strong></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mommy,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> whined as I was getting ready for work the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mommy, you have to take me along to the shop with you today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s Saturday and I don’t have school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise to be a good girl,” she begged as she grabbed onto the hem of my shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I turned around to find her with big pouty lips with tears in her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Now how the hell do you say no to this shit?! Ugh!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got down on a knee and looked her straight in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, you are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> going along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nana already had plans for the two of you today…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nana does not have any plans and I think it’s a wonderful idea for her to go along to work with you today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be by to pick her up after lunch, Avery,” Nana said as she walked by and patted me on the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But…” I protested, as I stood up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No but’s darling, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> loves being at the shop with you and I think it’s lovely that she has made a new friend!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a deep breath and stomped my foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You both are evil,” I grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Maybe you should make friends with him, darling,” Nana said, raising her eyebrow as she took a sip of her coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, no, please, don’t even go there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look what happened last time I made friends with a professional athlete,” I said in a loud whisper as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> skipped off to her room to finish getting ready for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You gave me a beautiful great-granddaughter who is the sunshine of my life,” Nana said as she came over and kissed my forehead like she had done a thousand times over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Nana always saw the good in things, no matter what the situation was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had basically raised me since I was 12 years old after my parents were killed in a car accident in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Washington</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to deal with me through my depression filled early teenage years, wild-child late teenage years and my pessimistic adult phase that I was still probably going through, even though I tried my hardest to put a smile on my face everyday I crawled out of bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For being in her 80’s she was still fit as a fiddle and always out on the town with her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was envious of her at times and I could only hope I had half of her energy by the time I turned 30, but at age 25, it seemed like wishful thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’m only 25, yet I feel like I’m a 40 year old woman who has already seen the best years of her life pass away.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Becoming a parent at 20, smacked me into reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to get out amongst people my age, but I had problems being amongst large crowds of people unless they were under the age of 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t exactly bring a boy back to my apartment; especially since <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> shared my bed with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, I had enough men ask me back to their places, but I just felt like I was being a bad parent, despite my Nana telling me otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, trusting men was a big deal for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The last time I was involved with any sort of relationship, was with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course that only counts if you count a couple nights in his bed when he was in town for either a game or during the off season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t actually seen him in about two years, but that can probably be attributed to the fact that I changed my cell phone number after I decided I didn’t want him to find out about <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’ve been on the odd date here and there with guys my Nana thought were good to set me up with, but they usually turned out to be guys who had no personality or ran away as soon as they found out I had a kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve pretty much threw out any hope I’ve ever had on finding someone who might love me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guys don’t want to get involved with women who have kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well at least any decent guy.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially don’t trust anyone enough to tell them who her father is and I refuse to rat him out because I don’t need the headaches that might come from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m ready mommy!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> announced as she jumped up and down in front of me, pulling me from my sullen thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quick looked in the mirror to make sure my face was at least semi-presentable and away we went to the flower shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So you have a thing for flower shop girl,” Bobby questioned, but of course it came out more like a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, I don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s her daughter that has me wrapped around her finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She reminds me of my niece, Aubrey and I just feel bad for her for having such a crabby mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I just told Avery that she should probably think of telling Krissy that she can’t do the flowers for your wedding,” I informed him honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Why would you tell her such a thing?” Bobby asked, sounding appalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Krissy couldn’t stop talking about her last night after you left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said she’s a great girl and definitely has the ideas that Krissy wants incorporated into the wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope she didn’t tell you that she would drop us,” he said worriedly as we changed out of our practice gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had finally been cleared for light practices with the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time they thought I was ready to come back, I would either end up re-injuring or have an infection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not being able to play was becoming old real quick.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nah, don’t worry, she’s a stubborn one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her that because I think her attitude sucks ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She really is a bitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she’s just sugar coating everything because you are paying customer that is probably going to rake in a lot of cash for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like she can’t use it, did you see that piece of shit she is driving?” I smirked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Since when have you become such the rich snob?” Bobby asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Uh…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You have a thing for this chick and you don’t want to admit it because you supposedly swore off women just 3 days ago,” Bobby said with a cocky grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No way man, did you see all the ear piercings and the nose piercing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t even get me started on the black nail polish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s definitely got to be one of those melodramatic punk chicks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, you know I always go for the blondes,” I said as I threw a towel around myself to head to the showers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Maybe that is your problem; you always date the same slutty blondes with no personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I don’t see anything wrong with the melodramatic punk chicks, they are usually the ones who are into a lot of the music you and I both listen to; don’t be so prejudice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, did you ever think she is a struggling single mother and that might be why she drives a piece of shit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looks young, so I’m thinking life has been pretty hard on her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You have officially made me feel like the biggest asshole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks, friend,” I sulked, feeling like I had just been scolded by my mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Which she probably would have scolded me if she would have heard how high and mighty I was sounding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I’ve ever tried to put someone down as much as I just did on this woman I had no clue about except she had the cutest little girl and the temper of a dragon.</i><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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No problem,” Bobby said with a slap of the towel to my ass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Loops!” I heard <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> squeak as the door bell jingled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then heard her jump off from her chair and run across the store room floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Hey, grasshopper!” he said back to her in a cheery voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I walked out from the back room to find him scooping her up into a hug and then swinging her to his side, holding her parallel to the floor so that he could swing her around like an airplane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was squealing with joy as he laughed at her excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He looked amazingly sexy today in a tight fitting button down shirt that was commando green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His dark, faded washed jeans hugged his thighs and ass in a way that only custom jeans could fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had that <st1:place w:st="on">Southern Cal</st1:place>, laid back look about it, yet the Canadian accent threw off the whole picture, painting him more of a good boy instead of a snobby rich boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His blue eyes were sparkling as he caught me staring at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey, Avery,” he acknowledged me as he carried the happy <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> along with him like she weighed nothing heavier than a sheet of paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mr. Lupul,” I said non-hostile like.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Please, call me Joff or Joffrey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I’m that much older than you,” he mocked as he sat <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> on the counter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s 25!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> blurted out like only a 5 year old could do.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And I’m only 27,” he informed me with a smile that put me on alarm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Oddly, I felt my palms sweating and I found myself having to get a grip before speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So for what do we owe this visit?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I promised Miss Grasshopper a surprise, but I just remembered that I left it out in my Jeep,” he said, obviously unnerved by his forgetfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So, um, actually did you girls eat lunch yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite café’s is right down here on the street corner…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yay! Do they have ice cream?!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> yipped as I simultaneously said, “No, we won’t be joining you for lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Of course Joffrey completely ignored my words and said, “Well, then Miss Grasshopper, I guess it sounds like we are going on a lunch date, complete with ice cream for dessert.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">What am I going to say now?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My child is over the moon for this guy and I refuse to be the bad person.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a deep breath, shot daggers out of my eyes at Joffrey who was looking at me with an amused look, knowing he had won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let me get my purse and I will let Jess know we are going out…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s fine! Go! I can handle the place!” she yelled a little too quickly from the back room.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I smiled weakly at Joffrey as I took off my smock, grabbed my purse and followed him and Sofia who was now holding his hand and skipping along by his side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you sure you can eat all that?!” I asked as I watched the waitress put the big chocolate ice cream covered brownie, smothered in whipped cream and hot fudge, in front of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s half-dollar sized green eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You bet!” she exclaimed happily as I looked up at her mother to see the same sized eyes also blinking at the masterpiece dessert.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, how about if we get two more spoons so we can share that with you?” Avery asked <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sofia</st1:place></st1:city> as she looked up at the waitress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waitress flashed a smile that seemed to say that she had many requests like this before and pulled two more spoons out from her apron, getting a chuckle from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thank you,” Avery said with a smile that lit up the area around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably the first genuine smile I had seen from her since we had met.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As soon as the waitress walked away and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> dug into her dessert I took a chance and said, “See, I knew you would look beautiful if you smiled.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smile quickly faded and a look of warning crossed over her eyes, sending chills through me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’d appreciate if we don’t talk about things like that in front of my daughter,” she said coldly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fair enough,” I piped back with a reassuring smile, hoping it would show that I meant no harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, our lunch was quite pleasant as I learned about what school Miss Sofia attended and what kind of things she liked to do in her free time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She talked incessantly about her art lessons, her Nana and of course her mom but no word was spoken about her father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could only assume that he wasn’t in the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Do you play any sports?” I asked as I took a bite out of the rich dessert.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I play kick ball at recess and I like to roller-blade with mommy along the beach,” she said happily as she licked the hot fudge off her spoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You ever play hockey?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this question I heard Avery suck in a breath and another glare was shot my way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No! But I want to so bad!” she said with an excited look that changed to a somber one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mommy says we don’t have enough money for me to play though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ssh, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, we do not talk about money in front of strangers,” Avery hissed at the little girl who just looked up at her with big sorrowful doe eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“But Loops isn’t a stranger…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s enough, Sofia,” Avery warned in a motherly tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Of course I did not prod the child because I didn’t want to make the situation any more uncomfortable for either party, but the wheels were already turning in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead we saved the real uncomfortable situation for the arrival of the lunch bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“How much is our half of the bill,” Avery asked as I took the check from the waitress.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I opened up the folder, looked at it for a minute and said, “Nothing, your meals were free.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A frown came across her face as she reached her hand out for me to pass the check to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I will be paying for mine and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s meal, thank you,” she said curtly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, nope, it was my treat, I’m the one that asked you two lovely ladies to join me for lunch, so it is only fair for me to pay,” I announced as I slipped my plastic card into the folder and signaled for the waitress before Avery could cause too big of a scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She leaned across the table and hissed, “I don’t know what ideas you have, but I’m sure they are all wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I leaned back across the table, placing myself inches away from her and challenged back, “Believe me, whatever ideas you think I have are probably all incorrect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I brought you out here to apologize for my behavior and to treat my new friend Sofia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m bored as hell with not being able to play hockey with all my back problems, so humor me and relax cranky pants.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She went to open her mouth, but quickly closed it again as she sat back in her chair once again, leaving me a clear view to smile at Sofia who was looking at us quizzically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Now ladies, I guess we should probably get you back to your store so you can sell more flowers to poor old saps like me,” I chirped with a wink before I got up from my chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way back to the shop, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> held my hand again, skipping down the sidewalk beside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped at my Jeep and then I followed them back into the shop where we found the counter girl flirting it up with some guy that looked like he could be her father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She instantly blushed as she said loudly, “Anything else I can get you sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I almost laughed as I heard the man clear his throat and said, “No that will be all, thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a great day,” he said as he nodded uncomfortably at Avery and me and walked out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And what was that all about, Jess?” Avery asked, raising an eyebrow at the blonde clerk as she walked over to put on her ugly green smock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I was just giving him ideas on what to write on the card…” Jess said as she twirled her hair and gave me a longing look that made me feel like I was a stripper at Chip and Dales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So how was lunch?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I had the best dessert ever!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> piped up as she squeezed my hand, causing me to look down at her and smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, let me give you what I came here to give you in the first place…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ooo! My surprise!” the little girl squeaked happily as I led her over to the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked her up and placed her next to the box I had brought in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I placed it on her lap when Avery came over to stand behind the little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just looked at me suspiciously as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> opened the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside were two jerseys that were <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was adorned with my name and number, the other with Bobby’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both were signed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also another one of mine that had a note pinned to it for Nana along with 3 tickets for tomorrow afternoon’s game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mommy!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> yelled loudly, causing the 3 adults in the room to cover their ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up to find Avery giving me the death look and crooking her finger at me to follow her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, I will be right back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to talk to your mommy for a moment,” I said to the little girl who was now standing on the counter, attached to my neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After prying her little hands from my neck, I followed Avery into the back store room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She closed the door and spun around with the most furious look I had ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Except for maybe the look I got from my mom when I brought home baby porcupines in my pillow case.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That is enough!” Avery yelled in a loud whisper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Seriously, I don’t know what you are doing but I will not accept those tickets!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot afford something like that and I do not take charity!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, it was mostly Bobby’s idea and this is not charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do this kind of thing all the time, especially for little kids like <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What is it that you want from me?!” she asked as she took an abrupt step towards me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Have you made it your mission to piss me off incessantly and pay me back for not giving you your money back on your stupid ass flowers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if that is the case, you did enough of that the first time I met you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It took all I had not to break out into laughter; instead an unwanted smile broke out across my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of those times that even though you are getting yelled at, you feel this sudden urge to laugh at the situation, even if it is the worst possible time to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">**SMACK**<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I put my hand up to my face and looked down at Avery in disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Really? Did I really deserve that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yes,” she said simply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please, stay out of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need guys like you in it,” she said as she began to walk away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Here we go with the accusations and assumptions again.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a step in front of her to cut her off before she got to the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And what kind of guy am I exactly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last time I checked, I thought I was an all around pretty good guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Of course you would think all highly of yourself,” she snorted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You make millions of dollars and you don’t care what hearts you break along the way, including my daughter’s, so please spare us the hurt and leave us alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a deep breath and tried one more time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Avery, I promise you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have any ulterior motives except for the fact that I want to prove to you that not all athletes are stuck on themselves or worried only about their money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know who hurt you in the past, but I promise that is not my intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your little girl made me genuinely smile yesterday after the first time in about a year, ever since I lost my niece in a car accident last summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please, come to the game tomorrow afternoon so that I can put a smile on that little girl who is sitting on the counter waiting for your decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never meant to overstep my boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom has often said that I go overboard on things I’m passionate about, so I apologize for my weakness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished my sentence with another deep breath and waited for the wrath.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Avery looked up at me with a torn glance and nodded her head, “Fine, what time do we meet you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I silently sent up a prayer and said softly, “Be at the rink around 11:30 if possible, that way I can give you guys a 2 cent tour before hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I set aside a jersey for you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That won’t be necessary,” she snapped, obviously still annoyed that I won, yet a hint of a smile was beginning to form on her lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, well don’t wear purple unless you want to root for the Kings…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Maybe I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Then I cannot promise your life will be safe,” I said with a chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can hold my own,” she said with a smirk as she walked around me and back out into the shop where <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> was awaiting the final answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I bet you can.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I quickly bounded out of the back room and ran around to the front of the counter to scoop <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> up into my arms to swing her around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Looks like you are going to be my date tomorrow afternoon for the game, little lady!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“YAY!” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> squealed as she clawed towards my neck to give me a bear hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re the best Loops!”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So are you, Grasshopper.”<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-62456062232931726322011-09-30T08:00:00.001-04:002011-09-30T08:00:06.683-04:00Chapter 2<div style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGK5R0fldMLvkA8WTK8t0rRAq671m-_F2PpTGEr6jfAfJsC8XN" data-sz="f" height="166" name="QZDqnvFMQ28YLM:" sb_id="ms__id9858" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGK5R0fldMLvkA8WTK8t0rRAq671m-_F2PpTGEr6jfAfJsC8XN" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px -11px;" width="249" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...Lavender, the flower of annoyance</div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Thanks for meeting me for lunch,” Bobby said to me as we sat at our favorite sandwich shop in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Newport</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Krissy is having the florist come over to the house to start going over wedding plans.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You don’t want to be involved with that?” I chuckled before taking a swig of my ginger ale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laughed a little harder when I watched his face twist up like he had just bit into a lemon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m all about helping with the wedding plans, but decorations are not my strong hold,” he grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I would have never guessed, especially since all the house decorating was given to Krissy when she moved into your bachelor pad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, she’s got a knack for that kind of shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can pick whatever colors she wants, as long as it’s not pink.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, pink washes out your face…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Shut the fuck up,” he growled again as he took a bite of his wrap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So speaking of flowers…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Don’t even go there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m completely done with women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to be a bachelor the rest of my life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my turn to grumble.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Uh-huh, that’s what I figured.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know what was worse, getting dumped by Rochelle or the attempt to take the flowers back to the flower store,” I declared.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As soon as the last sentence was out of my mouth, Bobby stopped eating and looked up in surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wait, you tried to take the flowers back to the shop?!” obviously surprised by the idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You’ve never done that?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You can’t return flowers to a flower shop,” he said like it was a well known fact that I somehow missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can’t believe you actually tried to do that…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well the stupid counter girl said she guaranteed them to make Rochelle forgive me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just figured that with any guarantee you could return them if it didn’t work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby almost snorted the soda out of his nose and grabbed his napkin just in case it did come squirting out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow, Loops, you really can be a little off kilter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I just scowled at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, what happened when you tried to return them?” he asked after getting control of himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I took a deep breath, debating on if it was even worth the words, but of course I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well at first I went off on the counter girl from the day before and then this brown haired girl came from the back room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing she was the manager or something because of the way she butted into the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She accused me of being a cheater because I was some big sports guy and then she told me that you can’t return the flowers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She accused you of being a cheat?” he asked, genuinely questioning this idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah,” I said, as I too was still shocked about the accusation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I watched as he leaned back in his chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ya know, I bet she sees a lot of fucked up shit working there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve known some guys who send their wives and their girlfriends flowers all the time to just keep the peace.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I guess I never thought of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, I think her attitude was way too cranky to be working at a flower shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn’t they always be happy and all about the romantic shit?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Everyone has bad days.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, I wouldn’t use that florist for anything because of her attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a shame because she was actually pretty cute, despite the fact she was wearing an ugly green smock,” I said thinking about the dark haired girl who was several inches shorter than me with cute freckles and sparkling green eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I have to admit that I was a little annoyed to be making a house call for this wedding appointment, but when Krissy called and said that she would give $100 just for me to come out to her place, I couldn’t exactly say no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed the extra cash to put towards this month rent of my apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a bad habit of spending too much money on concert tickets and clothing for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> while not leaving enough for food, rent, and gas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I knocked on the door and was greeted by a petite, cheery blonde.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You must be Avery!” the blonde exclaimed happily as she pulled me into the beautiful ocean front home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m Krissy!” she squeaked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And who is this little gem?” she asked, bending down to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s level.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This is my daughter Sofia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry that I had to bring her along, but her Nana, my babysitter, had some things to do that she couldn’t take her along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you don’t mind if she is here,” I began apologetically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked keeping my appointments professional and as far as I was concerned, bringing my daughter along was not very professional, but I didn’t have any other choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh my gosh! There is no problem with it what so ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love children and I actually have my degree in early childhood education,” Krissy gushed as she took <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>’s hand and lead us into the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So how old are you Miss Sofia?” Krissy asked my curly blonde haired daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m 5 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just started kindergarten,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> said with a dazzling smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> adored anyone who would talk to her, especially someone who talked down to her level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a very bright child who was my world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had her when I was 20 after being knocked up in a one night stand of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father has no clue about her, and for the sake of keeping things simple, I’m glad he doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, with the money he makes a year, it would probably make our lives a little easier, but I’m not that type of person.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I looked around the house as I drug my messenger bag on wheels along behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ve got a great place here,” I remaked to Krissy as I handed Sofia her backpack to keep her occupied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh thanks, Bobby actually bought the place before we even met, but I’m the one who decorated it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boys really don’t have a clue when it comes to home décor, especially hockey players.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, he’s a hockey player?” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yay! This is going to be a great paying wedding…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, Bobby Ryan, he plays for the Ducks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know who he is?” she asked with a face I couldn’t say no too, even though I really had no clue who he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sofia</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> beat me to the answer by exclaiming, “I know who he is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He played for the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> in the Olympics!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s my favorite player!” she squealed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Krissy and I both looked over at the little girl who had a huge smile plastered across her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How do you know all that?” I asked, shocked to find that my daughter knew that bit of information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nana and I watch hockey games when you aren’t home,” she said shyly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well that’s news to me,” I said with a chuckle as I looked at Krissy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We think the players are cute, especially Loops,” <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> declared.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Loops?” I asked Krissy and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, yeah, he’s Bobby’s best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joffrey, he’s a great guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lost soul when it comes to life and women, but a great guy,” Krissy said with a sincere smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They are actually out to lunch right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, well that’s great, then I guess we should get to business,” I said as we sat down on the expensive, oversized couches in the living room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was there for about an hour and a half going over all the ideas she had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Halfway through, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> asked if she could sit outside on the porch and color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Krissy and I got her set up we went back inside and got back to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Krissy actually had some really awesome ideas that I knew were going to take time and a half to do, but I was up for the challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned out to be a really nice girl who I was looking forward to working with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years, when working on weddings, you form a best friend relationship with the bride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course once the wedding is over, we all go back to our normal lives and pictures are the memories you have to hold on to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At least she will be a friend that will be cool to work with for the next 9 months. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was finishing packing up my bag when I heard squeaking followed by some laughter from Sofia and a guy or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly ran over and opened the door to find a guy laying on his stomach coloring with my daughter and the other guy sitting on the ground next to them, laughing at some personal joke they seemed to be sharing amongst themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, Bobby!” Krissy exclaimed as she pushed by me and threw her arms around the guy who was sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Bobby, you have to meet Avery, our florist!” she gushed, as she pulled him up off the ground to shake hands with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He smiled broadly, revealing cute dimples that were accentuated with his blonde curly hair sticking out underneath of his baseball hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nice to meet you Avery,” he greeted with a firm handshake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sure Krissy has worn you out with all her ideas,” he smiled lovingly at his fiancé. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s going to be a project, but I’m sure everything is going to look beautiful…” I said sincerely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I see you met my new friend, Sofia!” Krissy said as she walked over towards my little girl and the other guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mommy, meet Loops!” my daughter exclaimed happily as she finally noticed me standing to the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that, the guy lying on the ground next to her looked up and instantly I recognized his pale blue eyes and chiseled facial features.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His thick-short hair was also covered by a black military style hat, making him look even more handsome than he did the other day when we went rounds in the flower shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It felt like something cemented me to the porch floor, not allowing my body to react.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same seemed true for him also, but he was able to recover a lot faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, now look who it is!” he replied smartly as he did a push up off the porch floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His muscles once again stretched his shirt sleeves, making them look like they were going to split.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, you know Avery?!” Krissy exclaimed happily looking between the two of us, completely missing the tension that immediately filled the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, we met at the flower shop the other morning,” he said, collecting himself with a sly smile as he walked over towards me, looking me up and down like I was a piece of meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She’s very pleasant.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When he said this, I watched as a look of recognition crossed over Bobby’s face, yet I didn’t get any ill vibes from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seems my buddy Loops must have thought it important to tell his best friend about his stupidity from the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I would be made out to be the bad person.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s amazing!” Krissy exclaimed happily. Finally, I unfroze myself and began moving towards the steps, trying to get the attention of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sofia</st1:place></st1:city> that it was time to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Um, Krissy, I’ll be in touch with you on Monday about possible prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will take me the weekend to get all the notes figured out put things down in a more organized manner,” I said quickly, feeling the man’s eyes on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place>, gather up your stuff so we can get home for dinner,” I said at my daughter who was staring doe eyed at the boys.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I watched in horror while Joffrey helped scoop up <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sofia</st1:place></st1:city>’s things and I almost flipped shit when he picked her up to carry her down the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried my hardest to put on a big smile for my little girl who was obviously in heaven, but I’m sure it came across as more of a grimace than anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I turned to follow them down the down the steps, Krissy gave me a tight hug and another thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then quickly went after the man that was carrying my daughter, with my bag bouncing loudly down the steps behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’ll be right back,” I said quickly to Bobby and Krissy, making sure I ignored Avery’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobby of course had a smug look on his face and sweet Krissy had her normal innocent smile on her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She always wanted people to be happy and I’m sure she thought that this Avery chick and I were already best friends like everyone else in the world should be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I walked over to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door, helping <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> into her booster seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You don’t need to do that,” Avery snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“It’s fine, I have nieces and nephews, so I can handle it,” I said, completely ignoring her demeanor while I smiled at the happy little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say, I was completely shocked to find that her mother was the cranky flower shop girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the sparkling green eyes should have been a dead give away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank goodness her mother’s poor attitude hadn’t seemed to rub off on her yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">As soon I gave <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> a high five and a promise to see her again, I closed the door to find Avery standing at the back of the truck with her arms crossed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her face was bright red but I wasn’t sure if it was from anger or embarrassment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What, do you want to know if your flowers are still alive?” she snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No, that’s not exactly what I was going to ask, but since you mentioned it…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She just shook her head and started to walk towards the driver side of the beat-up S-10 pick-up truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Actually I was just going to tell you that maybe you shouldn’t do the flowers for Krissy and Bobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they deserve someone with a lot better attitude to help plan for their special day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Fuck off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That is exactly what I am talking about,” I declared, “You can’t even curb your nasty attitude around your daughter,” I chirped, placing myself in front of her driver’s side door, effectively blocking her way and making her look at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">She really is quite beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>She was wearing a black tank with a purple tattoo pattern that stretched across her breasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was obvious that she spent some time in the sun with her nicely tanned arms and legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What really caught my attention was the black nail polish on her fingers and toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed to go right along with her several ear piercings and small nose piercing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Leave my daughter out of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason I was just informed today that she and my grandmother have some sort of crush on you, so I’d really like it if I didn’t have to tell her how much of an dumbass you really are,” she hissed in low tones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I could even see the flames shooting out of her eyes and ears.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You sure don’t have trouble hurling insults at someone you don’t know…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t need to know you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are trying to impress me by becoming buddies with my daughter, you’ve got the wrong idea,” she spit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I held up my hands, “Whoa, there was no intention of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe me, you are not even close to being my type,” I informed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Besides after the whole flower debacle, I’ve decided to swear off women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have just proved to me how crazy you all are.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well yooooouu…” she sang out as she gave me a healthy shove to the side so that she could get to the door of her truck, “Are basically calling the kettle black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So get out of my way before I have to call 911 for harassment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She opened the door and began climbing inside as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sofia</st1:city></st1:place> yelled out, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Loops?”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yup, see you tomorrow, grasshopper!” I yelled back and smiled as Avery scowled at the plan she obviously had no clue about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kind of felt bad that Sofia would have to deal with her wrath, but I thought it best to walk away before Avery had a chance to back me over with her piece of shit truck that sounded like it was on it’s last leg 50,000 miles ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-21367886241385732782011-09-28T11:19:00.001-04:002011-09-28T12:45:54.308-04:00Chapter 1<div style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" sb_id="ms__id4637" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOUvcY6ZTfYQF2NlQe7CSySv_Ipd1sDpWcgzsscyM4EC6jaxgM" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /><br />
...pink roses, the flower of graciousness</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Okay, Krissy, you are in the book for 1pm on Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring any ideas you have for flowers and themes along with you and we will go over them to see what might work best for your ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, come up with a budget on how much you want to spend on the flowers for the wedding because things can go over budget quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See you then!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I hung up the phone and looked over at Jess and did a little fist pump.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Another wedding?” Jess asked with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You betcha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need this one; it will be a big wedding with basically an unlimited budget from the sounds of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems like the girl is marrying some athlete,” I said as I rolled my eyes a bit despite knowing this could be a big break in getting my flower shop some much needed business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I opened it a couple years ago with my grandmother and it was all it took to keep our head above water in such a competitive town as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Anaheim</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we could get our name out, there was money to be had.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Ooo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear who the athlete is?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Nope, and it doesn’t really matter to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could give two shits about those overpaid people, unless they are willing to give me their money,” I grumbled, going back to cleaning up some roses that were just delivered this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Speaking of athletes, there was a guy who came in here this morning that I think played for the Anaheim Ducks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He bought a dozen of those pink roses, saying he had to say sorry to his girlfriend for something,” Jess informed me as she came over to help with the roses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sure he cheated on her or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think I’d forgive him with how cute he looked,” she said as she hip checked me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, I did guarantee him that they would cure whatever problem he needed to fix,” she announced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You have always been a softy,” I said, giving a look of sorrow to my hopeless romantic employee and best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And you have always been one to not fall for the romantic stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never understood it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you work in such a romantic place and not get all into it?” she said over dramatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Because I am a realist, Jess,” I stated simply.<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A realist who has seen so many men walk into my store that cheated on their wives and thought flowers would fix everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or what about the husbands that would frequent the store to send flowers to their girlfriend in another town and also to their wives to make sure they weren’t suspected?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen way too much of that in my time.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“This girlfriend thing really is a pain in my ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so tired of putting forth an effort only to get knocked back down again,” I whined to Bobby while we walked out of the practice rink and into the parking lot to our cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think you try too hard for the girls that shouldn’t matter much,” he said honestly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“What is that supposed to mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, Rochelle is just too much to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, who the hell gets pissed off at their boyfriend of 2 months for forgetting her mom’s birthday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, I don’t know where you find these chicks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to find someone normal or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I thought she was normal,” I said seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Loops, it is not normal to wear hooker boots for a hiking trip,” he pointed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She was just trying to impress.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you really that blind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they cut some nerves with all the back surgeries you’ve had?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“So do you think the flowers are too much?” I asked, trying to change the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bobby just snorted and answered, “I don’t see her as the flower kind of girl, man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she is the last person to take flowers as an apology.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You are just saying that because you think she is a stuck up snob,” I quipped as I laid the flowers on the passenger side of my Jeep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobby never liked Rochelle because he was never one for the high maintenance girls I always seemed to be infatuated with.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I think you are just too much of a hopeless romantic to actually find a girl that will take you seriously,” Bobby said honestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And I think you are just trying too hard to fall in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to just let that one rest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Just because you and Krissy instantly realized you both belonged together does not mean it might just take some time for me and Rochelle,” I announced smugly before I started up the Jeep and put it in drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearing myself say the words suddenly made me feel not as sure of myself as I did just a second ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She’s not worth it and you need to just let things happen.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Unfortunately things don’t just happen for me,” I mumbled as I drove away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The next morning I was sorting through my flower delivery when I heard the bells jingle on the shop door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even get time to turn around when I heard the man’s voice start talking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You told me these would fix my problem,” I heard him say to Jess as she gasped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I-they-um…” she stuttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She told me to shove them up her ass, so now I’m bringing them back to you,” he continued in a foul mood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Excuse me, what seems to be the problem?” I walked around from the back of the shop while wiping my hands on the towel I was carrying to find a tall, light brown almost blonde haired man standing at the counter with a distraught look on his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had soft blue eyes and was wearing a tight fitting t-shirt that achingly stretched across his broad shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She guaranteed me that these flowers would get the right reaction from my girlfriend who is now my ex-girlfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to let her know that it didn’t work,” he said, seemingly frustrated that I was getting involved with his little rant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well, guaranteeing something like that was probably not the best thing, but we can’t fix infidelity,” I snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The guy’s eyes popped open wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Infidelity?!” he scoffed as he stepped back, obviously appalled at my accusation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You think I bought flowers to say sorry for cheating on her?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yeah, isn’t that what all you big sports players do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked, putting my hands on my hips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I mean you guys make all this money and think its okay to go about and do what you want with other women…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Whoa lady, you got it all wrong,” he insisted, taking a step back towards the counter, looking slightly angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh, then tell me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What part did I get wrong?” I challenged him, making sure I raised my eyebrow dramatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">He stood there, stared, and shoved his hands in his pockets before speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words that came from his mouth were not at all I was expecting. “She was mad at me because I forgot about her mom’s birthday,” he stated plainly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I opened my mouth to say something witty, but honestly, I couldn’t think of anything, because it was probably the most pathetic thing I had ever heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even heard Jess snort in the back room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had walked away as the man and I went rounds, but she obviously felt the need to still listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“See,” he said like he just won the battle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“That’s pathetic,” I mumbled. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“She got mad at you for forgetting her mom’s birthday? Really? What the hell kind of girl are you dating?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m not dating her anymore, remember, that is the reason I’m here bringing back the flowers,” he growled obviously distraught over the stupid situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I shook my head and rolled my eyes at his complete stupidity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can’t return flowers,” I reiterated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is this guy fucking stupid or what?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Oh,” he said, slumping his shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It amazed me how such a strong built guy could look so pathetic at this moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well I figured since she guaranteed me that they would fix the situation that they would be returnable if they didn’t work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Well she should have not guaranteed them and no, you may not return them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give them to someone else if you don’t want them in your house,” I informed him as I was still in disbelief about the fact I was even having this conversation with someone who made a couple million a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worst part, he didn’t seem to have much of a brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I was thrown for even more of a loop as he suddenly pushed the flowers in my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Here, take them, I’m giving them to you because I’m sure no one ever gives you flowers since you work at a flower shop,” he said in a thoughtful tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I wouldn’t have thought him so pathetic, I would have almost thought his gesture a cute one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I held up my hand to say no, but he grabbed my wrist, opened my hand and placed the flowers in my hand, closing my fingers around the stems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“By the way,” he said as he stepped back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As a florist, you probably shouldn’t think the worst of people just because they are coming in here to buy flowers for an apology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might be a ‘big sports player,’” he quoted with his hands, “but it doesn’t mean I’m a bad guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just a guy who can’t seem to find the right girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and you should smile because you probably look beautiful when you do.”<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 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Before I could get my mouth to work, he turned around and tromped out of the shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669925019553395813.post-25225226566558030482011-09-28T10:54:00.000-04:002011-09-28T10:54:29.509-04:00Introduction and Welcome!Well, I said I would post other stories I had written and posted on the FanFic board... and this is one of them. One of the things about writing FanFic for hockey is that a lot of the time, trades happen and you find your story being even more of a fic than before, which is exactly what has happened in this instance. So again, it goes to prove that everything that happens in my stories are fiction and any coincidences are exactly that.<br />
<br />
I'm posting this story next because my friend K said this is her fave... and I gotta admit, it's one of mine too!! It's a shorter story with lots of fun packed into it. I hope you and enjoy and I look forward to your comments!!!HockeyFireChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16091285029672917458noreply@blogger.com0