She sighed. “Sorry, girl. I’ve already tried to get tickets.”
“You have?” I thought she could do anything when it came to the team.
“Yeah, when Erik told me Noah got called up to the first line. I thought it would be fun for us to go support him, but tickets were sold out and Denver isn’t the nicest to work with. I contacted their front office and they said they couldn’t help us. Don’t worry, I’ll remember this next time they need something.”
My hope deflated. “Dang. I thought I had the perfect idea.”
“You did, we were just too late.”
“Crap. I want to do something for him. Something as awesome as what he did for me.”
“Let me think. I’ll have some ideas by tonight.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll see you later.”
I knew I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. It wasn’t like it was a home game. We didn’t have any pull when they were away. That just would have been the perfect thing.
Oh well. Between all of us women, we’d come up with something awesome.
I ran errands for the rest of the day before arriving at Emma’s house with bags full of chips and dip and salsa.
Emma’s house was beautiful. Absolutely perfect, just like her and Olli. Of course.
I let myself in, like she told me to do. I could hear laughs from deep in the house. I followed the sound until I saw them gathered in the kitchen.
“Hey.” I walked in, holding out my bags. “I brought junk food.”
“Perfect!” Madi grabbed the bags and added them to the impressive spread. There was a fruit and veggie tray, but they were shoved off to the side. The center had two huge trays of street tacos and nachos.
“Oh, this looks so good.”
Emma gave me a hug and looked down. “Don’t tell the guys this is what we eat when they’re gone.”
I laughed along with the rest of the women. I knew what they were worried about. The guys were on strict diets, eating clean and rarely cheating. They would have to pass on most of this food. It was too bad for them.
Chloe walked in a minute later with a bottle of wine in each hand. “No men!”
The women cheered, and Emma took a bottle and immediately removed the cork. Soon, glasses were being passed around and I heard a few sighs.
“We’re so deprived.” Sophia sighed and leaned against the counter with her glass.
“It’s a hard knock life for sure.” Chloe sipped her wine and smiled.
Emma offered me a glass but I felt a bit guilty. “You can’t drink any.”
She opened the fridge and pulled out another bottle. “Sparkling cider for me!”
“Oh. I’ll take some of that, too.”
“Pour some for me!” A few other women joined in and I felt better about not drinking the wine.
We made plates stuffed full of empty calories and sat around the kitchen chatting.
“Madi, what’s the latest with the wedding plans?” I leaned forward to see Madi smile at a pretty brunette I’d met last night. I couldn’t remember her name though. Jen, maybe?
“The date, venue, and food are all set.”
“So, what’s left?”
Madi smiled. “Just the dress.”
Chloe laughed. “She’s seriously the pickiest person I’ve ever met.”
“I am not.”
“You’ve tried on over two hundred dresses.”
My jaw dropped along with most of the other women. Madi blushed. “I just can’t find what I’m looking for.”
Emma laughed. “How about you Chloe?”
“Oh, she’s done of course.” Madi rolled her eyes and stuffed half a taco in her mouth. I laughed and looked back to Chloe.
She was all smiles. “Everything’s coming together. We just need the day to get here.”
“When are you getting married?” I didn't want to insert myself like I expected to be included, but I was curious.
“July fifteenth.”
“And you, Madi?”
“August third.”
“Aw, no double wedding.”
Chloe shook her head. “No, this is one thing me and my twin will not share.”
Everyone laughed, and we continued eating. I was jealous of them. They’d both found their person. I couldn’t imagine how that would feel. To know your future and be confident in it.
Chloe clapped. “Oh! You guys! We have to come up with a surprise for Noah.”
The group seemed to perk up. “What kind of surprise?” Emma asked, what I was sure everyone was thinking.
I felt a little self-conscious about this. “I want to do something to thank him for last night.”
There were nods and a few mumbles, but no one spoke up.
“I wanted to show up at the game tonight, but it was too late.”
Chloe stood up. “I was thinking you could throw a party for him, but that’s not as original as what he did for you.”
I nodded and waited for someone else to come up with something.
“Does he have a favorite band?” Jen, I was planning on calling her that until proven wrong, asked.
“I know he likes U2 and some alternative bands.”
“You could get him concert tickets.”
I nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
Chloe spoke up. “No good. U2 isn’t touring.”
Emma sat up. “Where’s he from?”
“Vancouver.”
She nodded. “When was the last time he went home?”
I shrugged. “It’s been a while. Not since the draft. I know he misses his family.”
She smiled and said nothing.
“What?”
Chloe smiled. “Take him home.”
All of the women began chattering. Evidently this was a great idea.
I was confused. “How? It’s the middle of the season.”
Emma grinned at Chloe before turning to me. “They have four days between games.”
“When?”
“Starting tomorrow.”
“Oh, I know.” Madi was practically jumping up and down. “You’ll be at the airport when he gets back. You’ll have both of your suitcases ready. You’ll tell him to turn around and you’ll go to the gate and fly to Canada!”
I looked around. No one was looking at her like she was insane.
“I can’t pull that off,” I protested. “Plus, he has practice. He can’t just leave.”
Madi held up her hand. “Let’s see how he does tonight. If he’s amazing. I’ll text my dad and see if I can get him Sunday through Tuesday off. He’ll be back for Wednesday’s practice and the game on Thursday.”
“You think that could work?”
She nodded.
Chloe piped up. “I went home with Reese around the holidays. It was only two days, but it made such a difference. It was like he recharged.”
A few more women started nodding.
“Well, what are you waiting for Chloe? Let’s find flights just in case.”
She cheered and pulled out her phone.
“Come on, the game’s about to start.”
We moved as a herd to the living room where the TV was already showing the pregame. I found a spot between Emma and Sophia and tried to get myself to relax.
I was so nervous. This was a huge deal for Noah. It could determine the rest of his career. I knew that, but I really hoped he wasn’t thinking that. He needed to focus. Have his mind completely in the game. I was tempted to text him earlier, but I didn’t want him thinking about anything but what he had to do the moment he stepped on the ice.
The announcers went on about the two teams and began to introduce the first lines. I cheered when Noah’s picture came on the screen and they said he was one of the most promising rookies of the year.
Pride swelled in my heart. He deserved all the fame. One day he would see that.
We all cheered when Hartman won the first puck drop. My eyes were glued to Noah standing a few feet in front of Olli as the puck came into the
Fury’s zone.
He was focused. I could tell he was in the right mind set. He wasn’t letting anything get to him. I wanted to stand up. Pace. Anything. Sitting here in silence was too much.
“Come on ref, I know you saw that hooking!” Madi was screaming at the TV loud enough that the referee might have actually heard eight hundred miles away.
A few girls laughed, but the rest were agreeing.
Once Madi broke the ice, we all took turns standing and yelling. We might not be on the ice with the guys, but as I watched these women I knew they were the backbone of the team. They were just as passionate as their men.
The first period ended, and I finally relaxed. I took another sip of the apple cider and leaned back in the couch. The Fury were up by two and it didn’t look like Denver had what it took to get caught up. They were much slower and looked exhausted already.
All of the grueling practices our guys went through were worth it. They made the team faster and stronger than their opponents.
By the middle of the second period, Madi declared it was time to text her dad. She said he wouldn’t see his phone until after the game, but she thought if she caught him during the winning high he would say yes.
Chloe found flights that would leave just thirty minutes after the team landed. It would be perfect, as long as Coach approved.
I should also talk to his parents. “Do you know how I can get ahold of his family?”
Chloe smiled. “Let me get their number.”
I didn't question her ways. She had connections to everything, and just a few minutes later she texted me his parents’ home number.
“Is it totally weird if I just call?”
Madi held up her hand. “Wait until we get the all clear from my dad first. Then go ahead.” The women around her nodded. “It won’t be weird. I’m sure he’s told them about you. They’ll be too excited to realize a stranger is inviting themselves to their house.”
“Thanks.” I laughed at her last statement. Hopefully they wouldn’t notice I was inviting myself. I could always get a hotel. Yeah, I’d lead with that. I shouldn’t assume Noah would want me to stay with them.
I watched the final period sitting with my legs bouncing. I had too much adrenaline in my body. I’d need to go for a run after this. No, if all went as planned I’d have to get home and pack our bags.
The final buzzer rang and we all jumped up and cheered. The boys won!
We all hugged each other, and Emma even cried, but blamed it on the baby hormones, not the game.
We cleaned up, and I tried not to stare at Madi. She had her phone in her back pocket but wasn’t checking it. Had she forgotten? Didn’t she realize how important this was for me?
I threw away the trash and volunteered to take the bags outside to their can. I wanted a second to pull myself together. I returned feeling chilled and much less likely to tackle Madi to the ground to steal her phone.
Some of the women started leaving, telling me to let them know how it went. Soon it was just me, Chloe, Madi, Emma, and Sophia sitting in the living room. They were discussing more wedding things. I wanted to join in the excitement, but I couldn't focus. I just needed Coach to decide.
It was nearly eleven and I’d given up hope. I stood and started saying goodbye when Madi jumped up. “I have a text.”
She stared at her phone and squealed! “You’re good! Book the flights!”
Emma was cheering from the couch while I started jumping up and down with Chloe and Sophia. “I need to get my phone. I need to book them.”
Chloe tossed it to me. “Already done.”
“How?” We’d just barely been given the go ahead.
She shrugged. “I had a feeling and booked them during the second period.”
“How did you pay for them?”
“I used some of my frequent flier points.” She winked. “It’s all taken care of.”
I couldn’t believe she would do that. “Chloe, I can’t accept that. I’ll pay you back.”
She laughed and waved me off. “Between me and Reese we could fly around the world twice and still have miles left over. It’s really not a big deal.” She winked. “Plus, the Fury pays for the travel, we just get the points.”
I shook my head, but she ignored me. Then I realized I needed to make sure it was okay to drop in on his family. “Crap! I can’t call them this late.”
Chloe shrugged. “It’s good news to be woken up for.”
“Just call them in the morning.” I turned to see Emma standing. “Not much is going to change in the next eight hours.”
She was right. I could wait. Then they wouldn’t have to wait very long to see him. With my plan in place I finally felt excited. I couldn’t wait to see Noah and tell him.
Chapter Fifteen
Noah
I was exhausted. I couldn't wait to get home, crawl into bed, and be dead to the world for at least the next ten hours. The game was amazing. Better than I could have expected, and the team gave me the MVP of the night. Any doubt I had about them accepting me vanished. We were all here to win, and we supported whatever decisions were made to get us the victory.
When the flight crew opened the door and we began exiting, I stood and started to stretch. I needed to get some energy for the short drive back to my apartment. I should have asked Colby to drop me off. Next time I’d remember how tired I am right now.
I followed the guys into the terminal and waved as we all went our separate directions. I rubbed my face and headed to the parking garage.
“Noah.” I looked over my shoulder to Reese who was walking behind me. He pointed off to the left. I turned and saw Colby standing at the other side of the gate.
I looked her over for some sign of what was wrong. Why was she here? How did she get past security?
“Colby are you okay?”
She smiled at me uncertainly. A hint of excitement making her face glow. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”
“Why are you here? What’s going on?”
“Follow me.” Without another word she turned and walked off in the direction of the public terminals. I wanted to ask more questions, but I had a feeling she would ignore them. What was she up to?
She led me through the airport and finally stopped in front of a gate. I looked around but couldn't see where it was going.
“Are you leaving?” I asked. “Did something happen?”
Was this how she was quitting? Bringing me here to see her off?
No, maybe it was her family. Was one of them sick?
The attendant at the counter next to us picked up the mic. “My name is Laura, and I’d like to welcome you all to flight three-forty-eight with services to Vancouver.”
I blinked. Was she serious? She was going to Canada? Why had she brought me here?
Colby smiled and pulled something out of her pocket. She flashed a paper and I took it from her hands. A boarding pass. First class to Vancouver. With my name on it.
“What?”
She held up another boarding pass and my jaw nearly hit the floor.
“You’re going home,” she said.
“I am?” Relief washed over me. It was like I hadn’t known how badly I needed to see my family until it was a possibility. I couldn’t believe it was happening.
She nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
I shook my head. There was no way. “I have practice.”
“You have three days off. We’ll be back for Wednesday’s practice and I promised Coach you’ll work out while we’re gone.”
This was really happening? “Colby. This is amazing.”
She beamed. “I’m so glad you’re happy. I wanted to do something for you. I tried to get to the game last night but couldn’t get tickets.”
“So, we’re going home?”
She nodded. “Is it okay that I’m coming? I don’t have to.”
For the first time since I saw her outside my gate, she looked doubtful.
“Of course. I can’t believe you d
id all this. I can’t wait for you to meet my family and see where I grew up.”
I rubbed my face again. Sure, I was dead on my feet, but this was amazing. I hadn’t been home in almost two years. This was a miracle. I knew she was doing this as a thank you for her birthday party, but this was on another level. If we kept going back and forth trying to top each other, we were going to go broke.
I knew that’s not what she wanted or expected, but this meant so much to me. It was more than a birthday party thrown together in a few hours.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her in next to me. “Thank you.”
We boarded the plane and settled in. I wasn’t looking forward to another flight but going home was worth it.
“You were great last night.” She was grinning.
I leaned back. “It was surreal. I can’t believe I made that shot.”
She grabbed my hand and I squeezed back. “This really means a lot to me, Colby. You already do so much for me. I know I wouldn’t have survived this long without your help. You didn’t have to do this.”
She bit her lip, but I saw the smile threatening to peak through. I needed to thank her more often. “I wanted to.”
I yawned and she released my hand.
“Take a nap. You look exhausted.”
I waited to fight it. This was precious alone time I didn’t want to waste, but my eyes were winning. I fell asleep before takeoff.
Colby woke me up after we landed. “We’re here sleepyhead.”
I blinked and looked out the window. We were already at the gate. I yawned and stood. The rows ahead of us were already exiting.
I followed her off the plane with just my small bag. All she was carrying was her purse. “Where are your bags?”
She waited for me to catch up to her in the terminal. “I checked our bags.”
“You packed for me?”
“Of course. I couldn’t let you wear a suit the whole time.”
I looked down at my wrinkled shirt. Yeah, I didn’t want to live in this for much longer.
“You really thought of everything.” I felt guilty. She made my life too easy. I didn’t even have to think anymore. She was always three steps ahead.
She smiled up at me. “Not everything. I didn’t plan past us getting here. I didn’t want to schedule too much in case there was anything you really wanted to do.”
Line Change: Utah Fury Hockey Book Three Page 12
