by Jenna Payne
She got to the rink quicker than she expected. She jumped out of the car, shoes crunching in the fresh snow. Abby’s breath crystalized in the air before her. It was freezing, and she wasn’t dressed for this. It didn’t matter, she was on a mission.
She paid for a ticket, stepping through the doors and looking at the clock. Her heart sank. It was already the third period. The game would go on until someone won, and she wouldn’t have a chance to talk Trevor out of playing if he wasn’t already injured.
She stepped carefully down the stairs of the center aisle, ignoring the whispered hisses of the people she blocked as she went.
She couldn’t see Trevor. What number had his jersey read when he was admitted to the hospital? She couldn’t remember and she kicked herself for forgetting something so important.
But, with so many white men with almost the exact build of Trevor, it was going to be impossible to pick him out of the team.
Defeated, she took her seat to watch the rest of the game, setting her doctor’s bag on her feet rather than the sticky floor.
What did people see in this experience? It was loud, the floors were sticky with eons of spilled soda and food and it was cold. So freaking cold.
Abby was miserable, but she focused on the task at hand and tried to push the rest out of her mind. Being cold was the least of her problems right now.
She watched as the puck was passed from man to man, marveling at how such hulking men could be so light on their feet. They ducked and weaved through the mass of shoving bodies, gliding along the ice as if the skates were merely an extension of their bodies.
Abby got caught up in the beauty of it. The sound of the skates cutting the ice and the clap of sticks slapping together was mesmerizing. Abby found herself enjoying the game even while she desperately searched the men, looking for Trevor. He had to be here somewhere.
A timeout was called and the crowd booed. Abby didn’t know what had happened, but it didn’t matter. The men were skating to their respective coaches, removing helmets as they went.
This was her chance to spot Trevor!
She jumped out of her seat and rushed down the stairs. Her eyes were locked on the men as they came to the railing in a line to speak with the coach.
Abby moved until she was close to where they were filing by, but she still didn’t see Trevor. Had he been taken to the hospital already? Had something happened to him on the road?
Their fight flashed through her head and Abby’s stomach knotted. Would the last thing she said to him be the last thing he heard? How would she live with herself?
“Abby. Abbryana! Over here.”
Was she hearing things?
“Abby! That’s the wrong team.”
Abby looked up and down the rink to the other team’s box. It was Trevor shouting at her from behind the bench. Abby couldn’t believe her eyes. What was he doing there?
She worked her way over, ignoring the angry words of people as she passed down the row. There was no one on the ice, she didn’t know why people were yelling at her to sit down.
Abby finally reached Trevor, surprised to see that he wore his jersey and a pair of jeans and sneakers.
“Did you get hurt?” she blurted out.
“No Abby. I didn’t.”
“Then why are you not on the ice?”
“I did a lot of thinking, and it turns out, you were right. I talked to the coach and he’s hiring me as his assistant. No one knows yet, but Coach is retiring at the end of the year. When he does, I’ll take his place.”
“So that’s it? You’re just giving up playing?”
The relief she felt was clear. Trevor smiled tenderly at her through the plexiglass.
“I’ll never forget what you asked me before I left.”
“‘Are you going to choose love or the game?’” Abby remembered.
“And I realized. I didn’t have to choose. I could have both.”
“You can?” Abby teased.
“I can. After all, choosing to play meant I could lose you. And a life without you, Abbryana Ferris, isn’t really a life at all.”
THE END
Bonus Story 38 of 40
Game Changer
Miles
“Yo Miles, that girl is straight up feelin’ you,” Jackson nudged my arm and then thrust his chin in the direction of the woman he was talking about. I glanced to my left and saw a woman dressed tastefully in a little black dress and high heeled red pumps. She had legs for days and what looked like the perfect pair of breasts nestled into that dress. She really was looking right at me, her eyes looked all dark and mysterious because of the low lighting in the club, but I wasn’t drunk enough not to be able to tell how beautiful she actually was. Her wavy hair was pinned over one shoulder and framed her diamond shaped face beautifully, she had slightly feline features that were delicate and perfectly feminine.
“Am I seein’ right?” I asked Jackson and he cracked up. “Bro she is sexy as hell,” I said and he clapped me on the shoulder, still laughing.
“Go over and talk to her, if you don’t I sure as hell will,” he said and then pushed me slightly in her direction. I walked around the bar and stepped up to her side.
“Hi, I’m Miles,” I introduced myself politely and she gave me a sweet smile which I didn’t expect at all. Usually girls who looked like her were over confident and their smiles all seemed entitled to me. But not this girl.
“I know who you are. Only the best basketball player of all time right?” she said in a teasing tone, her voice was melodic and like silk to my ears.
“Not all time, but one of the best I will admit,” I flashed her a grin and got a giggle in return. “So what’s your name?” I asked charmingly and she gave me that sweet smile once more.
“I’m Christina, it’s really cool to meet you,” she offered me her hand to shake, but instead I brought her knuckles to my lips and greeted her the old fashioned way. Stuff like that always worked with women, they loved a gentleman. Christina looked at me with humor in her clear blue eyes and then laughed.
“What?” I asked with a smile and wondered if the hand kiss thing didn’t work for her.
“It’s nothing it’s just that…that was so unbelievably corny,” she said and then laughed again. Her laughter was so carefree that I ended up laughing too. I guess the old hand kiss trick was corny.
“So if kissing your hand doesn’t impress you, what can I do to so that you’ll let me buy you a drink?” I asked and she quirked an eyebrow at me.
“Well you can just ask,” she said and smirked at me.
“Well Christina, can I buy you a drink?” She nodded and then I motioned for the bartender. “What’s your poison?” I asked her and she shrugged.
“How about your surprise me?” she said and then I ordered an Old Fashioned for her. When the bartender served it to her she took a sip and then smiled at me as if she was impressed. Thank God. “Old Fashioneds are my favorite type of drink,” she said and I grinned triumphantly.
“Well you know what that means right?” She quirked an eyebrow at me and I gestured in between us. “We’re meant to be, guessing your favorite drink isn’t just a coincidence,” I said and she laughed.
“Meant to be? I don’t know, I think I need to be a little more than tipsy to go along with that,” she said with a laugh in her voice.
“Well…I mean…that can be arranged.”
“Oh really? Is that your plan?”
I held my hands up in surrender and shook my head.
“Definitely not. My plan was to come over here and say hi, how far I get is completely up to you Christina,” I said and flashed her one of my signature charming smiles.
“You’re a little…” she grasped for the words to say and I finished her sentence for her.
“Cocky? Yeah a little,” I said and she laughed.
“I was going to say a bit of a smooth talker, but I can see you being a bit cocky too,” she said and I shrugged.
“I’m sm
ooth on the dance floor too, how about a dance?” I asked her and she laughed again, but put her drink down and slid her hand into mine.
“Sure, but you have to promise me you won’t be so corny from now on,” she laughed and I chuckled.
“I’ll try not to be, but I can’t guarantee it.”
I led her out onto the full dance floor. The DJ was playing a sultry, but upbeat dance song and both our bodies caught the rhythm easily. Christina moved really well with me, there was no awkwardness as we danced and I could tell that she enjoyed dancing just for the sake of moving to the music. One song bled into the next and before we knew it we had danced for three songs in a row.
“You’re a great dancer!” She seemed surprised as I led her back to the VIP area where some other guys from the team were at.
“You didn’t think I would be?” I asked her and she shrugged slightly and gave me an innocent smile.
“I mean…usually tall guys only like sway or something,” she said and I cracked up.
“What like trees in the wind?”
“It sounds bad, but yeah,” she laughed.
She made me laugh all over again as I visualized one of the other guys from the team swaying to music like a tree.
“Hey, any guy can dance—tall or short,” I defended my kind and she held her hand up in surrender.
“And clearly I’ve been proven wrong. You’re good on the dance floor.”
“Thank you. So how about another drink and I get to know you a little?” I gave her a hopeful look and she nodded, her expression all cute and a little shy. I didn’t know if it was that smile or what, but this woman had definitely worked some sort of enchanting magic on me.
*****
Christina
I could not believe I was actually sitting in the Chicago Red’s VIP section and flirting with Miles Anderson. He was even more gorgeous in person than he was on TV or in pictures. He looked exactly like his nickname entailed; superman. His wavy black hair had that superman curl, he had the traditionally handsome features. A square angular jaw and slightly cleft chin, straight nose, and slightly intense brows. He also had cheekbones that any male model would kill for and lips that looked so unbelievably soft I wondered if he wore lip balm.
“So what do you do?” Miles leaned forward on the couch we sat down at and gave me his full attention, it was like to him I was the only other person in the room.
“Well I just passed the Bar exam so now I’m a full blown lawyer,” I said and then took a sip of the second drink Miles bought for me.
“Ah, so that’s what brought you out tonight; you’re celebrating,” he grinned at me and then picked up his glass of bourbon and clinked it with mine. “Congratulations, how many years have you been studying?” he asked and I sighed dramatically.
“Too many years, but I’m done and now the real work begins.”
“Hard work and dedication pays off, believe me,” he said and then took a sip of his drink.
“That’s definitely true for an athlete like you,” I observed and he shrugged modestly.
“It can be true for anyone pursuing any kind of success. Anyways, it takes a lot of discipline to stick to the books like you did. I admire that,” he said sincerely and of course that made me blush.
“Thanks, but it’s not a hard thing to do if you really love it and it catches your interest.”
Miles gave me a thoughtful smile and then ran his fingers through his hair, distracting me from our conversation to watch the flex of his biceps. He was wearing a form fitting sweater and jeans that fit him snugly. I was sure for such a simple, yet tasteful outfit, it was all designer and cost a fortune to anyone who didn’t make what he did.
“You’re different,” he said thoughtfully and I looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
“How so? Like weird different?” I chuckled and he shook his head.
“Like good, refreshing different. Usually if I meet a woman out at a club we’d still be dancing and not talking much and then she’d end up…well usually girls I meet are after one or both of two things from me,” he admitted and I followed him.
“Sex or fame?” I asked and he nodded.
“Yeah and fame usually equates to money,” he said and I patted his knee comfortingly.
“Don’t worry, I’m not interested in ‘fame’ and I’ve never done a one-night stand before.”
Miles looked at me in surprised disbelief.
“Get out, a girl like you? How do you keep the guys off you?” he asked and I laughed.
“It’s not hard, usually guys that come up to me aren’t all that persistent and know how to read body language and such. If they’re after a one night stand I say I’m not interested and that’s that.”
Miles looked at me as if I were a jewel from heaven.
“I just can’t believe this! Where have you been all my life girl? You got your head on your shoulders and that’s…well that’s sexy,” he grinned at me and I actually blushed a little.
“Thanks, but I’m finding it a little hard to believe you haven’t met other women that have their heads on their shoulders,” I gave him a look and he chuckled.
“It’s a product of where I hang out in my recreational time. I guess I attract the wrong kind of woman.”
I snorted and he quirked his eyebrows at me.
“What?”
“Well that’s just…bullshit, pardon me for saying, you approach the wrong kind of woman because deep down that’s the only kind you figure you know you can get. You came up to me because I’m dressed like this and have my hair and makeup done and appear like all the other women you’re used to. If you saw me on the street I’d be wearing SpongeBob glasses and comfortable jeans…yes the jeans may make my butt look good, but that’s beside the point. If you went out of your comfort zone a little you’d find a lot better women than you supposedly ‘attract.’” I schooled him a bit and he simply sat and stared at me in disbelief.
“I think I love you,” he said and then we both cracked up. “Seriously how did you just read me like that?” he asked and I shrugged.
“I have a lot of brothers who all go through the same crap. I’ll admit it is hard being a successful and attractive guy just trying to find a good woman. But part of that is knowing where to find a good woman…or simply wait around and let her fall into your lap,” I said and Miles grinned at me.
“Or realize that she’s staring at you from across the bar and go up to her,” he said and I gave him a shy smile. “How about another dance?” he asked me then stood up and offered me his hand. I put my drink aside and took it, then we hit the dance floor and spent the rest of the night talking, drinking, and dancing. By the time the club announced last call I was well and truly drunk.
“Hey where are you going after this?” he asked me as we made our way outside a bit clumsily.
“Uh, home I’m pretty sure,” I said and he gave me a slow sexy smile before he leaned down and kissed me on the jaw.
“How about you let me give you a ride?” he asked and I cracked up.
“There you go being corny again…how about we just go to your place and…play video games.” Miles looked at me as if I was the light of his life at that point.
“Yes, yes let’s do that!” he enthused, making me laugh all over again, yep he was probably just as drunk as I was.
*****
Miles
I woke up with a start, my phone was going off loudly and right next to my ear. I groaned and then silenced the thing before I looked down and saw Christina stirring from her sleep. She was wearing one of my jerseys and I had to admit that it looked hella good on her. We were lying on the floor in the upstairs family room where we had been playing video games, but then it turned into something much more.
Christina stretched and then pushed the blanket I had grabbed from my bedroom down a bit before she looked up at me in shock. “Oh…my god.”
I didn’t know how to read her mood, but it was becoming clear that she wasn�
��t exactly happy waking up next to me.
“What the hell happened last night?” she asked me in a gasp and I sat up. Her eyes went to my chest as I wasn’t wearing a shirt and they widened.
“Well uh…we met at the club…how much do you remember?”
“I remember I met Miles Anderson, but oh my god I never thought I would end up…like this—with you!”
“Well you did have a lot to drink last night, but this isn’t just a one-night stand, I promise. Maybe it’ll all come back to you once you’ve had something to eat,” I said to try and calm her down, but at that point she was getting up and looking for her clothes.
“No I can’t, I have to go. This so isn’t like me…I’m sorry, but I can’t stay,” she said in a rush and then changed from my jersey into what she was wearing the night before right in front of me.
“Not even for some coffee?” I asked her and she shook her head as she slipped on her shoes and found her clutch purse near the couch.
“I can’t, I have to go…this was crazy, but super cool to meet you…um—yeah,” with that she hurried towards the stairs and then left without a second glance.
For a second I just sat there thinking…I’m Miles Anderson, women didn’t walk out on me, usually I told them to leave. Then I realized that after all we did last night I didn’t even get her fucking number!
“Hey wait! Christina, wait!” I called after her and then ran downstairs in my boxers to try and catch her. I raced to the front door just in time to see her getting into a car through the window, my housekeeper, Linda, was locking the front door and she looked at me apologetically.
“I’m sorry Mr. Anderson, I had a car waiting, I know that you prefer to have one ready when you bring a woman home…” she said and I waved away her concern.
“It’s alright Linda…she was in a hurry anyway I’m sure you helped her out by having that car waiting,” I assured her and she smiled in relief.
“Alright then Mr. Anderson, can I get breakfast going for you?” she asked and I nodded. She walked off in the direction of the kitchen and I simply stared outside until the car was no longer in view driving away. After having a quick breakfast, I showered and changed to head over to the arena for a team practice. As soon as I walked into the locker room, Jackson came up to me and nudged my arm with a dumb grin on his face.
