Chapter 8

Summer 2006

I watched as she casted her bait off the back of the boat, set her rod on the rest and turned towards me to talk.

“So…what happens now that you are done in the OHL?”

“I go to rookie camp in a couple weeks and try and prove that I can at least play on our AHL team, which according to my coaches, shouldn’t be too hard to do.  I’ve gotten stronger with my game and after being on the Memorial Cup Champion’s team, I’ve been able to prove myself.”

“You’ll be living in Rochester then?”

“Yeah.”

“That bites…I was hoping you’d finally be home for good,” she said wistfully.

“Me too,” I answered honestly.  “But I highly doubt I will make the big club right out of the gates.  The one thing they want me to work on is my skating.”

“I always told you that you needed to work harder on that.”

“Oh, shut it.  You don’t know a damn thing,” I chirped at her, even though I knew she did in fact know what she was talking about.

“I know that you are built more like a football player than a hockey player,” she said.  And I knew she was right, my stocky built would have probably been better out on the football field, but hockey was my passion and I was determined to succeed, especially since I was so close to reaching my dreams.

“Still short and stocky like always…” she mumbled on.

I cut her off because I had heard those words from her mouth about a million times now.  “Um, okay little miss I’m only 5’6”.  You are not that tall.”

“Tall enough with heels.”

“Since when do you wear heels?”

She just shrugged and said, “I don’t, it’s just when I finally decide to wear them, I will be tall enough in them.”

I couldn’t help but snort at her silly thoughts.  Once I got my laughter under control I decided to start probing about Shane, Emma’s dorky ass college boyfriend.  “So how is the whole Sh-Emma thing going?”

The annoyed look instantly flashed my way and I just smiled broadly back at her because I always knew how to push her buttons.

“I hate when you call our relationship Sh-Emma!” she said through clenched teeth.

“I know,” I said still smiling, waiting to be smacked very shortly.

“Besides, Shane and I are through,” she said as she turned back to her fishing rod.

My heart all of a sudden felt 10 times lighter.  “You are through?  What happened? I thought you were really good together…”

“Shut the fuck up!” she snapped, scrunching up her nose.  “I know you hated him.”

“I did not hate him,” I covered.  “I just thought he was a tool.”

She spun back around with her eyes blazing with blue fire, “A tool?!  You are so full of shit, Kaleta!  He treated me very well.”

“He was a rich, pussy boy, who was too worried if his glasses were sitting on his face right.  You two were polar opposites; I hope to God he was at least good in bed.”

‘CRACK’

I think my ears were ringing from the slap across the face.  Well, there was the hit was I had been waiting for.

“That’s none of your damn business.  For your information he accepted a job at his father’s architecture company in California and asked me to move out there with him,” she roared.

I sat there stunned for a moment, but of course I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.  “So why didn’t you go along?” I asked hesitantly, waiting for her to only slap the other side of my face.

“By that point I had already put my application in for the city.  Plus, I couldn’t leave my dad,” she said in a calmer tone that left me relieve the tension I was holding while bracing for another possible attack.

“Your dad should have nothing to do with your decisions in life, Emma,” I said sincerely.

“I know you feel that way, but I can’t leave him by himself.  You know this.”

“I know, but it doesn’t mean I’ll ever understand it,” I said as I clenched my jaw like I did every other time Dean came up in the conversation; especially when it had to do with Emma’s forgiving love for the monster.

“You don’t have to understand it,” she said smartly and turned back to her fishing rod and focusing on it.

“What would you say if I asked you to move away with me?  Would you come with me?”  There! I asked it.

She didn’t turn around; she only spoke at the water.  “Why would you ask me that?”

“Well because I might want to ask you to move with me someday and I was just wondering if you’d do it.”

“Where would you move to?”

Now I was becoming a little flustered, “Hell if I know.  Just answer my question.”

She let out a woosh of air, “I don’t know.  It would all depend on where we are in our lives I guess.  That’s a stupid question anyway.”

“You’re stupid,” I said now thoroughly frustrated with this whole situation.

“Patrick, if you are trying to ask me to be your girlfriend, you are completely sucking at it.”

Well that shut me up.  All that came out of my mouth was “heh.”

I watched as she slowly turned back towards me and looked at me with sad, bright blue eyes as the wind blew through her hair.  “Don’t make our relationship awkward,” she pleaded softly with me.

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling my heart constrict slightly.

“No, don’t say sorry…maybe someday Patty, but right now your friendship is a hell of a lot more important than any lover.”  The inflection in her voice hypnotized me.  I realized the words were not coming from the little girl I had grown up with, but from a woman who was wiser beyond her years.  I came to the conclusion that somehow my maturity level was definitely not in line with hers and I was actually left slightly embarrassed.

“How did you grow up so much quicker than me?” I asked as I looked down at the floor of the boat.

Her laugh echoed around us, “Patty, we’ve both been through a lot, but all you’ve had to focus on is hockey.  I’ve had to make sure I secure a future for myself by living in the real world and becoming a grown-up at a young age.

Her words definitely rang true in my head.  She did not say it to be condescending; she said it because she was pointing out the reality.

End of March 2007 ­– the end of Emma and Ryan’s first date

“That’s great Patrick!” I squealed cheerfully but quietly into the phone when he said they won.  I was hiding out in the hallway by the bathrooms, so I wouldn’t disturb anyone.

“I scored a goal and had a fighting major too,” he said happily.

I rolled my eyes and slumped my shoulders, “Ugh! I hate when you fight!”

“I know you do,” he said proudly.  “So what are you up to?  How was the game?”

“I’m actually at Romeo and Juliet’s Café with Ryan,” I whispered excitedly into the phone.

“Really?” he asked, almost sounding a little bothered and I could easily picture his jaw tensing up like it did when he wasn’t happy about something..

“No jealousy, Patrick.”

“I’m not.  I’m just kind of surprised.  I wasn’t quite sure which way he swung.”

“What?!” I said a little louder than I intended.

“I’m just saying that he’s really quiet and reserved.  He’s very nice and I like him a lot, I just…oh never mind me.”

“Damn skippy I will be never minding you!” I snapped into the phone, trying not to laugh because it was typical Patty.

I heard him sigh, “Are you having fun?”

“Yeah, I am,” I answered honestly.

“Okay, well don’t let him get in your pants right away.  I don’t need people thinking my best friend is an easy lay.”

“Bye Patrick.”

“Wait!”

“Bye Patrick. Love ya bye!”

“Love ya, bye,” he said sadly because he couldn’t get anymore digs in.

I was blushing furiously as I slid back into my chair, finding that dessert had arrived and Ryan was left waiting for me.  “I’m soooo sorry.  It was Patrick, he always calls me after his games.  Plus, he wanted to harass me about going to your game tonight.”

Ryan laughed and said, “No problems.  They just dropped off the dessert a minute ago.”

I couldn’t help but smile at him, he really was a complete sweetheart even if I didn’t fully know his intentions as of yet.

After dinner he took me back to the arena to get my car.  He pulled next to my Ford Escape and put his vehicle into park.  Now is time for the always awkward goodbye.

“Give me your keys,” he said as he stuck his hand out for them.

Hesitantly, I pulled them out of my coat and handed them to him.  He promptly got out and walked over to my Escape and turned it on, cranking up the heat.  I watched in semi-awe as he walked back around and got back in the driver’s seat rubbing his hands together.  “It’s too cold for you to just get in and go.”

“I’ve lived in Buffalo for 22 years, Ryan.  I think I’m used to the cold,” I said with a smile.  “But, thank you.” I reached out and touched his hand.  He surprised me by taking it and pressing the back of it to his lips while staring into my eyes.  I was floored and felt like everything was spinning around me.  Oh hell.

“For your information, my parents raised a gentleman.  So after 27 years of having those qualities ingrained in my brain, I follow them,” he smiled slyly as he winked at me.

I could feel myself blushing at this point.  “Well, I hope you don’t expect me to be the perfect lady, cause sadly I grew up around a firehouse and I’m not always good with that prim and proper shit,” I said honestly.

“And I don’t think I’d want it any other way with you,” he said as he leaned over the console towards me.  I felt like I was in a dream and that everything was happening in slow motion.  I slowly leaned forward to meet him in the middle and was rewarded with one of the most sparking kisses I’d ever been involved with.

His long, cool fingers cupped both sides of my face.  His hands were so large that it felt like he could crush my face between them.  He touched me so lightly, like I was fragile but the electric current still passed through them to my skin.  The kiss was hesitant, nothing more than little pecks. My body was humming from so much anticipation that I could have sworn that he should have felt the energy radiating off me.  I got scared and pulled back.

“I’m sorry.  I should probably go.  Thank you so much for one of the best evenings of my life.  Bye.” My words rushing out of my mouth so quickly that I caught him off guard and made him speechless as I quick jumped out of his SUV and hopped in mine, speeding off without looking back.

I’m not quite sure I can explain what I was feeling when we hung up.  She sounded like the same Emma, yet I knew she probably was feeling like she was living in a fairy tale.  I knew how much of a crush she had on Ryan.  When I asked to introduce Ryan to her, I didn’t expect he’d be taking her out on a date a couple weeks later. 

I was still sitting on the edge of my bed in the dark room as I ran my fingers through my hair.  The bathroom door opened and light blinded me as the tall blonde walked over to me in just her lacy underwear and high heels.  I sucked in a breath as she strode over and stood in front of me, tracing her fingers down my unbuttoned dress shirt.

At this moment I was happy I brought the girl home with me.  I needed someone to dull the ache in my heart.  I just wished it was my best friend that was dulling the ache and not the woman who now had her head in my lap.

By morning I’d just be back to square one.

Two days later my cell phone chirped on my belt as I rinsed the salt off the Rescue truck, in the bay.  I placed the hose down on the ground and checked out the text message as a smile crept across my face.

Ryan: Free for the game tonight?

I guess he wasn’t totally turned off by my spaz-tic antics the other night.

Me: I’m going to feel bad if u keep buying my tickets.

Ryan: I’ll buy ur ticket for as long as u let me, as long as u’ll say yes & let me take you out again tonight.

Me: U will have to put it at will call.  I get done work @ 1800hrs.

Ryan: Do I need to leave a sweater for u 2?

Shit.  He’s right. I can’t go to the game without a sweater…it just wouldn’t be right.

Me: I will have to clear it with Patty before I put it on. J

Ryan: LOL See u at the game.

I was standing there smiling at my phone when Charlie walked over to see what was going on.

“What’s the big smile, Kasyk?”

“Nothing.”

“A boy?”

I did my best to glare at him with a smile on my face, but of course I failed miserably.

He just smiled smugly and said, “Uh huh.  That’s what I thought.”

I called Patrick before I hopped in the shower and told him about going to the game again tonight and he gave me permission to wear Ryan’s sweater.  Of course it was like he was getting his teeth pulled, but before we hung up he wished me good luck.

I got to the arena around 6:30p and picked up my ticket.  I laughed when the attendant squeezed a wrapped package through the hole.  As soon as I got inside I ripped it open to find the number 36, instead of 30, staring back at me with a note.

“I didn’t want to break tradition.  See you after the game.” ~Ry

I squeaked a couple times, threw the sweater over my head and went to my seat.  As soon as I got to my seat, I texted Patty.

Me: He’s good.  I’m wearing your sweater.

Patty: Damn, he is good. J Love ya Emmy!

Me: Love ya Patty!

The game was a scoring frenzy, but the Sabres pulled out a win against the Islanders, 4-6.  It scared me that I didn’t need to ask for help to get down to the locker room because I was remembering my way around.

Like last time, Drew was out before Ryan and he swept me into a hug.  “Glad to see you here again, Emma!  I think you might be a good luck charm or something.”

“My record is 20-2 this year,” I answered with a giggle.

“Not bad!  Well, have a good night with Millsy; I’m off to meet up with my own date,” he said with a wink.

I was looking at some of the team pictures that hung on the walls when Ryan’s strong arm slipped around the front of me and his warm lips kissed my cheek.

“Hey!” I said, breathlessly.

“Hi,” he said with a smile as I turned around to face him and hugged him properly.

“Good game out there.  I cringed when you left that softy in during the 2^nd period, but…”

He cut my words off by leaning in and kissing me hard on the lips.  I was thankful that he had his arm around me because I think I would have fallen onto the floor in a heap.  I stared at him for a minute and then said, “Um, wow.  If I knew that was the punishment for being a smart mouth, I would have tried that sooner.”

He let out a loud laugh as he took my hand and led me out into the cold parking lot.

February 2008

“How do I look?!” she asked dramatically as I opened the door to find Emma dressed as a gangster’s woman out of the Roaring ‘20’s.  She had on a black, sparkling flapper dress with a silver and black head piece tied onto her head, along with black chunky heals that were made to do the Charleston Two-Step.  Her normally unruly hair was straightened and her make-up was dark, making her eyes look like sapphires.

“You look hot!” I exclaimed, taking her by the hand and twirling her around in a circle to watch the fringes flare out.

“I love the red suit and gangster hat!” she said, giggling.  “I think we could take the town,” she said in a sultry voice, playing her part.

“I agree, little lady,” I said in a deep voice and posing against her with my right hand wrapped around her waist and my left hand pointing like a gun.  After standing there for a moment laughing hysterically at our immaturity I asked, “You ready to go get some red carpet treatment?”

“Yup!”

We were heading to Ryan’s Fashion Charity event and the theme was the Roaring 20’s.  Emma and I both agreed to be “models” for the event and I had donated a bunch of things for the charity auction.  Emma insisted on being my date because she didn’t want to be left milling around by herself while Ryan did all the publicity stuff.  Of course I agreed, especially since I didn’t have a date and I knew I’d have more fun with Emmy at my side.

She was still trying to get used to her role as a WAG and I knew she had a bit of a learning curve to overcome.  Emmy was not like many of the other WAG’s.  She had a career that was in a man’s world.  Many of the women were a surprised of her brash personality, plus Emmy was more comfortable around guys than women. 

She always complained that she didn’t have much in common with the women and felt like they were critiquing her at every corner.  I don’t think that was the case; I think it was more of the idea that they were intrigued by this woman who was most likely different from anyone they had ever met.  I was just glad she didn’t buy into the whole popularity contest that could easily go on amongst the WAG’s and that she didn’t feel she needed to impress anyone.  She was Emmy, just the way I liked her.  Just the way Ryan loved her.

Just the way Ryan loved her.

Unfortunately for me, he was enchanted by her and I was left on the sidelines waiting and hoping for things to go sour so that I could get back in the picture.  At first I was driven crazy by the whole thing.  It was hard knowing she was going to his games and spending more time with him than me.  I was paranoid that he was going to take my place and I was going to be left with nothing.  Instead, Emmy proved to me that she could have both of us in her life.  The fact that she wasn’t in my bed was softened by knowing I was still one of the most important pieces in her life.

Thankfully or un-thankfully Ryan wasn’t bothered by the fact that Emmy would take time away from them to be with me.  Someone from the outside could look at the relationship between the 3 of us as some messed up love triangle.  Instead it had become normal for us.  Emmy clearly only had eyes for Ryan at the moment yet she loved me the way she had loved me for years.  I matured and realized this fact which made things a lot easier.

I was dating girls here and there, but as of right now, nothing ended up remotely serious.  Deep down, I knew I most likely would not find anything serious unless it was with Emma.  Until then, I just made it my goal to annoy the crap out of her with my antics of acting like a player.  To Emmy’s dismay, I amped up my bad boy image and played the field.  I’m young and a professional hockey player; chicks dig it.

The fundraiser was a blast and a great night.  Emma stuck by my side all night, except for a couple dances with Ryan when he wasn’t busy doing something else.  We blew everyone away with our crazy dance moves that we had been honing since we were in grade school, including some snazzy swing dancing.

“Where the hell did you learn to dance like that?”  Stafford yelled to me as I walked over to the bar to grab a drink.

“I made him take swing lessons with me!” Emma cut in before I was able to answer.  She looped her arm through mine and smiled innocently up at me, causing my heart to skip a beat.

“Seriously?” a surprised Stafford asked.

I nodded my head and shrugged my shoulders, confirming it.

“Wow, you guys look awesome out there…together,” he said emphasizing the last word.

Emma didn’t seem to take notice of the hint, but I sure as hell did.  I shot him a glare as he walked away.  I did not want explain the fact that Drew had been on my case ever since I didn’t make a fuss about Miller and Emma dating.  He didn’t understand how I could stand by and watch another guy move in on my girl.

He didn’t understand the fact that she wasn’t “my girl.”