Chapter 11: Over Protected

I watch as a bright pink bubble forms in front of his lips while he skates around the ice. All the Pens players taking shots at the net as the Senators do the same on the opposite end of the ice.

“I didn’t realize how much I missed hockey,” Paddy murmurs beside me, “I haven’t been on skates in years.”

“You could’ve made it you know. To the NHL, I mean, or at least the AHL,” I reply quietly looking over at him as he watches the players skate on the ice.

“Nah, I didn’t have the drive, although I probably travel more than they do,” he chuckles, “But I wouldn’t talk if I were you, you could have made a pro soccer team.”

“Yeah, I could’ve, but that wasn’t ever my dream, it was Dad’s,” I laugh, “Plus, running away from grave robbers is a bigger adrenaline rush.”

“Speaking of fun, are we still going out with the team after the game?” Paddy asks.

“Max said we can if we want to, I figured you could use some good Pittsburgh fun before you leave,” I shrug, taking a bite of my nachos.

“Sure could!” he grins.

“You can’t bring anyone back with you, got it? You go home with someone, not bring someone home. The last thing I want is to be sexiled from my apartment,” I warn, pointing my finger at him after I lick the cheese off it.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah” he brushes off as the lights dim and the Penguins take the ice, reaching over into the plastic platter of nachos in my lap.

“I’m serious Padraig.”

“Shh… Maggs the game is starting,” he mumbles over a mouthful of nachos.

I roll my eyes and turn my attention to the ice.

Max’s POV

“Oooh that’s a nice one Max, you’re gonna get all the ladies tonight with that eye shadow,” Fleury grins at me after inspecting my black eye.

“Fucking Chris Neil,” I grumble, pulling off my padding. Unlike the rest of the team who was in a good mood from the 2-1 win over the Senators, there is something about a black eye that can make you a little grumpy.

“He sure knows how to land a punch, eh Talbo?” Engelland says from across the room.

“Yeah, and Max sure knows how to take one,” Sid laughs from beside him.

“Shut up Wonder Boy, at least I’ll be brave enough to travel to the dance floor tonight,” I grin back.

“You know I can’t do that,” he grumbles, frowning at me. Poor Kid, he couldn’t do anything without it being everywhere.

“Everyone decent?” a voice calls out.

A collection of “Yeah”s are the reply, provoking the door open. In barges the girl that has been on my mind lately. She wore the same oversized Penguins shirt I had given her before, it was ridiculously big on her, masking her curves. The front was tucked into her dark jeans, which were torn in both knees and once high up on her right thigh, the denim hugged her curves perfectly. The tips of her brown leather boots peaked out at the bottom. Her coffee colored hair was twisted into a loose braid that was swept over her shoulder. She had her hands on her hips as her green eyes scanned the room, before landing on me. A smile replaces the frown on her face and I find myself smiling back, my stomach dropping in excitement as she approaches. Padraig comes in behind her, trying to keep a straight face.

“Max Talbot, you need to learn how to fight!” She calls out loudly, making the whole room chuckle, “Good game guys! Congrats on the win!”

Every one throws back a “Thanks Maggs.” They were getting too used to having her barge in the door.

I glare at her declaration, “I can fight!”

“Pffft, like a girl,” she says rolling her eyes, her hand comes up to my jaw and she stands on her toes to get a close look at my eye. All I had to do was turn my head back around and I could easily connect my lips with her sarcastic smirk. Her green eyes refocus on my eyes and they widen slightly, as I look down to her pink lips. Obviously she didn’t realize how close she was. I begin to close the distance when Paddy clears his throat from behind Maggie.

“Damn! He really landed that punch!” Padraig says, looking over Maggie’s shoulder.

Maggie looks at me and backs away only slightly, and I watch as she quickly composes herself. I clear my throat slightly, that was a horrible idea.

“Jesus Christ, Talbot, that’s going to be a hell of a shiner,” Maggie says shaking her head, her finger tips brushing over the tender skin making me wince. “You’re going to have to start wearing Flower’s mask, if you keep fighting like that,” she says taking a step away and jerking her thumb over to the goalie next to me.

Marc-Andre grins up at her as he unlaces his skates.

“Hey Maggie!”

“Hey Marc, why didn’t you at least throw Talbot your blocker pad? He could of used it,” she grins moving her hand back to my face, which I bat away with an annoyed sigh.

“Maybe next time,” he laughs.

“I’m sure there will be a next time with the way he fights,” she chuckles, I glare at her but she just smiles at me innocently, “Oh Marc this is me brother Paddy, Paddy this is Marc.”

Paddy and Fleury shake hands and exchange greetings.

“Well Maggs, I hate to push you out, but the boys and I need to get ready,” I say, steering her toward the door.

“Fine, I’m going, I’m going,” she grumbles, “See ya soon boys!”

“Thank you!” I sigh, walking back to my stall.

“Damn Talbo, it got really hot in that corner,” Cookie grins at me.

“Yeah, Max, get it,” Rupper laughs, “Although I’m pretty sure her brother would of kicked your ass right then and there.”

I just chuckle and head to the shower. Yeah he would’ve.

Maggie’s POV

“What the hell was that?!” Paddy says as soon as the door to the locker room closes.

“What was what?” I ask innocently, heading to the exit and waving to Jimmy.

“Oh don’t play dumb. You and Max were ready to strip each other right there,” he grumbles.

“Nothing can happen between Max and I, Paddy. Don’t worry about it,” I sigh rolling my eyes.

“But you want something to happen. I’ve seen the way you look at him Maggs,” he says quietly.

“I’ve had a dry spell since I got back from Egypt, I just need a thirst quencher and then I’ll be fine. There’s nothing going on with Max, and there won’t be either,” I bite back.

My brother chuckles beside me, “Bull Shit!”

“Whatever. Here, you drive,” I say rolling my eyes and throwing him my keys.

“Why do I need to drive?” he grumbles.

“Because I’m going to get ready, and unless you want me to drive AND fix my hair…” I reply climbing in my jeep.

“Fine, I’ll drive while you make yourself all pretty for Max Talbot.”

“Shut the fuck up Padraig!” I growl, taking off the Penguins shirt I was wearing.

“WHOA! What the hell is that?”

“What?” I ask, looking down at my shirt, was it not clean?

“Where the hell did you get that a brothel in Bali!?! I thought you weren’t taking anyone home!” Paddy shouts.

“I never said that, I just said that you weren’t allowed to take anyone to MY HOME,” I point out, “And I’m pretty sure you mean Bangladesh, and no I’ve never even been there. Victoria’s Secret has more than thongs and bras you know.”

“Whatever,” he mumbles through gritted teeth, his fists tightening on the steering wheel. I roll my eyes. Ever since we walked into the locker room, he started the whole overprotective brother behavior.

Sure the shirt showed a little more cleavage than the t-shirts I normally wore, but going through the store, there were a whole lot more “shirts” that he wouldn’t approve of… at least not on me anyway. It was just a little olive green lace tank, that both dipped into a V in the front and the back. It’s not like you could even completely see through the lace. It was just that I had more cleavage exposed than I normally do. Compared to the puck bunnies that were bound to be near the VIP room, with their tiny shirts, almost nonexistent skirts, and sky scrapper heels, I looked like a soccer mom.

“Just suck it up. Pull up right there,” I snap, pulling my hair up into a messy bun, in order to show off some of the tattoos on my back, and pulling my green military style blazer back on.

I hop out of the car, buttoning up my jacket and grabbing my messenger bag as Paddy gets out of the car grumbling about missing the opportunity to kick more sense into me in the womb. I just roll my eyes and walk over to the guy leaning on the black BMW next to me.

He was bigger than Max, maybe only an inch taller, but he had arms that rivaled Popeye’s and shoulders that were meant for a girl to grip all night long. I had seen him bare-chested in the locker room once or twice and wanted to jump him. But now, unfortunately, he was covered by a light blue, button up shirt, which he still looked damned good in. He smiles shyly at me, running a hand through his long dark hair.

“Hey Maggie, Max is running a little late, he asked me to help you guys get in,” he says shyly, but I don’t miss how his dark eyes wonder up my frame.

“Thanks Kris,” I smile back at him, my hands in my pockets as Paddy comes to stand up behind me.

He looks warily at Paddy.

“Oh right. Paddy this is Kris Letang, he’s a Defensemen, Kris this is my brother Paddy,” I say quickly introducing the two, but it doesn’t seem to qualm Kris’s caution toward my brother. They shake hands like gentlemen and Kris leads the way to Diesel.

“Must you be so menacing? Kris isn’t going to do anything, he’s a good guy,” I whisper harshly at my brother.

“Maggie, if you came to visit me and I hung out with a women’s volleyball team frequently, what the hell would you do?” he whispers back.

“Tell you ‘Congrats man’ and make sure to stay out of your bedroom,” I growl back, following Kris into the VIP area.

I take my coat off, hanging it on a chair next to a certain tall center, and sitting down next to him.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Miss Maggie,” he grins at me.

“How’s it going Mr. Staal,” I ask playfully nudging him with my shoulder, “that was a pretty nice goal tonight.”

“Thanks Beautiful, I’m glad you liked it,” he says, throwing me a lazy smirk and letting his eyes wander over me.

I catch his gaze with mine, and let my eyes linger on his deep blue orbs. I can see movement out of the corner of my eye as someone sits down in front of me. I watch as Jordan breaks my gaze to glance over in the direction, he starts to meet my eyes again, but instead does a double take.

“Padraig! Get the stick out of your ass, and stop glaring down any potential dancing partner I’m conversing with!” I say raising my voice, looking over to the dark skinned giant across from me.

He turns his warning glare from Jordan to annoyed one when his eyes land on me.

“Jordan this is my brother Paddy, Paddy, Jordan Staal,” I sigh resting my hand in my chin, “You need to start introducing yourself, Padraig, cause I’m getting damned sick of it.”

They each nod at each other, evenly.

“Oh for Christ’s sake, you two probably have the most in common out of everyone. Both of you are centers, both of you grew up with multiple brothers, the list goes on...” I say rolling my eyes.

“You played center?” Jordan asks.

“Yeah, dude. And you may have grown up with brothers but Maggie was always the real challenge,” Paddy chuckles.

“From what I gather, she still is,” Jordan laughs back.

And with that, the ice is broken. Soon Paddy is moving a chair over so that he’s in front of Jordan instead of me.

“I was sitting on the handle bars with Marc peddling, and we had the genius idea to use the cinder hill as a jump…”Jordan laughs, making Paddy hoot with laughter.

“I see Paddy met Staalzy,” a deep voice says in my ear, making chills go down my spin. Making me smile without realizing I’m doing so.

“Yup!” I sigh, looking up at him, not moving my head from my hands.

“Sorry I was late Maggs,” he chuckles, setting down a Bud Light in front of me.

“What’s this?” I say wrinkling my nose.

“Oh, that’s mine,” he says quickly, “THIS is yours.”

He pulls the beer to the seat next to me and sets down a Heineken in its place.

“That’s a little better,” I shrug, “I don’t know how you can drink that shit. You may as well drink water.”

“Mmm… but water wouldn’t give me this lovely buzz,” he hums sitting down beside me.

“True,” I laugh, before bringing the beer up to my lips.

“What’s this?” he says his finger brushing over my now sensitive wrist.

“A tattoo.”

“You got a new one?” he asks, pulling my right arm closer to him to get a good look.

“Two actually.”

Two days ago Paddy and I had gone to the tattoo parlor. He finally got our mother’s maiden name connected with a Celtic cross tattooed on his forearm. Something he’s been saying he’s wanted to do for years now. I had a compass tattooed on the inside of my upper right forearm and the yellow box logo of National Geography with the scrolled word ‘Inspire’ running up its side on the corner of my right wrist. They were still a little tender and shined from the Vaseline I had applied in the car.

“I like them,” he says simply, letting his hand linger on my arm as he sends me a charming smile.

He was in a charcoal grey dress shirt with no tie; instead it was unbuttoned at the collar. His sleeves were already rolled up; showing off his well-defined forearms that I knew would hold me up and position me below him. His short hair seemed to beg for someone to run her fingers through its thickness. He had shaved recently, but already he had a slight scruff, that would undoubtedly send countless shivers down a girls spin as his lips explored inches of flesh.

He smirks at me, as his eyes shined a bright blue, which seemed to capture my own gaze. I found myself inadvertently leaning closer to him, my mind tried to tell me no, but my senses weren’t listening. His scent was musky and definitely male, and definitely upped his sex appeal. The anthropologist in me told me that I was viewing him as a suitable mate, but the female in me was telling me to take him home… now! Which meant it was time to get out of there and go find one I could take home.

“Well, I’m going to go scour the dance floor, I’ll see you boys later,” I say clearing my throat, breaking his gaze, and moving away from the male next to me.

I glance at Max, to see him look down at the table with a sigh, his jaw slightly clenching.

“STAY!” I say pointing a finger at my brother.

2 beers and 5 duds later, I was back in the VIP lounge but my brother was nowhere in sight. I head over to one of the couches that Sid and Kris were lounging on nursing their drinks.

“Hey boys,” I smile, sitting down next to Kris, “Either of you seen me brother?”

“Nope, not for at least half an hour. He was headed out to the dance floor last I saw him.. Are you drunk? You sound Irish,” Kris grins at me.

“Eh, maybe a bit, but not really,” I chuckle, leaning back against the couch and pulling my legs up to me, letting my eyes slightly close. I knew I wasn't drunk, but I was just a little tipsy.

“We wear you out already Maggs?” Sid asks.

“Yeah Crosby, watching you on the couch has worked me up into a frenzy,” I wink, causing him to blush, “Nah, I’m kidding. I put in an 8-hour workday and the alcohol is making me a bit sleepy now. “

“Why don’t you go home?” Kris deep voice asks, but his body language tells a different story as he drapes his arm behind me.

“’Cause Paddy has my keys,” I sigh, scooting a little closer to the warm body.

I send him a shy smile that says, ‘I’m only a tipsy weak female, take care of me.’ It was a look that I had learned to use when I had had enough loud fun for the night and wanted a warm male to snuggle up to. Living with guys most of my life, I had perfected it. Most guys saw right through it, but still let me be warm and safe in their arms.

Kris chuckles and opens his arms a little wider for me. I smile and snuggle into his warm body, draping my legs across his muscular thighs and pillowing my head on his strong shoulder. He was all solid muscle, and it was definitely a turn on. And he smelled really good, better than some of those sweaty guys on the dance floor anyway. If I weren’t so tired I would be dragging him home.

He and Sid continue talking like they were and I just listen, content in the defenseman’s arms. His slightly calloused fingers lightly brush against my shoulders every so often in a comforting motion, making me smile.

“Why is it that you two are always in here and not out there finding a lovely lady to take home like the rest of them?” I ask suddenly.

Sid smiles at me almost sadly, his hazel eyes looking at me like a wiser father would look at his naïve daughter.

“Looks like Tanger is doing fine on the couch,” I hear a voice say behind me, I feel Kris tense at the voice.

“Maxime, I already have an overprotective brother staying with me, I don’t need you to try and fill that role too,” I sigh, taking my head off Kris’s shoulder to look at him.

He looked surprisingly fresh for just coming off the dance floor. The only thing that hand changed since I last saw him, was that another button had popped open on his shirt. Had he even danced with anyone?

“Speaking of your brother where is he?” Max asks.

“I don’t know, but he has my keys and I’m tired,” I yawn.

Just then my phone vibrates in my pocket, signaling a text message.

Paddy - ‘I’m headed out, I’ll be back at your place tomorrow morning’

“Shit!” I murmur sitting up and quickly texting back.

But mid text I’m interrupted with another text.

Paddy – ‘My phone is almost dead so I’m turning it off’

“FUCK!” I shout, causing one of the puck bunnies that was hanging off Tyler Kennedy, to turn to me and glare.

“What’s the matter Maggs?” Max asks.

“Paddy left with someone and turned off his phone. AND he still has my keys!” I sigh, pressing to fingers to my forehead trying to relieve myself of the oncoming headache.

“Don’t you have a spare hidden?” Sid asks.

“Oh course I do!” I say rolling my eyes, “But it’s in my car, and Paddy has the keys for that!”

“You’re not supposed to hid a spare in your car!” Max laughs.

“Exactly where else am I going to hide it? I live in an apartment, I can’t exactly hide it under a fucking door mat!”

“Leave it with a friend?” Kris shrugs.

“Max can you take me back to my car?” I sigh, smoothing my hand over my hair, hoping to smooth back any rebellious frizz that had come out of my bun.

“Why? You don’t have the keys.” he says, giving me that ‘stupid girl’ look.

“I can break in,” I shrug, standing up from the couch.

“You’re going to break into your car?” Sid says, clearly a little shocked at my declaration.

“It’s a Wrangler, it’s not that hard.”

“But you know HOW to break into a car?!” he pushes.

“Sid, I grew up with 5 brothers and I’ve traveled all over the world. I can break into a car, hot-wire it, and drive it to the nearest water post,” I sigh, boys were so dumb sometimes, silly shelter hockey players.

“Maggs, there are police that patrol the lot at this time of night,” Max says shaking his head.

“It’s not like I’m trying to take Sid’s car, I’m breaking into my own car.”

“Or you could just stay at my place tonight,” Max says grabbing my coat and bag off the chair and handing them to me.

I quiet at the though and look over at him skeptically, searching his blue eyes to a hidden meaning. But they have clouded over into a stormy grey instead of the clear blue they were before, impossible to read.

“I will be a perfect gentleman,” he says rolling his eyes.

I let out a very lady like snort as Sid and Kris chuckle behind me.

“I will! Come on Maggs, it’s only one night and I’ll sleep on the couch, you can have the bed to yourself. Well…Stanley might join you… but I will stay on the couch,” he smiles, turning on the Talbot charm.

“Stanley?”

“He’s my labradoodle, you’ll love him,” he smiles, his eyes changing color again.

I sigh, biting my lip as I weigh my options, stay with Max or break into my car. I could think of a few others, but they ranked lower than breaking into my car. I should’ve just gone home with someone. That way I could’ve left before they got up and hopefully have been satisfied.

“Alright,” I sigh, giving in, “Let’s go.”

He looks at me with a triumphant grin.

“But you keep your hands to yourself, or I swear to God, you will be out for a few weeks with broken fingers,” I warn, pointing my own finger at him, making Kris and Sid laugh behind me.

“Yes ma’am! Bye boys,” he grins, taking my hand and leading me to the door.

“Very funny,” I snap, but I allow him to interlace his fingers with mine. It was easy to get separated in the sea of people.

Chapter 10: Freudian Slip?

Hey!

Sorry I disappeared for a few... ya know... months! But now it's summer! Which means I have MUCH more time to write and I should, if everything goes well, be able to update this much more often. Hopefully I'll post chapters a few times a month instead every few months. So here's to more updates and no writers block this summer. Enjoy and have a great summer!

~Aeryn

“7:33 PM”

That’s what the hands on my watch were figuring the time to be. I huff impatiently, standing on my toes to lengthen myself as much as possible in order to see over the sea of people. But my 5’2’’ frame could only stretch so far. I look around, making sure none of the bitter security personnel were around, before climbing up on the chair beside me. Finally, I had a height advantage over the million or so people crowding around the airport like herds of confused cattle. Well… maybe not a million, but the number had to be close to that.

“Excuse me, Miss, you can’t stand on the chairs,” a deep voice says from behind me.

I let out an annoyed heavy sigh, readying myself to turn to the man and explain that I was handicapped because of my height. As I turn around to come face to face to the voice, I find myself looking at a well-built man of my exact age. He stood in front of me, almost nose to nose, and he wasn’t standing on a chair. His long legs were clad in jeans held up by a leather belt. His solid torso and broad shoulders were concealed beneath a forest green sweater and under a leather jacket. His rugged face had chiseled features that I knew could bring a girl to her knees. His high cheekbones, and tawny skin hinted at his Native ancestry, and his lips were quirked up in a smirk, his light green eyes almost mirrored mine as they smiled at me.

“PADDY!” I shout loud enough for the million others to hear, throwing my arms around my twin brother as he laughs and twirls me around in a bear hug.

“I missed you baby sister!” he grins putting me down. His 6’2’’ frame towering over me, and he was my shortest brother!

“I’m 3 minutes younger than you!” I say exasperated, but I can’t keep the smile off my face.

Out of all my brothers Paddy and I were the closest, probably due to the fact we shared the same womb for 8 months. And we weren’t like some twins that looked similar but were complete opposites personality wise. He was basically the male version of me. Stubborn, outspoken, outgoing, and a short temper, plus neither of us were very good at putting down roots.

I hadn’t seen him in almost a year, since the Sutherland Christmas last year in Montreal at my Dad’s. But he and I made sure to call each other at least once a week. Both of us were constantly traveling, me with National Geographic, hopping from dig to dig, and him with his “pub education.” I had been in Egypt for two months, Israel the two before that; Ireland, Siberia, and Russia for the remaining eight. Paddy had been traveling through multiple countries in Europe and North America. Traveling and learning about beer, wine, and liquor for his pub.

I wait for him in the driver’s seat of my jeep grinning as he dumps his North Face backpack in the back seat before plopping down next to me in the passenger’s seat.

“What?” he smirks looking over at me.

“Nothing,” I smile back.

“Tell me!” he says annoyed.

“It’s nothing,” I shrug.

“MAGGIE!”

“You just look like me, is all. All that traveling did you good,” I grin, looking over at him quickly before switching lanes

“Well, of course you would think so, Miss I-can’t-stay-in-one-place-for-more-than-6-months,” he chuckles.

“Hey, now I wouldn’t talk if I were you!” I shoot back.

“We’ll blame it on Dad,” he shrugs looking out the window.

“Yeah…” I respond solemnly.

Paddy only had but a slightly better relationship with the Admiral than I did. Which really wasn’t saying much. It was no secret that our dad had moved us here, there, and everywhere throughout our childhoods and tried to force us into his plan. I was the first to break free, and from there it was a like a chain reaction amongst my siblings.

“So this is it, huh? Home Sweet Home,” Paddy asks stepping into my apartment and letting his backpack fall beside my messenger bag.

“Eh, for now,” I smirk.

“It’s nice, Maggs dad wouldn’t approve of so many books,” he grins.

“Thanks Paddy!” I grin, “You cool with the couch?”

“You mean you’re not going to give up your bed?”

“I’ve basically been living in the sand for four months,” I say, my hand automatically coming to my hip in attitude.

“So that’s a no?”

“Didn’t you just come back from Gran’s?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he sighs, “she says hi by the way.”

“Padraig, you’ve been sleeping at Gran’s! That house even melted Dad’s heart a little! No way am I giving up my bed. You didn’t even bring me back something from Ireland!”

“You were in Ireland a few months ago!” he retorts, going over to pull a beer out of the refrigerator.

“Fine, I’ll give ya that. And if you’re going to drink my beer grab me one too,” I sigh flopping down on the couch and turning the Penguin game on. They were playing the St. Louis Blues and it was the last game of their road trip.

He comes over, handing me a beer before dropping his 6’2’’ frame on the lazy boy with a mighty sigh like groan.

“So you found Max Talbot, eh?” he asks, bring the bottle up to his lips and taking a gulp, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

“Technically he spotted me first. But yeah, never thought I would see him again,” I chuckle, watching as number 25 himself checks Andy McDonald into the boards.

“And there is nothing going on between you two?” he asks slowly, not so much out of curiosity but assurance.

“Come on, Paddy, you know me, I don’t do relationships and neither does Max,” I sigh rolling my eyes.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he replies gruffly.

Max’s POV

I pick at the napkin before a little piece falls off. I roll it in a tight ball and push it off to the side of the table with the 3 I had previously made. Sighing, I look down to my watch. They should be here any minute.

“Collecting spit balls?” Paul asks, setting down a beer in front of me.

I chuckle, “No, just waiting.”

“Waitin’ for who? Another lady-friend?” the bartender asks, wiggling his eyebrows at me suggestively.

“Not exactly, I’m meeting Maggie and her brother for dinner,” I smile, feeling nerves serge through my stomach again at the thought of coming face to face with Paddy.

“So, why are you nervous? Don’t you guys go way back?” Paul asks confused, leaning on the table as a few people chatted beside us in the bar.

“Because the last time I saw Padriag, he threatened turn me inside out,” I chuckle nervously, picking at the pealing beer bottle label.

“Ah, I see. Something to do with Maggie?”

“Yeah, I spent the night with her and he found us. Nothing had happened, but that’s not what he thought, and Maggie doesn’t remember because she was drunk.”

“Oh. That’s a tough one,” the bartender says pondering an answer.

“Yeah…”

“Well I hope you’re ready for him, cause Maggie just walked in the door,” he whispers before walking away.

My head shoots up and I spy the petite brunette walking through the door with a tall male. If you couldn’t tell that the two were siblings, you were a fucking idiot. Besides the height difference and the whole gender difference, they were identical. I watch as Paddy bends down to tell her something. Something she apparently didn’t like because she frowns and jumps up to smack the back of his head. He let’s out a hearty laugh before pulling her into a headlock as they approach the table.

“Lemme go, Paddy!” she grumbles, twisting around in his arms, but he just chuckles continuing walking.

I watch as she suddenly throws a punch into his side, making him cringe and let out a grunt, before letting her go. Maggie let’s out a triumphant “HA!” and grins before plopping down beside me.

“Jesus, how old are you two? Your father would never approve of such behavior,” I grin.

“Haha, Dad never approves of our behavior…or lives,” Maggie chuckles mischievously, reaching over to take a sip of my beer, to which I give her an annoyed look.

“Especially Maggie’s,” Paddy grins, ruffling his sisters hair, who lets out an annoyed huff before smoothing down the tousled waves.

“How have you been Paddy?” I ask, reaching my hand out cautiously to him, trying not to let on that I was afraid he may bite… or worse.

“Not bad, Talbot, not bad,” he says evenly shaking my hand, “ ‘course, I don’t have the superstar status like you do.”

I hear Maggie let out a sarcastic snort as she plucks a pretzel from the bowl on the table, popping it in her mouth.

“Max isn’t a Superstar, he’s just a hockey player with bad acting skills,” she says rolling her eyes.

“Pfft, like you can act. At least I was on TV,” I retort, facing her with a smirk.

“Oh no, you shouldn’t have said that,” Paddy groans as Maggie’s eyes light up.

“Actually, Talbot, I WAS on TV. I was in a documentary about Cahokia 2 years ago. I talked about the burial mounds they have left behind and how similar mounds were and still are in a few places in the United St…” She begins before Paddy covers her mouth with his hand.

“Don’t start. Tonight is a dead civilizations free night. Max doesn’t want to hear about Cahokia, the Aztecs, the Egyptians, or any other ancient civilization. You can talk to your other archeologist friends at work about dead cultures,” Paddy sighs, “OUCH! Don’t bite!” he says quickly pulling his hand away from his sister’s mouth, allowing her to stick her tongue out at him childishly.

“Very mature,” he grumbles, “Once she starts in on ancient cultures it’s impossible to stop her and next thing you know you’re hearing the details of female circumcision in the Middle East during dinner.”

“It’s interesting!” she defends.

“She had Liam running for the bathroom and everyone else squirming in their seat. I still can’t eat tortellini,” Paddy says rolling his eyes toward me.

“Yeah, dinner probably wasn’t the best time,” she admits.

All I can do is shake my head in amazement. The Sutherlands were mind boggling at times.

LATER

“And then Joey went to kiss her and she delivered the best jab I have ever seen to his nose,” I laugh, Paddy holding his sides in laughter, as Maggie grins next to me recalling the event.

“I told him to bugger off. He should’ve listened,” she shrugs with a smirk, draining the last of her Sam Adams from the bottle.

“I warned him not to mess with her, but when he came into practice the next day with the tell tale black and blue eyes… it was easy to piece it together,” Paddy laughs.

“Georges LaRaque didn’t even throw punches that well,” I smirk at her, watching as her green eyes smirk back at me mischievously.

“Well I learned from the best,” she shrugs with a smirk.

“Sean?” I ask, unable to break her emerald gaze.

“Ahh, that’s right,” Paddy nods, after taking a swig of Guinness, “Uncle Donal.”

“Yup, when I was 14 he took me aside after dinner at Gran’s, he told me a pretty young lady had to learn to protect herself. Never mind that I had 5 brothers,” she chuckles.

“Uncle Donal took out an entire pub once in Kilarney. The man would take on the entire British army if you let him,” her brother says shaking his head.

“And win,” Maggie throws in, toasting her brother with her bottle.

“You know, I have no doubt that all of that is completely true,” I chuckle, “Anyone else and I would call bull shit, but you two? No doubt.”

The laughter dies down and everyone smirks, tracing the edge of their glass or picking at the label on the bottle. All of us let our memories wonder, remembrance heavy in the air. Maybe Paddy forgot all about that night after all.

“Well… Some of us have to be at work tomorrow,” Maggie says glancing at her leather watch.

“You go on Maggs, I want to catch up with Talbot a bit more,” Padraig says, glancing over at me and throwing an innocent look at his sister as she stands up and shrugs on her fleece.

I take a gulp of my Molson, uh oh.

I watch as Maggie’s furrows her eyebrows, her green eyes scanning her brother’s face as her hands rested on her hips. Her eyes move over to me, scrutinizing the situation, obviously knowing something else was going on. I smile at her, trying to void my face of the nerves I was feeling.

“It’s cool Maggs, I’ll see you later,” I smile, hoping she won’t suspect anything.

“Alright,” she says slowly, “See you later, Max.”

She walks to the door, waving to Paul on her way out.

As soon as she’s out of sight, I feel Paddy’s gaze turn to me. I could almost feel the heat from the intensity burning into my skull. I take a deep breath and turn to face him. Just as I suspected, his light green eyes were intently trying to set me ablaze.

“Alright, Paddy, out with it?” I sigh, might as well get this done and over with.

His mouth turns up in a smirk, his eyes holding an almost deadly humor.

“What’s are your intentions with my sister?” he asks almost too calmly, but the heat behind his eyes tell me that one false move and I’m walking out of here with a messed up face.

“Maggie and I are just friends, Paddy, nothing more,” I sigh shaking my head.

“I know you’re friends. But that wasn’t what I asked. Why are you friends Max? Unless you’ve changed drastically, you were never one for being ‘just friends’ with any one of the opposite sex,” he says his voice rising slightly.

“I don’t do relationships, and from what I gather, neither does Maggie,” I quip back, getting a little pissed off because he knew me too well, and I didn’t want to tell him that I wanted to fuck his sister. I didn’t have to, he already knew! But he wanted to hear me say so that he had a justified reason to break my nose.

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I don’t know how long you are going to keep up this friendship façade, but don’t lay one hand on her Talbot, or I swear to God…” he growls.

“What Paddy? What the hell are you going to do? Maggie’s a grown woman, she doesn’t need your fucking protection, and I highly doubt she wants it,” I growl back, my temper rising, “If she wants to have fun there is nothing you can do about it. You’re not her father Paddy.”

“Damn right I’m not, I’m her brother. And you don’t get it do you Max? You are one of the few guys Maggie has ever wanted to have anything other than sex and friendship with,” he snarls.

My eyes widen at his words. He may as well have punched me; it sure as hell feels like he did.

“Look, Maggie has tons of guy friends, a product of having to grow up with all of us boys, but she doesn’t do relationships passed friendship. I know she’s not some defenseless virgin, hell I walked in on her and some bastard in Spain, which scared me for life,” he says shaking his head in disgust, “But you’re different Max, Maggie could really fall for you,” he says, his voice lowering, but not in a hostile way, it was as if he had just revealed one of his sister’s deepest secrets.

I look at him evenly, his light green eyes were a completely different green than his sisters, they were borderline hazel instead of the deep clover color of Maggie’s. His gaze seems to challenge me to spit out an out of line comment.

“What if I’ve already started to fall for her?” I ask before I can stop myself.

My eyes widen almost as much as his do. Not only had I just revealed the fact to him, but I had just been enlightened as well. Did I really just say I’m falling in love with Maggie Sutherland?

Chapter 9: Passed Fear

I was originally going to write this chapter in present time, with a changing POVs between Max and Maggie, with just a short past story from Max's thinking. But his thoughts seem to run away from me and it ended up being as long as a chapter. Oh well, that just means the next chapter has been started! Hope you enjoy!

~Aeryn

Max’s POV

We had won 3-2 against the Blues, and now finally, after a 5 game road trip, we were headed home. Most of the guys had significant others that they were antsy to see. I knew a few of the guys, especially the unmarried but in a relationship guys, would not attend the optional practice tomorrow morning. They would spend the morning and most of the day in bed with their girlfriends, only to come to practice on Sunday morning standing a little taller and with more confidence. The “I-just-got-laid” look on their faces.

I sigh, putting on my headphones and hitting shuffle on my iPod. Looking out the window into the dark night sky, my thoughts drifting unintentionally toward a spitfire girl that was not a good relationship candidate. Never the less, she had managed to infatuate me. However, my mind couldn’t decide whether or not to be excited about our dinner tomorrow night because I was getting to spend time with the entertaining beauty, or to dread it with the inevitability of seeing her brother again. It wasn’t a date, it was just three old friends getting together. Yet even though I didn’t do relationships, I would much rather go on a date with Maggie than have to come face to face with Padraig Sutherland after what had happened almost ten years ago.

(8 ½ years earlier in Quebec)

“Maaax! We’re done, man! Finally we can get out of here, done with all that petty high school drama, all those stupid grades. We’re done!” Paul says, sitting down on the couch beside me and spilling his beer as he did so. The blonde in my lap that I was having an unimportant conversation with, giggles at his intoxication.

We had finally graduated high school and now we were off! No more schooling for me, I’m going to make it big. I’m going to play into the NHL!

I roll my eyes before taking a look around the room as he talks to the blonde on my lap, his words slurring together as he drunkenly tries to explain the last hockey fight he was in.

The party is at one of my teammate’s house, and of course his idiotic parents left him alone in the house a week after graduation. They were going to have a hell of a mess on their hands when they got home. It isn’t a huge house, but it is amazing how many people could fill the space. Anyone who is anybody is here, and the people were still arriving! The front door had hardly been closed all night.

I could smell the stale stench of cheap alcohol, wafting around the house and the numerous drunk people. Everyone was laughing, slurring words, and falling over before laughing even harder. Sloppy kisses were being thrown around like the beer cans and games involving cups were adding to the inebriation.

“Oh, look! The Sutherland boys are here… oh, and they brought their sister too…” one of the brunettes behind the couch says, her tone turning to disappointment when she sees the female Sutherland.

The Sutherlands were like gods in the school, but they weren’t the stereotypical popular crowd. They didn’t have crowds of people constantly hanging around them. Instead, there were only a few kids they seemed to be close with. They were the kids that didn’t have to show up to every party to be cool, they just were. With their tan skin, fine features, dark hair, and blue/green eyes, their native looks added a mysterious command and beauty. All were athletic and excelled in their chosen sports, mostly because their father demanded it. They weren’t snobbish or stuck up, instead very down to earth, but with boiling hot tempers and stubborn ways. They were like a pack of wolves in the school, everyone wanted to be with them, but few could be accepted fully

For years they had dominated the school, since Searn, Paddy, and Maggie had moved in 3 years ago. Sean had graduated last year, but because his two siblings had just graduated he was still around in the summers. The twins, Paddy and Maggie, both graduated, just like I had, last week. Paddy was a damned good hockey player, but he didn’t have what it took to go pro. Maybe his skills could progress enough, but he didn’t WANT to continue with hockey. He was off to some college or something in British Columbia. Maggie was a damned good soccer player, and her father wants her to go pro after attending college in Montreal.

“Paddy! Sean!” I yell, getting up from the couch, did I mention the two were not only my former hockey teammates and neighbors, but also my good friends.

“Mad Max!” They both say in almost unison, coming over to shake my hand.

“Congrats, man,” Sean grins at me, “Who would’ve thought you and Paddy would ever graduate.”

“Some how that congratulations lost its effect,” I chuckle rolling my eyes, making them boom out with laughter.

“Hey boys,” the blonde I was with says coming over to us,. She proceeds to hang off of me and size up the Sutherlands at the same time, letting her slightly blood shot eyes wonder over them as her nails drag across my shoulders. “You guys looking to get a lay tonight?” she giggles drunkenly.

It was no secret that every girl that had gone through our high school in the past 3 years had had a crush on one of the Sutherland boys. Two had gone through our high school and three others were around occasionally, all at least 6 foot and muscular.

“Awww… Marie, they don’t want anything you got. But Pauly on the couch over there has been trying to catch a disease,” a sultry voice says, handing the two brothers each a bottle of beer.

If ever girl had a crush on one of the Sutherland guys, almost every guy had a fantasy that involved their sister, Maggie. The Captain of girls Soccer was a spitfire that was for sure. Her plentiful raven waves swept back in a pony tail, showing off her rebellious feather tattoo. Her green eyes stare at me humorously, her pink lips smirking, as her hands rested on her hips that were clad in short cut off jeans.

The blonde lets out a bitter “humf,” and wobbles off.

I pout at the beauty that had scared her off, I could have gotten laid tonight.

“Come on Max, Marie? That girl is a walking STD,” Maggie chuckles, shaking her head as she takes a swig of her beer.

“No worries, Maggs, I’m always safe,” I wink at her.

She throws her head back, letting out a laugh that was even louder than her brothers’.

“Whatever, Talbot. I’ll see you guys later,” she smiles rolling her eyes before sauntering off elsewhere.

“Feels good to be free, eh Talbot!” Sean asks, toasting me with his beer.

I grin back, raising my beer bottle in return looking over to Paddy, who sends a suspicious look my way.

I quickly avert my gaze, playing it off as if I didn’t see it. It wasn’t a secret that I had a crush on Maggie, although she seemed oblivious to the fact. And it definitely wasn’t a secret that Paddy was the most protective of Maggie’s brothers.

(Later)

“Maxime Talbot,” she giggles, flopping down in my lap.

“Hey Maggs,” I grin, carefully taking the red cup of mysterious liquid from her hand and setting it on the littered coffee table in front of me.

“I’ll talk to ya later Max,” the guy I was conversing with says, giving me a sly grin that said ‘You lucky bastard.’

“Yeah see you Joe,” I nod his way as I feel her hands make their way around my neck and she presses herself into me. Making chills of pleasure go up my spine.

“So, rumor has it you got a lil’ thing for me,” she half slurs into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“Oh yeah? Who told you that?” I ask with a grin, as she moves so that she’s facing me.

“Pauly. He said that even though you have all those girls, you really just want me,” she giggles biting her lip.

“What if he’s right?”

Her drunken grin drops as a look of seriousness passes onto her face. Suddenly her mouth is on mine, her tongue in my mouth in a sloppy opened mouth kiss. I try to tell myself that she’s just completely wasted, but I find myself kissing her back. Maybe it was the buzz I was feeling, maybe it was just male instinct, maybe it’s just that I can’t say no to something I’ve wanted for so long. I can taste the mixture of liquor and beer on her tongue as it dances with mine. Her leg swings around so that she is sitting in my lap completely, as she moves her hip slightly to rub her crotch against mine. I let out a groan at the feeling, God I could lay her down on the coffee table right now.

But it’s Maggie, why did it have to be Maggie. Any other girl I would, not caring about how she felt, after all it was only one night. But it was Maggie, I didn’t want that, I wanted to do this right or at least so that she would remember it.

“Maggs,” I groan, taking my lips away from her.

“What’s the matter, Max?” she purrs, her now swollen lips moving to my neck, “I thought you wanted me.”

I groan as she nibbles right below the corner of my jaw before passing her hot tongue over it.

“You have no idea how much,” I say, trying not to lose it right here, “But Maggie, you’re drunk.”

“Only a little,” she giggles against my neck, “But I can assure you, that you won’t be able to tell if you take me upstairs.”

I let out a groan at the thought of doing just that. Jesus Christ, I would love to do just that. Where did this conscious come from?!

“Maggie, I can’t…”

“Come on Max, I really want you,” she slurs, leaning in to attach her lips to mine again.

I put a finger up, stopping the connection, knowing that if I let her kiss me, my self control would dissolve.

“No, Maggs,” I sigh.

She pulls away, her green eyes beginning to water. Shit!

“So Pauly wasn’t right?” she whispers.

“Maggs…”

“Fine. I’ll go see if Joe wants some company,” she sniffs, before attempting to get up.

“No you won’t,” I say, holding her down, my blood boiling at the thought of Joe’s hands on her.

“Max, I don’t want to be around you now…” she whines.

“Maggie, you can’t go with Joe!” I say firmly.

“STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!” she shouts at me, making me cringe, “Everyone is always telling me what to do! I’m done, leave me alone!”

I look at her and see the tears begin to descend down her cheeks, there was more to this than just me. I look around to see if Sean or Paddy is anywhere near in hopes of acquiring their help.

“Come on Maggs, let’s get out of here,” I whisper pulling her into me and walking to the door, hearing her cry quietly into my shirt.

I walk with her to the playground down the road from the house and sit her on the steps to the slide. Her tears still descending down her cheeks, as her lip quivers. I pull her into me, her arms coming around my neck like before, but now it’s as if she holds on for dear life as a sob tears through her. I just let her cry, knowing that there wasn’t much more I could do. I wait as her sobs slowly slow into quiet sniffing.

“Maggs, what’s wrong? This isn’t like you,” I whisper in the darkness.

“I’m scared,” she whimpers back.

“Scared of what?!” I say taken aback, never in a million years did I think I would hear Maggie Sutherland say those words.

“I need to get out, I need to leave. Dad… I just keep disappointing him, and he keeps pushing me to go into the military or play soccer,” she begins.

“But I thought you liked playing soccer?”

“I’m out of here next week Max. I’m leaving. I can’t wait for August to go to college, and I’m afraid to be alone.”

Her confession caught me off guard. She was afraid to be alone? That was the reason I had never asked her out. She was so independent. She didn’t need a guy. She liked to be alone. And now, she’s afraid to go out on her own.

“What about that college your dad said you were going to? You were going into their soccer program?”

“I’m going to Pennsylvania State University in the United States,” she says shaking her head, “I got accepted and approved for aid. Dad doesn’t know yet. And I never loved playing soccer Max, my dad wants me to play soccer.”

“The U.S.?! Maggs what about your friends and brothers?” I say feeling as though someone just punched me.

“There’s nothing here for me Max. I don’t belong here. Hell, I haven’t felt at home anywhere in… in… ten years,” she murmurs quietly, paying with the necklace.

“Ten years?” I ask confused, and then it dawns on me, “Since your mom died…”

She just nods her head, more tears leaking out of her eyes.

“I can’t stay here, I don’t belong here and I need to get away from the Admiral and lead my own life. I don’t want to be a soccer star, I don’t want to go into the military. I want to travel the world, Max. I want to get to know it’s ancient secrets; I want to go to Italy and eat real Italian food. I want to visit my family in Ireland. I want to stand next to the pyramids at Giza. I want to paddle a canoe in the Amazon. I can’t do that if I stay with Dad. I need freedom!” she says, her voice becoming more powerful.

I had caught a glimpse of the insecure, depressed, and afraid Maggie Sutherland. A rare exotic creature, that was rumored to be extinct. I doubt that many others had ever had a glimpse, even within her own family.

“But I’m afraid that I’ll make mistakes. That I’ll just end up poor, getting married to a guy I hate because he knocked me up and I’ll be stuck in a life I hate all my life.”

I look down at her, as she leans up against me for support.

“Maggs, you need to do this. You are capable of so much more, and you’ve got the guts and fire to get you far,” I chuckle, “Look at me, I’m going to go to the NHL, or at least that’s what I tell people. But who knows if I’ll ever make it. Maybe I’ll get stuck and only make it as far as the AHL. Maybe I’m not good enough. But I have to try. I’ll never know if I can do it, if I don’t try. Which is exactly what you need to do Maggie. Don’t regret not knowing.” I say sternly, wishing I could listen to my own words and take the plunge with her. Maybe we could be something spectacular… but now I guess we’ll never know. After she left for college, I would probably never see her again. The thought tore through me and upset me more than I thought it would.

“Max…” she whispers up to me, her head on my shoulder, “take me home.”

“Sure thing, Maggs,” I smile, helping her up.

As we approach her house 15 minutes later, I stop at her door. Wanting to make sure she got inside ok, before I went to my house next to hers.

“Max, I don’t want to be alone tonight,” she says, trying to concentrate on the keys in her hands.

I take a deep breath, weighing my options. I wanted to, God did I want to, even if it was just sleeping next to her, I knew I might not get time alone with her ever again. But what if Paddy found out, he’d be so pissed.

“Please Max,” she whispers her voice cracking as she looks at me with watery green eyes, unable to find her keys because her mind was clouded with alcohol.

I sigh, finding her house key and following her in.

She leads me up to her bedroom on the second floor. It was small and painted a simple white, with a few posters of landscapes on the wall. Stark, clean line that looked military issue. Definitely not something I pictured as Maggie’s room.

“I have to pee,” she waves, wobbling over to the bathroom.

I kick off my shoes and stand awkwardly in the middle of the room, not sure what to do. I shouldn’t be here. If any of the Sutherland’s found out I was here, I’d be in for a broken nose and worse. I should just leave now, before she gets back in.

I hear the door to her bathroom open, signaling her coming back in. Shit, too late. Maybe I could make an excuse.

“Look Maggie…” I say my hand subconsciously coming to tug on my hair.

“Hmmm?” I hear her ask from the doorway.

I look up, to begin my excuse, but my breath hitches and my mouth goes dry at the sight in front of me. She stood in the doorway, in a pair of black striped boy briefs and the green t-shirt she was wearing before but without a bra. Her dark brown hair out of the ponytail it was in, tumbling over her shoulders.

“I … ummm… nothing,” I manage to stutter out.

She just nods in a drunken sleepy way, before crawling into bed. I watch as her hairbrushes pillow and she pulls her legs to her chest. Staring at the white wall, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

“Maggie?” I whisper in the darkness, only the moonlight illuminating the room.

“I feel trapped,” she sniffs, “I hate this room.”

I sigh, giving in completely, I had to stay. I take off my t-shirt before crawling into bed next to her. I cautiously reach out to her, touching her shoulder, feeling her flinch slightly.

“Maggie, come here,” I whisper.

After a few minutes of me holding my breath and waiting for her to turn to even look at me, she does just that. She turns, looking at me from brilliantly green eyes, tears still on her face. I find myself reaching out, to cup her face in my left hand, as I lay facing her, wiping tears off her cheeks.

“You’re going to make it Maggs. You’ve got what it takes to get out of here and succeed,” I whisper, before my thumb brushes along her jaw soft jaw line, Hoping that she remembers my words in the morning, but knowing she probably won’t.

Her head tilts at my touch, as my thumb drifts to her chin. I watch as her long lashes drift down touching her freckled cheeks. Here she was, in my touch. I could have had her all this time. I could have kissed her everyday. But instead, this was it.

I bring my lips slowly to hers, taking my time wanting to memorize the feeling of her lips next to mine. She was leaving in a week, and I would never see her again. I wanted her, God did I, but I couldn’t do that to her.

My lips move against hers, spurred on when she kisses me back. My hand drops to her slim waist, pulling her closer to me as her hand find it’s way to my shoulder, then my neck, and then her slim fingers found their way through my hair. My mouth opens at the feeling, my tongue poking at her lips, begging her to give me a chance and let me in, at least for a little while.

I hear her let out a content sigh as she slowly gives in, meeting my tongue with her own.

“What the fuck Talbot!” I hear a whisper yell, as a fist connects with my side.

I open my eyes to see Padraig Sutherland sending me a death glare, his cheeks reddening and his green eyes looking lethal.

I look over to see the one person that would make him burst into flame in a fit of rage. Her head rested on my shoulder, her hand across my chest as she slept obliviously with a small smile on her pink lips, lashes splayed on high freckled cheekbones.

“Get up Talbot, before I make you get up,” he growls quietly, apparently not wanting to wake up his sister.

I carefully move out from under the sleeping beauty and out of bed, grateful that I had decided to leave my jeans on. I pick up my t-shirt from on the floor and follow him out the door, looking back at Maggie one last time.

As soon as I walk out the door, Paddy’s fist collides with my face, making pain shoot up from my jaw.

“What the fuck do you think you were doing, Max?!” he speaks loudly, as I hold my jaw.

“Nothing happened Paddy, she was drunk, crying, and she asked me to stay. That’s it, nothing happened!” I growl back.

His fist collides with my face again, “Bull shit. Maggie doesn’t cry.”

“Look Paddy….” I say clutching my face.

“Get the fuck out of my house Talbot. And if you ever come near my sister again, I will turn you inside out and make sure you never play hockey again,” he growls pushing me down the hallway.

“Max let’s go!” Marc-Andre calls, motioning me off the plane. Apparently I had completely zoned out in my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m on my way,” I respond, quickly gathering up all my shit.

Maggie hadn’t remembered anything about that night, or at least I didn’t think she did. I hadn’t talked to her again since I bumped into her at the Pig and Fiddle a few weeks ago. A week after I had spent the night in the Sutherland house, Maggie was gone, just like she said. And in fear of commitment and my own feelings (although I blamed the fear on Padraig Sutherland’s threat), I let her go.

Chapter 8: Lines and Boundaries

“Would you hurry the fuck up?” I grumble, looking at my watch again as I lean against the counter in her apartment.

“Shut it! It’s not my fault I’m not ready, you should have been more specific about the time!” she yells back from her room. I watch from the kitchen as she pulls a navy blue hoodie over her head, covering a thin gray tank top. Good thing, I might not have made it to practice with skin like that left showing.

She sighs, pulling her unruly mane out. “Alright, let’s go,” she grumbles, grabbing her keys off the counter and her messenger bag of the bar stool.

“You sure you don’t want to wait another 10 minutes? Hell, half an hour and you can see me do suicides for being late to practice,” I grit out.

“Look,” she says whipping around before we can get to the elevator, those emerald eyes glaring at me, her hands on her hips, “Next time, tell me when you are going to show up at my door step! That way, not only will I be showered and decently caffeinated, I will be ready to leave!”

“Fine! I just assumed that you got up before 9:30,” I sigh sarcastically.

“Well, you know what happens when you assume,” she sighs, pulling a tube of Burt’s Bees from her pocket and releasing it’s minty scent as she applied it to her full pink lips. I look to her with an eyebrow cocked waiting for the answer, my eyes focused on those luscious lips, “You have to deal with me.”

I sigh and look over to her, as she presses the button for the elevator and stands with her arms across her chest and an annoyed look on her face. I had told her yesterday that I was taking her to lunch and that I want her to watch our practice. I, however, forgot to mention practice was at 10:30. When I came to pick her up at 9:30, I woke her up.

“Eh, seeing you in your pajamas was worth it,” I smirk, remembering her opening the door in a sleepy haze with an oversized penguins shirt and black rimed glasses on, her raven mane a mess of sexy curls.

“It was on the floor, it was the first thing I picked up!” She says exasperated, throwing her hands in the air.

After I told her she had 10 minutes, she rushed away from me to get ready, giving me a glimpse of the number 25 on it and my last name on top of her t-shirt. I gave her just enough time to change into a hoodie and worn out jeans and spend 5 minutes in the bathroom doing the essentials. She just had time to put in her contacts and I watched in the mirror as she swiped on a coat of mascara, making fun of her “make up face” as she did so. She looked almost like a college kid on her way to class, dressed in an old beat up Penn State sweatshirt, tattered jeans, well worn black pair of low top converse, and her leather messenger bag that looked like it had gone through the war. Perhaps I should have given her more time to get ready. But she looked damned sexy as is.

“So what you’re saying is that you sleep naked…” I grin, this was fun.

She lets out a small laugh, before that sexy siren smile splashes on her face and her green eyes deepen mischievously.

“Yup,” she replies, boarding the elevator

My eyes widen and I have to suppress a groan as she chuckles and pushes the button for the ground floor. I could just imagine that tanned skin and curves against her blood red sheets. It was enough to make my cock twitch.

I was kidding! I didn’t think she would confirm it!

“Jesus, Maggs,” I let out a groan, tugging on my hair slightly as I follow her.

She chuckles and looks up to me with a smile, “What’s the matter Talbot? You asked and I gave you an honest answer,” she smiles widening her eyes innocently. But by the smirk on those sassy lips, I could tell she knew what she was doing to me.

“You better watch it Maggs,” I warn taking a step toward her, backing her into the elevator wall.

“Or what Talbot? What are you gonna do?” she asks, taking a slight step forward and almost closing the distance between us.

She has to tilt her head to look up to me with those mischievous green eyes and her hands on her hips challenging me. I look down to her, feeling my eyes gravitate away from her emerald eyes, to the pink sarcastic smirk she was sporting. Her mint and pepper scent was clogging my brain from being this close to her. The warmth from her small body radiating into mine as one delicate looking hand touches my chest lightly, making me jump.

“That’s what I thought,” she replies smugly, pushing back on my chest and forcing me to take a step back, “You’re all talk,” she laughs shaking her head.

Suddenly, I find myself reaching over to flip the switch to hold the elevator and before she can react, my hands are on her hips, pushing her into the aluminum of the elevator wall. Her head whips up, her eyes holding shock and a very pissed off look.

“Or, Maggie Sutherland...” I smirk at her, bending my head down towards hers.

I stop just before my lips touch hers, as I can hear her inhale, holding her breath waiting for me to close the space. As temped as I am to do just that, I hold it together, moving my lips as they hover over her jaw line, before reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

“... You are going to get a lot more than you bargained for,” I whisper in her ear, allowing my warm breath to help me in the temptation.

I watch as she looks up to me with a heat lusty stare before it slowly diffuses out of her and she glares at me. Then I move away and flip the switch back up on the elevator to turn it on.

She exhales quietly before gathering herself and rummaging around in her bag. I stand smirking as the elevator doors open, thinking I had stunned her out of a smart-ass comment.

The elevator doors ding open as she pulls what she was searching for out of her bag.

“Tic Tac?” she asks with a smirk, holding out the little plastic box with the tiny mints inside.

I just stare at her, my mouth hanging open, what a little bitch.

Maggie’s POV

“Would you stop?!” I snap, batting his hands away from my neck.

“Your tag is out, I’m trying to fix it. “ he says frustrated.

“Maybe I want it that way,” I counter, shooting him a glare.

He stands in front of me and rolls his eyes, before reaching out again, to fix my tag.

“Stop!” I huff, stepping out of reach and pushing my tag back into my shirt again myself, “There happy? Now get to practice,” I growl pointing to the locker room door that is just a few feet away from us. Jimmy shaking his head and chuckling at our banter.

“I’m going, I’m going,” he grumbles, rolling his eyes at me, “I’ll call you as soon as I’m out of the shower. We’re going to the Pig and Fiddle for lunch, so be ready to go. And if some of the guys go with us, be nice.”

“When am I ever not?” I sigh dramatically.

He throws hid head back and lets his laughter echo off the walls of the arena. His laughter was kind of infectious, I think as I find myself smiling.

“See ya later, Maggs,” he says, pausing and looking down at me.

I look back up to him curiously; his blue eyes were a rather brilliant blue at the moment. I shake the feeling wondering if it was something on my face that was causing the look. I know I had gotten ready quickly; did I have toothpaste on my face? I was about to ask, when he suddenly bows his head down pressing his lips quickly to my cheek before walking off into the locker room. I felt the spot he his lips had brushed tingle and found myself trying to suppress a blush? What was that?! I resist the urge to touch the place where his lips just were and quickly brush it off.

“I hope you skate so hard you puke!” I clear my voice and call out to him sweetly, grinning at Jimmy before finding a place in the stands to watch the action.

I plop down in an arena seat situated higher up and looking directly at center ice. After balancing my coffee on the chair next to me, I pull my unruly curls back into a loose bun so that they were away from my face, I didn’t really have time to get ready today, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t handle it, to be honest I rarely had time to look gorgeous in the morning. My laid back attire was usual for my off days, like today, and not that different from my workdays. I pull out the new iPhone I had recently purchased (and one that I had been dreaming of on my stay in Egypt) and check my email for the day, reaching over to get my coffee and sipping it cautiously. Allowing my mind to wander.

What the hell was that in the elevator?! After we had gotten in the car, it was as if nothing had happened. But the warm spot between my thighs was a reminder that it had indeed happened. Max had been dangerously close, and I thought for sure he was going to kiss me. And the scariest thing was, I’m pretty sure I would have let him!

His blue eyes turned that stormy gray color and the musky smell of his cologne was a definite turn on. As soon as I put my hand on his solid chest I regretted it. The warmth of his skin through the flannel shirt he was wearing almost burned and the solid muscle made me want to sneak my fingers between the buttons. His lips ghosting along my jawline was enough to make my breath catch, and when his warm breath hit my ear, I almost lost my composure right there. Max Talbot was damned tempting.

I groan at my thought, they were wandering too much in the wrong direction.

I hated when he messed with me like that. I know I may have crossed over some line, but now that I knew where it was, I wasn’t going to cross it again. I couldn’t. Max and I were better off in the friend zone, and kissing was in a sure fire way to get kicked out of there. Besides, he was just fucking with me. It didn’t mean anything, right? I mean, come on, it’s Max! He can go get some chick at the bar if he wants a lay. He wouldn’t spend this time trying to get in my pants, right?

I sigh, trying to not let it get to me. I had to just put it out of my mind. God I needed to get laid. Get all this hormonal shit out of my system.

A few stands away from me I could see a group of girls that seemed to be only a few years younger than me. There were about 4 of them that had put a lot of effort into their appearance for today. Hair either perfectly straight or in tumbling waves, low cut shirts under winter jackets and jeans tucked into ugg boots. They weren’t fake, like the girl that was with Max the day I bumped into him at the pub. They were the perfect little snow bunnies, all bundled up to watch the boys practice. And although they were in an ice rink… it was the end of October, the winter apparel wasn’t needed. I watch as they all gasp and giggle with excitement as the boys take the ice, skating in circles to warm up their legs. Crosby takes the ice they all shriek with joy, causing my not fully caffeinated head to throb.

“Jesus Christ…” I murmur, pushing on one of my ears, those voices could break sound barriers.

I watch as Max skates out, a wad of bubble gum in his mouth. He looks up to the stands as he skates over to Crosby. He talks to him briefly, before pointing up in my direction and grinning like a buffoon. I just roll my eyes, choosing a small salute, thinking that flipping him off wouldn’t be very appropriate. He grins back before going to talk to his other teammates.

I see the girls giggle with excitement.

“Can you believe it?! Max Talbot looked up at us!” one of them gawks, the other girls squeal in excitement.

“Oy,” I groan as my palm hits my forehead, this was going to be a long practice.

Suddenly Flogging Molly sounds through the arena. I furrow my brows before I recognize the song, Swagger. I grin and pull my phone off the chair beside me, a picture of my second half and I looking back at me.

“Don’t know where I’m going. Don’t know where…” My ring tone sings.

“Paddy!” I grin excitedly into the phone.

Max’s POV

Sid steps foot on the ice and I hear a loud shriek go up in the stands, I chuckle and step out after him. I look up to them, thinking as I chew the sweet pink bubble gum. 4 little budding puck bunnies. I chuckle, knowing the kid wanted nothing to do with the little tarts, he was tied down by his life, he had to watch where he lays… or with whom he lays. Wouldn’t trade him for the world. I grin still looking in the stands, thinking that maybe I could have one of those tonight. I look further into the stands and spot the spitfire who had accompanied me to practice. She sat rolling her eyes at the other girls and drinking her coffee, no doubt cursing them in her head… hopefully it wasn’t out loud.

Before I walked into the locker room, I took a risk, taking a step further and kissing her cheek. I walked into the locker room quickly, afraid that she would come to her senses and break my nose.

“Hey Crosby, I see your posse is here!” I chuckle skating over to him.

He smiles slightly, almost shyly, but not looking up to the stands, knowing that it would set of their squeals.

“You jealous Max?”

“Of you?! Pfft, you wish. I got my own onlooker today,” I grin, pointing up to the raven haired beauty, next to them.

“Maggie?!” he asks following my hand, as she gives a small salute, “I thought you didn’t do relationships.”

“I don’t, we’re just friends.”

“Uh huh, I could say that and it would be true, but when you say it, it just means you want to get in her pants,” he replies rolling his eyes and taking a lap around the rink.

I grin, knowing he was right.

“So Max,” Letang says, “If why you spending so much time on Maggie, eh? You never work this hard to get a girl for one night.”

“Because Tanger,” I chuckle, “This is one that is worth pursuing. And I need to check her off my bucket list.”

“She’s on your bucket list? Max, that’s gross,” Marc says next to me.

“Not a bucket list. Just the one that got away,” I laugh, pulling off my elbow pad and chucking it in my bag, “I need a bit of a challenge every once in awhile.”

I finish my shower, putting on a flannel shirt and jeans before heading out into the lounge to pick up Maggie.

I find her grinning wider than a Cheshire cat, bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet.

“Hey Maggs, we have to wait for a few of the boys. You liked practice that much?”

“Eh, it was ok,” she waves off quickly, “But guess what?”

“What?” I ask grinning, her attitude infectious.

“Paddy is coming to visit!” She grins, almost bursting at the seams.

“Paddy?” I ask, furrowing my brow before they raise in surprise, “You mean your brother, Paddy?”

“Yup! He’s coming to see me for a few days next week! I told him you were living in Pittsburgh too and he said he wanted to see you,” she giggles, clearly excited.

I swallow the sudden anxiousness in my throat.

“He wants to see me?” I ask slowly.

“Yup! I know you have a road trip next week, but will you be back by Thursday?”

“Uhmm, I dunno Maggs, I’ll have to see…” I reply slowly.

The last time I saw Padraig Sutherland, he threatened to turn me inside out if I came near his little sister again.

Chapter 7: Yuengling and Chinese

I peel off my under armour, my hair no doubt standing up in all different directions. I rub my hands over my face; the tiredness starting to seep in after the press had left practice. I look down to my bag by my stall. I sigh and take out my phone, There was a text from Frank asking when Mom’s Birthday was, a text from “Anna” I think she was the blond that took my phone last night at the club and plugged in her number. Apparently she wanted to know if we would be at the club again tonight, and a text from Verizon, telling me about a new plan they offered. Still nothing. Not a text or a voicemail, or even a missed call. Nothing.

I sigh frustrated, throwing my phone back into my open bag and heading toward the showers.

3 week. 3 fucking weeks and I had still not heard from Maggie! I knew there was a chance that I would never see her again after I walked out of the apartment, but now it was bugging me that we lived in the same city and I had no one to pick on. Which wasn’t entirely true, I had a whole hockey team, but it was just so fun getting under Maggie’s skin. I missed her spit fire attitude and infectious laugh. I didn’t want to just not see her again for the next decade.

I step into the shower after turning on the water. My skin jumps and I let out my breath in a hiss as I come in contact with the extremely hot water. Soon, it numbs my skin, easing the tension out of my muscles.

I needed, no not needed… I wanted to see her. I groan, letting my head fall back against the tile in the shower as I think of her at the club, the white tank top, that slick golden skin, the thick mane of raven hair and those emerald green eyes. The way her hips moved to the beat, the gold buckle of her belt catching the light in the club. How her hands came up, running up the nape of her neck to collect her hair. I feel my cock twitch just at the memory. I couldn’t have forgotten how she looked if I wanted to, and it was a damned turn on. I was going to have to make the first move. Maggie was too damned stubborn to admit that she may have been wrong. It was a pointless fight. I turn off the water off, and step out of the shower, toweling off and wrapping the towel around my waist. I was going to go find her.

Maggie’s POV

“Ugh,” I groan in frustration. I wipe off my mud-covered hands on my jeans and pull my mass of wet hair back into a ponytail. Getting the annoying sopping strands out of my eyes. I bend back down into the shallow hole, scraping away more dirt as does the worker next to me.

“Maggie!” I hear a voice call.

“Yeah, what’s up Jeff?” I ask popping my head up and looking in the direction of the voice.

He motions me over to the other carefully marked hole he is digging. I nod my head and putting my hands on the dirt wall of my own carefully dug hole and hoisting myself out. I try to brush the mud off my jeans, but only brush more on. I let out a frustrated sigh as the rain continues to pelt down on me.

“Does it ever stop raining here?!” I grumble.

“Haha, it doesn’t seem to,” he laughs, “Maggs what do you say we pack up early today? I mean it’s Friday and everyone is miserable in this rain.”

He was right. It had been raining for the better part of a week but today was horrible. It was like Monsoon season on the African plains. Everyone was cold, wet, and miserable. Digging in the dirt was fun, but digging in cold mud was not only difficult, but also exhausting.

“Yeah, let’s pack up and get outta here Jeff. I’m beat and I think so is everyone else,” I nod.

He nods and walks off to inform his crew while I walk over to mine and tell them the good news. I wipe the water dripping off the end of my nose as the rain comes down harder and I suppress a shiver. I was soaked to the bone.

After a good half hour of getting everything squared away and making sure all the workers left the site, I make my way back to my jeep, only to find a nice looking little black sporty thing next to my car. I stop, in my head I go over who it could possibly be, when the front door opens and HE steps out.

I had to admit; he looked damned good in jeans and a hoodie, the heavy rainfall quickly marking a dot pattern on his broad shoulder as he smirked that cocky smirk at me.

“What do you want Talbot?”

Max’s POV

“Excuse me, is there a Maggie Sutherland, here?” I ask stopping some cold and pitiful looking guy.

“Yeah, she’ll be along in a minute,” he nods, heading to his car.

I mumble a thanks and go back to claim the shelter of my car. I’m about to turn on the car, and turn up the heat and music. But I spot petite figure headed my way. She smiles and waves to some guy, giving him a smile as she adjusts the strap of some old beat up leather bag around her shoulder. I watch as she pushes a soaked wet curl out of her face and tucks it behind her ear. I smirk as she walks toward me, trying to find her keys in her bag. The jeans she wore hug from her hips because of how saturated with water they were with brown patches of mud intermixed in the denim. Her khaki military style coat added soaking weight on top of a waterlogged dark red t-shirt. I chuckle at the sight; maybe I should have waited until it was at least a sunny day out. She pulls her keys out of her bag and her eyes connect with my car when she lifts her head. She stops her brow furrowing as I step out of the car, those green eyes widen slightly before narrowing on me.

“What do you want Talbot?” she asks lowly, continuing to walk over to her car.

“Hey to you too Maggs. How’s the dig?” I ask, walking over with her.

“Could be better, it’s pretty difficult to dig in the mud,” she mumbles, unlocking her car.

She throws her bag in the passenger seat before hopping into the driver’s seat.

“Maggs come on…” I begin, knowing that she was just planning on rolling out of their without saying a word to me.

“What Max?”

“Can we at least talk? I mean, I wanted us to see each other more than once ever decade,” I chuckle.

“Max, I’m cold and I’m wet…” she begins, her head wiping up to meet my amused smirk, “Don’t make that last one dirty.”

I fake shock, “Maggie, I would never.”

“Uh huh. Look Max, I just want to go home and take a hot shower and order Chinese and do nothing. I’ve been working in the rain for the past few days,” she grumbles.

“I’ll bring the beer,” I smirk, before closing her door and cutting off her rejection. She looks straight up pissed as I hear her muffled voice draw out my name in a warning. However, I ignore it and head back to my car.

“See ya there, Maggs,” I wave.

****

“Honestly, Talbot, you have nothing better to do today than follow me home?” she grumbles, shoving her key into lock and with a solid twist unlatching it.

“Nope, I’m all yours today Maggs,” I grin at her.

“Oh, joy,” she says, her eyes rolling skyward before walking into her apartment.

I walk in behind her and let my gaze wonder around the apartment. My jaw slightly slackens at the sight in front of me. In the 3 weeks since the shouting match of the century, Maggie had managed to transform her apartment into a one of a kind space. Pictures covered one of the walls in a mismatched abstract pattern of sorts, while the other wall was completely hidden by two bookcases that were big enough to make me wonder how Maggie even got them through the door. They weren’t empty bookshelves either. Each shelf was lined from end to end with an assortment of books. There were only two shelves that didn’t contain any books, instead were a few artifacts and then more pictures.

The actual wall space that was seen was a sage green color and a red worn-out Persian rug was nestled under the dark wooden coffee table.

“Wow, Maggs. I like what you’ve done with the place,” I say taking a look around.

“Thanks. I need a shower…”she sighs, running a hand through her drenched locks, after throwing her keys on the kitchen counter and hanging her jacket and bag on an oak coat tree next to the door.

“Is that an invitation?” I grin suggestively at her, setting the case of Yuengling down next to her keys.

“Hardly,” she snorts with an eye roll, “Are you gonna be here when I get out of the shower, or am I just going to find a note?”

“Oh, no worries Maggie, I’ll be here,” I chuckle, plopping down on the beat up brown leather couch.

“Fine, just don’t break anything,” she replies with a yawn before retreating to her room.

I watch as she walks into her room, and snicker at the brown smudge of a handprint that was on her ass. No doubt she had wiped off her hands on the back of her jeans. I listen to her opening and closing drawers and a closet door before she heads into the only bathroom with a towel in hand. I wait for a minute before I hear the shower turn on, telling me that she was in there for at least 10 minutes. Should I or shouldn’t I? I look down passed my hands and to the dark hard wood floor, searching for the answer.

“Why the hell not?” I murmur before hauling myself off the couch and into Maggie’s bedroom.

The walls were doused in a deep dark red color that screamed warmth and sex. The ceiling was painted a warm chocolate brown, closing the room in, not in a cave like way, but instead instantly giving the room a cozy feel. Small gold details were painted around some of the corners and edges of the room, giving it a Moroccan feel. The bed had a comforter that had an Indian or Moroccan design, but I couldn’t make out the pattern because it was in a crumpled mess on the one side of the bed, evidence that Maggie had flung it off herself as she stumbled out of bed this morning. Multiple deep colored pillows seemed to act as a cocoon, almost making the deep walnut headboard of the bed disappear. The bed looked comfortable and inviting, making me want to fall into the bed and sleep there for the rest of the week... Or throw the raven haired beauty in for a romp. I could just imagine how her tawny skin looked against the deep red of the sheets, her fingers clutching at them as her back arched off the bed. How her dark hair would spread out on the pillow. How those red sheets would outline her naked curves perfectly, one slim leg peaking out as she looked at me with lusty dark green eyes, biting her full lower lip.

I groan at the thought, I was getting Maggie Sutherland into that bed. It would happen and I would show her the time of her life.

I shake off the image I have just conjured up in my brain and continue looking around the room. The last thing I needed to do was have Maggie come out of the shower with me in an obvious state of need.

A dark weathered wooden dresser stood on the opposing wall, next to the doorway I had come in. A blue bra with three little rhinestones between the cups was hanging from the black iron knobs of the drawers. The closet doors rested open, showing the place where Maggie’s wardrobe lay. It wasn’t much, like one would expect from a woman, but that was Maggie.

There was an antique jewelry box from some middle eastern was placed on top of the chest of drawers, a silver Celtic cross hanging from one of it’s four corners. A deep red almost maroon sari looking fabric covered the windows adding to the dark mystic of the room. Clothing littered the floor next to the closet and a pair of wet leather boots had been kicked off at the edge of the bed. The smell of pepper and mint was faintly in the room, a smell that was uniquely Maggie.

A few pictures decorated the bedside table. One of Maggie and some guys standing next to the pyramids, her in a canoe in a river surrounded by a jungle, one of her with an elephant. I recognized her brothers in a few of them too, all had either green or blue eyes and surprisingly tawny skin coming of course from their father. There was one of Maggie on Paddy’s back, both laughing. They looked strikingly similar, except Paddy had his straight dark hair cropped into a faux hawk. There was one of her perched on the shoulders of Sean and Liam. One was of all 5 Sutherland boys and Maggie in front of a pub; Maggie was the shortest of them all. All the men were at least 6 feet tall, but I knew who was the wild child and the boss, the 5’2’’ beauty. There was a picture of all 6 of the Sutherland kids, Maggie in a white cap and gown with a huge grin in the middle of her brothers who were all causing a commotion around her. The admiral standing off to the side in his uniform, his arms crossed over his chest, and a stone lion statue crouched in the background.

The final one was in a silver frame, a Celtic knot in the one corner of the frame. In the picture was a redheaded woman hugging a raven haired little girl. Neither looked very much like the other. But the plentiful waves in their hair and the strikingly similar bright green eyes were the same.

“Snooping around my apartment, eh, Talbot?” a voice purrs from behind me.

I whip around to see Maggie padding toward me in a fluffy white towel. Her hair masked by a similar towel on the top of her head.

“Just trying to get a glimpse into Maggie Sutherland’s life,” I smile charmingly.

“Haha, right, just don’t go sniffing through my underwear drawer,” she chuckles, plucking the blue bra off the dresser knob.

‘Why hadn’t I thought of that one?’ I think, as I watch her walk away from me and back to the bathroom, black ink running from the nape of her neck and following the spine before disappearing into the white towel. It took almost all my energy to not pull her back to me, rip the towel off her, and have my way with her.

“So,” she says over a mouthful of Chinese food, “What did you want to talk about?”

“Why didn’t you call me back Maggs?” I ask, watching for her reaction.

She sits on the other corner of the leather couch, opposite of me, in a navy blue oversized hoodie and plaid boxer shorts. Her legs tucker under her, Yuengling sat in front of each of us on the coffee table.

She shrugs, pushing around her chicken and broccoli with her chopstiks.”I was busy.”

“For three weeks?” I ask skeptically, raising my eyebrow.

“Yes! I’ve been starting with the dig and then getting this place all set up,” she says motioning around the room with her chopsticks.

“Maggie, come on. You couldn’t have taken 2 seconds out of your busy schedule to say, ‘Hey, Max, good game?” I ask, I watch as she just shrugs and looks back down at her food, “Unless… unless you didn’t watch any games?” I half ask half state, my heart sinking with the realization that Maggie wasn’t even a devoted hockey fan. She probably had no idea what our record was, when I was at home or away, the goal I had scored a few nights ago, or the close encounter fight I had almost had.

“Have you watched any games Maggie?” I ask quietly, dreading her answer.

“Yeah, I’ve watched almost all of them,” she says quietly, not meeting my gaze, her cheeks tingeing a slight pink.

My mood immediately improves and I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. She HAS been watching my hockey games!