Maybe she didn’t know how to find me? I knew I should’ve put my phone number or name on the card, it just seemed romantic not to, and girls liked that romance shit. I figured she could find me on social media or through Jules- they seemed to have gotten close over the planning process.
Or maybe she was too shy to thank me? That had to be it.
Whatever it was, I guess I’d never know because I was checking out of the hotel and flying back out to Minnesota to spend my last week of summer with my family. The following week, I was scheduled to leave for preseason training camp in Vancouver.
August was really when our hockey seasons started because all the NHL teams hosted their camps where they’d invite minor league guys like me to come up and skate. I was hoping to catch some attention and be pulled up for at least a few games this year. I’d been playing in the minor league for years, and at 26 I was now one of the oldest guys on my team that had yet to see NHL playingtime.
I guess this past season didn’t really count because I injured my knee early on in the season and went home to Northfield to recoup. It ended up being kind of a nice mental break because Grey, Max, and Smitty gave me some good advice and solid ice time practicing with them. Spending time at the Ice League and working with some of the youth teams also reminded me of how much fun hockey could be and why I fell in love with the sport in the first place. Playing in stadiums was great and all, but there was nothing like walking around your home rink eating some concession stand food and feeling nostalgic while almost getting taken out by some eight-year-olds playing mini-stick tourneys in the lobby; it did wonders to humble a guy.
Right.
Hockey.
That was my focus.
Not girls.
So… It was probably for the best that it didn’t work out with Ellie, I thought as I leaned against the hotel elevator’s wall. What would Ellie want with a boyfriend a whole country away anyway? Who knew if she even had an up-to-datepassport?
I pushed my hair back and closed my eyes against the mounting frustration… because the more I convinced myself not to think about her, the more I couldn’t shake the thought of how I hadn’t felt that excited about anyone in such a long time. And she really didn’t seem like a psycho- despite the breakdown I saw. I think I actually handled her panic situation super well. Helping her made me feel like The Man. I always felt like I was a dude who had a lot to give, but no one to give it to. Andshe-
Nope.
Hockey, man.
The elevator dinged, finally releasing me, and I lazily walked to the lobby’s concierge desk to start the checkout process and book a ride to the airport.
I pulled out my credit card, readying myself for the bill, when I saw a very short flurry of auburn hair disappearing through the doors and heading into the bright sun outside.
Without giving it a second thought, I immediately dropped my bags by the counter, threw a “sorry” back at the guy manning it, and broke into a run to catch her.
This had to be the universe telling me not to give up, right? I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I ran, trying to seize the opportunity in front of me.
Outside, she was already marching ahead at a breakneck speed with a taller, dark-haired girl beside her.
“Ellie!” I called out.
She halted and turned slowly.
I couldn’t help but break into a goofy grin. Because I kid you not- my heart fluttered. Her long hair was lightly blowing around her in the wind, and her white sundress billowed a little making her legs look impossibly long for such a short girl. Girls in sundresses killed me.
I kept smiling as I got closer, despite the fact that she most definitely was not. It seemed like she was trying to pull away and the dark-haired girl was lecturing her and holding her in place. Whoever that girl was, I was a fan of hers.
“Hi,” I told her brightly, shielding the sun from myeyes.
She grunted out a greeting and the taller girl seemed to push her a little.
“Hello, TJ. Checking out today?” She asked in a fake cheery voice.
“Uh, yeah,” I quickly tried to find in my brain how to ask if she got the present without sounding like an ass. “Did you find something to wear to your wedding this weekend?” I fished.
She looked at me skeptically. “Yes.”
I faltered. Well, this was awkward.
“So, you got it?” I asked her.
She blinked at me for what seemed like a full minute. “You?” She practically choked on the word.
