Off Limits
Three
The months passed and it was finally October; time for preseason. Emma had gotten a part time job at Starbucks, where she could make her own money for clothes and items for herself. She tried to pay rent to Patrick, but he'd never give in. She cleaned and cooked dinner often, so he said that was enough. She'd become closer with Abby Sharp and made friends from work, especially a girl named Ashlynn, who lived only 2 blocks away and was the same age as Emma, and a younger gay guy, Mason. Every so often she'd see some of Patrick's teammates, but not usually. They had gotten so busy with training and Emma got caught up with work that it made it rare for her to see the guys.
"It's our first game tonight so are you coming?" Patrick asked, opening Emma's bedroom door slightly and peeking his head in. It was 2 in the afternoon and she was napping. Working mornings wore her out, but her boss gave her nights off because of Patrick's games that would be starting. Being related to him had perks in Chicago; the moment people found out, she got let off easy with certain things.
Emma rolled over on her bed, grinning at Patrick. "Of course I'm coming, Patty."
"I have passes for you and tickets at Will Call in your name. There's only 4, so you can bring whoever you want...just no guys."
Emma chuckled, "What if he's gay?"
"That dude from your work? Sure, go ahead. I meant no guys you might be seeing..." Patrick hinted, inching her door open wider.
"Go away, Patty. I'm not seeing anyone."
Patrick smirked, "Keep it that way.", then shut her door and walked away.
"I've only been to a hockey game once, don't the players have no teeth? And aren't they super hairy?" Mason asked on their way to the United Center. Emma invited her two work friends, who thankfully had the night off as well, to see the game with her. Patrick told Emma he'd left her a few notes and tickets at Will Call, so she was curious to see what was up. Ashlynn was a huge hockey fan, but being from Detroit, she grew up a Red Wings fan.
"They have teeth!" Ashlynn argued, "Okay...some don't, but they get them fixed! They get replacements."
Emma chuckled as the three of them paid the tab and walked to the Will Call window at the United Center. "Hi, I'm Emma Kane. Apparently I have some things here waiting for me?" She asked, pulling out her ID and showing the man that she was really "Emma Kane". The man handed her three tickets and a box.
Ashlynn's eyes widened, "What the hell is in that?"
Emma sighed, setting down the heavy box and opening it. "We'll find out."
She pulled out three red jerseys, all with Patrick's last name and number on the back. Mason screeched, pulling one from Emma's hands and throwing it on immediately. Emma threw hers on as well, but it was Ashlynn who hesitated.
"Guys..." She swallowed, "I can't. I grew up a Red Wings fan. Throwing on a Hawks jersey would be like, crossing over to the dark side."
Mason rolled his eyes, tugging on Ashlynn's arm. "We need to support Emma's cousin, Ash."
"It's cool, no worries." Emma assured her. She asked the man at Will Call to hold the box until next game, and he angrily agreed. The three of them put the VIP Passes around their necks, then headed into the building. They were escorted by an employee to the locker room, where they waited outside to wish Patrick good luck before the game.
Emma chatted with Abby, who had her daughter dressed up in a jersey to support her father. The guys came out one by one for warm ups, giving the guests outside a high-five. They greeted and shared smiles with Emma, but kept their game faces strong right after. Patrick came out, giving Emma a quick hug then heading to the ice. Jonathan was the last one out, who stopped in front of Emma's prescence to give her a playful smile.
"Kaner's jersey? C'mon now, I have an extra if you want." He grinned, then followed his team onto the ice. Emma didn't say anything, she ignored the stares she got from her friends. She walked with them to their seats without saying a word.
"I'm getting nachos." Ashlynn announced. "Anyone want anything? A beer? Nachos?"
"Nachos!" Mason grinned, handing her a 10 dollar bill. Ashlynn walked away, so Mason hopped over a seat and turned to Emma. "So, what was that about with the Captain!?"
She didn't look at him, keeping her focus on the ice. "It's nothing. He's just a friend of mine and Patrick's."
"He won't be a friend for long." Mason winked, getting up and sitting back down in his seat.
The Blackhawks beat the Stars 8-2, which resulted in a happy team after. Mason left the game early, deciding to get to sleep early before his 5am shift, so it was Ashlynn and Emma together after. They waited in the same hall like before the game for Patrick, who took longer than expected. Emma knew she should've left, but she couldn't wait to congratulate him on his two goals and assist.
He came out with none other than Jonathan, the two of them laughing at something unknown. Jonathan's laughter stopped when he spotted Emma, and his cheeks flushed. "Good game." She told him, wrapping her arms around his waist for a hug. He was taken aback, but played it cool. She let go then moved onto her cousin, where they did their signature hand shake, the one they've been doing since they were 6, and then hugged tightly. "Good game, Pat! Way to start the season!" Emma cheered, kissing her cousin's cheek in a friendly way.
"Who's this?" Patrick asked, pointing to Ashlynn.
She stuck out her hand immediately, lighlty intimidated by him. "Ashlynn Turner, a friend of Emma's from work."
"You girls going out with us tonight?" Jonathan interrupted, taking a step toward Emma. Patrick noticed and felt a hint of anger, so he stepped inbetween the two and eyed Jonathan. He didn't say anything because he didn't need to. Jonathan knew he was crossing the line.
"Sure, we'll go out. Where at?"
Before anyone could answer, Patrick Sharp walked to the group with his wife in hand. "Easy, party boys. We're inviting everyone over to our place."
"I guess we're going to Sharpie's!" Jonathan chuckled.
Everyone cleared out of the UC, and Patrick drove both Ashlynn and Emma into the suburbs where the Sharp's townhouse was located. They arrived pretty quickly and found that most of the team was already there. Patrick spotted Jonathan's gray Mercedes Benz and sighed. He overheard him talking about Emma to their teammate Nick Leddy earlier that evening, and he didn't want Jonathan making any moves tonight.
"Emma, listen, you really need to look out when it comes to these guys." Patrick lectured, turning off his car. "I love them like brothers, but I won't feel comfortable if you date one. I know I've told you this a million times, but some have found you attractive and-"
"Wait," she told him, turning her head to face Patrick, "What do you mean 'some have found you attractive'? Who?"
"That doesn't matter right now. Please, Em, I know how some of these guys are and I can't let them hurt you."
Emma sighed, she was bittersweet about the way Patrick was acting. She appreciated him being protective, but she's 24 years old. She could make her own decisions.
"Patty, I love you and all, but c'mon, I can make my own choices. If I get hurt in the end, then you have the right to tell me 'I told you so', but for now, I want to have fun. I'm not looking for anything serious with anyone."
He didn't say anything more, figuring that he could trust his cousin. Patrick, Emma, and Ashlynn got out of the car and walked into the home, which was filled with people and music blasting. Patrick was quick to leave the girls and head to the backyard with his teammates, grabbing a beer and a bag of chips on the way.
"Ahhh, glad you made it!" Abby Sharp smiled, dancing her way to the girls with a wine bottle and glasses in hand. "Have a drink, girls! Here's to a great season!"
"Kaner!" the team cheered when Patrick made his entrance outside; waving his bottle in the air and shaking the bag of chips.
"Where's your cousin at?" A half-drunk Andrew Shaw blurted out. A few guys laughed but Patrick just shook his head, shooting Andrew a look of death. "Easy man, I'm not asking for me." Andrew chuckled, pointing to his right. "I'm asking for Jonny!"
Jonathan's head shot up from his phone, and he looked at Patrick and rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to him, Kaner."
Patrick stood in front of them, his face stone-cold. "I think there's plenty of other women in this city. Jonny doesn't need to get involved with my cousin. That wouldn't be a very good idea, now would it?" He asked, sipping his beer then taking a seat beside Jonathan.
"It's our first game tonight so are you coming?" Patrick asked, opening Emma's bedroom door slightly and peeking his head in. It was 2 in the afternoon and she was napping. Working mornings wore her out, but her boss gave her nights off because of Patrick's games that would be starting. Being related to him had perks in Chicago; the moment people found out, she got let off easy with certain things.
Emma rolled over on her bed, grinning at Patrick. "Of course I'm coming, Patty."
"I have passes for you and tickets at Will Call in your name. There's only 4, so you can bring whoever you want...just no guys."
Emma chuckled, "What if he's gay?"
"That dude from your work? Sure, go ahead. I meant no guys you might be seeing..." Patrick hinted, inching her door open wider.
"Go away, Patty. I'm not seeing anyone."
Patrick smirked, "Keep it that way.", then shut her door and walked away.
"I've only been to a hockey game once, don't the players have no teeth? And aren't they super hairy?" Mason asked on their way to the United Center. Emma invited her two work friends, who thankfully had the night off as well, to see the game with her. Patrick told Emma he'd left her a few notes and tickets at Will Call, so she was curious to see what was up. Ashlynn was a huge hockey fan, but being from Detroit, she grew up a Red Wings fan.
"They have teeth!" Ashlynn argued, "Okay...some don't, but they get them fixed! They get replacements."
Emma chuckled as the three of them paid the tab and walked to the Will Call window at the United Center. "Hi, I'm Emma Kane. Apparently I have some things here waiting for me?" She asked, pulling out her ID and showing the man that she was really "Emma Kane". The man handed her three tickets and a box.
Ashlynn's eyes widened, "What the hell is in that?"
Emma sighed, setting down the heavy box and opening it. "We'll find out."
She pulled out three red jerseys, all with Patrick's last name and number on the back. Mason screeched, pulling one from Emma's hands and throwing it on immediately. Emma threw hers on as well, but it was Ashlynn who hesitated.
"Guys..." She swallowed, "I can't. I grew up a Red Wings fan. Throwing on a Hawks jersey would be like, crossing over to the dark side."
Mason rolled his eyes, tugging on Ashlynn's arm. "We need to support Emma's cousin, Ash."
"It's cool, no worries." Emma assured her. She asked the man at Will Call to hold the box until next game, and he angrily agreed. The three of them put the VIP Passes around their necks, then headed into the building. They were escorted by an employee to the locker room, where they waited outside to wish Patrick good luck before the game.
Emma chatted with Abby, who had her daughter dressed up in a jersey to support her father. The guys came out one by one for warm ups, giving the guests outside a high-five. They greeted and shared smiles with Emma, but kept their game faces strong right after. Patrick came out, giving Emma a quick hug then heading to the ice. Jonathan was the last one out, who stopped in front of Emma's prescence to give her a playful smile.
"Kaner's jersey? C'mon now, I have an extra if you want." He grinned, then followed his team onto the ice. Emma didn't say anything, she ignored the stares she got from her friends. She walked with them to their seats without saying a word.
"I'm getting nachos." Ashlynn announced. "Anyone want anything? A beer? Nachos?"
"Nachos!" Mason grinned, handing her a 10 dollar bill. Ashlynn walked away, so Mason hopped over a seat and turned to Emma. "So, what was that about with the Captain!?"
She didn't look at him, keeping her focus on the ice. "It's nothing. He's just a friend of mine and Patrick's."
"He won't be a friend for long." Mason winked, getting up and sitting back down in his seat.
The Blackhawks beat the Stars 8-2, which resulted in a happy team after. Mason left the game early, deciding to get to sleep early before his 5am shift, so it was Ashlynn and Emma together after. They waited in the same hall like before the game for Patrick, who took longer than expected. Emma knew she should've left, but she couldn't wait to congratulate him on his two goals and assist.
He came out with none other than Jonathan, the two of them laughing at something unknown. Jonathan's laughter stopped when he spotted Emma, and his cheeks flushed. "Good game." She told him, wrapping her arms around his waist for a hug. He was taken aback, but played it cool. She let go then moved onto her cousin, where they did their signature hand shake, the one they've been doing since they were 6, and then hugged tightly. "Good game, Pat! Way to start the season!" Emma cheered, kissing her cousin's cheek in a friendly way.
"Who's this?" Patrick asked, pointing to Ashlynn.
She stuck out her hand immediately, lighlty intimidated by him. "Ashlynn Turner, a friend of Emma's from work."
"You girls going out with us tonight?" Jonathan interrupted, taking a step toward Emma. Patrick noticed and felt a hint of anger, so he stepped inbetween the two and eyed Jonathan. He didn't say anything because he didn't need to. Jonathan knew he was crossing the line.
"Sure, we'll go out. Where at?"
Before anyone could answer, Patrick Sharp walked to the group with his wife in hand. "Easy, party boys. We're inviting everyone over to our place."
"I guess we're going to Sharpie's!" Jonathan chuckled.
Everyone cleared out of the UC, and Patrick drove both Ashlynn and Emma into the suburbs where the Sharp's townhouse was located. They arrived pretty quickly and found that most of the team was already there. Patrick spotted Jonathan's gray Mercedes Benz and sighed. He overheard him talking about Emma to their teammate Nick Leddy earlier that evening, and he didn't want Jonathan making any moves tonight.
"Emma, listen, you really need to look out when it comes to these guys." Patrick lectured, turning off his car. "I love them like brothers, but I won't feel comfortable if you date one. I know I've told you this a million times, but some have found you attractive and-"
"Wait," she told him, turning her head to face Patrick, "What do you mean 'some have found you attractive'? Who?"
"That doesn't matter right now. Please, Em, I know how some of these guys are and I can't let them hurt you."
Emma sighed, she was bittersweet about the way Patrick was acting. She appreciated him being protective, but she's 24 years old. She could make her own decisions.
"Patty, I love you and all, but c'mon, I can make my own choices. If I get hurt in the end, then you have the right to tell me 'I told you so', but for now, I want to have fun. I'm not looking for anything serious with anyone."
He didn't say anything more, figuring that he could trust his cousin. Patrick, Emma, and Ashlynn got out of the car and walked into the home, which was filled with people and music blasting. Patrick was quick to leave the girls and head to the backyard with his teammates, grabbing a beer and a bag of chips on the way.
"Ahhh, glad you made it!" Abby Sharp smiled, dancing her way to the girls with a wine bottle and glasses in hand. "Have a drink, girls! Here's to a great season!"
"Kaner!" the team cheered when Patrick made his entrance outside; waving his bottle in the air and shaking the bag of chips.
"Where's your cousin at?" A half-drunk Andrew Shaw blurted out. A few guys laughed but Patrick just shook his head, shooting Andrew a look of death. "Easy man, I'm not asking for me." Andrew chuckled, pointing to his right. "I'm asking for Jonny!"
Jonathan's head shot up from his phone, and he looked at Patrick and rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to him, Kaner."
Patrick stood in front of them, his face stone-cold. "I think there's plenty of other women in this city. Jonny doesn't need to get involved with my cousin. That wouldn't be a very good idea, now would it?" He asked, sipping his beer then taking a seat beside Jonathan.
true but it's what I call older brother syndrome; crap gets real really fast. If he is a really close cousin its like having an older brother. I have 3 of them , 2 of them are in the military.
7/22/13