“Mmm, What smells so good?” Marchy asked as he, Tyler, Andrew, and Bergy stepped into Jessica’s office.

“It’s Bailey’s famous brownies; she made them to thank me for the Summer Games.” Jessica said.

“Cool, where are ours?” Marchy asked.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think y’all would eat them.” Bailey apologized

“Why wouldn’t we eat them? Aren’t they good?” Tyler asked.

“I don’t know, I guess I just figured y’all were in training and couldn’t eat desserts or something. I’m really sorry!” She said as she fidgeted with her fingers.

“We’re working out like crazy, so I think we can handle a little brownie.” Marchy chirped as he snatched one from Jessica.

“Holy Shit! These are fantastic! Guys, you gotta try one.” Marchy shouted. They each took one much to Jessica’s dismay.

“Damn, these are incredible! What brand are they?” Andrew asked Bailey.

“I made them from scratch with Ma’s, my grandmother’s recipe.” Bailey said with a sense of pride.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t make these for us; there’s no way we could eat just one!” Tyler stated.

“Well that’s all your getting! Bailey made these for me!” Jessica cried as she pulled the container of brownies tight to her chest and everyone laughed.

“I don’t have any more brownies, but I’m not leaving y’all empty handed. I have a poster and thank you cards made by patients that attended the Summer Games for each of you. Y’all were so wonderful that day; it’s all the kids talk about. I can’t thank y’all enough!” Bailey said as she handed each of them a stack of individualized cards and a poster. “I have a very special one for you Tyler, it’s from Alexis.” She said as she reached in her purse to pull out a sparkly purple and hot pink card that had lip prints on it.

Tyler smiled as he took the card and started to read it. Alexis had included a picture of the two of them from the Braveheart game and another from the Summer Games that also included Bailey. “I love it! Please tell her thank you,” he said.

Just as everyone was about to leave, Jessica asked Bergy and Bailey to stay behind to discuss the Braveheart program for this upcoming season. Bergy decided he would sponsor patients and their families at 12 games this season. The three of them looked at the schedule and selected 12 dates. They also looked at possible t-shirt designs for this year’s program. They all agreed this was going to be the best year ever for the program.

As Bailey walked out of Jessica’s office she saw Tyler waiting, leaning against the wall looking at his phone. Her mouth went dry looking at him; he was so hot! He looked like a male model posing for a magazine with his legs crossed and in a shirt that showed off his broad shoulders, muscular chest, and those arms…. Oh those sexy arms had Bailey lost in thought. She wondered what it would be like to run her fingers through his hair and to be held by those amazing arms of his. Bailey was caught off guard by all of the sensual thoughts she was experiencing. Certain her face was flushed, she bit her lip, stared down at the floor, and began to fidget with her fingers hoping to distract her from these aberrant thoughts.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Tyler said startling Bailey
She went crimson and shook her head before responding. “I just have a lot on my mind.” Not about to reveal her real thoughts to him.

“I’d love to hear about it. Would you be up for some coffee?”

“Ok,” Bailey murmured, how could she refuse that magnetic smile of his?

“Great, we can go to the Dunkin’ Donuts up the road.” He said holding his hand out for Bailey to go first.

Bailey felt her knees shake and her stomach getting tied in knots as they headed towards the elevator. She hoped Tyler couldn’t hear the sudden rapid patter of her heartbeat.

“Do you mind walking, it’s only 3 blocks?” Tyler asked.

“That’s fine, the fresh air will be nice.” she replied

As they walked together down the street, Bailey’s mind started to wander again. She questioned what she should say to him? What were they going to talk about? She found it so easy to talk to Tyler via text and on the phone, why was she struggling now? His warm, soft voice brought her out of her little trance.

“After you, Bailey.” He said as he opened the door for her. “Why don’t you get a table, while I get the drinks? Do you know what you want?” he politely asked.

Bailey paused for a moment before saying “May I have a frozen strawberry lemonade please?”

“Of course you can. Would you like anything to eat?”

“No thank you.”

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he headed toward the counter.

Bailey found a booth in the corner where she could watch Tyler while he was in line. She could watch him all day. Bailey tried to fight back the huge grin on her face. She couldn’t believe she was having coffee, well drinks with Tyler Seguin. She hoped she could remain calm, cool, and collected when he returned to the table.

Tyler sat down across from Bailey and handed her the frozen lemonade and a straw. He had an iced coffee and an apple crumb muffin.

“So you’re not a coffee drinker, eh?”

“Nope. My momma and daddy always said I would start drinking it in college, but Mountain Dew was my all nighter drink of choice. Then they said wait until your first job. It’s just not for me; I don’t like the taste of anything coffee flavored, even ice cream.”

Tyler grinned, as he watched Bailey staring at him pulling the wrapper off the muffin. “Do you want some?” he asked holding it out for her.

“No thank you.” She smiled with a small laugh.

“What? It’s my favorite, I love anything with apples, especially apple pie.” He said with that boyish grin of his. “Tell me about your parents.”

“They’ve been happily married for almost 33 years. My daddy is a curriculum specialist of foreign language and a Spanish professor at a local college. My momma teaches special education in a middle school. They are very active in their church and with various charities including the Relay for Life program with the American Cancer Society. Unlike me, they are pretty involved in politics. Oh, and they love the theatre, which made me a very lucky girl growing up! They took my sister and I to see a ton of musicals” Bailey gushed, obviously loving her parents very much.

“It sounds like you are close to them.”

“Definitely! My parents have done so much for me! I’m probably the closest in my family to my momma. It’s hard being so far away sometimes, but we talk on the phone all the time and recently started to Skype. How ‘bout you?”

“My parents are divorced and my mom is planning to get re-married next summer. My dad owns a finance company and my mom is a stay at home mom. Her job is to make sure my sisters get to all of their practices, games, and other activities. I get along well with both of my parents, but I’m probably closer to my mom too.”

“Your sisters play hockey too?”

“Oh yeah, it’s in the family blood! My mom played until she was a teenager and my dad played at the University of Vermont. My sisters are pretty good, especially my baby sister Cassidy. She wants to play in college and the Olympics one day. Do you have any siblings?”

“I have two older brothers and one older sister. I’m pretty close with my oldest brother even though he’s 7 years older than me. He’s always been very protective of me.”

“Good to know,” Tyler said with a wink.

“Where does your family live, now that you’re here?”

“They are still in Canada, outside of Toronto.”

“I bet it’s beautiful there.”

“It is; have you ever been to Canada?”

“No, I’ve pretty much only been along the east coast of the states, primarily in the south. The furthest north I’ve been is to the outlets in Maine.”

“Well, we will have to change that, won’t we?” He said with a gleam of hope in his eyes.

“I’d like that.” She replied feeling her cheeks get inflamed again.

“Can I ask you a question Bailey?"

“Sure, what’s on your mind?”

“Why did it bother you so much when I called you 'Bay' the morning of the Games?”

Bailey flushed scarlet and stared down at her hands again before nervously responding. “If you must know, I was really mad at you for the way you treated me after the Braveheart game. I didn’t like being thought of as a puck fuck just because I’m a girl at a hockey game.” Tyler nearly choked when she said those words, needing a sip of his drink to recover. “My thoughts went back to that night, when I saw you at the Games. Hearing you call me 'Bay', an endearing nickname only my oldest brother and my best guy friend from home calls me, just sent me reeling. To be honest, I don’t think it would have mattered what you called me or said that morning; I was that annoyed and wanted you to know it. I should have apologized to you later that day, but I was too embarrassed. You were fantastic with all the kids, especially Alexis. I hope you can forgive me for treating you so horribly!”

“Bailey, please look at me.” Tyler said with warmth and genuine concern in his voice. Bailey hesitantly looked at him as he continued. “Bailey you don’t owe me an apology. You’re right I was an asshole to you after that game. It’s something I’ve regretted ever since. I’m lucky you didn’t tell Jessica to send me home as soon as you saw me that morning. If the worst you could do was being a little rude to me, I got off easy! I think it’s sweet that you feel bad, but trust me I’m the only one who needs to apologize. I’m truly sorry for my behavior that evening and for not apologizing to you before now! Please say you forgive me!”

“I forgave you a long time ago.” She sweetly said as she gently squeezed Tyler’s hand on the table.

“Thank you,” was all he could muster.

“Goodness, look at the time. I need to get goin’ so I can make it back in time for my last patient.” Bailey said as she stood.

Tyler took Bailey’s hand as they strolled back toward TD Garden to his Maserati. It was the most relaxed they had felt around each other since they met.

Tyler checked a text he just received from Looch while they were stopped at a red light. “Some of us are going to the movies tomorrow night, would you like to go?” he asked Bailey.

“What movie?”

“That new Reese Witherspoon movie. What do you think?”

“I’d love to go.”

“Great, I’ll call you once I have all the details.” Tyler said just as he pulled up in front of the hospital.

“I had a good time today Tyler. Thanks again for the lemonade.” Bailey said as she got out of the car.

“Me too. Looking forward to tomorrow.” He said as they waved goodbye.

Notes

Thanks for the comments, they mean a lot to me!