Ali was eyeing up a rack of cute satin nightie at Victoria’s Secret when she felt her phone vibrate inside her purse. She held out the smallest size nightie for inspection as she answered.

“Hello?”

“Guess what!”

“What!?” She heard the excitement in James’ voice. “Wait…..you’re cleared to play?!?”

“Passed with flying colors.”

“AHH! James! That’s great!” She hung the item back on the rack and walked over to a quieter corner of the store. “So you’ll play tonight then? What about Calgary?”

“I think they’ll do another evaluation after tonight’s game, assuming all goes well…If it does, the Flames will have another Penguin to deal with.”

Ali tried to keep her voice down, but she let out a little squeal. “That’s so awesome, James. Now I can’t wait to watch you tonight!” In all her excitement, she accidentally bumped into a woman behind her. “Oh…sorry, sorry…” she whispered. The woman gave her a polite smile.

“Are you busy right now?” James asked.

“Hell no.” She moved over to another section of the store, pretending to look at underwear on display. “Just in Victoria’s Secret right now, you know…nothing special.” Her casual delivery elicited a laugh from James.

“You’re not going to make me beg for more sexy pictures, are you?”

“Your knee is all better now, so your prescription is up.”

“Dammit. Worth a try.” There was a rustling on the line. James’ voice was muffled as he answered someone in the background. “Hey, I gotta run. Looks like we’re heading out now.”

“No problem. Good luck tonight – I’ll be cheering you on from the couch.”

“If you see me chew my mouth guard, it means I love you. If you see me not chewing my mouth guard, it also means I love you.”

Ali laughed. “Goodbye, James.”

“Bye.”

She held up a pair of the panties she had been pretending to look at. Biting her lip, she examined the color and fit, and decided to get five more in other colors. For the hell of it, she also picked up the satin nightie she saw earlier. Almost every pair of panties she owned was in her favorite colors of pink and black. The fact that the satiny number was pink with black trim made it no-brainer.

After a quick bite to eat and a little more shopping, Ali headed back to the house. Dark churning clouds outside hinted at the prospect of rain, but given how chilly it had been the past few days, she wouldn’t be surprised if the first flakes of the season fell. She made herself some tea and nestled into a cozy spot on the couch. Today was a good day. No work, some frivolous shopping, a healthy knee somewhere in British Columbia, and no intentions of ever leaving the couch for the rest of the evening.

It occurred to Ali as she buried herself under her blanket that days like today used to be her and her mother’s favorite kind of days when she was a kid. Late autumn, just on the cusp of winter, always excited her. She was a total cozy kind of girl. Sweaters, blankets, hot cocoa, skiing...she dug it all.

Without further thought, Ali dialed up her parents.

“Hey there, stranger!”

“Hi Dad! Sorry I’ve been so MIA lately…”

“Oh, you know it’s okay if you can’t call all the time” he said. “We have been wondering about you though…how is James? We watched the game the other night. That looked like a pretty nasty fall.”

While her parents still hadn’t met James, they talked as if they knew him as well as she did. During the first couple months of their relationship, Ali would call and gush nonstop about him. She told them about the first hockey game she attended at “James Neal’s girlfriend”, and they were so excited. They were a hockey family, and always would be. Her dad raised her right.

“James JUST got cleared this morning” she answered. “And he’ll be playing tonight, so you better watch!”

“You know we’ll be watching, silly. Have I gone a season without cheering for the boys?”

“That’s a dumb question” Ali replied.

“Exactly. Now here’s your mother…she’s been holding her hand out for the phone since I picked up. Love you, baby girl.”

“Love you, Dad.” Ali waited as the phone transfer was made. “Hey Mom.”

“Hey sweetie, how are things down there? How’s James? My god, he is one tough cookie taking a beating like he did the other night.”

“Yeah, he is tough, that’s for sure” Ali said with a laugh. Since she was an only child, as she got older, her mom had slowly become more like a sister and a friend; someone she could dish all the good stuff to (minus all the really good stuff). Not only that, but her mother was pretty cool for being 50.

“And Pitt is good...." she continued. "But boring without James here. How is home?”

“Ohh, home is home…it never changes. Although I saw Brittany was here visiting not long ago. Did you two get a chance to meet up?”

“Oh yeah…she got the NHL treatment” She did her best to conceal her sarcasm.

“Well my next question is: when are you coming back to visit? And I don't mean for a few hours, I mean actually stay?”

Ali idly played with the corner of her blanket. “I don’t know…work’s been so weird lately. One day we’re swamped with people, the next day it’s dead.”

“We still haven’t watched a game together yet this season” her mom added, persuasion in her tone.

“Well we better hurry up because there’s only SIX MONTHS of the season left.” Ali smiled when she heard her mom laugh.

“Okay, you have a point. But we do miss you.”

“I miss you guys too.” Ali yanked at a loose string, tearing it from the hem. “You know…James doesn’t come home ‘til Sunday night. I could make a quick drive up there tomorrow—“

“—Done! I’ll make lasagna.”

Ali shook her head. Some things never changed. “But I can only stay one night, okay?”

“Yes, yes, I know, Allison. I’d want to run back to welcome James home properly, too.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Mother!”

“Well we know that’s why” she said matter-of-factly.

In the background, her father shouted something about ‘stop embarrassing her’, and Ali laughed.

“So you’ll call us when you hit the road?”

“Yep!” She quickly did some planning in her head. “I’ll likely pull out of here around 8 and get there by lunch. Sound good?”

“Better than good. We can catch James on the ice against the Flames.”

Ali began to feel a little excited. Although her hometown was only three hours northeast of Pittsburgh, the notion of going home, eating real Italian food, watching a game with her parents…It was exactly the little trip that she needed.

“Okay, tell James good luck for us.” Her mom said. “Glad he’s doing better, honey.”

“Thanks Mom. See you tomorrow.”

Ali set her phone on the coffee table and readjusted so that she was lying on her side. The prospect of going home not only excited her a little, but it promised to, at the very least, shake things up a bit and get her out of town.

Outside, the first snowflakes of the season began to fall. Inside, Ali closed her eyes and let sleep take over.


* * *


In Vancouver, rain was falling.
Hard.

James had a total of twelve minutes of on-ice time during the game. While he didn’t score, and they didn’t win, he was still satisfied. His knee felt good, he felt strong, and for what he could tell – the injury was over. Coach thought the same, and gave him the green light to play against Calgary the following night.

The team boarded the plane about an hour after their game ended. It was a short flight to Calgary, but would be an even shorter night as the next morning’s skate was slated for 7 am. James felt the weariness in his body as he slumped into his seat, settling in as far as his long legs would allow. If anything on his body hurt, his head did.

Geno claimed the seat next to him, having even more difficulty getting comfortable because of his height.

“Hey G, you have any pain meds?”

Geno dug around in his duffle on the floor, tossing a small bottle at James.

“Thanks, man.”

“Your knee?” Geno asked.

James swallowed the pills and handed the bottle back. “Nah…just a headache.” It was raining so hard outside, he could hear it beating against the body of the plane. “These raindrops sound like boulders are crashing into this damn thing.”

Geno didn’t hear him as he already seemed to be zoning out. He placed large headphones on over his hat and ears before reclining his seat back. James heard Paulie grumble behind them when Geno’s seat knocked his knees.

Sid filed onto the plane, followed lastly by Jokinen, and then Coach. The door to their private jet swung up and was locked shut with a crushing sound that made James’ temples pound. He folded his arms and tried to find a comfortable position against the window, but it was no use.

When the lights in the plane went out, it was like a miracle. As James closed his eyes, he tried to think of something to get his mind off the pain. Naturally, the first subject of choice was Ali. But when he thought of her, he thought of his argument with Sid, and then the memory of Maggie and her little photo stunt.

James groaned. What the hell do I have to do to get a little luck?, he wondered. He unlocked his phone screen, taking the chance at the blinding light to see if he had any new messages. He had none.

The plane started to roll backwards on the tarmac. Eventually, the gentle rocking of taxiing down the runway and the whir of the engines lulled him into a shallow nap that took him all the way to Calgary.

A few hours later, after they were settled in yet another hotel and another new bed, James listened to a voicemail he received from Ali while on the plane:

“Okay, first off: were you faking your injury for those pics I sent? Beccaaauuusseee…..you sure didn’t look injured...”

James smiled as he paced down the hall.

“Since your phone went right to voicemail, you’re probably on your flight. So just get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow. I decided to head home for a night….so you know what that means!”

Her giggle even sounded cute on the tinny-sounding voicemail. James felt a slight bit of nervousness at the thought of Ali and her family huddled around their tv talking about him. Ohhh, but to be a fly on that wall.

“Anyway, I’m leaving the house in the morning around 8, soooo…..6, your time…..I think? I’m talking too much. Call me whenever! I’ll be home before you get back from Calgary. Promise! Night baby.”

James was happy for Ali. He knew right away that her parents likely had some persuasion over her going home to visit for a night, and knowing how her family was with hockey, it made sense they’d have all eyes on the Pens’ game tomorrow.

Careful not to wake Matt, James returned to their room and stripped down to just boxers. The bed sheets were cold against his skin as he slid under the sheets. He would make it a point tomorrow to do his damndest to score against the Flames so Ali had something to brag about to her parents. That was his personal goal.

Imagining her spooned against him, her soft skin against his, James fell asleep.

* * *

“Ahhhh! Easy, easy! Down, boy…..down….” Ali had to kneel down and let her parents’ Corgi hug her, because he wasn’t giving her any other choice in the matter. “Awww, I missed you too, Chester. C’mere, yes, kissy-kissy…”

The dog was wagging the little nub it had for a tail as quickly as it would go, licking Ali all over her face.

“Guess we weren’t the only ones who missed you.” Her father stood with his hands on his hips, watching his little dog go crazy. His plaid button down flannel shirt and jeans were accompanied by, of course, a black and white Pittsburgh Penguins hat.

Ali stood and hugged her father. “Hey Dad!”

“Hi pumpkin.” He held her out to inspect her. “Yep. Just as beautiful.”

“Oh, hush.” Ali picked her bag up, slinging the strap back over her shoulder. “Where’s mom? I figured she’d have a four course spread already set out for me.”

“It’s coming, don’t worry. She just made a quick trip to the store." Her father lead her from the front door through the kitchen area. Chester trotted after him, always checking behind to see if Ali was still there.

Taking a look around, not much seemed different from the last time Ali visited. It was a comfortable little home, with a country, cabin-like feel to it. On her street, the nearest neighbor was a half-mile down the road, and were still the same neighbors as when she was growing up.

Just like her house, the community also changed very little, as did the lush forest surroundings that she loved so much growing up. In a way, coming home was comforting. In many other ways, it was horribly boring. She typically enjoyed the quietness of her hometown, but craved the city life not long after a day or so.

“So how was the drive?”

“It was good! The Interstate wasn’t as crowded as it normally was…I felt like I was in some sort of Twilight Zone.” Ali dropped her bag and took a seat at the kitchen table. “It’s nice to get out of the city, though. If only for a day.”

Her father sat down across from her. “Didn’t you just drive up to Buffalo not too long ago? Sorry I missed you that day, by the way.”

“Yes, and the fine is $200 dollars.”

“Put it on my tab.” He winked at her. “It's a 7 o’clock puck drop tonight, right?”

“You got it! Did you see him last night? I haven’t talked to him yet since before the game, but he looked goooood. No knee pain visible, at least to me!” Every time Ali talked about James to her parents, she still couldn’t believe she was telling them about someone from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Knowing her family’s love and loyalty to Pittsburgh sports teams, she temporarily forgot how regular her life was with James and remembered that, yes…he played for one of those teams. He was a superstar to them.

“I did see him! But he always looks good, Allison….Probably better to you than to me, though” he said with a laugh.

“I see a black SUV in the drivewaaaay!” Her mom’s voice could be heard outside the front door.

“Mom!” Ali ran over to open the door for her, and the pair embraced in a tight hug.

“So good to see you!” She held Ali’s face in her hands. “Gorgeous!”

“Don’t bother, Wendy, I already tried.”

Ali made a stink-eye at both of them. “There’s no need to gush, people. You already got me here by persuasion, so you can lay off a little."

“Oh look, Jeff – Allison’s getting sassy. Here’s my surprised face.” Wendy made a blank face at her and they both broke into a fit of laughs.

“I love you, Mom…but you’re weird.”

“Thank you” she said, bringing her bags into the kitchen. “Now come help your mother…this pasta won’t cook itself!”

* * *

Dinner was over, and in typical fashion, Ali ate way too much. There goes last week’s workouts, she thought as she took a seat on the couch next to her mom. Chester jumped up as well, settling into her lap.

The pregame was currently airing, but her and her parents kept up the discussion that carried over from the dinner table. Ali always loved talking with her parents. She supposed she was lucky to have a mom and dad that were both dorky, smart, and cool. It was a fun combination for her, and their conversations always took hilarious tangents.

Her mother and father were dominating the discussion now. Ali sat listening, always with a smile on her face because they continued to crack her up. As she was listening, however – she heard exactly one note on the television and practically jumped out of her seat.

“Turn it up, turn it up!!” she exclaimed, eyes on the screen.

“Ohhhhhh boy….” Jeff said, grabbing the remote. “We’ve lost her now, Wendy.”

James was on the screen and was being interviewed by one of the CBC reporters. He stood in full gear, leaning in slightly to hear the reporter, his dark hair a absolute mess. Indeed, her parents did lose her…because all Ali wanted to do was run her fingers through that hair and kiss the lips that were answering the reporter’s questions.

Wendy looked over, smiling. “He really is a looker, hun.”

“Shhhhhh!”

“You played last night, James, and Dan Bylsma has given you a gold star to play again tonight. How are you feeling after the minor injury?” The reporter tilted the microphone towards James.

“I feel good. I think for the most part, I’m healed...But, uh…I know I gotta pay attention to every little movement, you know…I have to make sure not to overwork it, so I can keep getting out there every night.”

Ali smiled over at her parents.

“Evgeni Malkin was interviewed earlier and he said he missed you out there…”

James laughed. “Yeah, well…He needs me out there. I have to keep Geno in line.” He looked sideways at the camera, giving a half smile.

“I bet you do!” said the reported. “Good luck out there tonight, James.”

“Thank you.” James gave a single nod, then looked right at the camera as the reported handed it back over to the main CBC hosts.

Ali slumped back into the couch cushions. “I miss him.”

“It’s been a week” her dad said, teasing her.

Wendy patted her knee. “One more night….then he’s all yours again.”

One night too many, Ali wanted to say. She was relieved that she missed him that badly, even after a week…it was at least a sign that her worries were ever-fading, and the mishaps of the past week were over.

* * *

James hit the locker room with the team, and he never felt better. He did what he intended to do out on the ice, and that was score. Not just once - but twice, with one assist. It was more than he hoped for, knowing that Ali and her parents were watching. He definitely delivered something good for her, hoping he’d impressed her parents in doing so.

He took his turn at grabbing a quick shower, then dressed back into his gray suit for the ride back to the hotel. It was like he was floating on air, and couldn’t wait to get back so he could call Ali. Since her voicemail the night before, he hadn’t spoken, and knowing the goods he pulled out for her on the ice, he was dying to talk to her.

“Hey guys, listen up!” Bylsma came into the locker room and stood in the middle of the commotion. He lifted a hand, getting the attention of everyone in the room. “Got some news, so listen up!”

James continued tying his tie, but faced towards Coach as the others did.

“Weather is pretty bad out there right now, so I’ve made the decision to head out earlier than later. Our pilot agreed that if we leave in the next hour, he could get us above this storm in time to miss the worst of it. That’ll put us in Pitt around…” He checked his watch. “Around 1 am. Sorry for the rush, but let’s get your equipment to Dave and the others as soon as you can, alright? Thanks."

Dan left and the equipment managers made their rounds, collecting items from each of the players’ stalls. James handed over his sticks and padding, jersey, and skates. He started making plans in his head for when he'd make it back to the house...........

......An idea popped into his head.

He tapped Paul in the shoulder as he walked by. “Hey, what time did he say we’d get in?”

“1, I think” Paul answered, giving the manager his equipment. “Too late past your bedtime?”

James rolled his eyes. “Just had an idea to surprise Ali….She’s staying with her parents tonight, and won’t be home until tomorrow....which means she thinks we’re not coming back until tomorrow evening.”

Paul gave a slow, understanding nod. “Ahhhhh……..Nealer up to his old tricks, I see……”

“Can I ask one thing?”

“Sure.”

“Park your car in your garage after we get back. Don’t leave it in the driveway, or she’ll see we’re home when she gets back to town.”

Paul laughed. “Niiiicceee. I see where this is going….I’ll be sure to keep it hidden, no worries.”

“Thanks, man.” Now James was just excited. Knowing his time was running short before they hopped on the plane, he pulled his cell out and went into one of the side offices in the locker room.

“Baby!” Ali said, her voice excited.

“Hey Beautiful.”

“Way to give me something to brag about! Did you score those goals on purpose?”

James laughed. “Who, me? I can’t plan greatness, babe.”

“Oh yes you certainly can” she laughed. “Congrats on the win! Besides the obvious hotness you brought to the ice, I’d say you guys looked great out there.”

“Thank you for that. And you know I mean it.”

“I do, I do.”

“Sorry I could only call you back now” James said. He could hardly keep his smile from spreading across his face, half because he was excited to talk to her, half because he was about to put his spontaneous plan into action.

“You know it’s okay, I figured the quick turnaround would take you away from me. Although I do miss you….My parents razzed me when you did your pre-game interview.”

“You saw that?” James was impressed.

“I did….you looked amazing.”

He smiled. “Thank you. How is home, anyways? You and your parents talking about me the whole time?” He would pull it from here, one way or the other. He wanted to know her parents approved of him. One day, he’d meet them. Until then, he had to impress them the only way he could.

“It's basically all we’ve been doing. I even told them how big your dick is.”

James felt his heart kickstart into a nervous overdrive, but then he heard Ali laugh again.

“Kidding! Kidding!”

“Damn you.” He didn’t think she’d actually tell them that, but if she did…..its not like she'd be lying.

“That knowledge is for me and me alone” Ali said. “And I intend on keeping it that way as well.”

“Ohhhhhh, so you don’t really miss me, you just miss my dick” he teased. “I see how it is!”

“Shut your face, I’m kidding.” There was a short pause. “Okay, okay, I miss your dick, too…but not as much as you. So there.”

“I win” James said with a grin.

“So when do you get back, again? I can’t remember if it’s 7 or 8…”

And there was his opening. “We’ll roll in about 8…Paulie will drive us back, so no need to come get me.”

“You sure?”

“I know you miss me, but you’ll just have to wait those extra 15 minutes.” He was enjoying this too much already, and he wasn’t even home. “So I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sounds good…See you then.”

“Love you.”

“Love YOU! Bye James.”

And with a click of the ‘end’ button, James’ plan to surprise Ali was effective immediately.

* * *