(2 days later)

When Ali was dressed and her hair was pinned up into a sleek ponytail, she emerged from the hotel staff restroom to take her place at the front desk. Upon doing so, she realized she completely forgot Becky was filling in for John this shift, so when she spotted her friend at the desk, she immediately got excited.

“Beck!!”

“Hey girl! Long time no see!” Becky said. “Uh oh…Did you forget? That face means you forgot.”

Ali laughed, admitting her guilt. “I can’t lie – I was expecting John. Although…just between you and me…I’m happy to see you.” It wasn’t often she got to work her shifts at the hotel with Becky, so she really did look forward to the rest of the shift working with her.

Becky and Ali were rather different, but they hit it off the minute they met one another. Becky was a tall, blonde, 36 year old mom of two, whose husband worked at the financial district downtown Pittsburgh. Ali, of course, was almost ten years younger, not married, no kids, and free as a bird when it came to any true responsibilities. Despite these varying traits, they’d been close ever since Ali's first day of work.

After Ali signed into her profile on her computer, she and Becky caught up on everything going on in their lives. They had a solid fifteen uninterrupted minutes of chatting before telephones began ringing and guests came filing in and out.

When she had a chance, Ali checked her phone and saw a text from James. Just reading it made her smile, and she kept smiling as she typed out a response and sent it his way.

Becky looked over and shook her head. “You are so in love, it’s not even funny.”

“Who, meeee?” Ali hit send, then put her phone down. “And so what if I am?”

“That’s great, that’s what!”

“Good. Because that’s what I was thinking too.” Ali smiled. “He’s in Philadelphia right now, so he needs all the counseling he can get.”

“Ohhhhhhhhhhh, that’s riiiiiiight” Becky said, remembering it was the night of the Flyers game. “Guess I forgot about that.”

“So we’re even?”

Becky laughed. “I suppose we are.”

The telephone to the hotel rang, and Ali was first to answer. As she took the call, Becky mulled an idea over in her head. A few minutes later, once Ali hung up with the guest, Becky proposed an idea.

“How about we go out tonight” she suggested. “Just me and you. Let’s go watch your man play against those Philly fucks.”

“Ooo...really? Where did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know, I really didn’t have any specific place” Becky replied. Both women stood thinking to themselves for a minute, then Ali snapped her fingers.

“Got it! How about Vin’s down on the Strip? That’s where James and the guys always go. Plus, I’ve never actually been there.”

“Really? It’s a pretty laid back place; my husband likes it a lot.”

“So are you game to go?” Ali asked, smile widening.

“I’m game if you are!”

“Sweet!” Ali clapped her hands. “It’s a date. Now watch us lose or something and we’ll eat our plans all the way home afterwards.”

“Ahhh, they won’t lose. And if they do, so what.? At least we can put a few back and enjoy the time together.” Becky’s smile was all sorts of sassy as she said this.

“You’re so practical, Becks” Ali said with a smirk. “Chances are, I’ll likely need a damn drink or two depending on how the game goes. Better to get drunk with a friend than home alone, right?”

“Amen!”

Once they agreed on the plans and decided on a meeting time, Ali quickly sent another text to James telling him she’d be going out to watch him tonight. It took a little bit, but when he wrote back, she couldn’t help but giggle:

Wear something hot and send me a pic so I know I’m a winner whether this game ends up well or not.


* * *


Ali got to Vin’s first, so she chose a smaller table for two near one of the larger screens showing the game. As she expected, the place was getting packed. The entire city of Pittsburgh was likely huddling around televisions right this second, anticipating what would no doubt be another intense game between the two Pennsylvania hockey teams. Since the game was on Philly ice, Pittsburgh would be extra lively tonight.

After she removed her coat and scarf, Ali fluffed her hair and took a look around. The bar was basically what she pictured whenever James told her stories from there. It had low, golden lighting, with wooden floors and a large wooden bar with limited liquor choices, but plenty of beer choices. Pittsburgh sports memorabilia hung from every corner of the main area. Every now and then, the crack of pool balls scattering could be heard coming from the back where the pool tables were. Maroon colored booths lined the wall, and all televisions were turned to the hockey game.

Ali checked her phone and saw a message from Becky, saying she’d be there in just a few minutes. Instead of waiting at the table, Ali went up to the bar and decided to grab them drinks ahead of time. She walked past a few other tables on her way to the bar, noticing a table of middle aged men eyeing her. She gave them a quick smile, then sat on one of the few free stools at the bar.

A young, beach blond bartender came towards her. If Ali hadn’t been focused on the pre-game being televised, she would have seen the bar tender hesitate momentarily when she saw her.

“Can…..I help you?”

Ali looked at her and smiled. “Yeah, two bottles of Rolling Rock, please.”

The bartender walked away and Ali’s attention drifted back to the tv. When the girl returned with the beers, Ali handed her her credit card. She watched as the bartender stared at the card closely, then looked back up at her.

“Everything okay?” Ali asked.

The girl laughed nervously. “Ah….yeah, sorry…Everything’s fine.” She laughed again; her large breasts jiggling as they did their best not to spill totally over her low cut v-neck Pens shirt.

Ali tipped the bottles towards her in thanks, then headed back to her table. Not two minutes later, Becky arrived and scurried over to the table Ali reserved.

“Heyyyyyyyy” she said, rubbing her hands together to warm them. “This frickin’ weather is nuts.”

“Cold, I know….” Ali handed Becky a bottle. “…but so is the beer!”

The girls clinked their bottles together. Becky took a long, healthy drink, setting her bottle down on the table with a content sigh. “Ugh, I need this, you have no idea” she told Ali, taking her coat off. When she did, both women looked at one another’s outfits and laughed.

“Copy cat!”

“Whatever! I’m the one dating him!” Ali said, laughing. They both were wearing James Neal cotton t-shirts; Ali’s was white, and Becky’s was black. In honor of it, they toasted to their choice in clothing.

“I thought you might enjoy this” Becky said, admiring her shirt over her fuller figure. “So when’s it start? What time is it, anyway?”

“Starts in 10." She eyed the commotion that was increasing near the bar. Again, the blonde bartender looked over at her in the middle of taking orders, only to look away quickly.

Above on the tv screens, nothing but dark orange jerseys could be seen. The Penguins hopped out onto the ice to a resounding chorus of boo’s and various “Crosby Sucks” chants from the crowd. Posters of Crosby crying were held up in front of the glass all around the rink, but Sid and the rest of his team never paid any mind to them.

“I swear” Ali said, frowning up at the screen, “if these sonsabitches try to injure any of us, I’ll drive to Philly tomorrow and blow the place up myself.”

“Ugh, I know. Giroux is such an ugly fucker. Look at him.” Becky nodded at the screen as the Flyers spilled onto the ice. “Little bitch.”

The smack talk was alive and well across the rest of the bar, too. Other tables could be heard yelling and chanting their own choice words against the Flyers. More and more people packed into the bar, and Ali was glad she’d gotten there when she did, otherwise they’d have never gotten a table.

“Want another beer?” Becky asked. “I’ll get them this time.”

“Better get us each two.” Ali saw a line starting to form. “I’ll take another Rock, just add yours to my tab as well.”

“Aw, Ali—“

“Ah! Ah! Just do it.” She smiled and watched Becky walk up to the bar. When she looked at the screen, the first five minutes of play were already over. James was on the bench, one gloved hand extended over the boards in front of him. One of the Flyers caused the first foul of the game, sending Wayne Simmonds to the box. Out jumped James and the rest of the power play line, getting into position to try and score.

“First power play!” Becky said, dancing happily over with their drinks. “Two Rocks for you, two Rocks for me!”

“And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!” Ali said, clinking the neck of her bottle against Becky’s. She took a long draw from it as she watched James and Sid do some fancy passing work down towards the Flyer’s net. Sid took the shot, but it bounced off the goal post and up into the netting.

Ohh!'s were heard around the bar when Crosby missed the shot, but in Philly – the crowd was cheering. It pissed Ali off to watch this. She knew it didn’t bother the players as much as everyone thought it did, but she wished Sid didn’t have to hear that shit, night after night. She wondered if even calm, collected Sidney Crosby got tired of the same old tired charades.

“Hey, by the way” Becky said, “the bartender asked me if I was friends with you.”

“Huh?” Ali’s eyebrows creased. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “I just told her we worked together.”

“Did you ask her why she cared?”

“There was too much commotion up there and some douchebags were pushing me to try and get their order in, so I just got outta there.”

Another loud sigh came from everyone in the bar. Ali flicked her eyes up to the tv to see Malkin scrambling behind the net against two Flyers. He shot the puck out along the boards to James, who passed it to Sid at center ice.

“Well that seems a little odd, don’t you think?” she asked Becky.

“Eh…maybe. She looks a little uh….” Becky moved her hand in a way that signaled the bartender might not be all there.

Ali laughed. “That’s for sure.”

The power play was killed by the Flyers, but the Pens got another chance less than three minutes later, thanks to Hartnell tripping up Sutter. Once again, the Pens power play line came out onto the ice. The camera panned to Malkin first, then to James. His sweaty dark hair stuck out beneath the back of his helmet, his teeth gnawed at his mouth guard. He spoke something to Malkin, who nodded his head in response.

“He’s so handsome, Ali” Becky said, eyes still on the tv above them. “I don’t know how you don’t pass out every night sleeping next to that.”

This made Ali choke on her beer, mid-swallow. “Pass out!?!?”

Becky laughed. “Yes! Faint! Swoon! Collapse in a puddle at his feet!”

“Well now, THAT I actually do…” she said jokingly.

“I bet.” Becky leaned forward, a devious edge to her smile. “So tell me what it’s like.”

“What’s what like?”

“Fucking a hockey player.”

“Jesus, Beck!”

“Well?”

Ali considered the question for a second. “You really want to know?”

A few cheers rang out around the bar. Both Becky and Ali looked up to see Deryk Engelland partaking in the first exchange of fists of the night.

“Listen” Becky said, pointing the mouth of her beer bottle at her, “I’ve been married for almost ten years and I have two lovely kids. But let’s face it, I need to live vicariously through someone.”

Laughing, Ali met Becky’s pleading stare and sighed. “Fine, but you asked!”

“Don’t feel guilty, dammit – just tell me!”

“Okay!” Ali said, still laughing. She tried to make a straight face, but couldn’t. “It’s fucking outstanding.”

“Is it really?” She spoke with awe. “Does he do, like….crazy stuff?”

“Define ‘crazy’.”

“You know…like…wild, uninhibited, rough…”

“Yes, yes, and yes.”

Becky raised an eyebrow.

“But he’s sweet, too” Ali said. “We have our moments.”

More cheering was heard around the bar as Engelland was led to the penalty box alongside a ref. Ali smiled, enjoying the fact that Pens fans got a rise out of anytime we beat the Flyers’ asses.

“So one more question” Becky said.

“Only one?”

Becky smiled. “He’s a huge guy. Certainly that has to translate…..”

Ali rubbed her face. “Uggghhhh, Becky!!!”

“Ten years of marriage, Ali” she said, her tone flat. “And likely many, many more. Just remember – we’re friends.”

“Fine.” Ali glanced up at the television, hoping James wasn’t looming over her on the ice; it would’ve felt too much like he was listening in. “His size is as outstanding as his skills.”

Becky stared at her.

“And that’s all I’m saying” Ali added.

“Lucky bitch.” Becky leaned back in her chair, tapping the butt of her beer bottle on the table, grinning.

Ali took another drink, watching Becky’s facial expression. “You think I’m lying, don’t you?”

“Oh no, I know this is likely all too real. I’m just jealous.”

“Don’t be jealous!” Ali felt bad. “See? I shouldn’t have answered you.”

“It’s actually pretty sexy” Becky admitted. “I mean….come on, he’s a sexy guy. I see how he moves. You know it’s what everyone wonders, but not everyone is friends with a source of information like yourself.”

They looked at one another for a second, and Becky smiled. “You don’t have to feel bad, you know. You’re allowed to feel special.”

Ali rolled her eyes and exhaled.

“OH SHIT! Look!!” Becky pointed, and Ali watched as James had the puck behind the net. He rounded the net at full speed, holding off a Flyer with one hand while the other controlled the puck. James hit the puck using his backhand shot, planting it right over Bryzgalov’s head and into the net.

“FUCKYES!!!” Ali jumped up cheering and clapping with Becky. All around the bar, loud cheers could be heard, beer glasses clinking and hands pounding tables happily.

At the bar, a group of four or five guys were watching the screen with the bartender. All of them cheered when James scored, but the bartender made a huge scene, giggling uncontrollably and screaming James’ name over and over. When she looked over and caught Ali watching her, she immediately calmed down. Two or three of the guys standing near her glanced over their shoulders.

“What the hell” Ali said, staring at them.

Becky looked back. “What’s wrong, girl?”

“Fucking bartender.” She watched as the blonde looked over again. This time, she smiled sweetly, no longer hiding the fact that she knew Ali was watching her. “Like what the fuck, seriously. Two more minutes, and I’m going up there.”

Becky looked at her. “Why!? Do you know her?”

“I don’t’ know, that’s why I want to go find out.”

Being a little more level-headed, Becky laughed and waved Ali to sit back down. “Hey feisty Italian….pay more attention to your man and less attention to some skank behind the bar.”

Ali grabbed her other full beer and took a long drink, eyes still focused towards the bar. She felt like the bartender was at least familiar, but she couldn’t figure out where she would’ve seen her. At the hotel, hundreds of different faces came and went on a daily basis, so she chalked it up to seeing her at the airport.

By the time first intermission was over and the guys were back on the ice, Becky and Ali had finished their third beer and covered everything going on in Becky’s life. The longer Ali hung out with her, the more she wished they worked together more often. They enjoyed the second period with a lot of laughs as their buzz increased.

Malkin scored on a short-handed goal, and the crowd gathered in the bar went crazy. Ali cheered for Geno and watched as James, Bennett, and the others gathered around, congratulating one another. Ali may have started feeling tipsy, but looking up and seeing a smiling, happy James made her feel even more intoxicated. He had that way, especially when he was on the ice, to make Ali feel a little dreamy inside. Booze or not, she was feeling it and loving it. The score was now 2-1 in the third, and Ali was thrilled for them.

Everyone in the bar was piling on the drinks, and the volume got louder and louder. There was another fight on the ice that dropped Giroux to the ground and Ali thought the floor of the bar was going to fall out from beneath them. Bodies were jumping up and down and tables of people were cheering loudly.

“This is fucking great!” Ali said over the cheering. “What have we been missing?”

Becky laughed. “I know, right!?!”

Ali took a swig of beer and out of the excited crowd, a guy approached their table. She recognized him as one of the guys who gave her a smile when she went up to the bar earlier. He was dressed in a plaid button-down shirt with a Pens t-shirt underneath, ripped jeans, and a shock of blondish-brown hair that was purposely gelled to look spiky.

“Hi."

“Hi” Ali said happily. He seemed overconfident, or maybe he was just feeling a buzz, too; Ali didn’t know.

“Do you mind?” He motioned to a chair next to her.

She shook her head, her eyes slowly moving over to Becky with question. Becky was smiling, but was clearing waiting to see where this was going.

“Enjoying the game, ladies?”

“Who wouldn’t be?” Ali laughed and watched the guy take her snap-back answer.

“That is true, it is Philly.” He watched Ali intently as she drank from her bottle. “My name’s Mark.”

“Allison.” She shook his hand.

He smiled. “So Allison, I was wondering…I was over there hanging with my guys, and uh…well, we all thought you were pretty hot.”

Ali nodded, trying not to laugh.

“And uh…I thought you looked pretty fun too, judging by how into the game you are.”

“Thank you” Ali replied, staring at him, waiting for the line drop. “Hockey’s kind of my thing…in ways you wouldn’t understand.”

Becky giggled, but quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Mark somehow got a little glimmer in his eye when Ali said this, likely taking it in the way Ali guessed he would. He played right into her hands.

“Is that right?” He leaned in a little closer. “I noticed you two have Neal shirts on...you guys big fans?”

“I don’t know, Becks – are we big fans of James Neal?”

“HUGE fans” Becky said with a guilty laugh. “He’s just sooo hot.”

Ali looked back at Mark. “Why do you ask?” She purposely made her voice a little higher to pretend she was actually flirting with him.

“Well, uh…” His finger moved to Ali’s knee, tracing lightly along her jeans. “…I don’t know how to play hockey, but I do know how to use a stick and score.”

Bingo. Ali heard Becky groan across the table, but she kept her eyes on Mark. She leaned into him now, and moved his hand off her knee. “Well, Mark…that’s all fine and dandy, but my boyfriend does know to play hockey, and he knows how to use a stick.” She smiled smartly and sat back up. “Oh, and he’s already scored once tonight.”

Mark watched her take a drink of her beer. “What?”

Ali nodded up at the tv screen. “He scored tonight. Weren’t you watching?”

“You’re full of shit.”

“Becky?”

Becky nodded at Mark. “It’s true.”

“You’re a bitch.” He stood up, glaring at Ali. “If you aren't interested, just fucking say so instead of lying about it.”

Ali calmly got out her cell phone and held it out for Mark to see the wallpaper of her and James. She watched his face change from looking pissed to looking dumbfounded.

“What the….”

Ali unlocked the screen and scrolled to her saved pictures. Flipping through them, she found a picture of James lounging on the couch she had taken when he was asleep one day. She held it out to show Mark.

“You’re James Neal’s girlfriend.” He said it as a statement rather than a question.

She brought up another photo simply because she was enjoying herself way too much and was tipsy enough to brag to this douchebag. She chose a picture of James and her in their hot tub this past summer. She held it up, only to watch Mark storm away back to his table of bros.

Ali set her phone down on the table with a victorious thud. Becky was laughing hysterically now.

“Do I know how to drive a man away or what?” Ali said with a smirk.

“Oh my god, you are amazing!” Becky said, her laughing trickling off to a giggle, then to a sigh. “Wow. This night has been too fun.”

Ali felt pretty good. In fact, she thought James would even be proud of how she fucked with Mark. “Ahhhhhh, I love hockey” she said, draining the last of her beer.


* * *


The game ended at 3-2, with Pens leaving Philadelphia as winners. The team was taking the train out of Philly back to Pittsburgh that night, so when James claimed a lone seat near a window, he dialed Ali.

“Babe!”

That’s all it took for him to smile. “You already sound way more energetic than me.”

Ali laughed on the other line. “Well that’s because: A: You’re amazing and can score like no other…”

James rolled his eyes, his smile growing as Ali continued.

“Aaaannnd, B: because Becky and I had a blast tonight watching you score like no other in front of a bunch of rando-strangers.”

“Randos, huh?” James chuckled softly. “So what you’re really saying is, I impressed you in front of a huge group of people.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Good. I like that.” Loosening his tie a little, he slid further down into the spacious seat. “Sounds like you had a good time then. Where’d you end up going?”

“Vin’s! I had to see this place you guys always go to.”

He raised an eyebrow. “No shit! How’d you like it? Did Becky have fun?”

“Oh yeah, it was a blast! It was packed, too. Everyone was watching you and cheering for you, babe.”

“Sure, sure.” James tried picturing Ali and her coworker cheering for him and the team at Vin’s, and the picture in his mind cracked him up.

“Why are you giggling?” Ali said, catching him.

“I don’t giggle, sweetheart.”

“Like hell.”

James closed his eyes. “Okay, maybe this once.” He smiled. “I’m glad you got a chance to hang out tonight.”

“Thanks. Can I tell you something?”

“Mm hmm.” He could feel himself close to sleep.

“I love you.”

He laughed. “I love you too, Ali. See you in a couple hours.”

“Byyyeee.”

James waited until he heard her hang up first, then put his phone in his pocket. Around him, his teammate took up seats here and there since there was plenty of room on the train. It would only take a few hours travel time until they were back in the city, and then he could sleep beside Ali again.

He fell asleep smiling at the thought.


* * *