Hit Hard

Claude waited as Charlene unlocked her apartment door. He followed her down the hall and into the living room. He scanned over everything from the white couch that faced the wall of windows, to the sleek staircase that connected the first floor to the mezzanine second floor. “Now I really know why you like your job.” He gawked. Charlene laughed.

“You can sit down here while I change.” Claude nodded.

“Sure thing.”

Charlene walked up the stairs and started undressing as soon as she got into her room. What was she going to wear? She didn’t want to over or under dress, so she decided to go off of what Claude was wearing. A polo shirt shorts, and sandals. Again. Charlene decided to go with some red shorts, a white top and some white sandals. She left her hair in the ponytail that she had done for work. She touched up her makeup upstairs just as Claude started to wonder where she was.

He sat with his hands in his pockets on the rectangular couch. He stared out the window that overlooked Central Park. New York sure was a pretty city. He smiled to himself when he realized that he didn’t have anything planned for he and Charlene to do. Maybe he would take her ice skating over at Chelsea Piers where he had been skating for the summer. “Wear jeans!” He called up to Charlene. He heard her groan.

“Okay.” She called. She took off her shorts and quickly put on her light wash skinny jeans. She put her shoes back on and walked downstairs. “Am I dressed appropriately?” Claude stood up and turned around.

“Yes, you are.” Claude smiled. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” Charlene put her id, house key, and cell phone into her pocket and headed for the door. “So what are we doing?” Charlene asked when they had gotten down onto the street.

“You’ll see.” Claude grinned. Charlene smiled and rolled her eyes.

“Fine.” She crossed her arms.

“Lets get a cab.” Claude nudged Charlene’s side.He hailed the taxi, then whispered to the driver where he wanted to go.

Claude opened the door for Charlene and they both slid into the back seat. He heard a phone ring. It wasn’t his so he assumed it was Charlene’s. She groaned then answered.

“Hello.” She sighed. Claude wondered who it was that made her so annoyed.

“No.” Charlene said with a hint of ice in her voice.

“Bye.” Charlene hung up quickly. Claude raised his eyebrow at her. “My boss is such a brat.” She said.

“What?” Claude asked.

“My boss is the son of the guy who owns the company and he’s an annoying little worm.” Charlene replied.

“Nice.” Claude laughed.

“But I don’t want to talk about work anymore.” Charlene said.

“Alright.” Claude sat up. “What do you want to talk about?” Charlene pursed her lips.

“Hockey.”

“So you want to talk about my work?” He asked.

“Yes.” Charlene smiled.

Claude smiled back at her. “What do you want to know?”

“Hmmm,” Charlene started, “I really know nothing about hockey.” She smiled and looked up in time to catch him running his hand through his hair.

“Okay.” He grinned. “Well, you play it on ice with ice skates and hockey sticks and you try and get the puck in the other team’s goal more than the other team can get it in yours.”

“I know that!” She playfully pushed his arm. “But what’s it like to play for a professional hockey team?”

“Tough.” He started. “Its a lot of work. I train everyday. There’s also lot of people following you and wanting you to win. I never want to let down any fans, but its also lots of fun. I get to play hockey for a job, and travel with my team. Its cool.”

“It sounds fun.” She smiled.

“Better than selling surgical equipment.” Claude teased.

“In your opinion.” Charlene grinned.

Notes