Evgeni’s POV
I didn’t think the week could have gone on any longer then it had. I would have gone insane if she was gone one more day. With the dogs following me around like, well like lost dogs and then not having anyone to talk to I couldn’t have been more relieved to have her coming home.

I stared at the clock waiting and waiting for Dan to finally stop talking. Sure the game was a great win but I didn’t care. All I cared about was that I would got to see my girlfriend.

If he didn’t hurry up I was sure I was going to be late to pick her up from the airport. But when I walked out of the locker room to my surprise there she was.

She looked miserable standing in front of me leaning on a set of crutches in a pair of basketball shorts and one of my penguins jumpers that pooled over her.
“What happened?” I stepped forward closing the gap between us.
“Nothing,” she mumbled as I wrapped my arms around her. She melted easily into my embrace and I knew she had missed me like I missed her.

“Well why crutches?” I pulled back enough that I could look at her but not enough that I would let her go. I finally had her back I wasn't letting her go any time soon.
“I just have to rest it, I have surgery on Saturday morning,” she looked up with a small smile.
“Surgery?!” I stood up straight a little taken back.
“Don't worry,” she put a soft hand on my arm and squeezed it reassuring letting me know that she wasn't worried so I should have been either, “they just need to get rid of some scar tissue. It turns out my therapist was a dud and I don't have full range in my knee any more.”

I bent down in front of her letting my hands gently support her knee as I got a look at the damage.
“Does it hurt?” I looked up her for a reaction as I let my thumb slide back and forth across the inside of her knee where it was starting to swell.
“A little, it's more just stiff when I bend it. I will be fine though once I start physical therapy with Laura,” she looked down at me with a huge smile on her face like she was waiting for me to do something.

“Wait,” and then it clicked, “Why you train with Laura? Not someone from hospital?” I stood back up letting her see my confusion.
“I made it,” her smile stretched across her face.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“That’s great,” I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug enough to show her how proud I was of her.

But then it all sunk in. Jessie would be leaving. Jessie would be going away to New York all summer and we wouldn't get to see each other for months on end. I didn't know how I was going to get through this.

“Evgeni,” she mumbled into my chest, “Evgeni let go you’re smothering me.”
“Oh sorry,” I pulled away. I knew I was holding her tighter then I normally would have but I was going to miss her and I wanted her to know that.

“Hey are you guys going to come out tonight?” Brandon’s voice seeped behind us.
I looked at Jessie and she looked back at me with the same understanding eyes. I would have plenty of time to go out with the guys once Jessie had left, but for the next few days it was just me and her with our dogs.
“Not tonight,” I shook my head.
“Alright man, I will see you tomorrow,” he slapped my shoulder as he walked passed.

“You hungry?” I turned my attention back to Jessie who was relying more on me then her crutches for support.
“I am tired, but I guess I could do with some food,” she shrugged.
“How about Chinese?” I suggested not wanting to cook.
“Ok.”

We picked up Chinese on the way back to her place where I had been secretly spending more time that at my own place.

“You know everything is going to be ok?” she reminded putting her hand on top of mine , “we will have plenty of chances to see each other.”
“When?” I grumbled still not really liking the idea of her going away but it was something I was going to have to get used to. “Hey,” she sat up with a purpose, “can you just listen? Your already making me feel bad enough about leaving, I don't need you ignoring me on top of it.”
“Sorry,” I slumped forward resting my head on the cool table hoping it would ease some of the tension.
“Look,” she pulled out the calendar app on her phone, “my season starts in May right about the same time yours finishes so depending on when I leave then we have about 2-3 weeks away from each other then, then you go away to Russia and do whatever it is you do there for like 2 or 3 months, then you come back for the start of your season and that’s right about when my season ends, give or take a month and then I can come back to Pittsburgh.”
“You think about a lot,” I tried to process the whole thing in my head as she sat there looking rather accomplished.

“What about if I not go to Russia? What if I spend summer with you?” I sat up liking the sound of that better.
“But don’t you want to go and see your friends and family?” she looked at me a little baffled.
“I go maybe month,” I shrugged.

“What about dogs?” I looked down at them lying by our feet looking miserable.
“Well they can be here during your season and with in New York during mine,” she shrugged as if it was nothing.
“I guess.”

I still couldn’t help but feel like we would miss out on something being away from each other. Would our relationship not be as strong? Would we slowly lose interest in each other? That was how Oksana and I ended, I moved here and we just fell apart. Then again I had stopped trying with her but it didn't make long distance relationships any easier.

“Come on let's go to bed,” she stood up and pushed her chair in.
“But...” I frowned looking at the mess on the table in front of us knowing how much Jessie hated it.
“I will clean up tomorrow morning, but right now we just relax and get some sleep. I don't want to deal with a grumpy you anymore,” she put her hand out for me.
“I am not grumpy,” I accepted her hand and let her lead me down the hall to the bedroom.

I sat back against the headboard and watched Jessie as she settled in amongst the blankets.

“Well are we going to cuddle or what?” she looked over her shoulder at me with a sleepy smile playing on her lips.

I flicked the bedside light off and scooted in behind her pulling her back right up against my chest. I wasn't going to throw away any chance I had to hold her right now.

“Is going to be hard,” Jessie spoke up.
“Mmm,” I agreed knowing it was going to damn hard but decided not to say anything more because I wanted to just stop thinking about her leaving for a few minutes.
“But we are going to be fine, right?” she ran her hand down my arm that was draped over her waist.
“We be ok,” I reassured her pulling her closer so she knew I wasn't just saying it for the sake of saying it.

I turned my palm over inviting her to link her fingers with mine, which as our insecurities ran through us she was quick to accept.

“Go sleep,” I encouraged her knowing it was exactly what she needed to feel better as I slid my thumb back and forth over the top of her hand hoping to help all the tension in her muscle to vanish.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too,” I dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

It was like in an instant those three simple words seemed to restore all faith in whatever feelings Jessie felt. She relaxed back into my arms completely as her eyes slipped shut.

I could only just see the side of her face from how I was laying but she seemed so content to be in my arms and honestly I felt just the same. It was moments like these that I loved the most; just the two of us alone with all of our worries pushed aside, and all that mattered was that we were together. I really was going to miss her.