Jessie's POV
I had seen Evgeni on television plenty of times before but I never really made any connections between them both. His hat was always pulled down shadowing his face just the way Liam always used to. He was quiet but had the same chirpy sense of humor as Liam, you always knew to listen when he had something to say because it was almost always worth while, just like Evgeni.

They say a camera adds on 10 kilos, well with that and hockey gear Evgeni definitely seemed bigger than he really was. His shoulders were broad but he was rather lanky compared to most of the Russians I had met before but like Liam his arms were toned enough that I didn't even think about how awkward he could look sometimes.

God did I have to just get him out of my mind, while he was a major part of my life it had almost been a year since he left and I didn’t know if he was ever going to come back.

Maybe Evgeni was just the kind of distraction I needed for now.

"So when are we going to meet this mysterious man?" Anna nudged my shoulder.
"What mysterious man?" I frowned.
"You have been living in your head for the past week now, who is he?" she smiled.
"Just because I have been thinking doesn't mean I have been thinking of someone," I shrugged.
"Yeah right Jessie, we have been best friends since preschool you can't tell me I don't know when you have a boy on your brain."
"I have to go," I got up and began shoving my books away starting to feel uncomfortable talking about it.
"Jessie what's gotten into you?" she grabbed my hand.
"I miss Liam ok, that's all," I shrugged her off, "Look I need to go study, I will talk to you later."
"Well wait, your coming to the Pens game tonight right? We are going out with the guys after."
"No I've got too much study to do. I gave Nathan my ticket the other day."
"Jessie," she sighed, "I hate telling you this but you’re going to have to move on eventually, he chose not to be in your life anymore."
"It's easier said then done."

What made things worse was when I saw him. Evgeni's big smile every morning, he made me feel safe, but I couldn't help but feel like it was a false sense of security when I was around him. I mean seriously, he's a big shot hockey player and I am just some boring old university student. The novelty of meeting a new person was bound to wear off soon.

I got back to my car and my phone began ringing in my bag. I searched frantically for it and there his big smiling face was, along with Jeffrey on my Caller ID.

"Hey," I couldn't help but smile when I heard his voice.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, you busy tonight?"
"Why?"
"Hockey game, you want to come?"
"Geno I am sorry I can't, I have to study," I felt bad but school came first.
"I help you study later."
"What expertise could you possibly grace me with Mr Malkin?" I laughed.
"I am smart," he tried to defend himself, "please you come?"
"I can't, besides I already told my friends I wasn't going with them, I can't exactly show up now."
"Fine," he sighed.
"But I have a basketball game next weekend, you should come to that," I suggested.
"Ok, then you come to my game next weekend."
"Fine, I will come. Mind you I will be watching the game tonight, just on tv."
"In Malkin shirt?" I could imagine the shit eating grin on his face through the phone.
"Yes, in my Malkin shirt," I rolled my eyes. If I stayed friends with him he would never let me live down the most embarrassing meeting of my life.
"Ok see you tomorrow morning."
"Bye."

So I did exactly what I said I would. I went home locked myself in and sat watching the game with Sebastian on the couch.