One Step at a Time

It took us about 15 minutes to find a beach that wasn’t insanely crowded. It was the end of August but very hot that day so every beach along the coast would be packed. We settled down along the shore and began laying out our towels and beach material. We combined our towels so we had a bigger area to lie down at. Jon offered to go get us something to drink so while he was gone I took off my shirt and got out my book and lay down. He was gone for about 10 minutes before I realized that he was trapped talking to fans. I looked over at him and he smiled at me and shrugged his shoulders, I closed my book to get up to help him and he shook his head at me, I shot him a questionable look and he gave me the look that said “fine.” So I jumped up and walked over to him as he handed me my drink, everyone was trying to get a picture from him and asked him who I was. He simply said I was a new equipment manager who is a family friend of Kaner, we both fought our way back to our towels and laid down.

“Is that what you put up with all the time?” I asked

“Nah, that’s actually the worst I’ve gotten for a few weeks. All of the Non-Chicago visitors are in town enjoying the last little bit of summer before the kids go back to school and the training camp starts up. Since we practice in South Bend, Indiana a lot of our out of state fans come up here, stay for a week and enjoy Chicago, drive to Indy and watch the Notre Dame practices,then the Training Camp Festival at the end of the week, and then return home.” He shrugged, “Don’t get me wrong, I love my fans, but I don’t like crowds.”

“You said the camps are starting soon. Will I be coming along? Or staying back at the apartment?”

“I imagine you’d be coming along, what has Coach said about you being the assistant EQ?”

“Nothing really, he just wants me settled first.”

He looked over at me and smiled “Well, we leave for Notre Dame in 2 days, so I’d call him up later tonight to find out. I’m sure he wants you to come so you can start working soon, but like you said. He just wants to make sure you’re settled first. He’s pretty excited to have you working with us. You should have seen his face that morning at practice when you guys got off the phone. All smiles. I really hope you come with us. I’d love to have you there helping. Hell, even if you’re just sitting in the stands, I want you there.” I blushed when he said that

“Well I’ll be sure to call Q after dinner tonight. Right now I just wanna lay back and relax”

He laughed when I said that and shook his head. I sat up and put my tanning lotion on and rolled over so I was lying on my back. I put my headphones in and turned my music on. I ended up falling asleep in the sun, and it was wonderful. After a while I woke up, turned onto my stomach and tanned my backside. Every once in a while I would catch Jon sneaking peaks over at me and I’d smile at him. I took out my headphones and we got to know each other a little more, from favorite movies, food, and music, to hockey, family and childhood.It was wonderful.

“Hey, I wanna show you something.” He jumped up off of our towels and reached out to take my hand and helped me up.

“Should I be worried?” I just looked at him.

“No, come on. Please, you trust me right?” I rolled my eyes and took his hand. He pulled me up off of the sand and led me over to a dock in the swimmable part of Lake Michigan, he held my hand all the way and interlocked our fingers. I jogged beside him until I finally caught up to him, I looked at the dock as we made our way down it, he squeezed my hand and I laughed.

“I’m not sure about this Jon.”

“What do you mean? It’s just a dock, I promise nothing bad will happen.” We stopped walking and he turned around and took my other hand. “I wouldn’t let it happen, not when you’re with me. Never.”I blushed and bit my lip when he said that, I looked up at him and he leaned down and kissed my lips lightly, almost afraid to. I was shocked, but I gave in. I did everything to fight a smile, we parted and I let go of one hand and placed it on his face while he place his hand on the small of my back, we kissed again, a little more greedily this time and pulled away. He smiled as well.

“I wanted to do that since the first time I saw you Alisa.”

I was at a loss for words, “I have too, Jon.”

He kissed me once more and laughed, “We better stop, kids around ya know.”

I smiled, and agreed. He kissed my forehead and swept me off my feet and carried me bridal style… down the dock to the end of the water!

“Jonathan! What are you doing?!” I squealed as I kicked my legs around, “No!!”

He just laughed as he jumped into the water bringing me with him. The water was freezing and he was insane for doing that. He let go of me in the water and I resurfaced instantly. I looked around for him and didn’t see him until I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me. He came out of the water laughing his ass off.

“I’m glad you find this funny.”

“Oh Lis, it’s not funny. It’s hysterical.” He kept laughing and let me go. I glared at him and treaded water. I could barely touch, not that it mattered, but it was still cold.

“You said you wouldn’t let me get hurt you ass hole.”

“You’re not hurt are you?”

“No but...”

He smiled and pulled me in close; he wrapped his arms around me and looked into my eyes. “I would never do something that would put you in danger, I promise.” He kissed my forehead and I shivered.

“How about we get you home to some warm clothes eh?”

“I’d be okay with that.” I smiled, as he threw in the “Eh” I knew Canadians didn’t really say that often, or at all really, but it was cute when he said it. We swam out of the lake and onto shore where we went to get our beach stuff and go home. As we were folding our towels Jonathan looked at me, and looked at my hip.

“Nice tattoo. I don’t normally go for tatted girls, but that looks good on you. I like your shoulder ones too.” He said as he winked at me. I smiled.

I had 3 tattoos, one of a bow that was from skate lace, one on my right shoulder of a treble and bass clef, and one on my left of an infinity sign saying hockey, family, friends, love, life, repeating over and over. I thanked him and picked up my stuff. He helped me with some of the towels and called up Kane saying we were going to go to dinner soon, he said nothing about a restaurant so I figured it was another surprise. When we got home Jon ran my dogs outside and I went to take a quick shower, blow dried my hair and brushed it into place. After that I walked into my room and threw on a pair of my nicer jeans, a long sleeve black shirt, and my black vans. I then ran back to the bathroom and slapped on some liquid eyeliner and mascara as well as a few squirts of my favorite perfume. I looked one last time in the mirror to make sure I looked okay. I heard someone knock on my door so I yelled that it was open and turned around and saw Jonathan walk in. His hair was messy and still wet, but he had on a nice fitting pair of jeans, a grey shirt and a black hoodie. He looked at me and smiled,

“I’d be okay with that.” I smiled, as he threw in the “Eh” I knew Canadians didn’t really say that often, or at all really, but it was cute when he said it. We swam out of the lake and onto shore where we went to get our beach stuff and go home. As we were folding our towels Jonathan looked at me, and looked at my hip.

“Nice tattoo. I don’t normally go for tatted girls, but that looks good on you. I like your shoulder ones too.” He said as he winked at me. I smiled.

I had 3 tattoos, one of a bow that was from skate lace, one on my right shoulder of a treble and bass clef, and one on my left of an infinity sign saying hockey, family, friends, love, life, repeating over and over. I thanked him and picked up my stuff. He helped me with some of the towels and called up Kane saying we were going to go to dinner soon, he said nothing about a restaurant so I figured it was another surprise. When we got home Jon ran my dogs outside and I went to take a quick shower, blow dried my hair and brushed it into place. After that I walked into my room and threw on a pair of my nicer jeans, a long sleeve black shirt, and my black vans. I then ran back to the bathroom and slapped on some liquid eyeliner and mascara as well as a few squirts of my favorite perfume. I looked one last time in the mirror to make sure I looked okay. I heard someone knock on my door so I yelled that it was open and turned around and saw Jonathan walk in. His hair was messy and still wet, but he had on a nice fitting pair of jeans, a grey shirt and a black hoodie. He looked at me and smiled,
“I’d be okay with that.” I smiled, as he threw in the “Eh” I knew Canadians didn’t really say that often, or at all really, but it was cute when he said it. We swam out of the lake and onto shore where we went to get our beach stuff and go home. As we were folding our towels Jonathan looked at me, and looked at my hip.

“Nice tattoo. I don’t normally go for tatted girls, but that looks good on you. I like your shoulder ones too.” He said as he winked at me. I smiled.

I had 3 tattoos, one of a bow that was from skate lace, one on my right shoulder of a treble and bass clef, and one on my left of an infinity sign saying hockey, family, friends, love, life, repeating over and over. I thanked him and picked up my stuff. He helped me with some of the towels and called up Kane saying we were going to go to dinner soon, he said nothing about a restaurant so I figured it was another surprise. When we got home Jon ran my dogs outside and I went to take a quick shower, blow dried my hair and brushed it into place. After that I walked into my room and threw on a pair of my nicer jeans, a long sleeve black shirt, and my black vans. I then ran back to the bathroom and slapped on some liquid eyeliner and mascara as well as a few squirts of my favorite perfume. I looked one last time in the mirror to make sure I looked okay. I heard someone knock on my door so I yelled that it was open
and turned around and saw Jonathan walk in. His hair was messy and still wet, but he had on a nice fitting pair of jeans, a grey shirt and a black hoodie. He looked at me and smiled,

"You look really nice."

"Thanks, you do too."

I put everything in the bathroom away and walked into my room and sat on my bed. I watched Jon put up the dogs and smiled. I knew it was just a few days but I had really began to like him, he seemed like he cared too. From what Pat and the rest of the guys said, he doesn’t latch on or show his emotions much, so I was surprised from what he’s shown to me.My train of thought quickly crashed when I heard my phone start to ring. Jonathan looked over at me as I grabbed my phone off of the side table. He gave me a questionable look, and I smiled.

“Who do you think it is?”

“Tris?”

“You catch on fast buddy.”

“I try.” He checked his watch, “ We’d better get going in about 5 minutes. Are you ready?”

“Yeah, are you ready to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nah, not yet.” He closed the crates and came to sit next to me on my bed. I rolled my eyes and answered the phone to a very loud Tris.

“Yet another day that I don’t hear from you, I’m beginning to worry about you!”

“I don’t understand why, I’m sorry. Jon and I went to the beach.”

“Awh, cute. How was it?”

“It was fine, I really enjoyed myself. It’s great to be able to get out and relax every now and then.” I listened to her comment on everything and I leaned into Jon as he wrapped his arm around me. He smelled wonderful, must have been wearing some kind of cologne.

“Fine? Just fine?”

“More than fine, okay? It was great.”

“I feel like you’re not telling me everything Alisa.”

“I feel like you’re probably right Tris.” I had a feeling Jonathan could hear her considering I heard him snicker after that comment from her.

“Well come on, tell me!” I looked up at Jon and he smiled and shook his head.

“I will later, I need to get going, I’m leaving for dinner but I’ll skype you as soon as I get home, okay?”

“Wait! Does the thing have to do with you know who?”

“If you’re talking about Jon, it does, and he’s sitting right beside me. Anywho, Tris, dinner. Goodbye, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Fine! Bye, tell Jon and Pat I said hey!”

Jonathan leaned over and said hey to her and I quickly hung up. I put my phone in my pocket and shook my head.

“That girl never stops.”

“Kinda like you?”

“Eh, I suppose, only I can be quiet sometimes.”

“Psh, that’s such a lie. I know of one time you’ve been quiet, and that’s it.”

“Really now? When was th-”

He cut me off with a long kiss and pulled back. “Right there.”

I blushed, “you’re a dork,” I responded with a kiss and let him go. “So, dinner?”

He snickered at me and we both stood up, I grabbed my purse and I followed him out of my room and out of the apartment.

Notes