Love, Lies, and the NHL.

“Michaela! Hurry up. We’re going to be late.” my dad grumbled.

“I’m coming!” I called back, pulling my hair up into a loose ponytail. She was going to the arena with her dad to meet the team, the New Jersey Devils and to meet with the coach.

My father had just been hired to be the new equipment manager of the Devils and today was he first day. He was bringing me to help out, I was going to be his assistant for the day. “It’s about time. What took you so long?” her father asked

“Dad…I’m about to meet NHL players. I couldn’t go looking all homly…”

“What’s wrong with homly? I don’t want any of those boys gawking at you.”

“Dad, I’m 23 years old.” I sighed

“You may be 23, but you’re still my little girl!”

I laughed, kissing her dad on the cheek, “Come on, dad, let’s go.”
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“Another amazing save, Marty!” Travis Zajac called down the ice.
I skated behind the net and shot another puck, this one went sailing past Martin

Brodeur and landed behind him. “Damn…” Adam Henrique mumbled

“Nice shot, man!” Bryce Salvador called

“Thanks.” I smiled. I was new to the team and trying to get settled in. The guys so far had been welcoming and it was a great opportunity for me to be playing with guys such as Jaromir Jagr and Martin Brodeur

“Boys, gather ‘round!” Coach DeBoer called. We all skated towards him as he continued, “The new equipment manager and is daughter are here. So you all need to be on your best behavior. Continue with the drills while I talk to them on the bench.”

The guys skated back to the ice, “New equipment manager and his daughter, huh?” Adam said, skating by me.

“I guess. Do you think she’s going to be helping out too?” I asked
Adam shrugged, “Maybe. Come on, though. We gotta do drills.”
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I stepped out onto the ice. The familiar scent of ice and cold air hit my nostrils and I smiled, following my dad to the coach, who was blowing his whistle and shouting out a drill for the players. I looked out onto the ice as numbers skated by me…68, 19, 26, 29, 15 and 12...
I watched them start a shooting drill towards Martin Brodeur, who blocked puck after puck. “Welcome!” Coach called to us

“Thank-you for the opportunity. I’ve been a Devils fan since we moved here.” my dad said

“Well, it’s great to have you. Is this your daughter?”

“Hi, I’m Michaela.” I said, giving the coach a smile

“It’s great meeting both of you.”

I smiled and looked back towards the ice when I noticed a player staring at me…
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She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. She was taller, with long blonde hair. She was wearing a Devils hoodie and shorts that showed off her long legs. “Damien! Pay attention!” Jagr called to me

“Sorry.” I replied, but I couldn’t stop staring at her. She looked over at me and I knew she could see me staring. She gave me a smile and waved. I waved back to her and before I knew it, I was skating towards her. “Hi.”

She looked startled as she replied, “Hi.”

“I’m Damien.”

“I’m Michaela.” she said smiling

“Damien, back to practice, okay? You can visit with Michaela after.” Coach called to me.
Michaela giggled and gave me a small smile as I nodded, “Sorry coach.” I skated back to the team and tried to focus on practice, but I couldn’t look away from her…
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My dad and I were getting a tour of the arena, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Damien. He had came over and talked to me! I couldn’t believe it. He was so cute and nice, I couldn’t wait to meet him.

After our tour, we got back to the locker rooms, where the players were all done with practice and dressed to meet with us. My dad and Coach went right to Jagr, but I just sat down. Not a minute after I walked in, Damien was sitting beside me. “Hi, again.” I said

He smiled at me, “Hello. So your dad’s our equipment manger huh?”

I nodded, “Yep.”

“Will you be coming with him often then?” he asked

“Probably.” I smiled

Damien nodded, “Cool. Excuse me for saying this, but, uh, you’re very beautiful.”

I felt my heart skip a beat and I felt my cheeks begin to redden, “Thank-you.”

“I’m sorry. That was strange…you barely know me and here I am calling you beautiful.”

“Well, there’s only one way to fix this. You’ll have to get to know me more.”
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“I guess we will.” I laughed.

“Michaela, it’s time to go!” her dad called

She looked a me and gave me a smile, pulling a pen from her pocket and scribbling a set of numbers on my hand. “Call me.” she mouthed before heading out the door with her dad.

“Bro, you have to call her.” Adam said

I had planned on it…
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I laid back in bed and smiled. Damien was so sweet and he was flirting with me! I couldn’t help it, but I kept staring at my phone, hoping he’d call. Then, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number…it was him. I took a deep breath and answered, “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Damien. Are you busy tonight?” he asked

“No.” I replied

“Come out to Aztec tonight. Us guys are going and I’d really like you to come.”

Aztec was a nightclub on the boardwalk, “Sure. I’ll be there.”

“Great. I can’t wait to see you.” he replied

“I can’t wait to see you either.” I replied before hanging up. I sprang out of bed and showered quickly. I straightened my hair and put on a pair of black jeans and a cute pink top. I put on some light make-up and grabbed my keys. “Dad, I’m going out!” I called

“Okay, sweetie. Have a good night.” he called

Before long, I arrived and headed inside, finding the guys in a VIP room. Damien saw me and he waved. He looked gorgeous in tight jeans and a black t-shirt. “Hey.”

“Hi.”
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I smiled at her, “You want a drink?”

“Just a water, thank-you.” she called back over the music. “Do you want to dance?”

“I can’t.” I replied

“Sure you can. Everyone can dance.” she laughed, pulling me towards the dance floor. She danced along to the fast songs and I just watched her smiling. Then a slow song started and she pulled me towards her.

“I can’t dance…” I repeated

“It’s easy. Just put your arms around my waist and sway.” she smiled, leaning her head on my shoulder.
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I smiled up at Damien as we slow danced together. I never wanted this night to end. “Michaela?” he whispered

“Yeah?”

“I want to get to know you more…you’re so beautiful and so much fun.”

I smiled back at him, “I want to get to know you more too, Damien…”

He looked down at me and I looked into his eyes and he kissed me. I kissed him back. I wanted to stay in that moment with Damien forever…

Notes