Forever Chicago
I Can't Let You Stay
*Arianna’s POV*
It had been about a month since I had come to Boston and tonight was the Bruins game against Chicago. I was gonna go and support both teams, but it was gonna be interesting. I hadn’t seen Jon in a month because between both of our schedules there was just no time for Skype and phone calls were rare. He was always at practice and meetings and games and I was at cake tastings, picking out flowers, and trying on wedding dresses.
Earlier that day
“I can’t believe I’m trying on wedding dresses!” I said as we arrived at Kleinfeld’s in New York City. “Hi!” I heard Randy say as he greeted us. “Hi!” I said back with matching enthusiasm. “I’m Randy! It’s nice to meet all of you. So tell me, who is the bride first of all?” He asked as I raised my hand. “And a gorgeous one at that!” He said smiling at me. “So tell me, who have you brought with you today?” He asked rubbing his hands together. “I’ve brought my mom Barbara, my little sister Alex, and my friends Adam, Tyler, and Patrice.” I said going down the line of people next to me. “Well then let’s get started!” He said bringing my family over to an area where I’d come out after trying on a dress. He then brought me back into a small room next to where my dressing room was and starting asking me about the wedding and how Jon and I had met. “Oh so he’s a hockey player?” Randy asked after I’d told him everything. “Yes. He’s the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks.” I said proudly. “Wow, it must be hard being away from him.” He responded after hearing Chicago. “Yeah well I grew up in Boston and I’ve been there for the past month and I’ll be there for the next month because Jon’s always busy so I needed help planning the wedding and all of my family is here so I came here.” I said explaining. After we talked a little more we went into the dressing room and tried on a couple of dresses that weren’t very good, but then he walked in with one and I knew it was perfect.
When I walked out of the fitting room wearing it there was complete silence and as I got up on the platform and looked in the full length mirror, there was no question in my mind- this is the one. “So, what do you guys think?” I asked turning around. Everyone was either in awe or just shaking their head yes as Bergy spoke, “Darling,” he said walking up to me and holding my arms, “you look breathtaking.” That was all I needed to hear. “This is the one.” I said turning to Randy and everyone else. They all broke out in smiles and I knew I had made the right decision about the dress.
*Adam’s POV*
When she walked out in that dress I knew it was the one. It looked like it was made for her body and she looked exquisite. It made me think of her walking down the aisle in it… it made me think of her walking down the aisle in it to meet me at the altar.
-Adam’s daydream-
“Arianna it looks amazing on you!” Her mother said as Arianna twirled around in the room where her, her bridesmaids, her aunt, and he mother were. “Adam is gonna love it.” Tara said going up to her in her light purple bridesmaids dress. “Almost as much as he loves you.” Added her little sister Alex from the corner in her own bridesmaids dress. She had 7 bridesmaids- her cousins Tara, Kate, and Jeanine, her little sister Alex, and her best friends Cohavit, Sasha, and Abby. We were getting married in the Boston Gardens and it was the happiest day of my life.
“Adam!” I heard Segs yell from behind me. “Hey man.” I said giving him a quick hug. Like Arianna, I had 7 groomsmen- Segs, Bergy, my brother, Marchy, Tuuks, Dougie, and Krech. I headed up to the top of the altar and the music started playing as the groomsmen who had been paired with a bridesmaid came out, Alex going first as her maid of honor with Dougie whom she happened to be dating. The last pair to come out were Abby and Marchy and then everyone stood up, signaling that the bride was coming next. As the doors opened and I saw Arianna and her father, I lost my breath. Arianna had always been beautiful but the dress looked perfect on her. As she and her dad made their way down the aisle she and I smiled at each other and made a couple of silly faces as she whispered with her dad. When they finally got to the altar the justice of the peace asked who gives this bride away and her father said that he and her mother did. We went through the whole ceremony and finally it came to the best part, “By the power vested in me by the state of Massachusetts I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” As I lifted up her veil and kissed her the justice finished by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen- Mr. and Mrs. Adam McQuaid.”
I was suddenly snapped out my daydream by Arianna waving her hand in front of my face, now dressed in the clothes she had come in with on. “You ready to go?” She asked laughing. “Yeah, where we going?” “Well we’re all going out to lunch, you coming?” She asked as she headed for the door. “Sure.” I said as I rushed to catch up to her. After lunch ended the boys and I had to head to TD Garden because we had a game that night and warm ups were in about an hour and we needed time to get there and get our gear on.
“You’re coming to the game tonight, right?” I heard Segs ask Arianna as we all left the restaurant. “Of course I am. Just look for number 19 up in the box and you’ll see me.” She said winking as she hugged him. “Like I could miss your pretty face.” He said as she stuck her tongue out at him.
-3 hours later-
*Arianna’s POV*
It was the first intermission and I was headed down to the locker rooms. The score was currently 2-1 Boston and I was excited that they were winning, but sad that the Hawks were losing. It was always tough for me at games between these two because I loved them both. “Hey!” I said to Krech as I stepped into the locker room. “Hi!” He said hugging me. “Ew sweaty hug.” I said letting go as everyone laughed. Coach Julien had just finished his speech and I was saying bye to the boys and wishing them good luck because I was heading down to see the Hawks and Abby because I knew she’d be there, but she’d be here after the game ended to see our boys. “Wait a minute!” I heard behind me as Segs and Adam came towards me. “We need our good luck kisses.” They laughed as I remembered the tradition. At every game I’d ever gone to I’d give each player a kiss on the cheek before the second period started if they were leading and they always won. “Alright, line up!” I yelled as a line quickly formed and each player got their kiss. Segs was last and decided to be smart and turn his head right before I got to his cheek so I got his lips instead. “Segs!” I yelled at him as everyone was laughing, me included. “Oh don’t even pretend to be mad at me. You know you love it when I do that.” He said as he kissed my cheek and hugged me and with that I flipped him the bird and headed down the opposite hallway and to the right to see my other boys.
As soon as I got there Abby ran over to me and nearly knocked me down with the force of her hug. “Oh my god I missed you so much! I don’t care what Jon says, I missed you more than he did!” she yelled as we continued to hug. “Abby, I can’t breathe.” I said as she squeezed me tighter but then let go. “Thank you.” I said as she finally let go. Next thing I felt was a pair of arms spin me around and a familiar pair of lips on mine. “Well hello to you too.” I giggled as I looked up to see Jon standing there. He was about 6 inches taller than me without skates on but with them on he towered over me. “God I missed you so much.” He said pulling me close to his chest. “I missed you too babe.” I said inhaling his scent. Even though he was sweating, he still smelled the same- oranges and ice. After he let go of me I greeted the rest of the team with hugs, including Coach Quenneville and then had to leave because the period was starting.
The game ended and the Bruins won 4-1. I headed to the Bruins dressing room first and found Abby was already there. I immediately ran over to hug Tuukka. “You were amazing!” I said as he picked me up and spun me around. “Well we had our good luck charm here.” He said winking at me. “Both of them.” He said as Abby came over and hugged him. I proceeded to hug everyone else, saving Bergy for last as always.
*Jon’s POV*
“But coach I can fly up to Pittsburgh tomorrow!” I argued. “Jon you know I’d let you stay for the night if I could but practice is at 9 AM tomorrow and there are no flights before then that wouldn’t cause you to be either late or dead on your ass at practice. I know you miss her and I know you want to be with her, but I can’t let you stay. Now get your stuff because we have to leave. Kane! Go find Abby, we need to leave.” And with that he was gone. “I’m so sorry Taze. I know how hard her being away for this long is and I know you want to spend time with her.” Sharpie said as we headed out the door. “I don’t even get to say goodbye.” I sulked as we got onto the bus shortly followed by Kaner and Abby. As they sat down across from me and Sharpie and got all cuddled up and cute it made me miss Arianna even more.
