Forever Chicago
I Promise
*Arianna’s POV*
I landed in Boston and got my bags. As I got to the main part of the airport I saw Adam and Ty waiting for me. They hadn’t seen me yet so I went around so I could come up behind them and scare them. “Adam calm down. I’m sure Jon didn’t do anything. He wouldn’t be that stupid because he knows how you feel about her and how the whole team feels about her.” I overheard Tyler say as I came up behind them. “Well I’m glad you guys love me.” I said from behind them as they both turned around stunned. “Jesus! Don’t do that!” yelled Tyler as he pulled me in for a hug. “Taste of our own medicine eh?” asked Adam as he hugged me. I kept hold of him for quite some time. There were times when I thought of what it would be like if I had said yes to Adam two years ago. It was right before I told him I was gonna be leaving for Chicago for college
-Flashback-
“Hey babe.” Adam said as he opened the door to his apartment and gave me a kiss. We had been dating on and off for a few months but things were never serious with us- just some innocent fun for the both of us. “Hey.” I said nervously as he shut the door and I walked towards the couch. “You want something to drink?” he asked as he headed for the kitchen. Every time I came over he would ask the same thing and I would always have the same answer- ice water with lemon, but not this time. “Nope.” I said plainly as I twiddled my thumbs nervously on the couch. “You okay babe?” he asked as he sat down next to me.
No I’m not okay. I’m about to tell you that I can’t be with you anymore because I’m moving to Chicago for the next four years. I thought as he looked at me nervously.
“Adam, there’s something I have to tell you.” I said finally looking up at him. “Oh god, you’re not pregnant are you? I mean we were careful!” He said as he ran his fingers through his hair. “No! I’m not pregnant.” I yelled. “Oh thank god… well then what is it?” he asked looking confused. “Adam we can’t be together anymore.” I said as I felt the tears start to form in my eyes. Adam and I had known each other for two years and after about a year we decided to give us a try and had been on and off ever since then but it didn’t mean I didn’t love him and that I wanted to do this to him. “But… why? What did I do?” he asked as I saw the tears start to find the corners of his eyes. “It’s nothing you did. I’m leaving.” I said as I felt the first tear fall. “What do you mean you’re leaving?” he asked as he moved closer to me, as if by keeping hold of me it meant I wouldn’t end up leaving after all. “I’m going to Chicago for college. I got accepted to the University of Chicago and it’s an amazing school and I’d be stupid to pass up the opportunity to go there.” I said letting the tears fall but getting excited at the fact that I had gotten into one of the best schools in America. “Well… I mean…” there was nothing he could say to change what was fact- I was leaving for Chicago in a week and there was no way we could keep this up for four years until I come back, if I even do come back.
The rest of the night Adam and I cried and just laid in bed, enjoying our last time together before he left. Adam was leaving for Canada in the morning and wouldn’t be back until training camp started and by then I would be gone.
-End flashback-
That was the day I had broken the heart of a guy that didn’t deserve it and of the guy I loved and the day that I broke my own heart. But then Jon happened and he gave me the feeling Adam had always given me, but better and stronger, and that’s how I knew he was the one.
“It’s good to see you… both of you.” I said as I let go of Adam and smiled at both of them. We then piled into the car and headed to the arena.
“Hey guys!” I yelled as I entered the locker room. Krejci walked up to me and gave me a big hug. “Krech!” I yelled. I hadn’t seen him in forever and I missed him, hell I missed the whole team like crazy. I hugged the rest of the team and then watched practice from the bench. During one of their breaks Bergy came over to me and gave me a hug. “Bergy! Where were you when I was in the locker room?” I asked inquisitively. “I was signing me contract extension in your dad’s office.” He answered smiling. “That’s amazing!” I yelled as I hugged him even tighter. “So,” he started as I sipped my water bottle, “Adam has been talking about you a lot lately.” He said as he looked down. Everyone knew me and Adam had had a thing back in the day but it was still a sore subject for both of us because the feelings have never really gone away for either of us. “Well what do you want me to say?” I asked him putting my water down. “I don’t know. I mean… Sometimes I wonder how things would have been if you had stayed here or tried to make it work from Chicago. I mean you could be becoming Mrs. Adam McQuaid instead of Mrs. Jonathan Toews.” He said looking at me. “How did you know?” I asked looking at him shocked. He smiled and said, “I know everything... I saw you looking at the ring over here earlier.” “Please don’t tell him Bergy. Don’t tell any of them. I wanna do it by myself. But I wanna tell Adam separately.” I said taking my ring out of my pocket and looking at it. “It is beautiful.” Bergy said as he admired it with me. “Hey what’s goin on over here?” Asked Marchy as he came over. He must have seen the ring before I could shove it back in my pocket because his eyes grew wide and his mouth was agape. “Holy shit. You’re ge-“but the rest of it was muffled as Bergy covered his mouth with his glove. “Marchy you can’t tell anyone. I’m gonna tell everyone myself.” I said as I sat back down on the bench. “Do Segs and Quaider know?” “No. I’m gonna tell Adam separately. I think I owe him that much.” I said thinking back to the morning he left for Canada 2 years ago…
-Flashback-
“Promise me something?” Adam said as he took my hand and looked at me as we waited by the terminal for his flight to be called. “Anything.” I said looking at his anxious expression.
Flight 781 to Prince Edward Island now boarding.
“Promise me that when you come back, if there are still feelings, that you’ll be with me.” He pleaded.
Final call for Flight 781 to Prince Edward Island.
“I promise.” I said as I saw him pull out a ring and place it on my finger. “It’s a promise ring. I promise I’ll be waiting when you come back.” He said as he kissed my forehead, but I pulled his lips down for one last kiss…
And that was the last time I ever kissed Adam.
-End flashback-
The next time I saw Adam was when I was in Boston for their game against Chicago and I was with Jon. It killed him to see me with someone else and I could tell. I had kept Adam’s ring all of these years and looked at it every so often, remembering the amazing times I had with him, remembering all of the firsts. Our first date, our first kiss, our first time- it being my first ever, and the first time he told me he loved me. Others might have thought it was a little soon but Adam and I had had feelings for each other for a year and I felt the same way about him. Seeing the look on his face the first few times he saw me with Jon killed me because I knew I was hurting him and that had never been my intention. I had fully intended on going back to Boston after college and being with Adam, but obviously fate, love, and life had a different plan for me and although I did miss Adam all the time, I was happy with where the journey had taken me.
Marchy agreed to not tell anyone and when their practice was over I decided to ask Adam if we could go back to mine and Jon’s apartment so I could tell him. “Hey Adam.” I said as I walked up to him when he was finished changing and was putting his stuff away. “Hey.” He said as he shoved his skate into his bag and zipped it up. “So, I was wondering if you wanted to come back to my place. I have something I need to tell you.” I said as I leaned against the stall next to me which happened to be Segs. As he came up behind me he slapped my ass which got a good squeal out of me and a laugh out of Adam and Segs. “You’re gonna pay for that Seguin.” I said giving him a death glare. “Your place or mine?” he said winking as he headed to take a shower. Once he was gone I looked at Adam awaiting his answer. “I don’t know hun. Last time you said you had something to tell me you ended up leaving and the next time I saw you, you were with another guy.” He said as a joke but I could hear the sadness in his voice. “Yeah well I won’t be telling you that this time.” I said with some sadness in my voice. I knew Adam was waiting for me to come home one day and tell him I was done with Jon and that I wanted to be with him, but he and I both knew deep down that that wasn’t going to happen… especially not after what I was going to tell him today. “Well alright sure.” He said hoisting his bag over his shoulder.
Once we got to the apartment and got inside he sat down on the couch and I headed into the kitchen. “You want something to drink?” I asked remembering our old routine, but this time the roles were reversed. “Water with lemon please.” He said smiling as he remembered the same memory. As I brought him water and sat down opposite him with my own, I started to get nervous just like the last time we were in this situation. “So what did you wanna tell me?” he asked as he took a drink of his water.
“I’m engaged.” I looked down at my glass as I said it as if it would tell me the answers to all of my problems and I heard him swallow hard. He didn’t say anything and I looked up at him to see him staring at my finger where I had put the ring back on while in the kitchen. He didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes and I started to worry, but eventually he broke the silence. “I hope he knows how lucky he is.” He said as he looked up at me with sad eyes. “I always wanted it to be me. I wanted to be the one to pick out your ring with my dad and brother and have you say yes when I asked you and get to tell everyone that I was marrying the most amazing girl in the world. So I hope he knows how lucky he is and if he ever fucks up like last time, I’m gonna be here waiting for you.” He never broke eye contact as he said it and just like last time, we laid on the couch crying until I heard the lock on the door turning and I knew Jon was here. Adam heard it too because he got up, gave me a hug with sad eyes, and walked towards the door. “Oh, hey Adam.” Jon said smiling at him as they met at the door. “Hey.” Adam said mustering the best smile he could. Adam walked out the door, turning to mouth I love you to me and I gave him our signal to let him know I said it back and just as he was about to shut the door, he stopped and said, “Jon, be careful with her. You never know who might snatch her up if you let her go. Congrats on the engagement by the way- you’re one lucky guy.” He said as he smiled sadly at my fiancée. “I know I am and I don’t plan on letting her go. I know she’s got an amazing group of guys back here in Boston waiting for her if I fuck up again and I know how much you all love her. I promise to take good care of her.” He said going up to Adam and clasping his shoulder, reassuring him that I was in good hands as Adam turned and left after he gave Jon a genuine smile.
Jon could tell I had been crying before he came in and I told him what was wrong. He always knew Adam and I had a past, how much of it he knew though was questionable…
