It’s the morning of the game and Melody is talking a walk to the post office to mail her rent check. On her way back to her apartment her cell phone rings.

James - Hey, are you busy?
Melody - No, I was just mailing my rent check. What do you need James?
James - Well I was wondering if you would like to have lunch with me.
Melody - Sure I would.
James - Great, come to the hotel that’s near the arena in a couple hours.
Melody - Ok, I’ll see you then.
James - Ok, bye for now.

James and Melody hang up. She sighs and smiles cuz she feels like her friendship with James is becoming something a little more. She finishes her walk back to her apartment. She gets home and then her cell phone rings again.

Leslie - Ok, why do you sound so happy?
Melody - I have a date with James.
Leslie - Aww, when are you two going out?
Melody - In a few hours for lunch.
Leslie - Aww, you’ll have to tell me how it goes.
Melody - I hope it goes fine cuz I really like James.
Leslie - Aww, I know you do. I’ll let you go so you can get ready.
Melody - I’ll call you before I head to the game.
Leslie - Ok

The girls hang up. Melody changes clothes for her lunch date with James. She does up her hair and then sends James a text telling him she is getting to leave. She gets a text back from James telling her that he’ll be waiting for her in the hotel lobby. She gets to the hotel and finds James. He smiles when he sees Melody walking towards him.

James - Hey, you look nice.
Melody - Aww, thank you James.
James - I mean it. You ready to eat?
Melody - You bet I’m starving.

James and Melody head to the hotel restaurant. They get a table away from everyone. They order food and something to drink. As they wait for their food they start talking.

James - You are so pretty Melody.
Melody - Wow, I never thought I would hear a guy say that to me.
James - Well you are.
Melody - Aww, that’s really sweet.
James - I mean it and I bet you already have a boyfriend.
Melody - I did but I dumped him when I found out he was cheating on me.
James - Wow, I’m sorry. I don’t know why a guy would cheat on a smart beautiful woman like you.
Melody - You are so sweet.
James - (Takes a hold of Melody’s hand) I really cherish our friendship and I’ve enjoyed spending time with you.
Melody - I really like you James and cherish our friendship too.
James - I like you too and I’d like to see you again.
Melody - How about we hang out after the game?
James - I would like that. Did you want me to walk you back to your apartment?
Melody - I would like that.
James - Ok, I’ll pay for lunch and then we can go.

James pays for lunch and then walks Melody back to her apartment. They get to her apartment and James wraps his arms around Melody holding her close. He’s however a little scared to kiss her. James smiles as he watches Melody go into her apartment. He then head back to the team hotel while Melody calls Leslie.

Melody - Better then ok.
Leslie - Oh my did he ask you to be his girlfriend?
Melody - No, but we’re going out again after the game tonight.
Leslie - Aww, I think you two will be a couple by the end of the night.
Melody - And he is so sweet.
Leslie - So you’re saying his puck bunnies who say he’s a jerk are wrong about him?
Melody - You bet they are. He walked me home when he didn’t have to.
Leslie - Aww, did he kiss you?
Melody - No, I think he was too scared to do it.
Leslie - Aww, that’ll happened when he gets more comfortable being around you. I think he really likes you and gets a little shy around you.
Melody - He did wraps his arms around me.
Leslie - Aww, just promise me you won’t jump into bed with him after your date tonight.
Melody - If we end up together I want to have an established relationship with him before having sex with him.
Leslie - You’re smart I know you won’t do anything stupid.
Melody - Hey, I should be getting ready to head to the game.
Leslie - Ok, have a good time.
Melody - If you’re still awake I’ll call you when I get home.
Leslie - Ok

The girls hang up. Melody changes into what she’s going to wear to the game. She smiles when she grabs her jersey that her parents got for her for Christmas. It just so happens to be James’s jersey. She grabs her keys and phone. She leaves her apartment and locks her door. She makes the short walk to the arena. She goes to the will call area to get her ticket. She gets her ticket and reads the sweet note attached to it from James. She smiles and then gets in line to wait for the doors to open. Just then a puck bunny starts chewing her out for wearing James’s jersey.

Puck bunny - You should be ashamed of yourself wearing a jersey of an absolute dirtbag.
Melody - Excuse me you don’t know James the way I do.
Puck bunny - Well I’m just saying I had a bad experience with him. He’s really mean to women.
Melody - Oh please he’s not mean. I had lunch with him earlier today and he is so sweet.
Puck bunny - It won’t last. He hates women.
Melody - Well he doesn’t hate me.
Puck bunny - You won’t say that when he finds out that you’re pregnant.
Melody - The baby isn’t his considering we just met. The baby is my ex’s who I dumped a week ago when I found out he was cheating on me. James is my friend he won’t judge me.
Puck bunny - Keep telling yourself that.

The doors finally open. Melody makes a dash towards her seat. The usher escorts her to her seat. She smiles when she sees her seat is behind the Penguins bench. Pretty soon the Pens makes their way onto the ice. She sees James and smiles. He comes over to the bench and taps his stick on the glass and smiles. He then goes to warm up and stretch. The game is tied 1-1 through the first 3 periods and then in the last minute of overtime James comes in on the goalie on a breakaway and shoots the puck right over the goalie’s shoulder and scores the game winning goal. Melody squeals with joy and has a big smile on her face. She grabs her things and goes to wait for James. A little while later James comes out of the locker room and smiles when he sees Melody waiting for him. He walks over to her and gives her a hug.

James - Looked like you enjoyed yourself.
Melody - I did thank you for getting me a ticket.
James - (Laughs) I could hear you squealing when I scored.
Melody - (Laughs) Sorry about that.
James - It’s ok. You ready to go out?
Melody - You bet I am.
James - Anything special you’re hungry for?
Melody - Something sweet and chocolaty
James - I know the prefect thing. Want to share a sundae with me?
Melody - I would like that.

James and Melody leave. Melody tells James that there’s an ice cream place near her apartment. As they’re walking Melody tells James that she’s cold. James smiles and puts his coat on her and then wraps his arm around her. They get to the ice cream place. James orders a sundae for the two of them share. As they’re eating James notices Melody has some whip cream on her cheek so he kisses it off with his lips. Melody smiles and scoots closer to James.

James - I’m enjoying tonight with you.
Melody - So am I James.
James - You ok?
Melody - I’m just tired.
James - Something wrong?
Melody - You’ll find out eventually cuz it’ll be hard to hide it forever but I’ll show you. (Gives James his jacket and takes off her jersey. James then sees that Melody is at least 5 months pregnant)
James - Oh you appear to be pregnant.
Melody - I hope you aren’t mad I didn’t say anything earlier.
James - Of course not. Don’t tell me your ex was cheating on you while you’re pregnant.
Melody - Yes, he started cheating on me when I told him that I’m pregnant.
James - I’m sorry you’re dealing with this on your own. It’s not right.
Melody - You are so sweet.
James - Come to Pittsburgh with me.
Melody - Wha..What?
James - You shouldn’t be alone while you’re pregnant. I’ll take care of you.
Melody - Wow, you must really care about me.
James - You bet I do. I want a relationship with you.
Melody - Funny you say that cuz I want that too.
James - So does this mean you want to be my girlfriend?
Melody - You bet I do.
James - Come on I’ll take you home.

James and Melody leave. As they’re walking back to Melody’s apartment James takes a hold of Melody’s hand. They get to her apartment. James wraps his arms around Melody pulling her close to him. They begin looking into each others eyes and begin to kiss.

Melody - Thank you for everything today.
James - You’re welcome
Melody - I should be heading to bed.
James - Ok, I’ll call you in the morning.
Melody - Ok, goodnight James.
James - Goodnight babe

James gives Melody one last good night kiss. James leaves for his hotel while Melody unlocks her apartment door. She goes inside and locks the door. She gets ready for bed when her cell phone rings.

Leslie - (Laughs) Didn’t think you were ever going to come home.
Melody - Sorry my date with James went a little long.
Leslie - Aww, nothing to be sorry about.
Melody - I even told him that I’m pregnant.
Leslie - Does it bother him at all?
Melody - He wants me to come to Pittsburgh with him.
Leslie - Wow, any reason?
Melody - He doesn’t want me to be alone while I’m pregnant. He’s offered to take care of me.
Leslie - Aww, that is really sweet.
Melody - He is so incredibly sweet.
Leslie - Aww, I take it you two are officially dating now.
Melody - Yes we are.
Leslie - Aww, I’m so happy for you and James.
Melody - I’m going to head to bed.
Leslie - Ok goodnight

The girls hang up. Melody finishes getting ready for bed. She grabs her jersey and puts it on to sleep in. She lays down on her bed and covers herself with her leopard print blanket. She’s asleep a short time later. She wakes up to the sound of her cell phone.

James - Hey babe I hope I didn’t wake you.
Melody - No you didn’t wake me.
James - I’d like to see you before the team heads back to Pittsburgh later this afternoon.
Melody - Want to have lunch with me before you leave?
James - Sure that would be fine. I’ll come get you in a couple hours
Melody - Ok

They hang up. Melody goes to take a shower. She gets dressed and waits for James to come get her. A few hours later she hears a knock at the door. She answers the door and lets James in.

James - You look nice.
Melody - Aww, thank you James.
James - I mean it.
Melody - That really means a lot.
James - You ready to go?
Melody - Yeah, I’m starving.

James and Melody leave to have something to eat. When they get to the restaurant they get a table away from everyone. As they’re waiting for their food they begin to talk for awhile. They’re food arrives. They eat, James pays for lunch, and then he walks Melody back to her apartment. James gives Melody one last kiss and then leaves. Melody sighs and then closes her door and locks it. She then decides to take a nap. She goes into her bedroom and lays down on her bed and is asleep a short time later. She’s asleep till later that night when James calls. They talk for awhile. A month passes and it’s now the last week in January.

Notes