Tori Lynn scrubbed and conditioned her hair. Managed to exfoliate and shave her legs before she heard a knock on the door. It was so quiet that she thought she had imagined it. Then the tiny knock sounded again.


“Yes” called Tori Lynn wrapping her hair in one of Pauly’s black towels. She wondered if there was a rule hockey boys had to have black towels.


“Miss Tori Lynn” said a small voice “Mr. Kris is here with your guitar. He wanted me to tell you so you can come look and see if it’s right.”


“I’ll be down in just a few minutes Deacon” she replied “Let me throw some clothes on.”


“Miss Tori Lynn how did you know it was me?” asked Deacon.


“I’m pretty smart and I pay close attention to voices” she answered. And she was pretty sure that Daylon and Devon would have tried to sneak a peek. “Go on down and hang out with my guitar. I’ll play it for you when I come down.”

She heard little feet bound down the stairs. Tori Lynn pulled on one of Neal’s button downs. She traced her finger over the 18 on the sleeve. She turned the sleeves up a few turns. She pulled on a pair black Nike pros.She ran a wide toothed comb through her hair and worked in the volumizing crème that Addy gave her. She hoped whoever the tour hired to do her hair and make- up was as skilled as Addison. She had given Tori Lynn specific instruction on how to prep her hair for the stylist. Tori Lynn followed it to the letter. She however realized that she forgot her blow dryer. She looked in the vanity and the closet. Unlike her pretty city boy Pauly didn’t have a hair dryer. Tori Lynn grabbed her phone and texted Pauly.


TL: Any chance you stash an emergency blow dryer anywhere?
Pauly: Never had a blow drying emergency!
TL: Frizzy hair on tour would constitute a blow drying emergency.
Pauly: Tanger assures me this is a real issue
TL: Knew I loved him. So no go on the hair dryer.
Pauly: Deacon is on the way up with a spare dryer from their house. Someone apparently promised to play for him.
TL: Yep
Pauly: Oh Beau went to get your surprise from Neal. He’ll be here in 10 minutes
TL: Damn it Neal!
Pauly: I think that will be part of your wedding vows
TL: Possibly


Deacon knocked on the door to the bathroom. Tori Lynn pulled it open. Deacon held out the blow dryer to Tori Lynn like it was a loaded weapon. Tori Lynn smiled and accepted the dryer. “Thanks Deacon. Want to hang for a few minutes while I dry my hair.” The little boy nodded and scrambled to sit on the closed toilet. Deacon sat quietly as she flipped her head over and dried her hair.When she was finished it was a huge curly mess. “What do you think Deacon will it work for the stage?”


“You’re pretty anyway” said Deacon seriously. Tori Lynn laughed and tamed her hair into a loose bun.


“Come on kid let’s go look at my guitar.”


Tori Lynn and Deacon arrived in the living room. Letang was sitting in Paul’s arm chair strumming her guitar. Tori Lynn listened to him pick out a tune. He wasn’t half bad. Daylon and Devon were sitting in the floor watching Kris. Paul and Geno were scattered around the couch. It was obvious all the guys had adopted these three wild little boys. That made Tori Lynn love them all a little more.


“Messin’ with my guitar is a hangin’ offense Letang.”called Tori Lynn coming into the room. Tanger smiled at her and handed her the guitar.


“Non” he said “Do not be mad. Eh Fumee. It is a beautiful tribute.”


“Not sure Neal deserves a tribute” replied Paul


“The tribute is to my brother” said Tori Lynn accepting her guitar. She turned the electrocoustic guitar towards Paul so he could see the cherry blossoms and Bodie’s 8 on the back of the body. “it matches Bodie’s memorial tattoo on my ribs.”


“It is beautiful. I ‘ave one for Luc” replied Kris “Luc ‘e goes where I go.”


“Luc?” asked Tori Lynn


She and the rest of the room listened to Kris talk about his best friend and the accident that ended his life way too soon. Tori Lynn recognized a kindred spirit in Kris. He ached for Luc. She knew how that felt with Bodie. Tori Lynn sat down on the coffee table with the guitar. She started picking out a tune. They all sat transfixed watching.


“It’s been a long day without you my friend and I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again.” She began singing. It was a country acoustic twist on a hip hop song. “We’ve come a long way from where we began, oh I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again, when I see you again.”She worked her way through the entire song. No one said anything when she was done. She shrugged “It needs a guys voice. But it’s something I was messing with.”


“It’s perfect that way” said Kris “I feel that way. Maybe ‘e and your Bodie are friends no?”


“I hope so” replied Tori Lynn.


“Can you play anything cool?” asked Daylon.


Tori Lynn laughed “Depends on your definition of cool?”


“What she just did was cool” replied Paul “That’s a rap song.”


Tori Lynn played the tune to Eye of a Tiger and the boys all smiled. She followed that up with the Batman theme song. The boys were impressed.


Beau interrupted clamoring through the door. “I swear Nealer owes me your first born.” exclaimed Beau “She is insane.”


Tori Lynn turned in time to see Addy come through the door with her suitcase and a train case full of make- up and hair supplies, it was a blur of red hair and bright pink glitter. Tori Lynn jumped up and ran to Addy. Addison squealed and hugged Tori Lynn. “What are you doing here?” asked Tori Lynn


“Neal” said Addy shrugging. She looked around the room at all the hockey boys. “Holy hell Tor I’m not sure if the country boys or the hockey boys are prettier.” She eyed Letang. She got closer. Tori Lynn was afraid of what was going to come out of her mouth “Damn you are pretty” she exclaimed.


“What do you mean Neal?” quizzed Tori Lynn “Guys this is my friend Addison Holmes. Addy these are the Pens.”


“Your tour rider included a hair and makeup person. So he made sure I’m that person. I took a leave from MAC for two weeks and I’m touring with you.” explained Addy “Yes, Sam and Chase know. And we have to get back to the venue. You have sound check and I need to get your hair up in rollers.”


“Do you actually play that thing or is it a prop?” asked Beau eyeing her guitar. Tori Lynn gave him a smile and sat back down on the coffee table. She started playing a blue grass tune.


“You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” She sang. “The other night dear when l lay sleeping. I dreamt I held you in my arms. But when I awoke Dear I was mistaken so I hung my head and cried. You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” Tori Lynn continued playing the tune on the guitar ” You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away. Please don’t take my sunshine away. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” Tori Lynn finished the tune.


Beau was awestruck. He was blown away by her. “You are amazing.”


“Sunshine right” said Geno “You make Geno sunshine on iphone.”


“I haven’t recorded that Geno. I just played it for Beau.” explained Tori Lynn


“Will you record it for me” asked Beau.


“Down boy” said Addy “Reign it in or Neal will cut your spleen out with a skate.”


“I’ll take my chances” replied Beau. Tori Lynn laughed. She hugged Beau.


“Ok, so who’s taking me back to the Consol.” asked Tori Lynn.


“I don’t care” replied Addy “But if there isn’t enough room I’ll sit in his lap” she nodded towards Letang.


Kris started laughing. He stood in front of Addy “Three years ago we would ‘ave ‘ad a ‘ell of a time ma belle. But I am to be married and I ‘ave a son. “ he winked at Addison “The loss is on me.”


“Well hells bells” replied Addison “I don’t steal married men or daddies. But I am glad you passed all those genes on. Now show me this baby.” Addison squealed again and thrust Kris’s phone towards Tori Lynn “This is why Roman needs to have babies. Look at the bone structure.”


“She is completely stark raving crazy” said Beau coming to stand beside Tori Lynn. “and if you say the word I’m willing to chance dying.”


“Now who’s crazy” said Addison “She is head over heels in love with her pretty city boy. You are a child.”


“I am just as mature as Neal” replied Beau


“I rest my case” snarked Addison “Be a dear and carry those bags.”


“Addy” admonished Tori Lynn “Be nice. Beau isn’t the damn butler. He’s a hockey player.”


“Oh yes, I forgot better carry my own bag he might hurt himself” she said winking at Paul and Geno.


“I think we keep her too. She funny” said Geno.


“You won’t find her nearly as cute when she is encouraging Matti to stop the puck and you.” replied Tori Lynn looking at Addy “You remember Mattis Ekholm. You’re boyfriend” laughed Tori Lynn.


“Yes, No Matti for two weeks. I am cranky just thinking about it.” she pouted. They all managed to make it to the drive. Beau was nominated to take them back to Consol. The triplets came running out of Paul’s house. Addison then realized there really were three of them “They are multiplying like gremlins.”


“Bye Miss Tori Lynn” said Deacon. Tori Lynn hugged the little boy and kissed the top of his head. Deacon blushed a furious red.


“That was for good luck on my tour. I’ll try and come up with Neal when they play Pitt and visit you guys.” she said ruffling Daylon and Devon’s hair. Tori Lynn leaned down “I need kisses from you guys too.” The little boys complained but dutifully kissed her. She laughed at their antics.


“Trust Geno. When pretty girl say kiss me you kiss” he explained “Come on in the trees to your house” Geno kissed her on the top of the head before he lead the triplets home.


“No good luck kiss from me” asked Paul. Tori Lynn leaned over and kissed Pauly’s cheek. “See you in VIP. Break a leg or whatever you stars do.”


“Not a star Pauly” replied Tori Lynn.


“Non, not yet. But it will ‘appen.” said Kris kissing each side of her face “Cat is excited to meet the girl who captured Neal.”


“I am excited to meet the girl who tamed Letang.” laughed Tori Lynn as she climbed into the back seat of his Jeep.


Addy flopped down in the passenger seat next to Beau “Any chance you can find a Starbucks? I’ll be nice I swear but I need caffeine.”


Beau looked at her doubtfully “I know where a Horton’s is” he replied “Will that work or do I need to bust out the GPS?”


“Chocolate and coffee” she answered “Not a coffee snob.” Beau again gave her a dubious look. “Truce Bennett. “ declared Addy “I’m sorry. I missed Tori Lynn and I miss Matti. I might have been a bit of a brat. But I did love the stuff about Pittsburgh. You are kind of adorable. And you have to admit Kris Letang is a beautiful man.”


“That he is” said Beau sliding his sunglasses over his eyes “Coffee and Consol. Anything else the lady wants?”


“Can we find a cherry coke?” asked Tori Lynn


“We’ll certainly try” said Beau


“I have some on the bus if not” replied Tori Lynn.


2 peppermint mochas and 30 minutes later they pulled into the Consol lot. Beau drove them back to the load in area of the arena. Tori Lynn thanked Beau and gave him 2 tickets to the show. He promised to come back and bring Bortz. Tori Lynn wasn’t sure who that was but Beau seemed happy.


“Addy girl” called Sam “You made it. I was afraid you wouldn’t turn loose of your boytoy.” He eyeballed Beau and nodded “This the new boytoy.”


Beau and Addison said “No” in unison.


“Surround sound” laughed Sam “I dig it.”


“Beau Bennett this Sam Hunt” introduced Tori Lynn “Sam Hunt this is Sunshine.”


“So he plays hockey” asked Sam.


“Yes” replied Tori Lynn “And he got the lovely job of picking up hurricane Addy from the airport.”


“Dude you need a beer, shot bourbon, or a xanax” teased Sam “No judgement.”


“Ahhh Sammy I’m not that bad” she said wrapping and arm around his waist.


“No Ma’am” exclaimed Sam “Hands off. Your giant Swede may not be a dancer but he sure as hell excels at rockem’ sockem’ robot.”


“Matti is really sweet” replied Addison.


“He kind of is” agreed Tori Lynn


“Umm huh” said Sam “Until you mess with his hockey puck or that crazy broad” he nodded at Addy.


“Dually noted” stated Beau “No drinks I am driving.”


“Want a beer and to watch sound check” offered Sam.


“Nah, I need to get to the apartment and tell Bortz we are coming to see Tori Lynn.”


“All about Tori Lynn” laughed Sam


“I’m trying to convince her I am better for her than Neal” said Beau smiling at her as she walked off with Addy.


“Get in line Sunshine” replied Sam “Now I need a drink.”

Notes