Crossing the Line

“I’m not ready for a party,” Logan said looking at her best friend in the mirror next to her. “I hate to break it to you doll but I’m pretty sure Britt is so you have to go,” Jackie responded gesturing to the blonde happily chatting away while curling Katie’s hair. Logan laughed looking at the scene, they looked like a gaggle of middle school girls getting ready for their first dance not a bunch of college graduates going to a twenty-fourth birthday party. “Logan don’t forget I’m your hair holder if you throw up! Tuukka can kiss my ass!” Britt called half turning towards the bathroom and making everyone laugh. Logan rolled her eyes but knew it was true that Brittany owed her. The two had met when Logan was the waitress in the Bruins’ Wives and Girlfriends Box, Britt was friendly and chatted but the two really became friends when Britt threw up on Logan when she was pregnant with Valentina. After they helped each other get cleaned up and get the throw up from their hair Brittany had started to request Logan to make it up to her and the two became fast friends. “Britt please don’t remind me. That was easily the worst day I’ve ever worked there and I worked a twenty-first birthday party,” Logan said with a grimace. “I hate to break it up ladies but we’re going to be late if we don’t head out soon,” Tatiana popped her head into the room. “But I can’t decide which shoe!” Melanie protested drawing Logan to the rescue. Logan considered Mel’s outfit before rummaging in her closet and tossing sandals out. “You don’t want to be taller than Torey, that would suck,” she said with a smirk and left her room.
Logan lingered for a moment enjoying the night air in the Public Garden’s even though her friends were calling for her to hurry up. “We all know we walked so you could do this. You did it, not let’s go. It’s hot and I want to celebrate you and Cam’s birthday in style!” Jackie complained but with a teasing smile. “Jaqus, do you even know where we’re going?” Logan asked as she caught up with her friends. Jackie smirked but Logan knew she didn’t really know when Britt and Katie started to giggle like madwomen. As the group turned on to Newbury Street, she knew where they were going. Logan began to laugh. She could feel Jackie giving her a curious look and saw Tatiana crack a smile, which only encouraged her. “How much did they get paid?” Logan asked when her laughter quieted down to giggles, wiping the tears off her face. Brittany’s glance flickered to Jackie before she answered, “Oh you know. Adam was given unrestricted rights to certain insults and various other privileges. Dougie was harder to convince, he required us to be on clean up duty and we had to invite a date.” The girls were laughing listing all of Cam and Logan’s friends that were invited who could be Dougie’s date when Logan’s phone buzzed. She smiled down at her phone when she read the message. “T-Minus four hours until you’re twenty-four!” Jackie read aloud causing all the girls to ‘ooooh’ and ‘awwe’ at Tuukka’s message. “Fuck every single one of you,” Logan flipped them all off and took her phone back to respond. “He’s going to be so crushed if he finds out that you knew,” Tatiana said and all the girls nodded in agreement. “He was planning this from Finland. Every day we each got a set of instructions for when we returned to Boston or a few people to invite,” Melanie said with a grin on her face. She was convinced that Tuukka throwing Logan’s surprise party was the most romantic thing ever; Logan on the other hand thought it was incredibly sweet but platonically motivated. “Remember to look surprised,” Katie warned as they walked into Dougie and Adam’s building. Logan laughed and nodded her head, secretly thrilled to see her best friend in person after what felt like forever.
“Surprise!” everyone shouted as Katie flipped on the lights. Logan squealed and laughed, looking around at all the people who came to see her. Adam was the first of the guys to sweep her up into a hug. “You knew didn’t you?” he whispered at he spun her around. Logan laughed and nodded her head yes making him laugh along with her. “I won’t tell him,” Adam said with a wink before kissing her cheek and moving to get a drink from the kitchen. “I see you made it,” Logan commented as Milan pulled her in for a hug. “I couldn’t miss my little sister’s birthday,” Looch said kissing the side of Logan’s head. Logan just laughed and rolled her eyes. When Britt had first started bringing her to events she introduced Logan to everyone as her sister so that none of them would try to give her the hump and dump. “Go have fun with your wife, I have more adoring fans to greet,” Logan teased passing him along to Brittany. Logan wandered around the party mingling and chatting with her friends both her college friends and her friends from the team. When she finally spotted her curly-haired goaltender Logan all but ran toward him and launched herself onto his back. Tuukka stumbled forward a bit but managed to save his beer and started laughing when he saw who was on his back. “Thank you,” Logan whispered kissing Tuukka’s cheek, a wild grin still plastered across her face. “My pleasure Log. Guess what?” Tuukka asked putting his beer down and reaching around to swing her in front of him. Logan looked up at him, she said nothing but raised an eyebrow. “Only two more hours until you’re twenty-four,” Tuukka said. “What am I chopped liver?” Cam asked making his way over to where the two of them stood. “No not chopped liver, just the least favorite twin,” Logan teased. “Har har har,” Cam said faking a lunge at her. Logan jumped behind Tuukka, “I have a brick wall to hide behind. Can’t touch this!” Cam and Tuukka laughed at her before starting a conversation of their own. “I’m going to get a drink,” Logan announced as she slipped off to find Jackie and some alcohol.
“Hey short stuff, hit me,” Logan giggled when she stumbled into the kitchen and saw Brad grabbing a drink. “What do you want birthday girl?” he asked trying to keep it together when she struggled to take her heels off. Logan finally managed to remove her red peep-toes and stopped to consider what she wanted. “I’ve had a few Mike’s tonight and a few beers but I’m not sure how many of each. Have I had every flavor of Mike’s?” she asked Brad in case he knew. Laughing openly now Brad reopened the fridge to see what was in there. “Let’s see, we have yellow, pink, a purplely-red, green and an almost clear one,” Brad named looking to see Logan trying to count on her fingers. “I’ve had a yellow one, an almost clear one, a pink one, um so I guess I’ll take a purplely-red one. I don’t like the color green,” Logan said making Brad laugh when she scrunched up her nose at the color green. Brad handed her the drink after opening it for her and shook his head as she skipped from the room with a thank you.
“Fuck,” Cam said under his breath when he saw some of his teammates, or ex-teammates now enter the party. Looch followed his gaze and frowned when he saw guys he knew as Cam’s friends. “I’m not here right now and neither is Logan,” Cam said not taking his eyes off the group. Milan didn’t ask any questions, Cam’s tone made it clear he wouldn’t be giving any answers as he walked away. “Hey man,” one of Cam’s friends, Brett greeted Looch. “Hey, thanks for coming,” Looch said shaking his hand. “This is Aidan, Malley, Luke, and Alex. We all played at BU with Cam. Have you seen him or Logan so we can wish them a happy birthday?” Brett asked looking around. “Nah I haven’t seen them, there are drinks in the kitchen though,” Milan said trying to steer the group away from where Cam had disappeared. Brett thanked him and they walked away to get drinks. “What was that about?” Britt asked snaking her arm around her husband’s waist. Milan shook his head, “I have no idea. Logan might know though.” Britt shook her head and laughed. “Logan’s drunk off her ass right now there’s no way she knows who she is never mind who they are,” Britt laughed. “We should head out though I don’t want the sitter to get home too late,” Britt continued looking up at Milan. He nodded in agreement and leaned down to give her a quick kiss before interlacing their fingers and heading for the door. Passing Cam talking to Tuukka on the way and waving their goodbye.
Walking into the living room Tuukka saw what Cam was talking about. Logan was on the coffee table singing and dancing with Jackie while a group of guys he recognized as Cam’s teammates watched. Tuukka laughed and walked over to Logan. “Why don’t you come down,” he suggested all but shouting to be heard over the music. Logan brushed off his hand and kept dancing. Tuukka laughed and lifted Logan by her waist gently setting her on the floor. “Log, you’re drunk, it’s two in the morning and you have to work the night shift. I’m sorry but it’s time to go. I’m taking you home. We can get your shoes tomorrow,” Tuukka said. Logan tried to protest but couldn’t form any solid arguments so she allowed Tuukka to lead her to the door. “But I have no shoes,” she said looking up at him and stopping, not wanting to go barefoot in the hallway. Chuckling Tuukka bent down so Logan could jump on his back. “You’re the best,” she slurred clutching the front of his shirt tightly. “You’re a fun drunk when we’re both drunk,” Logan said starting off her drunken ramble that continued the entire walk about to her and Jackie’s apartment. “Are you staying?” Logan asked looking up at Tuukka with pleading eyes. Tuukka sighed and tried to seem annoyed, “I guess so.” Logan smiled happily not even noticing his failed acting attempts and stumbled around her room looking for pajamas. Tuukka laughed and moved to his drawer grabbing a pair of shorts before helping Logan locate clothes. “Let me guess, sports bra and running shorts?” he asked grabbing it for her while she dug through her jeans not knowing why she couldn’t find her pajamas. “You’re the greatest!” she exclaimed taking them from him and going to the bathroom to brush her teeth and remove her make up. After removing his shirt and putting on the shorts Tuukka went to the kitchen to get a water and some aspirin knowing that Logan would wake up with a killer hangover. “Here, take two and I’ll help you get settled,” Tuukka said holding out two pills. Logan did as she was told and took the medicine with a swallow of water before crawling into bed. Tuukka turned off the light and climbed into the other side of the bed. Before he could even finish pulling the sheet up Logan was sliding towards him, waiting to put her head over his heart and fall asleep listening to her best friend’s heart beat. “Goodnight Logan, happy birthday,” Tuukka whispered. “Goodnight,” Logan replied kissing his chest before closing her eyes and falling asleep not long after.

Notes