Crossing the Line

Logan heard the lock turn to the apartment and paused in her work to glance at the clock. It was too early for Jackie to be home from the hospital so she just assumed it was her brother, Britt or Tuukka coming to ask about the date. “Well well well what do we have here? Are you already moving in with him? It’s only been a few days,” a teasing voice called from behind her followed by two laughs. Logan whirled around ready to defend herself but stopped when she saw the mullet and the red head doubled over laughing at her expense. “Alright assholes you’re not invited to my house warming party,” Logan declared and went back to packing dishes into boxes. “But really rumor has it you and your roommate are moving into our building sometime within the next month,” Dougie said after getting his breath back. “If by rumor you mean Tuukka than you’re correct. Our lease it up at the end of the month so we’re trying to start slowly moving in. We want it to be ready come October first,” Logan told him leaning against the counter. Adam looked around and shook his head. “And how’s that going for you?” he asked trying not to laugh at the look of despair on her face. “What do you think Adam? We’re nurses who are trying to work and get an education. We’ve brought over two boxes in two weeks,” she said rubbing her temples. Adam stepped into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her, “Don’t stress Lulu it will get done.” Dougie laughed behind them, “Lulu?” Adam and Logan laughed as Adam released Logan from his embrace. “Adam was my first friend on the team who was actually a friend. Looch took me on as a sister but Adam took me as a friend so instead of calling me Logan or Logs like everyone else he called me Lo which just didn’t work and eventually transformed into Lulu. I always forget you weren’t around for that. It was two or three years ago now just before your time,” Logan said patting Dougie’s arm.
“To think I was going to offer to help you,” Dougie said shaking off her hand. Logan laughter, “Like hell you were Dougie.” She shooed Adam to the other side of the kitchen and went back to packing up the dishes in the cabinet. “No but really we wanted to bug you about your date so let us help you and we can bug you while we work,” Adam said looking around to see what he could do. “Alright then. One of you can go to the closet in the hall and fill the box next to it with linens; the box should already be labeled linens,” Logan instructed pointing. “And whoever doesn’t do that can go into the living room and start to out the movies and pictures into boxes that are labeled accordingly,” she said. Both boys saluted her and marched off to do as they were told. “So Logan how was the date? Was he tall and dreamy?” Adam teased from the hall. “Ooohh was he tall, dark, and handsome,” Dougie cooed loudly. “I’ll have you both know he was ever the gentleman, even though he took me to a steakhouse,” Logan told them getting hoots of laughter in reply. “He took you to a steakhouse? What kind of moron is this guy?” Adam laughed. He had seen Logan’s reaction to meat and found it hilarious how put off she was but would never torture her like that. “Maybe he didn’t know,” Dougie called defending the poor guy who asked Logan on a date. “Thank you Dougie! He didn’t know and when he found out he flipped out. He also was worried about getting me home too late since I had work in the morning. He was very kind,” Logan said putting the last plate in the box and moving it to the door. “Stack the finished boxes over here, Cam said that he would bring the boxes over for us tomorrow,” Logan called out. “We can take them over later if you want and then we can drop you off at work,” Adam offered and was graced with a grateful smile as she skipped back to the kitchen.
Jackie walked into the apartment happy to just be home and relax with Logan until she had to go to work. She was shocked to see a stack of boxes by the door nearly taller than she was. “Logan!” she screeched waiting by the boxes for her roommate to come explain. Logan ran to the door panic etched across her face with Dougie and Adam close behind her. “What’s wrong Jackie?” Logan asked her eyes searching Jackie’s face for distress. “What in the name of fuck is this?” Jackie asked aggressively pointing at the stack. Logan let out a sigh of relief when she realized there wasn’t actually anything wrong with Jackie. “This is a stack of packed boxes that these two boys are going to take me over to drop off at our new condo and then bring me to work,” Logan explained looking pleased with herself. “You’ve taken multiple trips haven’t you?” Jackie accused narrowing her eyes. Logan tugged on the end of her braid but was saved from answering by the laughter suddenly coming from behind her. “Let me get this straight, you’re livid because Logan and well us too I guess, packed up half the apartment and brought it to the condo,” Dougie said trying to understand and struggling to hold back laughter. Jackie turned her fury on him. “Look here buddy, I had a long day at work and I just wanted to sit here and bitch to my oldest and best friend. But if I know anything about her then I know that if this isn’t her first trip the couch is probably gone. Our bar stools are probably gone. The shelves in the living are probably now in the condo mean my favorite movie that I want to watch with a beer right now is gone. So you tell me Douglas, would you be pleased?” Jackie asked glaring up at red head that was still biting back laughter. “That’s it! That’s it! I’m taking a shower and when I get out you people had all better be gone! Logan, I’ll see you when you get off work. I’ll even make you breakfast,” Jackie said smiling at her friend and glaring at the other two. With that Jackie brushed passed them all and disappeared into her room.
Dougie couldn’t stop laughing after Jackie left them. Adam and Logan just shook their heads and started to bring boxes down to the car. “She doesn’t like,” Dougie said chuckling. “Still,” Adam added causing Logan to give him a stern look. “She likes you well enough she just doesn’t appreciate our efforts today. She’ll call you off my phone at some point to apologize, she always does,” Logan said patting his arm and picking up the last box. “Alright boys let’s get this down so I can get to work. I have a little boy waiting for me,” Logan said with a smile walking towards the elevator. “What’s this? A little boy?” Dougie asked scandalized. “Who wants to call Alex?” Adam asked hitting the button for the lobby. Logan just rolled her eyes and smiled thinking about her little Ben. “So tell us about this kid,” Dougie prompted in the car seeing Logan’s grin. Adam laughed at her enthusiasm as Logan launched into a story about a little boy with Leukemia who was one of the patients in her ward. “He’s just the sweetest little thing. He always asks me to sit with him when he gets his blood transfusions. He’s just the cutest kid. We talk about everything I love him. He knows that I have hockey playing friends and he wants to meet them someday so I think when he’s feeling better I’m going to see if a few guys want to come and surprise visit him,” Logan smiled. Dougie and Adam exchanged a glance in the front seat and grinned. “His name is Ben you say?” Adam asked laughing again when Logan once again began to prattle on about him. “Alright Logan we’re running behind so why don’t we drop you at work and we’ll drop the boxes at your place?” Dougie suggested as Adam switched lanes to get to Children’s Hospital. “That’s so sweet thank you!” Logan exclaimed grabbing her bag to double check that her scrubs were in there. The boys dropped her off with a wave and a laugh at her excitement to go to work. “So we’re picking her up in the morning?” Dougie asked already knowing what Adam was thinking. “Obviously. I bet Tuuks and Looch or Bergy or someone will be willing to go as well and make a few additional surprise visits,” Adam said and Dougie pulled out his phone to text a few of the guys. “Alright let’s drop these boxes off and go to do something,” Dougie said making Adam laugh. The two of them never went out unless they were convinced to by their teammates in the locker room.
Jackie walked into the lobby of Children’s Hospital and stopped dead when she heard laughter coming from behind her. Whirling around she growled in frustration. “I swear to God I’m going to harm you,” Jackie announced walking over to the group of hockey players. “I hate to tell you think Jackie but we’re not here for her. We’re here to surprise some patients,” Dougie said smirking down at her. Tuukka laughed, “That’s exactly what she wants to hear!” Jackie didn’t bother denying it and followed them into the elevator to ride up to the floor where Logan worked. “Let me guess, Ben?” she asked smiling slightly. When she saw their confused looks she explained how sometimes if one of them worked a little later than the other they would hang out with patients at each others hospitals. “She secretly loves when she gets to hang out with the babies,” Jackie said with a laugh when the elevator doors opened. “Alright you go hang with patients I’m walking home with Logan,” Jackie declared walking behind the nurse’s station to get Logan. “Wrong way Jackie she’s in here,” Adam called out from the doorway to Ben’s room. Cursing under her breath Jackie walked into Ben’s room to see a million watt smile on Ben’s face and Logan on the verge of tears beside him. “Logs I’m here to take you home,” she announced waving hello to Ben. Logan got to her feet yawning and linked arms with her roommate. “Alright fellas have a nice afternoon, don’t tucker Ben out,” Logan said giving Tuukka a kiss on the cheek and each of the others a hug as she was leaving.
“I’ve decided that I like Dougie, he could be fun,” Jackie admitted as the two walked through the streets of Boston heading for home. Logan said nothing but just stared at her friend for a moment. “No,” she declared simply. “Dougie is so sweet and innocent and he doesn’t even go out with the rest of the team. You can’t corrupt him,” Logan said ignoring Jackie’s attempts to protest. “I won’t corrupt him,” Jackie huffed. Logan just laughed. “Yeah you won’t corrupt him and I’ll be president,” Logan snorted. Both girls dissolved into a fit of giggles drawing a few looks from people on the Green Line but not caring. “Seriously though, you should not corrupt him,” Logan implored her friend. “I won’t but at least give me your blessing to try to be friends with him,” Jackie asked. Logan shrugged, as long as Dougie wasn’t going to teased or anything of a similar fashion she was okay with it. “We now have thirty-six hours to hang out, what do you want to do?” Logan asked as they sat on the train. “We could hang out in our new condo, drink some alcohol, watch some movies and decorate,” Jackie suggested and all but felt Logan’s heart burst with excitement. “Either you really love me or we have the same thoughts,” Logan said bouncing in her seat. “Yeah yeah yeah whatever let’s get a change of clothes and some take out,” Jackie laughed as the two got off and headed for their apartment giggling like schoolgirls the whole time.

Notes