“You weren’t kidding me, were you?” I laughed as I stepped into Tyler’s house for the first time since last week and was greeted by a huge, very happy, black lab. His tail wagged as he bounced in front of me and a few happy barks escaped his mouth.
I’m sure Tyler got the same greeting last night when he returned from the week-long trip to the west coast were the Stars faced the Sharks, Ducks, Kings, and Canucks and I’m sure Tyler didn’t mind. All the Stars were happy having picked up 8 out of possible 8 points but I knew Tyler was over the moon having scored the game – winning goal late in the 3 period to win the game against the sharks, then scoring a hat trick against the Canucks for an easy 5 to 2 win. Not to mention the tying goal scored in the 2nd period that sent to the Stars and Kings into overtime and eventually the shootout where Jamie scored the lonely goal of the shootout.
“No,” Tyler laughed as he watched his crazy dog, “he really did cry when you left last week.”
“Oh, well I missed you too buddy.” I smiled, bent down and I rubbed Cash behind his ears and then down his back. I petted him for another minute before I stood back up and turned back to Tyler who was watching the whole exchange with a smile. “Hi,” I greeted him with a shy smile.
“Hi,” the smile never left his face as he stepped towards me. “You know there are other people here who missed you too.” He said as he took my left hand in his.
“What are you talking about Tyler; we’ve seen each other for like a week.”
“I know,” he said, “but I haven’t been able to touch you,” he smiled as he played with my hand, “or kiss you,” he watched me as his other hand came up and tucked some of my hair behind my ear.
I smiled and took a deep breath as I stepped onto my tippy toes and snaked my hands up his arms and he grinned before pressing his lips to mine. I could feel him smile into the kiss as he wrapped me in his arms.
He gave it a minute before his pulled away, a smile still on his lips. “So this isn’t going too fast, is it?”
“No,” I shook my head, “just keep your hands above the clothes and we’re good.” I smiled before pulling his lips back to mine.

---

And that is how the next week or so went. Come home after a road trip, make out on Tyler’s coach, then we’d talk for a little while. That even become our route after most home games, Tyler using the excuse that Cash missed me, but I was beginning to think that meant that he was the one who actually missed me, or just wanted to make out, I wasn’t sure.
One night after the game against the Oilers, the frustration was evident in the locker room and from Tyler as well. With a loss to the Oilers that now gave the Stars’ a three game loss streak and the guys were not happy, Tyler especially.
His lips were rough on mine as I snaked my arms up around his neck and his arms wrapped around my waist as he back me up against the door. His lips were eager for more as his hands slowly made their way to the front my jeans. With a hand on his chest I slowly pushed him back.
“Is everything okay Brit?” He asked as he pulled back, cheeks flushed.
“Yea,” I whispered, “I’m just… we just… slow remember?”
“Brittany,” he whined playfully as leaned back in for another kiss.
“Tyler,” I mocked as he pulled away.
“Can we just like take are shirts off or something?” He asked, playing with the hem of my shirt.
I blushed as I took his hand in mine. “Tyler, I…” I took a deep breath as I watched are fingers interacting. “I’ve never done this before.” I admitted.
“You’ve never done…”
“I’ve never don’t any of this,” I swallowed. “The other day when we kissed, well, um… that was… that was my first kiss.”
“No,” he stared at me, an amused look on his face as if he expected I was telling him some kind of joke.
“Seriously Tyler, you think I’d lie about something like this?”
He shrugged, “so that’s why you wanted to take things slow.”
I nodded.
“So why didn’t you just say that?”
“Because no one wants to go out with someone like me,” I laughed.
“I do,” Tyler smiled, “virgin or not. I’m not going out with you just so you’d sleep with me. I’m going out with you because I really like being friends with you, plus we get to make out, that’s kind of fun.”
“Really,” I asked as I watched him with my hazel eyes. “You’re okay with that.”
“I am,” he nodded as he slowly wrapped me in his arms. “Now what do you say we go watch a movie.”

Notes

So I don't even know if anyone is interested anymore, but here it is, chapter 18. For anyone who is reading it, thank you, and if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc., let me know. Sorry for the long wait.