Hall of Fame

I dropped my bag into the seat next to me at the Bell Centre as the Stars took the ice for morning skate as they prepared for the second game of this two game road trip. The Star’s had the momentum coming into this road trip. After a home win against Sabres on Thursday night, but they couldn’t hold it against the Senators, with a three to two loss in overtime two nights ago.
I just settled into my seat and grabbed my notebook and pen out of my bag when I heard a playful voice. “You know if you wanted to watch a good team practice you should have gotten here a couple of hours ago.”
“What,” I asked, not looking up as I flipped through the notebook to a blank page, “the Avalanche are in town?”
“Ouch,” he let out a laugh, a playfully charming laugh.
I shrugged and leaned back into my seat as the boys circled up to stretch.
I could feel his eyes on me as he sank into the seat next to me. “So may I ask why you are here then?”
“I’m the teams’,” I nodded my head towards the ice, “Sport Psychologist.” I smiled, loving the way that sounded on my lips I don’t think I could ever get use to saying those words.
“Sport Psychologist, eh,” he crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his seat, a smug smile on his face. “Then why are you up here instead of with the team.”
“Because today I am only here for individual consultation, not team drills.” I told him as I watched the guys start some drills. No matter how many times I have watched them practice I still enjoyed watching them. “This means I can either sit in the locker room or sit up here and watch practice, as you can see I choice the latter.”
“Well I’m glad you choice the latter.”
I blushed, not taking my eyes off the ice as I watched the black and green sweaters race back and forth.
“So may I ask what the Sport Psychologist name is?”
“Brittany.”
“Well it’s nice to meet you Brittany. I’m….”
“No need, I already know who you are.” I turned to look at the baby faced Canadian for the first time, a playful smile posed on his lips, “and I hate to break it to you, but I’m more of a Galchenyuk fan.”
“Wow, tough crowd." Brendon laughed, loud enough to catch the attention of the guys closest to the boards, but with a shake of my head I ignored the stares and watched the other guys take shots at Kari, but I knew I would defiantly be hearing about this later.
* * *
“Brittany,” Brian, one of the athletic trainers, called up to me and I knew what that meant.
“Be right there.” I told him as I packed up my papers back into my bag and pushed Brendon’s feet off of the seat in front of him.
“Where are you going?” Brendon asked as he stood up and I walked by him.
“One of my boys need me,” not sure which one I thought, as I slung my bag over my shoulder and made my ways down the stairs to the bench. “I’ll see you around I’m sure.” I told him as I made it back to the bench and Brian held the gate open for me.
“Tyler’s waiting for you in the player’s lounge.”
“Okay, thanks Brian.” I made my way down the hall to the player’s lounge to see Tyler seating in one of the chairs, in everything but his skates. “Is everything okay Tyler?” I slid onto the couch next to him and laid my bag at my feet.
“Yea, now that you’re down here and not up there with him.”
“Seriously Tyler,” I laughed as I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back on the couch. “You pretend that you needed to talk because you didn’t want Brendon talking to me.”
He shrugged, “yes.”
“Oh my god Tyler,” I laughed, my head in my hands, not sure what else to say. I wasn’t even sure how I was supposed to feel about this, I mean was I supposed to be flattered or pissed, I wasn’t sure. “You’re ridiculous, you know that.”
He only nodded in agreement as I took a quick glance around to make sure no one could see us before I grabbed his hand. “You know I can’t just stop talking to other guys because you’re jealous right.”
“I know,” he said as he rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “And I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay Babe,” I take a deep breath not even sure were that name came from. I’ve never used a nickname on him before. “It’s just you have to trust me, if have to trust each other.”
“Babe,” he wiggled his eyebrows with a coy smile, he probably didn’t even hear anything I said after that.
I rolled my eyes, as my cheeks reddened, because we’ve never used nicknames before, or at least not boyfriend/girlfriend nicknames before.
“It’s okay pumpkin.” He winked at me with a smile as I just glared at him. “What?”
“You are not calling me that.” I shook my head as I stood up with a roll of my eyes.
“Why not,” he questioned as he followed me out of the room. “It’s cute.”

Notes