“Hold on,” I yelled as I quickly ran my brush though my hair. Not sure who would be knocking on my door at 9 in the morning.
I sighed giving up trying to tame my wild mess and simply slid the hair tie off my wrist as I made my way to the door. I unlocked the door and turned the knob before I tightened the ponytail.
“Tyler, hey,” I smiled, glad to see him, but also a little skeptical as to why he was here so early. I knew today was not our day to go running because he had practice at 10. “What are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing today.” He sheepishly rubbed his hand though his dark hair as he bite his lip. I guess I should have known he’d stop by, I knew he also would have spent the night if I asked him too, but no matter how much I would have liked someone to cuddle with last night I wasn’t ready to take that step in our relationship yet.
“I’m better,” I told him with a shrug, because I wasn’t going to feel completely better for a couple more days but this was a start.
“Good,” he gave a small smile as he handed me a small white box. “I got you something.”
“Tyler you didn’t need to do that.” I laughed as I noticed the silver apple on top of the box.
“I know,” he shrugged, “but I thought this might help make you feel better.”
I just shook my head at that logic as I shifted the box in my hands. “Thank you Tyler,” I shallowed as I felt the tears collecting in my eyes. “Thank you for being there for me yesterday and this...” I held up the box with a shake of me head.
“Anytime Brit,” he gave me a gentle smile and he pulled me into his arms. I slowly wrapped my arms around his waist and softly cried into his chest.
After a minute I pulled away, a little embarrassed that I broke down on him again, and wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand. “So I guess I’ll see you at practice.”
“Not if you just come with me,” he shrugged and studied me as he waited for an answer.
“Tyler,” I sighed as I studied the box in my hands.
“Brittany, don’t even. I’m already here and if anybody asks I just stopped by to talk before practice and then offered you a ride.” He offered the explanation, knowing that was what I needed, and what I can I say, it worked.
I sighed as I nodded my head and invited him. “Just give me a couple minutes.”
“Brittany,” he playful whined as he shut the door behind him.
I just rolled my eyes with a shake of my head and I placed the small white box on the kitchen counter before I turned to him with a smirk. “You offered.”
“I know,” he gave me a playful smile and I could feel my cheeks heat as his eyes and my heart rate pick up as his burned into mine but I couldn’t pull my eyes away.
I took a deep breath as I reluctantly dragged my eyes away. “I’ll… I’ll be right back.” I stuttered as I quickly turned down the hallway to retrieve the rest of my things from my room.

---

What,” Tyler laughed as I turned away my cheeks heating up once again from being caught staring at him for like the fifth time since we got in the car about a two blocks ago.
“Nothing,” I bite my lip as I looked out the window.
“What Brittany,” he asked with a quick glance at me before the light changed, but before he turned away, he picked up my hand from where it rested on my lap.
I inhaled as I turned to look at him, his focus now on the road. “It’s just I’ve never rode in a Ferrari before.” I confessed, “Or had someone buy me expensive gifts, nobody besides my family at least.”
“Well you better get used to it, because if you’re with me you’re going to get spoiled, a lot.” He gave my hand a squeeze from where it rested with his on his lap and I could see the smile play on his lips as he watched the car in front of him.
“You know you don’t have to do that Tyler.”
“I know,” he shrugged, “but I like too.”
“Well in that case Tyler, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” I smiled. “I’m really not that picky when it comes to presents. Really, just get me something green and there’s like a 98% chance that I’d like it.”
“Anything green,” he raised a questioning eyebrow at me and I slipped my hand from his as we approached the arena.
“Anything,” I confirmed, “just no flowers.”
“Anything green and no flowers,” he gave one sharp nod in understanding as he pulled into the tunnels of the American Airline Center, “got it.”

---

I took a deep breath as I followed Tyler into the building, and as predicted are arrival did not go unnoticed by the guys, or at least the guys that were there.
Demers gave Tyler a sly smile as he sharpened his skates and Jamie raised one dark questioning eyebrow as he taped his sticks. I just rolled my eyes at Tyler as we parted ways, him to the locker room and me to my office. I looked though my notes from the last couple of practices and made a couple more notes before I joined the guys on the ice. For the most part practice was pretty normal besides the looks that they guys kept giving me whenever Tyler and I were within 10 feet of each other.
After practice as I made my way back to my office Jim Nill approached me. He asked if he could speak to me in his office, and I didn’t think anything of it until I walked into his office and noticed the other person sitting there.

Notes