I smiled at the hordes of fans in victory game as I made my way to my seat for the third time in the past week. As hard as it was to believe that another year was starting, it was even more unbelievable that it has already been a week since Tyler and I shared that New Year’s kiss. Since then the Stars have played there first two games of the New Year, coming out with a victory in both. “Good evening Brittany,” Cathy, the usher for the section greeted as I entered. “Good evening Cathy,” I repeated her greeting as I made my way down to the first row with a couple minutes to spear before the game started. I nodded to some of the familiar faces in section behind me as excused myself through the people already sitting. “Wow, a Seguin Jersey. Is that the only player you know.” I heard a high pitched voice speak to my right as I laid my bag on the ground and sat down. “You know if you really wanted to catch one of the guy’s attention you should go for the less popular guys. I mean I know Seguin’s good in bed but you know how many other girls are here tonight trying to get his attention.” I took a deep breath, in through my nose out through my mouth, my good mood dissolving the more that his girl spoke. Yet, I couldn’t judge her, because before I actually started working for the team, I would have been thinking the same thing, but now there were a million things that I would have liked to say to her, but I knew the PR team would not be very pleased with that. So instead I ignored her.

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Thankfully she did shut up, for about the 2 minutes it took to play the intro video, announce the starters and sing the star spangled banner, but then it was back to commenting. Commenting on every play Tyler made, as well as any play Jordie made. Insisting that Jordie being over shadowed by Jamie was a more acceptable target. I bite my bottom lip as she made some more comments about Tyler as he skated down the ice to retrieve the puck along the boards. “Ouch, that had to hurt,” she said as Abdelkader drilled Tyler into the boards. He went down to easily for my liking and it wasn’t until the play was blown dead that I knew something was seriously wrong. I could feel each breath I took, my chest tight, as Donny, the Stars trainer ran across the ice to check on Tyler, who was laying on his side clinching his knee. It was a minute before he stood up and his teammates helped him off the ice, he was gliding on his left leg, his right leg bent, not putting any pressure on it. I leaned forward head in my hands as I released the air in my lungs. “What, your plans for tonight ruined,” the girl next to me mocked me once again. She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder with a smirk in my direction. I rolled my eyes at how immature she was. So what if I had a sweater that said Seguin number 91 on it. I could only image what she would say if she knew he actually gave it to me for Christmas. I slowly leaned back in my seat, with a glance at my phone, where it rested on the ledge, which did not go unnoticed by the blonde two seats over. “What you think they’ll call you with an update.” She laughed as she leaned back in her seat as well. “Let you know who else is available for tonight?” I exhaled, as I ignored her. After a minute, with no reply from me, she turned back to the game with a satisfied smile on her face. I nervously watched the bench awaiting Tyler’s return as the clock counted down. The horn sounded signifying the end of the second period. “What, your boyfriend hasn’t returned yet?” I rolled my eyes with a deep breath because any other day I might have found this funny, but right now I was not in the mood. So instead, I grabbed my phone and set it in my lap incase Donny called.

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“Oh man, he must be really hurt.” Miss Blondie smirked as the players came back onto the ice for the start of the third period, without Tyler. I took a deep breath, because as much as I wished it wasn’t true, she did have a point. If he hasn’t returned yet, then something must be seriously wrong. Just as the worry started to eat me alive, my phone buzzed in my lap. “Donny,” I answered, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for whatever he had to tell me. “Brittany,” Donny’s soothing voice spoke over the phone. “First off relax,” I could hear the smile in his voice, “he’s fine, just a little beat up.” “A little beat up?” I questioned, trying to figure out what he meant by ‘a little’. “Yes, it looked like he hyper extended his knee. We will re – evaluate him tomorrow, but it looks like he going to be fine, but I want to keep him out of this game to prevent any more damage.” “Okay,” I sighed as I let that sink in. He hyper extended his knee, as much as that sucked I was glad that was all that happened. “And, um, Brittany,” Donny took a deep breath. “He was wondering if you would come down and watch the game with him.” “Yes, of course,” I sputtered as I grabbed my bag off the ground, “tell him I’ll be right down.” “Okay Brittany.” Donny said before the phone clicked, disconnecting the call. “What,” she spoke up once more. “You going to see your boyfriend?” “Actually I am,” I smiled as I scrolled though my phone and found the picture of Tyler and I that he took just last week. It wasn’t public news yet, but I figured telling her wasn’t going to hurt anything; it’s not like she knew who I was anyway. “I’m going to see my boyfriend.” Her face fell as her eyes scanned over the picture that I pulled up on my screen and I smiled as I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder, glad that I finally got her to shut up.

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I knew I shouldn’t have been smiling, but I couldn’t help the smile that was plastered on my face as I rounded the corner to the training room. “So as much as it pains me that you are hurt I have to admit, you do have impeccable timing.” I leaned on the door fame arms crossed over my chest as Tyler turned to look at me from where he laid on one of the blue training tables. A lazy smile formed on Tyler’s lips, arm draped over forehead. “Well I’m glad me getting hurt amuses you.” “Oh, trust me, this isn’t amusing.” I sighed and dropped my head. “I was freaking out until Donny called.” “So you do worry about me.” Tyler’s lazy smile was replaced by a genuine one as he extended his hand to me. “Of course I do,” I beamed as I pushed myself off the wall and extended my hand to meet his. I let him pull me into the training table so that my butt rested next to his stomach. It was silent as we watch the game, or I should say Tyler watched the game and I watched Tyler because as he laid down here and I sat next to him I realized that we probably weren’t going to get many opportunities like this. So instead I watched Tyler as he groaned or bit his bottom lip at a bad pass or a missed call, but Tyler didn’t seem to mind. It wasn’t until the guys were on the ice saluting the crowd that I felt Tyler’s hand relax from where I held it in my lap. “Well that was a good game?” “Yea,” Tyler sighed as he rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. “I just wish I was out there with them. Thanks by the way Brittany, for watching the game with me.” “It was no problem Tyler,” I assured him. “You actually saved me from possibly strangling someone tonight.” “What?” Tyler chuckled as he turned onto his side to get a better look at me. “Well there was the most annoying girl sitting two seats over form me. I mean the whole game she just talked, talked, talked and I mean it would have been one thing if she just talked, but she talked about you.” “So,” Tyler shrugged, “lots of people talk about me.” “Yea, but she was talking about you and… me.” I took a deep breath as I looked at Tyler. “She through I was some fan girl hoping to sleep with you tonight and just kept talking about how I should pick a different target, because you wouldn’t pick me. I think she may have been slightly jealous.” “You think so?” “Yea, you should have seen her face when I showed her the picture of us from last week.” “You showed her a picture of us. Brittany…” Tyler’s eyes widened as he pushed himself up against the wall. “I know Tyler, but it was right after Donny called and well I figured I was never going to see her again, plus she didn’t know who I was and well… I wanted her to know that I had you. I mean maybe we aren’t sleeping together like she thinks, but your mine… right?” “Yes, Brittany, I’m yours.” Tyler beamed as he leaned in, our lips cementers apart. “Hey Segs, none of that.” Jamie laughed as he walked into the training room. “Well Jamie he has to get what he can,” Jordie joked bumping Jamie’s shoulder with his. “Because he’s not getting any tonight.” I could feel my cheeks reddening as they spoke so I gave Tyler a pat on the thigh, grabbed my bag from where I laid it on the floor and made my exit.

Notes