Hall of Fame

I knew Tyler was home because I heard paws scrapping across Tyler’s hard wood floor as they raced to the garage door. I took another deep breath as I lay in Tyler’s bed. Arms laced together on my stomach as I stared at the white ceiling, as the tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Boys,” I heard Tyler greet the dogs as the door closed behind him before I heard paws scrapping against the floor once again. It wasn’t long after that that the bedroom door cracked open.
“Hey,” I could hear the smile on Tyler’s face as he greeted me. “I thought you’d still be sleeping.”
“I probably would be if that dog of yours didn’t wake me up.” I cracked a smile as Tyler made his way to the bed.
“Don’t give me that,” he teased as he crawled onto the bed next to me. “You love my dogs.”
“I do,” I agreed as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
He leaned in his face only inches from mine, his lips pulled down at the corners. “Are you okay?”
“I think I screwed everything up Tyler.” I spoke to the ceiling not able to look into his brown eyes.
“Oh,” he pulled away, his bottom lip pulled between his teeth. "Did Tim talk to you already?”
“No,” I quivered because if Tim wanted to talk to us then it was bad. “Gabe called this morning..."
“Gabe called,” Tyler huffed, “what did he want?”
“Tyler, don't start.” I shook my head, really not in the mood to argue right now. “He just wanted to know if we were going out.”
“And what did you tell him.”
“I told him yes.”
Tyler nodded, “I guess he's been on Twitter today then.”
“I guess so. He didn't say where he heard it, just that he seen something online and well I'm pretty sure it's my fault...”
“It's not,” Tyler shook his head, as he stared at something, or maybe nothing above my head.
“It's not?” I turned to look at him for the first time as he lay down next to me.
Tyler closed his eyes as he inhaled and then exhaled though his nose, “no,” he opened them; “it’s mine.”
“Yours," I studied his face, wondering if he was just saying that to make me feel better.
“Well you see last night you come down to the training room and you looked so damn cute in my jersey and then you were going on about how you wanted people to know I was yours and it got me thinking that people didn't have to know who you were, but maybe I could still let them know I was with someone, so I posted this..." Tyler hand me his phone, and on his screen was a picture that Tyler posted on Twitter last night. It was a picture of me, well a picture of my back, my Seguin jersey on full display, my hair draped over my left shoulder. The caption underneath read, ‘not fun being hurt, but the companies not so bad. P.S. finally got her to wear my sweater.'
“Tyler…” I nearly scolded as I looked at the post with a shake of my head.
“I know,” Tyler took a deep breath as he rolled onto his back. “Don't worry, Tim already cornered me after my evaluation. He wanted to talk to you as well but I told him that I’d fill you in later. You didn’t need to be driving to the arena to get yelled at for something I did, plus it was my mistake.”
I only nodded, not sure what to say because I knew after the trade here Tyler wanted to keep a low profile, at least a low profile on his personal life but that wasn't the easiest thing to do when you’re a professional athlete. “So what did he say?”
“He said thankfully it's just a picture of your back, so hopefully people won't know who it is, well besides people who already know and know you. He also said it's a good thing that we don't follow eachother on Twitter and I didn't tag you in it so hopefully no one will trace the picture back to you.”
I exhaled, glad that we followed Tim’s advice and didn’t follow each other on any social media. “Yea,” I agreed as I tucked myself under his arm, so my head rested on his chest.
“Yea,” Tyler echoed my word with a sigh and I knew there was more that he wasn't telling me.
I gave Tyler a minute as I ran my hand up and down his toned stomach. “So what else did Tim say?”
“He also said that it might be best if we laid low for awhile and… recommend that you don't go to the All Star game.”
“Oh,” I bite my lip, disappointed, but not surprised.
“I’m sorry Brittany,” Tyler voice trembled. “I know how much you were looking forward to going.”
“Yea, but if it comes down to going to the All Star game and losing you and possibly this job, then I would choose the latter everytime.”
“I'm glad I'm as important to you as your job." Tyler smirked as he rolled into his side, the twinkle returning to his brown eyes.
“Well you might be a little more important than my job.” I assured him with a smile.
“Only a little,” Tyler questioned as he rolled so that he was completely on top of me.
I couldn’t form a word around the lump in my throat.
“I hope I’m the only one that can make you this speechless,” Tyler grinned as he leaned in and my arms automatically wrapped around his neck as his lips covered mine.

Notes