Changes

I scanned the crowd inside the Skate Zone as I skated onto the ice. I noticed her right away, sitting indian-style on the bleachers, handing Brendan a chocolate milk. She was wearing black yoga pants and a gray flyers t-shirt. She had her hair pulled up messily and looked amazing, with little effort. Brendan looked excited, face pressed up against the glass looking at Briere and Giroux crouching in front of him.

I got Claude’s attention and yelled over to him to turn around. Brendan got a big smile as Claude tapped on the glass smiling. I stretched myself out and tried to get myself ready for this practice. All the extra-curricular activities yesterday put a hurting on my body. I was aching like an eighty-year old man. I said it to Callee when we woke up this morning and she just laughed. “Stop being a crybaby, you were the one who suggested the fourth time a few hours ago.” I couldn’t help it. It did sound like a good idea at the time. I reminded myself to pick up some protection on the way home. Although I loved doing without, I knew neither of us were ready for a child.

I was glad training camp was only one more day after this. I needed the weekend to rest and relax. She had Brendan until tomorrow night and then she worked most of the weekend, which left me with nothing to do but hang out with the boys. Halfway thought the practice, the puck bunnies were getting restless. Whistling, cat calls and banging on the glass was just some of their strategies to get attention.

I looked over at Callee and shrugged. She smiled back at me and laughed. I showered after practice and went out and met her. “So what do you want to do Bren?” I asked. He suggested a place that had batting cages and mini-golf. We agreed and headed towards the place, which wasn’t far from my house. My muscles wanted to go to the movies or something tamer, but I gathered the kid didn’t get out much so I went along with it.

They put me into the cage first and I did ok without putting much effort into it. I hit all but one ball. Brendan did well, hitting about sixty percent of the balls. “Do you play baseball?” I asked and Callee groaned.

“Shoot Brendan, what time is soccer practice?” she asked.

“I think six.” He said smiling at his Aunt.

I looked down at my watch. “It’s four already. Let’s go get something to eat and we can take him to practice after ok?” I asked her and she agreed.

“We have to stop and get his stuff from his house. Its only two blocks from the field in South Philly.” We took him to Friday’s and then headed over towards her sister’s house. They weren’t home, but she had a key. It was weird. You would never even realized they had a son if you looked around their house. There were no family pictures up and the place was immaculate.

She threw me a small smile. “Hard to believe a kid lives here right?

We got to his practice on time. The coach came up and gave Callee a hug. “Glad to see you Callee. He hasn’t been making many practices.” She just nodded her head. We sat on the bleachers, her head against me and we watched him practice. He was a good athlete and seemed really into it.

She was adorable, watching him with intent. She yawned and I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Tired sweetheart?” I asked and she nodded.

“A little. Someone wore me out yesterday.” I held her hand and rubbed it.

“I’ve had fun the past few days.” I said and she was quick to respond with a shy kiss to my cheek.

“Me too Maxime.”

Once his practice was over we drove to her apartment in town. She made Brendan take a shower and I headed towards the pharmacy down the street. I picked out the biggest box of condoms I could find. I also grabbed some other stuff, massage oil. Ibuprofen and some Gatorades.

I got back to her house and she grinned. “Massages sound awesome right now.” She said.

“Yea especially when I don’t have to watch some freak on steroids touch my girl.”

She burst out laughing. “Ok, jealous, and who said I am yours anyway.” She said with a fake disgusted glance.

“If I remember correctly, you traded yourself for ice cream last night.”

She laughed. “Oh yeah, I forget about that, jeez I should have asked for something better.”

I pulled her into a hug and promised her something much better later. She blushed and I grinned. My phone was ringing. I looked down at it. It was my mom. We talked for a few minutes. I told her I was at a girl’s house and she got all excited. “Maman, relax. We aren’t getting married yet and no grandbabies either. Her dad lives in Montreal, so once we get the time I promise I will bring to meet you.” She squealed in delight and I shook my head and hung up the phone with her. “Yikes, I should have waited to tell her about you. She is already driving me crazy with questions.”

Brendan came out from the shower and tossed a controller at me. “Come on Max, let’s play.” We played X box for a while before she sent him to her spare bedroom. We laid on the sofa for a few minutes before I asked her for my massage. She spent an hour rubbing me down. It was pure bliss and I felt so much looser. We ended up falling asleep together. When I woke up I panicked. “Cal get up, what time is it?”

She looked over at me lazily, "five o'clock Maxime, relax. I set the alarm for eight o'clock for you. You don’t have to be at the rink until 10:00 right?"

I pulled her close and gave her a kiss. “You are the best.” I stuttered out catching myself from almost saying the word I never, ever us.

Notes