The rest of the week went by quickly. The team was working together really well. Lavy was pleased, and soon the whole team was joking around as they were used to each other. Their passing improved day by day. Bryz was mentoring Steve Mason, a goalie just drafted this year.

It's now Friday night, and I'm stuck working the register at the bakery. Mom and Dad had gone out to dinner. Gavin was off doing god knows what with his teammates, and I don't think I wanted to know.

The bakery was completely empty. Hardly anyone had been here in the last hour. Fed up with waiting around, I started to pack up the desserts. I swept quickly underneath the tables and booths and wiped down the tables. As I had my back turned, cleaning the last table, I heard the clanging of the bell above the door, telling me I had a customer.

You have got to be kidding me...

I quickly turn around, prepared to open my mouth and say that we were closing up, but I stopped short when I saw the customer.

"Hey." Brayden said softly.

"Hey." I replied, a little stunned. "How'd you find me here?" I teased.

"Luke told me where the bakery was. I didn't know you'd be here." He was smiling cheekily, and shrugged.

"I just was about to finish closing up, sorry." I tried to keep my blush at bay.

"Then, do you wanna go get some ice cream with me?" He asked sweetly, and it almost looked like there was a pink tinge to his cheeks.

"Sure." I agreed easily. "Lemme change my shirt really quick." I said after I noticed the large chocolate frosting stain down the front of my Scouper's Sweets shirt. He nodded in agreement, also noticing the clear blemish.

Good thing I keep a spare outfit here...

I pulled on the jeans and the long sleeve purple v-neck with a blue scarf. When I returned back out front, Brayden was sitting at the counter, near the case where the cupcakes are kept.

"Ready?" He asked happily. I nodded in response, then flipping the 'open' sign to 'closed, and finally shut off the lights. Parked outside was what I assumed to be Brayden's car. Unlike a lot of professional athletes, he didn't have a big and flashy car, like Voracek and his Ferrari, or my own brother and his god damn Lamborghini. He never even drives the thing! Brayden's black Cadillac CTS was definitely nice and luxurious, but it seemed to fit him.

"Alli, you'll have to pick out the place, because I've been here about a week." He said, looking a bit embarassed.

"But your brother said that you love ice cream. I thought you might already have your sights set on one." I said teasingly.

"I have my sights set, just not on an ice cream place." He smirked back at me, obviously implying something that I'm not prepared to go along with.

--

I navigated Brayden to Coldstone Creamery, my personal favorite in Philly. In New York, Martha's Dandee Cream was by far my favorite, but there wasn't a place even close to that level of superb ice cream here.

"I'll have a small of the better batter please," I asked the lady at the counter. "With fresh strawberries, and white chocolate chips." She nodded and got straight to work. It was relatively empty in here, probably because it's nine o'clock on a Friday in October. I've learned that ice cream isn't too popular around this time here in Philly. In New York, the ice cream stands are usually beyond crazy, because nearly all of them close in a week or so.

"I'll have um a large chocolate, with Reeses and chocolate syrup." When he said large, my eyes widened a bit, until I remembered exactly how much he ate of my mother's cooking a few days ago.

Brayden paid for our ice cream, and we sat down in a booth in the corner.

"Why Scouper's Sweets?" Brayden asked curiously in the middle of our enjoyment of the wondrous ice cream.

"My Mom's maiden name is Couper, and my Dad's middle name is Scott. She combined the two in the middle of the night, and decided it was perfect." I shrugged happily. Brayden nodded, eating another spoonful of ice cream as he did.

"Are your parents coming for the season opener?" I asked him, trying to find anything to talk about.

"I think so. Haven't really talked to them much since I got here." He replied.

"You're staying with Claude?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's great, just has some uh, quirks." He added with a grin. "He does a lot of grilled cheese too, no doubt."

"Oh, I know." I smirked knowingly. We were finishing up our ice cream. At nine o'clock on a Friday, the city was all lit up. Many were excited for the upcoming hockey season, especially since the baseball season had not gone so well for the Phillies.

"Would you like to go for a walk in Aramingo Square?" Brayden asked, right as we walked out the door of the shop. I looked up at him beaming, and nodded my head quickly. He held out his arm, in which I looped my own in.

The park was bright and vibrant, and filled with cheers from a near-ending soccer game under the lights. The croaking of the frogs and chirping crickets could be heard from the small pond in the corner of the park. Brayden and I walked around aimlessly, talking about anything and everything. I learned about his favorite foods and colors, and he shared some funny hockey stories.

When the night drew to a close, we walked back to his classy Cadillac and drove out of the crowded city and back to my house. I decided to just leave my car at the bakery, and pick it up tomorrow. We talked all through the car ride.

The night was growing chilly, and he thankfully turned on the heat, but I was constantly cold. Don't ask how I can have a love for hockey but always be cold. I put my hand next to his, hoping he would take the hint. Seconds later, he laced his large fingers through my small ones. His hand was warm and comfortable, like I thought it would be.

My smile grew, but I didn't look back up at Brayden, almost fearing his expression.

When he pulled into my driveway, I had the strong urge to invite him inside, but that would probably look back on my part if my parents came home and found him still here, or if his car didn't leave until morning...

"Night Brayden." I released my hand from his own. He smiled back at me.

"Night Alli." He said softly. This time he made the move, leaving me a kiss on the cheek.

Notes

Sorry, it's a bit short. Part of it got deleted and I'm not sure if I got it all back!