Hey Melanie, is Ryan at your place? I texted Torey’s wife after I showered from the little workout Zac and I did. He is, but he’s been locked in his room all day. I grabbed my things, Make sure he doesn’t leave? I need to see him and he’s been avoiding me. I took an Uber over to their place, and buzzed to their apartment. I was let up and Melanie already had their front door open. I walked to Ryan’s room and knocked on the door. “Not now Tor.” I took a deep breath, “It’s not Torey.” I heard him shuffle around, and then open the door. His bottom eye lids were red and his eyes were glossy…he had been cry. My heart sank, “what did I do?” was all I could get out, with a crack in my voice. He motioned for me to come in and he closed the door. He sat on his bed and I sat next to him. “Ry, I do not remember much from last night…please tell me what I did…” He took my hand and kissed it, “it’s nothing you did…it’s what I did…” He paused, his eyes getting watery. “We went back to Steph’s…you two started to strip each other, and to be honest it was really hot. But then she said, ‘now you have mine and I have yours.’ She led me to her bedroom and you were kissing Zac so I figured we were all on the same page…” He paused, and my heart raced. “I slept with Steph…” I just looked at him, not sure if I heard him correctly. “I thought you slept with Zac…but when we went to get breakfast Steph mentioned that you and Zac only talked all night…you didn’t sleep with him and I instantly felt awful…that’s why I couldn’t face you Ems…” I stood up and just paced, trying to figure out my emotions, I wasn’t upset. But I knew I should have been. I was more curious as to what Zac and I talked about all night… “Say something...” I turned to him, “We aren’t together Ry…I can’t really get too mad at you…” He stood up but I took a step away from him, I’m not really sure why. “I’m not happy about it…but I kissed Zac you know? So I’m not innocent…” he reached for my hand, and I gave it to him, “Be mine Em…be my girlfriend.” My mouth opened to say something, but nothing came out. “I…I have to think…” He nodded, I could tell he was hurt and I took my hand away from his.

I left Ryan knowing I wouldn’t see him for a few days. The team was going to Florida to play against the Panthers tomorrow. I went back to my apartment, not really thinking of anything. I was mostly trying to figure out how I felt. I looked at Stephanie’s instagram, going to miss this guy! Under a picture of them in their Halloween costumes. I opened a text to Zac, Did you know about last night? It was vague, but he responded quickly, yes. And then another, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you…I tried but I wasn’t sure if it was my place. I responded, I’m not mad though…are you? Another quick response, the real answer or what I tell Ryan? I did a small smile and responded, both. This text took longer to get to me, I’m not mad, we both did things that maybe we shouldn’t have. No biggie. And then another How could she do that to me? My heart sank, how could she do that to him? He’s so sweet and kind… Ryan told me today. Then he asked me to be his girlfriend. Zac responded after a few minutes, Congrats? My thumbs swirled before I texted back, I told him I needed to think…I have no idea what to do. I laid on my bed and threw a pillow over my face. My phone buzzed, what do you want? Do you want him as a boyfriend? I mean he pretty much is…will this one thing that happened really ruin things? He is pretty much my boyfriend…But I really didn’t feel impacted that he slept with Stephanie. What did we talk about last night? My phone buzzed again, I can’t remember. I scrunched up my face, I know you remember. Did I say anything that would impact any future relationships? He responded quickly, No it wouldn’t. It was just talking, random stuff you know? Just got on the plane, man Spoons looks bad… He thinks I hate him. I didn’t respond to Zac. Instead I grabbed a small suitcase and started to pack.

Game Day. Throughout the whole flight I was trying to figure out how I got here. I mean, Casey drove me. But why was I on a plane? Did I really want to be doing this? I mean I can’t turn back now…I landed and headed straight for the rent-a-car station. The game started in one hour, and I found a parking garage nearby. I grabbed my Spooner jersey and slipped it on. It was much warmer in Florida than back home. I went to the ticket booth inside the arena, “Hello, I’d like a ticket, any ticket, along the glass.” The woman looked at her computer screen, “I’m sorry we don’t have any available there.” My heart sank, but was still beating fast like I ran a marathon, “Are you sure? I really need a ticket on the glass.” She looked again, “I’m sorry ma’am, I don’t have any on the glass. I have some a few rows back?” I shook my head, “I need to be on the glass…Are you sure there are none?” She signed heavily, “There are none. I’m sorry.” I felt a tug on my jersey and looked down at a little blonde girl with piercing blue eyes. “escuse me?” I knelt down, “Yes?” She smiled at me, “Is Ryan Spooner your favorite player?” I smiled wider, I couldn’t be frustrated with this cute little girl. “Yes he is.” She looked towards her parents and smiled, she turned around and showed a smaller version of my jersey. “He’s my favorite too! This is my first bruin’s game!” I smiled at her, and she touched my cheek. “Why are you sad and arguing with that lady?” My mouth opened out of shock. “Well…You see Ryan is not only my favorite player….but he’s also a really good friend of mine. And I need to get on the glass to show him I’m here.” She looked back at her parents and then me, “You know Ryan?” I nodded. Her father walked up to his daughter, “Honey, we’ve got to go.” She looked up at him, “She knows Ryan daddy!” He looked at me with disbelieving eyes. I took out my phone and showed him my screen saver of Ryan and I with the foliage behind us. He looked up at me, “Why don’t you already have a ticket?” His wife asked me, “Well…this was a very spontaneous trip…He doesn’t know I’m here.” The little girl tugged on my jersey again, “Do you need to tell him something?” I nodded, “Something very important.” She looked back at her Dad and Mom with sad eyes. The father sighed, “We have an extra ticket, on the glass, if you’d like it…you can have it.” I looked back and forth from him to his wife. “Are you sure?” They nodded, “Please, let me pay you for this.” They shook their heads, “no, this is for you.” I took out my wallet, “Please, let me pay you. Cost isn’t an issue. I could even set something up for you to meet him I’m sure.” The little girl started to dance, “Daddy that would be awesome!” I laughed at her and handed the father a few hundred bucks. I honestly didn’t count it, but my heart was racing and my mind was still trying to catch up. “My name is Emily.” I shook their hands, “I’m Ben and this is my wife, Christa, and our daughter, Logan.” My heart stopped. Logan. I shook the thought of out my head and followed them inside.

They stopped to get Logan some souvenirs and some food. It was her first Bruins game ever. I grabbed a white pamphlet someone was handing out and turned it over. I asked the cashier if they had a sharpie and he handed me one. I wrote Yes. On the paper and folded it up in my pocket. I followed them to the seats and Logan talked my ear off about how she loves Ryan, and that she’s super excited to be here and can’t wait to tell her class about this. I looked over at Ben, “Are you guys from around here?” He nodded, “I’m actually from the Boston area, Christa grew up around here.” I nodded, “Where about? I’ve lived in Massachusetts my whole life.” He smiled, “Haverhill, you?” I smiled, “Billerica.” He did a small laugh, “I knew someone from Billerica, maybe you know him?” I nodded, “We pretty much know everyone in that town, what’s his name?” It seemed like time slowed down, the words escaped his lips slowly, and seemed to take forever to get to me. “Logan Walton.” My heart stopped. I just looked at him, “I was in the military with him…he’s actually the person we named our daughter after…” I just looked at him, mouth open. “You knew my brother?” Was all I could get out, while trying to keep the tears in. Ben looked at me, “You’re that Emily?...I went to his memorial at his college…Shortly after I moved here and met Christa…He saved my life along with those children…” Logan tugged on my jersey, “Here they come!” We watched the Bruins come out and skate onto the ice, taking shots at the empty net and then Rask. Logan got excited when she say the number 51. “There he is! There he is!” I smiled towards him, he has no idea I’m here. I loved seeing him in his hockey uniform. I loved seeing him. My heart melted when he looked over in my direction, but he didn’t realize it was me. I stood up and went straight against the glass. Logan stood on her chair as Ben held onto her. She waved her hands and held up a sign that read, I’m Spooner’s #1 Fan! He saw her first and started to skate over with a puck in his glove. As he skated closer I smiled, and did a small wave. His eyes met mine, his mouth slightly open. Not believing that I’m here. He tossed the puck to Logan and stood in front of me. His eyes asking a million questions. I took the crumbled piece of paper out of my pocket and unfolded it. I pressed it against the glass. He read it and looked up at me. “Seriously?!” He mouthed with a smile. I nodded with a smile. He pointed at me, and then at Logan and skated away.

Notes

Thank you to all my readers!<3