Ride (Reposted)

April 2014

Walking through another identical house in another exclusive neighbourhood in Dallas for the fifth time, Jamie and Emily were both feeling frustrated. The stars at least qualified for the play offs. Barely, taking the second wild card slot. It was his first playoff appearance in his NHL career, which was big for him, especially in his first year of captaincy. Emily was so patient with him.

"What if we just get a fixer-upper, and make it our own." She sighed as they walked out of the house.

"I think that's a great idea. Depending on how deep into the playoffs we get too." He agreed, leading her to his escalade, "I'm not even supposed to be out right now."

For the playoffs they decided to take a page out of Chicago's books and stay at the W hotel just down from the AAC. Jamie had 'snuck' out for this showing, but Lindy knew about it and was actually okay with him doing so.

"Oh Lindy and Jim are fine with it. They know you need to find a house. We'll regroup after your game tomorrow and look at cheaper houses we can renovate." She assured him.

"I like the idea of cheaper." He pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead.

"I know you do. Renovations won't be cheap though." She laughed, "your beard is itchy."

"Your telling me. At least if I get traded and we need to sell the house we'll make more money off of it."

"You aren't going to be traded. Just like how your brother won't be moving in with us." She noted.

"Even if he gets between apartments? Or waiting to move into another one."

"He could just buy like we are. And when his lease is up and he's got a period before he moves into his next place he can stay. I love Jordie, but you've lived with him essentially your whole life. And him and Jess like their private time too."

"I guess your right." He admitted, opening the car door for her.

"I know I'm right." She winked.

Now they were going to have to look at another whole type of house. They still wanted to live north of Dallas. In the University Park-Preston Hollow-Highwood Park area, so it would be between downtown for him and Richardson for her.

He was excited to finally start his life with her, even though they wouldn't really have a house until September.

***

They had finally found a house with potential. It was in their desired neighbourhood of Preston Hollow, and now they just needed to hear back from the owners to see if they accepted the offer.

"Maybe I'll go into real estate." She giggled, wrapping her arm around his and placing her chin on his shoulder.

"I think you are just fine where you are." He kissed her forehead.

"Yeah, but I'm bored of my job." She teased.

"You could be a housewife."

"Nope! Not happening."

"How much longer is this going to take? I need to go back to the hotel before they know I'm missing."

"I like sneaking you out, I feel like we're in high school." She grinned.

"Shouldn't be the other way around. Me sneaking you out."

"Only to come home to daddy sittin on the porch with a .22?"

"I never had that experience in high school. I never got girls until Junior."

"Oh well what about Jodie? Jordie told me about her."

"I was 5'6" and she was hardly a relationship. She was a girl I dated for a month and we dry humped while making out." He blushed.

"Tell me about her. I bet you she babed up."

"She lived down the street from us growing up. She was smart, not athletic in a single bit. The complete opposite of you. I think she went to Simon Fraser on the mainland after high school."

"Are you saying I'm not smart? I went to McGill with acceptance to Harvard, Yale, Queen's and UofT."

"You are smart. And athletic. She didn't play any sports, at all. You played soccer and rugby."

"And volleyball, and basketball. And field hockey." She rolled her eyes, "I went to the better school."

"I dated this girl like almost 10 years ago, and I have no idea where she is now. If anything it's Kacie you get compared too by everyone."

"I'm a 100 compared to her." Emily scoffed.

"You both love weed."

"I-yeah. This is true. I wish you would let me smoke it." She glared at him, "but besides that."

"You have brown hair, she has blond hair. Your crazy, she's slightly more crazy."

"Well. I have news!" Their realtor, Chris came out of his office, with a smile on their face.

"Oh thank god." Jamie muttered under his breath.

Emily gave him a a light tap on the ass as they walked into his office. They sat across from Chris and Jamie instantly sat in his bored position. Pinching him under the arm he sat up straight.

"They like the price you offered, they're just requesting to move out in 30 days."

At the rate they finally found a house, Jamie was pretty well over the whole process, as long as they kept the price under $2,000,000 and wasn't in escrow for too long they were fine."

"We're redoing the whole house anyways, this gives us the time to go over ideas. Where do we sign?"

"Congratulations Miss Rankin, Mr. Benn. You two have just bought your first house." Chris said, sliding the paper over.

"Actually it's my third. Her first." Jamie pointed out.

"Technically I have a condo in Montreal. That my parents own. That I stayed in. For Free. Aside from paying cable, heat and hydro." Emily laughed.

They signed off on the deal, and she signed off of the check for the down payment.

"We just bought a house!" She exclaimed as she jumped up and down for joy once they left the office.

"You just made me a very broke man." He laughed, pulling her in.

"About to be even more broke." She giggled, pinching his butt.

"Would you stop touching that thing in public?" He jumped.

"But it's so cute." She grinned, reaching for it again.

"I am going to head back to the hotel. And you are going to go back to work." He kissed her.

"I love you. I'll see you later. I'll call you tonight." She smiled, giving him one more kiss before
taking off to her truck.

She was so excited for what the summer was going to bring. Sure they weren't going to get the time to go away together this summer, but they were going to make the best of it. They would be able to take day trips down to towns they wanted to explore, like San Antonio, take a weekend trip down to the coast.

***

Not making it past the first round was depressing, but he was proud of his team for actually making the playoffs this year.

Emily gave him space for a couple of days after they were eliminated. He let her know he was ready when he stopped by her apartment with junk food and ice cream.

"Who's that for? Me or you?" She laughed when she saw the pint of Ben & Jerry's.

"Me. It's Half Baked and you certainly do not like it." He said dryly, sitting on her couch.

"I can never tell if your serious or joking when you take that tone." She glared at him, taping up a box that read DONATION, and then sitting on the floor.

"I'm joking. I brought it for you for being AWOL the last week." He laughed.

"You just needed space. It was the same thing last season babe." She got up off the floor and sitting on his lap, "besides. I already have more then enough Ben & Jerry's, it's showing on my ass. And my stomach."

"You are the best girlfriend any hockey player could ask for." He kissed her neck.

"Soon to be a live in girlfriend. A year and a half in this joint and now I'll be living with you." Emily said apprehensively.

"You sound like you aren't ready."

"I am ready. More then ready. It's just a really big step. For both of us."

"It's going to be a big learning curve. We should start practicing taking a shit with the door open now." He grinned.

"JAMIE!" She threw a pillow that came from seemingly no where at his head, "just a little bit of mystery would be nice. When we're 40 and have kids maybe it would be slightly okay."

"Slightly?" He laughed.

"By leaving the door just slightly ajar." She grinned.

"So you do want kids eh?" He smiled back at her.

"In like five years when we're married and we've enjoyed the house and marriage without children."

"I do love practicing." He winked at her.

"That only worked when you looked like a cave man." She shook her head.

"You mean the Mohawk isn't working?" He pressed.

He loved pushing her buttons.

"I'm going to fucking shave that thing off is what I'm going to do." She glared.

"It's coming off this summer. Don't worry."

"It better be."

"I love you." He got up before sitting beside her, pulling her into his arms, peppering her with kisses.

"Pain in my ass." She laughed.

"I'll give you a pain in the ass." He pinched her bottom hard.

"JAMIE!" She hit him hard on the arm.

It wasn't long before they were in a tangled mess on the floor, enjoying their last little bit of solitude before she moved in with him and Jordie until their house was ready.

Notes