Philadelphia in October didn’t just mean it was getting colder out or that I, Maxine Walker only had one more month left to get Christmas presents for her parents, brother, sister in law, and her twin nephews, but it also meant that hockey was starting back up and I’d be spending hockey nights surrounded by pizza, friends, and beer.
Currently I’m making my way pushing past bodies trying to get to the warmth that came with walking into the local Starbucks, I look around the room taking my beanie off my head and shake my hair out as I look around the room for Danielle, as I turn my head I see an enthusiastic blonde waving her arm in the air waving me over and handing me homework from class. “Hello Danni, what stories do we have today?” I ask sitting down pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose taking the papers from my friend and coworkers hands.
“Well, Marge and Drew found out that both are cheating each other, that was a nice screaming match today in mass media, Professor. Melvin decided to push back the date of the paper because of her friends having a baby and shes gonna be the godmother or something like that… What else oh Mike said to tell you he got the tickets for tomorrow’s game!...Or maybe it was to not tell you?” Dani finish while she stirred her coffee.
I nodded writing something down on the paper “Wait he got the tickets?! He told me they were sold out!” I put my pen down and stood up “Hold that thought Im gonna get some hot chocolate.” I said as I walked away, but before I could even take a step Dani grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “First theres a cute guy walking in the door and two go easy on Mike he’s had a rough week already.” She said trying to reason with me nodding toward Mike who stood behind the counter with a neutral expression on his freckle covered face.
Looking over my shoulder I saw a guy I’d say was around six foot or a little taller short hair which was hidden by a hat. I walked over towards the line and got stuck behind Mr. Cutie as we moved up toward the counter Mike caught my eye and smiled “Hey Max guess what?” he asked as he took down Mr. Cutie’s order.
I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow leaning to, deciding to enlighten him “What Mikey? Did Dani finally say yes to going out with you yet?” I asked letting out a laugh as Mikey’s face went red.
Once I reached the counter I started to laugh “Hey not so loud, no she doesn’t even know I’m gonna ask her out. What I was going to tell you was that I got the tickets.” Mike said grabbing a cup, knowing I’d want my normal order, writing what I had hoped was my name on it.
I nodded looking at him with a ‘yeah I know’ kind of look on my face “Oh wow awesome, how though you said they were sold out.” I responded leaning against the counter. “By the way next time don’t tell Dani you got the tickets if you were trying to surprise me… she told me as soon as I sat down.” I let out a little laugh, but what caught my surprise was Mr. Cutie let out a low chuckle. I smiled giving Mike the money I owed.
Mike nodded his head “Right that whole best friend rule comes into play whenever I say don’t tell Maxie, but anyway my dad got them for my birthday and every other birthday he’s missed.” Mike said dropping his head a bit with a sigh; Mikey’s parents had a horrible split few years after Mike was born and now his dads trying to buy his love back, I nodded stepping away giving him a sorry look as I made my way back to my table.
As I slid into the booth I pushed the hair behind my ears “So his dads trying to buy his love back.” I said shaking my head, Dani nodded, “Yeah Mike called me after my last class saying he had a talk with his dad, it didn’t end too well for him, and I’m going with him for dinner with him and his dad in a week.” Dani expressed blowing her blonde hair out of her face.
Dani, deciding to change the subject and tapped my arm “So did you get a good look at hottie with a body?” She leaned on her elbows laying her head on her hands; I just shook my head “I got a glimpse of his back that’s about it.”
Dani and I kept talking about school and work until we both heard “Hot chocolate for Coots!” I hid my face for a second before getting up, but as I walked over I saw the guy in the hat snap his head up before seeing me and man did he have a face. But me being me I quickly looked away from him as I got up to the counter “You know that’s not really my name right?” I let out with an embarrassed laugh “Yeah we know it’s just become a thing now plus Mikey’s the one that writes it down.” The guy told me before leaving to grab another cup.
As I got back to the table I couldn’t help but feel eyes on me, as I sat back down with my drink in hand I scanned the room and caught eyes with a pair of brown locked with mine for a quick second I gave him a smile and a wave and turned back to Dani hiding my rosy cheeks. “So since we are going to the game we have to plan who were wearing jersey wise and what time were leaving. Are we going to tailgate this game or no?” Dani spat out putting her stuff into her bag, she stopped looking up towards me “Why aren’t you packing up? Wait is that blush I see on your face, so what caused you to go all rosy on me?!” She asked letting out a giggle.
I shook my head grabbing my own bag tossing everything into it before putting on my hat and putting my glasses away. “It’s nothing Dani. Listen come over tomorrow and we’ll figure it out!” I answered as we both stood up “Listen I’ll see you tomorrow I have to head back to my apartment and give some lovin to Demon and Nana.” I waved at her as we both walked away from each other as we braced the cold as I was walking I heard someone yelling “MISS! MISS!” I kept walking trying to get back to my warm apartment as fast as I could till I felt someone pull my arm.
As soon as I felt someone grab me I turned around threw my fist into their stomach. As soon as I saw it was the guy from the guy from Starbucks I started spewing out apologies “Im so sorry! I promise I didn’t know it was you, I thought you were some creep that was going to try to mug me or something! Im so sorry again!” I kept apologizing as we both moved to the side him bent over holding his stomach and me with my face buried in my hands hiding my embarrassment.
The guy put a hand up and let out a laugh and a cough “It’s okay… you’ve got a mean hook. But I was just trying to catch your attention you forgot your cell phone back at your table, thought I’d be a nice gentleman and return it to you, what I didn’t expect was to get hit by a woman with a mean hook.” He explained extending his hand out that held my phone.
As he said I had left my phone my hand went to my pocket, and let out a sigh seeing the phone in his hand “Well thank you, you have just saved me from an ear chewing from my friends. Well I don’t necessarily hit guys that are doing a nice thing but you did sneak up on me.” I joked letting out a little laugh as I reached out touching his hand feeling a little spark but I ignored it and grabbed my phone.
He smiled and shook his head “Hey now I tried to get your attention I practically had a bunch of people looking at me if I was crazy as I chased you down. I’m Sean by the way and you are?” he asked smiling a tight lips smile raising his eyebrows waiting for me to respond.
“I’m Maxine nice to meet you Sean.” I responded smiling brightly at him then let it fall “Uh I hate to cut this short but I have two dogs that are probably chopping at the bit to get out of my apartment.” I added reaching to put my phone in my pocket and went to turn to walk away when a hand stopped me again.
I turned and looked to see Sean holding my arm “Uh I heard you were going to the game tomorrow night, maybe I’ll see you there?” he questioned with a small smile on his face.
I shrugged “Yeah, I am. Maybe we will but we might not even be close to each other, and how would I find you anyway?” I smirked raising an eyebrow.
“Just look for the handsome guy in the Couturier jersey. I’ll let you go now Max cant let those dogs starve because I’ve kept their mom in the cold.” He retorted smiling letting my arm go and walked away. I watched him walk away then turned around myself and briskly walked back to my apartment.
As I walked into the apartment I was greeted by barking “Hey guys!” I said kneeling down and rubbing the heads of my two huskies “Your momma has gotten herself into some serious trouble.” I confessed to the two as I hooked their leashes to their collars as I took them for a quick walk around the block.

Notes

Well tell me what you guys think!

-C