Russian Roulette

I knock on the door loudly until it opens. Geno stands there wearing pyjama pants and wiping sleep from his eyes.

“Quinn? What wrong?” he asks concerned.

“Nothing. Can I come in?” he opens the door wide and I walk in awkwardly. I look at the giant staircase and it reminds me of the morning I snuck out. I look at him and he’s watching me closely. I could feel the adrenaline running through my veins and my stomach was in knots. Our unsaid words raced around in our minds looking for an exit.

“James told me about you and Oksana,” I finally say.

“She went back to Russia,” he responds.

“Why?”

“My heart not with her.” My heart started racing at the endless possibilities of things he could potentially say.

“Where is it?” I say, my voice almost a whisper.

“With you.” Just like that walk up to him and press my lips against his. He pulls me close to his body and I wrap my arms around his neck. His tongue enters my mouth and our tongues entangle. The kiss intensifies and I have to will myself to pull away. With his lips red, he looks down at me confused.

“I want to do this right so we have to take things slow okay?” I say hesitantly.

“Okay,” he smiles. We go upstairs and I take off my coat and crawl into his bed. Memories of our first night together come flooding back and I smile.

“What?” he asks while climbing into the bed.

“Do you remember when we slept together?” I ask.

“Of course. You drunk, not me. Was good night,” he smiles. I lie there facing him and it all feels so surreal.

“It was a good night. Who would have thought this is how it would play out?”

“I know.”

“How?”

“I slept with most beautiful girl and I know we had to be together.” I smile and he cups my cheek. I wrap myself around him and close my eyes.
“спокойной ночи красивый” (Goodnight beautiful)

I wake up and find Geno packing.

“Are you going somewhere?” I ask sleepily.

“Morning. I have road trip,” he replies. I forgot that they travel for games. I get up and quickly use the bathroom. I check my appearance and my hair is messy but I can’t stop smiling. I open the door and Geno is zipping up his suitcase.

“How long are you gone for?” I ask.

“Two weeks,” he replies. He wraps his arms around me and I frown.

“That’s a long time.”

“I take you on real date when I’m back,” he says smiling.

“So getting me drunk at the bar wasn’t a real date?” He shakes his head and smiles. “Okay well I should leave. Have fun on your road trip.” He leans down and kisses me softly. My body responds and I feel the electricity coursing through my body. He pulls away and I’m left there smiling like an idiot. I say goodbye and head home.

“Where were you at last night?” Audrina asks suspiciously.

“At Geno’s,” I say casually.

“Did you tell him how you feel?”

“I did. I guess we’re sort of together now.” It sounded weird hearing it out loud.

“Oh my god this is amazing! Scale of 1-10?”

“I didn’t sleep with him,” I tell her.

“But you’re like the queen of sleeping with people?” she says confused.

“I know but I want this to be different. I really like him.” Her smile grows wider and I get up and I get ready for work.

“So what’s new in Quinn’s life?” Matt asks while spinning in an office chair.

“Not much, you?” I answer, not taking my eyes off the patient chart I’m writing in.

“Oh just the usual. Scrubbing in on a heart valve replacement while the patient’s awake later,” he says casually.

“Seriously?” I ask, snapping my head up. He nods and smiles widely. Elias walks up and pulls up a chair at the nurse’s station.

“Did you tell her about the awake surgery?” Elias asks Matt.

“He did. It’s pretty cool,” I interject.

“I’ll save you a seat,” Elias says smiling. I return to my charting but they’re both start staring at me.

“Something’s different about you,” Elias notices.

“Yeah you’re awfully smiley,” Matt adds.

“You totally got laid,” Elias says loudly.

“Not quite,” I say shaking my head.

“What does that mean?” Matt asks.

“It means I told Geno how I feel and we’re sort of together,” I say simply. There it was again. Sort of together. I didn’t know how else to describe it. We hadn’t talked about what we were, I mean we haven’t even had our first date yet. I remind myself not to dwell on the complications and just be happy we’re together.

“He picked you?!” Matt says excitedly. I nod and Elias starts clapping.

“Our little Quinn is dating a Penguin. Who would have thought,” Elias says smiling. I shake my head and return my charting.

I’m watching Matt’s surgery with Elias when my phone goes off.

Geno:
Just landed in L.A. What up

Me:
Just watching a guy get heart surgery while he’s awake

Geno:
Scary

Me:
I get off early today so I’ll be able to watch your game

Geno:
I score just for you)))

Me:
You better

I put my phone away and look at the guy on the table. He looked nervous which was totally valid. He had headphones in but would occasionally look up at the gallery where dozens of doctors were watching him. I look at my watch and realize I need to prep for the hip replacement surgery I had that afternoon.

I get home exhausted and Audrina has Chinese food waiting for me on the coffee table.

“You’re the best, you know that?” I tell her. She smiles and turns the TV up. The game had just started and the Penguins were playing the Los Angeles Kings.

“So you realize we’re going to have to double date,” she says excitedly.

“Are you guys even dating?” I ask her.

“Yes and no.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means yes we go on dates but no we’re not labeling it,” she explains. That seemed like a convenient situation for James and I figured that this arrangement was his idea.

“Are you okay with that?” I ask her.

“Yeah. I mean we went from just hooking up to actually going on dates so that’s progress right?”

“I guess.” The horn goes off and the Kings score. I decide to not push Audrina on the subject and turn my focus to the game. Sidney scores in the second tying the game at 1. I found myself actually liking hockey and it was really fun to have someone you know on the team to cheer on. Geno wins the faceoff at the start of the third and passes it to Paul Martin. Paul passes it back and Geno skates around the net and gets the wrap around goal. I start clapping excitedly and watch him celebrate with his teammates. Deep down I knew that goal was for me but I was going to keep that our secret. The Penguins win in 2-1 and I get ready for bed. I’m about to fall asleep when my phone starts buzzing.

“Hello?” I answer sleepily.

“Did you see goal?” he asks and I can tell he’s smiling.

“I did. You came through.”

“Of course. I not talk long, just want to hear voice. I text soon.

“Okay. Goodnight Geno."

“Goodnight Quinn.” I hang up and fall into a blissful sleep.

Notes