Move Over

"I'll miss you two" Emmie sighed as she leaned up against the door frame. Over the last week or so her stomach had gotten bigger so as the door frame mad it look like it was twice the size it was.
I hugged her again then once I had detached myself from her, Tyler did the same. I knew we both felt guilty for leaving Emmie alone for a whole 5 days but, this was our job. And besides it gave her time to find an apartment for us because if I walk in on Seguin banging another girl I'll go live at Horton's.

"We'll be back before you know it. Plus Brittany will come around every now and then to check on you" I reminded her. She nodded, rolling her eyes a little since I'd told her a million times.

Brittany was Lucic's wife, they were so cute together with their daughter, Valentina. She'd agreed to come around to Seguin's to check up on Em, though she protested that she was adult and she could handle herself. I was worried, as a sister should be. I pulled Seguin by the sleeve as we had to make it to the plane on time or else it would leave without us.

"Good luck" She shouted as she closed the door behind us. Seguin looked at me with those worried eyes.

"She'll be fine" I assured him as I opened the door of Seguin's sleek black Maserati, which he had bought to get himself more sex than he already has. We pulled out of the drive way, and I instantly wished we took my truck. He pushed the pedal to the floor and we leaped forward. We were off to the airport.
Philly, then Chicago, then Detroit. I was going to be viewing 2 games from the bench, but at least I was playing, right!

We arrived right on time to the airport. I was surprised there wasn't any reporters screaming questions about me being a girl. I shrugged. They must've gotten used to the fact. We went through security, then we went to the same private terminal, that we disembarked my first day here. I yawned as we sat, to wait for all the guys.

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"So you're starting the second game?" Milan asked as we filed into the large aircraft. All the guys were wearing suits which kind of made me feel as if I didn't even belong here since I was rocking the dress thing.

"Yeah," I nodded, "Then I'll be starting the Montreal game, after we get back,"

He chuckled and sat down beside Krejci. Tyler had sat beside Brad, Zdeno beside Adam, Nathan with Douglas, and before I knew it, everyone was paired up. I don't know if they planned it but it left me with the worst possible seat. Next to Tuukka.

"Hey" I greeted coldly, stuffing my bag under the seat as I sat down beside him. I wanted to ask for the window seat but the way he was absorbed in his laptop, headphones on, shoulders slumped, eyes fixated- no demands were ever going to be met.

He gave me a nod, not changing his gaze from whatever he was doing on his laptop. I rolled my eyes and pulled out the NHL goalie rule book. Hey, I never got to read it and apparently if the ref saw me do any of these Tuukka would have to intervene. And I didn't want him to have the triumph of kicking me out of the crease.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tuukka trying not to laugh. I set my jaw, and dogeared my page then snapped it closed. It made Tuukka jump a little.

"Have something to say?" I demanded, my anger clearly not coming out strong enough for him to stop his dry heave cough. He shook his head and I rolled my eyes.

"What's your problem?" he asked, his voice low.

"You."

I returned to my book and ever so politely gave him the finger. Sadness washed over his face for a moment, but it was replaced with anger within seconds.

Let him be mad. He's probably pissed I got his starting gig for the second game.

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I sighed and tucked my helmet under my arm, as Tuukka took my place warming up. I hated this, why couldn't I start?! I smiled though, I was still in the position most girl goalies would die for.

"Have fun warming the bench" Tyler chuckled as he skated past me to the bench. I rolled my eyes, and playfully gave him the finger.

"Yeah" I chuckled, as he circled around to the bench, in search of his water bottle that brad had strategically hidden.

Tuukka mentioned me over, so they could at least take some shots on me. I was grateful for that. I didn't look at him as I glided past him, he didn't even glance either which was a relief. Maybe he'd finally given up trying to get me to like him again.

Chris was the first to shoot. Two pucks both snap shots, both easy. I tried not to smile, I missed the scent of the ice, the nerves of the game, all of it.

"Okay let us get some in" Tyler yelled in Chris's general direction. I nodded to Tyler as he charged up the ice. He preformed a wrist shot and I blocked it, by accident.

Daugavins made a slap shot which I let in on purpose, just to drop into my butterfly. I stretched out while the players went top shelf. Before, I knew it, I was on the bench looking out on Rask and the other goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov envying them to the bitter end.

"Cheer up, Babe" Tyler hummed while he gave me a playful slap on the back.

"And singing the national anthem is Lauren Hart!" the announcer exclaimed. I stood with the rest of the team until she finished and the lights went on and the sound system was blaring AC/DC.

"In goal we have Ilya Brysgalov," everyone cheered, damn Russian, "and Tuukka Rask" Shivers were sent down my back as he said his name. I didn't know what it was about his name but, it always had some effect on me.

Everyone booed, as Tuukka predicted the first game I played. I admired that he didn't even seem to notice, it took strength not to react.

"Do you get used to that?" I asked Daugavins. He shrugged.

"It's okay, I guess." he sighed, his accent nipping at the edge of his voice, "It's when they start throwing things at you."

"Or if you're a girl. I mean, there was this girl in Latvia, she got a puck to the head" he added.

I shrugged, not the worst I've faced before. Purposeful hits, pranks that weren't out of playfulness but out of spite, injuries.

"The players were a little rough on me back home, but I got through it....," I paused, "But, now i have you guys, the best team I've ever had....." I smiled as he beamed beside me.

"Thanks, honey" Tyler smirked from beside Kaspars.
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We won 3-2 in regulation time, Tyler said he would score a goal for me and he did. He nearly got a hat trick but Brysgalov made a miracle stick-save from the other side of the crease.

There were a few guys on the other team that hit on me from the ice, but I mostly just flipped them off, until the ref told me to can it or get out. Claude, along with everyone on the bench just laughed quietly when Talbot hit on me and I nearly punched him, if it wasn't for Tyler holding me back.

'Just wait til' I'm not here, Talbot. She'll punch you straight across your smug face' Tyler had yelled after him, which had grabbed the linesman's attention, not that we cared.

It was actually fun sitting on the bench, talking to Kaspars 'ghost', Tyler 'Seggle', Adam 'Darth Quaider', Chara 'big Z', Andrew 'Andy', Nathan 'Timmy's', Dennis 'the menace', David 'killer', Milan 'Looch', and I hadn't gotten a nickname for Dougie, but we talked a lot too. I had also gotten a nickname for Maxine Talbot, Maxipad. I think it suits him damn good.


"So, Alek, are you enjoying your stay in Boston?" a reporter for the Boston Times asked and I nodded.

"Yup, I was blessed with the best coach ever along with the nicest team in the NHL." I answered, beaming my pride in my team around the room.

"Who would have thought that the 'big bad bruins' would except a girl player!" he countered and I shrugged.

"I think they admire my fight, and determination to be recognized for what I am. A good goalie." I stated and the reporter got more aggressive with his questions.

"Yeah but, isn't the NHL supposed to be for men?" He questioned, I gave him a second's worth death glare. If there weren't any cameras I might've punched that guy across the face.

"The Canadians are in the league, aren't they?" I joked, putting on a defensive smile. I winked at the reporter, who wasn't laughing along with the others.

"So, how are you reacting to starting tomorrow then again on Friday?" A lady reporter asked, her microphone being shoved in my face. I didn't mind though.

"Great, Perfect, I have a little bit of ice fever. I want to be out there, ya know?" I responded, she gave, what I assumed was a fake smile. She didn't look that interested in what I had to say.

"So, are you happy that another Finnish goalie is with you?" Another one asked, I didn't notice where it came from. I shrugged.

"It doesn't really matter. I want to play here, no matter who my partner is. It just helps when I'm pissed and I can swear in Finnish." That aroused another round of laughter from the reporters

"Do you want to confirm you 'relationship' with Rask?" She used finger quotes around relationship. Relationship, I thought about the word for a second, it sounded so foreign but, something in me wanted to call what Tuukka and I had a legitimate thing.

"There's nothing to confirm, he isn't anything more than a teammate" I lied through my teeth, I wanted Tuukka so bad it ached but, knowing that that kiss meant nothing to him made me cringe.

"I think that's enough, she needs to rest for tomorrow" said Seguin and one of the trainers escorted them out.

"Are they always that asshole-ish?" I asked as we walked towards the locker room to get our stuff.

"Even more so sometimes," he smiled, "Who are you bunking with?" I hoped I got someone good like Milan, or Nathan or David or Seggles.

"I haven't had time to check," I said, as I threw the strap of my bag onto my shoulder. Seguin gestured towards the wall where a sheet of paper was loosely taped to the wall.

My eyes widened as I read the name on the wall, "Tuukka Rask." I whispered, under my breath.

Well, fuck me.

Notes

Okay, so, I thinkof nicknames for Dougie Hamilton, can someone suggest one? Something original and maybe, a little funny? Thanks, babe :D