This Love

31

A/N OOF this one's a long one, so much happens and I'm sorry in advance if it's kind of a mess 🤷🏻‍♀️

When I get back to Canada after the weekend in Germany my mind switches to training camp mode. As everyone in the office runs around to confirm the details of players attending and time slots for the various scrimmage teams that have been put together.

The first day of camp I find myself behind a folding table signing in the players. "Callie long time no see" I look up from the sign in sheet to see our captain, Miles Dover smiling at me, "Doves you literally saw me last week" he shrugs and I tick off his name while rolling my eyes, "it feels like ages though" I wave him off and he laughs walking towards the locker rooms. I look up at the next player signing him in with a smile and prepare to do the same for the next hour.

I stand up happily when I've finished at the table, the clipboard of sheets in my hand as I make my way to the stands to watch. When I sit down my phone starts ringing, I jump up when the players look up at the noise, I jog out of the big space and go back to my office. Once I've shut the door I lift my phone to see Dan's name on the screen. I know that if I don't answer now he'll keep calling so I accept the call. "Callie come to Monaco for the week" the Australian says in greeting, "I can't Dan, I have to be here for my team, we just started training camp and then the season will start" I explain as I sit in my desk chair. "Oh come on Cal you can come down for a week" I open and close my mouth shocked at his dismissal of my responsibilities, "no Daniel, I can't just take the week off, I know that you have some time off but I can't drop everything for you, I have a job to do and it doesn't work around your schedule" I tell him annoyed, "Cal" he starts to say, "I can't right now, I have to go back to watch camp, if that works for your schedule" I hang up before he can say anything. I leave my phone on my desk and stand not wanting to get distracted as I go watch training camp from the stands again.

——

When the work day finishes I still feel the annoyance from my phone call with Dan. I pack up my belongings into my purse and shut my office door before leaving the rink. On the way home I pick up a pizza knowing that I'll need it after the long day I've had. Once I've parked in our driveway I climb out of the car my purse over my shoulder and the pizza in my hand walking up to the front door. I fumble with my keys for a bit until I unlock the door stepping into the foyer. "Is that you Cal?" I take off my shoes and set down my purse, "yeah it's me" I reply as I walk into the living room.

The frustration must still be showing on my face because my two friends sit up concern on their faces, "oh no what's wrong?" Jill asks, I flop onto the couch placing the pizza on the coffee table with a sigh, "I can never hide anything from you guys" I mumble as I tuck my feet onto the couch. "You've got that right, now enough stalling tell us" Lexi adds, "I kinda freaked out on Dan" I explain while hanging my head, "why babe?" My gaze stays on my lap, "he wanted me to spend the week with him in Monaco, and he made my job seem so useless because he made it sound like I can do that no problem" Jill sucks in a breath, "he didn't" I nod a frown coming to my face, "I told him that I can't drop everything for him and that my work schedule doesn't work around his and then I hung up" I finish and take off my glasses setting them aside as I rub my eyes. "You'd think he would get it with his job" Lexi mumbles as she brings me into her side, "I guess not" I reply with a pout.

"Well pizza solves everything so let's dig in" Jill tells me as she opens the pizza box I placed on the table, I sit up grabbing a slice before leaning back into the couch cushion again. The three of us proceed to put on a movie, my phone still on silent as we get engrossed in the action that comes with Captain Marvel. I find myself nodding off halfway through the movie my thoughts filled with superheroes and villains.

——

Two days later I've gotten my emotions under control. The incident with Dan seems so stupid as I realize that he probably didn't know that I would be busy the next few weeks. I tell myself that I'll finally call him at the end of another day of training camp. "It's scrimmage day!" some of the players who come into the rink yell, I laugh as I watch them pile into the locker room. "Best day of training camp" Mel says as she stands next to me, "that's for sure" I reply with a smile.