One of the Boys

Chapter 9

Delaney

I take a sip from my drink as Chris and I sit in awkward silence as I wait for him to speak. To be honest with you, I wasn't expecting him to care about what was going on in my head but, here we are!

"No, don't apologize. If anything I should be the one making the apology." He said as I looked up giving him a confused look. Chris furrowed his eyebrows and looked down before speaking again.

"Look Delaney, I've been acting like a jerk recently and I'm sorry. It's just... I've never had a female hockey player on my team before and when I found out that you were being traded to Toronto, I built up my walls." He said before taking a deep and shaky breath before recomposing himself. "In the beginning of all this, I was one of those guys. I'm trying my best to adjust to the change because a friend of mine told me that I shouldn't treat you any different than my other teammates just because you're a girl. He told me to give you a shot, so that's exactly what I'm going to do." He concluded.

I swallowed the breath that was stuck in my throat before placing a lose strand of hair behind my ear. "Well um..." I began before looking down and picking at my nails nervously. "First, thank you for the apology and second, I know it's hard to adjust to change but sometimes change is a good thing. When I set foot in that locker room for the first time to meet my new team, I was so worried that this change was going to rain on my parade but I guess I was totally wrong about that. It was the total opposite. It was a good change." I replied as Chris looked up and our eyes locked on each other.

"And Chris... you're not alone on adjusting to this change. I'm still trying my best too." I smiled as he nodded silently. "And you know that friend of yours? Well he's right, just picture me as one of the boys."

******
"Thank you guys again for the pizza and beer. It was great to meet you." Chris said shaking Mason's  hand. "Yeah, no problem man! You're more than welcome to come hang whenever you want." Mason replied.

"And Delaney, great getting to know you better. I'll see you at practice tomorrow afternoon?" Chris said giving me a small smile. "Yeah, you too Chris. Have a good night." I replied before he began walking down the hall to his apartment.

Mason closed and locked the door as I began to clean up the remaining plates and bottles off the coffee table. "He seems nice." Mason said picking up the empty pizza box off the table. "Yeah, I guess so." I reply heading into the kitchen.

"What do you mean I guess so?" Mason asked following behind me. "You know when you took that phone call?" I asked and he nodded. "Well, he asked me if everything was okay and I kinda went on a rant about what was on my mind."

"And that would have been?" He asked. "The thoughts I had back on the day I was going to meet the team. The ones where I thought everything was going to be bad but turned out to be okay." I replied.

"And what was his reply to that?" Mason asked. "He apologized to me for being a jerk and told me that he was trying his best to adjust to change since he's never had to play with a girl on his team before. So I just told him to picture me as if I'm one of the boys." I reply as Mason nodded.

That same night after everything was cleaned up, I had a hot shower and changed into some pyjamas before hopping into my bed. I texted Jason to tell him everything that went down with Chris when he came over.

"Good night Laney." Mason said as he leaned against the door frame. "Good night Mace. I love you big brother." I smiled. "Love you too kiddo." He smiled before closing my bedroom door behind him on the way out.

******

The next morning, I woke up and threw on a pair of Reebok leggings and a light blue shirt before grabbing my ear buds and phone off my night table.

"Morning Mace!" I exclaimed stepping into the kitchen to grab a water from the fridge. "Morning Dels. Going for a run this morning?" He asked looking up from his laptop. "Yep, I'll be back in a few!" I replied. "Okay, be careful." He shouted as I made my way to the door to put my sneakers on.

"Will do!" I exclaimed opening the door before leaving the apartment and heading to the elevators. When the doors opened, I stepped inside and pushed the button to go down.

"Wait! Wait! Hold the doors!" A male voice shouted as I pushed the button to hold them open. "Thanks!" The man said out of breath once he stepped in a couple feet away from me. "You're welcome." I simply reply.

"Delaney?" He asked. How does this guy know my name? I look over to the tall male standing next to me. Oh that's why! I say when I see him with a confused look on his face. "Morning Chris." I say. "Morning." He replied.

"Where are you off to this morning?" I ask trying to avoid awkward silence. "I'm actually headed on a morning run before heading off to the rink." He says. "How about you?" He asks. "Morning run." I reply.

Thank God the elevator ride is over because I don't know if I could have handled another second of awkwardness. "Oh, we'll have a good run and I'll catch you later." He says flashing a smile of perfect pearly white teeth.

"Yeah, you too." I reply before he waved and disappears into the other side of the lobby. Before I start my run, I put in both of my ear buds and start my workout playlist before opening the door and feeling the cool fresh fall air hit my face.

Alright, 8:30. Let's go! I say to myself as I turn to my right and begin to jog at a slow pace to warm myself up.

******

"Mason, I'm back!" I shout about an hour later, opening the door. "Mason?" I ask when there's no reply after the first call. I went over to the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the island when I notice the note he left for me.

Gone to help dad at the house. Be home later. Have fun at practice this afternoon kid!
                                     Love Mason

Alright so I'm chilling by myself until I have to leave for practice then... Cool.