Shirts and Skins

Chapter Seven

Lindsay's POV

Oh my gosh, his voice his voice his voice. Ugh, it made me feel like I could fly! Like I was invincible!

I came upstairs from my bedroom and ran into my Mom, who had arrived home from work about half an hour earlier.

"Hi honey." She greeted me, along with a hug, "How was your day?"

"Good, Astronomy was amazing as usual."

"I wouldn't think otherwise. Who were you on the phone with?"

I didn't know how I should answer. Should I tell her the truth? That I'm talking to a professional hockey player? Or should I play it cool and say I was talking with my friend? I'll take the second option for now. It wasn't actually a lie.

"Just a friend." Yes, playing it safe.

"Who?"

Damn, real name or fake name? Whatever, I'll use his real name, she'll never know the difference.

"Jeff. I know him from work." Also not a lie.

"Oh okay, cool." she dismissed it, starting to prepare dinner.

I was safe. For now at least. I walked into our family room and sat down on my chair. It wasn't my chair, but it was the chair I always sat on. I pulled my iPhone out of my hoodie pocket and texted Andrew. 

"Jeff and I just got off the phone, and he's calling me before tomorrow's game :)" I texted him. I knew he'd freak out.

I had tonight off. The Jets did have a game tonight, but I wasn't needed, thankfully. I loved working games, I really did. But honestly, I loved watching the game with my parents as well. And I know they enjoyed it as well.

Andrew texted back. "You two are adorable! :) I swear, you better make this work!"

I actually laughed out loud, blushing a little. "Haha I'll try my very best :)" I responded.

I tossed my phone back in my pocket and walked back into the kitchen. "Anything I can help you with Mom?" I asked.

"No, I think I have it all under control right now. But stay close, I may need you later."

I laughed and walked back to the family room. I turned on the TV and immediately switched it to TSN, knowing SportsCentre was on. I was more than just your average sports fan. I loved sports. It was my future. Not as a professional athlete, but as a reporter. I wanted to be a sports reporter once I was done school. Only problem was, was I hated school. But if I could just get through school, I would choose that as my top career goal. I loved sports so much. That's why I paid so much attention to it all the time. That's part of the reason I loved my job so much. 

Eva, my younger sister, coming in the door interrupted my thoughts. She was only a year younger than I was, but we were both in the same year of university, due to my voluntary repeat of the twelfth grade.

"Is dinner almost ready?" She called, "I'm starving!"

"Yes, I'm just serving it." My Mom called back to her.

I turned off the TV and began setting the table.

"Eva, go get Dad." I said to her.

She sighed and went to the top of the basement stairs. "DAAAAAAAAD! TIME FOR DINNER!"

I shook my head. Not exactly what I meant, but I guess she did call him.

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7:30 pm. Game time.

I loved watching hockey. Usually, I'd yell at the TV like I would if I was at a live game. But tonight I wasn't. And my parents noticed.

"What's up?" My Dad said to me.

I gave him a strange look. "What do you mean?"

"You're not cheering like you usually do." He said. My Mom nodded in agreement. 

"I've just school on my mind. I have a test in Atmospheric Science in two weeks." Not a lie. But I didn't have school on my mind.

"And have you started studying yet?" Dad was neurotic about school work.

"Not yet, I planned on starting soon though."

"Well, better stick to your word." he said to me.

"I know, I know." I blew him off. 

After that, I began to cheer like usual. I had to keep them from worrying or wondering. I'd let them know about Jeff if anything more happened. Right now, we just talked and were friends. But if it escaladed to anything more, I'd tell them. I know they'd be excited for me.

I wanted it to escalate into something more. But I was just being selfish in that want. I thought Jeff was incredibly attractive, and I wanted to date a hockey player, I really wanted to date a professional hockey player, but I also wanted what was best for him, what he wanted. I'd flirt with him when the oppourtunity arose, but we've really only met once. It was hard, especially with me in Winnipeg and him in Raleigh and traveling around for hockey. I just really wanted the Hurricanes to come to Winnipeg again. I wanted to see him so bad.

I missed him, which was weird to think, considering we had only been in each others company once, and only for about five minutes. But we had a connection in that small time. Clearly he felt the same way, considering he gave me his number.

During an intermission, I grabbed my MacBook and checked the Jets schedule. My heart sank. The Hurricanes weren't coming back until December 9th. I wanted to see him before that. December 9th was just so far away.

If Jeff wanted to, I know we'd find a way. Maybe we could grow our relationship, who knows?