Tripping

Chapter 2: Nathan's POV

Nathan

"Call me when you land," Mia murmurs to my lips as she kisses me goodbye as I go to "hockey camp" in New York.

"I will baby, I love you," I tell her as I grab my carry-on and walk out the door. 

"I love you too," she tells me before closing and locking the door behind me.

I hate that I have to lie to her but I don't know how else to get to New York in the off-season without her questioning me. So I just went along with something realistic. I've had to do hockey camp in New York before so thankfully she didn't give me any skeptical looks or questions. 

I also had to pretend it was shortened this year because buying her ring takes all of half a day and I don't want to be away from Mia more than I have to be.

When I arrive at the airport I grab my bag, throw on a baseball cap and make my way towards the terminal.

Once I'm checked in and boarded into my first-class seat, I can't stop myself from smiling at my phone screen that's covered with a picture of Mia cuddled up next to me on one of our lazy Sunday mornings. I remember thinking how I wanted to have this moment with me forever and snapped a selfie of us. Oh, how I wish I could be with her right now. We have spent the off-season so far just relaxing most days and catching up on our favourite Netflix shows. Mia still had to work but we went out to the Toronto Islands and had a picnic one weekend. And we finally got to walk the ledge on the top of the CN Tower. Mia had been begging to do it with me. I lock my phone, put my Airpods in and close my eyes thinking about how I'm taking the first step to our forever.
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"Are you crying?" I look to my left and see Ricky staring at me funny. I quickly wipe away any tears that may or may not have fallen from my eyes now that I found the perfect ring.

"No, maybe, okay yes. I am a bit emotional. I just found the perfect ring for her perfect hand." He doesn't get it, he isn't married, he lives the bunny life. Or did.

"Damn you're pussy whipped," he says to me as if I didn't know.

I just roll my eyes as the sales associate writes down the details for the engraving I want.

"How's the hand?" I ask Ricky knowing he recently switched his physical therapy routines.

"Nate, stop worrying man, it's getting there, slowly. They are about 95% sure I can't play anymore and I've accepted that, and now you need to too. Stop acting like a little bitch. I know you're not one, I've seen you throw a punch," he says so casually. Sure he got plenty of NHL seasons on me and played a pretty successful career winning 4 Stanley Cups with a few different teams. But it doesn't mean I wasn't the one who ended up crushing him and his hand even if I didn't mean to.

"I know Ricky but still, what do you plan on doing now?" There are so many jobs available for retired or injured players but that doesn't mean it's meant for everyone.

"I'm not sure, I was thinking about maybe taking on a goalie coach position with the Canes. I have a brother down in North Carolina that I wouldn't mind bugging around a bit." I laugh at his reasoning. That sounds like a perfect job for him, I really hope it all works out.

"That will be $98,000, with the engraving included, Mr. Reese. Would you like to pay for the ring in monthly payments or card?" I pass her my black card without a second glance.

"Look at you Reese, spoiling your lady," Ricky says, blowing out a low whistle from his mouth.

"She's worth it and much more," I tell him with the biggest smile on my face.

That smile drops quickly when Ricky asks me, "So how are you going to do this?" knowing that I don't know how to actually come out and do this even though we have discussed her ideal proposal so many times.

I think about it trying to collect what I can to make this perfect yet special just in the way Mia would want it and I come up with nothing. I turn to Ricky and give him a worried look and tell him, "I don't have a fucking clue."

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A short buffer chapter guys! But Chapter 3 coming tomorrow!

Will Nate be able to pull off a proposal???

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