Love Game

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Rocky Mountain High

*One Month Later*

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Denver, Colorado. The local time is 9:30 AM and the current temperature is 45°. Please move all trays in the upright position and remain seated until we come to a complete stop. Overhead items may have shifted during flight. Thank you for flying American Airlines and enjoy your stay in Denver."

I rub my eyes and yawn, being awaken from a deep slumber. I had been on a flight for over 6 hours and my noise canceling headphones came in handy. I move my tray up and my seat forward, feeling the wheels of the plane touch down on the runway of Denver International Airport. I push up the window shade and I'm welcomed by the sun blinding my face. Rubbing my eyes again to regain focus, I squint my vision to the Rocky Mountains in the background far behind DIA. It felt good being back in Colorado.

The plane comes to a complete stop as the passengers start to file out of the plane. I sit in my seat and wait for most of the plane to unload, a little less stress and anxiety that way. I pull my phone out from my hoodie pocket and go to my text messages, sending one to Gabe telling him my plane had landed.

As the flight has emptied out, I get up and grab my backpack from the overhead compartment, soon walking down the aisle and making my way towards the gate. I still needed to go to baggage claim to grab my suitcase and hockey bag, as I arrived in Denver a few days ahead of the team.

I take the subway down to baggage claim and I keep getting bumped into strangers in the process. I keep my headphones on and I'm lost in my own little world, until I hear a voice booming from the subway speakers.

"Hey Denver, it's Gabriel Landeskog, your captain for the Colorado Avalanche and Stanley Cup champion. Make sure while on your visit to our beautiful state to stay hydrated. Welcome to Colorado and go Avs!" I hear the voice crackle through the speakers.

I smile to myself as the subway comes to a stop and the doors open at baggage claim. After a few minutes, I find both of my bags and feel my phone buzz.

It's Gabe calling.

"You here yet?" I giggle as I rest my headphones around my neck, holding the phone up to my ear.

"Well, yes and no," he says. "They kept telling me to drive around for pickup and I couldn't stay longer than two minutes, so I'm circling around again."

"I'll be out there soon, I just grabbed my bags." I respond. "My flight is American Airlines so I'll meet you under that sign."

"See you soon!" Gabe cheerily says before he hangs up.

I walk outside of the airport to the arrival pickup, putting my hood from my hoodie over my head. The cool air nipped at my ears and sent a shiver down my spine. I step closer to the curb and anxiously await Gabe's arrival. Soon after I see his white Land Rover in the distance. I rock back and forth on my heels in excitement, and also to try to stay warm.

The Land Rover pulls up next to me and the tall, blonde Swede steps out, rushing to me and embracing me in a hug.

"Welcome back to Denver!" He exclaims while picking me up and giving me a spinning hug.

Gabe puts my feet back on the ground and immediately grabs my bags, putting them in the back of his car. He rushes back over to the passenger side door and opens it for me. I get in and I'm greeted with a heated seat and the heater on full blast.

"Damn, for it being 45°, it sure feels colder than that!" Gabe chirps as he gets back in the car, immediately holding his hands towards the heater vents.

"Ottawa was colder at 3:00 this morning," I giggle, finally pulling my hood down from my head.

"Coffee?" He asks as he picks up a Starbucks cup from his cup holder.