One in 2330 ~ Connor Bedard Love Story

25. Welcome Back

Thursday, November 23rd, 2023. 6:00 AM.

I had just touched down in Chicago, and it felt good to be back. I missed everyone on the team, as we had all gotten pretty close over the last few months that we spent playing together, so it was going to be good to see them again. 

I immediately called Rids as soon as I had stepped into the airport, knowing that he would want to know that I made it back safely. 

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Hey, Soph! You made it back alright?" Rids asked as soon as he picked up the call. 

"Yeah, I just arrived a few minutes ago." I replied. "I just figured I'd call you to make sure that you knew that I made it back safely. Also, tell the team not to worry about me. I can almost hear them looking over your shoulder on the phone." 

"Hey! How'd you know we were here?" I heard the infamous chaos of all of the Sens shout through the phone.

"Guys, you're not slick." I chuckled, shaking my head. "Why are all of you guys up this early? Did any of you guys get any sleep last night?"

"A little bit," Timmy shrugged. "Ve did ztay up prety late zough, so ve're all really tired right now."

"Yeah, well, that's what you get for staying up probably up past midnight." I chuckled. This was so them. In the many times that I had stayed with Brady in Ottawa, almost at least once, we would all stay up at least until two in the morning. "Well, I gotta go, as my ride's about to get here, but good luck in your game tomorrow. I hope I coached you guys well."

"Yeah, tell me how your game goes, tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah, I'll see if I'm actually allowed to play, though. I'm not too sure the assistant coach will be too happy that I left." I replied sheepishly. I did leave last minute, so it must have been frustrating having to re-arrange the line-ups, but I did what I had to to keep my sanity. 

"Well, I'm sure you'll be just fine, Soph. You're incredibly talented, so they would be stupid not to put you in the game." Rids complimented.

"Thanks, Rids," I smiled. I looked out the window to the airport to see Connor's car pull up, and that was my cue to hang up. "Well, my ride's here now, so I'll talk to you guys later. See ya."

"Yeah, see ya," Rids said before I hung up the phone, waving to Connor through the windows of the airport. 

I tucked my phone into the pocket of my jacket, slung my backpack over my shoulder before heading out the doors, a huge smile on my face. 

It was raining outside and for some odd reason, Connor decided to wait for me outside of the car, so his hair was sopping wet. I laughed as soon as I saw him and he simply gave me a goofy smile in return.

"You could've waited in the car, you know?" I chuckled, loading my stuff into the trunk, walking up to him.

"Yeah, but that means I wouldn't have been able to do this." Before I could ask what he meant by that, he pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around me, soaking me from head to toe from the amount of water that had been absorbed by his closing. 

I gasped in shock as I felt the cold water dripping down my back, breaking free of Connor's grip on me. 

"What was that for?" I asked, running my hands through my now soaking wet hair. It was amusing though, to see Connor acting so seriously when playing hockey, but acting like a total child off the ice. 

"Can't I hug someone who I haven't seen in almost two weeks? I missed you!" Connor teased, a huge smile on his face.

"You're suck a dork." I snorted, rolling my eyes at him.