Where My Love Went - A Novella

Chapter Five : Joey

Will

"Promise me you won't get into a fight." Laura gives me a stern look.

I kiss her forehead. "I promise I will try my best."

"Will."

"I can't change that much overnight, Laur. But I promise to do my best, okay? I won't start anything. Cross my heart."

She looks up at me for a beat before nodding. "Okay. Good luck. I love you."

"I love you, too." I peck her lips once before walking down to the tunnel where the rest of my team is.

"Getting a lecture, huh?" Daniel, my best friend, asks.

"Yup." I mess with the tape on my stick.

"No fights?"

"No starting fights."

He nods. "I got your back."

"What about my face?"

He chuckles. "You can handle that."

The game starts energized. The stands are packed and the fans are electric.

By the end of the first period, we're up 1-0.

I go over shooting strategies with my line in the locker room and we figure out what defense works best for the team we're playing against–Boston.

In the second period, Boston ties it up at 1-1.

We've got the third period to score and I'm gonna make sure that happens.

"On your left, on your left," I yell to our goalie who can't see the puck behind him. "Danny!" I yell before sending the puck down the ice to him.

We scored with sixty seconds left in the third, stopping us from going into overtime.

"Let's fucking go!" I yell, patting Daniel's back.

"That's what I'm talking about, boys!"

"We're going to the playoffs, baby!"

"Drinks on me tonight!" Daniel yells as we walk back to the locker room.

I shake my head. "I'll have to take a raincheck on that. I've got plans tonight."

"OooOoh. Got special plans with the special lady?"

I chuckle. "We're going out to dinner, that's all. Nothing too fancy."

"Yeah, until you get back home." Austin–a rookie–winks.

I hit him with my sweaty towel. "What do you know about what happens back at home? You're basically twelve."

"I'll have you know–" He gets cut off by a few guys pushing him into his cubby. "I lost my virginity at–"

"Fourteen, we know!" Daniel yells. "Supposedly." He coughs.

I chuckle as I head to the showers where I wash up before getting dressed and heading out to meet Laura in the parking lot.

"Hey there, hot stuff." Laura smiles as I walk up to her.

"Did you see that? Only one fight."

"I did." She smiles. "Now, what's for dinner?"

"Hmm, I don't know." I open the car door for her. "It's a surprise."

She giggles. "I love surprises."

I feign cluelessness. "Really? I had no idea."

I get into the driver's side and start the car before heading to Laura's favorite restaurant a few blocks away.

"I love you." She says when I pull into the parking garage down the street.

"I know," I say, shutting the car off. With a wink, I say, "You can remind me of that tonight though." I point to myself. "'Cause this guy is going to the playoffs."

We walk down the street hand-in-hand, avoiding other pedestrians. "The sunglasses at night actually draw more attention to you, you know that right?"

"Can never be too careful, babe."

"You're ridiculous."

I pull open the door and Laura steps inside before I follow her. "Mr.Anderberg, welcome!" The host greets us. "Your table is ready if you'll follow me."

He leads us to a table in the back corner, away from everyone else before setting menus on the table. "Here's our drink menu and your server will be with you shortly."

"Thank you," I say, opening the menu to glance at what I want.

"Champagne?" Laura asks. "Since we're celebrating?"

"If that's what you want." I close my menu. "I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick." I kiss her cheek. "Order whatever you want."

"Okay." She smiles. "Appetizers?"

"Whatever you want." I remind her.

I make my way through the tables, keeping my head down until I reach the bathroom. A guy recognizes me while I'm literally pissing and starts up a conversation, so I hurry out of there as fast as I can.

I'm too busy glancing behind me to make sure he's not following me out to not see anyone walking in front of me, and I completely run into them. "Oh, I am so sor..." My words vanish from my mouth when I look at the woman standing in front of me.

She has dark brown hair which has always been such a contrast to her pale skin. Her green eyes still have golden specks that sparkle in the light.

Her brows furrow. "Excuse me, I wasn't watching where I was–"

"Joey?"