One in 2330 ~ Connor Bedard Love Story

33. Reunions with Whales

Honestly, I didn't want to go back to Chicago. No matter how much I knew that I was going to feel a lot better surrounded by my teammates, all I wanted to do was dig a hole in the ground and bury myself in it. My entire life turned upside down, me questioning everything now. Does Connor and the team actually like me, or is it just because I'm good at hockey? What's the real reason all of my friends have stayed by my side?

The one person I knew I could count on no matter what though is Timmy. No matter what the situation, I knew he wouldn't judge me and that he would help me through it. As much as Luke was one of my best friends, we just didn't have the same connection. Although, it's probably also because I can speak German.

Timmy had thought about everything, completely understanding my desire to sleep in, rescheduling my flight back to a later date. He even went as far as booking me a first class ticket, which I was very thankful for, as while I was boarding the plane, I had about ten children come up to me for a photo. As guilty as I felt turning them down and seeing the looks on their faces when I did, I just didn't have the time. My flight left in half an hour and I was nowhere near in the mental state to even fake looking happy.

Three hours and forty minutes later, the plane finally landed in Chicago. I quickly got off the plane and made my way to the baggage claim, just wanting to get back to my apartment and fall asleep. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that either way, as there was a game later tonight. Against who, I didn't really care, all I wanted was for it to be over with.

After waiting for what seemed to be an hour for my bag to finally show up, I grabbed my luggage and made my way to the exit, pulling my phone out to call a cab. What I wasn't expecting was to see was an all too familiar face waiting there for me, leaning against the wall.

I looked up, confused, wondering what he was doing here.

"Quinn?"

"Hey, Soph," Quinn replied, sending me a soft smile. "How you holding up?"

"H-how do you know about that?" I asked, voice quiet.

"Um... Timmy called, telling me that you might be off when we come to play you guys." he explained and I cursed in my head. Mainly because if Timmy had called Quinn, Quinn probably would've told the rest of his brothers, then they'd tell their friends, then someone it would get back to the team and I really didn't want everyone knowing. "How you feeling?"

"I'm........." That was a good question. How was I feeling? I felt like I wanted to cry. Cry until I had no tears left in me. I wanted to break stuff. Break everything in the world until it all collapsed in my anger. But at the heart of it all, I just felt numb. Like my reason for being here all of a sudden vanished. I guess Quinn noticed that as well as he simply wrapped me up into a hug.

"I'm sorry, Soph." he murdered into my hair, rubbing my back comfortingly.

"Thanks, Q." I sighed, happy to have him here. Out of all of my friends, he was probably the one I couldn't lie to. No matter how many times I've tried, he's always found a way to see right through me. It made it easy though, knowing that he'll always find a way to find a way to make things better for me, as I couldn't hide anything. 

"Now, I have an idea that will hopefully take your mind off of your idiot of an ex."

*  *  *

"This is your version of a distraction?" I asked in disbelief, a smile on my face nonetheless. Quinn had brought me back to my apartment to drop my stuff off before telling me to grab my hockey gear. He then proceeded to take me to the rink where his entire team was, just hanging in the visitor's locker room.

"Guys, I know that we just had practice, and that you're all absolutely tired right now, but Sophie just had a shit night last night due to her cheating ex-"