One in 2330 ~ Connor Bedard Love Story

39. Happy New Year

December 29, 2023. 10:30PM.

"Guys, that was a great game today, guys." Coach complimented as we all headed back into the dressing room. Despite losing 5-4 to Dallas in overtime, we all felt as if we had improved since last game.

"Johnson, nice goals tonight. Phillips, nice stepping up the defending. There are a few things I think you should touch up on, but overall, it looked good. And Connor, Soph, I noticed that you two are getting along now, thank you for fixing whatever was going on between the two of you. Well, get some rest, we have practice tomorrow at 2. Good job, guys."

"Yeah, just wait until Coach finds out exactly why you guys are finally getting along." Kev smirked as we all exited the building and got into the bus that would take us back to the hotel.

"Shut up, Kev," I replied, rolling my eyes at him and giving him a playful shove.

"You haven't told anyone, right?" I whispered as Connor and I sat down beside each other near the back of the bus.

"No, you?"

"Nope." I responded. "We'll have to tell them eventually, though. I've seen Fliggy and Jason give us a few looks already."

"I have an idea, but you gotta have an open mind about it." Connor told me.

"Sure, what is it?"

"So, you know how there's going to be a giant team party at the hotel for New Year's Eve?" Connor asked me.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"You know how at New Year's everyone kisses their partner?"

"Yeah......."

"Well, there won't be any of the management there, it will just be the team, so that would be the best time to tell them without actually telling them that we're together." Connor suggested. "What do you think?"

I thought his suggestion over in my head and weighed all the pros and cons about the situation and he was right. We would have no other way to tell all of the guys that we're together without management finding out, as any other time we'd be together would be during practices, workouts or team meetings.

"Yeah, sure." I agreed. "Let's do it."

* * *

New Year's Eve, Dallas, Texas. 10:30 PM.

"Soph? You almost ready?" Connor called out to me.

"I'm almost done!" I replied, making some final touches on my make-up. Despite this just being a team party, everyone still wanted to look nice. The guys all brought their girlfriends, wives and fiancées down to Dallas for this party, so we were all trying to make a good impression.

Additionally to everyone bringing their dates to the party, Fliggy also told us that there would be a theme, instead of the regular gold of a New Year's Eve party. Fliggy told us that we could only wear black, red or white outfits, as this was, and I quote, "a team party, so we must represent our team, even if we're off the ice."

So, after rifling through the multitude of dresses I had brought down to Dallas, I finally pulled out a tight fitting, black satin dress with spaghetti straps. I paired the dress with some shiny black stilettos. For jewelry, I clipped on a simple gold anklet with a few gold beads around the chain, a matching necklace with a gold, twelve point star pendant and a pair of gold, teardrop diamond earrings.

My make-up was also extremely simple, as I didn't want to do too much. Just some classic red lipstick, lengthening black mascara and bronze smokey eye shadow with some simple eye liner.