Between You and Me (A college hockey romance)

Twenty-Five

Greyson

When I woke up today, I had no idea what to expect. 

I had run through many scenarios in my head before making the drive out to Levine Sports. Would I get a chance to talk to Lennon? Would she even let me? What would it look like? What really is the goal here? 

What I hadn't put into the equation, though, was Lennon showing up looking like a snack, depriving me of all common thinking. I heard her arrive this morning and saw her through the glass windows in the office at the charity. Dressed in blue denim jeans, a white long-sleeved shirt tucked into them and a black bomber vest, she looked casual yet it left nothing to the imagination. I had to pretend not to look at her ass when she walked ahead of me. 

Not that my mind doesn't instantly jump back to that night anyway. I had to pretend to look at the pictures on the walls to keep my cool. 

Besides, when she noticed my split lip I know she put two and two together and the tiniest flicker of pride glanced in her eyes before she hid it away. I don't know how I feel about that. 

I watch her get out of her car. I hadn't expected her to want to drive with me, which is why I begged Justin to let me borrow his car instead of having him drive me. He gave me a stern look and told me to be careful with his 'baby'. I always am. 

She seems nervous as I follow her out and a woman breaks out of the crowd to greet us. 

"Lennon Levine! You have certainly grown up" the woman exclaims, holding her hands out, bringing Lennon in for a hug. She's probably in her sixties, dressed in a red and blue tracksuit with a logo I don't recognize on the chest.  I assume it's for the team. Lennon hugs her back, hesitantly. I doubt the woman notices, but I do. 

"It's only been five years, Elena" Lennon blushes, letting the woman - Elena - go. Elena turns to me, her smile growing into a scowl. She looks at Lennon with a side eye, bringing her hand up to her mouth. "He's the bad boy, isn't he?" she says, not whispering at all. 

"That's what they tell me" Lennon replies, shooting me a glare. 

I'm in for a fun afternoon. 

Elena leads us to meet the parents of the children and they're all perfectly polite. There's a general tension in the air. Everyone seems almost uncertain of how to act. And I get it. We're here representing a charity and as much as this charity is bringing opportunities to these families, I know what it's like to be in the position where that's needed. It's embarrassing, even when it shouldn't be. 

"The children are over there" Elena points towards a field a little bit away where around fifteen children are chasing a soccer ball around. They are all wearing black shirts with red shorts, each having a different number on their back. "That's where the outdoor rink is being built in a month." 

Lennon smiles at the sight of seven kids jumping after the same ball. It turns into a pile of laughter and I can't help but smile. 

"They usually have practice twice a week, inside the barn, but sometimes we don't have anyone to watch them or we don't have enough skates or equipment, so we end up playing soccer instead." Elena explains. "That's what they do in the summer, anyway"

"I'll have them take care of that" Lennon reassures. The two of them keep talking about logistics and other boring things, but all I want to do is join the kids. So that's what I do. 

We're here for them aren't we? 

I walk towards them and when they spot me they stop what they're doing and look at me. A boy with a huge smile and a missing tooth, sporting a Bruins hat that's way too big for him runs up to me. "I know you!" he says, wide-eyed.