Counting Down The Days (Counting on Hockey #3)

Chapter 29: Pop

I return to Saint Paul three days later, and return to work the day after that. I apologize and thank both Vince and Maria for the time I took off while Noah was in the hospital. It's almost been two months. It's the end of March, and the team is in full swing for their last chance to get into the playoffs. We've been doing well, and pretty much have a guaranteed spot in the playoffs, but we still have a few weeks.

"So, what do you think you need to change in your game against Colorado tomorrow night?" I ask Charlie Coyle in our one-on-one interview.

"Uh, you know, I think the strategies we use to pass to each other in penalty kills and how we communicate around the goal. It's been kind of hazy lately, and we need to watch how it happens in the rest of the season before playoffs", he replies. 

I complete the interview with Coyle and head back to my office to write the interview on the website. Maria is in her office yelling at somebody on the phone. Her door is closed, but I can still hear everything. I try not to eavesdrop, but she's the only noise right now in the department, everyone else is out of errands. She slams the phone down and I jump a little bit.

She notices me and calls me into her office. I walk in slowly and shut the door. "I'm sorry you heard that. I never mean to yell, it just sort of happens".

"Oh, it's okay. You do what you need to do", I say back calmly. She gives me a half smile and a nervous laugh.

"Okay. I'm sorry. Go back to your article. It needs to be up within the next fifteen minutes", I nod at her and return to editing and revising the article before I post it on the team's website.

Another call comes through for Maria, and she answers calmly, knowing it probably isn't the person she was talking to earlier. From what she's saying, she's just answering a lot of questions. I try not to listen too carefully, but since we're the only two in the department, it's hard not to.

"Meredith", Maria steps out of her office. "I just got a request asking for you down on the bench tonight with the team. Coach says that it's a special pass to get inside knowledge from the players while the game is already going on. This is a once in a season thing. We need you down there".

"Oh my god, really?" Maria nods at me. "That's awesome. I can't wait. What time do I have to be down there?"

"Probably just right before the team has to head to the ice. six-fifty, six-fifty five-ish. Coach Boudreau wants to talk with you, so you make sure you know what you can and can not do on the bench. Does that sound okay?"

"That sounds amazing", I reply.

I look up at the clock just as my phone rings from the drawer of my desk. I take it out and look at the screen. Cole, Text Message.

Hey, you want my jersey for tonites game? Come down to the locker room if you want.

"Hey, Maria, I'll be back in a second", I yell to her as I get up from my desk. She nods without looking up from her computer.

I head down two flights of stairs, and into the tunnels. I end at the Wild's locker room. Cole and the rest of his team are sitting, halfway dressed in their equipment, wrapping their sticks in hockey tape. Cole looks up at me. "Oh, hey".

"Hey", I walk in slowly as the rest of the team, and staff, look up at me.

"Oh, here", Cole hands me the white jersey with the team logo on it. He stands up.

Just as Cole opened his mouth to say something, one of his teammates interrupts him. "Oh, oh, oh. Can I tell 'er? Can I tell 'er?"

Cole give him a glare. "No, you can not". His teammate looks down at the floor in disappointment.

"Okay, well. I have to go", I say as I slip the jersey over my sweatshirt. "I'll see you on the bench tonight. I'll be down in an hour or so".

I leave the room and the team all yells their goodbyes. I head back up to my office and finish everything up on my computer. I shut it down for the night, since Maria wanted to write tonight's article for the website. I say goodbye to Maria and head down to the locker rooms once again. I find coach and we talk for a few minutes. I'm told to stand in one corner, and only allowed to talk to the players when they aren't waiting for their line to go out to the ice.

~~~~~~~~~~

The game ends with the Wild winning 3-1. The team celebrates out on the ice, and all of a sudden the stadium goes dark. As the Avalanche skate off the ice and into the tunnels, the Wild's are huddled together, theirs arms wrapped over each others shoulders. The crowd is celebrating, but when they notice what's happening, the crowd, along with everyone else in the stadium, watches quietly.

Music starts playing. I listen to it for a second, and realize that it's my favorite song, Something by The Beatles. The team leaves their huddle, and they skate back over to the bench.

"Ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to hand the mic over to a Wild with a message", our announcer says. The player in line skates over to the officials box and takes a microphone from an official.

He takes off his helmet, and it's so dark, I can't see who it is. "Okay Wild's fans. I have a quick announcement for someone I know", the voice sounds really familiar. "I would first like to start with saying to this girl, how much I messed up, and I know I did. So, in front of you all tonight, I would like to ask her one thing. Meredith  Adams, will you go on a date with me?"

Oh my god. It was Cole.