The Day Has Come (Counting on Hockey #4)

Chapter 21: Cheater

Noah and the Bruins are in town for our first game of the season against them. Noah and Ariana were given permission from Coach Julien to stay with us, since Cole is a hockey player himself, and they both know how important it is to be on time for everything. I have a question to ask Noah this week while he's here, and I really hope he says yes.

~~~~~~~~~~

I'm awoken by my alarm clock on my side of the bed. I hit it with my hand and immediately smell something cooking in the kitchen. Pancakes? Bacon?

I remove the covers to see Cole isn't beside me. I sigh and climb out of bed, putting on a pair of leggings and one of Cole's t-shirts left on the end of the bed. I grab a hair tie and pull my crazy hair into messy bun. I open the bedroom door and walk the few feet into the kitchen. Ariana stands at the stove top cooking the pancakes and bacon, Noah and Cole sit at the table talking about something. They have pieces of paper in front of them, they're studying them.

I greet Ariana and get plates out of the cupboard above me, then walk over to the fridge, take out the carton of tart cherry juice, which is extremely good for your health, and walk over to the table. I put the plates down in front of the two guys, who look up at me and smile, then go back to the paper. I look down at it and my mouth gapes open. I grab the papers from between them.

"Cole John Anderson, Noah Travis Smith", I start. "These are game plays. I thought we agreed that you would not share with each other. I'm taking these, you're not getting them back until the game is over. No asking for them, or you will face my wrath".

Cole stands up and walks towards me slowly. I hold the papers behind my back and step backwards through the kitchen. "Baby", Cole says. "Can I please have those papers? Noah and I need those for the game tonight. Please, Baby?"

I'm stopped when I back into the window. Cole inches closer to me, and stops when our faces are an inch away from each other. "Meredith", Cole says.

"Cole", I mock him.

"Can I have the strategy papers, please? Our coaches need them back when we arrive at Xcel later", Cole pleads, his voice low.

"No. If Boudreau and Julien need them back, I will personally give the papers to each of them, and I say I made sure you two were not cheating, which is what you were doing. But..... You can give me a kiss, if you would like".

"Sorry. Not until I get the plays".

I push Cole away from me and walk away, into the living room. He follows me as Ariana and Noah watch our every move with a smile on their faces. I lay the papers on the coffee table. "I guess I will go without my morning kiss, where our streak is almost six months. You wouldn't want to break it, would you?"

I try to walk past Cole, back into the kitchen, when he grabs my wrist and pulls me to his chest. His 6'3" stature towers over me and my 5'5" form, looking down with a smirk. His hand goes to my chin, and he moves his lips over mine gently. Cole lets go of me, turns around, and walks back into the kitchen, leaving me in the archway of the kitchen.

"Come on, breakfast is ready", Ariana says to me. I walk over to the stove and help her carry the plates of pancakes and bacon to the table, where the two guys sit. We eat breakfast and laugh about stories. I tell Ariana about the time a few years ago when Noah questioned me about using olive oil in pancakes, instead of canola oil.

We finish breakfast, and both Ariana and Cole need to leave for Xcel. Cole has a press conference, and Ariana has to cover it for the Bruin's sake. I'm having Jamie cover it so I can talk to Noah, who I'll head to Xcel with later in the day.

Cole and Ariana say goodbye to Noah and I, and it's our turns to get ready for the day. I put take a shower and put on my normal outfit for home games. A pair of black jeans, a dark green tank top, and my custom made staff jacket with my last name on it, my lucky number, 19, on the right sleeve.

Noah comes out in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt with his number, 13, on his upper chest. "Noah, I was wondering if I could ask you a really big question?"

"Of course", Noah says, sitting at the kitchen table. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh goodness, yes. Of course, everything is fine", I answer him, sitting at the opposite side of the table. "It's just about my wedding".

"You're not running away from it, Mere, are you?" Noah's worried.

"Okay, no. Just let me get this out, please", I laugh nervously. "So, since Dad isn't here to walk me down the aisle, and I never had a huge relationship with my uncles, and I barely know my bio mom's husband, I need someone to walk me down the aisle. I know you're already Cole's best man, and I know how much work that has been, and-"

Noah cuts me off and grabs my hand. "Princess, spit it out".

I take a deep breath. "Will you walk me down the aisle on my wedding day?"

"Yes. Of course".