Falling For Hockey

Chapter Seven

THOMAS' P.O.V.

The scouts were at the game! And so we're my head coach and the president of the Sea Dogs. They told me after the game that they wanted offer Lucy a two-year contract. I was so excited. If she signed, she'd be coming to Saint John with me, and we wouldn't have to break up.

I was so antsy and jittery, and I think Lucy was picking up on my weird behavior. And her wearing that gorgeous black dress wasn't helping me any.

But soon enough we had all eaten and it was time for the big moment, another history making moment.

LUCY'S P.O.V.

After we finished eating, two men went up to the front of the room.

"Good evening everyone," the first man said. "I'm Trevor Georgie, the president of the Saint John Sea Dogs, and alongside me is head coach Danny Flynn. Yesterday we received a phone call from one of our players telling us all about a player in this room. After seeing your guy's game today, and after seeing this player play, Danny and I have decided to offer Lucy Pilmer a two-year contact with us."

I was so surprised I just sat there with my mouth hanging open. Then I remembered to breathe and I walked to the men, who now had a contract out on the table.

I was handed a pen and I signed my signature on the line at the bottom of the page.

Danny and Trevor handed me a jersey which I put on and Thomas snapped a picture. Then I started crying.

I was the first girl to make the World Juniors, and the first girl to make the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It was simply incredible.

"You're number one," Thomas said smiling. He pulled me into a hug before asking Julien to take a picture of us.

Everyone gave their congratulations and we hung out for a while before I decided to go back to my room, and Thomas came with me.

As I shut my door, I felt Thomas' lips attack the back of my neck. I turned around and met his greedy lips with mine.

"Did you call them?" I asked breaking apart from him.

"Yeah, I couldn't bear the thought of us being apart after this is all over and done with. So I pulled a few strings, and now you've broken history again. And you've signed your first contract or hopefully many! You make me so proud every single day," he said playing with the bottom of my new jersey.

Number one. I grabbed my phone and called my dad. My mom died when I was fourteen, and my dad took over. He's an alcoholic now. The call went to voicemail, none to my surprise.

"Hi dad, it's Lucy. Guess what? The Saint John Sea Dogs signed me to a two-year contract tonight!" I said into the phone. "Call me back whenever you can!" I continued, a stray tear running down my face. I ended the call.

"Why are you crying?" Thomas asked, looking concerned.

"My dad is an alcoholic and is probably out on his latest bender with his buddies. Clearly too drunk to take the call. He's never around for the important stuff, he's always too drunk," I said the tears flowing with more ease.

Thomas didn't say anything, he just hugged me. He hugged me like he wanted to make all of my broken pieces stick back together. And I kind of wished that they would.

"I'm staying with you tonight. No arguing. Your treat for getting signed and I'm not leaving you like this," Thomas insisted.

"I'm not gonna argue that," I said smiling through the tears that still found their way down my face.

"You might argue this," he said pulling out his phone and pulling up an Instagram post.

thomaschabot5: A huge congratulations goes out to my amazing girlfriend for getting signed by the Sea Dogs tonight! I can't wait to keep playing with you! Keep breaking history babygirl!

"Aww Thomas, that's cute! I'm touched," I said as a fresh wave of tears spilled from my eyes.

"I thought you'd like that. I'm going to get pajamas and clothes for tomorrow, I'll be right back," he told me kissing my forehead and wiping the tears from under my eyes.

I put my pajamas on. Pajamas to me most nights consists of a sports bra and shorts, and I knew Thomas wouldn't mind. To look more conservative I slipped my jersey back on. This thing is now my most prized possession.

Thomas came back a couple of minutes after I had decided to sprawl out on my bed.

"Aww my little number one is a starfish," he said putting his clothes on the other bed.

"A sleepy little starfish who wants some cuddles from her number five," I told him rolling over onto my side so he could lie beside me. "Number five on the ice, number one in my heart."

"You're cute Lucy," he said climbing in beside me.

He pulled me into his arms and I was glad foe his warm embrace. Then my phone started ringing. I groaned then reached for it, answering without seeing who called.

"Hello?" I said putting the phone on speaker.

"Hi is this Lucy Pilmer?" a voice asked.

"This is her," I said growing more curious as to why this person would be calling me.

"This is the Doctor Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton, we were just wondering if you could answer a few questions about a patient you're related to, do you mind giving up a few minutes of your time?" the voice continued.

"Sure but could I ask who the patient is?"

"Absolutely, the patient is James Pilmer, your father correct?" the lady asked.

"Yeah that's my dad," I said feeling my heart break a little.

"Alright, does your father have a history of seizures?"

"No," I said automatically.

"Any allergies?" she asked.

"Yes. Amoxicillin," I told her.

"Alright, and medical history or conditions we should be aware of?"

"He's an alcoholic, and he hasn't seen a doctor but I think he has depression," I said getting more and more worried by the second. "What's wrong with my dad?" I asked feeling tears prick the back of my eyes.

Thomas laced his fingers with mine before the woman told me; "Your father was rushed here about twenty minutes ago, he's in a very critical state, they think he has alcohol poisoning, but they also think that he might have taken a deadly overdose of an unknown substance. If anything changes can I reach you at this number?"

My heart was shattered. "Yeah you can, thank you for calling," I told her.

Thomas pulled me into his lap and wrapped his arms around me. I felt so disconnected from the moment. I could hardly hear the sobs that came out of me, or feel them ripple through my frame. I also couldn't hear Thomas soothing me.

It's funny how life could seem so damn perfect at times, and then crumble all around you when you least expect it to.