Love Game

Chapter Eleven - Birthday Celebrations and Hospital Visits

   "Varly, I don't know," I mumble, holding up an extra large North Face sweatshirt, inspecting it very closely. "Will this fit Gabe?" 

"Mallory, Mallory," the tall Russian says from behind me. I picture him rolling his eyes at me. Why I ever took him along with me to shop for Gabe's birthday present was beyond me. 

"You've been living with him for how long?" Varly snickers, slowly pulling the grey colored sweatshirt away from me. He rests it against his chest and looks at me. "Can you see this on him? Grey is boring as hell." 

I giggle slightly in response. Varly did have a point. What was I even thinking? Blue would be the perfect color for Gabe. His eyes would pop. But I couldn't act too girly around my teammates. At least Varly had a sense of style, unlike some of the other guys. Maybe bringing him along wasn't too such a bad idea after all. 

"You're absolutely right," I laugh, putting the sweatshirt back on the rack. "Grey is boring." 

"Finally! Someone who listens to me!" Varly exclaims, throwing his arms in the air for exaggeration. 

We continued to look around the store, nothing catching my slightest interest. I couldn't find one single thing that had "Gabriel Landeskog" written all over it. I sighed to myself, feeling defeated as I could not find something special for my boyfriend on his twenty-second birthday. I press my back against the wall, looking down at the tan colored tile laid out across the floor. 

"Mal, there's more stores than this one. We can still look around." Varly says softly, trying to make me feel better.  "He'll just appreciate the thought that you went out of your way just to find him the perfect gift." 

"But Varly, I can't find anything. I feel terrible." I whisper, shoving my hands into the pockets of my blue jeans. My hands were absolutely freezing. 

"You're already making him his favorite meal, you already ordered him a birthday cake," he replies, slowly pulling me away from the wall as he wraps his strong arm over my shoulders. "There's always birthday sex." 

"God, Varly. You're disgusting," I scoff, rolling my eyes as we stroll out of the store and into the cold, crisp air of downtown Denver. 

"Guys dig it," he nudges me, soon opening the passengers side door to his car. 

I roll my eyes once again. I had thought about giving Gabe birthday sex tonight, but we had a game against San Jose the next night. I wanted both of us to have plenty of rest for our game.

I was playing against my other brother, Freddie. I was excited to see him. Sadly, with our schedules, we couldn't see each other like I had with Dougie in Boston. Our meeting would be on the ice and only on the ice, since the Sharks had to fly to Dallas right after our meeting ended. 

I stare out the window as Varly drives down the streets of Denver. I look at the store names pass me by, nothing catching my slightest interest. I sigh as I rest my head against the window, feeling defeated once again. 

"Don't worry, Mallory. He'll just appreciate your effort. Trust me." Varly reassures me, taking hold of my hand and squeezing it softly. "It's the thought that counts." 

I look over at him, seeing his gaze stay on the road as he keeps our hands connected. I force a smile and I look down at our hands. 

"You're right," I whisper. "I'll just get him something great for Christmas. It's only a month away."

Varly laughs and squeezes my hand once again before releasing it from his grasp. We stay silent on the ride back, listening to the music play through the speakers of his car.