Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me

Chapter 17

            “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” I stopped dead in my tracks as I witnessed my entire team – as well as Marc and Lindsay – in the boardroom of the hotel. Jordan had told me that we were having a team meeting after the game, which had ended in a shoot out loss for us, so we’d both changed into a t-shirt and jeans before going down to the main floor and finding the room.

            “What the…?” I asked, absolutely shocked. I knew the guys had talked about doing something, but I’d figured it would wait until we were back in the ‘Burgh, or just a cake on the plane or something. Nothing like this; somebody had taken the time to put up a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner, and there was cake and other food and pop, the whole bit. There would have been beer had I been turning 21, but with Dan in on it I could rest assured that they wouldn’t be forcing any alcohol into me.

            “You didn’t think we were gonna ignore your birthday did you?” Jordan asked, clapping me on the back as I was getting congratulated by everybody.

            “Well, I didn’t expect this,” I admitted, but they all shrugged it off.

            “We couldn’t not do something!” Pascal insisted, and soon all of them were wishing me happy birthday and giving me some form of a hug, or in Ben’s case, a nougie.

            “Happy Birthday Cam!” Lindsay gave me a huge hug, while Marc and Jordan laughed.

            “Thanks Lindsay,”

            “Congratulations kiddo,” Marc grinned, giving me a hug as well. “Sorry we had to kick your ass on your birthday.”

            “I guess I can forgive you,” I rolled my eyes, making him laugh.

            “Can we eat cake yet?” Kris and TK asked, but Steve shook his head.

            “We have to sing Happy Birthday first!” he declared, and all of the guys gathered around, singing a loud and rowdy version of “Happy Birthday” before Lindsay insisted on taking pictures of me with the cake, and then the whole team with the cake. Dan started cutting and dishing out pieces of cake, and then Lindsay took over, saying that she was more than happy to and was definitely more efficient at it. James had got the huge chocolate and vanilla swirled cake from some kind of custom cake shop he knew of; it was a giant version of the Penguins Logo, with ‘Happy Birthday Cam!’ written in icing over the penguins’ stomach.

            “Thank you so much guys; this is awesome,” I said to the room as a whole, receiving some clapping and a chorus of ‘no problem’ and ‘anytime’ from the rest of my team.

            “Happy birthday Cam; have lots of fun, yes?” Geno said, and I nodded.

            “You bet Geno,” He then pulled a small wrapped package from behind his back and gave it to me.

            “Birthday gift,” he explained.

            “Aww Geno, you didn’t have to get me anything,” I was touched, but he shook his head.

            “Is birthday; needed gift,” he shrugged me off, and when I opened it found a little glass Penguins Christmas ornament, with my name and number on the small base of the ornament.

            “Geno this is amazing, thanks,” I gave him a hug, and he looked proud that I’d approved of his gift.

            “Welcome; now go eat cake,” He told me, gesturing toward the table as he moved to get something to drink.