Sweet Caroline (Corey Crawford)

What Are Your Aspirations

Corey

I arrive to the United Center nice and early this beautiful day. I bike a few miles in the workout room before practice and practically skip out to the ice. I head to the backup net and get ready to take some shots. The smile on my face was permanent as I wait for all my friends to join me. Maybe mess with some of the guys and hang out with them.

"This is like the third day in a row you look like the happiest man in the world and it's kind of freaking me out" Brent mentions as he skates over to me.

"Why are you so against me being happy" I ask.

"I'm not against it... it's just unusual" he insists.

"I'm just really happy right now, that's all" I claim.

"What's got you going" he asks and I just look at him.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you" I insist.

"Try me" he challenges.

"Okay... Caroline is my girlfriend now" I say and he laughs at me. Like actually laughs at me.

"You're right, I don't believe you" he admits.

I roll my eyes and put my mask on. Everyone else comes out to the ice to join us and he continues to stare at me.

"Wait... are you being serious right now" he asks.

"Why would I lie about this" I ask.

"I don't know, maybe because you've been hung up on this girl for well over half a year and nothing ever came of it. Why would you guys just up and get together" he asks.

"Because that's the way things just have to be. Sometimes things have to fall apart to fall together again" I explain.

"That actually kind of makes sense" he admits.

"Crow" someone yells and Brent and I both turn around. I see Q on the ice calling me over. Brent just shrugs his shoulders and I skate over to him. "You're in the other net today" he says and I look at him weird.

"That's the starters next" I say.

"I know" he nods.

"Does this mean I'm the number one goalie again" I ask.

"You were always the number one goalie. Now you're acting like it" he says and I smile big.

"Thank you sir, you won't regret this" I insist.

"I know I won't" he claims before skating off. I look up into the stands to see Caroline smiling at me. She sends me a thumbs up and I smile back at her. Things are really starting to look up.

We finish up practice and I go to the locker room. There was a bunch of reporters by my stall and for once that actually made me happy. I answer as many questions as I could in the time frame given to me. After all of that was done I shower and head out to my car.

I get out there and see Caroline waiting by the car. I walk over to her and pull her off the car. She smiles up at me with that amazing smile and it makes my heart skip a beat.

"Look at you, number one in the net and number one in my heart" she smirks.

"Come here" I insist as I pull her into my arms. She rests her chin on my chest as she look up to me. Her arms wrapped around my sides tightly as she presses her tiny body against mine. "I love you so much" I remind her.