Sweet Caroline (Corey Crawford)

Good Girlfriend

Corey

I start to put my things I brought with me to Montreal into my suitcase and I can't help but feel a little sad. Maybe we didn't have a long time here in Canada and it wasn't at all what we wanted it to be, but the past month was pretty pleasurable. I didn't do much, just a lot of training and a lot of relaxing at home, but it's the small things I've been taking for granted recently and I'm happy I have had the chance to sit back for once. Look at the world for what it is and not what I want it to be and realize that it's kinda the same thing finally. I know I can be whatever I put my mind to and it's starting to all come together.

As I continue to pack I look over and see my little kitty Tommy had crawled inside my suitcase. I pick him up and sit on the side of the bed with him in my arms. He starts to purr as I scratch behind his ear. Despite my original feelings towards cats, I actually like them. Would I never tell the guys I have two cats, hell no. It's worse than having a little purse dog in their eyes. But I've learned to love our little kitties and I'm happy they get to come back with us.

Around 9 am Caroline wakes up and rolls over in bed. She goes to reach over for me and instead ends up putting her arm in my suitcase.

"What's happening" she groans as she starts to awaken. She starts reaching around in my suitcase causing me to chuckle.

"Well your hand is in my suitcase for one" I laugh.

"Are you leaving me" she asks.

"Well no, you're coming with" I tell her.

"Where are we going" she asks and I shake my head.

"Back to Chicago, and you better get used to being up this early" I insist.

"I will. But I don't have to right now so I am not" she claims.

"You can go back to bed" I tell her.

"Come cuddle" she whines.

"Not everyone is like you and weeks ahead of the game. I still need to pack" I say.

"Pack later."

"That's what I said I was going to do three days ago, and here we are" I explain. 

"Love meee" she pouts.

"I cannot possibly love you any more" I insist.

"Please come cuddle with me" she asks again.

"I don't understand why you are so polite" I admit.

"Because I love you sooo much" she smiles.

I look into her tired eyes and let out a grunt. I push my suitcase to the floor and she claps her hands together knowing that she has once again won another argument. She opens up the covers and I crawl in next to her. She turns to me with the biggest smile on her face before moving herself closer. She grabs my face and just stares at me.

"You're so handsome" she says and I laugh.

"Did they up your prescription or something" I ask.

"No. It's just a beautiful day today, and you're the beautiful part" she claims.

"Well that's very nice of you to say... kind of like everything else you say" I admit.

"Can I ask you a question" she wonders.

"Of course" I assure her.

"Are you happy with me. Am I a good girlfriend to you" she asks and I look at her weird.

"Why are you asking this" I wonder.

"I'm just curious" she claims.

"That's not it..."

"I don't know. I just... I read something the other day and it got me thinking" she insists.

"What was it" I question.

"Does it matter" she asks.

"If it has made you questions what you mean to me then yeah, it kind of does" I claim.

"It was some silly article about our relationship and it was not true and it was stupid but it still scares me. Maybe everything isn't what it seems" she shrugs.

"I need you to listen to me" I start and she lets out a sigh. She slowly nods before I continue. "I know what they are saying. I know people think they know you and me and us. But they don't, they only know what we lead them to think, and that isn't much. You can't let them get in your head-"

"- I know that. I know these people have nothing better to do than make up stories. To put our relationship in perspective from someone who isn't us. But I can't help but to think that if this is what people think of me, then it has to be true. My dad was always tough on things like this, but I'm not my dad. I'm no enforcer and I'm no demander. I just want to know if you think I am a good girlfriend" she claims.

"You're not just my girlfriend. That's where I have a problem with this whole situation. That someone somewhere thinks that you are just my girlfriend, but you're so much more than that. You're your own person, and that someone is someone who means everything to me. You're my best friend, there isn't a person in this world I would rather go through the toughest of times or highest of highs with. You're my motivator, my reason to get out of bed each day and continue to beat my craft until I'm ready to play again. You're my inspiration to be a better person all around. I know for a fact I would follow you anywhere and you would never let me down. You're my strength every time life knocks me down. I look at you and suddenly I am stronger than before.

So technically yes, you're my girlfriend. And a damn good one. But you're also my everything, and I don't think we need to tell people that for you to know it's true. I hope I've been able to show that to you" I admit.

"I know I make you happy, but a lot of things make you happy. I mean you can say you love me then turn around and say you love hamburgers too" she insists and I laugh.

"That's true, but those two mean different things. I love hamburgers because they taste good. I love you because you're my whole world... and you taste good" I joke and she lightly hits my chest. We laugh for a little before she shakes her head.

"I don't know if I'm ready to go back into the real world" she admits.

"Me neither. If it was up to me I would lie here with you forever" I admit.

"That city needs you" she claims.

"It needs you too" I insist.

"So we should probably get ready to make our return huh" she asks.

"If you would ever let me finish packing" I laugh.

"You got all you need right here" she claims wrapping my arm around her. I press a soft kiss on her lips to let her know I completely agree with her.

"So are you good now" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm good."