Bridge over troubled waters

31| Alone Together

Corey

There was a little less than a month left in the regular season and the Blackhawks were hanging onto a playoff position. I had been the starter for a while now and I was doing pretty good for myself. As a rookie I had to prove myself as a valuable piece of this team, and I think I've done pretty well so far. I've worked well with the system and I'm hoping I can continue to work here long into the future.

For right now I'm staying focused on the task at hand. I had a season to finish before I start to wonder about what happens afterwards with my contract being up and the mysteries of contract negotiations and all that good stuff. I want to make sure I'm the best at what I do now and later. Make it so they have to keep me here.

"Why did you ask me to take shots at you? You're a professional hockey player, you're not going to see my wimpy shots in a actual game" Bailey pouts as she skates over to me. She had on a pair of skinny jeans that made her butt look extra good and my Blackhawks sweatshirt like always. Her hair pulled back because even if she didn't want to be out here she was going to try and kick my ass since she was.

"Because you're a lot nicer than the other guys when I ask them to do something for me" I insist.

"I mean, sometimes" she teases. She was not wrong.

"Plus I'm about to be gone for a little while and I want to hang out with you before I go away. This way I get to hang out with you and still get what I need done" I explain. The ice road trip wasn't as long as the circus trip but still just a tedious.

"Alright. I guess it could be worse" she claims. 

"How" I question.

"My brother could be here" she shakes her head.

Brady was one of my favorite people ever. I mean her whole family was great, but she was number one and he was number two in my eyes. Her dad a close third though. Brady was a year older than me but his maturity level was basically teenage boy, that will never change. He was a lot like his sister where he's loud and funny and always in your face. He was smart but he wouldn't ever let you know that. And he was one of the best dudes I know. I kinda wish he was here like the good old days when his family and mine were inseparable. Those street hockey fights we got into were my favorite until their mom had to come out and separate Brady and Bailey before someone got killed.

We get started with simple drills and I just work on my puck management. I focus on rebound control and tracking and all that other good stuff. She did the job pretty well, she even gets a few pucks past me and she knows I should have stopped them and she knows I know she knows so she gives me shit. So much shit.

"Coulda had that one" she chirps as another puck gets past me. I let out a long huff as a start to throw a fit in my crease.

"I know" I pout.

"What's wrong? Do I distract you" she teases.

My face starts to get hot as I don't reply immediately. She gets a smirk on her face as she looks down at me. "I am distracting you" she accuses.

"Sorry the other guys I face aren't as pretty as you" I scoff.

"You think I'm pretty" she asks.

"I think you are the most stunning human I have ever laid my eyes on" I admit.

Her smirk falls as she realized I wasn't joking. I wasn't even exaggerating at this point. I really meant it.

"You're lying" she accuses.

"I'm not lying" I argue. "You could be a model. You could sell anything to anyone because you could make anything look attractive. Your eyes look like snow globes that bring so much joy to everyone who gets to see them. Sometimes they change and look different but never do they lose their magic. Your lips are so full and they make your smile look like someone drew them they're so perfect. You got that cute button nose and high cheek bones that make the boys and the girls swoon. Your skin is so smooth and so soft looking. Your body is perfect by any measure and you look like you just walked off the Victoria secret run way at any given point.

So yeah, you are very beautiful" I argue.

She just stares at me as I stare back at her. Part of me wants to believe that she doesn't want to hear this stuff because she doesn't want to admit that I think of her this way. She doesn't want to believe that I find her attractive in the way I do. But part of me believes she already knows and just doesn't want to admit it.

The next second I feel a puck on my chest and I let out a gasp. I see Bailey standing there smiling as she laughs. "Stopped that one" she teases.

I know this is just a way to get me to stop talking about her. And sadly it worked. "You're a real pain in my ass today, you know that" I ask.

"Hey, you're the one that made me do this" she reminds me.

"Sorry for wanting to spend time with you" I pout.

"You're forgiven" she teases.

We finish up with the drills before I decide to call it a day. I get off the ice and shower and change before I swoop up Bailey to get some food. I was about to be gone for a week so I wanted to make sure I get all my time with her before I go.

"How has work been going" I ask her.

"Kinda slow. I just want to make sure I'm putting out good stuff and not a lot of stuff. I've been stuck on one painting for a while and for some reason I just can't figure out what I want to do with it. But I don't want to toss it to the side either. I have to finish it in order to move on" she explains.

"Anything I can help with" I wonder.

She just smiles at me as she shakes her head. "I don't think you can. But you'll be the first person to see it when it's done" she promises.

"Good" I smile.