Bridge over troubled waters

39| Hoosier Mamma

Corey

After starting off really terribly against the Canucks we started to play a lot better. Even with things not looking so good the Mad House was still packed for home games.

Bailey trails me into the arena and I show her where media usually hides out. She pulls out her camera I got her and wraps it around her neck. She pulls her hair back before turning to me.

"How do I look? Professional" she asks.

"You look" I pause, "great."

She smiles up to me as her eyes meet mine. "Perfect" she replies.

I let her go off and meet her new photography friends around here while I went to the locker room to stretch and eat some fuel.

"Hey tender boy! Over here" Duncan yells and I let out a sigh. This should be good.

I walk over to him and a few other guys as they tape up. I sit down and he throws his arm around me. "How are you today" he wonders.

"I'm good... I guess" I mumble as I'm trying to figure out what he wants from me this time.

"How's life with Bailey? Have you asked her out yet" he asks and I scoff.

"Yeah, right after the Cubs win the World Series" I tease.

"Okay... that's just hurtful" he pouts as I smirk at him. He likes the Cubs the best and went to games often. I knew he would like that one.

"I don't think I'll ever be with her" I tell him as I let out a sigh. It killed me to say that but it's true.

"Really" he questions.

"I just... we keep having these moments and then one of us stops it before it ever turns into anything. I wanted to kiss her, I wanted so bad to just push all these thoughts to the side and just end this all.

But I couldn't do that to her. If she wants this then I'm going to let her show me. I'm not going to be the one making the move" I insist.

"You're a wimp" he accuses.

"I'm not losing the best thing I've ever had because I feel a certain way" I defend.

"Can't lose what you don't have" he claims.

I send him a hard glare as his eyes get big. He scoots over away from me as I shake my head. "I hate you. You know that" I ask.

"Yeah" he smiles. "But not as much as you love me."

The game comes and goes and we hold off elimination for at least one more game. After the game I do interviews and post game workouts before jumping in the shower. Once I'm changed I head out to find Bailey. I drove her here and I know she was waiting for me to go home. I just don't know where she was.

"Hey Jon, have you seen Bailey around" I ask him.

"Yeah. She was messing around with me and the Patrick's earlier. She should be by the ice" he explains and I nod.

I head down there and see her sitting in a seat behind the goalie net. I smile because she keeps saying she's tired of hockey but I can tell she missed it, to a certain extent.

I walk over and sit next to her. She continues to smile as she looks out onto the ice. "You were incredible tonight Corey" she starts and I smile. I know it shouldn't, but that meant everything to me.

"Thanks Bails. Felt good out there" I admit. "So how was your first time as a hockey photographer? Get any good shots" I wonder.

"Yeah, I did. I'll look them over again when I get home but from what I could tell they were amazing. This camera does great with action shots too and I think there was a lot of good content" she says.

"That's good" I say. I turn to her as she keeps her stare on the ice. "You look really happy" I notice.

"Just in a good mood I guess" she shrugs.

"What do you say we go somewhere fun" I ask her.

Her eyes light up as she turns to me. She sits up in her seat as she nods. "Lets go" she insists.

So we run out to the car and I take off. I take her to my secret escape I like to go to when I know I probably shouldn't. We pull into Hoosier Mamma Pie Company and I smile to myself. I'm home.

I grab Baileys hand and pull her into the establishment. I run inside and see the owner there wiping up some tables. "Wouldn't you know" she smiles. "He lives."

I go over and pull her into a hug as she pats my back. I love when old people did that. We break apart and I pull Bailey under my arm. "And who is this stunning young lady you have with you here" she smiles at me.

"Miss Patty this is my best friend in this entire world" I explain. Bailey wraps her arm around me as she pulls me in too.

"Bailey" she introduces as she sticks out her hand.

But Miss Patty doesn't do handshakes so she pulls bailey into a hug. They embrace each other as Bailey experiences her first true Canadian here who didn't walk out of the United Center.

"It's nice time meet you Bailey. Corey doesn't usually bring girls around here" Miss Patty claims.

My cheeks start to turn red as Bailey turns to me. "I must be special then" she teases.

"You know you are" I insist.

"Why don't you guys come pick out some treats, they're on the house" she insists.

So we follow her over to where her goodies were lined up. I used to come here after rough games, I even traveled from Rockford just to come here. I was a regular for a while, and our nutritionist did not like that. So I stopped eating here so much but I came to see some of my favorite people. I didn't tell anyone about coming here, coming to a bake shop wasn't exactly where a NHL player should be hanging out. But this reminded me of a place back home so I know Bailey would appreciate it.

We pick out our treats and a find a table. Miss Patty gives us our food before letting us be. I got apple pie and she got a cheesecake with extra whipped cream because that's how she liked it. I give her my cherry and she smiles. "You remembered" she notices.

"I would be a idiot not to remember every time our parents would take us out and if I ordered anything with a cherry you just had to have it" I tease.

"Yes I did" she smiles. "My brothers never let me have it but you... you did."

"I guess I always had a sweet spot for you" I tease.

"I guess so."