That's Hockey Baby

CH. 5: "Pinky Promise?"

 Once we were downstairs Ava helped me to the couch and sat me next to Travis before walking into the kitchen to get me a water and my medicine.
  "Travis! Where did you put her meds?" her ruffling bags was heard over her voice. Travis rolled his eyes and got up to go help his sister. I looked over at Nolan who was pointedly not looking in my direction, as he was staring at the TV.
  "Nolan, the TV isn't even on," I giggle and slowly move to the middle of the couch so I'll be in between him and Travis. "You don't have to be so shy Nolan, you didn't see anything. Its fine." I nudged his shoulder lightly and he gave me a sheepish smile.
  "Travis would literally kill me." he laughed.
  "Then it'll be our little secret." I winked and pulled my fingers across my lips in a zipping motion. He smiled widely at that and held his pinky out.
  "Pinky Promise?" he asked and I smiled and hooked my pinky in his.
  "Pinky Promise." I giggled.
 Travis and Ava looked confused as they walked in on us laughing but shrugged and Ava handed me a cup of juice and a couple pain pills.
  "I got you the good shit to, so you'll prolly knock out pretty quick." Travis chuckled after I had taken both pills. I jokingly glared at him before laying down with my head on his thigh and my feet on Nolan's lap who looked down amused. I winked and wiggled my toes a little seeing if he would take the bait. He sighed before lifting my foot and gently massaging the bottom.
  "Thanks boys." I said through a sleepy smile as Travis ran his fingers through my hair, knowing it would put me to sleep almost immediately.
 I wake up sometime later to someone carrying me up to the guest room, assuming it's Travis I nuzzle my face into his chest. When he puts me down in the bed I look up to see its Nolan who I look at and smile.
  "Travis and Ava were asleep and I figured sleeping on the couch wasn't going to help your back any." he said as he rubbed his hand up and down the back of his neck.
  "Thank you, Nolan. Never would have guessed Travis would have such sweet friends. Definitely gonna keep you around." I mumble drifting back into a pain killer sleep. Last thing I felt was him pushing my hair back out of my face and tucking it behind my ear before I heard the door shut and I was out.
 I wake up the next morning to my back feeling better. Not 100% but definitely 80% so I get out of bed gently not wanting to hurt myself again and grab my bag off the floor and rifle through it to find some black sweatpant capris and a Colorado Avalanche T-shirt with JOST 17 on the back and head downstairs. Ava is sitting alone on the couch watching some really bad oldie sitcom that happened to be on. I lean over the back of the couch and kiss the top of her head.
  "Thanks for being an angel and helping me so much last night." I say laying my head on top of hers.
  "You've done way more for me in my life girly." she smiled and got up to follow me to the kitchen so I could grab some coffee.
  "Why didn't you wake me to help you to your room last night, I wouldn't have minded." she says as shes grabbing my coffee creamer bottle out of the fridge and handing it to me.
  "Uh, Nolan carried me up there while I was sleeping." I shrugged it off but when I looked at her, her mouth was open and her eyes wide.
  "You're going to catch a fly in there or something." I say pushing her chin with my finger so her mouth closes.
  "Between that and how friendly yall were on the couch, I'm thinking we got a lil romance brooding," she looks at me out of the corner of her eye with a smirk on her lips. "And I've never seen Patty do romance." she giggles.
  "He's never had a girlfriend?" I guip finding it hard to believe since hes gorgeous and sweet and well...Nolan.
  "Uh, not since hes been here. Usually just focusing on hockey. Even since he got hurt hes been focusing on getting better so he can get back to it. Seeing him laughing with you was the most carefree I've seen him since the migraines started." she said eyeing me trying to gage my reaction.
  "Well, we're just friends. Hes cute and sweet, but if he wants to focus on hockey I'm not going to stand in the way of that. Plus I'm not really looking for anything, I just got here and need to get settled into the job first." she groans slightly and rolls her eyes before reaching across my arms for her keys.
  "We got to get going, I have to get some photos of practice today since we're leaving this afternoon for the Penguins game." she winked at me and grabbed my arm dragging me along behind her.
 I wasn't really dressed for work, but Ava assured me it was fine that they didn't care how we dressed unless it was before the game. Which we would go home and change before catching the flight to Pittsburgh. I was actually excited to see my first Flyers game in awhile, last time I got to watch them play was last season when the Avalanche played them. Ava and I settled onto the bench near the end so she could snap some pictures for me. I smiled lightly as I watched the boys on the ice goof off and play fight like brothers. 'One big happy family' she thought as Travis and Ivan came skating up to them.
  "We're almost done. Wanna go for a spin?" Ivan winked at me and I put my face in my hands as Travis slapped him hard on the chest.
  "No." was all Travis said and I looked up and couldn't help but laugh at the 'stern' look on his face that he couldn't hold onto for more than 3 seconds before all 4 of us started laughing.
  "I really do need to take it easy after yesterday." I stated and smiled at Nolan who was getting off the ice to walk back into the locker rooms, guess practice was over.
  "What's going on there?" Travis and Provy asked at the same time, before jinxing each other. They both turned and looked at me expectantly.
  "Nothing. Just being friendly." I counter, which makes Travis roll his eyes.
  "Whatever, give us 20 and we'll head to grab your stuff from your moms and then we can head to the apartment to change. Its closer to the airport anyway." I nodded and me and Ava walked slowly down the hall to the other side of the locker rooms closest to the outside doors to wait for the boys. When they all finally came out Nolan was last and when we smiled at each other we both blushed. Ava and I fell in behind him as we walked to her car.
  "You're so in trouble." she whispers with a grin as we climb into her car. I shake my head at her and roll my eyes.
                                                                     but i'm pretty sure she's right.