On the Way Down - Andre Burakovsky

CH. 6: "Is he on the team?"

 Halloween is next weekend and I still don't have any idea what my costume is going to be. Most of the guys were either pairing up with their spouses or they had chosen someone on the team to partner with. I had thought about asking Andre to partner with me, but after our little tift things had been a little awkward. He still didn't seem to like me spending time with EJ even though I had told him nothing was going to happen.
  "Hey Emily, do you wanna partner up for Halloween? I'm lost." I asked her when I sat next to her on the bench in the locker room.
  "Sure! I was thinking of asking you too but I didn't know if you and EJ were going to do something." I looked up to the ceiling and sighed, Andre apparently wasn't the only one who thought something was going on between me and EJ.
  "Uh, no. I think him and Compher are doing something." we agreed and she said she would come to my apartment tonight after the game and we would figure out a costume.
 I sat on my couch waiting for Emily to show up, flipping through channels on the tv when my phone rang and it was Tom. I hadn't talked to him much since I yelled at him so I was a little nervous.
  "Hey Tommy whats up?" I answered quietly.
  "Hey, wasn't sure you'd pick up."
  "Look I was upset but I don't hate you, I understand why you do it. To a certain extent." I roll my eyes.
  "I just don't want to see you hurt. Especially when you're so far away and I can't be there to help you."
  "I'm a big girl Tommy, I have went through heartbreak before and I would live through another one."
  "So..." he coughed slightly. "Is there anyone out there? You got your eye on a guy?"
  "I mean, there is a guy I have a little thing for. But I don't think he likes me so don't worry your pretty little head about it."
  "Is he on the team?"
  "Tommmm." I groan. "I don't go anywhere else so yes he's on the team now shut up and tell me about how your season is going." we talked for another half hour before Emily showed up.
  "Hey, I gotta go my friend is here to figure out Halloween costumes. I'll see you when we come in a few weeks yeah?"
  "Yeah. Love you Chels see you soon."
  "Love you too Tommy." I hung up and saw Emily smiling at me.
  "Is that why you keep telling people nothing is going on with you and EJ because you have a man?"
  "No, Tom is more like my brother. He plays for the Capitals." I laugh.
  "Is that how you met Andre?" I nodded then motioned for her to sit on the couch.
  "I have some ideas saved to pinterest figured we can go through them and see if we like any of them." we went through several posts and ideas before sighing and leaning back.
  "I liked the female boxer ones. I have the pink robe at home, all we'd have to get is boxing gloves."
  "Sounds good." I laugh, exhausted. It was well passed 2 am at this point and I would have chosen just about anything just to get the decision over with so I could sleep. Emily gave me a hug and then I went to my room to go to bed. Since it was so late I had offered to let her stay, which she gladly excepted not wanting to drive as tired as she was.
 It was Halloween. We oddly enough didn't have a game tonight so the party fell on the actual day. Emily came over and we got ready together. We got done getting ready with only a half hour to spare, and since the house we were having it at was at least 20 minutes away we hurried to the car and drove over. When we walked in, I couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable. I knew the guys, but I had never met any of the wives or girlfriends and I was a little nervous about meeting them. I jumped when someone threw their arm around my shoulder but let out a breath when I saw it was Mikko.
  "Mikko you scared the crap out of me." I lightly slapped his arm.
  "Sorry. You looked nervous so I wanted to make sure you were okay."
  "I'm fine. I haven't really met any of the WAGs and I'm a little nervous."
  "They're all super nice, come on I'll introduce you." Mikko led me to the kitchen where all the girls were standing and introduced me. Emily and I spent a good amount of the night talking to them and drinking. I was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol so I excused myself and walked outside. It was chilly for October, but the cool air helped sober me up a little bit. I sat on a chair outside and leaned my head back and closed my eyes, jumping when someone sat down next to me. I opened one eye and glared at EJ.
  "You alright?" he asked looking concerned.
  "Just a little tipsy. The cool air helps though." we sat there for a few minutes and I could feel his eyes on my the whole time. I sat up and looked over at him.
  "EJ whats-" I went to ask him what was wrong when suddenly his lips were on mine. I jerked back and saw the hurt in his expression.
  "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I just really like you." he sputtered.
  "EJ...I'm sorry. I like Andre." I trailed off, not realizing what I had said until it was out of my mouth. My eyes went wide and I got up and headed inside. EJ stopped me in the kitchen.
  "Look, I kind of figured. I had to give it a shot though. No hard feelings. I won't tell Andre either. But you should." I nodded and looked down at my feet. Emily came up to me when EJ walked away.
  "You okay? You look sad, do you wanna leave?" I shook my head.
  "I'll be fine. We'll talk later yeah? I'm gonna go to the bathroom." I walked towards the bathroom and ran right into Andre.
  "Hey, you okay?" he asked lifting my head with his fingers so I was looking at him. My breath hitched when I looked into his eyes. I don't know how he didn't see that I liked him.
  "Yeah, just uh just going to the bathroom."
  "Oh, EJ said you needed to talk to me or something?" I mentally kicked EJ. He said I needed to talk to him but I didn't think he was going to force me to do it right now..
  "Its kind of loud here, we can talk later." but Andre apparently wasn't having that as he looked around and grabbed my arm and pulled me into the bedroom across the hall.
  "Its quiet in here." he smirked and I couldn't help but smile back at him. I took a deep breath and decided to just bite the bullet.
  "Okay, EJ thinks I should tell you that I like you, but I don't want to mess anything up and I know you probably don't feel the same way and with Tom I completely understand if you don't and I just don't want this to change anyth-" I was stopped by Andre's mouth covering mine. I sighed into the kiss and threw my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me. I felt his arms go around my waist and hold me close. I pulled back a bit later and looked him, a little confused.
  "I like you too, but I was scared to tell you because I was afraid if you didn't you would tell Tom and then he would kill me." he laughed and I leaned my head against his shoulder.
  "So what now?"
  "Well how about you let me take you out on our next off day?"
  "That sounds amazing."