We Can See STARS

Chapter 17: Dallas Bound

With the weekend came the team's first back to back of the season. I could actually feel myself getting nervous the closer it got. What if he didn't make it? What if he did? For the first time, I realized that sometime within the next year, I'd be moving to Dallas. There were several times in my life where not stepping foot in Texas was a source of pride and now I was moving there. I started looking online at jobs just to see what was out there. Getting a counselor job midway through the school season wouldn't be easy but not impossible.

So far, none were popping up so I looked up the nearby school districts instead. Just then, I got a call from Jamie causing me to smile wide, "hi J."

"Hey kid!"

"What's up?"

"Not much, just driving to the arena. I miss you."

Just when I thought I couldn't smile any wider, he proved me wrong. "Honey! I miss you too! Guess what I was just looking for today?"

"Uhhhh...ways to please your boyfriend?"

I giggled at him, "yeah, but after that."

"Hit me."

"Jobs in Dallas!" Silence on the line. "J?"

"Wow...really?"

"Yeah? Why do you sound surprised?" Oh geez maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

"Well, I don't know. Wow. No pressure though, right?"

"No pressure, J. I'm excited to see tonight's goal."

"Yeah, we'll see I guess. Hey kid, I've gotta get going."

"Okay J, I love you."

"Love you too." The line went silent. I didn't mean to make him feel pressured but his reaction still seemed strange to me. He's the one that wanted me to move in almost immediately. I tried to swat the worries away and do something to distract myself before the game started so I put my computer away and started on laundry.

It was difficult to pay attention at all to the game. Dallas was down by 2 and it was hard to feel excited about it. By the beginning of the third period, the team looked gassed. I was not optimistic that they were going to win this game.

3...2...1 buuuuuuuuuuuh

End of the game, one Dallas goal scored, not by Jamie.

—-

—-

"What's up Riggy?" JO skated up to Benn who was sitting in the box retaping his stick for about the 3rd time during that practice.

"Hey Chubbs, are you free after practice?"

"For sure," Benn replied, still taping his stick with precision.

"Jannie, Esa and I are getting drinks after practice. Wanna come?"

"Sounds great." He finally looked at JO before jumping back out onto the ice.

—-

"So, Riggy, 2 goals already this season? That's a first, no?"

"Yeah, actually."

"So she was serious about that, eh?" Benn slid on a smirk while taking another sip from his beer.

"Yep. And I've got 3 more goals to make in...one game..." Immediately, Jannie and Esa looked at each other and laughed before Benn joined in.

"Riggy, Riggy, Riggy...in what universe do you get a hat trick in an actual game?"

"So, are you guys gonna help me?"