Shadows (Patrick Kane)

(8) My Time

Sophia

Patrick and the Blackhawks take care of the Blues and they were off to play the Wild in the second round. The plan was for me to join his family for a game at some point this post season. I don't want to wait too long because who knows how far they'll go. But I also wasn't in a rush to push the idea of me and him on his family. They just got into town and they have a lot to catch up on from what I could get out of Patrick. I know this situation was unique and it was going to take some time for everyone to understand. I get that. But I wasn't in a rush either.

And while Patrick was away I take a lot of what he said into consideration. I have a lot of baggage in my life and it was about time I start unpacking so I can finally move on. I've been avoiding all of this for far too long and the truth hurts, but the truth is also what sets me free.

I decide to start unpacking this baggage I've had since I was a kid with my dad because that was about 80% of my problems somehow someway. I call him up and see what he was up to this hot day. It's early May and it's not like he was busy right now. Football doesn't pick up until July and the season won't start until September so he was probably off trying to find his next wife or controlling my brother or something.

"Hey Princess, how are you" he answers the phone.

"I'm doing fine. Really getting into the city life here. How are you doing" I wonder.

"Good. Your brother is back home for the draft tomorrow. Are you able to make it" he wonders.

I let out a sigh as I shake my head. "No. I got some things I'm doing here in Chicago so I won't make it" I try.

"You have something bigger than your brother being drafted" he asks.

"Well it's his life, not mine. I don't need to be there and I promised a friend I would watch his game" I defend.

"A game" he asks.

"Yeah. I've recently become friends with one of the hockey players here. We usually just go to the bars or hang out at his place. I haven't been to a hockey game before so I wanted to watch a few more games before his family brings me to a game at the United Center" I explain.

"Who is this man? Do I know him" he asks.

"How would you know a professional hockey player in Chicago when you hide in Denver with the Broncos all the time" I laugh.

"Well what is his name? Would I approve of him" he wonders.

"It's Patrick Kane and he wouldn't do anything you wouldn't" I assure him.

"Is that supposed to make me feel good" he chuckles as I smile.

"Maybe" I tease.

"I'm gonna research him. Make sure he's good enough for my little girl" he tries.

"Well there's two things you need to know before you go down that rabbit hole. One is that I am a adult, your opinion about the men in my life that isn't you or my brother is irrelevant. And two, we're just friends" I tell him.

"You're meeting his family and you're just friends" he accuses.

"Well... yeah. I wouldn't know about hockey without them there so I didn't want to go to a game by myself" I defend.

"Sounds serious" he claims.

"I'm not taking relationship advice from someone who once had a marriage lasted a whole month" I tease.

"That divorce was not my fault, Taylor was awful" he scoffs.

"She was and she was like that way before you proposed so I don't know what you thought was going to happen once you spent all that money on a wedding and nothing changed" I insist.

"Some fun before we broke up at least" he sighs.

"Well I was calling to see how you're doing and to catch up. I'll be watching the draft" I assure him.

"You know the Bears have been in contact with us. They pretty much assured him that he will be taken second over all and he'll be in Chicago with you" he tells me.

"So now I gotta compete with my brother in this city" I sigh.

"It's not a competition between you two" he tries.

"Isn't it always though? Since we were kids we were competing for your attention and now I have to do the same to Chicago? I came here because it was far from what you did in Denver and what he is doing in Athens" I remind him.

"I know sweetie but this is huge for him" he tries.

"And what about me? When is it going to be my time" I wonder.

"Whenever you want it to be" he says.

A long sigh passes my lips as I shake my head. He doesn't understand, he never did. I wanted this to be my city I got to discover through my own eyes, I wanted to have something to call my own without being just one of the Elways. And I can't even have that now.

"I'll talk to you this weekend" I assure him.

"Alright princess. I love you" he reminds me.

"Love you too dad" I reply.

I hear the line go out and I toss my phone to the side. I run my fingers through my hair the best I can before falling back onto my bed. My eyes close as I try to organize my thoughts and feelings so they don't take me over. But that's easier said than done. I took that call to get rid of baggage and now it's heavier than ever.

My phone rings and I see Patrick sent me a text. There was a picture attached so I open it up to see what trouble he's getting into. I find a picture of him on the shoulders of one of his teammates getting a soccer ball out of a tree behind their hotel and I have to laugh. He was funny.

What's wrong? You're not tall enough to reach it on your own?

I send the text and go back to trying to figure out what's going on with my life. What my next move is. I think about what Patrick said the other day about trying to go out and do something in this city. Maybe if I can get my name out there doing what it is I love then people won't question me. Maybe they'll say "oh! You're Sophie's brother" instead of it being the other way around like always.

Are you calling me short?

Sure as hell not calling you tall

You're lucky you're pretty...

I just smile at my phone as I let out a long sigh. There is not a single point of my life right now that makes sense, not my relationships or my jobs or where I am in this world. But when I'm talking to Patrick it makes a little more sense.

What are you doing texting me in the middle of your playoffs?

I don't know if you noticed this... but you're a lot more likeable than the guys on my team

I try to not be totally ignorant

Well I apprecite that. I need someone in my life who isn't constantly judging me or asking for something from me. It's a nice change of pace

I know exactly how you feel