Ice in My Veins by Kelli Sullivan
“Are you alright in there Christine?” He sounded nervous.
“Yeah, yeah, I am fine I’ll be out in a minute.” I told him.
I got out of the shower and dried myself off. Threw on my sweats and a tank top. I went out to join him on the couch.
“Thanks for tonight Alex.” I said “I truly appreciate you bringing me home and staying with me.”
“No problem, I didn’t mind at all, even with all the puking.” He jeered. “So you think I’m sort of hot do you?”
I had forgotten that I had mumbled that on the way home. Damn booze making me say things out loud I didn’t want anyone to know.
“I don’t know what you mean Alex.” I lied.
“Sure sure, well I think you’re kind of smokin’ yourself.” He winked at me.
He leaned forward and took my face in his hands then pressed his lips softly onto mine. They parted. His lips were soft and a tingle went down my spine. His kiss took my breath away. It was the last thing I was expecting. I caught my breath, then I pushed him away.
“Alex, we can’t do this, we’re teammates remember.” I reminded him.
“I know, but I really like you Christine.” He turned away from me to compose himself then looked at me again. “You’re not like any girl I have ever met. I can’t stop thinking about you.” He confessed.
“Alex, it’s hard enough for me to try and fit in with these guys. Having a teammate as a boyfriend is the last thing I need now. It would complicate everything.” I explained to him sadly.
“What if we didn’t tell anyone? Just kept it quiet between you and me?” He suggested.
“I don’t know Alex.” I whispered. I would love to have him as a boyfriend. Who wouldn’t. He was gorgeous. Then I remembered what Moose had told me about Alex being a player when it came to girls. “Alex, it’s just not a good idea, I am sorry.” I said softly.
He seemed genuinely hurt by my rejection. He leaned forward and kissed the top of my head. “I understand Christine, I’ll leave now. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.” He said. Then he got up to leave.
I didn’t want him to go though. I wanted to spend time with him. I really liked him also. I grabbed him and pulled him onto the couch with me and began kissing him passionately. It was like we were the only two people in the world and nothing else mattered for that moment.
He chuckled. “I thought this was going to complicate things?” He muttered in between kisses.
“It is, but since you’re the first boy I have ever kissed, I wanted to make it a good one.” I said out of breath.
“Really?” He seemed shocked by this. “You’ve seriously never been kissed before? I find that hard to believe. You’re a beautiful girl, smart, funny, just damn sexy.” He uttered.
“Seriously, most guys have issues with the fact that I play hockey.” I admitted.
He laid down beside me on the couch and placed his hand on the side of my face. He gently brushed the hair away from my face and smiled at me. Then he placed his lips softly again on mine. I melted. I closed my eyes. He kissed my closed eyelids gently. I might have agreed to anything at this point. Even though I wasn’t ready for it.
We kissed for a while. His hands not leaving my face. Who would have thought kissing could be so erotic?
Then he sat up without warning. “What do you want to do about this then?” He asked.
I bit my lip hesitating. Reality hit me. I couldn’t put my hockey career at risk. I looked into his eyes and said. “I don’t know. I like you a lot, but for now maybe we should just be friends. I think it’s for the best. Maybe you should go.” I turned my head. I felt like a tear might show in my eyes.
He got up and pulled me upright against his body. He wrapped his arms around my waist. I buried my head into his chest. He once again kissed the top of my forehead.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Christine,” he said. “We’ll act like nothing happened. It will be fine.” With that he walked up the stairs and left.
I walked to my bedroom, threw myself on my bed and started to cry. I knew it was the right thing to do. Hockey was important. Having complications like a boyfriend; or a teammate as a boyfriend for that matter, would not make it easy for me.
When I woke up in the morning I wasn’t hung over, thanks to Alex making me take those Tylenol last night.
I knocked on Moose’s door. I heard him moan something like “go away.” I opened the door anyway. He was sprawled across his bed naked and the room smelled of sex.
“Umm.” I laughed. I threw the comforter that was on the floor on top of him.
Me seeing Moose naked was nothing new. He was notorious for forgetting his towel when he showered. He always ran out dripping into the hall to the closet to grab one.
“Moose I need to talk to you.” I shook him awake.
“Whatttttt!” He growled.
“I need some advice about Alex.” I said. He sat right up.
“Did that asshole try anything on you last night? Tell me Chrissy,” he snapped.
“No he didn’t, he was a perfect gentleman.” I insisted. He shot me a look of disbelieve.
“Then what advice do you need about him?” He questioned.
“I was just wondering how bad he gets... with the girls, you know?” I inquired.
Moose looked at me. He knew me well enough to know there was something going on. “Christine, what happened last night?” He asked again.
“Seriously, nothing happened. I just want to get to know him better. I’m not dumb enough to do anything Moose. You know I would never put my hockey career in jeopardy.”
Moose starred at me for a moment. I knew he could read my face. It was probably written all over it, that I was smitten with Alex.
“Well, I guess he’s no worse than any of us other guys. We have all been with our share of girls.” He confirmed to me.
“I can tell, you’re room smells of sex.” I complained. “I know it wasn’t Lena. Did you end it with her yet or are you just going to continue cheating on her?” I snarled.
“I know, I’m an asshole for doing this to her, but part of me needs her to keep focused. I do like her I am just not in love with her,” he explained.
“Well then be honest with her. Tell her you want an open relationship.” I argued. “You have to be fair to her.” He knew I wouldn’t breath a word of his infidelity to anyone. We had a mutual respect for each other.
He always seemed to change the subject when the conversation got to intense about anything.
“So, Alex, eh?” He laughed and then steamrolled me onto the floor. He got serious after that. “The thing about guys is they will always cheat until they find that girl who means more to them than they could ever imagine. Sometimes we guys have to learn the hard way and lose the girl we love to realize it though.”
“So I’m doomed is what you’re saying?“ I hissed.
“What! No, it’s just at our age and us being hockey players, girls are always throwing themselves at us. It’s hard to stay faithful. We all try at some point but we all seem to always fall off the wagon, so to speak.” He admitted.
“I think you should forget about Alex. Date a guy from school or something. Just keep the two separate.” I knew he was right.
“Thanks Moose.” I said crinkling my nose. “Go shower, you frigging stink!” I held my nose as I left the room.
I went back to my room and turned on my computer. I had not been on MSN forever. I should really speak to some of my friends from back home.
I chatted with some girlfriends and spoke to my brother Phil. He was happy for me. I told him about the rookie party and to keep his mouth shut about it to Mom and Dad, and of course Tyler. Phil was 15 and he wasn’t naive to sex. I was pretty sure he and his girlfriend had been having sex before I even left to come up here.
For me, sex was a big deal. I wanted to wait until I was ready. I didn’t have to wait until marriage. I just wanted to make sure I was in love. I didn’t want to just jump i
I was about to sign off MSN, when I saw Alex sign on. He messaged me right away asking me how I felt this morning. I told him I wasn’t hung over at all. He asked me if I wanted to go hang out with him. I explained that I didn’t want anyone to think anything of him and me hanging out. I would tell everyone here that I was going for a run. I told him that I would meet him over at the mall in about thirty minutes. He agreed and signed off.
I rushed into the bathroom cutting Moose off who was on his way to shower. “Sorry, I’m in a hurry.” I yelled as I slammed the door on him.
I brushed my teeth and hair. I washed my face, and then put on eye liner and mascara. Just like the salesgirl at the Mac Store had showed me. I ran out of the bathroom into my room and put on a tight fitted pair of black track pants and a tight fitting baby blue t-shirt that showed off my cleavage.
I went to the couch to put on my running shoes. Moose had been watching me running around trying to get ready with amusement.
“Since when do you make yourself up to go running Chris?” He mused. He knew me too well. I suspected he realized I was going to meet Alex.
“I’m not wearing make-up really, just some eye liner. I though it would be rude if I didn’t use it, since Cathy bought it for me.” I muttered.
“Sure, You don’t have to hide anything from me you know.” He said. He wasn’t buying my excuse.
“I’m not hiding anything.” I snapped. “Talk to you later I’m going running.”
I jumped up and ran out the door before he could question me more. Hopefully, Moose would let it go and not bug me about it.
I jogged over to the mall and saw Alex leaning against his truck. He looked like an Abercrombie model, with his tight black t-shirt and nice fitted jeans on. I jogged up to him. He grabbed me into a bear hug, then spun me around and kissed me.
“I missed you,” he told me smiling.
“Oh really, did you now?” I laughed.
“I truly did.” He said smirking with that crooked smile of his that had me melting inside.
He took my hand in his, and we started walking away from the mall towards the park. We talked while we walked.
He told me about his family, and about what it was like up in Sudbury. He explained what it was like to get drafted. I didn’t realize until he told me that he had been. He was drafted in the second round of this years draft to the Boston Bruins. I listened to everything he told me about it. Taking it all in. I would kill to have a team draft me. He asked me about my family and Dryden. I told him how hard it had been on me being the odd ball in my family. It seemed to upset him to see my sadness when I talked about it. The more we talked the more I started to fall for him. He was a sweet guy. Smart, funny, gorgeous – everything a girl could ask for.
I told him I was nervous for the preseason games coming up this week. I knew coach was going to let the rookies have a lot of ice time. This way we could show him what we had to offer, before he decided on the lines. He told me not to worry, that I really was a talented player and every one could see that.
He confessed to me that he didn’t like the thought of the guys banging me around out there on the ice. I told him he had to treat me like any one of the other guys. I didn’t want anyone to know about us. It had to be kept secret. He kissed me and said that was going to be very hard for him. He wished he could tell everyone that I was his. That made me happy to hear.
We hung out in the park for a few hours. I told him as much as I didn’t want to leave to go home, that I had to. He walked me part of the way home. I felt like walking so we could talk more. Beside if someone saw us in his truck they would start to speculate we were an item. I didn’t want anyone knowing about us. It was bad enough that Moose knew.
We were a few blocks from the Peat’s home, when he suddenly pulled me into bushes and tackled me to the ground.
“What are you doing?” I said winded from the fall and being crushed by all 6’2 and 205 lbs of him on top of me.
“Did you not see Myles?” He asked. I shook my head. “He was driving up the street towards your house.”
“Thank God you saw him.” I was relieved that he saw him. That could have turned into a hairy situation.
“Maybe for the next few days we should just talk on MSN.” I suggested “If coach were to find out about us he might trade one of us and I don’t want that.”
“Your wish is my command, my lady,” he jeered. He pressed his lips to mine and kissed me passionately, before helping me up to my feet.
We said goodbye with another kiss. He smacked my bum as I started to walk away.
“Look at that sexy ass, I could watch you walk away all day.” He flirted, grinning.
I turned and scolded him with my finger. Then wiggled my bum as I strutted away.
I walked the rest of the way home smiling and thinking about how much I enjoyed kissing him.
Myles and Welsh were playing pool with Moose when I got home. They asked me to join so we could play in teams. Myles and myself against Welsh and Moose. I was not very good at pool.
Myles seemed to enjoy my pool tutoring a little to much. He pressed his body against mine, as he leaned over me to show me how to hit each ball. Moose caught me rolling my eyes.
“Coop, enough with the tutoring there buddy. I think she gets it.” Moose said sternly.
“Sorry Chrissy.” Myles smirked as if he was innocent.
Moose and Welsh beat us at three games. I gave up. I decided to go sit and talk to Cathy upstairs. I offered to help her make dinner tonight. She welcomed the idea. She confided her secret ingredient for her spaghetti sauce (brown sugar).
We all sat down to eat just like a normal family. It was nicer than having dinner with my family. At least here we didn’t all argue during dinner time. We actually talked. Also here the conversations were not always about football. Conversations were always pleasant and a wide range of topics in the Peat house.
I liked that Harry and Cathy respected us and treated us as adults and not children. Although Moose really was an adult. They told me they would be at all our home games to support us. I thought that was very sweet of them. I explained that I was a little nervous for the game tomorrow night against Oshawa. I didn’t know how the other team would react to seeing a girl out there on the ice. I wondered if they were going to try and take me out.
Moose interjected then. ”If someone tries something like that, our boys will clear the bench.” He declared.
“That’s the last thing I want to happen Moose. I need the guys to think of me as just another player on the team. Beside I can fight you know.” I sniffed.
“Really, can you?” He seemed abashed by this.
“Yes, I can. I took boxing for over three years. I have pretty good balance on skates if you haven’t notice.” I pointed out to him.
“Well then maybe that’s what you should do then. First chance you get, take it to one of the rooks on the other team. I think when you do get a chance you should. Just as a warning for other players not to screw with you,” he suggested.
“We’ll see what happens. Just tell the other guys not to worry about me out there OK.” I insisted.
The guys were going bowling after dinner. Team bonding apparently. I bowed out this time because coach was going. They were going to discuss the rules about me being in the dressing room with them.
Up until this point, I had been dressing in the visitor’s locker room. Coach had already explained it all to me. I figured it would be best if I wasn’t around when he explained it to them; so they could gripe without feeling like they were offending me.
Instead I invited Lauren over to the house to study. She left before Moose got home. I was afraid to ask him how it went, but of course I really wanted to know.
“So what’s the verdict?” I called out as he was taking his shoes off in the hall.
“Can I at lea
“No, I need details immediately.” I giggled. I had been pacing the last half hour or so waiting for Moose’s return so I could interrogate him.
“The guys have no issues with you being naked in the dressing room.” He laughed as he sat down on the couch beside me before he continued.
“Coach however does. He told the guys you shower last, and there will be a sign hanging on the wall for you to turn when you’re in there. This way everyone can respect your privacy. Of course you’re suppose to always be in your sports bra and shorts around us. Never naked. I suppose you already knew that. It wouldn’t be any different from the day of our medicals. We were ordered not to show off our junk in front of you,” he teased.
“Ha ha, so no one bitched and complained about all the special new rules?” I asked again. I found that hard to believe. Coach had added about twenty rules for them to follow.
“Not really,” he said. “I’m more worried about the distraction it will cause the other guys to see you walking around half naked. We were told to all think of you as a sister.” He mused. “Alex didn’t look happy with the new rules. Do you have anything you want to tell me little sister,” he chuckled.
“There’s nothing to tell. Alex and me are just teammates. He was nice enough to walk me home from the party, and hold my hair while I puked. End of story.” I barked.
“Alright!” He said and he stretched out on the couch hogging it as usual. I went into my bedroom and turned on my computer.
I was sure Alex had a lot to say about these new rules. He was already on MSN when I signed on. As I suspected he was not happy.
Hitting the Ice
We were all sitting in the dressing room after the pregame warm up listening to coach. The guys were pretty worked up from the chirping the other team was throwing at them about having a girl on the team.
Coach put me on the third line with Matt Spencer and Colton ‘The Hatchet’ Huges. He wanted to make sure I would be protected. I fell in good playing left wing. It wasn’t that hard to get use to. Moose assured me that he had spoken to the guys about me being able to fight, and to let me prove myself out there.