Page 1 of So Pucking Over You

CHAPTER 1

Oakley

After pulling up at the motel, the driver drags my luggage from the trunk of his car then takes off. I’m sure with another snowstorm on the way he doesn’t want to be caught away from home. It was an hour drive from Chicago to the motel where the team is staying. Now the driver has to go all the way back into the city.

Having me come for these back-to-back games is all Trevor has talked about for two weeks. He also hinted at some big life changes. My heart skips a couple beats. He was so insistent that I show up today. I wonder what’s going on. Is he planning something big? Something personal?

We missed being with each other for Christmas and it’s almost the New Year. Is he going to propose? He’s hinted at a life together. Am I even ready? We’ve been dating for the last six months. Part of me thinks it’s too soon. I mean with my schedule for the newspaper and his with the team it somehow feels like we haven’t really gotten to know each other completely. We haven’t even dated through an off season yet.

The team has been traveling by bus for the last few games since there’s an issue with their corporate plane. I know he’sbeen annoyed at the inconvenience. When he finally replied to my text saying he couldn’t meet me at the train station I wasn’t really surprised. He probably spent the whole day warming up and going over film for tonight’s game and totally forgot.

As the sports reporter for my newspaper, they’ll reimburse me most of the expenses for this little trip, but I’ll need to cover all the personal stuff.

If the Buffalo Blades win this set of games, they’re almost guaranteed to make the playoffs. If they do, my boss told me I could follow the team to the next game. Winning would solidify their play-off berth.

One of the things I like about doing stories on the Buffalo Blades is I get to see both Trevor and my big brother, Gordy, since they play for the same team.

Tugging on my backpack, I struggle to roll my two large suitcases loaded with my photographic equipment as well as my clothes for a week. It’s a pain trying to get everything through the snow and ice when the suitcases weigh more than I do.

Approaching the front desk, I ask for the key that Trevor always leaves for me. The concierge checks and says there is no key and they were not told I was coming. When I ask him to call the room he gets no response. I’m further frustrated when he won’t even tell me what room Trevor is staying in.

I text Trevor but he doesn’t respond. After fifteen minutes I try again.

What the hell. We just talked two days ago and he texted me an hour and a half ago. So where could he be?

I study my phone. Gordy and Trevor aren’t getting along right now. I don’t know what set Gordy off, and Trevor says he has no idea and has tried to make amends for something he doesn’t understand.

I don’t have a choice. I’m not going to stand in this lobby. If nothing else, I can stay with my brother until Trevor answers.

Oakley: Gordy, what room are you in and what room is Trevor in?

Gordy: Where are you?

Oakley: At the motel where the team is staying.

Gordy: What are you doing there?

Oakley: I’ve been assigned by the paper to follow the team for the next three games. Oh, and seeing my boyfriend.

I see the bubbles, then they go away, then appear again three times before he finally replies.

Gordy: Stay put. I was grabbing food, but I’m almost there.

Oakley: Is he with you?

Gordy: No. He stayed behind.

I glance up as a truck pulls into the lot and parks. I recognize Dash, the goalie for the team as he heads for the door in front of where he parked.

Leaving my suitcases inside the lobby, I follow the shoveled path toward Dash. He glances up as I approach.

“Hi Dash. Do you know which room is Trevor’s?”

He glances at the room next to him. Room 23. Of course, Trevor’s lucky number. A ‘do not disturb’ sign hangs from the doorknob. Smiling, I knock. How sweet to make sure we won’t be disturbed.

“Uh, Oakley, wait,” Dash calls as the door opens.

Trevor stands before me hastily covering his privates with a towel. His eyes widen briefly then he shrugs. “Hey.”