Off Sides (Off 1)

Okay, that was beyond suggestive and he was clearly a complete slime ball. "Hey buddy, why don't you step back and give me a little space here."

He took a slight step back but he was still too close. He was looking at me like I was a piece of candy. "S'all cool," he drawled. "You're just so damn fine, and I can imagine the fun we'd have together."

Luckily, I was saved from having to reply when Ryan interjected himself into the conversation, coming to my rescue. I am forever grateful that Mike immediately pulled Reece away.

Yeah, the guy gave me the major creeps and I would be happy never having to see him again. Ryan had asked me if I had been upset by something Reece said, and I wasn't about to tell him about the pathetically lame pickup line. I didn't want Ryan to have any reason to go after him.

So, it's been a week since Ryan and I made up and it has been phenomenal. We haven't been able to see each other the last few days between work, school and hockey but we constantly text each other on the phone and every night we talk for a few hours until we are both so tired we are practically falling asleep with our phones pinned to our ears.

And last night...last night Ryan surprised me when he showed up at Helping Hands Ministry with a huge bouquet of Stargazer Lilies. They are my favorite and I knew instantly he must have asked Paula what flowers to buy for me. I rewarded him with a kiss full of nips and bites which had both of us groaning. It was quickly stopped when Maverick walked into the kitchen and caught us. After yelling at both of us, he put us to work in opposite places so we didn't even see each other until we got done. We both laughed hysterically at that.

Best of all was before we left, I got to introduce Ryan to Sarge, my only real friend other than Paula. Sarge is a grizzled, Marine Corps veteran that had served in the first Gulf War. He had his left leg blown off by a roadside bomb and was medically discharged in 1992 after serving thirteen years.

Unable to get a job, and feeling general self-worthlessness, Sarge turned to alcohol to numb his pain. He didn't have a family to lose like my dad did so he said it was no surprise he ended up on the streets so quickly.

I met Sarge on the first day I went to Helping Hands to visit my dad. They had struck up a quick friendship and tried to keep each other on the straight and narrow path. My dad lost out but Sarge persevered. After successfully completing Helping Hands' rehab program, he went on to stay sober now for the past five years and now serves as a counselor at Helping Hands.

After my dad died, I continued my friendship with Sarge in addition to volunteering at the shelter. He was like a surrogate father to me and next to Paula, he was all I had in this world.

Ryan and Sarge hit it off grandly. That is, after Sarge warned Ryan that he could still kill with his bare hands and if he hurt me, he would never see the killing blow coming. Ryan swallowed hard and just said, "You don't have to worry about that, sir." And then they became fast friends.

I watched them as they talked. I was a little worried about Sarge. Age and the years of alcohol abuse were wearing on him. His dark face was heavily lined with wrinkles and I noticed his hair was mostly white now.

Before we left, I gave him a hard hug and then looked him square in the eye. "You're okay, right, Sarge?"

"Of course, I am. Why are you asking?"

"You just look a little tired to me and I want to make sure you're taking care of yourself.

He chuckled. "Quit worrying your pretty head about me. I'm fine."

I hugged him again and whispered, "I can't lose you too so you better be telling me the truth."

Sarge kissed me on the forehead and told me to get the hell out of there. He shook Ryan's hand and we both left.

I snap out of the memory of last night and start getting dressed. Tonight, Paula and I are going to Ryan's opening season hockey game. I put on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. Then I put on one of Ryan's old hockey jerseys he gave me to wear. It smells like him and gives me an odd mix of lust and comfort.

My phone gives a little buzz and I look at it. It's a text from Ryan and I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. It seems like smiling is all I've been doing since Ryan and I became an item and that's alright by me. I read his text.

Sitting in locker room getting dressed. Thinking about u.

I quickly write back.

Ironic. I'm getting dressed & thinking of u2.

He is quick to respond.

Mmmmm. Now I'm thinking about u getting dressed.

Oh Lord, now I'm thinking about him thinking about me getting dressed and it does funny things to my stomach.

LOL! Get ur head out of gutter and into game. See you later. Good luck.

He doesn't text back so I put my phone down and finish getting ready.

We get to Matthews Arena and find our seats just as the Husky's take to the ice for warm up. Ryan gave me the tickets so he knows exactly where I am sitting which is just two rows off of the glass behind the Husky's bench.

I watch him hungrily as he skates around. He looks gorgeous in his uniform and about ten times larger than life. He doesn't have his helmet on yet so as he skates, the wind whips his long locks back, throwing his face in perfect relief. He hasn't shaved today and the stubble makes him look wild and dangerous.

The team leaves the ice after about ten minutes of warm up drills and as I watch Ryan step into the tunnel, Paula nudges me with her shoulder. "Girl, you got it bad."

"What? What do I have bad?"

"Don't play stupid with me, Daniella Cross. You're in love with that boy."

I scoff. I might be falling for him but I'm not there yet. I've only known him for a little over a week. There's no way I am in love. And I tell Paula that.

She just says, "Mmmm. Hmmmm." And keeps a smug look on her face.

Soon, the lights dim and the arena thumps with loud rock music. The Husky's starting line-up is announced. When I hear, "And starting at center and team captain, give it up for Ryan Burnham" I get out of my chair and I am screaming probably the loudest in the arena.

After the game starts, I am glued to the action. I watch Ryan avidly when he is on the ice. He is focused and spot on. By the end of the first period, he has a goal and an assist. As he skates back to the bench after his last line change before the period ends, he looks to where I am sitting and smiles at me. Just that small acknowledgment...that he is thinking of me during the game...makes my heart start thumping. I look at Paula and all she says is, "Mmmm. Hmmmm."

At the end of the first period, Paula runs out to have a smoke and I go to the bathroom, then get us each some popcorn and drinks. I make it back to my seat before Paula does and I am happily sitting there munching my popcorn when someone sits down next to me. Thinking it's Paula, I turn to smile at her but am caught off guard to see Angeline sitting there.

She doesn't say anything but just appraises me coldly.

Finally I say, "Hi, Angeline."

She doesn't acknowledge my greeting but instead says, "You know...I didn't believe it at first when Cameron told me that Ryan was fucking you, but I guess I can see a certain wild appeal to you. You're different, that's for sure. If you're into trailer trash that is."

I take a deep breath and count to ten to try to calm myself before I respond. I am well aware we are in public and I don't want this to escalate, but I also am not going to stand idly by while she insults me.

"Look, Angeline. You and Ryan were over long before I came into the picture so you're beef shouldn't be with me. It should be with him. And for your information, I'm not fucking him...yet."

I see her eyes flash hot with anger and she leans into me so she can whisper. "You play out all the fantasies you want about a happily ever after with Ryan but just remember...you'll never fit into his world. He comes from the type of life you can only read about and it has no room for people like you. Trust me...he won't go the distance with you."

These words strike at me deep but before I can even think about what to say, I hear a tapping sound and we both

turn to see Ryan standing there knocking his stick against the glass. The rest of the players are back on the ice warming up. He's staring at Angeline with murder in his eyes. She merely turns to me and says, "Think about it. You know I'm right."

I glance back to Ryan and I think he might crawl over the glass he's so mad. Then I hear, "Get out of my seat you, skanky bitch."

It's Paula and she makes an imposing figure in her shredded jeans, Motley Crue t-shirt and green military jacket. She's wearing heavy black eyeliner and black lipstick and even though she's diminutive, she looks tough as nails. I get a small measure of satisfaction when Angeline pales a bit and then scurries away.

I let out a breath I apparently had pent up and glance again at Ryan. He mouths the words "Are you okay?" to me and I nod my head with a smile. He looks at me for a few more seconds and then skates off.

Paula sits down. "What did she say to you? You're as white as a ghost."

I'm quiet for a minute and then I look at her. "She basically said I wasn't good enough for Ryan. That our worlds are just too different to make it work."

"What the fuck, Danny? And I'll cough up my cigarette to you after the game. Why are you letting her get to you?"

"I don't know. She just sounded so...genuine about our differences that it made me think twice about it."

"Well, you can get that out of your head right now. That boy is crazy about you and the both of you can make this work if you want it to. Now get those doubts out of your head."