Max's Pov
I laid in bed staring at the wall across from my bed. I knew that I needed sleep since we had a game against the Rangers the next night but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't make my brain turn off. I tossed and turned for a few more minutes before I finally sat up and grabbed my phone. I dialed the familiar number and was more than a little surprised that it was anwsered in a couple of rings.
"Hey Bridgette, it's Max." I said hesitently as I listened to the breathing on the other end of the line
" Yeah I know, I do have caller id. What do you want?" she replied in a tone of voice that was so icy that I was surprised that I didn't get frostbite through the phone
" I just wanted.... I guess I just wanted to say that 'm sorry for hurting you. I really do like you and I never ment for it to happen."
" It's my own fault. I should have never let myself fall for a guy like you in the first place." she said
" I called my mother a couple of days ago to talk to her about what was going on and she said something that I've been thinking alot about. She told me that she thinks that deep down I was tired of being alone and that I conveinced myself that I was in love with Mel because I was afraid of falling in love with someone that might actually love me back. She said it was my way of pushing you away, to make sure that I couldn't get hurt."
" You talked to your mother about me?" she asked and I could hear the hesitation in her voice as she waited for my reply
" Yeah I did. Do you think that maybe we could start over?" I knew that the anwser I was probably going to get wasn't the one that I wanted but I knew that I had to try.
" I don't know Max. I'm not sure that's a good idea."
" Please. Maybe you can come to the game tomorrow and then we can go out for dinner afterwards or something." I pleaded with her
" Fine I'll go but I'm not promising that anything more will come out of this then dinner."
" I'm okay with that as long as you give me a chance to make this right." I promised
" What about Mel? Is she going to be there?" She asked
" Um no, actually she took off for home and nobody has heard from her at all."
" If you are really serious about what you told me then you need to tell her that and make it right between the two of them. He is your friend and I could tell that they really made each other happy."
" I know but what do I say. Sorry I was being a stupid jackass and fucked up your life. Can we just pretend that it didn't happen?"
" That would be a start." she said
" I can talk to Jordan but she made it very clear that she doesn't want to talk to either of us until she is ready."
" It's all that I am asking you to do. I can't continue this relationship being someones second choice." she said with a sigh
" Okay. I'll try to call her sometime tomorrow."
" Okay good. Now I really have to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
" See you tomorrow."
I fell back on my bed and felt happier then I had since the whole stupid thing had happened.
Jordan's Pov
I woke up the day of the game to a text from my brother Marc. He had gotten into town the night before and had started his usual routine of sending me texts about how bad he and his teammates were going to kick our asses. Normally I would play along and shit talk him right back but I really wasn't into it so I ignored them and went about my day. Right before I laid down for my nap my phone rang and it was him
" Hey man what's up? You always shit talk me back when we are going to play. Are you still bummed about her leaving?"
If it had been anyone but one of my brothers I probably wouldn't have admitted it but it was and there was no way that he was going to believe me if I told him that wasn't true.
" Yeah I am but it doesn't matter."
" Well you should cheer up because I have a surprise for you after the game that is guarenteed to take your mind off of your problems."
I groaned and could only imagine what my brother had planned to cheer me up.
" Marc I know that you mean well but I'm not really in the mood to do anything crazy and besides I really don't want to hang out with any of your teammates."
" Stop being a whiny little bitch and just trust me okay."
" Fine." I said, knowing that the chance of me winning this argument were slim to none. If I didn't give in that I would never hear the end of it. I laid down for my nap and fell into a restless sleep that included dreaming about Mel.
Mel's Pov
I got off of the plane and realized that I couldn't very well take my carry-on into the arena with me since it was too big to pass of as a purse. I hadn't wanted to contact anyone until I talked to Jordan but I really didn't have any other choice unless I was going to leave my stuff for someone else to take. I dug out my phone and contemplated who I was going to call. Finally I dialed a number of the person that I thought I could trust the most not to say anything.
" Hey Vero. It's Mel."
" Hi. It's so good to hear from you!" she said, the excitment ovbious in her voice
" Look I'm back in town and I'm going to the game so I can talk to Jordan and I need somewhere to put my stuff until I figure out what's going to happen."
" No problem. Do you want me to come pick you up?"
I insisted that I could take a cab but she told me that she had nothing to do until the game and that it would be stupid of me to waste the money. I finally agreed and went outside to wait for her to show. The first thing that she did after I got in was to give me a huge tight hug and then the questions started. I told her everything that had happened from the time I left until now.
" I'm so glad that you came back. We were all so worried about you but Jordan said to not bother you so we respected your wishes."
" I know and I'm glad that you did but honestly I missed you and Kelsey."
" And...."
" And I missed Jordan." I said with a sigh
" I knew it. I've known Max what seems like forever but I just couldn't picture you with anyone but Jordan."
" I know neither could I." I said with a sigh
" We can leave your stuff in the car and head right to the arena if you want."
" Sure but Marc got me a ticket already so I won't be sitting with you."
" That's okay as long as you are back. Just do me one favor okay."
" Sure Vero anything."
" Just promise me that when you talk to Max that you will let him down gently okay."
" Yeah that's the plan. I feel bad though."
" You can't help the way that you feel and as long as I've known Max I can say that he bounces back from disappointment pretty quickly."
We spent the rest of the drive getting caught up on what had been going on with her and the other girlfriends and wives while I was gone. We finally pulled up to the arena but she let me out before she pulled into the players lot since I had to go to will call to get the ticket and pass that was left for me. I told her that I would see her hopefully afterwards and she gave me a reassuring squeeze before I got out and went to find the line that I knew that I was more than likely going to have to stand in. After asking a few different people I finally found the will call window and sure enough there was quite of line of people. I had to stand there long enough that I started to contemplate what might happen and as usual I couldn't help but worry that everything might turn out horrible. I finally got to the window and handed over my id and was handed an envelope with my name on it. I opened it up and along with the two things I was expecting was a note
" I know how you get when you start to over analyze things so let me tell you that everything will be fine. Have a beer and relax and I will see you later.
P.S I shouldn't have to tell you this but seriously you both owe me
It was signed by Marc and I knew that he was right. All I could control was what I was going to do and I had to have faith that the rest would work it's self out like it was suppose to. Marc seemed confident that it would be fine and I had to admit that I found that reassuring. I made my way inside and sat down.
Jordan's Pov
Even as crappy as things had been going in my personal life I had to admit that I was looking forward to this game. I've always liked playing against my brothers, but I enjoyed playing against Marc especially since he was on a team of mostly full of themselves douchebags that I couldn't stand so when we won it was doubly satisfying. I had a feeling that I sometimes get that tonight was going to be a good night and that usually translated into a win. It was finally time to go out on the ice for warm-ups and I noticed that Max kept looking at me like he wanted to say something. I was curious to know what it was but at the same time I didn't want to get distracted and unfocused so I figured that whatever it was could wait until later. The game started and we kicked ass just like I thought we would. I was part of the media scrum afterwards since I had scored so it took me a little longer then I wanted to and I quickly sent a text to Marc to let him know that I would meet up with him when I was done. I finally got done and went and showered and threw on my suit. I was in such a good mood that the idea of going out was sounding better than it had in a long time. I made my way out of the dressing room and went to call him to find out where he was. I thought I was hearing things when I heard an unexpected but familiar voice. I turned around and saw Mel standing with Vero in the hallway. All thoughts of my brother left me as I stared until she turned around and our eyes met. Everything else faded out as I made my way towards her. She was biting her lower lip, a habit that I knew ment she was nervous and Vero pushed her in my direction before she turned around and walked off to leave the two of us more or less alone. I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, for all I knew she was there to tell me that she didn't want to be with me anymore but I knew that wasn't the case when she threw her arms around my neck. I pulled her against me and held on like a drowning man that had just been thrown a life perserver. I stayed like that for a few minutes, just savoring the feeling of her arms around me before I finally pulled away.
" I wasn't sure that you were going to come back or not." I said still not believing that she was standing in front of me.
" I just.... I just needed some time to figure things out. I'm sorry that I had to leave to do that." she said and I could see the tears start to collect in her eyes. I cupped her face with my hands and placed a gentle undemanding kiss on her lips to let her know that it was okay.
" So I guess you figured out what you needed to then huh" I said with a gentle smile
" Yep I figured out that you aren't always going to be this knight in shining armor but that's okay because no matter what I love you."
" So what you're saying is that I'm allowed to be human?" I asked and I couldn't help but let out a laugh
" Yeah I guess that's what I'm saying." she replied with a laugh of her own
" You know you don't have to apologize. I'm not proud of what I did and I know that it had to freak you out to see me so pissed off but I promise that it won't happen again okay?"
" And I won't run away everytime that we have a problem."
" Deal. Now let's go home." I said as I grabbed her hand to lead her to the parking lot.
" Wait we better go find Marc, he's the reason that I am here."
I let out a small groan. That's what he had been refering to the whole time. Part of me wanted to be pissed that he just didn't come right out and tell me but knowing Mel she probably asked him not too. I had no idea where he was so I sent him a text and it was quickly replyed to with a response to just enjoy myself and to let him know how things went. I thanked him and shut my phone and threw it in my pocket before I threw my arm around her shoulders.
" I have to talk to Max at some point." she said, looking at the floor
I looked around and realized that I had no idea where he was. I hadn't really paid any attention when he was in the locker room. He couldn't have gotten far so I steered her towards the door thinking that he may be still in the area since he was always pretty good about signing autographs for the fans. We made our way around a corner and saw that he was talking to someone. I realized that it was the dark haired girl that he had taken out on that date with us. They appeared to be having a serious conversation and we stopped and waited for a few minutes before either of them noticed that we were there. I was surprised to see her after everything that had happened but it made me glad. If she was here it because he invited her and maybe just maybe it meant that he was going to move on and try to be with someone that wanted him back. He took her by the hand and we met half way and we stood there for a few minutes in akward silence before he finally began to speak.
" I don't really know what to say other than I'm sorry for what happened. I let myself get freaked out by the fact that I have met someone that I can actually like and can see myself with and I don't know.... " he stopped and raked his free hand through his hair and looked frusterated, like he couldn't find the words that he wanted to to explain the situation.
"I just hope that someday that we can all go back to the way that things were. I'd hate to lose one of my good friends cause I was such an idiot."
I didn't know if that was going to ever be possible but I wanted that too. I held out my hand and he looked at it for a few seconds before he smiled and took it, giving it a hard shake.
" We should get going. We have alot to talk about and I'm sure that you guys want to get caught up." Max said
" I hope everything works out for you guys." Mel said letting go of my hand and pulling Bridgette into a hug. She said something to her that neither of us could hear and she let go and as we turned to walk away I saw Max pull her into him and give her a kiss. When they were out of hearing range I turned to her.
" Do you think that he means what he said, about Bridgette I mean?"
" I don't know but I hope for her sake that he does." she said quietly
" So do I" I responded in reply.
I didn't let go of her until we got to the car. All I wanted to do was get home so I didn't bother to stop for the few fans that were still out. Now that things were sorted out I hoped that things were going to go back to what it had been before.