Take Me as I Am

May 17th
Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings

Olivia and Summer sat in the stands of Joe Louis Arena watching the game before them. The Blackhawks were currently losing 2-1, but they were ahead in the series, already having won three games. Everyone was hoping that the Blackhawks would win the game tonight, meaning they would be going on to the Stanley Cup finals.

Olivia placed her hands in her lap, silently praying that one of the boys would put the puck in the back of the net. As she looked on, she couldn’t help but feel as if she were back six months ago at the first game she went to after she had started her job.

She watched as Patrick missed another shot on goal, but then got the puck back. He passed it over to Jonathan, and Olivia prayed that he would remember her advice from all those months ago: shoot a backhand into the upper left corner.

Jonathan did exactly what Olivia was praying for, and he celebrated with his teammates as the puck sailed past Chris Osgood, who simply looked behind him to see the puck in the net.

Olivia and Summer jumped up, celebrating with the few other Blackhawks fans in the arena.

Two hours later, Olivia sat in the locker room, waiting on the others to finish all of their interviews, after the Blackhawks won in double overtime.

“Hey,” Jonathan said, smiling, as he leaned down and kissed Olivia.

“Congratulations,” Olivia smiled.

“Yeah, well I guess I should be thanking you. You were the one who always said to shoot upper left-hand corner,” Jonathan said as he grabbed his shirt out of his locker.

“Honestly, I’m surprised that you remember from that long ago,” Olivia said as Summer and Patrick came walking over to Patrick’s locker.

“Hey, I listen to you,” Jonathan said, sounding offended.

“Congratulations, Pat,” Olivia said, ignoring Jonathan’s comment. “That winning goal was amazing!”

“Thanks,” Patrick told her. “It was all you. If you wouldn’t have told me that he goes out of the net like he did, I never would have gotten it.”

“No problem,” Olivia told him.

“So, where are you boys going to celebrate?” Summer asked, knowing that they were going to go out with the team.

“Actually, I was thinking of staying in with my girl,” Jonathan told Summer.

“Oh, really?” Olivia asked, looking up at him.

“Yeah,” Jonathan replied. “I mean I’m still not old enough to go out where they want to go, and I figured it could be like the first time we came to Detroit when you first started working with the team.”

“That’s funny. I was just thinking about how much this all reminded me of that first road trip,” Olivia told him.

“And what about you? Where are you going tonight?” Summer asked, turning around to look at Patrick.

“Well, I figured if we’re pretending that it’s that first road trip again, then I should go out with the guys and pick up a random chick,” Patrick replied.

Summer stared at him, not being able to believe what he had said. She was about to yell at him in French, when he interrupted her. “Don’t start speaking French right now,” he told her. “I’m only kidding. I figured we could spend the night together celebrating in our own way.”

“I like that idea,” Summer said as she turned around to Olivia and Jonathan. “Don’t wait up for me tonight,” she told Olivia.

“I’m taking that as I need to find another place to stay tonight,” Jonathan said.

“Yep,” Summer said simply with a smile on her face.

“I think there’s some space in my room,” Olivia told him laughing.

“Oh, and Liv, I think you finally got your answer. It’s no,” Summer said out of nowhere.

“What are you talking about?” Olivia asked, confused.

“That first day you started working for the Blackhawks. You came home and asked if all hockey players are jackasses. I think we found out that they’re not,” she told her.

“I think you’re right,” Olivia replied, smiling, as she linked her hand with Jonathan’s and began walking out of the locker room to go back to their hotel room.