It Will All Work Out

Tuesday, December 9th

I was freezing as I walked past Cardinal Stadium on my way to the Arch. I thought it was pretty ridiculous that my friends’ decided we should hang out at the arch even though we lived in St. Charles, about an hour away. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I looked down to check it, momentarily taking my eyes off the city sidewalk.

I let out a loud, “oomph!” as I felt a shoulder slam into mine.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry,” The voice said as I looked up to meet his eyes.

“Uh, yea no big deal,” I sent him a weak smile as I messaged my aching shoulder.

“I feel bad, sometimes I forget how strong I am,” he looked a little nervous but continued, “lemme’ make it up to you. I can buy you a coffee or something.”

I smiled, a real smile this time, “That would be great.” I said. Realizing I was going to have a lot of explaining to when I didn’t show up to meet my friends.

As we were walking to the nearest Starbucks, about a block away, something dawned on me. I was walking with Erik Johnson! I knew I recognized his face, and apparently so did everyone else. We were earning some unwanted attention, but it wasn’t bothering me in the least bit. We walked silently next each other, but I wasn’t about to silently walk with Erik Johnson.
“Soo, what’s up?” I asked feeling a little silly. I knew what he was doing, walking with me.

He smirked, “taking a pretty lady out for coffee.”

“Oh really,” I laughed, egging him on.

“Mhm,” he nodded confidently, “But I’m a little surprised she said yes, after I almost broke her shoulder.” I rolled my eyes and smiled at is theatrics, he was so adorable.
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“No ones home and you’re not gonna reach my telephone.”
Lady gaga blasted through the apartment, as I ran to the kitchen to answer it.

“I know, I know. I’ll be there in ten minutes I promise.” I sighed as I hung up the phone on my friend.

I had known Erik for about three weeks, but it just hadn’t been a good time to tell my friends. Or maybe (most likely) I was just scared to death. But I had meet Petro and Osh, his two best friends, so he should meet my two best friends.

I walked to the nearest Starbucks; I was so nervous I thought I was going to be sick. Erik laced his fingers with mine, causing me to smile and look up at him.

“It’ll be fine,” He comforted me. We stopped just before we reached the café. His hand reached up and cupped my chin; he kissed me gently and smiled, “I’ll see you back at the apartment.” With that he walked back the way we came, leaving me to fend for myself.
I took a deep breath before walking into the familiar Starbucks.

“Hey girls,” I smiled missing my best friends, “what’s up?” I thought it would be awkward or they would mention the fact that I had been M.I.A for the past three weeks, but no. It was as if we hadn’t even skipped a beat. We settled in, chatting about the latest news.

“I have something to tell you,” I blurted out and stared at the steaming coffee mug in my hands. I had been putting it in the back of my mind, but it was time to fess up. It was Bria who spoke up first, “Well, spill it then.” She was the most impatient person in the whole world.
“Bria, be nice,” Sam scolded, while I smiled remembering how much I had missed their little fights.

“Well it’s not like life changing or anything but I guess it is. I don’t really know,” Ugh, this was coming out as horribly as I thought it would.

Bria eyed me for a good thirty seconds before raising her eyebrows, “Uhh, are you pregnant or something?” My eyes widened.

“NO!” I let out a loud breath.

“Just let it out Al,” Sam’s soft voice breaking through the silence. She was right, these were my girls. We made a promise long ago that we trusted each other and I wasn’t about to let it slide.

Here goes nothing (well actually, everything), “I’m dating Erik Johnson.”

There eyes went wide and jaws dropped. Oh god, three, two, one. I counted in my head waiting for their reactions.

“YOU’RE WHAT!?” They both screeched earning the attention of everyone in the small café.

“Dating. Erik. Johnson.” I slowed my words just in case their ears had broken in the last ten seconds. They didn’t believe me for the first twenty minutes, just as I was about to give up I heard the quiet voice I had come to love, “I believe her.” That silenced all of us. Sam rarely spoke up but when she did you really heard her.

Five minutes later we were chattin’ it up as we walked back to the apartment. Before we left I had sent a quick text to Erik letting him know we were on our way back. He replied within thirty seconds.

I forced the boys to clean. We will be waiting in the kitchen :)

I had to resist rolling my eyes; I could practically feel his excitement through the phone. He had been waiting to meet my two closest friends since I met his. As we walked up to the elevator in the lobby I glanced at my two friends. They looked nervous but happy; we had all had this hockey thing going on since we met each other. I know we would never admit it but that was the glue to our friendships. The thing that kept us together when we were fighting, and the thing that brought us back to each other no matter where we went.

The elevator door slid open as I walked up to the door labeled 6A. I smiled at Sam and Bria then pushed through the door. They followed closely as I walked straight into the kitchen. He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. I walked into his arms as he smothered me into a hug. I took a deep breath taking in his amazing smell and smiling into his chest.

I turned around as he wrapped his hands around my stomach. I couldn’t hold in a laugh as I saw my friends’ faces. Brias eyes were the size of saucers and Sam looked like she was made of stone with a hint of green. Oshie was the first one to speak up. He walked over to Sam and stuck his hand out, “Hi, I’m T.J.” Sam turned a color of deep read that I’ve never seen before followed by turning pale again. She swallowed, then turned to me and gave me the oh-my-god-I’m-meeting-the-hockey-player-I-secretly-stalk-face before passing out.

Now normally Bria and I would have worried, but instead we were cracking up. We left her on the floor while the boys looked around confused, “Shouldn’t we help her up,” T.J said with concern.

“Nah, she’ll wake up in a minute or two,” Bria laughed.

I was surprised Bria was taking this all so well, but then again Petro hadn’t shown up yet. That was the part I was truly looking forward to. When we would watch hockey we would of course fantasize about meeting and/or dating them but now it was a reality. It felt surreal but I wasn’t about to take it for granted. Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts Petro walked through the door.

Bria was still laughing and then she saw Petro. She looked at me and mouthed “holy shit”, while trying to play it cool. I had to admit she did a pretty good job. She looked as if she was about to freak out when we heard Sam moving around on the floor.

Bria looked down at her, “Morning Sunshine.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at this, which earned me a nice glare from Sam.

“Jeez Al, um thanks for the warning about all this,” she said sarcastically while making a sweeping motion towards the boys with her hand.

“Sorry,” I shrugged, “I was trying to find a good way to tell you.”

“Well this wasn’t it,” Sam mumbled while she rubbed the back of her head. Bria and I laughed at this. Sam looked at Bria, “How come you didn’t freak or anything?”

“Cool under pressure,” She laughed while pointing a finger at herself.

The next few hours went surprisingly well. Everyone got along naturally like we had known each other our whole lives. I thought it was pretty weird that the boys unknowingly sat next to the girl that had picked them the previous season. But we would never tell them that. As we attempted to watch Hot Rod, I had a permanent smile glued on my face. Everything was perfect. Bria and Petro were having a popcorn fight on the love seat, while Sam and Oshie were cuddling (even though they just met each other) on the large couch, and I was sitting in Eriks lap on the recliner.

Erik leaned up and whispered in my ear, “I told you everything would work out,” I smiled and kissed him. He was perfectly right.

The end…for now :)