Does Love Still Exist?

Okay. I'll go.

That was the text message to her teammate who had been on her case for the last three weeks to go on date with a friend of a friend. When the idea was first brought up, Katrina had shot it down right away thinking that it was completely ridiculous. But three long weeks of nothing but having people talk about Hank was not himself, she couldn't help but get annoyed and decided that if he truly wanted to have his kids in his life, he could take them for the night.

It had been so long since she had gone out with anyone that wasn't Hank that she wasn't sure what to wear and what was appropriate. Before Noah was born, she knew what to wear, but now that it wasn't her soon to be ex-husband she was dressing up for, she didn't know what she was going to wear. It would have been helpful for knowing what kind of place this guy she was going out with was taking her to.

There were no butterflies in her stomach as she would get ready to go out with Hank, but this date terrified her. Fighting with the butterflies, Katrina made her way to her bedroom to look through her closet to find something decent enough to wear out tonight. Running a hand through her hair, she looked in the mirror as she walked into her bedroom's bathroom. “Am I doing this for me or to forget about him?”

Listening to herself ask the question, Katrina couldn't help but wonder if she should just cancel, but then that wouldn't be fair to this guy that she had agreed to go on a this date with. Getting into the shower, she tried to look forward to the night. It was her first night out since getting married. She knew she wouldn't ever have Hank out of her life completely, especially since she knew he'd want to be in the lives of their son's.

Letting the water wash over her, she started to relax a bit more. This was the step in the right direction for her to move on with her life. The water felt amazing on her tense body. Letting out the long sigh she had been holding in for awhile, Katrina realized that if she went on this date to where ever they were gonna go, there was a good chance she would be able to move on past Hank.

After a little bit long in the shower, Katrina stepped out and wrapped a towel around her body before moving into her bedroom and then into her walk in closet. Going through her clothes, she came across a black knee length halter dress that she hadn't worn since before she gave birth to Kristopher. Grabbing it off the hanger, she walked out of the closet and went to get ready in hopes that the dress would actually fit.

As she finished getting ready, she was pleasantly surprised at how well the dress actually fit on her. Looking into the full length mirror, she smoothed out the dress. With her make-up and hair done and the dress on, Katrina couldn't help but smile at her reflection. Maybe this was what she needed, a night out with someone she didn't know or that didn't know her. The chance of Hank showing up and ruining everything wasn't likely. Maybe, just maybe there could be other opportunities for her to go out and have a life. Not as Noah and Kristopher's mother or Henrik Lunqvist's wife, well soon to be ex-wife, but as a member of the New York Freedom.

Hearing the doorbell go off, Katirna left the bedroom as she slipped on her pumps. Getting to the bottom of the stairs, she grabbed her white clutch bag that had her wallet and keys inside. Taking her phone next to the clutch, she put it inside and went to the door.

Opening the door, Katrina looked into the brown eyes of the guy she had been told about. She had been told that he would be perfect to help her get over her ending marriage and back into the dating world.

“Hi, you must be Katrina,” he said shaking her hand. “I'm Trevor. Trevor Jones.”

“It's nice to meet you,” Katrina said smiling. “So should we go?”

“Yes,” he said as he watched her lock her front door. “I made reservations at this place I've been dying to try. I hope you don't mind.”

“Not at all.” Katrina said as they made their way to his black SUV.

“It has taken me so long to get into this place,” he admitted. “I am really looking forward to it.”

The drive to the restaurant was silent, but not uncomfortable. Katrina started noticing the direction they were going to. She only hoped they weren't going to the place she thought they might be headed towards. “Here we are,” Trevor said as they stopped as he waited for the valet to come park the car. “Warren 77.”

Warren 77. Sean Avery's restaurant. The place that she and Hank had celebrated when she found out that she was pregnant with Kristopher.

As they were seated right away. Katrina looked around the familiar settings. To an outsider it might look as if she were just looking at the interior, but what she was actually doing was looking for someone who might be there. And she was right. At the bar was Marc Staal and the owner of the joint Sean Avery. Closing her eyes, she hoped that neither one would see her and come over.

“I spent the last month trying to get a table here,” Trevor said as he looked at her. “Are you okay?”

“I'm sorry,” Katrina said shaking her head of the thoughts that were lingering in her mind. “What were you saying?”

“I was just saying that I had spent the last month trying to get a table here. I thought I'd never get a chance to have a dinner here,” he said. “Have you ever been here before?”

“I have,” Katrina admitted. “Listen, Trevor, I'm not sure how much she told you but right now I am going through a divorce.”

“So you are currently married?”

“I'm separated and filing for divorce. And I do see some of his friends over there and I just want you to know since I think one of them might come over sometime while we are here.”

“And you have kids?”

“I have two sons. They are with their father right now.”

“Do you still have feelings for him?” Trevor asked. “I need to know if I'm wasting my time or not. I don't want to go any further if there isn't a chance for something more.”

“I'm filing for divorce against him and it will probably get very public and I'm not sure if you want to be involved with something like that.”

“Why would it be public?”

“The man I'm married to is Henrik Lundqvist, the starting goalie for the New York Rangers.”

“So let me get this straight,” Trevor said rubbing his temple. “You are divorcing one of the top NHL goalies? Does he know? I mean how did you two even make a relationship work?”

“I really don't want to talk about him or that right now,” Katrina told him as she tried her hardest to relax. “I just wanted you to know if one of his friends come up because I saw them near the bar.”

“We can go somewhere else if you would like.”

“No, I know how much you wanted to come here. I just wanted you to know, that's all.”

“Hello, I'm Patricia and I'll be your waitress. Do you know what you'd like? Or can I start you off with some drinks?”

“I'll have a rum and diet coke.” Katrina said.

“I'll just have a diet coke.”

“I'll be back with those while you look over the menus...”

Once the waitress left, Katrina picked up her menu and started looking over it.

After figuring out what she wanted, she placed the menu down on the table in time to see Sean Avery heading over her way with a smirk on his face. And that terrified her.

“Hello, Kitty Cat,” Sean grinned. “Whose your friend?”

“Sean Avery, this is Trevor Jones,” Katrina said with a forced smile. “Trevor, Sean.”

“You know, Hank's playing here this weekend,” Sean said, ignoring the man across the table from Katrina. “You remember Hank, don't you?”

“It is hard to forget when I normally have the kids with me.”

“Did you know he's been staying with me?”

“I heard he was back and forth between you and Marc.”

“He wants to come back home.”

“I'm not talking about that with you.”

“I'll see you tomorrow Kitty Cat.”

Watching Sean leave, Katrina let out a long sigh. It was times like this she wished that she hadn't gotten married to such a popular athlete, especially in the city of New York. Looking back to her date, she saw uncertainty in his eyes.

“I'm sorry about him,” Katrina said. “Sean is...I'm not sure how to describe him to be honest.”

“He obviously wants you to be with your husband.”

“Him and Marc Staal both have made it known,” Katrina said as she wiped away the tears that had escaped from her eyes. “They are very blunt about how they feel.”

“Do they take you into consideration?”

“Marc does,” Katrina said. “He helps me a lot with the kids when I need to head to do some personal stuff. But usually I don't deal with them because I see them as friends of Hank's, even if we do get along.”

“Do you want to go?” Trevor asked once again.

“Thanks, but I'll be okay. I can't let them get to me and this was my choice.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I won't be upset. I promise.”

“I'll be fine,” Katrina assured him. “I know it'll take time, but I'm stepping in the right direction. At least I believe I am.”

After the drinks started flowing Katrina started relaxing a little bit more and more. She could see Marc out of the corner of her eye watching her and not even trying to hide it. Dinner went by and Katrina knew she was tipsy by the time they left the restaurant. But before they left, she went to the bathroom and that was when she got cornered by Marc Staal. She was just coming out of the bathroom, he grabbed her by the arm before she could go back to her dinner partner.

“Katrina....”

“Marc? What are you doing?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” Marc said. “What are you doing here? With someone like that?”

“Like what?” she asked. “Someone that wants to be with me and seems to actually care.”

“Someone that isn't your husband.”

“So he didn't tell you?” Katrina asked, running her hand through her hair.

“That you slept together and then you told him that you filed for divorce?” Marc asked. “Yeah, he told me. It doesn't have to be that way Kat.”

“I can't watch his every move, Marc. How am I to know that when he's on the road with the team that he's actually being faithful?” Katrina asked. “I need to be the one he's always thinking of, the one he can't wait to come home to.”

“You-”

“I'm not and don't lie and say that I am,” Katrina told him. “I am on a date and I'm leaving now.”

“Please don't-”

“Don't what?” Katrina asked. “Remember what it is like to have a life? I don't understand how he can have one, but not me.”

“I just meant....” Marc sighed. “Please remember you have two boys that don't need to see that their mom to keep the level head. So please just don't do something stupid.”

“Have a good night Marc.”

Walking away from him, Katrina headed back to where Trevor was waiting for her. With a smile, she saw that he was ready and they headed out to the car.

The ride back to her house was silent, which was not what Katrina wanted because that made her think about what Marc said and that wasn't what she wanted to think about. It made her wonder what Hank was doing with the boys, if her kids missed her at all. She knew that she didn't need to worry about them since they were with their father and he loved those boys very much.

Before she knew it, they were back at her place. Getting out of the car, Trevor walked her up to the door.

“Thank you for a nice night,” Katrina told him. “I had a good time.”

“I'm glad,” he said. “I was a little worried after Avery came over to the table and started talking about your husband.”

“Sean just knows how to ruin good moments,” Katrina laughed. “He's always been like that.”

What she hadn't been expecting, was the fact that Trevor had moved closer and placed his lips on hers. He was kissing her. He was kissing her and all she could think about was Hank. Thinking of her soon to be ex-husband was enough to finally send her over the edge and the water works finally started. Breaking the kiss, Katrina couldn't even look at Trevor.

“Can I offer some advice?”

Slowly lifting her head, she looked at him and nodded her head.

“You love him. That much is obvious.” Trevor stated.

“I love him, but...”

“You still love him,” Trevor told her. “Otherwise it wouldn't affect you as much as it does. My advice for you would be this. Do what it takes to make it work. Not for the sake of the kids, but for the sake of your heart and his. I doubt he wants to let someone like you go.”

“Someone like me?” Katrina asked, not sure if she wanted to know what he meant by that.

“Katrina, you are an amazing woman, you are a diamond and any guy would be lucky enough to have a chance to go out with you.”

Nodding her head, Katrina gave Trevor a small genuine smile. “Thank you.”

“But if things don't work out,” he added with a smile. “Feel free to give me a call.”

Letting out a laugh, Katrina kissed Trevor's cheek before heading back to the door and unlocking it so she could go inside. Once inside, she locked the door and then leaned against it and took off her shoes and tossed them aside. Running a hand over her face, she made her way towards the kitchen.

Flipping the light switch on, Katrina went to the cupboard and took out one of the water bottles she had stored up there. Taking it with her, she headed towards the stairs. Slowly making her way up, Katrina couldn't believe how clean the house was or even how quiet it was. As she got upstairs she went to the bedrooms of the boys. Walking into the Noah's bedroom, she looked at how it was clean and empty it looked. Heading into her bedroom, she looked where Kristopher's pack and play was set up next to her bed.

Taking off her dress she tossed it into the hamper before going into the bathroom and removing her make-up. After doing her nightly routine, Katrina walked out and to her dresser. Pulling out a pair of running shorts she slipped them on before grabbing her grey tee that read New York on it.

Making her way over to her bed, she crawled under the covers. Letting out a loud sigh, she rolled over towards the nightstand that was on her side of the bed. Grabbing the picture frame that was face down, she scooted away from the edge of the bed.

Allowing her eyes to look at the image, Katrina could feel the tears starting to come. Hank was dressed in just a pair of grey pajama pants while sitting on the couch asleep with Kristopher asleep on his chest and Noah sleeping with his head on his father's lap. Katrina had come home from a roadtrip and found them that way and so she had taken the camera and snapped a quick picture.

Holding the picture to her chest, Katrina cried herself to sleep. Knowing that she wanted one thing more than anything and couldn't have it made her wonder how it everything went from so amazing to so horrible in just a few short years. Noah was going to be five and he didn't understand why his father no longer lived with them in the house. Now that the divorce was about to start, he still wouldn't understand and neither would Kristopher. They were just too young to comprehend what was happening between his parents.

But there was nothing she could do to change what her husband had done. Everyone had told her that she should give Hank another chance. What would giving Hank another chance actually do? It wasn't the first time she would have given him another chance, but it wasn't actually doing any good. The only thing that was happening was the fact that Katrina kept getting hurt.