Enchanted

It had been six years since I had seen Joffrey Lupul. Six years since I had last felt heart break. Six years since the love of my life walked out and never returned….well, he didn’t know that I loved him. We had grown up together, and when he got drafted by the Ducks we kind of fell apart. He was always my best friend, but as we grew older and our interests changed, we drifted. No longer was he Joffrey Lupul my best friend and gross guy, he was Joffrey Lupul; the guy I had a crush on.

I had gotten over the fact that I’d never see him again and packed up to move to Toronto for school. Toronto was so much bigger than Edmonton, and I loved it. The opportunities were endless, and I managed to get hired with the Toronto Maple Leafs straight out of college. I got a job as a marketing assistant with the team.

The building was alive with excitement. Upper management had made a trade today and kept it mum as to who it was. I heard my share of rumours that Bobby Ryan would be coming, but that thought was quashed when I saw Joffrey standing in the lobby talking to Brian Burke. There he was, the Greek god himself. He hadn’t changed, but had gotten better. He had grown into his face, and his features were as crisp and well defined as his fashion sense.

I had to get out of there. I felt myself getting hot and reliving all of the thoughts about him that I had banished. I had thought I got out before he saw me, but I was wrong.

“Sophia? Is that you?”

“Hey Joffrey. Long time no see.” I smiled, letting my guard down to talk to him again.

“No kidding! How have you been?”

“Not too bad. I mean, I’m working for the Leafs,” and you’re here

“It’s great to see you again. I have to go to practice, but can you slide me your number? I want to catch up later,” He asked, handing me his phone.

“Sure, that would be awesome,” I said, punching my number in.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. “It’s great to see you again, Soph. I’ll call you later on tonight.”

I couldn’t help but giggle. He still smelled exactly the same as he did the last time I saw him. He still felt the same, looked the same, and smiled the same. I thought I was over him; boy was I wrong.

After finishing up my work and getting changed, I grabbed my tickets and headed down to my seats with my friend Rylie. The Leafs were playing the Oilers, and the team had left me tickets to sit in between the two benches. I had never sat down this low before, and being the hockey fan that I am, I was in for a show.

“So that’s him,” Rylie said, pointing Joff out as he lined up to take the faceoff.

“Yep, that’s him. We’re meeting up for coffee after the game tonight. Apparently we live in the same building.”

“And how convenient is that? You’re destined to be together again. What’s the story behind you guys anyway?” She asked as she sipped on her beer.

“We grew up together. We were best friends. Then he got into hockey more, and i got bigger. We just kind of drifted apart. I fell in love with him and he didn’t notice.”

“You know he’s been looking at you at every stop in play?”

“Shut up, he has not. He probably has a girlfriend sitting behind is.” I said, sinking lower into my chair.

“He does have a girlfriend, or he did. But he’s always used his comps for her. She’s always in the 300 level. I’ve never seen her sit in the lower level for a game.”

“Oh. Well, it’s no big. I’m sure he doesn’t feel the same way about me that I do for him.” I sighed, watching as he stepped onto the ice.

Phil Kessel had the puck and passed it to Joffrey. Ryan Jones was hot on his heels and was not letting up speed. He slammed his body on top of Joff’s and they crashed to the ice with great speed. They both slammed into the goal post and Jones instantly got up. Joffrey however, lay on the ice grabbing his knee. It made impact with the post and surely was going to cause him grief for a while.

The mood of the arena quickly fell and most fans were on their feet. It was like the air had been sucked out of the arena. He rolled on the ice in pain as each trainer and doctor checked him over to make sure he was ok. Once they stepped away, Phil Kessel and Mike Komisarek swooped in and lifted him up by his armpits, helping him skate over to the door and eventually into the arms of two other trainers. The applause was deafening and the team knew that they needed to pull it together and win it for Joffrey.

The Leafs prevailed with a final score of 3-2. Joff had texted me and told me to meet him outside the room. He was going to be fine, but they needed to take x-rays in the morning after some of the swelling went down.

I stood outside the room and waited, watching as the media and other VIP’s made their way out and to their homes for the night. When the masses cleared, I couldn’t help but become transfixed on the girl in front of me. She had long blonde hair that was curled in loose waves. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle through the thick eye makeup and her smile seemed so welcoming and inviting.

She was tall and lean and was dressed way too nice to be at a hockey game. She looked like she belonged at a bar or coffee shop. My gaze on her was broken when I heard the locker room door open and the soft clang of metal crutches hit the floor.

Joffrey gingerly hobbled out of the room and into the runway. He was in a suit and had his dress shoes on. He looked so heartbroken to be injured again, but his eyes seemed to light up when he saw me leaning against the wall.

“Oh Joff, I was so worried,” Blondie cried, throwing herself against him.

“Becca, back off. I’m fine. Why are you here?”

“I wanted to take you home and make you feel better,” She smiled, running her finger down his buttoned up dress coat.

“I’m ok. Sophia’s gonna take care of me. You just go back to your place. I’m fine,” He said, making his way over to me.

“Her? You’re leaving me for her?!” She shrieked.

“Sophia’s an old friend who I haven’t seen in six years. And, honey, I left you months ago.”

Becca shrieked once more before stomping her foot and marching off down the hall and out of the arena.

“Hey. What did you think of the game?”

“It was really good. But I couldn’t focus after you went down and they didn’t call Jones on the play. Are you ok?”

“I’ve seen better days. It’s not as bad as what it originally was, but I have to go get an x-ray tomorrow afternoon once the swelling goes down. So, you ready to go?” He asked, gripping his crutches tighter as he turned to walk.

“You sure you’re ok to drive?” I asked, catching up and walking alongside him.

“Soph, we live in the building that’s connected to the arena. I don’t drive unless I’m going to practice at the other facility. Come on, let’s head back to my place and catch up.”

We walked back to the condo, taking our time and acting as if we were still sixteen and he had gotten hurt in a high school game. We got in and quickly rid ourselves of our outer clothes and got comfy on the couch.

“Do you need anything?” I asked, making sure he was comfortable before I settled down next to him.

“I’m fine. Sit. I wanna talk like we used to. How’ve you been?”

“Good. I graduated and worked with the Oilers for a bit, but I needed out of Edmonton. So Kevin Lowe made a few phone calls and they hired me. What about you? I was hoping to see you while you were home for your surgery but that didn’t go as planned.”

“Yeah, none of that went as planned, but I’m back and getting better than what I was. This is so awesome that we’re together again. I’ve really missed you.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty sweet. Umm, you missed me?” I asked, looking down to pick at the frays on my scarf.

“Yeah I did. Why is it so hard to believe?”

I sighed. “We haven’t spoken in six years, Joffrey. Best friends just don’t stop talking. I understand that I got bigger and that I didn’t fit the mould, but we were best friends. When you stopped talking to me it crushed me.”

“I know, believe me I know. I stopped talking to you because I thought that it would ease the hurt. That I’d be able to get over it and move on.”

“What?”

“I’m in love with you. I have been since we last saw each other. I thought that if I cut you out of my life that the love would go away and it wouldn’t hurt as much. But I was wrong, it got worse. And now seeing you again makes me want you so much more. But I know you don’t feel the same so...” He sighed, looking me in the eyes to try and get a read of my emotions.

I sat in shock. He loved me. “You love me?”

“I do. Why is it so hard to believe?”

“Because you’re perfect. You’re so funny and sweet and kind. You’re generous and honest. I’m just a little farm girl from Alberta who’s not a size zero and really likes to eat chocolate cake. And I’ve always loved you. I thought I was over you, but I was wrong.”

“Do you want to give it a try?”

“Give us a try?” I questioned?

He nodded. “Yeah, I really want to be with you. I’ve lived without you for the past six years Sophia, and I really don’t want to do it again.”

I smiled and giggled. “I don’t want to be without you either Joffrey.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“I’d really like that,” I smiled leaning in so he could press his lips gently on mine.

I had been waiting for that kiss ever since I was a little girl, and now that I have it, I don’t want it to end.

“Man, I wish I confessed earlier. I love you Sophia.”

“I love you too, Joffrey.”

We may not have a lot, but we have each other. I knew I was safe and loved in this man’s arms, and I knew that he would never hurt me.