Taking a Shot at Love

After six hours of traveling, including a layover in Baltimore, when Haley got to New York, she was ready to crash but she other things she needed to do first, like find Tony and work out what happened on the phone. She knew that right now he’d still be in the office because there was a Rangers game going on. So, instead of crashing, she was going to go to the apartment and start making a surprise dinner for him, hoping that it would help him see how much she really loved him. Haley hailed the first cab she could find and gave the cabbie Tony’s address and for the first time since she left Pittsburgh took a deep breath to calm her nerves. What if he didn’t forgive her? Would this be the end of their relationship? What was Jordan going on about the other day, about her and Sidney being perfect together? It didn’t make any sense to her, how could her and Sidney be great together or perfect for each other. She shook her head and handed the cabbie money as she exited the cab, she refused to think about the boys while she was in New York, this was about fixing her relationship, not worrying about something that didn’t matter as of right now. Haley smiled after climbing her way up the five flights of stairs to Tony’s apartment, it felt nice to be back in New York, part of her missed being in this city but she loved her job and loved working with Penguins, so no matter how much she missed New York, she wasn’t leaving Pittsburgh anytime soon. Slowly, she entered the apartment using her key and placed her bag down in the chair. She looked around the apartment, it looked the same, he hadn’t changed much in the few months that she was gone. The fact that he hadn’t changed the apartment made her smile and it made it easier for her to make dinner because she knew where everything was. Haley decided to make his favorite meal, steak and mashed potatoes with a side of broccoli. She turned the game, figuring if she was in New York, she should watch the Rangers play, and maybe look for Marc and see if she could tell he was related to Jordy. As she watched the game unfold, her nerves started to get the best of her and she felt like she was going to be sick, so she sat down on the couch and waited. The game had ended, meaning Tony would be home soon and the thought made her want to puke. What if he threw her out, what if they broke up? What was going to happen when he walked through that door? She couldn’t help but be nervous, Tony was the first guy that she gave her heart and she was afraid that tonight it was going to come back to her broken.

Haley was brought out of her musings by the front door opening. She quickly stood up and walked towards the door, with a smile on her face, expecting to see Tony and hopefully he would be happy to see her.

“Tony,” A girl’s voice, she didn’t recognize, said giggling. “Stop that tickles.”

Haley dropped what was in her hands when she got to the hallway; standing in the door way was Tony, wrapped up in the arms of some blond bimbo, pressing kisses along her neck. She literally felt her heart break as she watched the scene in front of her. The sound of the remote clashing to the ground broke the couple apart and caused them to look in the direction of the noise.

Haley’s watering eyes met Tony’s shocked eyes, “What’s going on here, Tony? Who is this girl?”

“Haley,” Tony started moving closer to her. “It isn’t what it looks like.”

“Oh really,” She spat out. “It looks like I’m interrupting something special .”

He reached out to her but she coiled away from him and shook her head, tears following from her eyes, “No, don’t touch me. God, I hate you. I hate that I came here to fix our relationship to find you wrapped up in some bimbo’s arms. How long? How long have you been cheating on me?”

“A year,” Tony said with a small smile. “And I wouldn’t have cheated on you if you would have just fucked me already.”

“So this is my fault?” Haley asked wiping her tears. “You’re an ass. I hope you enjoy your random fucks, because we’re over. I never want to see you again.” She ripped the necklace he got off her neck and threw it at him. “Go to hell.”

Haley didn’t wait for any response from Tony, and she could have cared less what he had to say. He didn’t deserve her time or energy anymore. How could she have been so stupid, how could she not seen how much of an ass he was? She shook her head, it didn’t matter anymore, what mattered now was getting the hell way from here and finding the nearest hotel until her plane. She hurried along the street as fast as her legs would carry her, not carrying who saw the tears running down her face and not watching where she was going until she landed on her ass.

“I’m so sorry,” A strong male voice said causing Haley to look up. The guy in front of her was tall, like Jordan tall with red hair and brown eyes. She swore she had seen him before but couldn’t place it. “Are you okay?”

Haley shook her head, “My boyfriend was cheating on me for half our relationship.”

The guy held out his hand to her, which she accepted, “How could someone do that to you? He must be an idiot, you’re beautiful and I can definitely tell that you have a strong head on your shoulders. He has to have something wrong with him if he’s going to cheat on you.”

Haley actually smiled at that. This stranger whoever he was, obviously knew how to make a girl feel better, “Thanks. That makes me feel a little better.”

“Great,” He said smiling. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“I’m looking for the closet hotel,” She said looking around trying to figure out where she was exactly. “I just need a place to stay until Sunday, when I go back to Pittsburgh.”

The guy turned to someone and that is when Haley noticed a Rangers bag slung on his shoulders, he played for the Rangers, he knew Tony and then he turned back to her, “You can crash on my couch. My girlfriend doesn’t mind seeing how the closet hotel is like 10 blocks away.”

Haley shook her head, “I can take a cab. I don’t want to be a bother, plus I have a feeling that you live in the same building as Tony.”

“Wait,” He said looking at her. “You’re Tony’s girlfriend? Damn, he is an idiot.”

Haley smiled, “Thanks, just give me the address to the hotel and I’ll be out of your hair.”

He frowned, “Seriously, it isn’t a problem, plus I wouldn’t feel right about just letting you go off into the night. Just stay on my couch tonight then in the morning, you can go to the hotel if you want. Plus, I want to hear about what you do in Pittsburgh, my brother lives there.”

She smiled, “If you’re sure that it won’t be a problem.”

The girl from besides him, Lindsey, “Really, no problem, it’s the least we can do. You look like you could use a hot shower and a nice cup of tea, which you wouldn’t get at a hotel.”

Haley nodded and followed the couple back to their apartment. She couldn’t help but look up to Heaven and thank God for sending this pair her way, she truly didn’t know what she would have done without them tonight, they truly were a Godsend. As she walked up the same stairs she had treaded earlier that day, but this time with a heavy heart and wishing that she never came to New York but she also wondered, where she had seen this guy before, who was he and why was he being so nice.