Leaping for Your Dreams

***Geno’s POV***

I snuck quietly back into my room. Unfortunately for me I was sharing with Tanger, who was already up. “She’s Aleks’ best friend.” He said by way of greeting.

I sighed. “I know. She also going to be in charge of 66.” I pulled off the clothes I had worn last night, not caring who was around. Once I was a bit more comfortable, wrinkled clothes are never comfortable for me, I continued. “She also my girl.” I grinned at that.

Kris’ face was priceless. “You kissed her in front of half of the players here.” He seemed to be in shock.

I shook my head. “She start it. I just didn’t stop until you all start making noise. She was embarrassed by it.” I was pulling out clothes from my suitcase.

Tanger laughed. “That would by why I didn’t have a roomie last night? Cause _she_ was embarrassed.” He was dressing casually for being on the road; it was a good rule of thumb to do.

I shrugged. “It start that way, how it ended… that different.” He wouldn’t give me that much chirping over not staying in the room last night. It was one thing to have a one-night stand; it was another to be with your girl. Misa was my girl; he’d leave me alone to a point.

“Damn you work fast man.” He commented. “You only got rid of _her_ what 2 months ago? Already you find someone the team knows and at least likes.” He’d moved from sitting and reading to the edge of his bed.

I sat down on what was mine. “Honest, I like her _a lot_ for a long time. Not even _like_ _her_ since my injury.” That was true; I hadn’t even liked my ex since I had gone through surgery the previous season. Misa, however, oh I’d liked her for a long time. Since I had first met her in fact. She and Aleks had been in the locker room in The Igloo chatting as if they belonged there, I had known Aleks did. I found out shortly after that Mari, as Aleks called her, did as well.

Tanger shook his head. “You should have dumped that blonde a long time ago man. The last couple months you’ve been happier than we’ve seen you in years. Hurry up and get cleaned up. They’re doing breakfast en masse downstairs. I’ll wait for you.”

I rushed through my shower and such. I knew I’d get more questions from the rest of the players here, and was as ready as I could to handle it. I hoped Misa’s meeting was going better than my seemed to be.

When Tanger and I got to the elevator who was there but Nealer and Z’s brother Milan. “Just what I need, Lazy and Z’s brother.” I said loudly as we approached. Not that I didn’t like Milan more of a dig that he’d expect.

James turned and grinned. “Hey he lives!” I grinned at him. “So, she looked like she didn’t mind you kissing her last night.” I rolled my eyes; already it starts.

“You know nothing Lazy. You miss Mario giving her job in 66, she happy so she kiss.” Ok so I was simplifying what Mario actually said but overall it was true. By now the elevator had come. Inside were Kane, Eberle, Seguin and Pasha. With plenty of room, we joined them. I continued what I was saying; mostly to make sure Nealer knew she wasn’t someone to gossip about. “Besides, at least I know team like my girl now.” The look on his face was as good as Tanger’s had been.

Kane had to be a smart ass. “Wait a minute you _landed_ that hottie you were smooching?” He slapped me on my back. “Way to go! Maybe she’ll like a Hawk better than a Pen tonight.”

Tanger put a hand on my shoulder and spoke up. “That’s the stupidest thing you could have said Kane.” The doors opened and we all exited the elevator. I was glad to see that the signs for which room was ours for breakfast. Once we were inside and away from prying ears Tanger continued to defend Mari. “Not only is that _lady_ someone’s girl, she’s also a member of the Pens family.”

That’s when Seguin piped up. “Hey now, she’s Krejci’s cousin so she’s in our family too.” I saw Chara’s head pop up when he said that.

I shrugged, Misa being a part of their extended family did not matter as much as being a direct part of ours. “She work for Pens now, took job last night. Mario ask, no one say no.” Breakfast was buffet style, which was fine by me. Gave me a chance to find what I wanted and think about how to handle this.

Chara came over while we were going over the buffet. “We’re going to have a team meetings before the Media frenzy. They’ve opened the gym in Scotiabank Place for use if anyone wants it too.” Once I had a full plate I saw him nod over to his table. That told me he wanted to talk. I got situated and he asked his question. “How well do you know Michaela?”

I shrugged around my first few bites. “Know she Aleks’ best friend, know she work for Pens after this weekend done, know that _no_ _one_ will steal her from her man.” I grinned, that last part would definitely raise a few eyebrows, I was right.

“Mari doesn’t have a boyfriend, her last one treated her badly. She’s sworn off guys for a while.” Seguin said as he sat down. Maybe he did know her. “Or at least that’s what D said.”

I knew about her last boyfriend and how he treated her, Aleks raved about it last year when it happened. Fortunately she did so in Russian so no on else really knew. “Does now. Said so this morning.” I was drawing this out for my own enjoyment.

Seguin eyed me, not quite believing me. “Who?” He asked forcefully, his eyes narrowing.

I saw Tanger eyeing me with a warning. I ignored it. “Me. I know her for years, she single. Me too. We talk and decide that we make it work.” Very little could dampen my spirits right now. It did, however look like Seguin was going to threaten me, so I put my foot down before he could. “I not that scared of you. Alekskaya, _she_ can be scary. When she say she hurt me I believe.”

Of course on and off through breakfast I got chirped. It actually didn’t bother me, I was too happy.