Status: Reviews/Comments = Love. Please leave one. I'm catching this one up to One More Year so it will be easier to write for both.
Leaping for Your Dreams
Game Day – Pre Morning Skate
***Geno’s POV***
Normally on back to back when one was at home and the other on the road, I found it difficult to get up on the second day. Today however, I got to see Mari. I’d rushed through my normal morning routine so I’d have some time to call her, which I was doing now while Brooksie was getting moving.
“Hey there. You must have felt me thinking of you.” Her warm voice spread over me, making me feel like I was in a world of just us.
“Nyet, just couldn’t wait to hear your voice.” There was a knock at the door. “Hold on, door.” I padded over; glad I was mostly dressed. Opening it I found Coach on the other side. “Morning.”
“Have you heard from Mari yet today?” He asked, to which I held up my phone. “May I?” I handed him the phone. “Mari? Yeah hi, look we’ve discussed it and we want you at practice this morning. No we’ve told them already so they know to expect you. Can, yeah that’s fine. Okay, I’ll see you then. Oh, I’ll need to talk to you about a game day tradition we have at home, don’t let me forget. Sounds good, here’s Geno again.” He handed the phone back and smiling walked away.
I closed the door and went back to my girlfriend. “What was that?” I asked pretty thoroughly confused by Coach’s actions.
“I’d emailed him and asked if I could come to morning skate. Not to throw anyone off. I just want a chance to see it before I’m too busy. Never mind I’m kidnapping you for a little bit to show you in person what will be moving.” She sounded very happy.
I smiled. “Can not kidnap if I go on own.” I hated idioms in English I never knew if I got them right. “About that, I pay for it.” She was moving countries, I felt like I should.
“Not needed Zhenya.” She said extra warmly. “The Pens are picking up the expenses as I’m moving for work.” She paused briefly. “I didn’t want to do this over the phone, but the movers come Friday to move me. I’m gonna need a way into the house.”
I thought I’d be able to help her, but if she moved this weekend I’d be gone. Still the idea of coming home to her, it warmed me. “No problem, I have key for you already. Was give today.” Brooks came out of the bathroom whistling. “I need go, breakfast soon. See you at skate.”
“I’ll see you then Zhenya. Я люблю тебя. (I love you.)” She hung up and then I did.
“Not even a week and she’s got you whipped. You got it bad.” I threw a pillow at Brooks.
“Hurry, need food.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***Mari’s POV***
Hanging up with Geno, there was a knock at my door. I was pleasantly surprised to find Mario and another gentleman at it. “Good Morning. Come on in.” I moved and let them in.
“This isn’t too early is it?” Mario asked as if he was concerned. Of course it might have been my state of dress. My robe was half off.
I tugged it back on and grinned. “Not at all. Geno called, as I was getting dressing is all. Please come in.” I waved a hand to my tiny living room grateful I insisted it be clean.
The second man preceded Mario into the room, checking out the decorations I had begun taking down in preparation to move. “You’re right, she’s perfect.” He said to Mario.
“Excuse me?” I said confused.
“Michaela, this is Michael Lomonaco. He’s, or at least will be, your right hand.” Mario put up a hand. “I asked if he wanted the job, he said no. Michael this is.” I cut Mario off slightly.
“Call me Mari. Nice to meet you.” We shook hands. “What did you mean?”
Michael flushed. “I just knew once I saw how you lived I’d be able to tell if I could work with you. Seeing this, you’re organized and yet can deal with the chaos as well. You’re perfect for the controlled chaos of the Suite.”
My Gaydar went off hard. Not that it would effect how I worked, but I needed to know now. “You should see my closet. Right royal mess.”
He laughed. “If your normal wardrobe is half as stylish as this, we’ll sort it out quick.” He gestured to my pajamas. It then seems that he caught himself. “I’m sorry that wasn’t…”
“Please, if we can’t be honest we won’t be a true team.” His manner relaxed greatly. Mario’s cell phone beeped.
“I have another appointment.”
I held up a hand. “I won’t kill him and we _won’t_ be late for morning skate. Go.” Mario smiled, came over and kissed me goodbye.
Once he was gone Michael turned to me. “Do you care if I’m honest with you?” He sat at me dining table.
I sat down next to him. “You’re gay aren’t you.” He looked shocked. “You didn’t check me out like a normal guy would. Went right for the décor.”
A chuckle then escaped him. “Damn you caught that. Yeah I am, if that’s gonna be an issue.”
“Hell no. I’ve worked with all sorts of people. Always gotten along best with the guys who were _not_ interested in me.” I was actually glad he was my right hand; he’d make things easier for me.
Relief swept through him. “Oh Thank the Hockey Gods! It was an issue with my now ex-wife. You should also know that I’m in a relationship that’s going on two years and have a 3 year old son, Roberto.”
I smiled. “I don’t have any kids and Geno and I just started dating. Yes the bosses know, no they don’t care.”
“They know about me too. My boyfriend, Angelo, also works at the CEC in the kitchens, he’s a chef.” That helped too; having a good relationship with any kitchen staff was important to me. “I can fake being hetero but would prefer not to.”
I laughed. “Come help me. I wasn’t kidding about my closet.” I took him into the chaos of my bedroom. I saw his eyes go wide.
“We’ll get along _just_ _fine_.” He said as he saw my shoe collection, not my clothes, strewn across the bed. He looked at me. “Do you mind?”
I smiled; this would let me know how much I’d have to reel him in. “By all means. I prefer boots to shoes, but if I own it I wear it.”
After about 20 minutes of Michael going through my closet and shoes, I loved what he’d chosen and knew we’d be a great team. In fact I’d worn a very similar outfit before. “I love it. I can’t wait to work with you at home.”
He looked at me oddly. “I thought you were Canadian.”
“I am, but when your adopted family lives in Da Burgh, it’s home. Katya and Pavel are Aleks’ folks and she’s my BFF. Pretty much my sister.” I didn’t worry about changing in front of him.
“Aleks? Sid’s Aleks?” He gaped a bit.
“She’s my sister, Pittsburgh is home. Let’s go to morning skate and chat some more about what’s gone on.” We left shortly after that and got to the Air Canada Centre. It was time to go see the boys!
Normally on back to back when one was at home and the other on the road, I found it difficult to get up on the second day. Today however, I got to see Mari. I’d rushed through my normal morning routine so I’d have some time to call her, which I was doing now while Brooksie was getting moving.
“Hey there. You must have felt me thinking of you.” Her warm voice spread over me, making me feel like I was in a world of just us.
“Nyet, just couldn’t wait to hear your voice.” There was a knock at the door. “Hold on, door.” I padded over; glad I was mostly dressed. Opening it I found Coach on the other side. “Morning.”
“Have you heard from Mari yet today?” He asked, to which I held up my phone. “May I?” I handed him the phone. “Mari? Yeah hi, look we’ve discussed it and we want you at practice this morning. No we’ve told them already so they know to expect you. Can, yeah that’s fine. Okay, I’ll see you then. Oh, I’ll need to talk to you about a game day tradition we have at home, don’t let me forget. Sounds good, here’s Geno again.” He handed the phone back and smiling walked away.
I closed the door and went back to my girlfriend. “What was that?” I asked pretty thoroughly confused by Coach’s actions.
“I’d emailed him and asked if I could come to morning skate. Not to throw anyone off. I just want a chance to see it before I’m too busy. Never mind I’m kidnapping you for a little bit to show you in person what will be moving.” She sounded very happy.
I smiled. “Can not kidnap if I go on own.” I hated idioms in English I never knew if I got them right. “About that, I pay for it.” She was moving countries, I felt like I should.
“Not needed Zhenya.” She said extra warmly. “The Pens are picking up the expenses as I’m moving for work.” She paused briefly. “I didn’t want to do this over the phone, but the movers come Friday to move me. I’m gonna need a way into the house.”
I thought I’d be able to help her, but if she moved this weekend I’d be gone. Still the idea of coming home to her, it warmed me. “No problem, I have key for you already. Was give today.” Brooks came out of the bathroom whistling. “I need go, breakfast soon. See you at skate.”
“I’ll see you then Zhenya. Я люблю тебя. (I love you.)” She hung up and then I did.
“Not even a week and she’s got you whipped. You got it bad.” I threw a pillow at Brooks.
“Hurry, need food.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***Mari’s POV***
Hanging up with Geno, there was a knock at my door. I was pleasantly surprised to find Mario and another gentleman at it. “Good Morning. Come on in.” I moved and let them in.
“This isn’t too early is it?” Mario asked as if he was concerned. Of course it might have been my state of dress. My robe was half off.
I tugged it back on and grinned. “Not at all. Geno called, as I was getting dressing is all. Please come in.” I waved a hand to my tiny living room grateful I insisted it be clean.
The second man preceded Mario into the room, checking out the decorations I had begun taking down in preparation to move. “You’re right, she’s perfect.” He said to Mario.
“Excuse me?” I said confused.
“Michaela, this is Michael Lomonaco. He’s, or at least will be, your right hand.” Mario put up a hand. “I asked if he wanted the job, he said no. Michael this is.” I cut Mario off slightly.
“Call me Mari. Nice to meet you.” We shook hands. “What did you mean?”
Michael flushed. “I just knew once I saw how you lived I’d be able to tell if I could work with you. Seeing this, you’re organized and yet can deal with the chaos as well. You’re perfect for the controlled chaos of the Suite.”
My Gaydar went off hard. Not that it would effect how I worked, but I needed to know now. “You should see my closet. Right royal mess.”
He laughed. “If your normal wardrobe is half as stylish as this, we’ll sort it out quick.” He gestured to my pajamas. It then seems that he caught himself. “I’m sorry that wasn’t…”
“Please, if we can’t be honest we won’t be a true team.” His manner relaxed greatly. Mario’s cell phone beeped.
“I have another appointment.”
I held up a hand. “I won’t kill him and we _won’t_ be late for morning skate. Go.” Mario smiled, came over and kissed me goodbye.
Once he was gone Michael turned to me. “Do you care if I’m honest with you?” He sat at me dining table.
I sat down next to him. “You’re gay aren’t you.” He looked shocked. “You didn’t check me out like a normal guy would. Went right for the décor.”
A chuckle then escaped him. “Damn you caught that. Yeah I am, if that’s gonna be an issue.”
“Hell no. I’ve worked with all sorts of people. Always gotten along best with the guys who were _not_ interested in me.” I was actually glad he was my right hand; he’d make things easier for me.
Relief swept through him. “Oh Thank the Hockey Gods! It was an issue with my now ex-wife. You should also know that I’m in a relationship that’s going on two years and have a 3 year old son, Roberto.”
I smiled. “I don’t have any kids and Geno and I just started dating. Yes the bosses know, no they don’t care.”
“They know about me too. My boyfriend, Angelo, also works at the CEC in the kitchens, he’s a chef.” That helped too; having a good relationship with any kitchen staff was important to me. “I can fake being hetero but would prefer not to.”
I laughed. “Come help me. I wasn’t kidding about my closet.” I took him into the chaos of my bedroom. I saw his eyes go wide.
“We’ll get along _just_ _fine_.” He said as he saw my shoe collection, not my clothes, strewn across the bed. He looked at me. “Do you mind?”
I smiled; this would let me know how much I’d have to reel him in. “By all means. I prefer boots to shoes, but if I own it I wear it.”
After about 20 minutes of Michael going through my closet and shoes, I loved what he’d chosen and knew we’d be a great team. In fact I’d worn a very similar outfit before. “I love it. I can’t wait to work with you at home.”
He looked at me oddly. “I thought you were Canadian.”
“I am, but when your adopted family lives in Da Burgh, it’s home. Katya and Pavel are Aleks’ folks and she’s my BFF. Pretty much my sister.” I didn’t worry about changing in front of him.
“Aleks? Sid’s Aleks?” He gaped a bit.
“She’s my sister, Pittsburgh is home. Let’s go to morning skate and chat some more about what’s gone on.” We left shortly after that and got to the Air Canada Centre. It was time to go see the boys!