Wasted

And it has arrived! The Stanley Cup Finals have led us here, through too many god damn overtimes, to game 6 in Boston. The Blackhawks could take it tonight; ladies and gents tonight could be the night.

And I couldn’t be happier. If my Penguins couldn’t lift it this year (excuse me while I continue sobbing into my corner of early off season land), I’m glad my Blackhawks could avenge them. I’m in Boston now, and the feeling is intense and serious.

I’m going to reminisce on a past post I wrote about a week into this season. Isn’t it crazy to think that Lord Stanley could go home with a new team tonight? The LA Kings will no longer be the reigning champions. To me, it’s been a whirlwind season for oh-so-many reasons and it feels like just yesterday that I was complaining about not having enough hockey to sustain me.

And yet, this season we saw the ups, the downs, the successes, and the failures of our teams. Some of us were able to use ‘Because it’s the Cup’ as a legitimate excuse. We saw the continuance of a hockey team twitter-mance *cough*’Lumbus*cough* and the return of the mighty Leafs to the playoffs.

And so, my faithful readers, I leave you with that. I myself need a pregame nap just in case good things happen tonight. And I think they will.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

Stay classy and sassy, never trashy!
XO- Steph

Current music- Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis (because I believe!)



“Nervous?” Amanda asked as we entered TD Garden.

“Can you tell?” I sighed.

“Only because you’ve checked your phone five times in so many minutes and you won’t stop playing with your security bracelet,” she grabbed my hand as she said it and indeed, I was toying with the plastic bracelet around my wrist. “He’ll be fine.”

“Can you blame me?” I said. “No one knows about us so I can’t just come out and say I’m worried. So I have to contain it.”

“Jon’s a tough cookie, Steph.”

“But that’s what worries me,” I protested. “He’ll fake being okay just to be out there and play.”

“The coaching staff wouldn’t let him do that,” she stopped us walking and put her hands on my shoulders. “He’ll be okay. He’s going to play his heart out and we can go home with the Cup sitting on the plane with us. Okay?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“And think about this,” Amanda grinned. “The sooner the season ends, the sooner you two can tell everyone.”

It had been my idea in the beginning to keep things under wraps. I had needed to focus on school and getting myself a decent internship and he had the fast paced, marathon-like season to worry about. We managed to keep things quiet and just between ourselves for less than a week.

Maggie burst into my apartment to find us making out on the couch and she had blabbed to Brandon who had given me the cold shoulder for about a day. Amanda had guessed her suspicions soon after and I’d let her tell Pat. But as far as I knew, that was as far as the inside circle extended.

“Oh, you mean tell everyone about my kick ass internship with the ‘Hawks next season?” I said breezily, as if it didn’t matter.

“What!?” she gasped and hit my arm. “You got it?”

“I did,” I giggled. “I found out this morning. I’ll be interning with the media crew and such.” I stretched back in my seat. “And I’m telling you right now, Joey the Jr. Reporter is going to happen a lot more with me around.”

Amanda laughed. “Congratulations. Does Jon know?”

“Nah,” I shrugged. “He needed to focus and I kind of needed to let it sink in.”

I didn’t mention the call I’d also gotten from the Penguins, the Oilers, and even the Chicago Bulls. There was no contest now. I was doing everything I could to extend my time in Chicago even the slightest bit.



“Holy shit!” I, along with every other Blackhawks fan in the building, was on my feet and screaming.

In the final 17 seconds, we made our comeback. Two amazing goals secured the team their second championship win in just a four short years. As the clock ticked down, a final cheer erupted from those in red as we watched the team pile onto the ice in celebration. It was really something to behold.

“You can breathe now,” Amanda put an arm on my shoulder and I let out a gust of air I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

“They did it!” I pulled her into a hug and soon found the arms of Patrick’s sisters around us as well. “They fucking did it.”

I turned around to where the Saads were sitting and found Brandon’s mom in tears, his dad choked up, and George staring proudly at the ice. When they saw me, George pulled me up over the seats and into their hug. For a minute, I felt what I real family was and I didn’t want that to go away.

As we watched the Cup and Conn Smythe awarded, I felt my chest swell. These were my boys just as much as anyone else’s and seeing them so happy and so proud made me feel like I won too. Seeing Jon lift the Cup above his head and kiss it for the second time in his career, I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief. It had really happened.

Eventually, we were all able to make our way down to the ice and Amanda and the Kanes were immediately swept away by Patrick. I followed the Saads as we searched for Brandon amidst all the cameras, microphones, and people.

George was the first to reach him and he actually lifted his brother off the ground, hockey gear and all. After his parents had their moment with him, they stood aside and he looked at me for a minute before pulling me into a rib shattering hug.

“Never thought I’d see this,” he looked over at where the Cup rested at Duncan Keith’s feet.

“I did,” I assured him. “I never had any doubt.” On my tip toes, I kissed his hairy cheek. “Proud of you, Saad.” I rubbed at the small blood stain that had no doubt come from Andrew’s stitches.

He grinned at me. “Bet you’re proud of the captain.” Brandon tossed his head back. “Go find him.”

I backed away and with one last look, I went in search of Jon. I passed Amanda and Patrick who were staring lovingly at each other and I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Not even I would have thought that he’d be the one to ‘settle down’.

I was a taller girl, but I couldn’t see through the throngs of people surrounding me. But I guess I didn’t have to. I was side swiped by a skating mass and with two thick arms around my waist, I was pushed through.

“Fucking A, baby, fucking A!” a voice cheered into my ear.

“Andrew!” I shrieked. “You fucking robot!” I pushed his chest. “Congratulations!”

He beamed. “I do what I do. But we can talk later. Tazer’s coming this way.” With a peck on my cheek, he skated off to find his own family.

I turned only to get a face full of sweaty jersey. “Ick.” I backed up a little.

“Not the reaction I was hoping to get from my girlfriend,” Jon laughed.

I rolled my eyes. “Just keep up charades,” I teased. “Congratulations, Mr. Two Time Cup Winner. A little upset you have one more than my captain.”

“Oh, Crosby’s your captain now?” he asked. “Guess that has to change.”

“I suppose so,” I shrugged. “What are we going to do about it?”

“You are going to stand right there,” he put his hands on my shoulders. “I am going to stand here.” He plated his blades firmly against the ice with two little stomps. “And we are going to wait until that camera turns to us. And then I’m going to-,”

I didn’t let him finish. This time, my lips were on his and I didn’t care if I’d ruined his master plan. I didn’t want to be the one wasting time and I sure as hell was done waiting.

“You upstaged me,” he breathed out as I pulled away. “Not fair.”

“You were wasting time,” I teased as he let his nose trail down my own. “And besides, I wanted to make sure they got my good angle.”

Jon let a loud laugh rip through his chest before placing his lips against mine briefly before we back away just a little bit. With our eyes still on each other, I heard a loud ‘ow-ow!’.

“Way to go, Tazer!” Sharpie shouted with his daughter on his hip.

“Yeah,” I smiled. “Way to go, Tazer.”