Little Victories

Wrapping a towel around his waist, Torey Krug stepped out of the shower rummaging through his bag. He dressed as quickly as was humanly possible trying to get away from this place as soon as he could. He had just played a terrible game against the Penguins and with a goal to his blame all Torey wanted to do was get his shit and go back to his apartment.

“Hey man let’s go out tonight.” Brad Marchand, his stall neighbor, said giving him a slap on the back.

Hoping Brad would just drop the subject and leave him alone, Torey said nonchalantly, “Nah man I can’t.”

“Oh pretty boy already has plans?” Marshy joked as he dressed.

“Yea pretty much Brad. I’m running late actually.” Torey said doing his tie in a hurry trying to get out of there without going out with Brad. It wasn’t that Torey didn’t like Brad, they were actually good friends, it’s just that the only thing Torey wanted was to be alone. Something going to a bar with Rad Marchand wasn’t about to give him.

“Late for what?” Brad probed confused by how vague his friend was being. If there was one thing Brad was it was definitely nosey, and if Torey was in a good mood he would have cracked a joke about his nose, but tonight was not the night for that.

“None of your fucking business, what are you my mom?” Torey said getting slightly frustrated. He was trying his best to keep his cool, but it seemed everything was piling on for him; all he wanted was to catch a break for once.

“You’re lying you don’t have any plans you just want to go home like some pussy.” Brad said laughing at his friend, “Well that’s not gonna work, we are going out.” Brad said finishing tying up his tie.

“Brad I don’t want to.” Krug said slinging his bag over his shoulder as he left the locker room trying to ditch his annoying friend.

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you want. I know what you need.” Brad said following him out.

“Oh, and what’s that?” Torey laughed as they both walked out to his car.

“A smoking hot girl to keep you company tonight.” Brad said smirking as he jumped the gun getting in the drivers seat of Torey's car.

Sighing in defeat, Torey rolled his eyes as he got in the passenger side and handed his keys to Brad. Torey placed his head in his hands as he realized that was the second game he lost that night. It was safe to say he was ready to pull his hair out he was so frustrated with himself. Ignoring Krug completely, Brad peeled out of the parking lot as he blasted some rap music he knew his teammate couldn’t stand.

When Torey got out of the car he was actually happy to see it was just a small bar outside of the city awaiting him instead a rowdy night club. Content to go in and wait for Brad to get drunk before bringing him home, he walked in and took a seat at the bar with Brad following close behind.

“So did the sour puss cheer up or have you just given in to my antics?” Brad asked before ordering a drink.

“Honestly I’m just glad we aren’t at some ritzy strip club you call home.” Torey said back before ordering himself a drink from the bartender. Watching her move behind the counter, he noticed that she was kinda hot. His lips turned up into a smirk realizing that this night might not be so bad after all. If he could look at her get Brad drinks for the next hour, Torey might just make it out of this with his sanity intact.

“Dude if you weren’t in such a bad mood you might actually have a good time every once in a while.” Brad said looking at Torey with a stern look on his face.

“What you don’t like me talking crap about your mom’s work environment?” Torey joked causing the cute bartender to die laughing as she tried to hide it behind a cough.

“Looks like you’ve met your match Brad.” She jabbed as she handed each of them their drinks.

“Listen Kat don’t encourage the kid. He thinks he’s got a shot at you.” Brad said laughing at his friends horrified expression.

“What? Brad No- Oh just shut the fuck up man honestly.” Torey said blushing badly.

“Oh my god he really does!” Brad said rubbing his hands together, “Well isn’t this cute. Little Krug’s got himself a crush on my girl Katrina.”

“Alright leave him alone you jackass.” Katrina defended, “Go find someone desperate enough to kneel down and kiss you.”

“Oh but Babe I was hoping you were free later.” Brad said slicking his hair back with his hand, “Ya know for old time’s sake.” He said giving her a devilish grin.

Blood coursing through his veins, Torey wasn’t sure why Brad’s words were digging in him like a knife, but he wasn’t gonna be here for Brad to berate him all night especially not in front of a cute girl... “Find your own way home tonight man.” He said throwing a twenty down on the bar as he got up. Walking out the door, Torey left before he had no choice, but to put Marchand down like the little boy he was.

“Brad you’re such an ass sometimes.” Kat said to him as he sat at the bar laughing about his teammate.

“Oh come on I was being serious let’s have a go in the bathroom on your break.” Brad said making rude gestures at her.

“Bradley the only thing you’re getting tonight is your hand.” Kat said emptying his bottle of beer over his head before storming out of the bar, “Frank I’m going home for the night.” She said to her manager obviously pissed as she shoved past some guy standing in her way.

~~~~

Squeezing his steering wheel until his knuckles ran white, Torey sat in his car seething. Why am I even mad, I mean Brad shouldn’t have been talking to a lady that way but that wasn’t why I was mad. Stop right there Torey, don’t even go there. You need to focus on your career. Torey’s train of thought was broken when he saw the bartender, Katrina go storming passed his car. She looked really upset which made Torey’s blood boil even further.

Getting out of his car he raced over to her, “Hey are you okay?” Torey asked her.

“Oh, um yea I’m fine.” She said as she fumbled with her keys trying to get her car door open.

He watched her struggle for a moment before intervening. “Looks like it.” Torey said twisting her key and opening the door for her.

“Thanks.” She said giving a quick grin as she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, “You should know what he said back there, Brad’s just trying to get a rise out of you. It wasn’t true.” She said shyly stepping behind her door about to get in.

Torey couldn’t help but smile at her, she was adorable the way she kept rubbing her ankle with her foot and fidgeting with her hands, “I figured as much.” Torey said shrugging as he studied her every move.

“Yea well goodnight then.” She said getting into her car.

“Hey wait, you wouldn’t want to, oh I don’t know, maybe get a cup of coffee or something?” Torey offered awkwardly shy.

Torey watched her think about it as her face changed with each thought passing through her head, “Yea okay.” She said a smile slowly growing on her face.

“Well I think the nearest Dunkins is just around the corner, do you mind walking?” He asked.

“No of course not.” Katrina said taking Torey’s hand as he helped her out of the car.

This small touch was enough to make Torey want to howl at the moon. The spark was definitely there to the point Torey had to fight back not increasing the contact. He never wanted to let go of her delicate hand, but didn’t want to creep her out so begrudgingly he let go. Rounding the corner, they walked into the Dunkin Donuts.

“What are you getting?” She asked as they waited in line to order.

“A couple Boston crèmes and a large regular.” Torey said smirking at her.

“Donuts? Isn’t that like against the rules?” Kat whispered playfully poking him.

“Don’t tell Claude, and I should be okay.” Torey said laughing.

“You’re gonna be in big trouble Mister.” She said jokingly shaking her pointer at him.

“I’m truly scared.” Torey said laughing, “Anyways what are you getting?”

“Oh probably just a green iced tea.” She said shrugging.

“No donuts?” He asked mocking an outraged expression.

She couldn’t help but laugh, “And a chocolate donut.” She said giving into the temptation.

“That’s better.” Torey said before ordering their stuff and swiping his card before Kat could object.

She simply raised an eyebrow at him before saying, “Thank you Torey.”

“Anytime Kat.” Torey said grabbing their food and drinks before walking with her over to a table.

“Tell me something about you Torey.” Kat said as she took a sip of her drink looking up at him from her long flirty eyelashes.

“Well, um… what is it you want to know?” He asked her as he started on his donut.

“What’s something nobody would guess about Krug the super star Bruins player? I mean other than he eats too many donuts.” Kat said giggling.

“Well I like muffins too.” Torey said laughing with her.

“I’m being serious.” Kat said laughing uncontrollably.

Her laugh was hypnotizing, Torey sat there with a childlike grin on his face as she tried to calm down. He tried to come up with something to tell her, but kept coming up blank until he hit a spark, “Okay, well how about this, when I was little I had this pet rabbit called snowflakes. He was my best friend up until I was six years old when he died; I cried for a week straight and my mom couldn’t get me to come out of my room.”

“How’d you get over something like that?” Kat asked placing her hand over Torey’s with a look of concern on her face.

“Well my dad took me to the rink with him and got me involved with hockey.” Torey said smiling at how innocent she looked right now with her big doe eyes watching him intently.

“So that’s how you started playing?” She asked smiling, “That’s so sweet.” She said taking her hand back even though Torey would’ve liked her to keep it there forever.

“Yea I don’t anyone else would think so.” Torey said scratching the back of his neck.

“Who cares what anyone else thinks.” Kat said smiling.

“Yea I guess you’re right.” He said smirking. Katrina was consuming more and more of Torey as they spoke and he started to like her more and more. It was safe to say he was head over heels for this girl.

“We’re closing up.” One of the employees said as they walked over to their table. “I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to ask you both to leave.”

Torey looked down at his watch shocked to see it was 1:00 am, “Wow, I’m sorry Kat I didn’t mean to keep you out this late.”

“I’d still be working right now anyways.” Kat shrugged as Torey held the door open for her.

He wished that it was a longer walk to her car, but before he knew it he was standing next to her car saying goodnight.

“Kat,” Torey spoke but lost the courage to speak.

“Yea Torey?” She asked looking up at him hopefully.

Torey didn’t say anything for a moment as he stared into her brown eyes. Slowly he moved closer turning his head slightly as he went in for a kiss. Pausing before their lips touched he looked from her plump lips to her eyes and to her lips again.

“What are you doing?” Kat asked as she turned her head away from him.

Feeling the rejection sink in, Torey stood there slightly stunned. “Making an ass out of myself obviously.” He said backing off and started to walk off to his car embarrassed. Walk of shame.

“Torey wait.” Kat called after him, “I had a great time tonight.” The sadness and fear evident in her voice as she spoke the words.

“Yea I did too.” He said turning around to look at her still feeling stupid for trying something with her.

“Maybe we could do it again?” She asked feeling more than just vulnerable.

Torey felt his entire face lift into a smile, “Yea maybe we could, let me give you my number.” He said walking over to her and sending himself a text from her phone. “Goodnight Kat.” He said handing her phone back to her. He watched her get in her car, but paused before he closed the door, “Can you shoot me a text when you get home so I know you got there alright?” He asked sweetly.

Kat smiled at him softly, “Sure Torey, drive safe.”

Torey closed her door and took a few steps back. Waving to her, he turned around to walk back to his car only to find his car was gone. In its place was a note with some scribbled writing on it.

Torey, took your car that’s what you get for leaving me little fucker.

Not even Brad could the night Torey had, but one thing was for sure when Torey saw Brad at practice tomorrow he was gonna kick his ass.