Orlando

Evelyna’s POV

A few more minutes went by, before the door opened once more. Melissa, Val and I were chatting with one another. I tried to translate Val’s thoughts to the best of my ability. But we managed to understand most of what one another said.

Caitlyn walked in and skidded to an abrupt halt in the entranceway. “What the----?” She dropped her groceries on the counter and then came into the main room. “What’s going on?” She sat down at the opposite end of Melissa, who had grabbed her computer and was trying to be distracted from looking at the hot hockey player in the apartment.

I turned to look at her and explain. “Cait, this is Val Nichushkin. He is a hockey player, yes I know, hockey. But he got lost here in Orlando, trying to go to Disney World.”

“Awe, that’s so adorable...he wanted to go to Disney World!” Melissa squealed, before immediately biting her lip and staring at her computer screen.

“Does he speak English?” Caitlyn asked, her eyes wandering Val’s body. She found herself gazing at his skin, that shimmered behind the collar of his dress shirt. Her mouth was closed, but it formed a grin on her face.

Val sat up, answering her this time, before I could. “Yes. But not very well. I speak in Russian.”

“Ooh Russian?” Kaitlyn said.

“That’s adorable, I think bewildered blonde haired men are so cute!” Caitlyn spoke. She got up and went over to the man who was talking to a small black cat this time. This cat had a distinct white star-shaped mark on her chest. “I see you like Cali, my cat.”

Val nodded, flashing a cheesy grin. “Much love for kitty.”

I bit my lip. It took all of my self control not to throw my arms around him and make out. Though I really wanted to. I saved that image and moment for my head. Then I took in all of my roommates and friends and stated simply, “See, he’s so sweet. Can we please keep him here...if only for a few days.”

“Well, it’s fine with me,” Melissa said, winking to Val. “I’ve got no problem with having a hot male stay here!”

“And me! And apparently the cats agree as well!” Caitlyn stated.

Everyone turned to Kaitlyn who smiled. “I’m in too, but we got to be wary of Northgate’s strict rules!”

“Of course, but I’d love to see them try and go through me and kick his sweet, innocent ass out!”

Cali, the cat, nudged Val’s hand, as he scratched her head. She was purring rather loudly. Val rotated to Caitlyn. “I can pick her up?”

“Oh yes. Go right on ahead.”

Val picked her up and set her on his lap. She didn’t fret or attempt to get away. In fact she brushed against his stomach and then curled up right there. He continued to massage her fur with his fingers, being delicate.

“Well, Cali’s in love!” Melissa remarked.

“She’s in Heaven! I’ve never seen her quite like this!” the lighter blonde, Caitlyn added on, watching the Russian and cat get along.

“Cat better cool it. I saw him first!” I growled, folding my arms and staring jealously at the black cat, who seemed to mock me, saying “come and get him, bitch.”

“Whoa, Cali’s got game, man!” Kaitlyn laughed, choking on her giggles.

I stood up and picked the black cat up. She wasn’t happy to be torn away from her happiness and she tried to get back. “Alright, Cali, thank you. That’s enough, you can leave now!”

I gave her to her owner, who attempted to hold her and tell her she had had enough, but she tore free and raced for her owner’s room, slipping in through the cracked door. Everyone laughed, even me, as I shook my head. Val reached up and grabbed my arm, pulling me back down to the couch, beside him. He gave me an apathetic look.

“Sorry, animals like me. Marshall is the same way.”

“Marshall?” Caitlyn questioned, shifting in her sitting position on the ground.

Val smiled, as he explained, “Marshall Seguin, Tyler’s dog.”

“His teammate is Tyler Seguin and he has a dog named Marshall.”

“Oh. Is he the one with the tattoos! Damn, he looked so fine!” Melissa inquired, before fanning herself with her hand at the person she thought of. Was she going to fall in love with EVERY man, I introduced her to?

“Yes, he’s the annoying, damn sexy son of a bitch who captures the heart of girls everywhere with his stupidly gorgeous boyish looks! I hate him.”

“You hate Segs?” I spun around and saw the Dallas Star sitting beside me, frown slightly. He was in shock that anyone would actually say that...let alone a girl. (Including me!)

I attempted to explain my reasoning. “Well, I don’t hate him. He is talented, but I dislike his personality and he’s super annoying with his Seguinistas...you’d think he was more popular than Justin Bieber.” Val cocked his head to the side, eyeing me. I shook my head. “No, no, I just don’t do him. I didn’t care for him in Boston and I still don’t. And I’m sorry, but he’s got way too much ink for my tastes now anyway.”

“Not to me. Maybe you can bring him down here next time and introduce me to him.”

“Melissa!” I scolded.

Melissa shrank back behind her computer. “So, what are you and Val going to do?”

“I was going to show him the college life in America. I think it is important to share the culture with him, even if it is UCF culture. I also want to dress that bruise, as I’m sure it hurts,” the redhead stated, before she turned and faced the hockey player next to her, “ваша грудь больно?? (Does your chest hurt)”

“нет. Это не так. (No. It doesn’t.)”

“Of course it doesn’t. You’re a tough hockey player, duh!” I sighed and hit my forehead out of stupidity. Duh, hockey players didn’t feel pain the same way! “I still want to look at it though.” I blushed at the thought of him removing his shirt, so I could take a look. I might not even be able to do anything, because I’d be transfixed on his muscular body and his gorgeous chest.

The Hispanic woman, who was finishing typing out something on her Mac laptop, glanced up and remarked, “Well, don’t let us keep you from doing what you need to do. Feel free to undress him and get freaky around here.”

“Melissa!” I scolded again, this time much more high-pitched and fangirly.

She stood up. “I’m kidding. But serious, feel free to do anything you want, as long as you don’t attract the Northgate Nazis!” With that, she withdrew to her room, calling “Bo!”

A small dark colored tabby cat raced out from one of the rooms and tore across the apartment at blinding speed, following her owner into her room. We heard a door close, as Kaitlyn got to her feet now and walked toward her room.

“Just so happens, that I got to go back out again. I’m meeting my brother for dinner, so I will be back later.”

“Kait, you are always out and about.”

“I know, it comes with being me though! Sorry.” She laughed and went to her room, before reappearing with her bag, which was already ready and packed. She bid farewell to us and left the apartment once more.

Val turned to Caitlyn, the last remaining girl, who got to her feet, slowly. She sent a look to me that read with a whole lot of slyness to it. She gave me, her roommate a wink and silently walked back to her room, calling her cat, Cali to come and join her. She closed her door, softly clicking it in place.

I slipped my fingers into the hockey player’s and helped him up to his feet. He towered above my head, slightly, but I didn’t care. I smiled and led him into the room, where Bo, the dark tabby had bolted out from.

Inside, was a plump gray tabby, who blinked at my arrival and let off a small mew.

“Three cats?”

“Yes, this is my cat, annoying little furball she is, but compassionate and lovable nonetheless. This is Lilly.”

The cat meowed in response to her name. She stretched on the olive greenish-brown carpet floor. She had found a sunny spot and was enjoying her pampered life. She flipped over on her back and exposed her underbelly to us. Again, it was odd, because she seemed conceited and tranquil with a stranger, let alone a man, near her. I knew that my cat was prone to be uneasy and vanish when strangers came around. It was just one of her catty instincts.

But she remained happy and almost ignorant to the presence of the Dallas Star. Val dropped down into a squat and rubbed her belly. She gave off little soft squeaks or mews and purred loudly like Cali.

Damn, I was going to have to fight cats in order to get to this man. He really was an animal magnet!

He muttered, just as he had to Cali, in Russian. Lilly didn’t seem to mind it. She was on Cloud 9. I reluctantly let him play with my cat and pet her, while I went into the bathroom and grabbed some icy-hot from the cabinet under the sink. I returned to find Lilly playfully swatting at his hand and he was fooling and teasing around with her.

I had to stop and smile. If I ever needed a cat sitter, this Russian hockey player was the BEST one. Too bad he played hockey in the NHL and would soon be gone and too busy to help out.

He turned to look at me and I shook myself back to reality and dropped down to him. He stopped playing with the cat, who got up and walked over to her food dish and water. I faced Val and put the icy hot down on the ground, after unscrewing the lid.

“Alright,” I started, before I felt my breath get caught in my throat. I was nervous. “Take your shirt off.” I bit my lip, struggling to hold back the girly giggles I had building inside me. I distracted myself by dipping my fingers into the small container and scooping some of the white, strong smelling paste onto the tips of my hand.

When I turned back, Val had his shirt unbuttoned down the middle and he had begun to try and get it off, when he winced in pain. I shook off the nervous and immediately launched over to help him out. With my free hand, I yanked the material down his arm, exposing his bare chest to me. I let off a soft, “ooh” noise.

“спасибо.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie.”

He put the palms of his hands behind him, with his shirt pulled around his wrists. I felt my heart beat in my chest and I also felt my internal body temperature rise, as I sat back on my legs and stared at his handsome upper body. I swallowed hard, feeling my mouth run dry. Even though it was 74 degrees in the room and the air conditioning was running, I felt like I was standing outside in 90 degree weather.

He grinned at me, which didn’t help me out any. But I finally managed to lift my arm up and reach out. I touched his skin, where the ugly black and blue bruise was. I began to apply the icy hot to him, gently covering the circular-shaped wound. I moved closer to him and began to feel more comfortable. With my other hand, I rested it on his abs, feeling the six-pack he had there.

The man didn’t mind me touching him and he tilted his head to look at me. His blue eyes shimmered, as I continued to move my hand in a circular motion over his left breast, brushing his nipple occasionally. At first, when I touched it, I drew back. My face flushed deep red. “Sorry.”

He gazed at me, a kind look on his face. “It’s no problem.”

He reached over with the arm that wasn’t attached to his sore clavicle and grabbed me by the wrist, pulling my hand back toward him. He placed it back on his chest and I could once more feel his heart beating underneath. He let me go and dropped his arm back into position. I continued to rub in a circle over the injured area.

Finally I withdrew, not wanting to overstay my welcome and turn him off. He had almost a look of regret and disappointment on his face. But I wanted to be respectful of him. I wiped my fingers on a towel, I’d gotten and capped the paste once more. The smell had attracted Lilly, who screwed her face up and pinned her ears back. Too strong. Too strong for a kitty cat.

I helped him to pull his shirt back up his body and cover his skin once more. He then buttoned himself back up and we remained staring at one another. Lilly, the gray cat, brushed against her owner and then wandered around and seemed to mark Val. She licked his fingers, as he held them out to her.