The Long Day Is Over

"So, big game tonight huh?" James asked Roman as he dropped into the seat next to him for their pre-game meal. Shea was on the other side of Roman, and next to him was Craig. They both raised their eyebrows.

Roman shrugged, "Just like any other end of October game."

"Yeah but a little birdy tells me that you've got someone in the audience this time." James said with a grin, and Roman rolled his eyes.

Shea smiled gently and told James, "Is that birdy named Tavares?"

Shaking his head James said, "Nope."

Roman asked him curiously, "Stamkos?"

James shrugged, then nodded and told Roman, "Be warned, whenever we play the lightning next he's got your number."

Roman rolled his eyes again, "Then it's a good thing I'm faster than him."

James laughed, but it was Craig who leaned over and asked Roman, "She really coming to this game?"

Roman nodded, "She'll be here within the hour."

"Is she gonna be repping Sharks colors?" James asked Roman with a grin.

Roman's face paled and he exclaimed, "Oh my god I didn't even think to send her a jersey or anything."

James and Shea couldn't help but let out loud, eye catching laughs at their teammates expense but Craig looked over at Roman and told him, "I'm sure it's fine."

Shea told him, "But you should definitely hook her up with something for the LA game if she's coming."

"Harpoon is coming to LA too? And to think, I couldn't even get her to answer my phone call last week." James huffed, trying, and failing to not crack a smile through his feigned annoyance.

Roman informed him, "Yes, she's coming to LA too, and no you are not allowed to crash any kind of plans that we have."

James held his hands up in a surrender fashion and said, "Yes sir."

Roman turned to Shea and asked him, "Do you think Amelia would overnight a jersey to our hotel in LA tomorrow?"

Shea shrugged, pulling his phone out to text her. Roman then turned to James and asked him, "So... on a scale of one to fake an injury or illness how worried do I have to be about Tavares and Stamkos here?"

James chuckled and assured him, "A zero... unless you hurt her and or make her cry. Then you're looking not at faking an injury or illness but more at changing your name and moving to a foreign country."

"They're really that close?" Roman asked him curiously. He wasn't sure why but he found James easier to ask these questions than Harper, maybe it was because he was worried that Harper was down playing things because he just found it so hard to believe that someone who looked like her hadn't ever gotten involved with any of the hockey players she had met through John, especially a guy like Stamkos. Dude made almost six million a year, and who didn't like blonde hair and blue eyes?

James shrugged his shoulders, "Her and John are like... if Harper were a little less smart and a little more dorky they'd basically be the male and female versions of each other. They're about as close of friends as you can be. Her Steven are good friends, but definitely not as close as she and John. Dude, the only reason I haven't threatened bodily harm to you yet is because Harpoon kind of scares me."

Everyone at their table laughed, and James rolled his eyes as Craig said, "Yeah she's what a hundred pounds soaking wet? So scary."

James nodded, "I'm not kidding, she grew up with two brothers, she could probably kick my ass. Verbally at least."

Roman let out a laugh and told James, "I can't see it. She just seems too shy."

"Yeah, once you get past that though... yikes."

- - -

Harper was sitting at a red light, on her way to the hotel, when it hit her. Roman Josi wants to get to know me. She thought she might throw up out of pure nerves. It wasn't like she was used to this attention, sure some of John's friends hit on her the occasional time but she was used to that because they were men who would likely hit on a blow up doll if they were drunk enough. This though? Roman wanting to get to know her, wanting to know things about her that no one had ever asked before? She wasn't used to this and frankly it scared the crap out of her.

It made her so nervous her whole body felt like open nerve endings, she knew she wouldn't be any good at this and likely she would just ruin it all anyway. There were so many things that he would ask about and she knew the answers to those things would just ruin this before it even got the chance to be something. What the hell was she doing?

She reached over and hit the bluetooth button on the steering wheel and when the voice command asked who she wanted to call she said, "Bristol."

The call went through, rang six times before she heard John answer, "How's San Jose?"

Harper didn't waste any time getting to the point, "Can you please give Bristol her phone?"

"She's rolling dough right now, sorry." John told her and Harper could practically hear the stupid grin on his face when he informed her that she would have to settle on talking to him instead. She let out a frustrated sigh and John told her, "Ah, come on. I'm not that bad."

"No, you're not it's just... this situation kind of warrants another female." Harper muttered.

"Are you about to talk about like underwear and stuff? Because if so, you know I'm probably better to talk to about that, seeing as I am a guy and all." John told her with a laugh.

Harper rolled her eyes and informed him, "I'm going to go drive my car into a building now, if you'll excuse me."

He laughed again and told her, "Relax Harp I was kidding. I'll put you on speaker phone."

A second later she heard Bristol ask her, "What's up?"

"What am I doing?" Harper asked her, her voice strained as she came to yet another red light.

"Uh... driving to San Jose I would assume?" Bristol asked her with a smile.

Harper rolled her eyes, "Yeah, but why? Why am I going to San Jose to watch a hockey game and hang out with some guy I barely know?"

"Because he's cute and he wants to see you." Bristol reminded her firmly.

Harper couldn't help but tell her, "I think you need to check me into a sanitarium."

John let out a loud, barking laugh and joked, "I've been saying that for years."

She rolled her eyes and told him, "I'm not kidding Tavares. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me? Who does this?"

She was expecting a response from Bristol and was surprised when John responded instead, and she was even more surprised when what he told her made sense, "There's nothing wrong with you Harper. Roman is a great guy, there's nothing wrong with seeing where that goes. I think you of all people deserve this, so maybe for once in your life just go with the flow and see how this trip goes."

Bristol pitched in her two cents, "Yeah, if by the time you're headed home you still think it was a bad idea then it doesn't have to be anything more than what it was."

"And if I don't think it was a bad idea?" Harper asked curiously. That was what she was more afraid of.

"Then let the guy sweep you off your feet, because you deserve it." Bristol told her.

Harper sighed and said, "Fine. I guess I won't turn around and drive home."

She heard Bristol and John both laugh, before John told her, "Good. Have fun Harper."

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the advice." Harper muttered, a small smile on her face.

"We're happy to talk you off of the ledge any time." Bristol assured her.

Harper smiled and said, "Alright, I'm almost at the hotel now I'll text you when I'm there."

She hung up the phone and pulled into the hotel parking lot, and she smiled gently to herself as she pulled her phone out of the cup holder beside her, pulled the keys from the ignition and grabbed her bag from the backseat before she got out. She locked the doors and headed into the lobby, snapping a picture of the inside and sending it to Roman, telling him 'I'm here.'

She let out a chuckle at the fact that two seconds later she received a text from him saying not to move and that he would be down in a minute. She was sure he had to have been staring at his phone to have replied that fast, and the thought made her heart start hammering. She hiked her bag up further on her shoulder and waited for him, smiling when she saw him before he saw her.

She waved a little when he turned around, and his eyes met hers and a wide grin broke out on his face as he jogged to her. When he stopped in front of her he surprised her by leaning down at hugging her gently. Harper wrapped her arms around him as well, before they pulled away from each other and Roman told her with a gentle smile, "It's good to see you."

Harper nodded her head and told him, "You too."

"Was the drive okay?" He asked her as he lead her to the front desk.

Harper nodded again, "It was good. Nice and short."

While he checked her into her room Harper took the time that he was distracted to really look at him. He was gorgeous, no doubt about that, but there was a quality to him that she couldn't quite put her finger on that made her wonder what in the hell he could even possibly see in her. She wasn't anything special and Roman was the kind of guy who could date models, probably had in fact, and now he was putting in all this effort to get to know her? Short, red headed, boring Harper? What the hell bizarre alternate reality did she wake up in?

When she looked back at Roman he was watching her with an amused expression on his face, her cheeks flushed and she asked, "What?"

"I was asking if you wanted me to grab your bag?" He asked her, smiling like he knew she hadn't been listening to him.

Harper smiled, and patted the bag on her shoulder and told him, "Already have it."

Roman's brow lifted as they walked side by side to the elevator. He asked her, "That's all you brought?"

She nodded her head, "I can fit a weeks worth of crap in here."

"That's impressive." Roman stated, looking at the medium sized bag again. He hadn't met a female yet that didn't need at least a medium sized suitcase for four days.

She nodded and explained to him, "I practically lived at the hospital when I was in med school. I've learned how to a) pack light and b) pack well."

"I can see that." Roman said with a smile as the elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. Once the doors closed and they were on their way up to the fourth floor he told her, "So... it never occurred to me to get you a jersey or anything."

Harper smiled gently up at him and assured him, "It's okay. It's not Preds gear but I actually do own a sort of gold shirt, and I may have brought it."

He grinned down at her, let out a very dramatic sigh of relief that made her roll her eyes with a smile on her face and he told her, "I'm getting a jersey sent for the LA game though."

Her cheeks flushed, and there it was, that little moment where Roman was reminded of how different Harper was when they were alone together. She told him softly, "You don't have to do that."

"I want to." He told her firmly, and Harper didn't bother arguing with him. Instead she followed him out of the elevator and down the hallway, where he unlocked the hotel room door and held it open for her. As she stepped inside and looked over the simple, king bed room Roman told her, "I figured you'd be mad if I booked you anything crazy."

"You're right, thank you." She told him with a smile, tossing her bag onto the bed before she turned to him and asked, "What time do you have to be at the arena?"

Roman looked down at his watch and said, "In about two minutes."

Harper chuckled at him and told him, "Go. I'll see you after."

"I'm gonna score for you." Roman told her with a grin as he headed to the door.

Harper followed him to the door and she couldn't help but joke with him, "Why don't you concentrate on winning first?"

He laughed, and she was surprised when he leaned over and kissed her cheek softly before he told her, "Your tickets are at will call, I'll see you after."

She nodded her head and waited until he was headed down the hallway to close her door. Then she went to her bag on the bed, and pulled her phone from it, sending Bristol a text to let her know she was there. With another two hours to kill before she had to be at the area Harper kicked out of her shoes and laid on her back on the bed, staring at the ceiling waiting for Bristol's reply.

Her reply came a few minutes later and Harper laughed out loud.

Did you throw him down the minute you saw him?

No. I barely know him you crazy person.

So? But, I applaud your self control. So what's the plan for tonight?

Game, dinner, bed time.

Oooooh, bed time ;)

Harper rolled her eyes.

I don't know how John puts up with you.

You probably don't want to know either.

Yup, you're right, don't want to know. PS, am I really doing this?

YES!!! I am living vicariously through you, I hope you know I expect a full report when you get home tonight.

Harper rolled her eyes again.

Don't you have a boyfriend?

Yes, but we're like an old married couple who doesn't do anything fun anymore. Now, to the important stuff... what are you wearing?

Levi's, a t-shirt and a zip up sweater.

You're so boring. Live a little.

Nope, when I pick clothes I choose comfort over style. I need to get dressed and stuff, talk to you later.

At least do something nice with your hair.

Harper let out a laugh at that, and she tossed her phone onto the bed as she got up and emptied the contents of her bag out on the covers. She grabbed her t-shirt, switching her sweater currently for the gold-ish shirt, leaving her current pair of jeans on. Her zip up was in the car, so Harper headed into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror, did she bother with makeup?

She took her time braiding her back and out of her face, she had become somewhat of a pro at braiding her hair over the last few years. It was the easiest, and most convenient way to keep her hair out of her face during work. She threw a pair of earrings in, applied a coat of mascara to her lashes, a layer of lip balm on her lips and then called it a day.

Grabbing her cell phone and card holder wallet Harper stuffed the key card for her room into the card holder, before she stuffed it into the pocket of her jeans and headed out of the hotel. She used the maps app on her phone to direct her as she walked to the arena, and she stopped at will call for her tickets before heading to grab a bottle of water.

Harper found her seat with ease; centre line, nine rows up from the glass. She smiled gently as she sat down in her seat and pulled her phone from her pocket again, snapping a picture of the view in the front of her to send to Bristol. She rolled her eyes when Steven's name popped up as a new text message.

So where did he sit you?

She sent him the picture she had sent Bristol and then dropped her phone into her lap. She hadn't bothered responding to his text earlier, because she didn't know how to, she didn't even know what was going on between she and Roman. She figured Steven would have just bugged John until he filled him in enough, which was clearly how he knew she was at the game in San Jose tonight. Her phone buzzed in her lap and she picked it up again, turning it on and she laughed at his response.

Okay, so he's not a complete idiot.

She couldn't help but text him back. Stop it, I'm already nervous enough about this whole thing.

A minute or two later she got a response that made her blush.

...Do you like this guy? Like really?

No, I just drove all the way here for a game because why not? Now seriously, stop making me even more nervous/uncomfortable than I already am.

Relax Harpoon, he'd be an idiot to not be head over heels already.

Her cheeks flushed furiously and Harper didn't bother with responding, she shoved her phone into the pocket of her sweater and concentrated on the players coming back out of the tunnel to start the game. Her brothers would be so proud, and probably more than a little jealous, if they knew where she was right now.

The game ended with the right team winning, not the home team, and Harper couldn't wait to make fun of Roman for making promises he couldn't keep. She headed back to the hotel, and she went straight up to her room, she wasn't sure what Roman had planned for after the game, he had mentioned dinner but she wasn't sure if that meant casual or not. So she sat on the bed and waited for him, they had agreed to meet back at the hotel for dinner, and he had told her he could be a little bit after the game so Harper busied herself with a game of Wipeout on her phone.

Thirty-five minutes later a knock on the door caused her to jump so much that her phone went flying. It hit the floor and she scooped it up quickly before she bounded over to the door and pulled it open, Roman was on the other side, still in his suit, hair slightly damp, cheeks flushed, and Harper was sure that if she were a dog her tongue would have lolled right out of her mouth. Thank god for having only two legs.

He smiled and told her with a grin, "Nice shirt."

She smiled back and asked him, "One of us is gonna have to change, and I'm gonna say that since you're already here it's gonna be me."

"Sure." Roman told her, and he followed her into the hotel room, where he sat on the bed and she disappeared into the bathroom.

She came back in her sweater from earlier, hair still braided back, and she told him, "This is about as fancy as you're gonna get from me... ever."

Roman smiled and got up, assuring her, "I think you look beautiful."

Harper rolled her eyes and she followed him out of her room and Roman laughed as he watched her try to stuff her phone and wallet into the pocket of her jeans. He reached out and put them both into the much roomier pockets of his suit, and she told him, "I would have gotten them in eventually."

"You're a very stubborn person you know." Roman told her and Harper smiled.

She fired back with, "I'm a Taurus, what's your excuse?"

He laughed and asked her, "April or May?"

"May fourth, and if you make any awful Star Wars jokes right now I'm getting in my car and never speaking to you again." Harper told him, narrowing her eyes at him but she made sure she smiled at him at the same time so that he knew she was joking.

He chuckled and told her, "Our birthdays are... twenty nine days apart."

"Gemini... makes sense." Harper said softly, nodding her head in agreement to herself.

Roman's brow lifted in curiosity, "It does?"

She nodded, "Sometime you ought to read about your zodiac sign... you know, now that I think about it our signs are about as incompatible as they come."

"I thought you said you didn't believe in this kind of stuff." Roman commented curiously, watching her as she smiled up at him as they stepped out of the elevator.

She told him, "Oh I don't. I just read a lot of cosmo."

"Cosmo?" Roman wasn't sure why, but for some reason he just couldn't see Harper reading that magazine.

She nodded her head and followed him into the hotel restaurant, where she told him, "It's like the only thing I read that isn't a text book."

"You're full of surprises you know." Roman told her with a small smile and her cheeks flushed pink.

You have no idea.