To Sweden With Love

We finally returned to New York after a long week in San Jose and Nashville. The apartment was a mess. My boxes were just everywhere. The guys had no sense of organization.

"Don't they know how to organize?" I said as I looked through the boxes for something.

"They're guys, what did you expect?" Derick said from the other side of the apartment. "What are you looking for?"

He walked towards me.

"I couldn't have forgotten to pack it," I said to myself as I shuffled through a box.

"Ellie, you have so much stuff. I'm sure it's in one of these boxes." He grabbed my hands.

I pulled away. "The boxes are labeled for a reason. They better not have tampered with any of them."

"Mats told me all they did was bring them up and then leave."

"Then why can't I find my bracelet?" I was getting frustrated. "I swear to God, if any of them..."

"Ellie!" He stopped me. "Calm down, we'll find it! Tell me what it looks like."

"It's a silver charm bracelet. He got it for me before he left for boot camp. There's a bunch of charms on it."

Now we were both frantically looking for it.

About twenty minutes later, the entire house was a mess.

"Hey Ellie. What made you think about it?"

"I'm almost always wearing it so when I saw that it wasn't on my wrist, I just panicked."

"I don't remember you having it on at all while we were on vacation, so it has to be here somewhere," he reassured me.

"How can you be for sure?"

"El, it's here. I promise."

We had gone through two more boxes each before Derick shouted.

"OH! Found it!"

I swear I leaped over every box in my way to get to him.

He put it back on my wrist and I kissed him. "Thank you."

"And sorry you blamed my friends?"

"That too," I rolled my eyes.

I guess we could have just started putting stuff away instead of just throwing it everywhere. But where's the fun in that?

---

A few hours later, I had only gotten my clothes put away.

It also didn't help we fooled around a little bit in the process.

All of this work and all the excitement leading up to game 6 tomorrow helped me forget about what we talked about back in Nashville.

"Ellie, even through all of our arguments this last week, I wanted to tell you..." He swallowed.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

There it was. That dreaded L word we have been avoiding like the plague.

I was speechless. I didn't know what to say.

Maybe say it back? Oh shut up, conscience.

---

Yeah, I said that dreaded L word, and even though she didn't say it back, I knew deep down that she loved me too.

It just sucks that I upset her back in Nashville so I felt like she deserved to hear it.

We spent so much time unpacking her stuff and organizing it with mine.

"Why do girls have so much shit?" I yelled out from the bedroom.

"It makes us harder to leave," she joined me in the room.

"Touché," I said pulling her in and then kissed her.

"We should talk." She killed my vibe.

"About?"

"You know what about."

I frowned. "Oh, I was hoping you had forgotten about that."

"It's not something I can just forget. Derick, why would you want to leave? You love New York."

"I hate being away from my family," I confessed.

"Is that all?"

"No..." I swallowed hard. "I'm coming up on my last year on my contract and the only way they could want me to stay is if I take a pay cut."

She was silent for a moment.

"So you wouldn't take a pay cut to stay here and be here with me?" I hear how angry she was getting.

"Ellie, I don't want to argue again." I looked down at my hands.

"Did you even weigh out your options?"

"At the time I started talking with my agent, you weren't even part of the situation."

"Oh so you kept this from me for a while now?"

"Because I knew it would upset you and I was right! Ellie, you just walked into my life one day and changed my perspective on everything. I was hoping that of all people, you would be the one person who would be supportive."

"Apparently I didn't change your mind on staying," she said and she slammed the bedroom door.

A picture frame fell off my dressser as the door slammed.

Not again.

---

Ugh. He's so self-centered!

There was a knock on the door.

"Ellie, open the door. It's Mats. I know you're in there."

I guess since Derick couldn't face me he called in Mats to do it for him.

"Ellie?"

I opened the door. "What do you want Mats?"

"Hi, Ellie. Why yes, this is for you." He said as he handed me a golden retriever puppy. "His name is Blades. Don't blame me, the guys named him."

I put my arms out to take him. "He's so cute!"

"Ellie, I'm not here to talk to you about Derick wanting to leave, because I don't want him to go either. But you have to at least listen to his reasoning. He's a great guy and only wants what's best for both of you."

"How's that good for both of us? Seems like it's only benefiting him." I put Blades down and crossed my arms.

"I guess you'll have to see for yourself."

Ugh. I hate men.

I hate them all so much.

"You can see yourself out now. Thanks Mats. Bye. Adios." I ushered him out.

"Derick!" I yelled for him.

"Ooo cute puppy where'd you get it?"

I crossed my arms again. "Really?"

"Okay fine. I used the puppy as a distraction so you would stop being mad at me."

I sighed. "Der, not even a puppy is going to make me forget."

"I'm so-- never mind."

He sulked his way back into the bedroom and I just made myself room on the couch.

I flipped through my phone looking for flights to Pittsburgh. I needed some time away from him.

After I booked my flight and packed a bag, I went into the kitchen to find a pen and paper.

Derick,
I'm going to Pittsburgh for a few days. I don't know when I'll be back, but I hope you find the right things to say for when I return.
Ellie

I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. As I rode down to the airport in my Uber, I called Liv.

"Ellie!" She exclaimed as she answered.

"Hey Livvy."

"What's up?"

"I'm headed to Pittsburgh for a couple days, you should come home and join me! I miss you so so so soooo much!"

"I would love to, Ellie, but I'm not ready to face reality just yet." She started. "Wait, why are you going to Pittsburgh? Didn't you guys just get back to New York?"

I sighed. "Yeah well, we've been arguing for the last few days and I just need to have some me-time."

"Why are you arguing? What did he do? Do I need to come up there and kick his ass?"

"Whatever gets you to come home faster," I laughed. "Hey, I'll talk to you later though. You know how big of a bitch security is in JFK."

I hung up with her and made my way through the security line. After finding my way to my terminal and gate, I went and grabbed a snack and a drink.

I found a seat near my gate and pulled the book from my purse read until it was time to board.

My phone buzzed.

I know sorry isn't enough but please don't leave.

I know ignoring the situation isn't the best idea, but I just needed some alone time.

---

It was the evening of the, hopefully, last game of the Stanley Cup final. The Penguins were back in San Jose after the Sharks forced a game six. All the girl were out in San Jose in hopes they would be celebrating a championship with their boys.

Malin offered for me to stay at their house while I was in town, so I couldn't pass it up.

I raided their fridge and pantry for any and all snacks. I was going to need them for this game. As well as the beer, I'm going to need a lot of that.

I was anxious from the very beginning of the game. I continuously yelled at the TV, and surely enough the neighbors could hear me.

Just over eight minutes into the game and Dumo capitalized on the power play! I jumped up from the couch, trying not to spill my beer everywhere.

The remainder of the remainder of the first period remained the same. There were so many chances, but they couldn't get anything in behind Jones.

The second period started and I was still antsy. Logan Couture tied is up just six minutes into the period. Except Tanger thought otherwise. He scored just a minute and 15 seconds later, for the Penguins to regain the lead.

The minutes ticked away in the second period and the buzzer sounded. There was one period to play and we were Stanley Cup Champions. "We can do this" I kept repeating to myself.

The third period started. Time just seemed to be taking forever this period. Finally! The final minutes of the game, and we were still in the lead. Crosby blocked a shot and passed it up the ice to Horny. He took it down and knocked it right into the empty net!

That's when it became real.

We just became Stanley Cup Champions!

---

I passed out on the couch last night, and was woken up with a phone call from Patric.

"Älskling! We did it! We really did it!" He said as I answered the phone.

"Dude, I know! I'm so excited. I just want to run around the neighborhood proclaiming that we are kings!"

"Technically..." I could tell he was still drunk from last night.

They're going to have one hell of a flight home.

Malin took the phone from Patric.

"Ellie dear, don't mind him. We'll be back this afternoon! Come to the airport to welcome home our champions!"

"Absolutely! I can't wait to see them!"

I hung up with her and scrolled through all the text messages I received after I passed out.

I got so many pictures of the guys chugging beers and pouring champagne on each other. There was even one of Dumo triple fisting some beers.

I love these guys so much.

I got ready to head out to the airport when my phone rang again. I looked to see who it was... Derick.

I let it go to voicemail. I wasn't going to let him ruin my day.

When I made it to the airport, I listened to the message.

Just wanted to say congrats on the win and that I miss you. Please come home soon. It's too quiet without you. Tell Patric and the guys I say congrats. Love you.

I brushed it off like I never got the message.

I met Malin and the other girls outside waiting for the guys to roll on in.

As the plane landed and approached the tarmac, everyone started to cheer.

The first off the plane was Crosby carrying the cup. Everyone cheered louder. I was just hoping he wouldn't fall carrying it down the steps. Patric was right behind him.

He made his way over to his family, and me. He greeted Malin and Isabella before coming over to me. He hugged me so tightly.

"Thank you so much for believing in me and this team. You mean so much to us." He kissed my forehead.

That meant so much to hear that from him.

As I drove them home, Patric asked me if I would be interested in joining them on the truck for the parade on Wednesday. He was shocked when I turned down the offer. I wanted to enjoy it with a couple of my friends.

"Oh! We're having a party tomorrow night. You're more than welcome to join us," Patric invited me.

"I don't think I'm in the mood to punch Alexis again," I laughed. "But I can watch Isabella for you guys?"

They agreed to that.

---

Malin and Patric were getting ready to head out to the celebration party. Malin brought Isabella over to me sitting on the couch.

"Call one of us if you need anything," Patric said from the other room.

"Oh, I'm sure she'll be fine," Malin said.

I rolled my eyes. "I've done my fair share of babysitting, I think we'll be good."

We were just going to cuddle up and watch some movies tonight.

A little while after they had left, my phone pinged.

I wish Derick would just leave me alone.

I'm miserable without you. Please come home.

I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss him.