As soon as the game ended, Ryne’s new teammates suggested he join them at Union Central for dinner. He was tired after a long day traveling but agreed. He wanted to start off right and having a beer with the guys was the best way to get to know them.
As he was leaving the rink, Derek Pfeil, the team captain, told him to meet them in the back of the bar. Ryne, being unfamiliar with the town, got lost on his way, arriving later than the rest of the guys. He made his way through the doors and discovered that Union Central was much larger than he originally thought.
He stopped at the bar and ordered a cola. He wasn’t in the mood for an alcoholic beverage. His head was still foggy from everything that had transpired in the last twenty-four hours. Yesterday, he thought he’d be in Vancouver for the remainder of the week, but instead he found himself in St. Louis. In a city that he’d only traveled in and out of with the Eagles. Now it would be his home. For how long, he hadn’t a clue. He thought he’d been secure in Vancouver for another three years, but he’d definitely read those tea leaves wrong. Now he knew he was ripe for trade no matter how effective he was for his team.
Ryne sipped his cola as he meandered through the bar looking for Derek, and that’s when he saw her. She was sitting with the same girl he’d seen her with at the game. He’d never forget her. She had long, flowing brown hair and, in the moments he’d spoken to her, he’d noticed her gorgeous brown eyes and the honey color that surrounded the iris. They glowed. He wasn’t good with age but guessed she was in her mid to late twenties.
He headed straight for her table, deciding his teammates could wait a little longer. As he approached, he knew the exact moment she noticed him. She’d been raising her beer to her lips. He watched as she tipped the bottle, and that’s when she realized his presence. A look of panic crossed her face, and then she began to choke. She wildly pointed in his direction while her friend beat her across the back.
He neared the table and spoke. “Are you okay?” And that’s when her friend realized she’d been trying to get her attention. He knew immediately that she’d recognized him as her mouth dropped open. A look of fear appeared as she flung her hands across her face.
He rushed to the brunette’s side and hit her squarely across the shoulder blades. Miraculously she stopped coughing.
Gasping for air she sputtered, “It’s you.”
“Yep, it’s me in the flesh. Since I didn’t have the chance to introduce myself earlier, I will now. I’m…”
“Ryne Ferguson,” her friend called out exuberantly.
“Indeed I am. And you are?” he asked, looking at Jen.
“My name is Lauren Masters.”
Turning towards her friend he reached out his hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said, not making eye contact with her at all. Instead he kept his eyes focused solely on the other one. She cleared her throat. He paused and then he finally heard the name he’d been waiting for all night.
“My name is Jennifer Steele,” she shyly said, doing her best to not look at him. Ryne reached out his hand and held it eye level until she took it. He firmly grasped it and shook it.
“It’s my pleasure to meet you,” she practically whispered. Ryne took a step closer as she spoke. She cleared her throat again and said with a little more vigor, “You played well tonight.”
Ryne pulled out a chair and sat beside her. “It was an off night for me. My legs just didn’t seem to have it. I barely got an hour’s sleep as I rushed here after my game last night. We were delayed in Boston, and I barely made it to the dome in time. But you already know that, don’t you, Jennifer?” He teasingly winked at her.
“Ah, yeah. That’s right.” She reached for a strand of hair, curling it around her finger. He knew she was nervous especially with the way she kept gnawing on her lower lip. He wanted to ease her nervousness and turned to Lauren.
“So Lauren, what do you do?” Laughing at himself he said, “You already know what I do.”
“I, ah, yeah, well I’m a tax attorney. I specialize in trust and estates.”
“I bet you’re pretty busy these days with everyone trying to avoid paying taxes.”
“We’re always busy making sure our clients are protected.”
Turning back towards the woman that had gotten under his skin, he sipped his cola. “So Jennifer, what’s your profession?”
She stopped spinning her hair and began toying with the napkin that sat in front of her. He reached for her hand, stopping her actions. It felt natural to him and surprisingly she didn’t pull her hand back. She finally raised her eyes to him and began to speak. “I’m a fourth grade teacher at Lakeview.”
“My mom’s a teacher, too. I sympathize for what you have to put up with these days. My mom loves her students, but she has her issues with the parents.”
“On good days they can be trying, that’s for sure.”
They were interrupted when he heard his name being called. “Ryne, there you are. I was wondering if you got lost.”
Ryne turned to see Derek ambling towards him. “I did get lost. But then I spied someone I knew, so I had to stop and say hello.” He introduced them to Derek.
“The guys are waiting for you in the back.”
“About that, where exactly is the back?” He watched as Derek pointed out the room that was hidden off to the side. “That’s not really the back.”
“It is to me. Ladies, would you like to join us?”
“Thank you, no,” Jennifer snapped. Ryne knew she was uncomfortable around him. It was up to him to calm her, and he would, in time.
“Hey man, I’ve got to use the little boys’ room. That’s where I was headed when I saw you. Nice meeting you, ladies.” He watched as Derek made his way towards the restrooms behind the bar.
“I guess I’d better head off. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lauren. And you too, Jennifer.” Ryne stood and said his goodbyes.
He wanted to get to know Jennifer. He wasn’t sure if she realized it or not, but he remembered where she worked. He’d committed Lakeview to his memory. He’d seek her out sooner rather than later.
He found his way through the door and was warmly greeted by what looked like the entire team. He was even more surprised when their coach, Trevor Lampkins, approached with an outstretched hand. “Welcome to the team, Ferguson. You were a little tardy today for me to formally introduce myself.” Shaking his hand he added, “Let’s not let that happen again.”
“No sir, I won’t. I got lost on my way to the dome and then was almost run over in the parking lot.”
The coach shook his head. “That’s one story you have there… Almost run over.”
Ryne decided not to challenge the coach. Before he knew it, he was surrounded by his teammates. Each took their time introducing themselves. Nicknames were thrown about. Perry Zaney chimed in. “You can call me Zaney.”
“Well, that is your name, isn’t it?” Ryne slapped him on the shoulder. Carson Tucker was the last to approach him. What struck Ryne was the fact that Tucker was married, his wife was a teacher, and she taught at Lakeview. Immediately, Ryne knew he had an in at Jennifer’s school. He’d find a way to see her again.