Run to You (7 page)

Coach spoke of an endorsement. Some car insurance outfit wanted Zach and Brandon, the two defensemen, to do a commercial for them. “It shouldn’t take too long. You just show your faces and say a few words.” And then Coach’s face softened into a smile. “You don’t have to sing ‘Dream On’ like you did for the dinner crowd.”

Zach and Brandon looked at each other.

“Tabernac. I know what goes on. You are young men and go out and have good times. Get away from the pressure. And I know neither one of you has a girlfriend right now. That will change.” Coach waved them away. “Talk is over. All is well.”

Brandon laughed as he walked out of the Arena. “Wow. I thought he’d holler at us, or something. He can be understanding when he wants to be.” He looked at his buddy. “Hey, Zach. You there?”

“I think I’m gonna call Lauren. Ask her to the Banquet.”

“I thought you broke up with her. Did you kiss and make up?”

Zach smiled. “You might say that. I called her last night, and she came over.”

Brandon knew who he’d ask. He knew right away. And that surprised him.

Zach reached for his cell phone. “Right now, when I’m in a good mood.” He looked at his buddy. “You’re coming to the Banquet, aren’t you? Do you want me to ask Lauren to fix you up with someone, or…”

“I’m gonna ask Greta.”

“The jewelry designer? I didn’t know…”

“Didn’t know we were seeing each other?”

Zach gave him a funny look. “Sparky. I thought you…” He wanted to say, “I thought you were through with women, after Terri.”

Brandon shook his head. “Life is weird, Zach.”

Greta couldn’t remember the last time she got dressed up.

Her last boyfriend didn’t care much about dressing up and going out someplace nice. He’d just as soon sit home and watch a sporting event on TV, with a few cans of beer. Beer that Greta often bought, since he was “between jobs.”

After they broke up, she wondered why she put up with his crap. Because she was lonely? Because she wanted a boyfriend, or because her mother was pressuring her to find someone and settle down?

It didn’t matter now. What mattered now was Brandon Taylor.

Greta never dreamed she’d date a pro athlete, much less an Ice Bandits hockey player. She never followed sports that much. And Brandon was not at all the way she’d imagined a hockey player to be. Brandon was kind, to the children in the hospital where she met him. Brandon was thoughtful, and seemed genuinely interested in her and her life, not like her old boyfriend, who was concerned about his own needs. He wasn’t fond of working either, and wouldn’t discuss it. Brandon was not selfish. He didn’t just talk about himself and his many wants and needs. He also worked so hard at his game that Greta was amazed. She had no idea there was so much to being a professional hockey player.

Brandon was one hell of a good-looking guy too.

Greta was proud of him. She wanted him to be proud of her, too.

She took special care to apply her eye makeup perfectly, including liquid liner, top and bottom. She used three shades of eye shadow. They never called it “brown,” they called it “chocolate” and “taupe” and “mink.”

Greta applied and shaded and smoothed out her shadow, trying for a smoky look. Some of her bottom liner smudged. She smudged it more.

When she was finished, she could have posed for an eye shadow ad. Her green eyes never looked better, or sexier.

And the final touch: red lipstick. Sexy red lipstick.

Greta wore a scarlet evening dress, not too low cut, not too tight, but low and tight enough to show off her woman’s figure. She was slim, with long legs, and enough on top to prove she was a grown-up, not just her mother’s daughter.

She fussed with her long blond hair, and wound up pulling it back, and up, trying for a sophisticated upswept style. She succeeded on the first try. She usually wore her hair pulled back in a ponytail, when she worked with engraving tools, jeweler’s saws, and other dangerous items, but she wanted to look special tonight. Then she reached into her top drawer for something to put in her hair, and found a long-forgotten red clip that sparkled.

Greta looked in her full-length mirror, in back of her bathroom door, and stooped to stare at herself.

She looked gorgeous.

Tonight, she wasn’t sitting home in pajamas. She wasn’t working as a jeweler and engraver. She wasn’t shopping for toilets with her mother.

It had been so long since she’d fixed herself up like this, she’d forgotten that she had a beautiful side too. Her job involved making beautiful rings and bracelets. Now tonight, the engraver would make herself beautiful.

Wait till Brandon sees me, she thought, and then her doorbell rang.

Brandon looked like an Academy Award winner in a black tux. He wore shiny black shoes that looked new and expensive. Even his dark hair was cut perfectly. Everything about him looked just perfect, like a bright new diamond ring.

“Let’s go. We can grab a drink at the banquet. I want you to meet Zach and some guys on the team.”

Brandon’s car was parked right in front of Greta’s apartment building. “I couldn’t find the parking lot…”

“It’s right in the back…” Greta pointed.

“Oh, well. We’re leaving right away, so I thought it’d be OK.” Greta grabbed her purse and her cell phone, checking for messages. None. She’d sent a text to April, telling her of her big night out at the Banquet, but April did not respond.

Quite a few residents of the apartment stood near the door, staring at the big vehicle. Greta thought she saw some people looking out their windows. They wanted to see who owned that brand new car.

A young man saw Brandon open the door for Greta. “Hey. Are you a big shot or something?” He asked Brandon.

“I certainly hope so,” he replied, as he climbed into his car.

Brandon drove fast, anxious to reach the banquet hall.

“You found my place with no problem.”

“No problem at all. I know where you work, and it’s not that far. I know the south side pretty well.” He didn’t mention to Greta that he’d driven past her workplace the day before, wishing to see her, watch her work, but then he changed his mind.

Zach and Lauren—back together again-- were already at the open bar when Brandon and Greta walked in. “Hey, Sparky! Here we are!”

“Why does he call you Sparky?”

That was something Brandon hadn’t told her yet. Then Zach came to his buddy.

“Hi, I’m Zach. And this is my girlfriend Lauren. Nice to meet you.” He shook Greta’s hand.

Zach stood a bit shorter than Brandon, but was built like a fire plug. Some coach had told him years ago that he was too small to play hockey, so he built himself up, keeping up a regimen that continued through his career with the Ice Bandits. Lauren was tiny and dark, with sparkling eyes and a wide smile.

Lauren was obviously happy to meet another female in the Ice Bandits family. She took Greta’s arm and whispered, “I remember you from picking up Brandon at the airport. You must have a funny schedule.”

“Kind of. I usually work days. I’m a jewelry designer and engraver.”

“My schedule is goofy too. I’m a flight attendant for Chicago Air.”

“That sounds interesting. How do you like it?”

The guys went to get drinks for themselves and their dates.

“It’s a pretty good job. You meet a lot of people. But it sure tires you out, and sometimes the schedule is crazy. How do you like your work?”

. Lauren seemed interested in Greta’s work and asked her a lot of questions about rings and settings. She also had a lot to tell Greta about the other players and their significant others.

“Wait till you meet Dale’s wife. Dale Wallace.” Greta didn’t recognize the name, but Lauren went on, “I don’t think she ever worked a day in her life.”

Dale’s wife, the former model, wore a glittery dress that looked like a chandelier. Her hair was the color of white out. She never stopped smiling, a broad smile that showed off her dental implants; she had more tooth replacements than Kyle MacDonald. Greta wondered what other kind of implants she had.

Greta didn’t know any hockey players, current or old-time, so she couldn’t be impressed with her company. Brandon clearly had stars in his eyes as he looked around the room and pointed out the former NHL stars who had come to this event.

“Look, Greta. Remember him? The star goalie from the last Stanley Cup team.”

Greta didn’t know him from Adam.

Brandon was thrilled beyond words when he learned he’d be seated next to Duncan MacQuarrie, a Hall of Fame defenseman who’d been Brandon’s hero. “This is it, Greta. This is the one person I’ve always wanted to meet. Best defenseman of his time. His name is on the Stanley Cup, three times. And when I visited the Hockey Hall of Fame, his exhibit was the first one I looked for.” He was as excited to meet his hero as the kids in the hospital were excited to meet him.

Greta watched this Duncan MacQuarrie. He walked a little stooped over, and his face looked like granite. He spoke little.

When Kyle asked for his autograph, Duncan scribbled his name on a napkin, without looking up, and walked away.

Well, Brandon looked up to this guy. Maybe he’ll mellow as the night went on, she thought.

Dinner was served. Strip steak, whipped potatoes, seasonal vegetables.

Greta cut her steak. Nice and pink. Brandon’s was so pink it was almost red, the way he liked his steaks. But he picked at his food, waiting to hear every pearl of wisdom out of Duncan MacQuarrie’s mouth.

“Cold potatoes again,” Duncan complained. “Every time I go to one of these affairs, they serve cold mashed potatoes. How hard is it to cook the potatoes properly?”

Brandon asked Duncan a question about a certain play he’d perfected during his time in pro hockey. Greta didn’t understand hockey, let alone the little nuances that made up the game, but she could tell Duncan was not amused by the question. He mumbled something, then took another bite of his cold potatoes.

Zach, seated across from Duncan, asked him about how it felt to see his name on Lord Stanley’s Cup, and what he did on his day with the Cup.

“Is there a waiter around?” Duncan growled. “These potatoes are lumpy, too. What kind of place is this? Lumpy potatoes.”

Lauren smothered a laugh, and Zach caught it. He tried not to smile too.

Then Greta cut a piece of her steak, and announced, “My steak isn’t lumpy. It’s just right.”

Brandon and Zach laughed out loud.

“I wonder what’s for dessert?” Lauren asked, grinning.

“Maybe something cold, to go with the potatoes.” Greta grinned back.

The rest of the night was lighthearted and fun, as the couples ignored the one grump and spoke of Zach’s failed attempt at cooking dinner for Lauren, Brandon’s inability to boil water, and Greta’s mother with her toaster. They didn’t speak of hockey, but they talked about things that they all had in common, and shared a lot of laughs.

Duncan MacQuarrie left for parts unknown before dessert was served.

“He’s missing something good. Chocolate mousse with whipped cream.” Brandon took a big forkful.

“Maybe he’d find a problem with this too. It’s not real whipped cream or something.” Greta tasted hers. “It sure tastes real to me. And delicious.”

As dessert was consumed, and coffee was poured, some of the guests began to get up and mingle with the crowd. Brandon found Kyle MacDonald and his date, and introduced Greta.

Kyle and his girl were friendly, like anyone you’d meet at a party or a get-together.

“I see you had the privilege of sitting with Duncan MacQuarrie,” said Kyle.

Brandon smiled. “All he did was complain. And then it got funny. Leave it to Greta to keep things light.”

Kyle told the story of how he asked for an autograph, and how MacQuarrie

snubbed him. “And I’m a player. I’m an NHL player, not just some fan he ran into on the street. And he all but farted me off.” The usually easygoing Kyle had been upset about his encounter with the old-time hockey star.

This banquet also attracted its share of Ice Bandits fans. There were always a few who got wind of special team events and managed to snag tickets, or passes, or get into the affair some other way. These fans usually stared at the Ice Bandits, as if the players were exotic chimpanzees at Lincoln Park Zoo. And some of them asked questions with all the tact of a paparazzi.

One of these fans followed Brandon into the men’s room. He asked for his autograph. Brandon asked him, “What do you expect me to sign with?”

Greta lost track of how much wine she’d drunk. But she never felt better in her life. Here she was, among other people her age, having a good time and laughing and making a new friend, Lauren.

As the end of the evening approached, and some of the players and fans began to leave, Greta had a big idea.

She’d ask Brandon to come home with her.

Greta hadn’t dated much in her younger years. She was too busy with school and developing her art. She’d had only one serious boyfriend, the one who’d come over and watch TV. And he wasn’t too serious about finding employment.

How did she ever get mixed up with that guy, she wondered as she watched Brandon talking to other players.

Brandon was tall and good-looking. He was serious about his work, at an early age. He was dedicated and fun to be with.

Greta knew she’d found a keeper.

Now was the time to ask him to come home with her, when the idea stood fresh in her mind and before she lost her nerve.

She approached Brandon just as he left a group of former Ice Bandits players. A bunch of fans swarmed the old-timers to ask for autographs.

Greta asked Brandon her big question.

Brandon couldn’t believe it. He didn’t expect this.

But he could not turn down a pretty girl, much less one like Greta.

They took their leave as the party was winding down.

She gave the limo driver her address, and they were on their way to Greta’s apartment.

Greta closed the door behind them, and looked at Brandon.

Well fed and well drunk, but not really drunk. Brandon felt warm from the dinner with his teammates and hockey stars. Maybe his favorite player wasn’t the person he’d imagined, but he had his beloved game, and his friends, good friends.