Round 1 Game 5

Wow - I'm kind shocked anyone is reading this. Thanks for your comments. I posted two chapters - so don't miss the last one. Going on vacation - be back on the 9th. Thanks for reading


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Walking into Marc's apartment felt so good. I was so sick of bouncing from hotel to hotel. I had only been home briefly before heading to Philadelphia for Jordan's last game.

Marc walked over wrapping his arms around me and looked out the window with me. "I'm so glad you're here," he whispered.

"Me too." I said leaning back into him.

"Hey Caity, why are you here? I mean by my calculations you should be with Eric in New Jersey."

"Ya, but New Jersey isn't Manhattan."

"Ok, if you say so. I'm just willing to bet you're showing up here has more to do with the fact that your phone hasn't stopped ringing then that Manhattan is the center of your universe. Are you running away from some guy?"

"Mmm something like that," I replied. Marc dropped it which I was thankful for and ordered us Chinese.

My phone was ringing about every 20 minutes, each time it rang Marc would just look at me, but not say anything. Finally his phone rang and I held my breath. Please don't let that be Eric, I thought.

"Hey Eric." I heard, and knew I was done for.
"Ya she's here."
"She was at the game tonight."
"I don't know?"
"Why are you so pissed off?"
"Hang on...”

“He wants to talk to you." he said holding the phone out to me. I just shook my head no. Marc rolled his eyes.

"Sorry Er. she doesn't want to talk to you."
"Ok I'll tell her," Marc said as he hung up the phone.

He was giving me that look. Like I must have done something really bad. “What did he say?” I asked.

“That you are going to have to talk to him sometime, and he hope’s it’s before his game tomorrow." I could see Marc putting it together before he said. "So you were running away from Eric?”

How could I explain this? “Not really, well kinda. Would it be OK if we don’t talk about Eric?”

“Sure.” I was sure he figured whatever happened between Eric and I was my fault. He probably thought I was sleeping with one of Eric’s teammates, and that’s why he was so pissed.

The Chinese food arrived, and we took turns feeding ourselves and each other with chopsticks. The noodles were the most fun. We laughed and talked about old times like when the boys buried me in a mountain of snow. Jordan sat on me while Eric and Marc shoveled mountains of snow on top of me. When the snow was heavy enough to hold me down the three of them walked away and left me. “Thank God for Jared, or I’d probably still be in that snow bank.”

“No way Caity, we would have gotten board without you and come back.”

“Right.” I said doubtfully, getting up to look out the window again.

"I'm so jealous of you, ya know?"

"What? Jealous of what?" Marc asked.

"I love New York City. And here you are living in the heart of it."

"Well you can move in anytime, besides you've been living with Jordan long enough. He's had a bad influence on you."

"No he hasn't. I've had a bad influence on him." I winked at him. "I'd move in with you Marc, but I don't want to cramp your style. I'm sure this new girl of yours wouldn't take kindly to your hot, sexy, beautiful neighbor from Thunder Bay moving in."

Marc laughed at me. "You crack me up Caity."

"So how is miss sunshine? Have you told her that you loooove her yet?" I teased.

"No. I don't get to see her as much as I'd like to. I'm actually probably not going to say anything."

"Why not?" I asked like he'd said the dumbest thing I'd ever heard.

"Because she's complicated. I can't read her. I'm afraid I'll just make an ass out of myself." I could tell by the look on his face that this girl really had him wound up.

"God Marc, why don't you just sleep with her. It's so much less complicated."

This was not the response he was looking for cuz he walked away and went to sit on the couch. I watched him sit down sulking then ran over and jumped on his lap.

"Caitlin!"

I gave him my, I'm sorry I'm just a stupid girl look, which made him smile. "Come on Marc, you know you love me." I said.

"You got me there," he replied.

I figured it was time I try to be sensitive. Marc was obviously head over heels for this chick. "Ok, I'll pretend to be a real girl for a minute." Marc rolled his eyes at me again. "So you don't think this girl is into you?" I asked.

"I think she's afraid of relationships. Probably has something to do with the way she grew up."

"Marc you're such a charmer. I don't know how any girl can resist you. She has no idea how lucky she is that you're in love with her."

Marc was having trouble looking at me. I figured he wasn't used to me playing 'girl', and it made him uncomfortable. "I've tried to hint around and almost told her a couple times, but I just can't. You have no idea how insane she makes me."

"Since I'm being a girl, can I be completely honest with you?" Marc nodded. "You falling in love scares me to death." Marc finally looked me in the eyes, his expression was shocked, so I continued to explain. "It's just I'm afraid there are only four men in this world that I am capable of loving. Their last names are all the same. I know you are all going to fall in love one day, and that's when you won't need me anymore."

I stood up and walked over to the window watching the lights of New York City again. I was mad at myself for saying that. Marc's in love with someone and wanted to talk about her. I turned it around and made it about me. Marc's hands wrapped my waist. "Caity." he whispered.

I caught him before he could speak. “Marc, please don't say anything. I don't want you feeling bad for me. I'm going to get changed." I moved out of his arms and walked toward the bedroom.

After a minute, I ran back to the living room. “It’s a beautiful night. Let’s go for a walk.” I was already pulling on his arm to yank him off the couch, but he wasn’t budging.

“Caity, It’s 1AM. We’ll get mugged.”

“Look, you’re a big bad defenseman from the NY Rangers you can protect us. Besides if you don’t get up I’m calling Hank, he’ll go.”

Marc gave me a dirty look, but got off of the couch. I grabbed his hand and smiled up at him. “Come on cranky.” I teased.

“You make me crazy Caitlin!” He yelled at me as I closed his apartment door.

We walked and walked, and I knew he was tired but I just needed to clear my head. I couldn’t have gone at that time of night by myself. He kept hold of my hand, and I was glad that he did; it helped me to forget my Eric drama and the fact that Marc was love sick over some chick. Why couldn’t he be more like Jordan? That thought made me giggle. I bet Jordan doesn’t hear that very often.

“What are you giggling about?” Marc asked.

“I’m not sure I could translate it from my head to my mouth. I said smirking.

“What I wouldn’t give to get in that head of yours,” he said as we made the last turn back toward Marc’s apartment”

“Nothing interesting going on in there.” I assured him.

“Ya, but you’ve never really shared with me or told me secrets; you’ve always been closer with Jordan and Jared that way.”

I noticed someone sitting on the steps in front of Marc’s apartment, but blew it off to continue our conversation. I wrapped my arms around Marc’s waist, and his arm went around my shoulder. “That’s cuz I never wanted to annoy you with my feelings. I’ve always been just a silly little sister to you. I mostly wanted to stay out of your way so you didn’t decide to kick me to the curb.”

“Caity is that really what you thought?” Marc said, but my attention went back to the man on Marc’s step who was now standing and looking at us. Marc continued talking but I wasn’t listening. The man on Marc’s step was tall and built a lot like Marc.

I cut him off. “Wait Marc, please tell me that’s not your brother.” I said pointing.

“Ya, I think it is.”

Eric started walking toward us and when he reached us he didn’t say anything to either of us, but grabbed for me pulling me away from Marc. Marc looked angry and pulled me back to him. “What are you doing here?” I said nastily.

“Newark is just over the bridge, can’t I come to see my brother?” he asked.

“You can give whatever excuse you want, but it’s 2AM, and we all know the only reason you’re here is to see her. I told you she didn’t want to talk to you.” My eyes widened, and I looked up at Marc in shock. I was completely taken back that he was defending me.

Eric gave me a death look. “Did you tell him? You fucking told him!” Eric shouted.

“Told me what?” Marc demanded.

“No I didn’t tell him!” I yelled back.

I turned so I was only looking at Marc, and I had no view whatsoever of Eric. “Marc, I’m really sorry, but I need to work this out with Eric. Can you give me us some time?”

I could see in his eyes that he wanted an explanation. He kissed my forehead and walked past me and up the stairs to his apartment building. I noticed how Marc’s eyes lingered on us until the door closed. I wondered if he suspected. If it had been Jordan or Jared I would have known if they suspected, but Marc wasn’t as easy to read. I turned my attention back to Eric.

“Nice romantic walk with my brother?” Eric asked smugly.

So this is how it was going to be, I thought. “Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know what to think.” Eric snapped.

“You think I’m fucking Marc now? What about Jordan and Jared? Am I sleeping with them too?”

“So you aren’t sleeping with Marc?” he asked ignoring my Jordan and Jared comment.

“This is priceless! You’re jealous of Marc? You kill me, you just kill me. Go back to New Jersey.” I said trying to walk away, but his hand reached for my wrist and he pulled me back.

“Ouch!” I cried out. Eric had grabbed the same wrist that Alex Ovechkin grabbed earlier that night. It was now purple and swollen.

“You used to be so much tougher when you were a kid,” he teased, trying to let me know he didn’t mean to hurt me.

“I’m still tough Eric, otherwise how could I put up with all your bullshit. I just hurt my wrist earlier.”

Eric took a step closer to me and grabbed my hand so he could look at my wrist in the street light. “Who did this to you?” Eric asked looking like he was going to kill someone. “Did Marc do this?”

“NO!” I replied. “It happened at Marc’s game. It’s not a big deal.”

“I want to know who’d put a mark on you like this,” he demanded.

I liked the fact that he was being protective of me, and I could feel the anger I had toward him slowly evaporating. All I wanted was for him to care about me. I mean care about me as more than a ‘Great Fuck’ (his words not mine). “You put marks on me all the time.” I said pulling my sweatshirt down to reveal the latest one.

He didn't think it was funny. “Caitlin James. Tell me now!”

He was looking into my eyes, and I just couldn’t lie to him. “I had to walk through the visiting team’s side to get to Marc’s locker room. So I thought I had made it without anyone recognizing me, but I wasn’t so lucky.”

“Who did it!”

“Alex. Alex Ovechkin. I guess he thought I liked it rough.” I said the last part trying to make light of the situation.

“Caitlin, quit joking. It is not funny. Did you tell Marc?”

“No actually Sean Avery of all people showed up and saved my ass.”

Eric did something completely unexpected. He grabbed me and pulled me into him. At that moment I had forgiven him. This was all I ever wanted from Eric, for him to show me he cared about me. He tilted my chin up so our eyes met. “I love you Caitlin,” he said. My eyes closed and tears came to them. He wasn't telling me he was in love with me, I got that, and I didn't want that. I just wanted to know he cared about me and that's what those words meant.

"I'm going to fucking kill him. Wait until Marc hears about this." Eric said.

"No Eric. Please don't tell Marc."

"What, why not?"

"Because he's still playing the caps. The last thing I need is this becoming personal for Marc. He needs to focus."

"Fine I won't tell him, but you have to come back to NJ with me." Now Eric was behaving the way I was used to. His lips went to my neck.

I wasn't ready to go back there with him, the place where we had casual sex as often as we could get our hands on each other. "Down boy. How's that going to look to Marc if I up and leave tonight? If he's not suspicious, he will be if I leave with you."

"OK point taken. You stay here with Marc tonight. Will you meet me in the morning?" I gave him a look like I wasn't sure, and he responded with more kissing. "Come on Caitlin. Marc's gonna have to leave for DC anyway."

"Eric it's such a bad idea," I said his kisses starting to affect me.

"Mmm hmm. Terrible idea," he said knowing I was starting to weaken. His lips came to mine. "Meet me tomorrow Caitlin," he said kissing my lip softly.

I gathered all my strength and pulled away. "Eric, Can I come as your friend, and not, well whatever it is that we've become?"

"Yes. I just want my good luck charm with me."

Maybe we were actually making some progress. I smiled at him. "Ok, I'll be there. But you better go home and get some sleep. How else are you going to win tomorrow?"

Eric kissed my lips softly, and I turned to go back to Marc's apartment.
Marc was already asleep. I was relieved that I was going to get to avoid his questions for the rest of the night. I put on my boy shorts and tank and crawled into his bed.

"Caity, I have a guest room," he said obviously pissed off at me.

"You want me to go?" I asked sweetly.

"Nooo," he replied like a six year old. I nuzzled under his chin and his arms came around me, but his body stayed rigid. "Did you get everything worked out with Eric?" he asked.

"I think so."

"You gonna tell me what's going on?"

"I wasn't planning on it," I said honestly.

"I didn't think so."

I leaned up and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. His body relaxed, and he pulled me in tighter. I hoped not to have to resume this conversation in the morning.
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"Morning Jordan." I said into the phone.

"Hey if it isn't my absent room mate."

"Is that all I am to you Jordan?"

"No you're my soul mate Caitlin. The only other person in the world that can keep up with me."

I smiled. "That's more like it."

"Hey what's up with Eric. He called me yesterday wanting to know if I knew where you were. Didn't you got to NJ to meet him?"

"Ya, but I decided to go to New York instead. I'm here with Marc."

"That's great and all, but when do I get you back?"

"I'm going to NJ today to see Eric's game. If you win tonight, I'll meet you in Pittsburgh to celebrate. If not than I'll meet you back in Philly, to celebrate. Either way, I'm sure a party will be in order."

"That's my girl."

"Kiss all your girlfriends for me." I teased

"Love you Caitlin."

"Love you too Jordan."

I heard the door to Marc's apartment open and close. I bounded to the living room.

"There you are. I was beginning to think you were a one night stand."

Marc's cheeks reddened. "No way baby," he replied. "I brought you a chocolate croissant, and coffee." I was glad his mood had brightened.

"OK Marc. If miss sunshine doesn't want you. I'm single. Just keep bringing me sweets." I said sticking the giant pastry in my mouth.

Marc gave me a crooked smile. "So Caity, do you have any interesting assignments this summer?"

"Well, I'm hoping to go to the Stanley cup." I teased.

"Me too actually," and a smile spread across his face. "Maybe after we go to the Stanley Cup, I can go on another assignment with you this summer. Maybe some island or Europe."

"Are you looking for a free vacation Staal?" I asked.

"Ya, something like that," he gave me an odd smile.

"I think I can arrange something." I flung my hand back spilling my coffee. "Oh crap," I said and ran to the kitchen for paper towels.

Marc was already sopping it up with napkins when I walked back into the room. "I got it, I got it," I yelled running back toward Marc. I wasn't watching where I was going; my foot hit the spilled coffee and my legs went right out from under me. It must have been his hockey player reflexes, Marc grabbed for me and cushioned most of the blow.

We both laid there on the floor, me sitting on top of him, laughing hysterically. "Thanks Marc." I said looking into his eyes, still laughing. I didn't realize how close our faces were, but as he turned to look at me I could feel his breath on my lips.

I don't know if it was him or me that closed the small gap, but out lips met, softly at first, which should have startled us apart. When neither of us pulled away, the kiss grew more heated and so did the butterflies I was feeling. Both of his hands moved to my a face and his tongue poked my bottom lip. Our breathing heated up as our tongues collided. No, no, no my mind kept telling me, but my body wouldn't listen. One of Marc's hands moved from my face, down my arm and found the small of my back pulling my whole body into his. God Marc knows how to kiss... Marc... Holy crap, I can't kiss Marc like this. The realization of the moment hit me like a brick wall.

I pulled away with no warning and jumped off of Marc. He just sat on the floor looking up at me. I ran my hand through my hair and turned toward the door. My bag was sitting beside it. I needed to get out of there NOW!

Marc watched me walk toward the door pick up my bag and turn around to face him. Had it been almost anyone else I would have just left. Who am I kidding if it been anyone else I probably wouldn't have stopped. Anyone else who would have kissed me like that would have woken up with me the next morning, but I just couldn't do this. "I'm so sorry Marc." I said, and I closed the door behind me.
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I leaned my head against the window of the train. What have I done I asked myself over and over again. I could still feel Marc's lips on mine and that only convinced me more that I had ruined everything. What would he think of me now? I couldn't get over how much I liked kissing him, and the way it made me feel. Only one other person was capable of making me feel like that, and even with him it took a lot more than one kiss.

By the time I got into the cab, my mind wandered to why Marc would kiss me back. I mean, he has that other girl, and Marc just isn't like that unless..unless he's more like Eric than I realized. I couldn't have that kind of relationship with him. I just couldn't.

I walked into the hotel lobby and up to the front desk. I just need things to get back to normal I thought.

"Can I help you miss?" The woman at the counter asked.

"Yes, I'm Caitlin James. Eric Staal left a key for me."

She gave me a funny look, went to a box behind her and pulled out a room card. She slipped it into a tight fitting envelope. "Here you go Ms. James." she said handing me the card.

I walked to the room and looked at the outside of the door, pulled out the card and slid it into the slot. I just wanted to feel normal again... I walked into the room expecting to find Eric, but I didn't see him. I could hear the shower running...I just want to feel normal. I dropped my bag on the floor slid off my flip flops. Oh, I just want everything back to normal. I pulled off my clothes and let them drop following the sounds of the flowing water. This was the only thing I could think of that would make me feel normal. I opened the door to the bathroom and then the shower door. All I was doing was getting back to normal.

Eric was startled at first, but his expression softened when he saw me standing naked in his shower.

"Oh Caitlin," he whispered the longing in his voice obvious. He pulled me to him. "I thought this wasn't what you wanted."

"Make me feel normal again Eric."

He didn't ask me what that meant or why I said that but things progressed, just like I thought they would. His lips hit my neck, it was normal for him to kiss my neck first. His hands wandered my curves; it was starting to feel more normal. As Eric pressed me up against the shower wall, I let go of all of it. No more thinking about Marc, and the amazing kiss or what he thinks of me now. I was lost in Eric, which was normal.
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Game 5
I cheered on Eric from my seat on the glass as he and his team won game five.
I comforted Jordan, after his game five loss.
I avoided Marc's calls, deleted his texts, and the Rangers lost game five. I know it wasn't my fault, but I felt like it was.