Romance Ice Hockey 101

"What do you mean, he just walked out of there?" Mary asked a few days later when Rebecca had gathered enough courage to tell her friend what had happened between her and Josh.

Rebecca shrugged even though she knew her friend couldn't see her. She settled back on her couch with a sigh, reliving that last night with Josh over and over again. "I don't know," she said out loud to Mary. "He said he had to go and he left."

There was silence for a minute over the line and Rebecca wondered if Mary had hung up on her. "Mary?"

"I just can't believe he'd walk away without any kind of explanation," Mary replied at last.

Again, Rebecca shrugged. "Maybe he was tired," she said. "He came over right after a game and they had an early morning practice."

"So why come over at all?" Mary asked and Rebecca wasn't sure if that was merely a rhetorical question. "What else happened when he was over?"

Rebecca flushed right up to the roots of her hair. It didn't matter that she was alone in her apartment talking on the phone. She blushed every time she thought about what had happened between her and Josh that night.

"Rebecca?" Mary's incredulous voice came over the phone and Rebecca knew her friend was guessing on her own what had happened. "Oh my God."

"It wasn't that bad," Rebecca protested immediately. "We didn't sleep together."

"But you were going to?" Mary's voice reached a new pitch as she spoke.

"Mary, calm down," Rebecca replied as she rubbed her forehead. "We didn't because he ran out of here like... like I'd shot him or something."

"This is unbelievable," Mary murmured. "I can't believe he'd walk away from you like that."

"I can believe it," Rebecca muttered to herself. She'd acted like an idiot and Josh had realized in that moment that he didn't want her that way.

"OK. Tell me everything," Mary said, obviously having missed Rebecca's self-conscious remark. "Start at the beginning and don't leave anything out."

With a sigh, Rebecca did. She repeated their phone conversation, even the bit about the bathtub and then she haltingly went over the events after Josh's arrival in her apartment. Finally, she finished and waited to hear Mary's reply.

"Well," Mary spoke slowly when she finally did speak. "He's an idiot."

"No, he isn't," Rebecca replied with a laugh.

"He walked out of your apartment while you were half dressed?" Mary said. "He's an idiot. Only an idiot would walk away from someone like you."

Rebecca smiled as tears stung her eyes. She loved her friend and missed her hometown very much. "Thanks, Mary."

"I'll get Max to talk to him and straighten him out," Mary went on.

"No!" Rebecca cried, sitting up straight on the couch. "No, Mary, please. Don't tell Max. He'll call Josh for sure and say something and that's just too embarrassing to even think about!"

Mary fell silent at her words for a long moment and Rebecca was the first to speak again.

"Please, Mary," she whispered. "I don't want to think about this anymore."

Her friend reluctantly agreed to keep the whole tale to herself, even though Rebecca suspected she'd still tell Max. He was her boyfriend after all, and they were very close. They weren't living together yet but they told each other everything.

After another few minutes of half-hearted casual chatter, Rebecca hung up the phone and stared blankly at her television. It was late and she knew there was a Penguins game on somewhere. She couldn't bring herself to watch it. So she found a different game, willing to admit to herself at least that she was hooked on hockey now. She was slowly picking up all the rules and penalties and was fascinated by the movements on the ice. For such large men, they moved with a swiftness and agility that was simply breathtaking at times.

I don't need Josh to teach me about it anymore, she told herself as she lay down on her couch to watch a game between two teams that didn't include a certain tall, broad shouldered, fair-headed man.

"Josh!" Someone hollered his name and he veered sharply to skate off the ice. Several of the guys shuffled out of the way on the bench as play on the ice continued while he stepped behind the boards.

Popping his mouth piece out, he reached for a water bottle and drank greedily. It wasn't just that he was playing hard but he was simply exhausted. After walking out of Rebecca's apartment the other night, he was tortured with images of her and thoughts of what might have happened between them.

It couldn't happen though, not after what she'd said.

Shaking his head, Josh took another long swig of water before setting the bottle back down.

"Josh!" Coach yelled at him from behind.

Cringing, Josh twisted his torso slightly to look into the bespectacled eyes of the team's coach.

"Where's your head?" he demanded. "You've been skating like a bloody junior all night."

"Sorry, Coach," Josh mumbled. "I'll do better." He didn't offer up any excuses, since any real reason for his actions on ice were nothing he wanted to discuss on the bench at that moment.

"See that you do," Coach replied and moved on, leaning close to another player to speak to him.

Josh turned his attention back to the ice where Sean was facing off against the opposing center at the dot just inside the neutral zone. He pushed all thoughts of Rebecca out of his head and tried to focus on the game. Another minute passed and he was jumping over the boards as his teammates skated off.

The rest of the game passed by in a blur. Josh was more than exhausted by the time they left the ice following a shootout. They'd won but everyone knew they could have had the game long before overtime. Josh wasn't the only one who'd been off that night but his actions certainly hadn't helped.

"What was going on out there?" Bill asked as they were changing in the locker room.

Josh glanced up to see the older man was talking to him. Sighing, he shrugged and reached for his shirt. But Bill wasn't going to just let it go.

"You weren't playing the game, man," Bill commented. "Your head was somewhere else almost the whole time."

Josh frowned and faced his teammate. "I'm tired, that's all."

"You're more than tired, Josh," Sean remarked from his other side. "You haven't been playing well since our last home game."

Josh opened his mouth to reply but Bill hooted with laughter and spoke before he had the chance.

"You saw her again, didn't you?" Bill asked and laughed again.

Scowling, Josh stood up and yanked his jacket on. He had no desire to discuss this with the guys in the locker room. "I think we all need to hurry up or Coach will have our heads for being late on the bus." With that, he stalked from the room, Bill's knowing laughter following him all the way.

On the bus, most of the guys were quiet, tuckered out from the game. Josh sat in his usual spot and didn't speak to anyone. Then a shadow fell across his seat and he looked up to see Sean standing there.

"Mind if I sit down?" he asked.

Surprised, Josh nodded before he could think of an excuse why not. Sean always sat around the middle of the bus, on the other side. He was well known for his habits and superstitions and Josh wondered if he'd been hit in the head as he made himself comfortable next to him.

"I think you're freaking out over something relatively minor," Sean said, jumping right into it as though they were already halfway through a conversation.

Josh blinked at him a few times, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Then he recalled Bill's words, his lousy game and the beautiful woman he'd just walked out on a few nights ago. Blushing, he looked away from Sean, grateful for the dim interior of the bus.

In the next minute, the large vehicle started moving and soon they were motoring through town on the way to the airport. They had another two road games and then they were back home for two and a half weeks.

"You're distracted and playing poorly because some girl has worked her way under your skin," Sean went on, continuing with his comments from a minute ago.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," Josh replied, still refusing to look at his team captain.

"I don't?" Sean replied with a light laugh. "Let's see... when Amelia and I first met, I could barely tie my skates. When we first... hooked up, I couldn't even remember which side I played from."

Josh glanced at Sean, seeing a contented look on the other man's face. They were basically the same age but Sean had matured in ways that Josh couldn't even fathom since meeting his wife, Amelia. As he thought about it, he recalled the stretches of games where Sean's playing had indeed been erratic and unfocused. He'd never really put two and two together but he supposed it did line up with the time Sean was first getting to know Amelia.

"How did you deal with it?" Josh asked, wondering what mind tricks Sean had used to get his focus back on the game.

Sean leveled a hard look at the other man and Josh was the first to look away. "I was lucky enough to have Amelia fall in love with me," he said, his stark honesty making Josh feel uncomfortable.

Josh didn't have a problem with the guys talking about their women while they were all together. He understood that it happened; boy meets girl, they sleep together, sometimes it morphs into marriage, sometimes not. What he didn't understand was this deep-rooted emotion that seemed to filter through the men. This... love that was suddenly all consuming. Half the time he figured it was total bullshit. Then someone like Sean, the most level-headed and focused guy on the team has to confess something like this to him.

"What if that just isn't in the cards?" Josh replied, keeping his face neutral and his voice firm.

Sean smiled. "If you're unwilling to admit how much a woman can affect you, then there's not much I can tell you."

Well, at least he was being honest.

Josh just figured he'd have to find someone who didn't love his wife who could tell him how to erase the woman from his mind. If he couldn't have her, he could at least get his focus and drive to win back.

And didn't that thought just set him back on his heels.

He stared at Sean who stared back at him in silence. Then Sean's eyes narrowed as though he realized what was going through Josh's head.

"Why haven't you called her this week?" Sean asked in a quiet voice.

"I didn't think she'd want to talk to me," Josh replied just as quietly.

"Why? What did you do?"

Josh scowled at his friend. "What makes you think it was something I did?"

Sean chuckled as he adjusted his position in the narrow bus seat. "Because it's usually the guy's fault."

Sighing, Josh rested his head back against his seat and closed his eyes. Slowly, he confessed to Sean that he'd run out of Rebecca's apartment last Sunday after getting her half-undressed. He repeated the words Rebecca had spoken while Sean listened patiently and when he was done Sean had only one question.

"Why does that matter?" he asked.

"Why does what matter?" Josh replied, though he knew exactly what Sean was talking about.

To his credit, Sean didn't push him. They sat silently together for a short time until the bus arrived at the airport. Then they joined the line filing off the bus and heading for their plane.

Even though he hadn't pressed him, Josh knew the answer to Sean's question. He had fled Rebecca's apartment after her confession of her lack of experience. It wasn't because he didn't want her. These last few days all he'd had to do was think of her and he'd be more than slightly aroused. No, he was definitely more than attracted to her.

The problem was that he didn't want to admit that she scared the hell out of him.

When he'd thought she was just an average girl, someone who'd had her share of boyfriends and lovers, he'd felt safer with her. Then she'd dropped that bomb and suddenly she was this gorgeous, fun woman who was sharing something of herself with him that she hadn't before. She hadn't come right out and said it but then Josh hadn't stuck around long enough to talk to her about it.

And that made him feel like a complete asshole.

What kind of guy runs out on a beautiful woman who had already let him half undress her?

A fool, he answered his own question and scowled out the plane window. The more he thought about it, the more he realized what a complete idiot he had been. He'd be lucky if Rebecca took his call ever again.

Rebecca fell easily back into her normal routine of school, work, home and occasionally the coffee shop with the internet connection. She chatted once or twice with Mary and the rest of the time she just tried to forget about how embarrassed she'd been. No matter how she tried to ignore the stats, she couldn't help but follow the hockey games.

She mainly kept her attention on the Penguins and the Calgary Flames, so she could at least feel closer to Mary and Max. It made her smile when she'd see Max skating around or starting a fight and she'd wonder what Mary thought about it. She followed the Penguins because... well, because she wanted to watch Josh.

He was such a strong, quiet presence on the ice. Half the time she didn't notice the number 11 on the ice until about halfway through his shift. Or he'd score, often while the team was short-handed, and she'd scream before she could stop herself. No matter what happened though, she wanted to watch hockey. On nights when neither of her teams played, she'd just turn on whatever game was playing and listen with half an ear as she did school work or read a book. Other times, she'd watch whatever teams were playing and flip a coin to decide who to cheer for.

Something about it was missing, though. She loved to watch the games and see the men slamming each other into boards, even though it made her cringe every time. Especially when the one getting slammed was Josh. She missed having someone there to answer her questions when she thought of them. Ever since that last night with Josh, whenever she thought of something she didn't understand, she'd write it down and look it up on-line the next time she went to the coffee shop. It just wasn't the same.

After more than two weeks of not having Josh around or calling her on the phone, she accepted the fact that he didn't want to see her again. It hurt but she'd been through worse before. She could handle it. She told herself that they had only known each other a few days so it wasn't a big deal. Sometimes it worked. The other ninety-nine percent of the time, she lay awake at night staring at the ceiling while her body recalled how it felt with his hands on her.

Rebecca found herself sitting in the little pub around the corner from the coffee shop one evening after a grueling mid-term, sipping a Guinness. She preferred the dark flavor to the lighter beers and even though she didn't generally drink beer, she felt like she needed it. The big screen TV's all around the bar were lit up with white ice and dark moving figures. The Penguins weren't playing so there was no specific game on the screens. One showed a Rangers-Senators game and another screen, closest to Rebecca's seat was showing a game between Carolina and Washington.

"Can I get you another one?" the bartender asked as he stopped in front of her.

Smiling, Rebecca glanced down at her glass and saw that it was nearly empty. She downed the last of it and then asked for another. The bartender grinned as he grabbed a fresh glass to pour into. With a sigh, Rebecca turned her attention back to the nearest television and rested her cheek in one upturned hand.

On screen, some flashy Washington player swung around in a wide arc in front of his opponent's net and backhanded the puck smoothly. It sailed over the goalie's shoulder and the buzzer went off. The player, with a huge number 8 on his back, sailed across the ice with one foot in the air and his arms over his head. His teammates knocked into him as they celebrated his goal.

"...And this is his second goal of the night," the announcer said, though Rebecca could barely hear over the conversation around the bar. "Oborotenski is on fire tonight. Two goals and it's only one minute into the second period."

"Yes, he's got something extra motivating him tonight, Joe," the other announcer agreed as the players skated towards their bench.

Rebecca recalled the name from her nights with Josh and smiled as she remembered that Josh didn't particularly like to play against him. As she watched more of the game, she could see why. Number 8 was a huge presence on the ice and he definitely knew how to handle the puck.

"Here you go," the bartender said as he set a fresh Guinness in front of her.

"Thanks," she replied and kept her eyes on the television screen as the game carried on.

She laughed and clapped her hands as Oborotenski scored yet again. Then she watched in confusion as hats began to sail through the air to land on the ice. The players celebrated the goal and skated to the bench as more and more hats rained down. She frowned at the screen and lightly gripped her beer as she watched.

"What the hell are they doing?" she muttered to herself.

"It's called a hat trick," a familiar voice responded to her question and she whipped around in her seat to see Josh standing next to her, one big hand on the bar.

Her heart thumped alarmingly against her ribs and she lifted a hand to her chest in an effort to still it. Josh's blue eyes sparkled in the dim light of the pub and he offered her a lopsided smile. Her heart leapt again and she swallowed as a blush crept up her cheeks. She struggled for something to say and recalled his words.

"A... hat trick?" she repeated and frowned.

His smile widened and he moved to sit on the stool next to her. "Yeah. When a player scores three times in one game it's called a hat trick."

Rebecca tore her eyes away from his face and looked back up at the television where the officials and arena attendants were clearing the hats from the ice. "So the fans throw hats on the ice because they're happy?"

Josh chuckled and nodded. "Yup."

"Weird," she murmured and sipped her beer while avoiding looking at him. She could feel every inch of him sitting next to her though, without looking over. She could feel the heat from his body rolling towards her and she desperately wanted to lean on him.

"Can I get you a drink?" the bartender asked Josh.

"Yeah, I'll have a Bud, please," Josh replied and thanked him when he set the brown bottle in front of him. "So... how are you?" he asked Rebecca after a long silence.

Action had resumed on screen but Rebecca was only pretending to watch it. She heard Josh ask her the question and thought about all the possible responses. She didn't want to sound like a needy female and lay into him about practically ditching her two weeks ago. But she didn't want to lie and say that she was OK with the way he'd run off that night.

"I need to tell you how sorry I am," Josh spoke again when she took too long to respond. "I shouldn't have just... taken off like that."

Rebecca turned and looked into his face. He looked sorry and his eyes flicked over her face before he looked away. He raised his bottle to his lips and sipped before saying something else.

"I don't know, I mean, you don't have to talk to me," he said and picked at the label on the beer bottle. His tone was nervous, apprehensive and Rebecca felt the corners of her mouth turning up.

He's so cute! she thought.

"I understand if you're mad at me," he went on and glanced at her. He caught sight of her smile and he smiled in return. "I mean, I hope you're not but I get it if you don't ever want to see me again."

Rebecca sighed and leaned her head in her hand again as she studied him. His eyes shifted back and forth between hers and the smile on his face drooped a little around the edges.

"I really am so sorry, Rebecca," he said quietly.

Her stomach clenched at his low tone and she sat up straight. "I don't want to never see you again, Josh," she said and meant it. She was hurt by what he'd done and his showing up here just reminded her of how humiliated she'd felt. But he looked genuinely sorry and he was here, making an apology. The least she could do was give him a second chance.

After all, she still didn't have any real friends in Pittsburgh.

"So it's all right if I stay and watch the game with you?" he asked as he jerked his chin towards the TV.

She nodded. "Sure. And maybe tomorrow we can hang out." She surprised herself even as she spoke the words. A blush crept up her cheeks as she waited for Josh to reply.

His handsome face split into a wide grin and he nodded. "I'd like that. But how do you know I'm not playing a game tomorrow?"

She laughed and waved a hand dismissively. "I probably know the Pens schedule better than you do by now."

His eyebrows shot up his forehead at her words and he laughed. "I can't believe you've turned into such a hockey nut."

"Well, I am. I know almost everything," she replied. "Ask me anything."

A considering look passed over his face and he glance towards the big screen over the bar before speaking. An icing call had just been made and the players were realigning themselves around a new face off point. "All right. What's icing?"

She blinked and followed his gaze to the screen. "Shoot. That one I still don't get," she confessed and glanced sideways at him for his reaction.

"Don't worry," he replied and reached out to pat her wrist. The contact sent a jolt up her arm and delivered tingles all through the rest of her body. "Icing is a tough one for a lot of people." He proceeded to explain it to her.

She listened, or tried to, as he left his hand to rest on her arm. After another minute, he moved it back to his bottle of beer and she relaxed. The game on screen continued and they fell into easy conversation as they watched. Rebecca asked almost no questions about the game and mostly they chatted about her schoolwork, his travels with the team and other random things that came to mind.

Rebecca was surprised at how comfortable she felt around him. They slipped so easily back into their casual banter that Rebecca could almost forget the feeling he'd left her with that night two weeks ago.

When the game ended they looked at each other and smiled, all conversation between them done for now. Rebecca remembered her offer to hang out the following day.

"Are you sure?" he asked when she brought it up. "Don't you have school tomorrow? It's only Tuesday."

"It's midterms. I don't have another exam until Thursday," she replied and smiled over at the bartender as he stopped by. "How much do I owe you?"

"I'll get it, Rebecca," Josh replied and whipped his wallet out.

"Oh no, I couldn't," she protested but he was already pulling out a couple green bills. "Josh..."

"Don't worry about it, Rebecca," he said and handed over the money. "It's the least I can do."

She smiled at him, feeling suddenly shy again. He grinned at her as he tucked his wallet back in his pocket. They both stood up from the stools and made their way to the exit. Rebecca paused by the door and held her purse between her legs as she struggled to pull her heavy winter coat on. Josh stepped close and lifted it from her hands, helping her slide one arm through the sleeve and then the other. She felt his fingers slide momentarily through her hair and shivered at the sensation.

"So you really want to get together tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "Why don't we actually do something touristy?" She suggested.

"Like what?"

"I don't know," she said. "You've lived here longer. You come up with something."

He grinned at her and nodded. "All right. I'll think of something. I'll come get you at noon tomorrow then."

"Sounds great," she agreed, already more than excited at the prospect of a day with Josh. She pushed her concerns out of her mind as they said good-bye and told herself that he was trying to make amends.

Josh was more relieved than he knew after meeting up with Rebecca at the bar. He'd taken a chance after calling her at home and getting no answer. As it was, he'd been lurking in the area where she lived and figured he'd check the coffee shop where they'd first met, as well as the bar where they'd watched the football game. His heart had nearly stopped in his chest when he saw her sitting alone at the bar. Watching a hockey game no less. When she'd offered to go out the next day, he'd been ecstatic. She seemed willing to accept his apology and let him be her friend again. He didn't know yet if she'd ever let him kiss her again but he was more than willing to take the time to find out.

They spent the day doing touristy things, just as Rebecca had suggested. Josh did his best to keep her entertained and judging from the smile on her face at the end of the day, he figured he'd got it right. As he drove away from their last stop, he glanced over to see her resting her head on the seat with her eyes closed. A slight smile touched her full pink lips and he shifted uncomfortably as the look on her face did things to his body.

"I guess I've really worn you out today," he said.

She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I had a great time," she replied. "But I am tired."

"I should have planned something more exciting for you," he said, flexing his fingers around the steering wheel.

"No, it was exciting," she assured him, shifting in her seat and reaching a hand towards him.

He did his best not to flinch as she touched his arm and the contact sent blood streaming through his body straight to his groin. He swallowed and glanced sideways at her. She was still smiling at him and she kept her fingers on his arm, giving him a light squeeze.

"I've just had a really stressful week so far," she confessed.

"Really? Is everything OK?" he asked, hoping against all hope that he wasn't the cause of her unrest. Stupid, he thought to himself. How egotistical can I be, thinking her problems revolve around me?

Her hand fell from his arm and she shook her head as she settled back on her side of the vehicle with a sigh. "I had two midterms this week and they were tougher than I thought they'd be," she confessed. "I took a few days off work so I could focus on studying but I still couldn't sleep well at night."

"That sucks," Josh offered and felt like an idiot even as he spoke. What kind of lame ass comment is that?? he asked himself as he slowed to stop at a red light. He looked over at Rebecca and smiled at the sleepy expression on her face. He felt bad for keeping her out all day when she probably would rather have stayed in to study. He said as much out loud to her.

"No," she disagreed with a shake of her pretty head, sending tendrils of her dark hair over her shoulder as she moved. "It was good that I got out. I couldn't stay inside with my nose in a book for another minute. That's why I went to the pub last night."

"Well, I'm glad I got to see you there," he confessed, ignoring the heat in his face as he continued to look at her. "I missed spending time with you."

Rebecca's dark lashes swept low over her eyes in a slow blink and Josh's groin tightened even further. At this rate he wouldn't be able to walk her to her door because of his hard-on.

"I missed you, too," she agreed quietly, her bluer-than-blue eyes meeting his in the dim light of the car.

Josh hadn't even notice the darkness descending around them. The sun set so early now, it seemed. Summer was long gone and the rapidly shortening days of fall were passing quickly. Swallowing, Josh reached out one hand to brush a strand of hair from Rebecca's cheek. He heard her suck in a breath and felt himself leaning towards her across the center of the car.

A blaring horn startled them both and he sat back in surprise. Rebecca laughed sharply before clapping a hand over her mouth. Her eyes danced at him over her hand and he laughed as well. Glancing in the rear view mirror, Josh waved an apology at the person behind him before easing off the brake and moving under the now green light.

The rest of the drive back to Rebecca's apartment was quiet, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Josh's mind raced over their day and the past few times he'd seen her. He couldn't believe he'd gone from wanting her so badly, to freaking out over her confession to desperately wanting to just be close to her, even if it meant being only a friend. The aching throb in his crotch told him he definitely wanted more than friendship but he was scared to death of her rejection now. She'd have every right to tell him to take a hike after the way he'd acted before.

So for now, he'd be her friend. He'd take her out occasionally; get her to see the city and surrounding area when they each had time, just as Max had originally asked him to. He'd call her from the road and see how school was going and he'd hope that she'd eventually forgive him for stripping her half naked before running away.

He pulled up in front of her apartment and hopped out to run around the car before she got out. Holding the door open, he grinned broadly at her as she climbed out. Rebecca smiled back and Josh felt like whistling at the sparkle in her eyes. Together they walked upstairs to her hallway and Josh shoved his hands in his jacket pockets as she pulled her keys out of her purse.

"I had a great time today, Josh," she told him as she opened the door.

"Me too," he agreed and meant it. When he'd first started talking to her the night before, he'd been so afraid she'd tell him she never wanted to speak to him again. For the first half of the day after picking her up he'd been waiting for her to lay into him. He realized after an hour or two that she just wasn't like that. He knew her well enough to know that she wasn't malicious or even coy. She wasn't the kind of woman to play games with guys and all these revelations made him like her even more.

Made him want her even more.

"So I guess tomorrow you'll be studying for your other exam?" he asked.

"Yeah, I should," she said, sounding reluctant even as she spoke. She sighed and smiled up at him. "And you probably have a morning practice before the game."

He blinked and smiled slowly. She really was into hockey now, quoting his own schedule to him. "I do."

For a long moment they simply smiled at each other and Josh felt his blood start to race again. He took a step closer and gave her a hug before he could talk himself out of it. She seemed surprised at first but her arms went around him and she hugged him back. Josh badly wanted to kiss her, to hold her face to his and drown in her sweet lips but he wasn't rushing things. So he gave her another tight squeeze before stepping back.

"I'll call you tomorrow before the game," he said.

She grinned and nodded. "I'd like that."

"Have a good night," he said and turned to walk away.

At the end of the hallway, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Rebecca still standing in front of her doorway, watching him. She gave a little jump as he met her gaze and he heard her bright laugh all the way down the hall.

"Good night!" she called and lifted a hand to wave before disappearing inside her apartment.

Chuckling to himself, Josh shook his head and walked downstairs.

For a few weeks after their reunion, Josh and Rebecca fell into an easy routine. She managed to get through her last midterm and spent the next week stressing over what her results would be. She started going back to work at her regular schedule and new classes resumed the week after her midterms.

True to his word, Josh did call her that day after they went out sight-seeing. They chatted companionably for a few minutes and then she watched the hockey game on TV, alternately biting her nails or whooping in excitement. The day after that, Josh called again and they went to a movie. The day after that, they met up for lunch before he went home to nap before another game. The day after that, he called before heading out of town on another road trip.

Rebecca found herself enjoying their renewed friendship. She felt happier than she had since arriving here and had more patience in class, knowing that Josh would be around to chat with later if she wanted to call. He was a great guy and they talked easily about everything from hockey, to her school, to their childhoods in Canada.

In between her days with Josh, Rebecca talked to Mary and her friend was relieved that she was happier in Pittsburgh now.

"I can tell Max to calm down, too," Mary said one night as they spoke while watching a hockey game together.

"Max? Why?" Rebecca asked around a laugh.

"Oh, he was worried that he'd caused problems by setting you up with Josh," she said. "I told him to relax but he still felt like a dumbass."

"Well, tell him it's all good," Rebecca said and snuggled down under her blanket on the couch a little more. "Josh and I are good friends now and I'm so glad Max made him take me out back then."

"Really?" Mary asked, sounding incredulous. "So you're not still... uh, freaked out about what happened?"

Freaked out? No, not exactly. Rebecca still blushed, even when she was alone, every time she thought about what had almost happened that night. It seemed so long ago since so much had happened in between. Neither of them ever brought it up but Rebecca could swear she'd caught him with an almost... hungry look in his eyes sometimes when he looked at her. It made her shiver to think of it and she held onto the hope that he was simply taking his time before making another move. She knew she definitely wanted him to touch her again, to kiss her and hold her close as he had but she was far too shy to ever admit it to him.

"I'm fine, Mary," she said aloud to her friend and smiled as the announcer called the penalty being given to one Josh Saunders. "What a fool," she muttered and listened to Mary's answering laugh. "He should know better than to pull a stunt like that at this point in the game."

"It's a tough game," Mary agreed. "He's frustrated and losing his edge."

"His edge," Rebecca scoffed. "He's getting careless."

Mary laughed at her and Rebecca demanded to know what was so funny.

"You!" Mary exclaimed. "I never thought you'd ever get this into hockey. I love it, don't get me wrong. It's great that we can talk about it now and watch games like this but it's just weird how fast you got hooked."

"It's because of Josh," Rebecca confessed. "Once he took the time to explain it all to me, I got to see how interesting the game is."

"It is, isn't it?" Mary agreed.

They chatted for another several minutes until intermission was called. Then Mary said she should get off the phone before she used up all her long distance minutes. Rebecca promised to be the one to call next time before they hung up.

Not two minutes later, her phone rang again and she smiled as she answered, figuring Mary had forgotten to mention something.

"Hello?"

"Rebecca, it's me," Josh's voice greeted her instead, sending a delightful tingle all the way down her body from her ear.

"What are you doing calling me?" She asked around a laugh. "Aren't you a little busy right now?"

Josh's deep laughter came over the line and she shivered, closing her eyes to savor the sound of his voice. "I am busy I guess but Coach's lecture over my last penalty can wait a minute or two."

"What were you thinking, tripping that guy?" Rebecca demanded, recalling his sloppy move before heading to the penalty box. "The ref was right there! If you're going to pull a move like that, at least pay attention to the officials and do it when he's not looking."

Josh exhaled slowly and she wondered if he was offended by her words. "Wow. I think maybe I've created a monster."

Rebecca laughed self-consciously, feeling a blush creep up her neck. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," he replied with a laugh. "I'm sure it's pretty much the same thing Coach will say and probably the rest of the team too. Thanks for preparing me."

"That wasn't what I meant-" she started to say but he cut her off.

"I'm teasing, Rebecca. It's fine. I'm not mad," he assured her.

"OK," she muttered as covered her face with one hand in embarrassment. It didn't matter that he was a thousand miles away playing a game in another city.

"So what are you up to tonight, besides watching me skate into the penalty box every five minutes?" Josh asked.

Rebecca laughed. "I was actually talking on the phone with Mary," she said. "She's watching the same game. We just hung up before you called."

"She didn't want to talk during the rest of the game?"

"No, it's not that. The long distance phone charges are expensive," Rebecca explained. "She calls me most of the time because she knows I can't afford to talk long distance for long. Even she has to limit her time since she's got a terrible phone plan right now."

"Ah, I understand," Josh replied and they fell silent for a moment.

"Why are you calling me? Really, shouldn't you be planning for the win with the rest of the team?" Rebecca asked.

He chuckled and she could practically see the lopsided smile on his face. "I should be but I just wanted to... I don't know, see if you were watching the game."

She grinned and felt a warm flush creep through her entire body, sending delicious tingles right through her core. "Of course I am. I have adopted the Penguins as my team, you know."

"I know," he replied with another deep laugh. "I'm so glad you like hockey."

"How can I not?" she asked and meant it. She may have never understood it before being introduced to it by Josh but she did now. She loved to watch the pure athleticism of the men as they moved swiftly across the ice. The pure skill and determination it took to send that tiny disk of rubber to the back of the white netting was mind-boggling. Rebecca was almost jealous of their ability, their talent at something so intense. She'd never been so talented at anything and she loved that she got to watch someone she knew fly across the ice and triumphantly lift his arms after scoring a goal.

"I still have to get you to a live game one of these days," Josh spoke up after a moment of silence fell between them.

She laughed. "I couldn't ask you to do that, Josh. I'm so busy between school and work and besides, who would I take? You're my only friend here."

"Hmm," Josh made a noise of consideration. "Maybe I'll have to introduce you to Sean's wife, Amelia. Then you can watch a game with her."

"You really don't need to do that, Josh," Rebecca tried to assure him even as she was flattered that he was giving it so much thought.

"I want to," he replied quickly. "Watching a game on TV is one thing but there's nothing like the sounds and smells of the actual arena."

"The smells?" Rebecca repeated teasingly, ignoring the fluttering in her chest as she spoke to him.

He chuckled. "Yes, the smells. I won't put you right behind the bench though. Maybe by the penalty box. At least that way there'll be a friendly face every time I head in there."

She burst into laughter and shook her head. "Don't you dare. I don't want to have any part in your penalties."

"Don't you know you already do?" he replied, stumping her for a moment.

"I... what?"

Again came his low chuckle over the line and Rebecca tightened her leg muscles, trying in vain to ease the intensifying tingles in the center of her body.

"Just thinking of you is enough to steal my focus," he said quietly, his deep voice stirring her still more.

She laughed breathlessly, unsure of how to take his words. They didn't sound strictly... friendly. "Then stop thinking about me while you're playing."​