"You're sure they will be there when I arrive?" Ted asked into the phone, making doubly sure that what he wanted really was at his disposal. When the idea had presented itself, from watching the sports channel in the hotel room no less, he knew he had to take it.
There were so many times he had damned his father for his popularity, for the hassles it had brought down onto him and his brothers but in this moment, seeing the way his father had come through with the hook up he made a mental note to thank him the next time they were face to face.
Ted wanted to make his time here in Iowa, and essentially Illinois where Cheryl was working away, oblivious to his planning, count and doing this; settling this plan in motion he felt would go a long way to bringing her even closer to him.
Slipping out through the hotel lobby and picking up his car from the valet, he jumped in and speeding quickly out of the mess of cars now stacking around in the circle, he drove immediately back the way he had come.
Realization hit him then. If he wanted to do this right he had to make sure that Cheryl wasn't going to leave work and head back home before he had a chance to get back out there. Sure, she lived on the borderline between the two States, but if she did come home now, his plan would be shot to hell.
He called her then, pulling the number from his contact list, not wanting to waste time with dialling and waited on baited breath for her to pick up the line. Praying silently as he did that she had not already left work.
"Ted, didn't I tell you I'd see you at home?"
"Some hello princess."
Cheryl laughed and Ted couldn't help but smile. If she was answering it was a good shot that she was still at work, and her manner of answering the phone proved that.
"Well I'm trying to cash out so I can end this night. I have a date with this really rich guy ya know? I don't want to let him down."
Hearing her crack on his riches, something he heard day in and day out due to his storyline within the WWE, he couldn't help but laugh. Cheryl had to know there was no validity to it but he knew she was certain it was the quickest way to get a rise out of him.
"Wouldn't want to do that darling. I hear he gets real upset if he's faced with a let down."
"So I'm hanging up now then. I don't want him feeling let down."
He knew she meant what she said and he immediate broke through, begging her not to end the call.
"I'm calling for a reason. I need you to stay there just a little while longer. Is that okay with you?"
There was silence on the line and Ted thought for a second she might have already hung up. When he heard her light breathing, he knew he had gotten lucky.
"Ted, it's a little after 7, the store is going to close any minute and then if I stick around I'm going to be alone. What's this about?"
"I have a bit of business in Illinois I need to take care of. So I'm going to swing by, pick you up and go from there. So will you hang in there for just a few extra minutes?"
"I can do that, but what about my car?"
"We'll get it when I'm done." he replied quickly totally forgetting for a split second she had driven herself and was probably not going to want to leave her vehicle anywhere alone overnight. Something he didn't blame her on.
"I'm about fifteen minutes away now, so meet me out front."
He ended the call, not giving her a chance to reply and threw his phone down on the passenger seat. He had never driven this fast in his life, not even the night he had been caught drinking and driving and given the DUI as punishment. Doing so now was a risk but one he was willing to take. He was going to get back to her in fifteen minutes or less or die trying.
Cheryl noticed the rental car pull up and immediately knew it was Ted. Looking at her watch and noticing he had kept his promise of fifteen minutes, she was more then thankful to have the waiting over with.
She hadn't wanted to admit it on the phone but when she worked late and had to stay behind after everyone else had gone, it scared her. With the amount of crime that peaked around this area, she never wanted to become someone's new idea of a fun statistic.
Throwing open the door and immediately throwing herself into the seat opposite Ted, she exhaled deeply, a little upset with this change in plans. As much as she had wanted to see him tonight, having business to deal with wasn't exactly on her list of fun.
"So you want to tell me why you're picking me up so we can do YOUR business?"
Ted laughed and Cheryl felt her cheeks get hot in a flash of anger. Just what the hell was so funny about what he had just put her through?
"The business is about us Cheryl. I have a surprise for you, something I think you'll like and I didn't want you driving all the way home and missing out on this chance."
She felt the heat simmer from her cheeks, leaving a blush light pink that she was sure was hidden in the darkness of the car. He had been so cryptic on the phone minutes earlier that hearing now that it had to do with her completely took her off guard. Just what in the hell could he have planned for them in Illinois?
"So what's the plan then?" she asked, the smile and normalcy returning to her voice.
"What would you say if I told you I had tickets to a hockey game?"
She laughed, smacked him lightly on the shoulder before putting her seatbelt on and slipping deeply into the seat, allowing herself the comfort after the long day of work she'd had.
"I'd say what the hell are we still sitting here for?"
Having her words be exactly what he had been hoping to hear, he put the car in reverse and backed his way carefully out of the parking lot, leaving her work and the shadows in the dust.
"Wait a second!" Cheryl exclaimed, something obviously coming to her attention she hadn't thought of before.
Unsure of whether to stop the car or not, Ted continued driving but threw her a look of confusion. "Do we need to go back? You forget something?"
Cheryl shook her head and then spoke again. "Regular hockey season is over, so what game are we going to see?"
Ted took a deep breath of relief that he was not going to have to turn the car around and go back. Now that he was aware just how much she was interested in the sport of hockey, he broke the news to her.
"it's a play-off game Cheryl. Flyers versus Blackhawk's. I thought that if I was going to take you to a hockey game, it had better be a good one."
The grin on his lips was inescapable and so was the shriek that was felt through the entire car. Teddy was sure if she screamed any louder, he was going to have to replace the car windows when he returned the car on Thursday.
"So I take it, that's okay with you?"
"Of course it's okay!" she shrieked again, fidgeting in her seat like Ted himself used to do right before they opened presents on Christmas morning. Her laughter and excitement was infectious and he found himself unable to not get caught up in it.
"Then sit back, relax and I'll let you know when we get there." he managed to say, the smile lingering on his own lips as he watched her crouching herself into a comfortable ball on his car seat. His last thought being what he had to do when he finally did make it home.
Yes I definitely have to thank Ted for this. Her reaction is worth all the grovelling in the world.
