AngelOn Skates- Thank you so much for the review! I loved it. And you're another person throwing a guy out there for Kylah. I am so happy to hear all these opinions!

Katie- Sorry that you are down with cliffhangers. I promise it will all come out in time. Thanks for the review. And please don't die! LOL

Killerkeanegirl- Don't beat up OC just yet. There is more involving him to come. I pick my accent up easily if I am home for a few days! I miss it, but around here people think you're nuts if you talk with one!

Staceygirl- I cannot believe how popular the last line about Phil was. Seems everyone was laughing, which is good. I love making people smile!

Babe7878- Weirding you out? Well, hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Prettypinkcheer5- Thanks for the review! Seems like I captured a lot of people's attention last chapter. Talk to you soon.

Klinoa- THE CROWD IS BACK! (happy dance) I love the crowd. Sorry that your vacation wasn't relaxing! How was camping? Wow, I am getting you to like Phil? I am so excited. Loved your review! (More Jack and Kylah in the future.) Also, you missed a 'Dukes of Hazzard' reference!

Shelbers-I promise everything will be explained in time. I was so excited to see that you were trying to figure out the story plot! Just keep reading and all questions will be answered eventually. Loved the review!

Theprincessbride06- Here is the update. Sorry it took so long but I have been ill the past week. Hope you enjoy.

Lia06- Don't die. And I'm sorry that I am making you hate Jack. Warning, more Jack drama in future chappies. But not this one!

Emador- Another one that I have to tell to just be patient, everything will be explained in time. I still can't believe how similar our titles were! LOL

Strangexbutxtrue- That line about Verchota was quite the hit! Janny's line was funny too, I think. I am so glad you enjoyed the chappie!

meadow567- Looks like I just added something else to drive you crazy! LOL

Thanks for all the reviews! I love them, keep them coming. Sorry this chapter took so long. I have been ill the past week. Hope you enjoy. Peace and Love!

July 1979
Minneapolis, MN

I was sitting in my office finishing my latest press release when I heard a knock at the door. Glancing at the clock, I realized that the boys had just finished up practice.

"Come in." I called and kept typing.

"Kylah, you have a minute?" I looked up and saw Herb standing at the door.

"Sure, come on in. I was just finishing my latest article." I said. "What can I do for you?"

"I know that I haven't given you much time since you arrived here. But I wanted to talk to you about that." Herb said.

"Have a seat." I told him.

"I am not fond of the media. And I wasn't thrilled that we would have someone writing articles constantly about the team….but I like the way you write articles. You're giving all the boys enough press that no one is outshining another." Herb said.

"Thank you. I want the nation to know all the boys equally. They're America's team." I said.

"I wish I could get them to realize that." Herb said. "But I just wanted to be sure that you and I were on the same page. When the pre-Olympic tour starts and the Olympics, I want the boys press time to be equal. This is a team effort not individuals."

I nodded. "Sure thing. Anything else?"

"Not for now. Coach Patrick is very pleased with your work as well. Since he lives near you, I keep tabs on you through him. Just seeing what you're up to and such." Herb said.

I nodded and smiled. Since arriving here a few weeks earlier, Craig had become one of my closest friends; same as many of the guys on the team.

"I better get down to the locker room, talk with Doc. If you need anything, let me know." Herb said.

"Thanks, I will." I watched Herb walk out of the room.

I turned back to finish the last few sentences of my press release. I knew that a lot of my articles about the boys were being scoffed at. Most Americans didn't give the team a chance of placing better 5th at the Olympics. And I am sure that with big news such as the SALT II talks, the Ted Bundy trial, and the gas shortages; no one was paying attention to the articles about the US Olympic Hockey team anyway.

"Working hard?" I heard. Looked up and saw Craig standing in the door.

"Just finished. What's up?" I asked.

"Just came up to see how my favorite press agent was doing." Craig smiled and walked farther into the room.

"I'm okay." I said.

"You out drinking Phil Verchota has been the talk of the locker room." Craig said. "Silk said a woman that can drink like that was a reason to get married."

"Oh great. I am looking for a nice boyfriend, and Silky would marry me because I drink like a sailor." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't worry. I am sure that a nice boyfriend will come along for you." Craig said. "So what are you doing tonight?"

"I didn't have any set plans." I said.

"Well, I thought just to break up the routine, that you and I could go out to dinner." Craig said.

"Better yet, why don't I just make us some dinner? I can get you to eat a few southern dishes!" I winked.

"There is no possum or skunk involved is there?" Craig asked with a smile.

"No, I promise you'll love it." I smiled. "You need to quit worrying about these silly stereotypes southerners get stuck with!"

"I was just kidding."

"I know you were." I smiled. "It'll take me about an hour to get dinner ready. You wanna just come home with me. I mean you live so far away." I joked.

"Sure, if you wouldn't mind some company while you're cooking." Craig said.

"Don't mind at all." I said.

"Then I'll meet you in a few minutes. I need to check with Doc and do a few other small things." Craig said.

"Okay, I'll find you downstairs." I smiled as Craig walked out.

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"So what are you going to fix for me? I hope it's none of the stuff that inspired Silk's 'licking fish' speech." Craig said as we walked down the hall towards my apartment.

"No, I didn't think you'd touch any of that stuff. Although Silk has no idea what he was talking about. If you just try those foods, they're good." I said, and started digging for my keys.

"You probably have to be raised on them and not know any different." Craig laughed.

"I am still trying to talk my folks into sending me some moonshine. They're afraid of getting caught and it being traced." I said, still looking for my keys as we stopped in front of my door.

"Need some help?" Craig asked.

"No, it's just my keys must have fallen to the bottom of my purse and I can't seem to find them." I said, with a small laugh.

Before I could say anything else, I dropped my purse, scattering the contents. I groaned and immediately began grabbing the tampons before Craig could see them.

"Here I'll help." Craig said, kneeling beside me.

"This purse hates me. I am always spilling it. Poor Buzz helped me clean it up the first day of try-outs." I explained. "But hey I found my keys."

I kept my keys in my hand as I stuffed a few tissues and lipstick in my purse. I stood back up. Craig stood with me.

"Hey, who's this a picture of at Camp Le…..?" Craig started but I saw what he was holding.

"Give me that!" I snapped more than I meant to. I grabbed the picture from his hand and shoved it to the bottom of my purse.

Craig looked at me for a moment, like he was startled. I gave him a mall smile and shrug.

"Sorry, I was just looking at it…it fell out of your purse…" he started.

"Just forget about it." I said and unlocked the door to my apartment. Craig shrugged and followed me inside.

"Have a seat; I'll get started on dinner." I said.

Craig sat on the couch in my living room. I could still talk to him while in the kitchen.

"So how does fried chicken, collard greens, grits and potato salad sound?" I asked as I began rummaging through the refrigerator.

"Aren't grits a breakfast food?" Craig asked.

"Not really, we eat them any time we want back home." I said.

"Sounds interesting. I'll try it. I mean fried chicken and potato salad sound safe enough." Craig said.

"Trust me, you'll love it." I said, and began looking for the pans I'd need.

"Kylah…I've been meaning to ask you…..how'd you get such an unusual name? I never met another Kylah before." Craig said.

"Well, when mom was pregnant, she was told she was having a boy. My parents had picked out the name Kyle. They also had decorated the extra room in cowboys for my nursery." I explained.

"Then you were born and turned out to be a girl." Craig smiled.

"Yeah. Mom said she didn't believe the doctor for five minutes. She kept insisting 'I was told I was having a boy'." I giggled. "Well once the shock wore off, they decided to just change Kyle to Kylah."

"It's a nice name. It suits you." Craig said. "Got a middle name?"

"Caroline. My parents decided to name me after the state I was born in. So Kylah Caroline Jenkins it was." I said. "So what about you? Any interesting stories to tell?"

"Not really." Craig said.

"Come on. All these years in hockey and your dad being a legend and you don't have any stories to tell." I said.

"Well unless you wanna hear a bunch of stories about hockey games I've played in, or my dad was involved in." Craig shrugged.

"Well, there has to be a story behind why such a nice guy as you isn't married." I said while breading the chicken.

"Not much to tell there. I was with a girlfriend for a long time, three years. But it just didn't work out." Craig said.

"Well, not to pry, but what happened?" I asked.

"I was ready to settle down, get married…..I think I heard my biological clock ticking." Craig gave a small laugh. "I wanted a family."

"And she didn't?" I asked.

"No, she wanted to live together, but didn't wanna get married. And she didn't want to have children, so eventually we just grew apart." Craig said.

"I couldn't imagine not wanting to have children. I've been planning on being a mom since I was in grammar school." I said.

"Got the dad picked out?" Craig asked.

I laughed. "No, but I guess down deep I'm a romantic. I think that someday my prince charming will come along."

Craig smiled. "I'm sure that as pretty, smart and sweet as you are, you'll have no trouble finding him."

"Thanks." I said. "What would you like to drink with dinner?"

"From the stories I have heard, I am afraid to get you started drinking." Craig laughed.

"Well if you want a drink with dinner that's fine. I also have sweet tea made. I can make coffee, and I have some double-cola in the fridge." I said.

xxxxxXXXXXxxxxxXXXXXxxxx

"Kylah, that was a fabulous meal. How'd you learn to cook like that?" Craig asked as he helped me clear the dinner table.

"Mom had me in the kitchen with her since I was big enough to walk. I just picked up on it I guess." I said.

"I eat too many meals you cook, and I'll have to go on a diet." Craig laughed.

"Glad you enjoyed it. I miss having people to cook for. When I was home, I helped in the kitchen all the time." I said.

"Cook for some of the boys. I am sure they would love it. Although I hear a lot about Eruzione cooking meatballs." Craig said.

"I haven't tried those yet. Bah warned me not to." I giggled.

"I should be getting to my place. It's getting late; I don't want to get in the way of anything you have to do." Craig said.

"Oh, I didn't have any plans. The boys are so tired from practice; even they have been staying in a lot." I said. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like."

"I appreciate the offer; maybe we can get together sometime soon and go out for an afternoon? I need to go shopping again." Craig said.

"Sure, that'd be fine. Just let me know when." I said.

"Probably this weekend." Craig said. "Well, I'm gonna go. I should probably check with Herb on a few things before I turn in."

"Well thanks for having dinner with me. Was better than watching the news alone for dinner." I said.

"Thank you for that great meal." Craig said. "See you tomorrow at practice?"

"I'll be there." I said, and leaned up to hug Craig. He kissed my forehead.

"See you then." Craig walked out of my apartment.

I finished cleaning a few things in my kitchen and headed to take a shower. I had just started the water running when the phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered the phone.

"Kylah, do you have a bra I could borrow?" I heard Verchota on the other end.

"What?"

"A bunch of us are having a water balloon fight. Bras are good slingshots." Phil said.

"Are you guys in the 7th grade?" I asked and rolled my eyes.

"We're bored, and anyway Janny started it!" Phil said.

"You're not getting any of my bras." I sighed.

"Oh come on, from the looks of you….I'd say your bras are the perfect size for a full water balloon." Phil said.

I rolled my eyes and heard Jimmy Craig say. "That's good. Admit that you've been staring at her chest."

"Like you haven't done it too!" Cox said.

"You boys have fun, stay away from my apartment and I'll see you tomorrow." I laughed and hung up the phone.