"All right, boys, listen up." Herb called at the bus the next day. The boys turned and looked at him, all noise ceasing. "We've made it this far. Let's go all the way. But we have a new member of the team to welcome." I heard the guys groan. They had gotten rid of Coxy a week ago and now they were getting a new teammate. I had to stifle a laugh. "All right, that's enough. You know this person rather well and many of you are very close. Boys, welcome our new trainer, Minnesota Schneider.
I stepped off the bus and into view of the guys. I didn't think their smiles could get any bigger or their shouts any louder as they literally attacked me at the bus. Buzz was the first one to me, holding me around the waist and laughing happily. I made a face at Herb. We both knew this was coming.
We were given the order board the bus and everyone flocked to the back where I was sitting with my normal crew; Silky, Buzz, Rizzo, Bah, Pav and Jack. They were talking all at once. I looked at Silky, begging for him to save me from this. He could only shake his head.
"When did you find out?" Buzz asked. I figured I'd answer his question first.
"Herb came to the room yesterday and asked. I accepted. Free ride to the game and no cost of the ticket. Besides I'd be with my boys I love so much." I said. I caught Bah's look and nodded.
"So, will you be sharing a room with Silky?" Jannie asked.
I looked up at the second-string goalie."No, I thought I'd room with you."
"Hey, I'll let you room with me." Johnson threw out. There was a round of laughter, much like the night I had stayed with Silky. This time I took it with a grain of salt.
"Yeah. I'll only do that when hell freezes over."
"It has in Michigan." Someone else called.
"No one's rooming with her except me and Silky." Buzz said putting an end to the bickering.
Silky and I shared a look. We still hadn't told them we were in a monogamous relationship yet. When we did, there was going to be a lot more of flak going around.
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The ride was long, too long. I slept most of it. You ever try sleeping in a moving bus with twenty-three men around? It's pretty tough especially when you have the Coneheads from Minnesota and the boys from Boston playing a game of poker. I watched for a little bit, helping Buzz win a few hands. I had a quick mind so I knew how to play. Plus Bah had a bad poker face.
After a bit, I turned around and looked out the window. I was a trainer heading to the Olympics with my cousin, my boyfriend and my friends. It was a dream job. Then why did I feel so lost? I loved sports and I loved medicine so why not combine both. But the downside to that was I could get drafted to work for a different team, whether it be for college or for a pro team.
After a few hours, Silky turned to me. I looked at him and he smiled. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me across the seat against him. I was comfortable and that made me happy.
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The bus pulled up to our hotel around noon the day of the game. We had driven for close to fifteen hours with only a few stops. We were stiff from sitting so long so when we pulled into the hotel's parking lot, we all got off as fast as our legs could take us. Johnson had to lean over and stretch his legs out.
I had to go into the hotel. I don't know why. I was rooming Buzz and Silky anyway. Apparently it was the way it had to be done. I was new to this so I just went in and did what I was told. That wasn't normal for me and I got a lot of flak for that.
We unloaded the bus quickly, everyone choosing a roommate and a room. There were thirteen rooms. Apparently Herb knew who I'd be with so he didn't even bother arranging another room for me. I smiled at him as he shook his head while Buzz, Silky, and I emerged from a room. We were going to eat.
Luckily there was a non-expensive restaurant next to our hotel. Most of us went and when I say most, there were eleven of us; the Coneheads, Jack, Rizzo, Silky, Mac, Johnson, Rammer, Verchota and me. We took up the center of the restaurant. I could see all the girls in the room look at us. We were wearing our USA jackets and jeans.
One of the waitresses came over and started flirting with Silky. He simply slipped his hand in mine and continued talking to Rizzo. She immediately changed her tactics and went at Bah. He looked at me and I shrugged. She made her own decision and it was the right one.
We ordered and had a good time cutting up and acting stupid. It was the last night before everything went down the drain or uphill. We sampled each other's food, Bah refusing to taste the meatballs Rizzo had gotten. He was still refusing to eat the other man's homemade ones when he made dinner. We all had a good laugh at him.
When we were all full and sipping drinks while eating cake (bad combo, I know), Jack turned to look at me. He was on the other side of Silky so I had to look around him to see the other man.
"So, Silky, you wanna tell us what that was about?" he said.
"Yeah, we all noticed it." Verchota said from the head of the table.
Buzzy looked pointedly at me from across the table. He was between Bah and Pav, his normal position. Leave it to the Minnesota boys to have one side of the table. "What's going on here? Hmm, Minni?"
Silky and I looked at each other as the guys leaned in from all directions. The bad thing was I was sitting between Silky and Rizzo and had no definite escape. If I had been sitting on the end beside Silky, I would have jumped up. As it was, Silky was sitting in the middle on our side of the table. I could see Johnson peeking around Jack and for some reason that made me laugh.
"Minni?" That voice didn't belong to any of the boys I was with. The bad thing was I recognized it instantly. I turned in my seat. It was a waiter and he had a huge smile on his face. "It is you. Minnesota Schneider. I'd never forget a face like that or that laugh."
"Hey, John." I replied, trying desperately to keep my voice even.
"What are you doing here?" He was stepping closer and there was nowhere I could go without alerting the others to something being wrong.
"I'm a trainer for the US Olympic hockey team."
"Wow. I knew you'd make it big one day. You're impossible to ignore or forget."
"Yeah, and so are you." Buzz snapped from the other side of the table. That's when everyone went on the defensive.
John looked at my cousin, giving me a reason to look away. Instead of looking at anyone, I looked at the table, noticing instantly Mac looked at me. "Whoa, Buzzy. What happened in the past is there; in the past. Don't you think we should let bygones be bygones?"
Buzz's face took on a nasty look, a look I knew too well. "Do you think either one of us could forget?"
He shrugged. "It was easy once it was all over."
"For you it may have been but not for me."
"You say that as if it happened to you."
Buzz rose from his seat. The only thing that kept him from moving was the hand Pav had on his arm. "It did happen to me. She's my cousin. She had nightmares for the better part of a year, thinking you were going to come back and do the same thing. You broke her jaw, you ass. And if I remember correctly, you still have a restraining order in place for another three years. Unless you want me to call the cops, I suggest you get back to work."
It was silent for a moment. Then a hand clamped down on my shoulder and I jumped. I looked back into the face of John. Then Bah, Mac and Jack moved as one to help Buzz as he started around the table and he was gone.
My appetite was suddenly gone. How after almost ten years could I go to a restaurant out of state and he be there. It wasn't fair. I looked over at Buzz. The red had drained from his face but his jaw was set and his eyes were hard.
"Let's get out of here." Jack said.
Everyone agreed and we got the check, combining all our money to pay for it together. Silky got my half and took my hand to lead me out of the restaurant. Jack huffed up at John on the way out as the guys put me in the middle. Apparently, he had gotten a good look at Silky and obviously didn't think much of him. Buzz stopped me on the sidewalk.
"You okay?" he asked. I had to fight back the tears that threatened to spill down my face. I didn't cry often but this had shaken me up. He saw it and pulled me into a tight hug. "Everything will be fine. We won't let him near you."
"You better believe that." Jack said. "Next time he decides to come around, I'll mess him up."
I smiled. "Thanks guys."
"No thanks needed. You're one of us and we protect our own." Mac said. The others agreed. "I say we go back and watch a movie or something. Something that will keep our minds off everything."
We all agreed. As we waited for Jack and Mac to quit arguing over what movie they wanted (they finally agreed to get both), Silky slipped his arm around my shoulder. I wrapped mine around his waist and held him tightly. He had become my rock in the last seven months and I clung to that, realizing he had become more important than Buzz, who was looking at us with a knowing smile on his face. When the guys came out, they didn't say a word as we walked back to the hotel to start our movie night.