The die had been cast.

We were set to play Czechoslovakia in the quarterfinals.

While Herb was doing interviews, somehow I managed to sneak the guys out of the dorm. Herb had told us not to go anywhere. We didn't listen.

We didn't go very far. There was a little fudge shop on the strip I had found while I was snooping around after we got checked in. I had brought some back for the guys to taste and they ate it all. So I promised to take them while we had day off.

I think we gave the owner a heart attack. Twenty guys and one girl walk into his small shop. He looked at me and smiled. I think he remembered me from the other day.

The guys pressed their faces against the glass as they looked at the fudge. They reminded me of small children in awe of some great treat. I walked up to the counter and ordered the one I had absolutely fallen in love with. It was a rich fudge with peanut butter. I sat by Silky and shared my half a pound with him.

The guys got their orders and joined us. Buzz looked at me and Silky with a speculative eye. He knew something was going on. Normally we would talk out loud but today we were talking amongst ourselves. I noticed he was looking at us. Finally Bah hit me.

"What are the two of you talking about? How many kids you're going to have?" he asked as he popped another pinch of whatever he got into his mouth. He was always eating something.

Johnson looked at us, shock clear on his face. "You're pregnant?'

Before I could answer for myself, Buzz answered for me. "No, she's not." Then he looked at me. "You're not, are you?"

I didn't bat an eye as I said, "Yes, with twins." The guys gawked as Silky choked on the piece of fudge he was eating. "No, you nimrods, I'm not pregnant. We were talking about what we're all going to do after this."

That was the code breaker there. No one knew what we were going to do after this. I knew all the guys wanted to play in the NHL. It was their dreams. They hadn't worked this hard not to get there. The Olympics were just a bonus in their big dreams.

"We don't know. We do know this. Some team is going to snatch you up to be their trainer. You've done such a great job with us, not to mention your stint with the Penguins." Rizzo said.

I smiled at that. "Thanks. You don't know how much that helps me."

"What time is it?" Jimmy asked.

Jack looked at his watch. "Herb gets back in ten minutes. We better get going."

We carried our fudge with us (I went back to get some for the other men that weren't with us). We were all piled in Jack's room when Herb walked in. He looked at us suspiciously. I looked at Buzz. He nodded while trying to hold back a laugh. I jumped up and grabbed a white bag we had put on the TV stand.

"I went out for the boys. I picked this up for you." I said. It was half a lie.

He took the bag and looked into it, shaking his head as he looked up at me. "You're unbelievable."

I smiled. "I take that as a compliment."

"I know you do." He looked at all the boys. "We play a tough team tonight boys. We need our heads to be in the game."

"We know, Coach." They all said.

He nodded. "Min, can I see you outside for a minute?" I looked back at the guys. It had gone silent. I bit my lip as I went outside and closed the door. "I was approached today by the owners of the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. Both teams want to draft you to be their first woman trainer. I told them I'd have to talk to you about that because I was approached by the head of the athletic department back in Minnesota to have you stay. I know you live with Buzz and his wife so this is a big decision for your entire family."

"When do they need to know?" I asked. I was in shock at this.

"As soon as the games are over. They will be getting their team finalized in a few months. That gives you a total of three weeks. Can you handle that?"

"If I can handle the boys for seven months, I think I can handle this."

He gave me a small smile. He appreciated the humor. "Okay. I'll see you tonight."

I watched him walk away and leaned against the wall for support. I had just been told three different teams wanted me to be their sports trainer. It was something I wanted to do but I was nervous to do it. I turned around and went back inside.

"What did Coach want?" Jack asked. He was licking his fingers clean of fudge.

"He just wanted to make sure you didn't stay on you knee too much. I told him you may be insane but you know how to take care of yourself." I lied.

He looked at me. "Makes sense. I mean he does know me rather well."

Buzz was looking at me with a frown on his face. He knew I had just lied. The look that came over his face next said we would be talking about it afterward. I just had to wrap my head around it first.

(%)(%)(%)(%)(%)(%)(%)(%)

That night, the boys beat Czechoslovakia 7-3, coming from behind (go figure!). They partied as if it were the last day of the Olympics even though they were in the locker room. I leaned against the bigger locker Jimmy had been using.

My thoughts were getting the better of me.

I still hadn't decided if I was going to work for the Bruins, the Rangers or for my Alma Mater. It was a big decision that wasn't about the money. It was mainly about where I would be happy. I had lived in Minnesota all my life and I liked it, but I also wanted to live someplace else.

I was so far gone I didn't even notice Buzz and Bah had stopped in front of me. That is until I felt the sting of a stick hitting me in the head. I looked over as I rubbed the tender spot.

"We asked you if you were waiting on Silky who just got in the shower or if you were coming with us." Buzz said.

"I'll go with you." I grabbed my bag. "Rizzo, tell Silky I went with Buzz and Bah."

"All right." Rizzo replied.

I followed my best friends out of the arena and to the bus. No one was on it and that was a relief. I sat down in my normal spot and waited because I knew it was coming. I could hear them arguing behind me.

"What did Herb actually talk to you about?" Buzz asked. There it was and I think he had to ask because he lost a game of rock, paper, scissors to Bah.

I sighed. "I've gotten three offers to work as a trainer in Minnesota, Massachusetts and New York."

There were two inhalations of breaths before both guys began to talk as one. I ignored them for the most part. Apparently they figured that out and shut up rather quickly.

The other guys began to filter on to the bus so we could head back to the dorms. Silky sat beside me like he normally did, kissing the side of my head as he sat down. I took a deep breath knowing what was about to happen.

"Hey, Silky, did you know your girl's been offered a job?" Bah asked. I cast him an evil look that promised revenge.

Silky looked at me then. "You've been offered a job?" I nodded. "Where?"

By this time everyone was looking at me or attempting to. I looked around for a moment then sighed when the looks didn't change. "Uh, it's three jobs actually. I have to decide between them."

"Well, where are they?" Mac asked.

"Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts."

"Have you decided where you want to go?" Rizzo asked. I shook my head, my eyes downcast so I didn't have to look anyone in the eye. "Let us know where you decide to go. We'll all put in a good word for you."

"Thanks."

I didn't say a single word on the way back to the rooms. I didn't feel I needed to. I hadn't told anyone because I didn't want this pressure. The others would say it wasn't pressure, but it was. It was pressure to amount to something other than the Olympic trainer. That was an accomplishment but I wanted something more.

We got back to our rooms with the specific order to relax. We had a pajama party in Sutor's room, which ended in an insane pillow fight. Feathers were everywhere and I knew if it hadn't been Christian's pillow we would have had to pay for it.

I retired after about an hour. I wasn't in the mood for too much fun. I still had a lot on my mind that needed to be sorta out.

I left the door unlocked because I knew Silky and Buzz would come in later and slipped into the clean sheets of the bed. I wasn't there but maybe five minutes until the door opened again. The bed dipped and the covers rustled until it was calm. A warm arm went around me as a warm body pressed against mine.

"You want to talk about it?" Silky asked in the dim lighting. I shook my head silently. "I want you to know that I'm proud of you. You already have pro teams looking at you."

"What about you?" I asked.

"I've been asked to join the New York Rangers. I was going to tell you tonight but your news seemed more important than mine."

I rolled over to face him. Our knees knocked together as I linked out hands. "What makes you think that?"

"This is your dream."

"And your dream is to play pro hockey. That's important to you."

I could see his smile as he brought our hands up to kiss them. "Okay. We both respect each other's dreams and goals. That's a good thing. We have to make decisions together?" I nodded. "Okay. I think you should decide which one you like best and go for it."

"That's not funny."

"It wasn't meant to be. Whatever you decide, I'll back you up one hundred percent."

I took a deep breath and pulled myself closer. "Whatever you decide, Silky, I will back you up one hundred percent."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me flush against him. I fell asleep to the beat of his heart against my ear.