Chapter 19 : Hot
It was the only thing that came to Casey Conway's mind. She was hot. Or, at the least, very warm. She could feel the color rising on her face.
The entire newly minted Pee Wee champs decided that they, as a group, would visit Adam Banks at the Children's Minnesota Hospital as part of their post-win celebration.
Casey knew most of the parents of Charlie's friends. She met Jesse and Terry's dad in the stands, watching the game. Casey knew Guy's mother, Kathy, from volunteering on a class trip. She even went to high school with Lester Averman's aunt, Nancy.
The only person there she did not know very well was Adam Banks' father, Phillip Banks. He was the outlier with his slicked-back hair and Hawks jacket.
The team, with their trophy, clamoured around Adam, telling him every possible detail of their big win over the Hawks. Right down to Charlie's move to score the game-winning goal on the penalty shot.
Casey couldn't help but beam with pride. It was her son who scored to win the game. She could admit that Charlie and the rest of the ducks had made enormous strides on and off the ice.
While the team's hockey skills have improved immensely, she, too, had seen the positive changes in her son and his friends off the ice. Charlie had told her that his new friend Fulton was doing a lot better in school, and it was looking like he was going to pass the sixth grade and that Connie was on the school's honour roll. Even Peter wasn't in detention every day after school.
But the most significant change Casey saw was in her son. Charlie didn't see it, but he was much more confident now. Charlie was a shy, quiet kid, but now he has grown into a kind, confident, mature, so-to-be adolescent.
Casey had to admit that Bombay was a fantastic influence on Charlie. They had talked in circles about possibly starting a relationship at the winter festival. Gordon had even kissed her a few hours earlier.
Casey had tried to chalk that up to Gordon's jubilance after the win, but to no avail. She had felt something. It was twice now that Gordon had made the first move. It was her turn.
Looking around, Casey quickly confirmed that neither Charlie nor his friends were looking at them before squeezing Bombay's hand.
"Can I talk to you alone?" she whispered to Bombay.
Surprised but pleased, Bombay smiled broadly and followed Casey out of the hospital room.
Casey, fingers still entangled with Bombay's, led Bombay down the hospital corridor until they reached a small room with vending machines.
Bombay, still elated from the day's events, grinned at Casey. There was nothing in the world that could bring him down. "You wanted to talk?"
Casey, unable to express her feelings, leaned forward and kissed Bombay passionately. She wanted him with every fibre of her being. If Bombay, at that moment, had asked her to marry him, she would have said yes.
After the initial shock subsided, Bombay returned the kiss with the same intensity, taking Casey's lead. The heat between them built like a raging fire.
It wasn't until they heard someone clearing their throat that the two of them separated.
"Sorry to interrupt, but visiting hours are almost over," Philip Banks said.
Casey and Bombay immediately pulled away from each other, faces burning red from embarrassment.
"Thanks," Casey said quietly, still embarrassed.
Philip nodded and went to leave but decided against it. "While I'm happy Adam and the ducks won, and I meant it when I said that my sons will never play for the Hawks again after what happened today, " Phili said. He looked at the two of them and paused momentarily. "I sincerely hope 'this' isn't why you picked that Charlie kid to take the shot. "
It was clear as day what Philip Banks meant when he said, 'This.'
Casey was white hot, but Bombay beat her to it.
"Of course not," Bombay bristled. "I would never do that. I've been working with Charlie on the triple deke for months."
Bombay's anger took Philip aback. He didn't know what to say.
Despite everything, Adam seemed happiest with his new friends. He was happier playing for the Ducks than he ever was playing for the Hawks. Adam had mentioned to his father earlier that of all the ducks; Charlie was the first to welcome him to the team. After the game, no one was happier than Adam that Bombay awarded Charlie with the penalty shot.
"Maybe Adam was right about Charlie after all," Philip said before leaving.
Casey glared at Mr. Banks as he left. She wanted to say something. However, she knew that this was neither the time nor the place.
"Never mind him," Gordon said, pulling Casey closer.
Sensing Bombay's arms around her, Casey turned around and smiled as she gently caressed his face.
"Where were we," Casey said mischievously, biting her lower lip.
With his hands running through her hair, Bombay kissed Casey with as much passion as he could muster. Nothing could truly convey how he felt.
Casey was different than all the other women he's been with. With Charlie at home, Bombay knew she would never start something casual with any man.
Bombay remembered all the jokes he and his law school classmates would make about picking up women and single mothers. He knew them all. 'The more pregnant the women, the easier to pick up' to 'Where do you take a single mother on a first date? Nowhere. The only thing she has to offer is leftovers.'
There were even more crude ones that Bombay no longer cared to remember. Bombay couldn't believe he used to pile on with his former classmates—even his former coworkers.
It was that thought of his former coworkers which stopped Bombay. Former.
He was no longer a lawyer. And now that the season was over, he was no longer a coach.
He was a player.
The night before the game, after going for a skate on the old pond, Bombay called up the number he received from his old teammate Basil Maccray, who then, in turn, gave him the number to the general manager for the Minnehaha Waves.
Not thinking about how playing in the minors might affect his budding relationship with Casey, Bombay rushed down to the rink and signed a contract with the Waves. He was a player now.
Bombay knew he should have talked to Casey before hastily signing the contract, but he wanted this. He knew he could wiggle out of the contract with his legal prowess, but he didn't want to. He wanted to be a player.
He also wanted Casey.
Bombay was used to being his own man. He was used to making his own decisions without thinking of others. Sure, the ducks had helped him see beyond himself in ways he never thought possible, but old habits died hard.
Bombay abruptly broke off the kiss.
"Listen, Casey," Bombay started before he paused. "We need to talk."
Casey was taken aback. "What are you talking about, Gordon?"
Bombay, wanting to avoid getting into a deep conversation about his relationship with Casey, with the ducks just down the hall, quickly thought on his feet. Bombay's mind raced, searching for an answer that wouldn't upset Casey but postpone the conversation.
He wasn't sure what to call it. In his mind, they've already been on their first date. Unofficially anyway. And Bombay knew that Casey liked him, and he wanted her back. In any normal situation, Bombay reasoned, most men would ask her on a date.
But Bombay wasn't most men.
Bombay was the man who decided to start a long-distance relationship before they started dating. He was the man who had more one-night stands than actual dates.
"Dinner." Bombay blurted out. "I wanted to talk over dinner".
He couldn't bring himself to utter the word 'date .' At least, not yet.
Casey smiled back at him with a mixed look of relief and confusion. "When?"
Bombay's mind raced. "Tomorrow," he said without thinking. "Bring Charlie."
Casey thought Bombay was joking. "You want me to bring Charlie to dinner with you? I can, but I thought you'd want it to be just the two of us."
"Right," Bombay muttered, almost to himself. "I'm sorry, I'm not good at this."
Casey swallowed a laugh. She didn't want to mess this up either. It had taken her years to find a man who was interested in sticking around after finding out about Charlie.
"Seven o'clock?" Casey suggested.
Bombay smiled and leaned to kiss her again. The spark between them was undeniable. Their lips had almost touched when they heard a commotion down the hall and immediately backed away from each other.
It was only a few seconds later that Charlie found them together. "There you are," Charlie said. "Adam invited me and some of the guys to his place for a sleepover tomorrow night. His dad bought him the new NHL game for his sega, and we're going to try to see if it will tell us who will win the cup this year. Can I go, Mom?"