tourniquet, luke hughes

five

It was finally Saturday, the day of the big "Hughes Bowl." I had prepped myself the night before by looking up the odds of both teams winning, and it looked like a pretty even playing field, although the Canucks had been having a fantastic season.

Last night, I'd texted Ellen to let her know I would be coming. Even though one of her boys had definitely told her, and she'd told me over and over again how excited she was me and her boys were speaking again.

To go, I slipped on a hoodie Luke had given me when I last saw him, with "Devils Hockey - 43" on it. He had known from his junior hockey games, I despised wearing hockey jerseys.

When it was about 11:00, I left my apartment for a 2:00 puck drop. I knew from the beginning of Quinn and Jack's NHL careers on the nights of special games, Ellen liked to get there early and sit in the stands.

I headed to the subway station and got onto the line I now felt accustomed to after visiting Luke a couple days ago.

I ordered an Uber for when I got off the subway, not feeling like walking all the way to Prudential Center on a busy day. 

I arrived to Prudential Center at 12:15, and texted Ellen I had arrived at the location she told me to meet her at.

After around 5 minutes, I heard someone from behind me scream "Addie!"

When I turned I was met with Ellen with a bright smile and her arms open wide.

"Ellen, I've missed you so much!"

After hugging for a few seconds she backed away, still holding me, "Well look at you, I swear every time I see you, you get 100 times prettier. How have you been? Have you been eating enough? Do you need help with anything?"

She was asking all these questions, as if it hadn't been a mere three months since we'd last need eachother. Even though I wasn't talking to her boys, I'd still kept close contact with her.

"I'm fine, I promise."

"Okay, I guess I won't harass you with anymore questions. Let's go inside, Jim's been bugging me about seeing you again."

She took me around to the back side of Prudential Center and was let in when she flashed the badge she had around her neck.

While we were walking to where I assumed Jim was she started speaking, "Why didn't you bring your friend Audrey, didn't you tell me she was seeing Alex?"

"Oh, she was busy with work and school stuff today. Speaking of work, how's the big job at the National Hockey Team going?"

"It's going great! I love all the girls so much, how's your job going, I keep seeing your photos on my Instagram, but I keep forgetting to message you about how beautiful you look!"

Ellen had always been supportive when it came to my job of being a model to support myself through school.

When we made it an almost secluded hallway she opened a door, and I was met with an extremely nice suite.

I had been to a number of NHL games during the beginning of Quinn's and Jack's career and growing up, but I had never been in this nice of a suite.

Inside the room I was met with Jim sitting at a table looking at his phone questioning something and beside him was boys' younger cousin, Ethan.

"Hey Jim! Hi Ethan, you look so big now," Although I'd seen Ellen quite often, Jim had always been busy with work.

"Addie! It's been way too long," He said while giving me a hug.