Passing Through

Part Eight

"But this isn't a great team." It was statement not question.

And it made him grimace, "it's a stop gap. I'm not here forever."

It was quite a final comment, and she fought the urge to shiver at his finality. There was no missing that message.

"And you know hockey." It was his turn to enquire when she was suddenly silent, and she could only nod. So he added, "no one here knows much, even some of the fans. It's a new sport...." She nodded, as his eyes stayed on her, so she sighed, "I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a few years as a teenager. Watched a fair bit then. Haven't seen any in years though."

Anthony arrived with their drinks, a glass of wine for her, a water for him. They both paused, whilst he placed them on the table.

"That's a shame."

She shrugged, "as I say, it's not that big over here." She didn't mention that she'd consciously avoided hockey in all forms.

"Don't I know it." There was anger, a hint of venom in his voice, and it only made more questions formulate in her mind.

"You don't like it here?"

Pausing for a long moment, he eventually replied, "it always rains. And it's never warm."

It was a subject change, but one that made her laugh, "we're not renowned for the best weather, but we still have a lot going for us." When he stared at her, appreciatively, she added, "hey, it wasn't my country that went cuckoo over Harry and Meghan marrying!"

He chuckled, "my mother did tell me she wished I'd been in the country for that. She'd have loved to be in London."

"You Yanks and the love of our history, hey?" He laughed again, and it made her smile, "so you're from the west coast?"

"You can tell?" When she nodded, he shrugged, "Ah, I thought my accent was more discreet than that. Born and bred in LA, but with a Swedish mother who loved hockey. I was drafted to the Mid West at eighteen, lived there since."

"But you're still a surfer at heart?"

He nodded, "still am, I love the ocean, love the fun and way of life."

Anthony returned for their order, and Natasha giggled when she realised neither of them had even glanced at the menu. He retreated, giving them another few minutes.

"What do you recommend?"

She pondered for a second, "the risotto is amazing, the pizzas are the best I've tasted, but my favourite is the linguine vongole, - clams, wine...." she lifted her pursed fingers to her lips and kissed them in what she hoped was an authentic Italian fashion. It made him smile, and she realised that he didn't do it very often. Smile. Genuinely.

Closing the menu, that smile stayed, "I think I'll take that recommendation."

Mimicking him with the menu, she asked, "so....do you get back to the west coast much?"

Bo shrugged, "my family all live there...."

It wasn't an answer, not really, "have you got a big family? Any siblings?"

His face was unreadable as he stared at her, for a long breath out, "I have three sisters. I am the oldest of the troop."

Natasha felt her jaw drop open, as an only child she could not imagine that, "Are you close?"

He shrugged, "they all live in LA, but I haven't properly for years. A hockey season is long and unforgiving, they never really came to visit me, for holidays and things, I saw them if I was ever in town, but that's about it."

Sighing, she looked up at him, "that's sad. I'd have loved a brother or sister."

"You're an only child?"

She nodded, "my parents are hugely academic, I don't think that I was particularly planned....not that I wasn't loved, but they would never have any more. I had to fit in with them."

"You say you were out in Cambridge?"

Anthony finally came back and took their orders, and it was a little while before they were alone, and she finally replied.

"Both parents teach, lecture....so I went out when they took up their jobs, I was eleven."

She reached for her drink, sipping at the wine, hiding behind her glass, if that was possible.

"I've not been to Cambridge specifically, but I've spent a fair bit of time in the Boston region. It's a nice part of the world."

Nodding, she placed the glass back down, "it's got a bit of everything, without the chaos of some places."

"Sums it up pretty well, played at the Garden a bit, had many nights celebrating and commiserating. Did you ever go there?"

"Once. My father's college had a good team, we all went to a Bruins game one night. I loved it." Her life swayed not long after that, veered off course, and took her back to her grandmother's home. That night almost seemed liked the catalyst. Everything changed, nothing was ever the same.

"Where've you gone?"

She shook her head, then smiled, "a million miles away for a moment. Remembering being young."

He mused at that, "when everything was easy."

She laughed, "and Mum and Dad could solve every problem."

He could tell that she was sad, that maybe thinking of her parents was making her sad. Hell he wished his own parents could magic his knee back to the joint it was before his accident. But nothing was ever easy.

"It's hard and cold world," he offered when she gave a wistful smile.

The food was delicious, he loved the ambience, and he was liking his current company. Other than a couple of slightly awkward lulls, the conversation flowed. They debated a few recent box set series that they'd both watched, and now Natasha was telling him all about some music act, a band maybe, local....he wasn't listening to the content, not really. He was enjoying being lost in her eyes, she was animated, sparkling, and funny. Great company.

For the first time since his accident, everything that happened after it, and before....it all paled into insignificance.

He was a man, out with a woman, talking and having fun. For one night only he wasn't a failed NHL player, he wasn't broken, he was himself again. And it was liberating.

"Shall we go for a walk? The night is young, just because I can't drink and be merry, no reason why you can't."

Anthony had brought the bill and she'd insisted on going half. He had tried to pay when she was in the bathroom, but it seemed the staff there were in cahoots. When she slipped back into her seat, he'd rolled his eyes and she'd giggled.

"I'm a modern woman."

He thought back to Daniela. The woman he'd thought about marrying, REALLY thought about. She'd never as much as bought them a pizza. He had been her unlimited wallet from the day they'd met. So different to what he had now. The meal he'd just shared.

Now they simply walked along the waterway, taking in the couples, the groups, all sorts of people talking, walking, eating, drinking. No agenda, no planning, no lies.

It was cathartic.

After an hour at a small pub, they were back in his small car, heading home.

He stopped at the kerbside outside the cafe and turned as much as he could in the confined space, towards her.

"Thanks for tonight."

Natasha did wonder if he'd kiss her, and what she'd do if he did. The almost cold and distant goodbye was the last thing she expected, and wanted. After a brief pause, waiting for something, she climbed out of the car, feeling bereft almost, hard done by. But she did smile and wave as he drove off.