I threw my coffee cup away as everyone headed out the doors. We just had a team meeting before heading out. I guess I am a part of that now. It's been a few weeks since the dinner at the boys' condo. I've been over a few more times to hang out with the girls, and other times the girls and I went out for some shopping and day drinking.
Tomorrow we are heading out for our first away game of the season. I am to take pictures of the team as they are heading onto the busses while in their business attire. I hope to share these with fans in hopes of getting them excited about the road trips. I'm not sure how the majority male population will like it, but I know that sharing the team all dressed up and heading out will show more of a fan base love compared to the regulated media that just posts stats from the games.
My pictures have yet to be used by the media man. I've met him once. All I can say is that he is a big ol' dick. Very much an asshole. I let myself take a breath as I got to my little office area with my equipment and laptop. I can only bring the essentials. We have three away games in a row and we are able to be on the team busses for the entirety of it. I heard a few guys moan and groan when coach told them that. Minus the gear for each player, they have limited the bags to one duffle or a small carry on per player or staff member. Not sure how I will pack for this since I have more of an opportunity to wear actual clothes compared to the players who have their designated player and team jackets and whatnot.
A few days ago I was able to babysit Baylor while Molly and Frederick went out for a night. I think they really enjoyed it seeing as when I dropped Baylor off the next morning, Molly looked flushed. I didn't question anything and just made sure to give her a big smile when I greeted her at the front door. Frederick soon came to join us while she made Baylor breakfast and insisted I had a cup of coffee. He said Molly's Italian roasted beans are the best. They are good, I'm just not THAT into coffee like they seems to be. When Frederick first saw me he gave me a small wave and then realized he wasn't wearing anything but his boxers and went back to grab some shorts and a shirt. Molly apologized but I told her not to. She needed every second she could get.
The girls and I are heading out for dinner tonight at a new place that opened up last week. Lots of people have been rating it online as the best comfort food anyone could imagine. On top of that, they have a great drink menu with great deals.
I made sure to grab the cameras, lenses, and anything else I could possibly imagine I would desperately need and packed it in my "gear" duffle that I am allowed to have. I get to keep this one beside me the whole time though.
Someone knocked on my door and I turned to see Eddie. I smiled at him and waved him in. "Hey, Eddie."
"Hey, Zo." Eddie and I have gotten closer since the beginning of all this. He keeps trying to pick up lines on me and even though they are terribly cheesy, I give him the benefit of the doubt most of the time. He has a good heart. "What are your plans for the day?"
"Not much. I just have dinner with the girls tonight. We're trying that new place-- Polly's I think it is." He nodded and looked around at some of the pictures I had actually printed out. A few of them are from my pee-wee days. I still get offers, but I'm too busy here. Henry wants me taking pictures of anything and everything.
"What are you doing before that?" I turned to him and gave him a smirk. He grinned at me fully knowing I know his motives.
"Why do you ask, Eddie?" He shrugged and continued smiling at me. Eddie is quite the looker with his sandy blond hair and dazzling blue-green eyes. He is also fit for being a player, and the scruff he has going is working wonders for his face shape.
"Want to hang out?" I nodded and playfully pushed him. "I'll take that as a yes, come on." He interlaced our fingers and led me to his jeep. I hopped into the passenger seat and buckled up. "Anything in particular you would like to do?"
"We should go for street tacos. I'm kind of hungry..." I trailed off looking to him. He looked back to me and chuckled.
"Sure, tacos first." He drove off to one of the go-to spots for food trucks and we made our way to one selling tacos. I grinned as we stood in line and he gently placed his arm around my shoulder and tucked me in under his protection.
▶△◀
My few hours with Eddie was great. He hesitated at the end as I made my way out. I asked him if there was something on his mind. He leaned in and cupped my face. His lips attached with mine in a sweet kiss. I smiled when I pulled away, surprised at his action, and still feeling the tickle of the kiss on my lips. A light blush made its way on my face. I wished him a good night and headed inside.
Maria caught me in my tracks, already ready to go out for the dinner. When she saw me she asked me what was up. I told her it was nothing and made my way up to change. I was still in my team gear. When I was ready we headed out. I could tell she still wanted to ask but I didn't want to tell her. I had a feeling she was into Eddie. I'm not sure why Eddie made his move on me. I thought him and Maria were hitting it off these past few weeks.
My phone pinged with a message and I saw it was Eddie: Sorry, didn't mean to scare you off earlier.
I opened my messages and began a reply: You didn't scare me. It was nice.
He sent back a simple winky face emoji and I let out a snort at how lame that is. Maria looked to me for answers and I told her that someone was just being lame online. She didn't believe me but also didn't push any further.
"How are you doing Maria?" She looked at me as we parked and shrugged.
"My work hours are crazy, so I'm glad to get a moment to come to dinner. I'm also really glad you called me up-- and remembered my offer!"
"I wish I had called you up sooner. I wonder how far along of friends we could have been if I had just called you up when I was bored in my house one day." She told me not to worry and we both headed into the restaurant, our arms linked.
▶△◀
As the team headed onto the busses for travel I snapped pictures of them in their rather fashionable outfits. They all look dashing in their dress shirts, ties, fancy shoes, and watches. I let out a laugh as Eddie walked in my frame and gave me a goofy grin and wink. I blushed as he made eye contact thinking about the small kiss yesterday.
He looks good in his dark blue button-up, skinny white tie, dress pants, and his hair gelled up. "Looking good, Zo." I shook my head as more of the team's members headed to the busses. We have two busses and I'm placed where they are heading towards my shot but can either go to the right or left of me and go to their designated bus. I'm designated to bus A with the coaches. Mr. Russell came walking by and smiled at me.
"Morning, Coach."
"Morning Zoey, I'll be sure to save a seat for you behind me. You don't want to get stuck anywhere else. It will be boring. And annoying." I let out a laugh and continued to take shots. The final stragglers made their way to the busses and I caught sight of Griffin in my camera. He's in a charcoal grey suit, with a red button-up. It's dashing on him. He faltered in steps when he saw me. He made his way to bus A, stopping mid-step to look back at me. When he saw that I was watching a small smile trickling on his lips. Seeing all the players on the busses I made my way to my bus and seat, flipping through the pictures of Griffin-- he's staring directly through the camera to me in all shots but one. The one his eyes are closed due to a blink.
I still need to call Dr. Schmidt.
▶△◀
I was trying to towel dry my hair when I heard a knock on my hotel door. Coach and Henry were able to secure me a single hotel room during our overnight delay. I gave a smile to Eddie who knocked and let him into the room. "Hey, Zo. Didn't mean to intrude on your night." He leaned against the wall while I sat on the bed.
"No worries, Eddie. What do I owe the pleasure?" I folded the towel up and set it on the floor. He shrugged and gave me a small smile.
"Would you like to watch a movie? I know we have an early morning, but-"
"Yes, we can watch one. I wonder what is even playing." I reached back for the remote and Eddie made his way over to the bed.
"Don't these tv's have Netflix too?" I shrugged and let him work the television and remote. He ended up finding Netflix and worked to find a movie for us. While the movie played we chit-chatted a bit and Eddie even ordered room service dessert. I shook my head in delight when he picked up the phone and ordered two of the same desert.
The movie is almost over and the dessert was definitely a great call. Eddie decided we absolutely need to watch one more movie. I shook my head at how carefree he seems to be in the moment. "How long have you been with the Nordiques?" Eddie's eyebrows moved to show him in thought.
"About six years. I think. Shit I should really know this shouldn't I?" I let out a small laugh and he grinned down at me. His eyes are such a great mix between blue and green. The lighting and sunlight help him out too. "Zoey?"
"Hmm..." I mumbled as I kept staring into his eyes. I finally got out of my slightly tired daze and looked at his facial features. His lips played with a smirk as he looked down to me. I think he was going to ask me something, but instead, he cupped my face and his thumb grazed my lips. I connected my lips with his and he gently kissed me back. I smiled and pulled away for a brief moment. He gave me a cheeky grin and this time he cupped my face and brought me closer.
Kissing him back I shifted and ended up sitting on his lap. Our kiss continued and I felt his hands creep up under my shirt and warm up my skin. I pulled away for a moment taking in a breath and he wasted no time in kissing from my cheek to my neck. My fingers moved from his neck to the hem of his team shirt. He was able to pull back for a moment and lifted the shirt off. I tore my off as well. I'm now glad I decided to put on my bralette after my shower. I let my hands dance on his bare chest as we re-attached our lips.
He laid me back on the bed and began kissing down my neck. A shiver ran down my body. Something about his movement then turned me off. I couldn't place it. I felt like I was not doing as I should be. I looked at the movie and the lights of the action seen caused me to realize I am about to get a migraine. I put my fingers under Eddie's chin and brought his lips back to mine. After the kiss I pulled away and cupped his face in both my hands.
"Eddie, don't get the wrong idea here. I have a migraine coming on." He is heavily breathing and trying to figure out what that means. "When I get migraines it normally means I'm trying to remember something, amongst the other reasons for a migraine."
"So," he licked his lips and stared down at me with his blue-green eyes full of lust. "This is a no-go..." He pulled back from me and I held onto his hand.
"I think you are helping me remember something or someone..." He looked to me and gave a soft smile.
"I'm not the guy though. Something changed?" I bit my lip and stared at him. I clasped his hand in both of mine.
"I guess so?" I scooted closer to him. "I think you are fantastic Eddie." I kissed his cheek. "I just didn't expect my body to turn against itself." I let out a chuckle. "Hell I don't even remember the last time I had sex, Eddie. I don't remember my last boyfriend. Or any for that fact." He looked at me and wrapped his arm around my waist. My bare waist. His forearm is firm against my waist. I didn't realize I let out a tear until he wiped it away with his free hand.
"I guess I'm glad I was able to help you get one step closer, maybe?" I let out a small laugh. "I'm going to take another wild guess and assume me and you probably won't work out?" I gave a shrug and tucked some of his longer pieces of hair away from his face.
"I don't want to lose your friendship either. It's so natural with you..." He gave me a cheeky grin and kissed my forehead.
"I'll still be here." I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt my cheeks warm with what could have been and the way my body just seemed to completely switch on me so quickly. Eddie's fingers tickled my bar back as he ran his hand up and down to comfort me. I pulled back to give us some space and cupped his face. I stared into his eyes and gave a smile. I leaned in to give him a final kiss and was relieved to feel his lips tickle mine in response. It was a sweet, gentle, and heartwarming kiss.
"My head really hurts. I should get my medicine." I went to get up but he stopped me.
"No, lay down. I'll get it for you." I gave his hand a squeeze and thanked him as he gave me the pills and water. "Will you be alright?" I gave a shrug and smile up at him.
"I hope so, maybe in my dreams I'll get a memory." I winked and de let out a laugh. He put his shirt back on and I tugged him back. "Is it weird for me to ask you to stay the night. My head doesn't hurt so much in your presence." He looked down at me and shook his head. He handed me back my shirt from the floor.
"Of course I'll stay." After I had my shirt on he slid under the covers with me. I faced him and he tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. "At least I know you were attracted to me."
"Eddie, you are a gorgeous man. I'll be your wing woman. We'll find you someone great." I saw the look he gave me and scooted closer to him and pecked his lips. "I promise she'll be cooler than me." He let out a chuckle and tugged me closer to him and rubbed my back until I fell into a deep sleep.