Score on Me

by Melody Heck Gatto

  "Yeah, I can do that. Are you guys leaving?"

  "Yeah, after this song. So give me a hug now. Thanks again for taking him home. Make sure he doesn't get too handsy."

  "Oh, Mrs. Lafleur!" Kris called from the dance floor. "I'm waiting."

  CHAPTER 29

  It was a cool September morning. Curled up on the couch, Kat and Kris looked at their wedding album, admiring the photos of them standing with the Cup at the reception, and one of all the guys in their tuxes standing around the Cup. Kris ordered both of those in eighteen by twenty-four canvas prints. Kat hung them in the hall on either side of their wedding print.

  Funny how life is, Kat thought, looking at the pictures of her wedding, with Pittsburgh Renegades players in it, and a year ago she was lonely, doing nothing but working and sitting in her apartment.

  Kris looked over to see the serious look on her face, and asked, "What is it?"

  "It's nothing, I am just thinking how life works itself out, a year ago I never imagined I could be so lucky." She smiled at Kris. Honestly, she never thought that they would work as a couple. Boy, was she wrong! She looked back down at the picture album, "I love these pictures with the Cup, and you and the guys all in your tuxes." Talk about a dream wedding, all hockey players. "Look at this awkward one of Gia and Patrick during the wedding party dance." Kat giggled. "Poor Patrick, that boy can't see straight when she's around."

  "Too bad for him, huh? All Gia wanted was to dance with Ty!" Kris shook his head. "Too bad those two can't get along, well, I should say too bad Gia can't get along with Pat." Kris always said that Gia protested too much against his cousin; she ran around acting like he had the cooties or something, yeah. Sure he acted like a pig around her, practically drooling at the sight of her, but that was just Pat. Kat was sure that Gia secretly liked the attention.

  "She'll get over it, Pat's always going to be around now, so she won't have a choice." Kat flipped through a few more pictures, the one of her and Kris with Patrick and Gia was beautiful. "We should get this one blown up to hang on the wall, don't you think?"

  "Yeah, I really like that one. You know, baby, now that we're home, I can tell you that secret." Kris said. "But first," He kissed his new bride. "I am the luckiest man around. Thanks to you, Mrs. Lafleur."

  Kat smiled against his lips and kissed him back. "Well thank you Mr. Lafleur, I feel pretty lucky myself!" Just then her cell phone buzzed. Kat sighed, she really wanted to know what kept Kris occupied all summer. Kat grabbed her phone off of the table by the door. It was a text from Gia, checking to see if they were home yet.

  Kris walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "It's nice to be home, but it was so nice to be away…." Kris sighed and laid his chin on her shoulder.

  "You are right about that. Can we go back to the Bahamas?" She giggled as he nipped at her ear. "I wonder if I should call Gia, just to see what's new since we have been gone?" Since Patrick had been in town while they were gone, she had hoped those two played nice.

  "No, she knows we're home now, let's just enjoy this quiet time. I'm sure she will be at our door soon enough." Kris laughed. Too bad Kat knew it was the truth.

  Kris took Kat by the hand and led her back into the living room.

  "Come here, beautiful," he sat on the couch and held his hand out to her. She plopped down beside him. "Back to what I was saying," Kat perked up. "So you know Pat has been talking to Ben an awful lot this summer? Right?"

  Kat nodded. She had thought something was up with Patrick and Ben.

  "Ben signed Pat to a year contract, and he'd like to sign him to a long term one after this year." Kris said quickly.

  Kat was silent, then started to laugh, but it wasn't really funny. "Oh hell," she shook her head. The thought of having Patrick hanging around 24/7 was amusing, she would get to see the boys interact all the time, as well as watch Patrick's lame attempts at trying to get Gia. "Well, I'm glad, it will be nice to have him here." She smiled genuinely.

  "Yeah, it will." Kris said. "I'm happy to finally get to play with Pat. I think he said he will be staying in a motel until he finds an apartment."

  "He doesn't have to, I mean, the basement room is all his if he wants it, as far as I'm concerned." Kat said.

  "I guess," Kris shrugged. "I wasn't sure, us being newlyweds and all." he smiled. "I wasn't going to offer that without talking to you."

  "Well," she said, smiling, "yeah. But I hate to see him stay in a motel. He's family."

  "I'll ask him, see what he says." Kris answered, grateful. "I really love you, Mrs. Lafleur." He smiled as he kissed her lips.

  "I love you too, Mr. Lafleur." She kissed him back. "So how excited are you to have him on the team, really?" Kat asked.

  "You have no idea! It was always our dream to play together. Los Angeles has no idea what they gave up. Kat, I know he can be an ass." Kris started.

  "Relax, yes, he can be, but I think I get him now, deep down he is a good guy. I'm glad he is moving out here." She smiled. This is going to be interesting, she thought.

  ****

  "You've got to be kidding me…" Gia groaned, sitting at the breakfast nook in Kat's kitchen, with her head in her hands.

  "Relax, G, geesh…" Kat laughed. "You want a sandwich or something?" She was at the refrigerator looking for something to eat, her stomach had been growling for a while now.

  "No, well... do you have any junk? I realize I am in the health food house, but do you have any chips or pizza? Even an old stale leftover doughnut? How can you stand all the health food?" Gia moaned, she was complaining a lot today.

  "Oh my God, you're killing me!" Kat snapped. Gia loved her junk food, she ate it all the time and never gained an ounce. "G, it wouldn't hurt you to eat a vegetable… anyways, here, I have some chips," she tossed a bag at her. Her stomach was growling, and she really needed to eat. "I have some leftover chili, you want some?"

  "Yeah, I guess." Gia was still pouting.

  "Look, you are with Tyler, right?" Kat asked as she put the chili in the microwave.

  "Yes."

  "So who cares if Pat is going to be in Pittsburgh?" Kat said, splitting the chili into two bowls and bringing them over to the high top table. She sat down next to Gia. "What is your big problem with him anyways?"

  Gia groaned. "I don't know why he bothers me so much. I think it is his arrogance." Gia said as she ate her chili. "I don't like him drooling all over me." She made a face of disgust, like she was wiping something off of her. Kat just laughed.

  "Dramatic much? He is actually a pretty nice guy, if you give him a chance. Of course," she chuckled, "you wouldn't know that since all he does is hit on you…and acts like an ass… You are kind of stuck though, he is friends with Tyler, and he is my new husband's cousin, and now he is on the team! I still don't get why he annoys you, guys drool over you all the time." She shrugged, adding, "I think the lady doth protest too much."

  "Ugh! Shut up, Kat! He just annoys me. I will just keep my distance. It's all I can do. So, anyways… how are you, Mrs. Lafleur? How is married life?" She finally smiled.

  "It is wonderful. I swear, Gia, Kris is my Prince Charming. This is finally my happily ever after." Kat grinned ear to ear. It was a nice change to talk about something other than Gia for a while, Kat laughed to herself.

  "Aw, that is so sweet!" She scraped the last little bit of chili out of her bowl. "So… When is your new cousin-in-law coming to town?"

  And there it is, we are back to talking about Gia, she thought to herself, "My what? Cousin-in-law? I never heard of that before. Anyways, I don't know. And I think your plan to stay away from him sounds like a good one."

  EPILOGUE

  Kat woke from a sound sleep, and ran for the bathroom. "Great, a stomach bug, just what I need," she muttered to herself before reliving last night's dinner. Kris was already gone, he had to be at morning practice by nine. It was just the beginning of the season, and the schedule was already getting hectic.

  Kat stood u
p slowly, holding on to the bathroom sink. She brushed her teeth and moped back to bed. "Maybe I'll rest for just a little longer, and try to sleep this off." There was a Renegades game tonight, and Kat intended on being there, so she was hoping she would feel better once she slept a little longer.

  She must have slept for about an hour or so, when she was startled awake by her cell phone ringing. She opened her eyes to search for her phone, the room still blurry, she grabbed it off the nightstand. She looked at the screen, "Kris?"

  "Good morning, you still sleeping, beautiful?" He asked, laughing. "Well, sleepy-head, do you need anything before I head home? Practice ended early."

  "Hey, babe, actually, I woke up earlier and didn't feel so hot, so I went back to bed hoping it was maybe just something that I ate." She sat up, getting her bearings as the spinning room slowed. She didn't go into details with him, who wanted to hear about that?

  "Oh, how are you feeling now? And sorry I woke you up…"

  "No, it's fine. I think I feel okay now." She sat up, and took a quick inventory of how her stomach was feeling, seemed okay. "That was weird, must have been something I ate. Um, I am kind of hungry, how about bringing home some lunch? I will get up and get myself moving,"

  "Lunch, okay, baby, I can do that. What sounds good to you? Since you are the one who was having the stomach issues this morning." Kris sounded concerned.

  "Hmm," she thought for a second, she actually was really hungry, no signs of the episode from this morning. She normally would suggest sandwiches from the deli, or a nice steak salad. But today she didn't feel like either of those. "I could really go for a greasy fast food burger and some fries. Sorry, I know you don't normally eat that stuff." But, she really wanted a greasy burger and fries!

  "No, that's cool, I can do that. Anything else? We have some yogurt and fruit in the refrigerator, I can make us some parfaits to go with lunch."

  "Yum, that sounds good…" Her stomach was actually growling now, maybe she was just hungry? "Okay, yeah, a cheeseburger and fries. Will you be home soon?"

  "I'm headed to get the food now, so yeah, I will be home soon. Take your time getting ready." She could hear his smile over the phone. "I love you, beautiful."

  "Love you too." Kat hung up, smiling. She looked down at her ring, and tilted her hand a bit to see it sparkle in the light.

  ****

  Kat showered and was finishing up styling her hair when she heard Kris come in the door; she hurried downstairs. He looked up to see her cheerfully bouncing down the stairs.

  "Well hey there, beautiful. You don't look sick."

  "I feel okay now, must have been something I ate." She shrugged.

  "Well, I am glad to hear you are feeling better, Mrs. Lafleur," Kris said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and brushed his lips against hers.

  "Me too, Mr. Lafleur." She smiled.

  They walked into the kitchen together. "Mmm, smells good," she said smiling.

  "Yeah." He chuckled. They sat down together at the breakfast nook.

  Kris opened the bag, and handed Kat her cheeseburger, "a greasy cheeseburger, and French fries for Mrs. Lafleur…" He went to the fridge, he set vanilla yogurt on the counter in front of her, and strawberries and blueberries. They spooned the yogurt into bowls and added the fruit on top. Kat laughed as Kris pulled out his lunch, he was not a fast food person, and this was not in his carefully planned healthy diet. He opened a plain hamburger, and threw away the bun.

  "Now how are you going to eat that?" She giggled.

  "Like this," Kris walked over to the refrigerator, grabbed some lettuce and a cucumber out of the crisper and some cut up tomato. He took a fork out of the drawer as well. He sat back down beside Kat, as she laughed a little at him, he put the lettuce, cucumber and tomato on the burger, and cut it up with his fork. "See?" he said smiling, taking a bite. "I'm eating fast food, its just low carb."

  "If you say so…" She laughed. "Sorry, I'm a bad influence. I guess I haven't had this in so long, I just really wanted it." She was really enjoying the cheeseburger that she had been craving. "And this tastes so good…" She giggled and scarfed down the French fries.

  "Well, as long as you are enjoying it, that's all that matters. And I am glad you are feeling better." Kris ate half of the burger patty, then his parfait. He reached into the fruit basket on the counter and grabbed an apple while she finished her greasy meal. "So, you ready for the game tonight?"

  "Sure am! I'm glad I feel better, I hated the idea of missing it." She hated missing any games they played Philly. They were big guys, so it was always a rough game, and it sucked watching that from home. She always worried about Kris when they played the rougher teams.

  "Well, we need to leave here about four." That was a heads up to Kat, she had been known to not be ready on time, and the guys couldn't be late.

  She smiled and nodded, "Yes, sir."

  He pushed his hair back out of his eyes and smiled at her.

  "Hey, remind me when we get to the arena, I want to run by the coffee shop and get a coffee"

  "Why don't you call them from the box and ask them to bring it up to you?" Kris asked.

  "I don't know, I hate doing that. Asking them to go out of their way for me. I can just as easily go get it myself."

  He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Let's go sit on the porch for a little bit."

  She laid on the porch lounger with her head on his thigh; glancing up at him she smiled. Kat kept looking at her ring in the sunlight.

  ****

  They arrived at the arena, Kat stopped at the coffee shop before heading up to the private box. The servers at the coffee shop adored Kat. Everyone in the coffee shop knew the story of how Kat and Kris met there.

  Tonight she was hungry, so she also grabbed a chocolate biscotti to go with her cappuccino. On her way to the box, she passed a nacho stand, mmm, she thought, they smell so good. She stopped off to see Mike, the concessions guy, "Hey, Mike."

  "Well hello, Miss Kat!" Mike bellowed merrily. "What can I get for you, doll?"

  "I wanted to see if when you send up the pretzels and chocolate dip, can you also send up an order of nachos?" or fries? Boy those fries smell good too, crap, which one? She decided to stick with the nachos, maybe. "Wait, no… cheese fries. Yeah, an order of cheese fries. Please."

  "Definitely, no problem! You want that on the tab too?" Mike asked.

  "No, I have the cash for those, here you go." The fries came to eight dollars. Kat handed him a ten. "Keep the change. Thanks, Mike!" She headed up to the box. When she walked in, Gia and Lindsey were already there.

  "Hey, Mrs. Lafleur, where you been?" Lindsey bellowed. "How's the new bride?"

  Kat beamed. "Had to stop for a coffee." Kat hugged Gia, then sat down at the table that overlooked the ice. "Gia, everything good?" she nodded. "Oh look, here they come for warm ups."

  Kat watched Kris and Patrick race each other around the ice, and try to out shoot each other, with Matt beating both of them.

  "Why's Ty hanging back?" Lindsey asked.

  "Cause he could outshine all of them!" Gia laughed.

  Kat just smirked.

  The game started off rough, a fight right from the face off. Biting her nails, Emily said, "Good thing the snacks are arriving soon!"

  Kat sat and sipped her Appletini that Gia ordered for her. The fights were going to be rough tonight, she sat back and sighed, luckily none involved Kris, yet. They seemed to be after Tyler, which was freaking Gia out. With Matt stepping in and defending him, Lindsey was panicking every time he took a hit.

  Just then the young concessions guy walked in with their pretzels. Emily took them and gave the guy a tip. "I have an order of cheese fries too." He said. Kat had forgotten all about her fries. How could she forget those?

  "Oh! Those are mine!" She hopped over to him, "Thank you!" She took them out of his hands, and in exchange gave him a small tip.

  "Cheese fries?" Lindsey questioned, "Not your usual s
nack?"

  "Yeah, I passed a stand on my way here and they smelled so good, I just had to order some. I can't eat them all, especially if I have some pretzel, so we can all share these." Kat said as she set the fries in the middle of them all. "What?" she said as they stared at her, "I am a nervous snacker, I can't help it." She shrugged.

  "Hell, give me some of those," Gia called, and grabbed the fries. "What? I'm a nervous snacker too!" She said, giggling.

  "Mrs. Lafleur, doesn't your husband feed you at home?" Lindsey joked.

  "Ha ha, he actually brought me home fast food today just because I wanted it."

  They looked at her in disbelief. "Kris bought fast food? No way!"

  The laughter erupted when she told them that he threw most of his away, that was the Kris they knew!

  The game was not as bad as Kat imagined it would be. Kris did not get in any fights, but he did shove a few people around on the ice, knocked a few people down. Players kept getting in his face, and he wouldn't back down, he stayed in their face until they backed off.

  "Look at Kris, man if I only knew what he was saying…" Kat gushed.

  "Settle down there, you need me to spray you with cold water? Damn…" Gia fanned Kat jokingly. Kat gave her a dirty look.

  The game came down to the last period. It was tied 1-1, the goalies were tight tonight. The girls snacked through all of the pretzels and chocolate, and ate the fries.

  "Please don't go into overtime…" Lindsey groaned. "Please don't go into overtime!'"

  "There's no snacks left for overtime!" Gia called, only half joking.

  Kaden wasn't letting anything by, and they needed to do something to rattle the opposing goalie. The puck dropped, and Tyler passed the puck to Kris, who flew down the ice, playing keep away with the puck. Tyler positioned himself in front of the goalie, and hit his stick on the ice, he wanted the puck.

  Kris looked up and passed it to Tyler. Tyler skated straight for the goalie, faked to the left, the goalie fell to that side to protect his goal, then Tyler made a sudden jerk to his right and shot it right past the goaltender! The Renegades won!