Choices (New Beginnings #1) (7 page)

"That's Jason," Michaela finally explained.

"Man, the things I'd like to do to him ..." She laughed when Michaela tensed up beside her. "Relax Hun, that boy has it bad for you."

"We're just friends," Michaela found herself saying, suddenly defensive.

"He'd like more. That look said it all."

"He's been helping me through a rough time." Michaela didn't want to have to explain Ethan to someone she only met a few days ago. "That's it."

"Whatever you say," she paused. "But, if I were you, I'd get on that before someone else does."

Michaela didn't say it but she knew Katie was hoping that someone else was her.

###

"Hey, Jason," Michaela said when he made his way across the dance floor to their table.

"Ladies," he smiled.

"Hello there," Katie said. "I'm Katie. Aren't you a dish?"

"A pleasure to meet you." He sat in the chair next to her with a flourish. Michaela hid a laugh behind her hand. Katie was practically drooling as she leered at Jason and he was having fun with it.

"I assure you," Katie began, "the pleasure will be mine."

Michaela choked on her drink and spilled it down the front of her shirt.
Real smooth
,
she thought.

"You alright?" Jason asked, hiding a laugh of his own.

"I need another drink," she responded.

"Allow me." Jason stood to leave but Michaela grabbed his arm.

"I'll come with you." She turned back to Katie. "Be back in a few."

When they were out of earshot, Jason leaned in to say, "Enjoying your new friend?"

"God! She makes me need to drink," Michaela answered.

"I think she's fun."

"Yeah, well, you would."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, feigning offense.

"Just get me my drink, bartender boy." She said shoved him behind the bar.

"Is that all I am to you?" he laughed. "Someone to keep you plied with alcohol."

"Yes. Hurry up."

Jason came back around and handed Michaela her drink before swinging his arm around her and putting his lips to her ear.

"Help me get her off my scent?" Jason asked, his breath warm against Michaela's skin.

"Probably won't work." Michaela's voice shook as Jason pulled her closer.

"Isn't there some girl code?"

"That's a myth," she said.

"All we can do is try." Jason led her back to where Katie was waiting, an impatient look on her face. He didn't release Michaela right when they got to the table. Instead, his arm slid lower so that his hand was resting on her waist. Michaela couldn't speak, she could barely even breathe, but their closeness seemed to have no effect on him.

"Well, ladies," he said. "I have to get back to work." He leaned down and brushed his lips softly over Michaela's cheek before releasing her and heading back towards the bar.

"I thought you said you guys weren't together," Katie demanded.

Michaela barely looked at her as she smiled and gave one small shrug. 

Seven

The next couple weeks went much the same way. Michaela worked, and then she volunteered at Legal Services. She grew more comfortable with that part of town and that type of work. She’d have much rather been there than Howarth, Bryan, and Hodges. She grew close to Kimberly, the little girl who she met on her first day. Her grandmother was fighting to keep custody of her away from her father. He was an addict who was known to leave his child to go on his benders. Kimberly's mother died the year before.

Katie was working on the case with one of the lawyers, and she said it was a tough one. There was no proof of abuse. They all knew her grandmother's was the best place for her. That's what Kimberly wanted. But it was far from a slam dunk.

While her grandmother met with the lawyer, Kimberly would sit with Michaela at her desk and talk to her as she worked. Katie said that Legal Services existed for kids like her. It broke Michaela's heart that she might have to go back and live with a father who didn't truly care.

In some ways she could relate, though she never compared her situation. She knew she had as good a childhood as money could buy. But she also understood wanting a kind of love from her parents that they could never give. Kimberly's dad would get a lot more from the government if he was a single father. Michaela's parents wanted to use their children as well. They even threw one of them away when they realized he wouldn't advance their social status.

Thinking about her parents brought the rest of their world to mind. Ethan. Michaela was depressed and she couldn't stop missing him. Everything seemed to remind her of him. For so long, he’d been the one constant in her life, and she still loved him. Chris was no help. He was still drowning his misery in booze. Jason couldn't help either. She didn't think it was okay anymore to run to him when she was upset. Something felt different in their relationship, and it made her awkward and nervous around him. She hated it. Their friendship had been so easy for a little while.

Her cell ringing snapped her out of her thoughts. She fished it out of her purse and grinned when she saw who was calling.

"Josh," she said into the phone.

"Hey, Mic!" he said, his voice loud and excited. "I did it!"

"What?!" she yelled. She knew what he meant but needed him to say it.

"I made the team! I'm starting the season in the NHL!"

"Oh my God! Josh!" People in the office were staring so Michaela ran outside. She leaned against the building, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was hammering in her chest.

"I get to play our first game and guess where it is." His words were stumbling out of his mouth in rapid succession. Before she could guess, Josh told her. "We're playing in New York! The Rangers are our first game. My first NHL shift will be in Madison Square Garden!"

"That's amazing!" Michaela couldn't think of what else to say. Her mind was in overdrive.

"I want you to be there."

"Of course," Michaela said. "I wouldn't dream of missing it."

"How many tickets do you need?" he asked.

"Three," she found herself answering without even thinking about it. Of course Jason would come with her and Chris.

"They'll be at will call. I can't wait to see you! I've got to go call Ethan."

"You called me before your brother?" she laughed.

"Of course."

"Alright, go give him a call. And Joshy?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm proud of you."

###

"I can't believe you're wearing that," Jason said in disgust. "We are at a Rangers game."

"But Josh is on the Jackets," Michaela said defiantly. "Plus, I like the team they have."

"Traitor."

"You promised you'd never call me that." She shoved him in the side.

"That was before I had to go to a game with you in that rag." He lifted the arm of her jersey and then let it drop as if it burnt his fingers.

The day after Josh was drafted by Columbus, Michaela had gone on-line and ordered a custom Blue Jackets jersey with the name Walker on the back. It felt strange walking into an arena she’d known so well, wearing an enemy jersey. She was taking this thing the distance and had become a full-fledged Jackets fan.

The eyes of diehard Rangers fans followed her as she walked along the lower concourse.

"Go Jackets!" someone yelled.

Michaela looked around and finally found a small knot of Jackets' jerseys trying to get her attention. She smiled and waved at them. Solidarity in enemy territory.

"Ugh ..." Jason grumbled.

"I need a beer," Chris said suddenly.
Of course he does,
Michaela thought. She didn't say it though. Lately "I need a beer" seemed to be his mantra. When he wasn't working, he was drinking.

"Meet us at our seats," Michaela said, leading Jason away.

Their seats were in the corner in the Jackets attack twice zone, about halfway up the lower bowl.

"These are perfect," Michaela squealed. "You can see all the way down the ice!" They'd be able to see every play from there.

Michaela's eyes scanned the arena, and she instantly felt at home. It had been too long since she’d been there. They were early, just as Michaela liked it. There was something about a mostly empty hockey arena. It was quiet and peaceful. The excitement was allowed to build on itself slowly as people trickled in. The noise level would increase as more jerseys appeared and there'd be a thrill in the air. Finally, once the teams took the ice for their pregame skates, the buzz would be unmistakable. They were all there to witness something incredible.

Michaela leaned back and enjoyed the first stages, the quiet. She had so many memories that were associated with the chill of the arena and the sound of skates on ice. That was the only place her father ever acted as more than just an authority figure. It was theirs.

Chris joined them, a beer in each hand. He’d barely finished one when an usher came to get them.

"I am to escort you downstairs," he said. They followed him through the growing crowds, towards the elevators, and down a level. Michaela's fandom had her excited to be down there and heading towards the locker rooms. Jason was practically buzzing beside her.

Their footsteps echoed across the concrete floors as they walked.

"Wait here," the usher told them before disappearing back the way they’d come. A minute later, Josh appeared in his pads.

He hugged Michaela as best he could and shook hands with Chris and Jason.

"I'm so glad you're here," he said. "I wanted to see you before the game." He ran his hands through his hair nervously and sighed. 

"Don't be nervous," Michaela said. "You're going to be amazing."

"I just hope I don't fall on my face," he laughed. Noticing her jersey, he turned her around and a smile spread across his face.

"You won't," Michaela said, her back still to him.

"I guess with you wearing that, I can't be horrible." He spun her back to face him. "It still hasn't totally sunk in. But you're wearing my jersey."

"I am," she grinned. Josh exhaled slowly.

"Okay," he said. "You go back to your seats. I've got a hockey game to play - in the National Hockey League."

###

Jason couldn't take his eyes off Michaela. Ever since he found out she liked hockey, he’d wondered what kind of hockey fan she was. He always thought you could tell a lot about a person by how they acted at a hockey game. Would she sit and quietly take everything in, never getting overly excited? Would she be on her phone? Would she be that obnoxious person who yells instructions to the players as if a fan knew how to play the game better than a professional? Those were the worst. There'd always be what he called a "shoot the puck" person.

Michaela didn't do any of that. She was obnoxious, sure, to the Rangers fans. He realized that included himself, but he found that he loved the way she yelled and screamed whenever the Jackets scored - and they did that a lot. At one point, a man behind them started to yell at her, and she gave it right back. That girl was very different from the one he’d met last month. She was changing right before his eyes, and he couldn't tear them away.
It's called healing
,
he thought.

"Goal!" Michaela jumped out of her seat and started dancing around.

"Sit down!" It was the same angry Rangers fan as before.

"Aww, man, don't be such a sore loser," Michaela said. "It's not my fault the Rangers s - u - c - k this year."

The man threw his popcorn and Michaela ducked. It hit the glass and went spilling everywhere.

"What a waste." Michaela shrugged and sat back down.

"Do you have a death wish or something?" Jason asked.

Michaela didn't say anything as she started to laugh. She couldn't stop until she was panting for breath and slapping her knee. "Sorry." She breathed deeply, trying not to laugh again. "I get a little out of my mind at hockey games."

"I see that." Jason's smirk was enough to set her off laughing again. It was the first time he was seeing her act so carefree.

Chris sat down on the other side of Jason with a new beer in hand.

"Think you should slow down, man?" Jason asked.

"No," Chris responded curtly.

###

"Yes!" Michaela jumped out of her seat, screaming as the Jackets scored again. They were killing the Rangers 5-2 in the third period. She felt the daggers everyone around her were staring but she was heartened that she could hear a Blue Jackets chant in another part of the arena.

Cheering for the away team proved to be a much different thing than cheering for the home team. There were no goal horns or full arena chants. Michaela found herself wanting to go to Columbus to cheer for Josh. She figured it'd be more fun to be in an arena full of like-minded fans. She heard they had a cannon they shoot off after every goal, and she definitely wanted to see that.

"Come on, Walker!" Michaela yelled as he picked the puck off the boards and took it past center ice. He'd had a pretty good game, and Michaela felt a thrill every time he touched the puck. He deked around a defenseman using a move she’d seen him do a million times in juniors. She was surprised to see it work on the big ice.

Josh took it to the corner behind the goal and fed a perfect pass through the legs of a defender. It ended up on the tape of the centerman, who lifted it over the goalie’s blocker and into the corner of the net. The puck hit the bar with a ping that could be heard in the stands, serving as a final mark on the night. Michaela jumped out of her seat again, yelling Josh's name.

Rangers fans had begun trickling out long before the horn sounded, signaling the end of the game.

"What a game!" Michaela said.

"If you're a Jackets fan." Jason sounded depressed.

"Josh was great!" She directed that to Chris who hadn't said much all evening.

"Yeah," he responded. Michaela knew the glazed over look in his eyes all too well. He'd been drinking a lot ever since her dad's visit.

"Come on, Chris," she said. "Josh is family. Show some excitement."

"I'm going home," he responded. "You guys go to the party." Michaela almost went after him when he left to catch a cab but Jason held her back.

"Let him work through this," he said.

"Fine," she sighed. "The party is uptown. We need a cab." Josh's team wasn't flying out until the next morning, and he’d invited them to a party at his buddy's place. He had two days off before his next game so he was able to celebrate his first.

The party was going strong when they arrived, but Josh wouldn't be there for a while. They headed straight for the bar. Michaela couldn't stop thinking about her brother, and it had put her in a bad mood. She needed a drink.

"Whoa, slow down there." Jason said as Michaela chugged half her beer. She barely tasted it as the smooth liquid slid down her throat. She longed for the warm feeling she'd have after a few more beers, and didn't want to wait. She raised the bottle to her lips again but Jason took it from her. She glared at him.

"Give it back," she growled.

"Something is bothering you." He narrowed his eyes but held her gaze.

"It's nothing," she said. In truth, it wasn't only Chris that was bothering her. She kept glancing at the door, expecting a familiar face to walk through any minute. There was no way Ethan wasn't at that game to see his brother, which meant he was probably coming to the party. She didn't know how she felt about seeing him. It had been months since his proposal and their subsequent breakup, but she’d loved him for so long and that's not something that just disappears.

Michaela didn't know if she missed Ethan, or just what they had together. He was family.

"I don't believe you," Jason whispered, leaning in close.

"Jason ..." Her hand shook as she ran it through her long locks. Ethan had always loved her hair. He used to pull it when they ...
Snap out of it,
she told herself.