Kinsley fell in love with Phoenix Maverick, an NHL player for a team she never imagined supporting. But when Kinsley suffers from a head injury and forgets the last six years of her life, she struggles balancing being the person Phoenix fell in love...
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Early October. 2016
Sadie, Lottie and I sat in the stands at Rogers Arena. Lottie was wearing a mini red jersey with Maverick written across the back.
Phoenix gave it her to her just before the injury apparently. It was a gift for the upcoming season. She looked so cute. Her pin straight black hair was up in pig tails, as usual and fluffy pink ear muffs complimented the look.
"I don't think I'm going to go on the road with Phoenix this season," I said to Sadie, leaning over Lottie's head so she could hear me.
"Oh," she said, moving a highlighted strand of hair out of her face. It was down and long, past her shoulder blades. "How come? Are you not feeling it? Or connecting with him?"
"No, I am," I said. "I really like him actually. I think I'll even miss him when he leaves. But I kind of want to establish some new roots before I take off to trip around. You know? I was looking at jobs online this morning and I saw a position for an interior designer at an architects company called Lin Architects, so I applied."
There was a flinch in her expression, a micro second of shock and then it was gone. "You did?"
"I know, it's ridiculous. I'm not qualified at all but I thought I'd give it a go and get some feedback, maybe find out what I'd need if that was the path I wanted to take. I wouldn't be opposed to going back to college."
Sadie nodded. "Yeah. You don't have to though. There are plenty of people who are qualified for jobs regardless of a degree."
"I'll see how the interview goes. If I even get one. I might not."
Lottie sipped from the straw in her soda, watching the rink as players started onto the ice. It got louder, cheering erupted from the stands and I saw Phoenix, chewing on his mouth guard as he skated in circles.
My heart picked up when he started searching the stands and found me sitting behind the Flames box. He smiled, he didn't wave but it still sent me into overdrive. His dark brown hair licked out from under his helmet and his posture was confident as he circled Leighton and stole the warm up puck.
"Have you told him you're not going on the road?" Sadie asked me, shouting over the thundering applause and fans banging on glass.
"I'll talk to him about it tonight."
"I need to poo," Lottie said, matter of fact.
Sadie's eyes rolled to the back of her head. "Right now?"
Lottie nodded.
"Right before the game is going to start?"
Lottie nodded again.
"Should've left you in a diaper," Sadie mumbled, standing up and offering her hand to Lottie. "Come on then."
The two of them left and I sat alone watching the warm up. Once in a while, Phoenix would look over at me, he kept it brief and fleeting but when his eyes met mine, I felt the connection, the meaning and the way he wished we were somewhere else.
