***
“Hi Dr. Cook, this is my boyfriend Jordan.” Lys introduced me. “Jordan this is my advisor Dr. Cook.”
“Please to meet you.” I told her and shook her hand.
“Should you be at the game?” I nodded.
“We are only staying for part of the ceremony then heading down to the arena.” I explained.
“How is your ankle?” she must be a fan.
“It’s doing better; I should be playing tonight.” Lys looked up at me. I knew she wasn’t going to like that answer but it was true.”
“Dr. Cook would like your picture the guys?”
“Guys? There is more?” Lys nodded before running to get Sid and Geno. Her professor was ecstatic. “Thank you Alyssa.” She smiled then was called to line up. We kissed our girls one last time before we left to find our seats.
The ceremony was wonderful. Our girls looked so happy receiving their diplomas. I wished I could have spent the whole day with her but we had a game to win! The guys and I drove to the Latrobe airport and took the helicopter back to the city. We played a hard game and came out victorious. All I could think about if Lys and her family liked their surprise. Her mom and I came up with the plan to eat at the Max and Erma’s in Pittsburgh and then they all would enjoy the game in the box with Mario. He was such a nice gentleman for offering the box. I heard rapid footsteps approaching and then Lys entering the locker room. I noticed that the media was about to interview me so I pulled Lys next to me. She blushed once she figured out what was going on.
“Jordan is this your girlfriend?” the media asked
“Yes this is my beautiful girlfriend who just graduated from Saint Vincent College today.”
“Congratulations. Do you have any plans?”
“I’m just trying to look for a job. I would like to work in the music industry.” She explained. The media focused on her a bit longer then back to me.
“Jordan, thank you for the nice surprise my Uncle enjoyed it.”
“Well where is he? The surprise is not over yet.”
“I think they followed me down.” Just as she said it two little kids came running into the room.
“Jordan!” the little girl called out and I picked her up to give her a hug.
“Hi Cydney how are you?”
“Good. You played awesome!” And her brother Cody nodded. I then gave him a hug and started to talk to him.
“Hey Cyd come here I want you to meet someone.” I put her down and Lys took her hand and led her in the direction of Crosby.
“Hey Lys congratulations.”
“Thanks same to you. I have someone I would like you to meet.” Lys told him. “Sidney, this is my little cousin Cydney.” Then whispered “You’re her favorite player.”
“Well hello Cydney, how are you?”
“Good.” She replied.
“Did you enjoy the game.” She just shook her head yes. As they conversed the rest of her family approached me.
“Thanks man, this is such an awesome experience.” Her uncle Steve told me as he looked around the locker room.
“Where’s Jay?”
“He took gram and pap home during the second period. They were getting tired.” Cathy responded.
“Hey Steve look at Cyd.” And they both looked over to where she was talking Sidney’s ear off. “I’m going to take her picture.”
“Tyler Kennedy, hey man great game. I love wearing your shirt because we- “
“-Share the same last name. Lys told me. We have a running joke that we are long lost cousins.” Tyler laughed and Steve joined in. We took some pictures and mingled with the guys for a bit. I bought her uncle a stick that I passed around and had everyone sign it.
“Oh wait, Steve I have something else for you.” I turned around and picked up the stick that was lying on the bench. “All the guys signed it. I thought maybe you can hang it up in your man cave in the new house.”
“Definitely. This is so cool! Thank you.” He came over to hug me. We said all said goodbye and I pulled Lys away.
“You’re not going with them missy.”
“I’m not? Then who would I be going with?” she joked.
“Me!”
“Well what if I don’t want to go with you?” Lys raised her eyebrow.
“Well then you won’t know what you are missing.” I teased back. I took her hand and led her outside to my car. We headed down to South Side. When we arrived, we saw Geno, Alex, Sid and Natale standing outside.
“Hey chicas! What’s up?” they replied before we let them in the door.
“SURPRISE!” was heard as the girls walked in the door. We had a banner hung from the second floor that read ‘Congratulations Alex, Alyssa and Natale’ in green and gold lettering.
“Jordan, I wasn’t expecting all this!” Lys kissed me. The guys and I asked the owner if we could shut it down and invite a bunch of our friends. We also asked we could have people under 21 in there and it was decided that the alcohol only be served upstairs. As we walked through the crowd I noticed the gift tables were set up each designated with a color for each of our gorgeous ladies. Lys’s tablecloth and balloons were purple; Alex’s were pink; and Natale’s were yellow. Each had a decent amount of presents and cards on them. “This is amazing, thank you so much!”
“Alex!” Lys screamed and her roommate turned around but that’s not who she was referring to. Lys ran over and gave him a big hug. “Nickolas!” she turned and did the same to him. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Celebrate you graduation of course,” replied Ovechkin. I’ll admit I did invite him but not Backstrom.
“Well thank you so much for coming! I’m so happy to see you both!” she beamed.
“Come on Lys, I’ll buy you a drink!” Backstrom took her hand and led her up the stairs. She called over her shoulder saying she would be right back.
“Hey Jordan, how are you?” Holly, one of Lys’ best friends from home greeted me.
“I’m good and yourself?”
“Not too shabby, where’s Lys? I just wanted to say goodbye. I’ve got work in the am.”
“She’s upstairs with Backstrom and Ovechkin. I’ll take you.” Phew, gives me an excuse for going up there now. Holly followed me up the stairs. We soon spotted them by the bar drinking shots.
“Lyssa, my love!” the girls hugged.
“Holly!”
“I have to go darling. I have work in the am.” She left with plans of catching up soon. Then I heard another woman’s voice from behind.
“Sorry!” some stated and I turned around to see Laura almost tripping Max.
“It’s okay.” He told her.
“Hey Jordan!” I could tell she was a bit tipsy.
“Hey Laura, been here long?” I asked her.
“Since the second period of the game.” She smiled at me. “You played good on your foot.”
“Hey Jordan can you take a picture of me and the guys – oh hey Laura, we’ll get one next.” Lys stood between the two Capitals and they each had an arm around her waist. They just better not pull anything in front of me. After I took that one she got a picture with Laura. They both turned out to be nice pictures, at least by my standard. Lys walked around and mingled with everyone. She can be a flirt when she is drunk! I’ve only have one or two beers so far.
“Jordan!” she called for me. I walked over to her. She was sitting at the bar. Lys just kissed me. “We should play a game with the rest of the people!”
“What kind of game?”
“Spin the bottle!” then before I knew I was sitting in a circle on the floor with a bottle in the middle. Lys, Laura, Bliss, a few people Lys went to high school with, Jessi, Anna and Dineen round out the girls. Ovi, Nickolas, Max, Tyler, Kris and myself for the guys. Anna spun first and it landed on Max. So then Max spun and it landed on Laura. Laura spun and it landed on me. I really didn’t want to kiss her, but it was just a game. Then I spun and had to kiss Dineen. Then Dineen had to kiss Ovi. Then Ovi spun it and who do you know it lands on, Lys. I saw him get all excited. They both got up and as soon as their lips met I felt a pain of jealously. He kissed her a decent amount of time before Lys spun. And it just figures she lands on Nickolas. He’s probably been waiting to kiss her for awhile. And he seemed hungry for her. Nickolas also didn’t let her go for awhile. I could tell she was on cloud nine. The game continued for a little bit longer until Tyler landed on Nickolas, then we called it quits. Well all said our goodbyes loaded the car with Lys’ gifts and left the bar around 5:30AM. I knew that the sun would be rising soon so I drove up to Mt. Washington to catch a glimpse of it with the one that I love.
“Jordan is so breath-taking.” She said to me in my arms. “I love you. Thank you for such an amazing day!”
“You’re welcome. I love you too!” I took a couple pictures of the sunrise for her. Also took a picture of her in front of the sunrise and skyline.
“Jordan! I’m all gross from the day! That is not going to be a great picture.” But she still smiled and I thought it was great!
The next day we met up with her family again. Her Aunt Shyla, Uncle Steve and the kids were heading back to Virginia today! We had a nice lunch with them and played with her cousins as the ‘adults’ talked about things. Cydney didn’t want Lys to go and I could tell that Lys didn’t want her to leave either. Or Cody for that matter.
“Bye Alyssa, I love you.” Cody told her when he hugged her goodbye.
“Love you too Cod man!”
“Alyssa, can we go shopping?” asked Cyd.
“Not today sweetie but may be sometime soon.”
“Bye Cody.” I told him.
“See ya Jordan!”
“Jordan!!! You should come visit with Lyssa. I like you and bring Crosby too!” she told me.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do.” I gave her a hug and kiss goodbye before they drove out of site.
“So now what kiddo?” Gram Nonie asked her.
“I don’t know I think I’m going to spend the rest of the day relaxing.” Was her reply. I put my hands in my pocket and felt some sort of envelope. It’s Lyssa card.
“Oh Lys I forgot to give you this yesterday!” I said and handed it to her. She opened it up in the parking lot.
“Jordan! You shouldn’t have!” she gave me the biggest hug ever!
***
Well what did you think? Comments are welcomed!!!
Have a great 4th of July! :)
