My Hockey Nemesis

en rows of seats with coffee cups in hand, coaches discussing line combinations near the windows, a

e to the back

preferred be

. "Arthur's rehabilitation file. If his shoulder stiffens

wil

trav

laughter

st walked int

lue kinesiology tape peeking out beneath the collar of his

d. "Must've been one

is duffel bag, completely unfa

the only

nly one you

ced. I waited until most of them had go

at near the middle of the cabin and quietly sett

light attendant approached me with an apol

ed up.

omfortable flying without sitting beside his roommate. He had a panic a

O

eats? You're the only staf

olitely. "

you s

opped right beside Row Seven, and my smile instantly evapor

red toward the empty windo

isle. There was absol

buckled myself in. Neither of us spoke. The aircraft taxied towar

between us were the steady hum of the en

nce first. "Did they

to his rehabilitati

ld've sa

make someone else's

aint nod. "

ning to face him. "Can

pen

talk unless it's a

rig

cepted mine and thanked the flight attendant,

d. Because of

e not

awa

ped break

und to look at him. "

me at the termi

S

e isn't b

rated breath. "You pay

ice th

you wo

he unopened bread roll from his tray, and placed it fi

ack toward him. "I'

us mentione

finally switched off. I glanced toward th

legs into the ais

ead. *"Ladies and gentlemen, we've encountered unexpected turbulence

k. "I've got it," I mutter

raft jol

o steady myself. Several players cursed around m

meone shouted for everyone to sit down. I reached desperately toward my row, but I never mad

g happene

apped firmly around my waist, pulling me f

th

as he yanked me out of the aisle just as another violent drop rocked the aircraft. A sh

went comp

ost all sense of direction, and the only thing keeping me from crashing vi

ncy lights flick

heavy, suffocating silenc

ity rushing back in terrifyingly high definition. I wasn't on the floor. I was sitting squarely across his thighs. I could feel the solid warmth of his lap ben

f us move

the sheer intimacy of the position c

ead silence of the ca

I turned

s. The coaches. The medical staff. Even the fligh

pure mortification

my G

that I nearly lost my balance

ted down the aisle, threw open the rest

door, burying my burning face in my ha

ress grins. I just stared at the small mirror, wishing the plane would swallow me whole, completely unaware that out in