LOVE TAP

As Chloe stood in line at the entrance to the Arena, she couldn't help all the memories of Kyle that continued to flood her thoughts... As difficult as it was to be here now that he is gone, there was also a comfort as she remembered all the good times they spent here watching games together. FLASHBACK "Do you miss it?" Chloe asked looking at her soon-to-be husband, and childhood best friend. She would never admit the truth to him, but even if he didn't miss playing, she missed watching him play... It had now been a full year since Kyle's dad had passed away suddenly in a tragic car accident. Kyle had felt obligated to follow in his father's footsteps after his passing, he took over his family farm as per his father's wishes. In doing so, Kyle was forced to give up his shot at playing professional hockey, in order to devote his time to keeping the farm running. With a young baby boy at home being watched by his grandmother, this was the first opportunity they had to go to a game since his father's passing. Chloe worried about Kyle, and how difficult it would be to watch the future he missed out on... Nothing had gone how they had planned for after High School. Kyle and Chloe had been childhood best friends and high school sweethearts. Kyle started getting approached by recruitment scouts as soon as he turned sixteen. He had a bright future ahead of him, and Chloe had planned on following him to whichever team he ended up playing for, she was going to apply to colleges to become a teacher, while Kyle lived his dream of playing professional hockey. They both had a plan to follow their dreams, they were going to do it together... But instead, things didn't go as they had planned. Chloe ended up getting pregnant shortly after High School graduation, and shortly after news of her pregnancy got out, Kyle ended up losing his father. Reality hit them sooner than expected, and they were forced to grow up faster than they had hoped to. "You know I do," Kyle's face turned serious as he watched the Arena go dark and the light show begin as the opposing team's players entered the ice. Ever since Kyle could first speak, his dream was to play in the NHL, to play here for this team. There was something about the confidence he had portrayed while on the ice that heated her with desire in a way that she could not deny. Kyle was an amazing hockey player, and even though she thought he was the sexiest man on the planet, something about watching him on the ice made her want to tear his clothes off. She loved to watch him play, and the spark that lit him up every time he stepped onto the ice. Anyone could tell that he was meant to be there. Chloe so desperately wanted to see that spark in him again, she hadn't seen him that happy since he took over the farm... At least not until their son was born, that brought out a happiness in Kyle like no other. Chloe knew that she was poking at an old wound, and it was best to drop the subject and enjoy the game. But she could not help the guilt she felt that the love of her life wasn't living his dream like she always thought he would. She wished there was something that she could do, some way that she could help him do both... But unfortunately, the farm was too big, and playing professional hockey was too much of a commitment to be able to do both. Chloe could not help the feeling of shame that kept creeping up, knowing that Kyle was helping her follow her dreams of being a teacher, even with their little boy Dax at home, while he put his dreams aside to take over his father's farm. PRESENT TIME "I am so excited! I can't believe this is happening!" Dax jumped up and down in place as they waited to get their tickets scanned. She couldn't believe how grown up he was becoming, and she wished that Kyle was here to see his little boy share his love of hockey. It was finally their turn to have their tickets scanned. Chloe handed them over and they were pointed in the direction of their seats. She hadn't been here since Kyle had passed, it was too painful, knowing how much Kyle loved the sport, and loved to come to these games. But she knew that she needed to put her feelings aside so that Dax would have an opportunity to follow his dreams. If he wanted to play pro hockey someday, Chloe was determined to do whatever it took to get him there. As they took their seats, Dax continued to jump up and down with excitement, Chloe smiled as she watched her little boy's dreams come true. This was his first NHL game, and she wished she hadn't given up Kyle's season tickets after he had passed, she never imagined that Dax would love hockey just as much as his father does. *** They were halfway through the first period of the game when their faces appeared on the jumbotron. Dax's face lit up with excitement as he hopped up and down waving and cheering, pointing at his jersey to show his support for their home team. Chloe giggled as she watched her son put on a show for the crowd, his excitement was contagious, and everyone cheered along with him as he danced and chanted showing his support. As soon as the jumbotron screen switched to the home team's logo, Chloe encouraged Dax to take a seat so that he wasn't blocking anyone's view of the game. "That was awesome, you have quite the performer there." An unfamiliar female voice spoke to Chloe from the staircase next to her seat. Chloe looked over to see one of the announcers standing next to her. "Yes, I do," Chloe chuckled, "my son is definitely full of it." Chloe was surprised to see the woman there talking to her. "We have a contest being held between the first and second period, I am just gathering up some kids to partake in a shooting contest, would your son like to participate?" The announcer asked and Chloe paused for a minute, in shock at what she had just said. "YES, YES, YES, PLEAAASSSSEEE MOM?" Dax had heard what the announcer had said to her and was once again jumping up and down in excitement. "I guess that is a yes..." Chloe once again chuckled nervously, unsure of how good of an idea this was... After all, it was his first NHL game, and she hated being the center of attention. "Perfect! If you will please follow me, we are just getting all the participants gathered next to the rink." Chloe and Dax got up from their seats and followed the announcer to where the rest of the children who were participating had been gathered. There were ten kids total, and being this close to the ice, Chloe could feel her palms become sweaty as she just realized what she had agreed to...