Thirty-Day Lover

"I'm sorry if I startled you, I'm Christina. The general manager introduced me to you guys yesterday, I will be the team's..."

"Physiotherapist." He finished for her, although somewhat out of breath.

She paused and nodded, smile growing wider. "Yes, that's correct."

"I remembered." He said with a tap of his finger against his head, those brown eyes glinted with playful mirth.

"So you did."

Christina noted that, this young star, despite the competitive spirit on the ice, smiled with a cute dimple on the side of his cheek.

"What are you doing here so early? I thought girls liked their beauty sleep."

Christina lifted an eyebrow at that tone, teasing already, my goodness. "I could say the same for you. Working out regularly is healthy, ambitious, hard working and a necessity for this sport. However, to be here on a Saturday morning... I can only say this is a little suspicious."

Tit for tat, she modulated her tone evenly to match his.

It was he who laughed first before Christina joined in.

"Alright, alright, we're even." Turning off his machine, Hank unstradlled the seat and hopped off the thing with ease. Though she was well versed with the human anatomy inside and out, that little part in her brain could not help but admire the way his muscles moved underneath that shirt.

Shirt that was soaked with sweat, further outline each rise and fall of bodily countours.

"To answer your question." He continued, walking towards her having already draped a towel around his neck and water bottle in one hand. "I think I'm just trying too hard." He admitted with a smile and a shrug, she could not help but notice the dimple again. And when he drew closer, she realized that perhaps his upturned nose was rather adorable as well.

Perfect for biting, in fact.

"I'm new to the team and all, everyone else works so hard day in and day out, I feel like I've got something to prove. You know, to show that I'm not just young child who had a stroke of luck and was picked up into this team. I want them to see that I am determined and will work hard for the minutes that I get on the ice."

Young, attractive, good body, and determined. Where was he when she was his age?

"And I'm sure your efforts will not be wasted." She had meant what she said, it was not a statement just to agree. If anything, she could certainly testify to his efforts off and on the ice. "But also remember to give your body a rest from time to time, it needs to catch up as well." She contemplated on patting him on the shoulder but thought better of it.

Maybe when they were a bit more acquinted.

"You?"

What about me? She wanted to asked but, thankfully, remembered the context they were speaking in. "Like you, I'm working hard." Here, she offered him a wink before continuing on more seriously. "The team will be going on a long road trip shortly, I'm sure you knew that already. So, in order to service you guys better," was service the right word to use here "I figured I should have a good grasp on the team's status just so I'm not scrambling around for information at the last moment."

"You'll be coming with us on the trip?"

"Bet your life on it. You won't be getting rid of me very easily."

He grinned, that toothy grin she's seen on television many times. She must say, from inside a box, it did not feel this contagious.

"Well, I'll leave you to be." Christina stated, pushing herself away from the door and taking a couple of steps back. "I'll be in my office if you need anything, if not, I'll see you around. Today. Hopefully not tomorrow." She is not planning on coming in both days of the weekend! "But definitely in the future."

"Yeah, see you around."

She nodded and turned to head down the hallway. The exchange was short, she felt it. If he was disappointed, he didn't show it very well. Then again, it was only a ten minutes thing, and she was several years older than him.

He can be like a little brother, right?

The door to her office unlocked and was pushed open, lights flicked on and she tossed her keys onto the coffee table. This was the reception area, as she liked to call it. Her actual office was inside and the examination room was next door. Katy had a field day when Christina told her about the examination office, claiming that there would be many interesting sessions taking place there.

Mm-hmm, of course there will be.

Turning on her computer, she unbuttoned her jacket and let it hang on the back of her chair. Tea was already in the making, she was someone who enjoyed tea rather than coffee. Looking around her office, she noted all the little things that she will need to fill it all up.

Plants. Pictures. Candles. And of course, stationary along the way.

First thing first, tea cup needs a coaster to situate on her wooden desk, and she leaned back into the leather chair to begin looking through all those files readily accessbile to her. Perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps she genuinely wanted to know more, she located Hank's file first and let the information watch over her.

Name: Hank Kelly
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: 1989/10/04
Age: 20
Height: 183cm
Weight: 195lbs

And the rest would be considered confidential and finally part of her profession. It detailed all his medical history, tests, and examinations that he's done ever since he joined this club. It was more important to her to keep a general idea of any problem areas before coming up with tailored plans for individual players to more efficiently expend his energy.

Of course, the last little bit entailed his personal information. The word "single" had her laughing at herself. It's a nice thought, but she would rather keep her job than get screwed over because of some cute little boy. Yet she found her mind drifting back towards Hank every once in a while, wondering if he was still around, still working out?

Many times, she was tempted to get up and go check for herself. But would that appear too desperate when she wasn't even?

So when she heard knocks coming from her door, Christina wondered if her thoughts have translated into actions telepathecally. Yet she only received surprise when she looked up towards the open door.

It was certainly not someone she had expected to see.

"Sorry, am I interrupting?

"Mr. Jonson." She acknowledged and pushed her chair back to raise. He took this as an invitation to step in. "My, everyone works so hard around here." From the new star to the older veteran, she was beginning to think that coming in on Saturdays is a must now.

He laughed and shook his head, stopping himself in the middle of the room as she rounded the desk to approach him. "I was forced to come because of a meeting."

"Oh right, the executives' meeting extends 'till today."

"Yeah." He offered her a half roll of his eyes, and she couldn't help but grin.

"Yeah, brutal." Saturday too. "Did you... need me for anything?" She asked carefully, approached carefully and was careful to leave a modest distance between the two of them. Not to mention how short she felt -well, she is- in front of him. Barely 160cm felt like an ant in front of him. He must be around 190cm. Tall men.

"Oh no, not at all. I just came down to see if anyone was in and saw your office door open." He offered quickly and paused, as if hesitating. "The meeting continues into the afternoon, but we're on a break right now. And, if you are not busy, I thought I'd make it up to you."

The beginning and middle all made sense, the end seemed rather misplaced. "Make it up to me? For what?"

"Yesterday. I felt bad about how I approached you, so much for a first impression, huh?"

Ah. She replayed that scene in her mind once before laughing with a nod of her head.

"You've done nothing wrong, it was a natural response." She would have suspcious too, especially when there are not a lot of females strolling around these hallways. "But, I'm not about to turn down lunch." She would have to eat sooner or later. "Let me just grab my jacket and we can be on our way."

Mid fall, although it is certainly a generous season this year, the chills still warranted a light jacket. Besides, Christina has always been a rather conscience woman when it comes to her wardrobe. There were the years when she'd splurge on anything and everything in sight, but slowly, she had waned that habbit into splurging only on the brand names that she enjoyed. Wang. Westwood. Dior. Chanel. And more.

So perhaps that's why she was still living in a modest little apartment and driving a modest car when the money she's earned could afford more. All of it went to clothes, jewelery, accessories, perfume and of course, make up.

Today, her grey pants were ironed and tailored to fit, with a pair of deep purple shoes to match the shirt she had on. The jacket was a light piece that stopped at her waist, wrapped around by a thin belt.

Lunch was nothing too fancy, but cozy enough for them to slide into a corner booth with the window beside them. It was quieter and gave an illusion of being totally secluded with that large plant next to his seat.

"I mean, I don't even say much in the meeting, just nod my head and agree." He continued on, making a face at that statement, both of them enjoyed a good little round of laugh from that.

"Well, you are getting paid for it. I don't know, nodding once in a while almost seems worth the money and the time."

"Now that you put it that way..." He trailed off, as if contemplating on her words.

"But it must be hard, I imagine." Christina continued on, leaning back just an inch so the waitress could set their plates on the table. "There are the road trips and the late nights along with the weekends, your family must not get to see you much. Tell me, Mr. Jonson, how do you handle all of this?"

"Ron, please." He quickly interjected and gazed at her, which she returned with equal length before nodding her head.

"Ron."

Ron, was... well.. older. For a lack of better words. She's gathered from bits and pieces of information that he should be just a paltry beyond that five zero mark. Yet, this man certainly knew how to take care of himself. There was still that movie star good look, the beautiful smile and intense gaze. And of course, the long hair that still settled around his shoulders.

It was as if this man was still playing for his hockey club twenty, thirty years ago.

And she could not see the age on him.

"It is hard, I'm not going to lie about that." He offered, unfolding his napkin to rest on his legs. "Although, I think my family is somewhat used to this schedule. I'm never around during the season, but when it comes to the summer, I practically laze around at home all the time."

"Of course. It is also a schedule that I will need to acquint myself with as well."

Her contract was for one year with the possiblity of the term being reviewed as early as January next year. If everything goes well and there is a re-signing, she might as well begin to adapt to this hectic schedule during these months and a beautiful summer with many months to enjoy elsewhere.

"I feel bad that you're starting right now, with the road trip coming up, it'll be hard. Got anyone who'd be saddened to see you go?"

Here, Christina had to offer a light snort with a roll of her eyes. "Yeah, my apartment and the dust gathering."

He chuckled and took a sip of his water. "You're pulling my leg."

"Apparently you've been out of the real world for a while now, let me fill you in on a couple of things." She cleared her throat and leaned forward, resting her elbows against the table edge lightly, as if going to reveal the biggest secret in one's life. "One, these days, it seems all the good men are gay. And the rest of them are just looking for a body to flaunt before ditching for a better and newer one."

"Interesting. Thankfully, I don't fit into the above categories."

"Ah, but you see, you are taken." She lifted a finger and wiggled it back and forth as if to add emphasis. "And that is the biggest misfortune for women like me."

Of course, the fourth category would be that the last remaining portion were all younger than her. There is just no winning. Maybe she should take up Katy on that offer of becoming lesbians and just live with each other for the rest of their lives.

Mmm, that's a thought.

"Taken and so very old, right?"

"Age's got nothing to do with it." She shrugged and dug her fork into her plateful of food. "Honestly, I think you look better now than when you did back when you were playing hockey and breaking girls' hearts."

That was the ultimate truth.

Lunch extended for longer than they both thought, perhaps when the bill and time came, he was more surprised than her. And the brisk walk back to the arena explained how close he was to being late. Although it was only a short while, she was surprised to notice that he was actually a shy guy.

Relatively.

With his reputation from back when he was younger, she would have pictured him to be an outrageous flirt, but there was that subtle boyish shyness that underlied the appearance everyone focused on. It was attractive, and made him all that much more handsome.

The good men are all taken.

She repeated that sentence in her head again and again -in woe, of course- as she parted ways with him. The suit jacket was already back in place, he was putting on the persona of CEO as he stepped through the doors. And as for her? She had more exploring to do.

It wasn't often that she got to come to downtown often before she started this job. And with the somewhat unsual scheduling, Christina had a feeling that she'll be more than acquinted with the many stores that circled this area. From brand name to the necessary department stores, she memorized her way around the blocks easily, having always been rather gifted with directional senses.

By the time she finally returned to her office, it was already early afternoon and there were only a few more files that she had to look through.

The second time knockings came at her door, she was shutting down her computer and grabbing her bag, ready to call it a day. This time, it wasn't the CEO beckoning to make it up to her, but the young one from earlier this morning.

"You're still around." She started, slinging her bag onto her shoulder and moving towards him.

"Yeah, I was looking for you. I thought you had already gone home." He explained, stepping back to let her close the door. Christina noticed that he was no longer in the attire that was suitable for a gym work out, but just in a pair of casual jeans and a sweater. "Since you're still around, wanna grab a late lunch?"

For sure, Christina felt her smile grow just a little stiff and perhaps a little awkward.

"I... already had lunch." With someone who dressed in a suit, talked in a suit and acted in a suit. The differences could not be overlooked.

"Oh."

Yeah, this was awkward. She didn't exactly want to ask whether he had been waiting all this time, it would just make her feel that much worse.

"That's cool, I should have said something earlier." Hank smiled and shrugged his shoulders, this time, Christina was careful to pick up on the disappointment.

"Look." That opening word left her mouth before she thought about the rest of her offer, she just felt bad and when she felt bad, she had no control over her words. "I know that you have Wednesday off." Thanks to the handy litlte schedule that she's got printed out on her desk. "So, turn on your cell phone and stick around for my call. Forget lunch, we'll have dinner instead. What do you say?"

Today, someone made it up to her; and today, she will offer to make it up to someone else.

A slow grin stretched on his lips, and he nodded. "You don't know my phone number though."

"Oh but I do." This time, she didn't resist the urge to reach out and pat on him on the shoulders. "Those files are so descriptive that I know just about every little detail you can possibly imagine."

"Like what?"

"Like everything."

"Height? Weight? Age? Status?"

"Name. Address. Phone number. Personal life. Medical records. Medical history. Physical descriptions. Sizes."

"... all the sizes?"

She held his gaze for a silent moment before lifting an eyebrow. "All the sizes. Why? Got something that you're worried about?"

"Just worried that it my be too impressive."

Oh this kid was so...!

Christina laughed while shaking her head, oh the sharp tongue! This time, she didn't bother with a reply, she was already moving down the hallway towards the elevator.

"Wednesday. Keep your cell phone turned on."

She called out over her shoulder before lifting a hand in a casual wave. Yeah, this was going to be an interesting job for sure. If all the kids on the team are like him, it will certainly be a good practice for her verbal skills as well.

To be continue...