Chapter 136: Jo IV—You Missed Something
Jo had been on her phone with her father for an hour discussing the possibilities of his opening a restaurant in Denver. She had found a wonderful site for it, and from what her uncle Phil had told her, it was the best time to do it. Business always bored her but she was good at it. Of course she had felt bad that she had to miss Peter’s game but he seemed to understand why even if he was extremely disappointed that she couldn’t come.
"But honey you’ll love it! These are the best games! Can’t you wait just a day until I leave on the roadtrip?" He had asked her, his eyes big and pleading.
"No," Jo had said firmly. It couldn’t wait.
Peter said he understood and they had kissed, and she made sure that he was late again. He had seemed happier then, tugging his clothes together and stumbling out of the door to practice.
She felt slightly guilty. Peter had seemed so excited about this game against Detroit, but Jo just couldn’t be there today.
She left the apartment about a half-hour after he did. She met with the people she needed to meet with, sitting in the restaurant that would be closing in a month. The Avalanche game was on a TV in the background and she kept and eye on it, just for Peter’s sake. They were going into intermission by the time Jo had shaken hands with them, collected the proper names, and numbers and paperwork and then left.
She could have met with them when he left on his roadtrip, Jo had lied to Peter. In fact the appointment she had with them was to be on the first day he left, Jo had called asking if they could meet sooner.
I just need my privacy, she thought to herself as she pulled up into the parking lot of a grocery store. I just need my privacy she thought to herself as she walked down the aisles looking for the thing she needed to buy.
Jo delayed a little longer in Peter’s apartment. She turned the game on the TV and watched some of the second period and then she called her father. She talked with him for that hour, and then finally when there was no more to say and they had said goodbye, she closed her eyes and went into to the bathroom.
Of course! Jo hissed at herself, in her mind. This is what I get for being so infatuated with him. What was I expecting? And what can I expect from him? She didn’t know what to feel other than she wanted out of that bathroom. She wrapped it in toilet paper and threw it in the trash can not wanting to face it again.
She felt cold and her heart was slowing inside her as she sat down on the couch and began to watch the rest of the game. There he was. His dark red hair blackened with sweat, clinging to his neck. His head was tilted as he circled around the ice, fast and graceful. Josefina had never been ice-skating before, but seeing him made her want to fly just like that.
In the bathroom, Josefina had decided to hate him and forget him. Leave and go to her father and close her eyes. She knew that perhaps it was the best way not to be hurt by him. And then when she saw him again on the TV it brought it back to her with crushing pain. The taste of his damp skin and the feel of his hands were still potent on her body and tongue. The sound of his laugh, his shy glances, his lyrical voice. How could she ever run away from that? How could she leave without knowing. How could she have done this to him?
Jo knew she was five years older than he was, and she knew what an active, wild creature she was. How selfish she felt now for what just happened. How could she face him?
She had no tears in her eyes, just a dull ache in her gut. She was about to turn off the television when the glass shattered.
"Oh my GOD!" the voice in the television said, "Isn’t that where Patrick Roy’s family was sitting?"
"I don’t know Peter... yes I think it was...."
The camera zoomed in on the people in the stands and Josefina recognized the Roy family, the little girl wriggled out from under... Elena? That was her niece! What the hell was she doing....
It only got worse from there as Josefina watched the insanity of the events. And when Elena sunk her teeth into that hockey player, she closed her eyes and shut off the television. This wasn’t something she wanted to see.
She curled up on the couch, hugging herself and she lay there, watching as the snow flakes began to fall outside. It never snowed in Phoenix. It rarely got this cold. She wasn’t used to snow and she felt overwhelmed by the beauty of the flakes as they lazily drifted and swirled in the air. Then they began to get fatter and fatter, and they were no longer graceful and airy but heavy and darting, steaking downwards like little comets.
She closed her eyes.
Josefina woke up at the sound of Peter’s keys in the door. She sat up as he walked in, coughing and stomping his feet. He kicked the door closed and peeled off his jacket, shaking the snow off it before he looked up. She could see the pale outlines of his smile in the dark room.
"Can I turn on the light?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Jo said feeling like a child.
Peter flicked on the lamp and sat down next to her on the couch. She could feel the cold emanating from his body, and there was a damp smell to him. There were wet droplets sparkling in his hair. She wanted to touch him.
"You missed something," Peter said with his large smile.
"What?!" Jo exclaimed in guilty horror.
"The game!" Peter said and he leaned back on the couch. "It’s one for the ages!"
"Oh," Jo sighed. "No I saw it. I mean I saw the end. I can’t believe Elena did that. I didn’t even know she was coming to the game."
Peter laughed. "Yeah I was having troubles with Chelios the whole game, the little girl sorta did what I’d been wanting to."
Jo hit him lightly on the arm. "That’s terrible! I’m sure Phil is grinding her ass right now!"
Peter’s smile disappeared as he made eye contact with her and Jo looked away, her cheeks burning. "Hey what’s wrong?"
"Peter..." Jo said and then it failed in her throat.
"Hey how did the meeting go?" he asked, running his hand up and down her back. "Did it go OK?"
Jo nodded. "Yes."
"What’s wrong sweetheart?" he asked again and his warmth was pressing her, enwrapping her, drowning her. His lips on her cheeks, the tickle of his beard.
"I just missed you," she whispered. "I should have come to the game."
"Yes you should have," Peter said. "I’m glad you feel guilty!"
Jo forced a smile and leaned against his rock hard, massive chest. "How long will you be gone?"
"Not long," he said, his fingers tickling her scalp as he stroked her hair. "We leave tomorrow afternoon and we’ll be back by Sunday." His lips on the top of her head now, were breaking her heart.
Josefina closed her eyes tightly.
What have I done?
She turned her face to him and kissed him softly.
What will I do?
His arms wrapped around her body, a hand slid up her thigh, finding the bare skin and jolting it with cold.
"Warm me up," he whispered.
How will I tell him?
Fingers slid higher up her leg, gliding and then she moaned.
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