Chapter 22
“This was the best day ever.” Ella smiled contently up at Erin as the couple walked hand in hand back to the hotel after a long day together.
“Definitely worth the drive getting to spend this day with you.” Erin agreed, admiring the illuminating smile on her girlfriends face.
Both girls wished that they had longer together, but neither was going to complain since they were fortunate enough to have the same weekend off and get even one whole day with one another.
They had just gotten back to Ella’s hotel room when the girls heard a knock on the door.
Erin opened it and found an always smiling Ali on the other side.
“Hey gril how was your day?” Ali asked.
“It was awesome, thank you again for helping me out with this Ali.”
“Of course! Anything for my favourite roommate. Where is that crazy kid?”
“She’s just in the bathroom, what’s up?”
“I just wanted to invited you two for dinner with Ash and I tonight? We’re going to this nice place down the street, and they only have booths available so i thought it be nice if you two joined us for a double date.”
“That sounds awesome, I’m sure Ella would love to go.”
“What would I love to do?” The forward asked as she stepped out of the bathroom, and wrapped her arms around the keeper’s waist.
“Go on a double date with Ali and Ash tonight?”
“Yeah that sounds like fun!”
“Perfect! We have a reservation for seven o’clock so we’ll meet you down in the lobby in like an hour.” Ali smiled, turning to walk back down the hall. “Dress nice!” She shouted over her shoulder.
“You heard the princess, better dress to impress.” Ella winked at the keeper.
“Don’t I always?” Erin smirked as she went over to her bag and picked out the one button down shirt she had packed.
As Ella pulled on one of the two dresses she had brought with her to camp, she noticed Erin staring at her from across the room.
“It’s rude to stare you know.” Ella said with a smirk as she walked over to the keeper and turned around so her back was facing Erin. “Zip me up?” She asked quietly.
The keeper slowly zipped up the dress and pulled Ella’s hair aside so she could place a light kiss on her neck. “You look beautiful.”
Ella turned to face Erin with a smile on her face. “Thank you. You look pretty gorgeous yourself.”
“I think there is one thing missing though…” The keeper spoke with a mischievous grin as she pulled a small box out of her pocket, handing it over to Ella.
“What’s this?”
“I’m not going to be with you on your birthday, so I thought this would be a good time to give you your present.”
Ella opened the black box revealing a necklace, it was a simple chain with a gold heart locket attached. The forward opened the locket and on the inside there were roman numerals inscribed.
“It’s the day we first met.” Erin spoke quietly
“Put it on for me?” Ella asked, handing the necklace over to the keeper.
Erin made sure the clasp was hooked properly before turning Ella around to look in her eyes.
“Happy early birthday baby.”
“I love this, and I love you so much. Thank you.” Ella leaned up and kissed Erin deeply.
The couple pulled away breathless a few minutes later, both realizing they needed to get going.
Ella and Erin walked down to the lobby hand in hand; Erin in black pants and light blue button down, and Ella wearing a black dress.
They met Ash and Ali, and the two couples walked down the street to the restaurant.
After they were seated and had their orders taken the group fell into an easy conversation.
“So Erin how’s your camp going?” Ashlyn asked.
“It’s good! It’s a really great experience being with the senior team, so I’m just trying to soak it all in.”
Erin and Ash quickly engrossed themselves in a conversation about being a keeper, leaving Ali and Ella to have their own conversation.
“Thanks so much for helping Erin out with this Al.”
“Don’t mention it! Like I said I know what it’s like to be away from your girl, sometimes that one day together is all you need to get you through the camp. Besides I love Erin so I’m happy to be of assistance, and clearly our girls are enjoying each others company.” Ali laughed motioning to the two keepers who hadn’t heard a word that Ali had said.
“Geez you’d think the two of them were the couple here.” Ella and Ali both laughed at the forwards comment, gaining the attention of Ash and Erin who gave them quizzical looks.
“Looks like they can hear us after all.” Ali said with a wink.
The two couples had a great night, full of conversation before heading back to the hotel.
“Don’t have too much fun tonight ladies.” Ali said with a wink as her and Ash walked further down the hall to Ashlyn’s room.
“Don’t worry we’ll keep it off your bed.” Ella threw back with a wink at the defender. This comment shocked Erin who was used to Ella being more reserved when it came to talking about their private life.
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“Hey Erin?” Ella asked when the two were curled up in bed that night.
“Yeah babe?”
“I um… I talked to my mom the other day.”
“Really? That’s great baby, how’d it go?”
“You… you’re not mad?” Ella asked nervously.
“Why would I be mad about that?”
“Well I just… I didn’t tell you, and I didn’t want you to be mad about me keeping that from you, I guess I just forgot to mention it when it happened because we’ve both been so busy.”
“Ella I’m not mad, I’m glad you talked with your mom, and since you don’t sound very upset I’m assuming it went well?”
The forward’s worry left her face and she kissed Erin quickly before continuing.
“Yeah, she’s doing really good, and has been sober for a whole month now.”
“That’s awesome Ella, I’m glad she’s doing well.”
“I told her that we could meet for coffee sometime when we’re back from camp, you’ll come with me right? I mean you don’t have to but I-”
“Ella of course I’ll come with you, that’s not even a question.” Erin cut off the rambling forward and eased her worries with a kiss.
“Thanks babe, I love you.”
“I love you more.”
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Erin didn’t have to leave too early the next morning, so her and Ella slept in and had a lazy morning in bed.
“Hey babe? How would you feel about spending a few days in Canada after camp is over? My mom wants me to visit with some family in Toronto since I’m up there anyway and she thought that you’d probably prefer to come with me than go back to Chicago by yourself and stay with her until I’m back. You don’t have to obviously but I just thought it’d be fun for you to see where i grew up and meet some of my family and stuff...” When the keeper stopped her little monologue she looked down to find Ella staring back up at her with a smile on her face.
“What?” Erin asked quizzically.
“Just waiting for you to realize that I would follow you across the world and you shouldn’t even have to ask. Of course I’ll come to Toronto with you, I’d love to meet more of your family.”
The couple spent the next hour talking about anything and everything until Erin’s alarm went off signaling that she had to get going. Ella walked down to where to keeper keeper was parked gripping her girlfriend's arm tightly.
“Thank you so much for coming here.” Ella knew it would only be two more weeks but she still got emotional having to say goodbye again.
“I’m glad I did. I’ll see you soon okay babe?”
“See you soon. I love you.” Ella gave the keeper one last kiss before she got in her car and drove off.