Page 77 of Conner

Sasha

After another loss in overtime, Conner and the rest of the team were in a foul mood. They had known this playoff run was going to be tough against Florida, especially without Wes, but losing was still hard.

Conner had been walking Sasha to her door every night since they had been there, but tonight she needed to get some posts taken care of. Knowing Conner was coming over later she wanted to get the little bit of work done before he came. Their time together had reduced drastically during this road trip, and she was ready to spend some time with him, even if it was only a quick bite…and maybe a quickie as well.

She made her way into her room and turned on the light. She dropped her bag as she made it in and stretched. But once she made her way into the room fully and her bed came into view her heart dropped.

There on her bed was lingerie along with a single rose. And not just any lingerie, but the last set she had ever posted in her influencer days. She turned immediately to go to Conner, but as she did, she saw a man standing in front of the door. He flipped the lock and walked into the room.

Panic gripped Sasha. She should scream. She was on a floor full of hockey players who would come to her aid. But she was frozen.

“Sasha,” he started, “I've been trying to find you. I just need you to hear me out. You keep pushing me away.” He was incredibly normal looking, a middle-aged man in a polo with glasses and a bad comb over.

Her mind was racing. She didn't know this man. She had no idea who he was. Her pulse raced and as he walked to her fight or flight started kicking in.

“Who are you?”

“You don't know me? I've been your number one fan for years. I know if you gave me a chance, we could be happy to gather,” he said slowly walking towards her.

“No. Don't come near me,” she said, starting to back up.

“Sasha, I just need you to listen to me.”

“No,” she said a little louder, shaking her head.

“Shh Sasha, I just want to talk,” he said as he reached out and grabbed her. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I know you will love me if you would just give me the chance.” His hand started caressing her hand. She yanked her hand back and started scanning the room. “But then you called the police. Why did you call the police?” he asked with a look on his face that chilled her to her very core.

“I don’t know you,” she sputtered out.

“You don’t remember me?”

She just shook her head. She glanced behind him, maybe she could make it to the door.

“I used to come in and see you every day.”

She tried to place him, but she couldn’t. Although there was something familiar about him.

“Back when you worked at Starbucks,” he said.

“Starbucks?” She worked at Starbucks in the student union when she was in college, but that had been years ago.

“Yes, I came in every day. I know we had a connection, but I was never brave enough to say anything. Then I found you online. Once again, I could tell we were connected. I knew you were posting those pictures just for me,” he said, walking to her and reaching for her. She stepped back, but he kept coming. “Then you left, I couldn’t figure out why. I knew something had happened; I had just found you again.”

Her mind was in panic, but she felt frozen. This man had been following her for years…since college?

“Then imagine my surprise when I found you working for the hockey team that was in the town I grew up in. I knew it was a sign. No matter what happened, the universe kept giving me another chance with you. I couldn’t pass it up. I bungled things at the gala, but I’m going to fix it. I’m here to show you what real love looks like.”

He walked towards her and grasped her wrist.

"No! Help!" she screamed.

“Sasha, just give me a chance. Let me show you.”

“No! Leave me alone!” she screamed, shaking off his hand.

“Be quiet. Just give me a chance,” he hissed. His arms wrapped around her, and one hand clamped down on her mouth. She bit him and elbowed him, managed to get out of his arms and made her way to the door.

"Help! Help!" she cried out again. He grabbed her, tackling her down.. She kicked and managed to get out of his grip one more time and gave him a swift kick to his face and blood started to ooze from his nose.

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