"Dad, this is Ryan," said Sarah proudly, raising her voice above the din of the masses. The Amalie Arena was at full capacity and charged with expectancy, as the fans waited impatiently for the game between the Lightning and the Capitals to begin.
Donald Robinson struggled to wedge his 6-foot fleshy frame from his seat, then rose to greet the latest object of his daughter's fascination.
"Nice to meet you, sir," said Ryan, shaking his hand.
"Call me Don," he replied, loudly, "What's that on your head?" he added, stifling a smirk.
"I'm originally from Baltimore," said Ryan, smiling, placing his hand on his Capitals cap, "but guessing you already knew that."
"Yes, Sarah told me," said Don, smiling back, "No doubt having you here will make for a more interesting evening."
There was another few minutes of friendly back and forth, then realizing he'd forgotten something important, Don turned to help the woman next to him to her feet.
"This is Maxine."
Ryan shifted his gaze to Don's wife - a petite woman dressed all in black, save for a delicate pink sweater. She looked up at him from under the brim of her Bolts hat; she was white as a sheet.
"Mrs. Robinson," said Ryan, a surprise in his voice and behind his light brown eyes. He reached around Don's humpty-dumptiness for her limp wrist and shook her hand. She nodded weakly, then addressed her husband.
"I'll go get us a couple beers before the game starts," she said, stumbling past them, then she fought her way to the aisle and took off like a shot.
"I'll help her," said Ryan.
"Thank you son," Don replied, patting Ryan's shoulder.
Sarah smiled at her dad as they watched the thoughtful young man weave his way methodically towards the Promenade. At 33, she was still seeking that special someone, and she hoped she had found him in 37-year old Ryan Axel. She had really talked him up before this 'Meet the Parents' event, and obviously he had made a fine first impression on her father. As for Maxine, when she had learned Ryan was a bartender at the Slipshot, she'd become steadfast in her opposition to him.
Ryan waved up at Sarah and her dad as he approached the entrance to the concourse; hold it together, he told himself. When he was finally out of their purview, he darted into the herd of hockey hounds, and before too long, he spotted his target.
"Roxanne!" he yelled, and Maxine slowed, spun, and readied for the dreaded exchange.
"Well well well," he said, resting his hand on her lower back and guiding her crosscurrent through the crowd and up against the wall. He leaned to place his palms on the concrete on either side of her shoulders, pinning her.
"So Roxanne, the bewitching barfly, is really Maxine Robinson - a respectable married woman and my girlfriend's mother!"
"Stepmother," Maxine said, flatly.
"So tell me, stepmother, what did your hubby think you were doing all those Sunday afternoons?" he said, jutting his chin towards hers.
Maxine looked down.
"Bible study," she said, quietly.
"BAHAHAHAHA! That's fucking hilarious!" he said, slapping the wall beside her head. It startled her and she ducked, attempting to get out from under his detention, but he caught her by the arm and pulled her back. She looked somewhat frightened; this was not his intention.
"The bar isn't the same without you," he said, "We've . . . I've missed you."
Ryan gazed dreamily into Maxine's crystal blue eyes and came in for a sweet kiss, but she turned her head, and his lips swept her cheek.
"Do you know what it was like, week after week, watching you leave the bar with some ol' geezer?" he continued, "Wanting so badly for it to be me - knowing I could keep you cumming long after their droopy dicks dried up!"
"Ryan, please," Maxine said, knitting her brows, frowning.
"Then one night you stay until closing," he added, "and I finally get my big chance with the ravishing redheaded Roxanne. Then PFFFFT, you were gone."
Ryan threw up his hands.
"It's Maxine!" she blurted, "and I'm sorry, Ryan, but this is not the time for a trip down memory lane!"
She got around him and took off again, and once more he made chase. She rounded a corner and joined one of several long lines of thirsty fans, and Ryan positioned himself directly behind her. He was close, too close, making it difficult for her to ignore his possessive presence.
"Those men," she said, over her shoulder, "They just walked me to my car for safety reasons. That's all."
She shrugged.
"What? No kiss?" Ryan asked, as he swept her copper mane from her shoulders, then bent to peck her neck with his soft full lips.
She inhaled sharply and shivered.
"No ass grab?" he added, palming her backside stuffed into stretch black denim - definitely NOT mom jeans.
"Stop it Ryan," she whispered, flexing her hips forward and sweeping her hands behind her to knock his away.
"No brush of your breast?" he continued, skating a hand up under the back of her jacket, "Because that's what I got when I walked you to your car."
Ryan petted around the pink cashmere on his way to a titty squeeze; he didn't make it. Maxine whirled and raised her hand to smack him. He caught her wrist and pulled her close; it was a risky move, but no one noticed. The throng around them had thickened, the music was amped, and the scene somewhat chaotic - the pregame show was about to begin.
"It was one time, and I was drunk!" she whisper-yelled, "I wish you'd just forget about it!"
"It was magical," he said, refusing to yield, "and drunk or not, you wanted it, and I wanted to give it to you."
Once again, Ryan bent to kiss her lips, and once again she twisted away.
"I said STOP IT!"