Icing by Ashley Stanton Page B

afterwards.
    “See you at about ten Taryn.”  Tim yelled as he was galloping down the hallway.
    “Sure. See you then.  Say hi to God for me.”
    Tim was heading to the Newman Center for mass.  No need to lie to Mom anymore.  He liked the Sunday tradition. It was a lot more welcoming than church at home and grounded him for the week ahead.
    Tim snugged into the back pew next to another sleepy student.  It was Kyle.  Mass went on as planned.  During the exchange of peace Tim introduced himself and apologized for sitting so close and offered to move.
    “No man.  It’s cool.  I was running late too. 8am is early on a Sunday.  The campus is a ghost town except good Catholics like us.  I was just curious and I wanted to grab breakfast next door anyways.”
    Tim smiled,
    “Hi Taryn.  You made it. Want to grab something to eat or at least some coffee?  The older man can wait.”
    “Tim, he has a name.  Just call him Devon.  He’s got something going on. Coffee and a bagel sound perfect.  We can catch up.”
    “Hey, we meet again. Go on ahead of us were in no rush.  Are you a football player or maybe lacrosse?  Just a guess.”
    “I play hockey.  I don’t look like a football player do I? I certainly don’t play lax but it would be nice.  They get all the babes on campus.”
    Taryn was amused by this guy.  He was the guy with the nice teeth and unbroken nose from the library.  He looked nothing like a linebacker and 100% hockey player.  They were speaking amongst themselves and Taryn felt invisible – odd for her.  She was accustomed to but never demanded attention.  She would have to do the work.
    “Hi, I’m Tim’s friend Taryn”
    She offered her hand.  Kyle smiled like there was some joke they shared.  He took her hand.
    “I’m Kyle Caldwell. I’ve seen you on campus.  In the library.”
    “Yeah, I’ve seen you.  You’re like a fixture there.  It’s nice to know you exist outside of that place.”
    Kyle wanted to stay in that place for a long time.  Just linger in this space with her.  He had changed over the past months. He thought of his instant reaction upon seeing her the first time was that of a foolish boy.  His Mom and 2/3’s of a hockey season changed that boy into a man.  His reaction was the same.
    “I’ll just grab a bagel and get out of your way.  Maybe next week Tim.  Nice meeting you Taryn.  I’ll see you in the library.”
    “What the hell Tim?  Where have you been hiding hockey boy? I thought he was my secret library crush, not a friend of yours from church.”
    “Slow down there Taryn.  First of all” Tim was a little astonished at Taryn’s reaction. ”I just met the guy, by the way, he has a name, its Kyle.  Secondly, you are clearly taken by that older coach of yours, oh, I mean Devon,”
    “Forget Devon, that guy has a certain “it” factor.  I’m just glad I know him enough now to pull a chair up next to him in the library.  He’s my mystery guy…fun.  He just made my day.”
    “O.K. Taryn.  Easy does it.  Get your coffee and tell me about your course load for the spring.”
    ****
     
    Tru was out gallivanting around campus with some woman he had been spending time with.  Kyle didn’t have the details on this latest conquest.   Tru liked the ladies and it was apparently mutual.  He would occasionally bring one back to the room and they were all nice but they all ended as “just friends”.  Kyle knew not to ask anymore questions at this point because someone was bound to have suffered a broken heart and it was an off-limits topic among guys.  He thought back to the time he had told Truman he had fallen in love at the library. 
    Now he knew her name so it was reasonable – Kyle thought.  Either way, his meeting with Taryn would be kept to himself.  He kicked off his moccasins and covered his head with a pillow for a nap, the kind enjoyed best by a played out college guy.  He would dream of his future.  Of hockey and