You Want A Man With A Slow Hand...

Authors Note:

This is my first attempt at a sex scene... so please bare with me.  And with that, if you're not into reading that kind of thing--then just hold up for my next post.  You're not missing anything important... well besides sex with Sidney Crosby...

-- 

It was the best sleep I’d ever had.

Not once did my dreams consume me and wake me up in the middle of the night.  Not once did I have to scramble for an extra blanket to keep from freezing.  The headlights of cars passing through the complex lit up my room, but still I didn’t wake.

When I finally came to, I felt revived, well rested.  I snuggled further into my pillow, sighing.  Lazily, my lump of a body awoke to quickly catch up with my mind, little tingles spreading from my toes up my legs and to my lower back—

My eyes snapped open.  Uh… I guess I’m not the only one awake?!

I had almost forgot he had spent the night.  Tucked in tight behind me was Sidney’s warm body, his head resting in the crook of his arm and the other draped loosely over my side.  Our legs were intertwined, and a beginning hard on was pressed into my ass.

Really, it was no big deal, a natural thing—a fact of life.  Any other guy-friend and she wouldn’t think anything of it—but this isn’t any other guy.  This is Patty.  This is Sidney.

I had to get out of there quickly.  There was only so much of his athletic body, pouty lips and well—you know, THAT—there was only so much a girl could handle without going crazy. 

I lifted my head as slowly and quietly as I could, peaking to see the clock flashing 8:00AM.  Just as I was about to sneak out of bed, curling my legs up and towards the side, the heavy silence was broken.

--

“Good morning,” Sidney said, his voice husky from sleep.

He nuzzled into to Elaine’s thick hair, breathing in the scent of vanilla.  She let out a ragged breath, his arm rising and falling with her body.  “Good morning,”

And it was a good morning. 

Sidney fell asleep well after Elaine, thinking and planning ideas on how to make the girl his.  He felt like he was halfway there, hell he was in her bed!  Which is exactly why he stayed up so late, he had to think of everything possible to get all the sexual ideas out of his head.  But no matter what he came up with he somehow turned it around, and Elaine invaded his thoughts, evident in his morning wood.

Sid curled his legs around hers, and tightened his arm around Elaine’s waist.  He pulled her into him at the same time he pressed his hips into the curve of her tight ass.  He couldn’t resist, letting out a strangled moan.

“How did you sleep?”  Sidney asked casually as he grabbed her by the knees and turned her on to her back with an ungraceful 'oomf'.  The sight of her biting her lip nervously made Sidney cocky, proud, and incredibly horny.  Whatever blood was left pumping through his body shot down south.

His lips grazing her ear lightly and she shivered, “I know I had the best dream,”

--

He had to be trying to kill me, no other explanation.  Sidney’s body lay heavily on mine, almost crushing me.  Oh, but what a way to go…

My eyes fluttered shut as Sidney explored any exposed skin with his full lips.  He deliberately grinded against me, “Mmm, Elaine,” he whispered.

That was all I needed.  My body took over, and was quick to throw my inhibitions and thoughts out the window.  I held his gaze and lifted my hips to his, a lopsided grin graced those pillow lips before me. 

Let’s go.

--

A sense of relief rushed over him when she met his thrust. 

A hand tangled itself in her hair, gripping the back of her head.  Sidney leaned down, his mouth so close to hers.  Elaine was biting her bottom lip, and he was quick to steal it from her, nipping and picking, teasing her.

When she whined, he put her of out her misery and captured her lips with his.  Sidney held her tighter when she kissed back hungrily.  Elaine tilted her head to the side and deepened the kiss.

Sid wound a hand underneath her shirt and grazed her flat stomach.  He was selfish and eager for more, and he slipped his tongue across her bottom lip.  Elaine moaned against his lips and he took advantage of her vulnerability.  His tongue slipped between her parted lips and invaded her wet mouth.

The kiss was delicious, fierce, and incredibly hot. 

Their tongues twined, fighting for dominance as Sid’s free hand whipped Elaine’s shirt over her head, exposing her round, pale breasts.  Her skin was smooth against his rough, worn hands as he grabbed her round breasts in his large hand, tweaking her nipples with the pad of his thumbs until they were hard and erect.

Elaine pulled away, gasping for air.

--

Enough.  Enough foreplay, enough waiting.

I was already more than ready, my wet panties were evidence.  But then Sidney found my weak spot—rarely discovered.  He kissed and sucked hard along my neck, just below my ear.  Instinctively my hands clutched onto his famous, well-defined ass, bringing him hard down on me. 

“Sidney,” I heard a voice moan, surprised it must have been mine.

Sid cupped the cleft between my legs.  “You want this too, eh?” he chuckled against my lips.  He reclaimed my mouth as he slipped a finger into my panties.  Breathe!

Sid wasted no time in pumping two thick fingers into my slick wetness.  My breath hitched, and I lifted my hips to meet his fast working hand.  “Mmm, baby, I want you.” Sidney said through gritted teeth.  I had noticed until then that he was practically humping the bed—he wasn’t going to last long at this rate.

“I'm ready,” I assure him.  He grunted, stilling his body.  “First.  You, now.” He demanded like a caveman.

My body was no longer under my control, and apparently neither was my mouth.  “Sidney.  I have something to tell you—I’ve never… during actual sex… uhh…” I blurted out.  Sidney’s hand stopped promptly, and pulled away just barely to look me in the eye.  “I know.”

“What?!” I practically shouted.

He laughed, twirling a strand of hair around his finger.  “Those boys you’ve been with before,” Sid spoke casually, “they were just that—boys.  It takes a man to please a woman,”

Swoon.

“What if I don’t—“ 

“—Don’t underestimate me Elaine,” he cut me off sternly.

“Practice makes perfect,” He bent down to whisper in my ear and I felt his hand return to my heat below, “And I love to practice,”

--

Elaine fell back against the pillows, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breathe after he took her over the edge.

First step completed, Sidney thought as he rummaged through her bedside tables looking for a condom.

“Right table.  Second drawer.  Back left.”  She directed, her hand reaching inside his briefs.  He hissed as she began stoked his shaft.  Sid shimmied out of the last barrier between them.  Elaine sat up, “Let me,”

Their gaze held as she slid the condom down his hard on.  He had to think of something to keep himself from blowing his load, like Jordan’s jockstrap… hell even his own.  Elaine titled her lips to his and he kissed her sweetly.  “Be easy on me?” she practically whispered.

He wasn’t huge, but Sid new from experience that it took some adjusting.  He lowered Elaine back down onto the bed and spread her thighs apart with his knee.  Unable to handle any more foreplay, Sid pressed the tip of cock to her slick entrance.  Inch by inch he buried himself deep inside her, giving her time to adjust to his size.  

Elaine gasped in pleasure.  Sidney slid all the way out and drove back into her.  A growl came from deep in him as he moved hard into her.  “You feel so fucking incredible,”

Their hands explored each other’s skin, seemingly endless.  The sound of their bodies joining was drowned out by their deep breaths, sloppy kisses and constant cries of pleasure.

Sidney’s fingers snaked between them and frantically rubbed her clit, “I’m gonna lose it Elaine, come for me,” he practically begged.  He ducked down and took her hard nipple into his mouth, matching the speed of his tongue to that of his finger.

Elaine bucked her hips against his and covered his hand with hers.  Without words she told him what she needed, and Sid drew circles over her little nub.  He sucked hard on her nipple before biting down on it, slamming his dick into her and pressing down on her clit, all at once.

Her body froze and the room went silent.  Elaine let out a staggered breath before her back arched slightly off the bed and she came.  She whimpered as her muscles pulsed around a still Sidney.

When she came, Sidney dove into her core, more slick than before.  He groaned long and low as he found the release he’d been longing for.  He buried his face into Elaine’s neck, biting her shoulder hard to stifle a cry while his hips jerked against her and he emptied himself.

--

I struggled to control my breathing.  It had been a while since I’d had sex, and I made the decision right then and there that I’d never go that long without it ever again.  I had a feeling that Sidney would agree with me.

Sidney’s defined body weighed heavily on mine, my ass was still firmly in his grasp.  “Two-a-days,” he mumbled against my neck, his breath tickling my skin.

“What?” I asked, stroking his dark curly hair.

His head popped up and he looked me dead in the eye, “Two-a-day practice.  As the coach I think that it's what we need,” he deadpanned.

I couldn’t hold back and giggled.  "Oh, is that what Coach thinks?”  He nodded eagerly.

“Well,” I sighed, “Whatever Coach says,”

I'm Gonna Getcha If It Takes All Night...

My eyes never once glanced away from the bathroom door as I scrubbed my teeth so hard I could feel the bristles of the toothbrush scraping my gums.

I reminded myself to breath, ending up choking on toothpaste and spit.  I rinsed my mouth out and took a step back from the bathroom counter and looked at myself in the mirror.

It’s not that big of a deal, its just Patty.  We’ve had sleepovers before… true—however—I didn’t want to jump him before… totally different now!  There was no way I could say no to Sidney when he asked to spend the night.  Not only did I know he had had a long day, but a part of my, a very loud part of me, wanted nothing more than to lay beside him in bed.

Some may say it was the alcohol, I like to think that it was more like hormones and the lack of sex I had had recently.

I pulled down on my long sleeved Penguins shirt and tugged on my boy shorts underwear.  Of course I wouldn’t own any pajama shorts!

Taking a deep breath, I ruffed up my hair and opened the door and turned out the lights behind me.

I stopped in the trek to my bed.  My eyes traveling up and down the athletic body, wishing away the sheet that sat just below the waistline of his briefs.  Sidney lay there in bed, my bed, with nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs hugging those thick tree trunks you call legs.  With a hand resting behind his full head of hair and the other resting on his shirtless, defined abs, he flipped through the channels on the TV across from the bed.

Oh. My. Patty.

--

He didn’t know what she was standing there for and was oblivious to anything he said.  Sidney took her speechless state, a rarity, to take in the sight before him.

Elaine’s hair was messy and her face was makeup free, the way Sidney liked it.  A sense of pride washed over him at the sight of her in a Penguins tee, knowing that she was a die-hard Washington Capitals fan.  It only boosted his ego at the thought of ‘Crosby 87’ written across her back.

Sidney let his eyes travel down her body.  The dim light from the bedside table lamp subdued the fairness of her skin.  Barely-there panties were all that to covered her curvaceous legs, her fingers tugging at the seams absentmindedly.

He propped himself up on his left elbow to face her.  “Coming to bed?” he asked quietly.

Elaine marched across the room like she was given strict orders.  Sid was a little disappointed when she chose to walk around the foot of the bed to her side instead of climbing over him.

Though he knew that he’d probably die if she did.

Elaine dived under the covers and lay there next to him.  Sid could tell she was a bit off, so he kept the TV on to relax them both.  Not even 10 minutes later he noticed Elaine drifting off.

He hit the power button on the remote and turned out the light, flipping over onto his stomach.  He made sure to keep it tucked in under his waist so Elaine wouldn’t be able to conceal her body from his eyes.

Sidney draped an arm across her stomach, slipping a hand just under her shirt and around her side, pulling her close to him.  She breathed out a deep sigh before snuggling in and drifting off to sleep. 

Sid knew what he was doing, from the second he asked to spend the night.  He would be lying if he said it hadn't been on his mind all night.  The sexy outfit Elaine had worn out to the club, how close they were to each other, the fact that she never once moved away from his hand on her leg of kiss to the cheek.  He thought about this all night.

He'd let her sleep tonight.  But come morning?  Sidney couldn't help but grin at the thought.

He wanted this, and Sidney always got what he wanted.

I Wanna Come Over...

What felt like a year had only been just a few weeks.  I hadn’t heard from Brendon since Sidney threw—no, punched him out of my apartment. 

I had my few days of wallowing in the mess that Brendon and I were, but that’s all I had needed.  And like the best friend that he was, my Patty hadn’t left my side.  I told him honestly that I was fine, but he still stayed close by.

Vero had caught me on a ridiculously good day at work, and somehow on this green earth convinced me to go out to the club after a Penguins home game.  Only realizing when I came down from my high what I had agreed to.

I spent half the week making up excuses and lies so I wouldn’t have to go.  But who was I kidding?  This is Vero we’re talking about—she saw right through me every single time.

As I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room, all I saw was a girl with a too short skirt on—clearly out of her element.

“Will you hurry up already?  I told you, what you picked out was fine!” Vero groaned from the other side of the bedroom door.

“Just give me a minute!” I whined back.

I could hear her mumble something in French but I couldn’t understand.  I crawled on the floor to grab a box from underneath my bed.

My emergency stash.

For my 21st birthday Kelsey had given me more liquor to last me until my 30th birthday—and I had made little progress.  Never a fan of drinking excessively, but totally understanding it’s need to calm the nerves, I attempted to down an airplane bottle of rum.

I got back up and adjusted my skirt… again.  I touched up my lipstick and ran my hands through my hair before I took a final look at myself.

Here goes!

--

It was packed.  The Saturday night crowd was alive and dancing when the guys arrived at Diesel, ready to blow off steam after the team’s loss at home.  They headed towards the back corner and snaked a large half circle booth.

Kris was quick to buy a round of shots.  “To get the edge off,” he had said.

He laughed at Sidney, glancing at his bouncing leg under the table.  “Do you need another one?” 

“Where are the girls?” he grunted.

“They’re coming, they’re coming,” Marc assured him.

“Why do you want to see them so bad anyhow?”  Jordan surprised Sid when he spoke up.  He thought he wasn’t paying attention to anything but the busty blonde in his lap.

Sidney went to answer, but thought better of it and kept his mouth shut.  Wish he could say the same for Marc, though.

“His girl is coming,”

Marc threw his arms up in defense when Sidney shot a killer glare at him—the kind he gets when he’s about to take a face off.

“Elaine’s coming?!” Jordan squealed, pushing the girl off his lap.  She stomped her foot and huffed before storming off.

Everyone turned to Kris when he let out a low whistle, staring past the group.

The guys followed his stare towards the club entrance.  Marc’s eyes stopped at Vero walking towards them, but Jordan, Kris and Sidney all watched as Elaine followed behind.

She wore a fitted red skirt with a black zipper up the side and a sleeveless navy blue top loosely tucked in.  It had a plunging neck, so low that they had to wonder if she was wearing a bra.  Elaine’s silver earrings shined when the lights in the club hit them.

Sidney had never seen her in something so, so sexy.  And man was she working it.

“I saw her first,” Kris smirked.

TK laughed, “Uh, dude—I think she’s already taken,”

Sidney was out of the booth when Elaine finally reached their table.  Her high heels gave her a few inches, but Sid still towered over her.

“Hey,” she smiled.

He bent down and kissed her cheek, his lips lingering just a second too long.  “Hey,”

--

I couldn’t believe I was actually having fun.  The guys were being hilarious as always, and drinks were being passed around.  I had even danced a couple songs with Jordan, that boy can move!

A couple of us were back at the booth—it was just Vero, Marc, TK, Sidney and I.

We were watching with amusement as Vero and Marc bickered when I felt a hand on my thigh.  Sid leaned in close, “You good?”

I nodded, “I’m great,”

“Need a drink?”

I told him no and he nodded.  He didn’t scoot back and his hand stayed on my thigh.  Our bodies were pressed up tight against each other, with plenty of space on our sides.

The rest of the night was the same—fun, and incredibly close to Patty.  Every so often would he lean in and kiss my cheek, for no reason.

And you know what?  I kind of liked it.  I liked it a lot, actually.

It was almost 2 am when we all started to file out.  Marc had to help Vero home—she had one too many shots.  “Elaine, I can drop you off—”

“No I got her,” Sid told Marc.  He quickly led me to his Range Rover, his hand firm on the small of my back.

The car ride was quiet, but it was late and we were both tired.

When Sidney pulled up outside my apartment he put the car in park and turned off the engine.

“Uh, do you,” he stuttered, “Do you mind if I stay over?  I’m kind of tired,”

Back Off I'll Take You On...

Sidney stood there with his hands full.  His face had gone through ten emotions within seconds of walking through the door.  He was gripping the paper bags with everything he had, they were sure to rip any second.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Sidney growled.

Elaine took a few steps to stand in between him and Brendon.  She looked at him with pleading eyes, as if to ask him to let her handle it.  Sidney was giving her five minutes to explain what the hell was going on before he dropped everything and murdered Brendon right there on her kitchen floor.

Brendon glanced between Sidney and Elaine with a know-it-all smirk.  “You still going to deny it?”

“I never once cheated on you Brendon.  Believe it or not but I was in a relationship with you, I liked you.  Though for some reason,” she laughed lightly, “I can’t quite figure out why.” her voice dripping with disdain.

“Oh fuck you,” he spat.

Sid came at him, but Elaine put her hands on his chest and shoved him lightly.  He couldn’t help but put a hand on her hip protectively, like he’d be able to keep her out of the way when he threw a punch.

“Leave Brendon.  I’m not going to let you come into my home and accuse me of shit like this.  There’s nothing else to deal with here.  Leave,” Elaine discreetly leaned back against Sidney’s chest for support.

Walking over to the family room, Brendon grabbed his jacket off the back of the couch.  He stopped just short outside the doorway.  “You can have her Sidney, she’s shit in bed,”

In the blink of an eye Sidney decked Brendon right in the face.  Brendon stumbled to a knee and clutched his nose.

“Don’t you ever fucking come near her again,” Sidney barked, slamming the door.  They could hear the faint shouts on the other side of the door.

Sid whipped around and pulled Elaine into his arms, holding her tight.  “Are you ok?” he asked.

“Me?” she tried to hide a sniffle and reached for his right hand, “Are you ok?”

---

The remnants of lunch covered the coffee table while they watched Friends on TV.  Elaine was sprawled out on the chaise lounge part of the L couch and Sidney sat comfortably beside her head.

A bag of ice was resting on his right hand at his side.  He told her he didn’t need it.  “Patty,” she glared.

Elaine giggled at a witty comment, bringing Sid out of his daze.  He hadn’t been paying attention to the TV at all.  His mind was elsewhere.

She told him what had happened, from the beginning.  Why they broke up, why Brendon came over… it only made Sidney even angrier.  How could someone be such an asshole, and to Sid’s best friend?  Hell, how could Elaine fall for someone like that?  Though that wasn’t fair to Elaine, he could tell she was upset even though she did her best to hide it.

“It’s done.  My heart didn’t break—just a little bruised.  Nothing to worry about.” Elaine had told him rationally.

His eyes fixed on the girl who was snuggling with his left arm, holding it tight against her like a teddy bear.  Sidney stared at her while her body shook his arm in laughter. 

Brendon had been wrong about one thing: Sidney and Elaine hadn’t been together.  As for there being something between them, he wasn’t going to deny it.

The past couple months flew through Sid’s mind.  The first time they met and how much fun they had together.  The numerous nights they spent together, grabbing dinner or a movie.  Being each other’s sidekicks out at the club.  Trusting each other and spilling secrets, something neither of them had done before.

Sidney didn’t know why he never thought of it before, how he never caught on that he always mentioned Elaine to his mom on the phone, or always factored her in to his future plans.

He had fallen for his best friend, and in just a matter of months.  

The only thing that scared him more than that, was that after everything that had happened, she might run away to hide behind her castle walls.

You Can't Hide Your Lyin' Eyes...

I sat nervously on the couch, sitting as far away from Brendon as I could.  He had come over to see how I was doing--so sweet of him, right?

I couldn't find the strength to say anything, I knew I'd get upset.  Avoiding looking him the eye, I let my eyes wander my apartment.  If all he had seen was my place, he'd think I was doing just fine.  Cleaning was my own method of clearing my head, it was always relaxing to be in a spick-and-span environment.  Magazines were stacked straight on the coffee table at our feet, blankets were folded nicely on the back of my cocoon of a chair.  I had rearranged my bedroom furniture and wiped down the countertops in the kitchen.  Curtains were pulled back to let the sun in and my view of Pittsburgh was on display.

After what felt like an eternity of silence but in reality was only a minute, I saw out of the corner of my eye Brendon sighing before he dropped his head on the back of the couch.

"Look, I just wanted to come by and apologize.  I didn't plan for it to happen like this."

"Being with someone else, or getting caught--which part didn't you plan for?" I was just as surprised to hear the sound of my own voice as Brendon was.

Standing up, I couldn't stop the words from blurting out of my mouth as I paced in front of the TV.  "Was it me?  I mean, why would you do that?"

Chuckling, Brendon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.  I almost slugged him right there.  I knew I sounded like the stereotypical girl who wouldn't face the fact that she was dumped, but I was without an explanation.  And I was dying for one.

"Why?" I repeated, my voice raising.

"We weren't even together when I was with Lindsey!" He shouted back.  I couldn't hide it when I flinched at her name.  "I mean we were, just not, not officially.  It's not like you weren't seeing someone else either, I'm not stupid Elaine,"

Resting on my hip with my arms across my chest, I tapped my foot and cocked an eyebrow at him.  "So you're going to play dumb now?"  I stared at him blankly.

Brendon raised from the couch and took a few steps.  At first I thought that was it, he was going to leave and I would be even more confused.  But he whipped around, his chest rising quickly.

"You know, I can't believe you're standing here making me look like the asshole,"

"You are the ass--" Marching right up to him, I started to yell.

"Just because you may not have been fucking him, it doesn't mean you weren't cheating!" Brendon barked.

"Wha--what, Brendon who are you talking about?"

"IIIIIIII'vveee got sandwhicheeeeeeees!" bellowed Sidney as he came swinging through the front door, a smile on his lips, food and drinks in hand.

Brendon glanced at Sidney before looking back at me.  "Speak of the devil!" he said sarcastically, like he was answering my question.

Your timing is impeccable Sidney Crosby.

I'mma Fight A Man Tonight...

"He did what?!" Sid yelled, his shot going far wide of Flower in goal.

"Sidney.  You are not allowed to say anything.  You're not even supposed to know--I'm not even supposed to know." Kris stated firmly.

Brendon was dead before.  But now, now his family won't even be able to identify his body.  Not with the anger Sidney felt and the ideas he had thanks to TV and movies.

Gripping his stick hard, Sidney didn't even flinch when Coach blew the whistle to bring it in.  Thankfully practice was over, and Sidney marched to the locker room and quickly shed his gear.

"Woah there, you alright Kiddo?" Pascal Dupuis asked quietly, pealing off his own practice jersey.

"Fine," he grunted.

"Who pissed the captain off?" Dupuis announced.

Jordan's head whipped towards Kris.  "You didn't,"

"It slipped!  He was bound to find out anyway," Kris defended.

Flower and Jordan shook their heads while Kris's shoulders dropped.  "What slipped?" the other boys in the locker room wondered.

Sighing, Flower mumbled, "Vero's going to murder us.  Elaine and Brendon broke up,"

Everyone knew that already, the guys were quick to talk about how Brendon has stood Elaine and them up last week.

"They broke up because Brendon was cheating on her." Flower finished.

"What?" The guys all yelled.

"That mother fucker!"

"Is she ok?"

"I'm surprised he's still breathing," Sidney jerked his head up.  "I just found out.  Trust me if I had known," he growled.

"How did she find out?" TK asked.

"I overheard her talking with the girls.  Apparently the night he was supposed to meet up with us she had called him to see where he was.  He thought she was the other girl he was seeing," Marc explained, "it turns out, his trips to New York to see family was really him shacking up with the skank for the weekend."

Sidney had heard enough, he didn't like hearing it the first place so he definitely wasn't going to listen to it a second time.  Without taking shower he grabbed his wallet, keys, and phone before storming past his teammates and through the doors to the parking lot.  When he got to his car, he jumped in and slammed the door.

He wanted to march right on over to her place and ask why she hadn't told him, but more than that he wanted to get Brendon's address so he can finish him off.

The sound of a text message brought him back to reality.

From: Elaine
Please tell me practice is over.  I'm hungry.  Feeeeeed meeeeeee!  


Sid couldn't help it as his lips curled up slightly.  He'd seen no change in her mood lately, which totally threw him off.

Quickly texting her back, he threw his phone into the center console before heading out onto the streets of Pittsburgh.

---

I had changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a long sweater and grabbed for my shoes when I heard a knock at the door.

Well, he sure is fast, I thought.

I scurried over to my door, tripping on the kitchen stool along the way, cursing at myself.  Hobbling to my front door I swung it open as I started to tease Sidney for being so prompt.

"Either you flew here or you were outside---"

My voice gave out as I my eyes met the man in my doorway, the last man I wanted to see.

Wake Up Call...

I can't believe I've gotten so far behind... It really has been forever...
Apologies to those who were eager for an update, work has overtaken what I used to call a life...
But!  Tis a new year--and I hope to set aside time to put work into this story and into the other ideas that I have been tossing around in my head...

Much love, and I hope you enjoy!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

I couldn't sit still.

My hands were fidgeting and my foot tapped incessantly as my eyes disobeyed me and checked the door every 2 minutes.

Vero and I headed to our usual hang out spot and claimed our long booth in the back of the restaurant--not that we needed to--as soon as the owners saw any of the guys, our booth would magically be available.  Perks, I suppose.

Flower had texted Vero that him and the guys were on their way, but I hadn't heard from Brendon since yesterday afternoon.

Vero slammed her hand down on my drumming fingers.  "For crying out loud,"

"Sorry," I smiled meekly, pulling my hand from the table and continued to fidget with my hands out of sight.

"Why are you so nervous?"

Leaning my elbows on the table I picked at my napkin, tearing it apart piece by piece.  I sighed, "I just want things to go well."

"It'll be fine, it's not that big of a deal." Vero shrugged.

I looked at Vero like she was crazy, "Um, the hell it is!  What if they can't find anything to talk about?  The guys are already so close, I don't want him to be left out.  What if they want to talk hockey?  Brendon doesn't like sports.  What if Brendon goes on one of his spiels about work?  God forbid, what if they don't even like each other?"

Vero answered me with a simple, blank stare and shrugged.

"He just means a lot to me."  I sighed.

"Who," Vero asked, "Brendon or Sidney?"

I was taken back, and totally sensed some sass.  "What does that mean?"

Placing the menu down on the table, she brushed her long black hair out of her face and behind her shoulders.  Vero leaned forward and clasped her hands in front of her, ready to give it to me.

"It didn't matter with me, why would it with Sid?  When I first met Brendon over lunch we didn't have anything to talk about.  He wasn't interested in anything I had to say about my work or hockey.  I sat there for 30 damn minutes while he rambled on about how to invest and how he's not in it for the money as he drives off in a fucking Lamborghini.  I don't like the guy, yet you still choose to go out with him."

Shocked, I sat there with my jaw hanging, speechless.

Vero just rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.  "Oh don't look so surprised.  He's self centered and thinks he's hot shit."

I couldn't bring myself to look Vero in the eye.  I knew Brendon could be cocky, but he wasn't that bad.  Wasn't he?

Laughing, she finished with a punch to the gut.  "The worst part is, I hate the girl you are around him," she finished.

"Woah, hold on--" but I was cut off by the finger Vero waived in the air.

"The Elaine I know would not put up with him.  The Elaine I know hates being called 'baby'.  She wouldn't put up with his douche bag friends, or sit there as her so-called 'boyfriend' introduces her as just 'a good friend' to everyone at his work party.  She wouldn't let it slide when she's blown off constantly but feels guilty when he's upset that you had plans on a Friday night.  My best friend wouldn't let some guy come in between her and her best friend.  She wouldn't ignore the blatant signs that this guy isn't worth her time.  That she isn't being true to herself."

I was furious.  How dare she say that, she practically accused me of being fake.  I wasn't.  I wasn't being a push over and I wasn't breaking a cardinal rule or letting a guy come between me and a friend.

She was wrong.  But for some strange and cruel reason, I couldn't find the words to throw back at her and defend myself.

"Just what I thought," Vero laughed.  "Well, when you find her, you let me know."

---

To say Brendon was in trouble was an understatement.  Elaine was pissed off, though she hid it well.

After 30 minutes, the boys were making cracks at her boyfriend's tardiness and she was able to laugh it off.  After almost 2 hours, the subject was dropped and Elaine started knocking back drinks.

While the guys were digging in to the appetizers Sidney sneaked off to the bar.  He spotted Elaine in the corner and waived to the bartender for a refill of both their drinks.

He walked up to her to see her staring at her phone.  Taking a seat next to her he asked, "Have you gotten a hold of him?"

Elaine threw her phone into her purse and took a swig of her drink.

Slowly, she looked up and stole a glance from Sid.  Her eyes were watering and she couldn't hold back from sniffing.

He's dead, Sid thought.  That mother fucker made her cry.  His body tensed as he thought of a million different ways he was going to torture his ass.

Clearing her throat, she spoke quietly.  "You won't be able to meet him."

"It's ok, we can reschedule," Sidney cooed as he rubbed her arm reassuringly.

"No," she said harshly, "we won't."

She finished the rest of her drink and dropped a twenty on the bar before taking off.  Elaine walked right past the booth full of their friends and out the door of the restaurant.

Sidney hurried over to the guys and told Vero that he should head out to check on Elaine.  He didn't want to push her--he hadn't exactly been supportive of this meeting in the first place.

Vero elegantly excused herself and Sid took a seat.  He was met with very confused Frenchman, Jordan breaking the silence.

"Let's go beat the shit out of him.  Who's in?"

"Me!" they all said in unison before paying the bill and heading out.

Over My Head...

“I’ll have the document on your desk by the end of the day,”

I walked out of my boss’s office, and made my way through the winding halls back to my desk.  I had gone into his office to talk about a spreadsheet I’d made for him and ended up sitting through an hour of him blabbering on about how he ‘needs the employees of this company to this this and that’ and yadda yadda yadda… I wasn’t really paying attention—obviously.

When I got a few steps from my cubical, my office mate Maggie came running up to me with a silly grin.

 “Guess who’s on line 3 for you?”

It took a second, but when thinks clicked upstairs I joined her and smiled wide.  We giggled like school girls before I fell into my chair and picked up the phone.

 “Brendon!”

“Hey beautiful.”  My smile couldn’t get any bigger.

 “How was the wedding?” I asked, twirling the phone cord around my fingers.

“It was good!  I’m glad I got to see my sister, she looked gorgeous,” he paused, “I missed you though,”

Oh thank God.  “I missed you too,”

“Got plans for this evening?”

“I do now,”

“My place at 6,” I could practically hear him smile through the phone.

“See you then!”

I hung up the phone and I swung my chair around to face Maggie.  I had butterflies and couldn’t keep the 

smile off my face.  She only had two words for me.

“Get. It.”

---

It felt like the clock was working against me.  When it felt like it had been an hour, only 20 minutes had gone by.  By the time 5 o’clock rolled around, I had been sitting at my desk with my purse and jacket in hand, literally watching the second hand on the clock tick.

I raced home, glad my new place was closer to work.  Jackie helped me ransack my room in search of the perfect outfit.  I put on the black jeans and grey top that scooped down low in the back.  Running out into the family room, I threw on grey flats and twirled for approval from Jackie and Vero who strangely refused to help.

With thumbs up from Jackie and a shrug with rolled eyes from Vero, I hopped in my car and was off to Brendon’s. 

I knocked on the door and fidgeted with my hair until I heard the door click.

“Hi!” he smiled.

Brendon stood there in a pair of dark grey slacks and a baby blue button up tucked in.  His tie was loosened and sleeves rolled up.  I felt like I had forgotten what he looked like: his skin was tanner than I remembered, his hair a darker dirty blonde, and his blue eyes were just piercingly beautiful.

I was snapped out of my daze, “Are you going to come in?” he asked, chuckling. 

I practically lunged at him.  His arms wrapped around my waist and held me in tight as I buried my face in his neck.

“I missed you too,” he laughed quietly.  Those butterflies were back.

The oven buzzer went off and broke us apart.

Brendon catered to our dinner and I took my coat off before taking a look at the kitchen.

There were vegetables cut up and seasonings all over the counter.  A cooking book was open and I went to take a peek to see what we were having for dinner but Brendon got to it first, closing it and pulling my away.

“Nice try,” he snickered.  He stepped towards me until my back was up against the island. 

“Hi,” he said again.

Looking like a fool, I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.  “Hi,” I whispered.

He leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips.

It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  I sighed before leaning into him and kissing him back.

---

Over dinner we talked a little about the weekend and his sister’s wedding, it sounded like it was gorgeous.  

Brendon didn't have too much to say about it though—especially about the pre-wedding festivities like the infamous bachelor party.

Breaking open a bottle of wine, Brendon and I moved to the couch and curled up under a blanket.  It was just a quiet night in, comforting and relaxing.

His fingers were trailing up and down my arms, soothing me.

I broke the silence, “Brendon?”

“Yea baby?”

“Are you doing anything Friday night?”

“A bunch of the guys from work were thinking of going out for some drinks.  Why, what’s up?”

Untangling myself from the blanket, I sat up.  “I was kind of hoping you’d want to go out with me,” I paused, “and meet some of my friends.”

Brendon sighed and unwrapped his arm from around my waist.  “I don’t know, I mean the guys have been talking about heading out for while,”

I couldn’t hide the disappointment in my face, or my voice.  “Oh, oh ok.  Maybe another time.”  I curled back into his side, but it wasn’t merely as comfortable as it had been just a minute before.

“I guess I could just catch up with the guys another time,”

I bolted back up, “Really?”

Brendon shrugged, “Sure.”

“Great!” I beamed, “You’re going to love them, I promise!  And you’ll finally be able to meet Sid—he’s wanted to meet you for a while.”

---

"Fuck that, I don't want to meet him," Sidney grumbled.

He was laying on Marc's couch playing XBOX when Vero came in talking about the crew meeting Brendon on Friday.

"I don't get it.  First you complain about how Elaine didn't tell you about him and now you don't want to even meet him?" said Marc.

"We've been perfectly fine lately not even mentioning him,"

That was true—things were normal between him and Elaine.  Sid would meet up with her during her lunch breaks, she'd come over to his place for dinner and a movie.  They still goofed around and talked like best friends, but once Brendon was brought up things got a bit tense.  Before, he didn't have anything against the guy, but lately Sidney seemed to find everything he had heard about the guy and turned into something negative.  

"She obviously doesn't want my approval and I don't want to meet the guy and then spend the rest of the night hearing her talk to the girls about how dreamy he is and how amazing he is in bed and all that shit.  Damn it!"

"Ha!  Sucker!" Marc shouted after he killed Sidney in SOCOM.

"I can guarantee you won't hear her say that," Kris snickered.

"What does that mean?" Sid asked.

"I overheard the girls talking one night.  Apparently he's no rock star in the bedroom."

"Ohhh, that sucks," Marc laughed.

Kris paused the game and checked to see if the coast was clear and Vero wasn't around before he leaned into the boys.  "Actually, from what I heard she's never liked that kind of music."

Marc and Sidney looked at each other, confused.  "What the hell does that mean?" Marc asked.

Rolling his eyes Kris explained.  "No guy has ever made her, you know, peak, during sex,"

Marc practically gasped, "Elaine's never had an orgasm?!"

"Dude!  Fucking keep quiet, I'm not supposed to be saying anything." Kris turned back to the TV and the game continued.

Sid just sat there, quiet.  

How is that possible?  Never has a guy made her come?

Wait, why does he care so much?  

And why does that make Sid feel just a bit better?

The Sound of Silence...

I'm totally delayed with this one, but better late than never!
I just want to say thanks to all the readers... this is my first ever story, and I'm still getting into the swing of things.  Hopefully it all gets better in time!  Enjoy...

                                                                                          

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like it’s better than yours, damn right it’s better—

I groaned from underneath my pillow when I heard my phone blaring from my bedside table, waking me up.  Blindly I swung my arm up and felt around for it, I tapped all over the touch screen for the answer button before I brought it underneath my pillow and up to my ear.

“The rule is no phone calls after midnight or before noon,” I snarled into the phone, not bothering to look to see who it was—the ring tone was enough.

Sidney just laughed on the other end, “It’s 12:01 actually, and I’ve got goodies.  I’m parking now, be up in a minute.”

Incoherent words were all I could muster in response before we hung up.  I tossed the phone somewhere in my sheets and tried to get five more minutes of sleep.

Knock Knock Knock

It took all the energy I had to get out of bed and drag my feet to my apartment door.  I swung it open and found Sidney smiling happily, holding up bagels and coffee cups.  He just stood there with that damn grin on his face.

I glared at him for a few seconds and turned to head into the kitchen.  I plopped down onto a bar stool at the counter and reached out, my hands grasping for my food. 

Sidney shut the door behind him and set our food out on the counter.  “Well hello to you too Miss Sunshine,” he sassed.  He held out my sandwich, inches out of my reach, pulling it away when I went for it.

I whined and he gave me a stern look.  Huffing, I gave him what he wanted, “Good morning Patty.”

A smile was back on his bee stung lips and the egg and cheese bagel was mine.

Much to my surprise, after Vero’s mini scavenger hunt Sidney and I became quick friends.  He was nothing like I had expected—his charm and sense of humor was enticing, and his love and appreciation for life and hockey was infectious.

We talked regularly about everything and anything, and would text each other quotes from Friends while we both watched late night reruns.  It seemed like we grabbed food together every other day and endured the flack we got from the rest of the group when we opted out of heading downtown to the club.  We were both pretty low key, but still knew how to have fun.

I even had my own nickname for him, Patty.  In Pittsburgh Sidney was a god, and rightfully so.  The problem was that his face was so recognizable, as was his name.  To keep attention away, I called him by his middle name in public.  It quickly evolved to just Patty, and stuck like glue.

I was still eating my bagel when Sidney finished up his second sandwich.  He threw away his trash before leaning against the counter opposite me. 

“How’d it go last night?” Sidney asked.

Shrugging my shoulders, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.  “It was nice,”

I glanced up to find him staring intently at me, waiting for more.  With no response, Sid cleared his throat.  My bagel became very fascinating and I did my best to avoid eye contact. 

He motioned his hands for me to keep going, “And?”

I was never one to give out details of my personal life.  Plus I just assumed that when your closest friend is a guy, he didn't exactly want to hear about how you and your new boyfriend were making out like teenagers on his sofa and how you knew it was time to go when you were practically humping each other.

I cleaned up my brunch and walked right past Sidney.  “Thanks for suggesting the restaurant, it was great.”  I turned to head back into my room and get ready for the day.

“That’s it?!”

---

Sidney plopped down on Elaine’s couch and turned on ESPN.  He had gone over to her apartment after practice to finish move the last of the boxes out of her apartment.  She hadn’t been able to find a roommate to replace Kerry, so she had to give up her place.  Luckily Jackie, Kris’s current gal pal, had an empty room.

He had to admit that he was excited.  Elaine’s apartment was on the other side of town, and it was like pulling teeth to get her to come out sometimes.  Now that she’ll be closer he’ll see her more often, he's always at Jackie's with the crew.

The two of them had gotten close fast, and a lot of the guys ragged on him about it.

“You fuck her yet?” Matt Cook asked once, “It’s gotta be the reason you’re always with her,”

It took everything Sidney had to not beat the shit out of his own teammate.  It wasn’t like that.  He and Elaine were just friends, and he liked it that way.  It was hard for Sidney when it came to girls and their intentions.  Elaine had never even tried anything with him.

And now she was seeing someone, Brendon.

A friend of Elaine’s had tricked her and set her up on a blind date.  After a few weeks of dating, Brendon had been pushing to make it official but Elaine didn't seem too eager.

He’d heard the girls say a few things that Elaine had mentioned before, but they weren’t helpful.  He didn’t want to hear about how good looking he was or the cute things he said to Elaine.  He wanted to meet Brendon himself, make sure he was alright.

Elaine deserved the best, and Sidney was going to make sure she got it.

---

“I think that’s the last of it.”

“Oh, thank god!” I puffed before curling up on the couch.

Sidney lifted my feet up and sat down, placing them back down on his lap.  “You didn’t even do anything!  You and the girls just sat here and talked while us men did the work,”

“I thought that was the Muscle’s job?”

Sidney flexed his arm, “Oh, these muscles you mean?” he kissed his bicep, "Want a ticket to the gun show?"

I giggled and squeezed his rock hard arm, mocking him with exaggerated compliments.

We ended up ordering Chinese food and were all together at the kitchen table.  

Brendon had texted me about going out but I just wasn’t in the mood.  I told him to go ahead without me and have a good time.

“You texting Brendon?  I hear you two are a thing now,” Marc casually said from across the table. 

“What?” I shouted simultaneously as Sidney.

“Marc!  Vous n'étiez pas censé dire quelque chose!” Vero yelled.  “I, I’m sorry Elaine.  I told him to be quiet!”

I dropped my head in my hands.  No one had met him yet, not even Sidney who seemed to be really upset.

While Vero yelled at Marc and everyone watched with laughter, I leaned into Sidney who was all too quiet.  “You ok?”

His head whipped in my direction, his eyes black and his face stern.  “How could you not tell me?” he whispered harshly. 

I was shocked to see him so upset—I didn’t see what the big deal was.  But this was Sidney I was talking about.  We had become each other’s confidants.  He was always the first person I told everything to, even before Vero.  He was the one who knew almost everything about me, the one person I ever shared my true feelings and fears with. 

And I was that person for him.  I’d be devastated if he had a girlfriend that I didn’t know about.  I’d beat the shit out of him, quite frankly.

I tried to apologize, “Sid, I’m sorry.  I just, I—“

“Whatever,” he cut me off.

Sidney didn’t say a word to me for the rest of the night.

Silence can be so deafening sometimes... 

Photograph

Squeezed between Flower and Jordan on the sofa, I watched as Vero scurried around organizing packets on the coffee table at my feet.  There were bodies all over the floor and furniture in a tangled mess.

The night before, a mass text went out telling everyone to meet up at Flower’s at 11 a.m. on the dot for a little friendly competition.  Vero had set up a day’s worth of fun with a scavenger hunt. 

She hollered for everyone’s attention and got started.  “Listen up people!  So here’s the deal, today we’re doing Amazing Race, Pittsburgh edition!” she beamed.  We were going to be running around Pittsburgh solving riddles and performing tasks.  The first to arrive at the finish line would be declared the winners, and the losers had to buy them dinner.

“Elaine and I are on a team!” Jordan said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, smacking Flower on the back of the head.  He smiled down at me and pulled me in close.

“Not too fast,” Vero singed.  “I decide the pairs.”  She listed off the groups and people moved around the room to sit their teammates.

Flower was paired up with Cammie, Tyler Kennedy’s girlfriend, and Tyler with Malkin.  James Neal and Jackie, a mutual friend, were together, Kris glared at Vero as Jackie got up from her spot at his side on the floor and sat by Nealer.

“Kris, you’re with Jordan,” Vero called out.  Kris’s attention moved to Jordan, who was clinging to my side, his head resting on my shoulder.  “I don’t want to be with Kris.  He’s not hot,” he mumbled.  I patted his leg and he got up, leaving me alone on the sofa, partner-less.

I stuck out my bottom lip and frowned, “What about me?” I asked, “I want to play!”

Vero shook her head at me, “You, my dear, were the last to arrive.”

“Yea, thanks to Jordan’s terrible directions,” I grunted.  Across the room Jordan was giving me the puppy dog eyes and mouthing ‘I love you’.  “Am I a team of 1 then, as punishment?”

“No, he’s just late.  Your partnered with—” The slam of the door to the garage cut Vero off.

“Hey guys!  Sorry I’m late, what did I miss?” a man breathed heavily behind me.

“You’re partners with Elaine,” Vero pointed to me.

I sat up and turned to find that the man standing behind me, who was my partner in crime for the day, was none other than Sidney Crosby.

---

“I can’t believe this.  Are you sure it says both of us?”  Sidney kept scanning the hallway to make sure no one was around.

Elaine double checked the next task, “It says right here, ‘take a picture of both teammates in one bathroom stall—the handicap stall does not count’,” Sidney ran a hand over his face, before looking down at his partner. 

The day was spent running around Pittsburgh for Vero’s scavenger hunt.  They jousted in the middle of Wal-Mart, faked a picnic in the middle of Sears, Elaine took one for the team and stuffed as many marshmallows possible in her mouth at once—it wasn’t exactly in Sidney’s diet.  It was going to be hard to explain later the photos that were bound to surface of Sid sitting in the backseat of a cop car, Elaine beaming in the front seat as she played with the lights.  It’s amazing what an autograph could do.

They found themselves on the last clue, standing outside the women’s bathroom of a whole in the wall diner, and as unhappy as Sidney was, he couldn’t help but laugh at the sight before him.  Elaine stood there with a pair of Mickey Mouse ears and a coconut bra on, studying the list of tasks and clues.

He was surprised at how much fun he’d had, with a complete stranger nonetheless.  Sid had heard about Elaine from the guys, how low key she was, and was afraid she’d be quiet and gawky.  Needless to say, he was wrong.

Elaine turned to head into the bathroom, Sidney hot on her heels. 

He swung the door open just as an older woman came out, “Oh, wrong one,” he laughed nervously, looking away to avoid being recognized.  She eyed him before heading down the hallway, taking one last glance at him as she turned the corner.  Sidney stood there awkwardly, scratching the back of his head before she was out of sight.

Bolting into the women’s bathroom, he found Elaine standing there waiting for him.  “Let’s get this over with,” he mumbled.

Elaine giggled as she followed him into the closest stall.  “Scoot, scoot!” 

The door clicked behind her and Sidney brought out his cell phone to take the picture, “Ready?”  Moving in close, he wrapped his arm around Elaine, “Say cheese!”

---

“That’s my favorite,” I pointed out, looking through the photos we sent in for the hunt with Cammie.  “I know it said to take a picture in a field with a map looking lost, but we were legit lost,” I couldn’t help laughing when I thought of Sidney and I yelling at each other in the middle of a wheat field 20 miles outside of town.

“We weren’t lost!  I knew where we were the whole time,” Sidney groaned from across the table.  I just rolled my eyes. 

Cammie and Flower won the scavenger hunt, with Sidney and me a close second.  Our picture in the girls bathroom was hilarious—I had my nose plugged, tucked in close to Sidney who was looking over his shoulder at the toilet, looking mortified.

“That’s hysterical,” Sidney chuckled, “You’ll have to print me a copy of that, V.”

Vero turned to me and whispered, “You two seemed to have fun,”

“Yea, we did.” I smiled.

“I knew it—I knew you two would be perfect,” she beamed.

I laughed and shook my head, “Vero, it was just a game.  We were just partners, nothing more.”

“You never know what the future holds!” she sang.  I tried to argue with her but she ignored me, pretending to be enthralled with Kris and Jordan's bizarre scavenger hunt adventures.  

Sidney and I had only met earlier that day, let's not jump the gun.  We were barely even friends and would be nothing more.

I was sure of it.

After Tonight...

Kerry and Nick left for California in the middle of June.  The send off was so sad it was almost pathetic.  Nick had to pull Kerry away or else they’d miss their flight.  We talked on the phone for another hour when they landed.  I’d miss that girl.

Time was flying by, it was now early August and I had just gotten back from a family vacation in North Carolina.  I walked into my local gym and headed for the dance room, where I spotted a thin, beautiful brunette stretching on the floor and I sauntered on over.

She looked up as I came to her side.  “Allo Elaine!” she grinned at me.

“Hi Vero,” I smiled back.

Looking me up and down, she seemed confused.  “I thought you said you went to the beach?”

“Yea, I did.” I replied.

“Where’s your tan?” Vero laughed, “You’re so pail you’re blinding me girl!”  I knocked her shoulder and rolled my eyes.  “Yea, yea, yea.  You’re so funny,” I fought back a smile.

A moment later the instructor came gleefully into the workout room.  I offered my hand and helped Vero up as our Zumba class was about to begin.

---

An hour later I was dragging my feet, tired from the workout and annoyed with listening to the instructor yelling “C’mon girls, lets’ work!  Faster!  Shake those hips!”

As Vero and I left the gym together she invited me to grab some food and drinks, as she does after every class.  Usually I fibbed and said I had plans, and most nights she just let me go even though she never believed me. 

Apparently, this wasn’t one of those nights.

“Elaine!” her stern, loud voice surprised me I practically flinched.  “If you don’t eat with me you’re going to become an old lady with cats who has no friends and just stays in her apartment that’s so old dirty you get spider webs!”

Sweet girl, right?

Needless to say, I give in.  Vero had jogged to the gym (overachiever) so we hopped into my car and she gave me directions to a small pizza joint across town.  As we pulled in her phone went off, “Hi babe!  Yea we just pulled in to Joe’s.  Elaine’s with me,” she smiled over at me and began talking in French to whom I assume was her boyfriend.

Soon as she hung up, we headed in.  Vero had asked for a table of five so once we sat down I asked who’d be meeting us.  “Marc and a couple of his friends,” replied nonchalantly while she read the menu.  “I’m telling you, the boy doesn’t know how to fend for himself.”

When Kerry and I first met Vero, she was pretty mum about her personal life.  I never thought much about it because I’m the same way.  However, I can’t say it’s because I’m dating a professional hockey player.

When Vero told us that she was dating Marc Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins, she leaned back in her chair, waiting for Kerry or me to freak out.  Kerry merely shrugged—she wasn’t much of a hockey fan, much to my dismay. 

Vero looked at me next.  “Well that’s unfortunate,” I said casually.  “I’m a Capitals fan.  So I hope you don’t mind if after a Pens loss I call you and leave you taunting voice messages about how much ya’ll suck before I break out into a Caps chant.”  She threw fries at me, so I’m thinking she was relieved.

Because I almost always turned down invites to go out, I had never met Marc, his friends or teammates before, but Kerry said that they’re a riot and I just took her word for it.  I guess I’d be finding out for myself soon enough.

Vero and I were chatting away when I saw her face lit up.  I looked over my shoulder at the door, and immediately I recognized Marc.  Not too far behind him was Jordan Staal who had Kris Letang in a head lock.  You’d never see him though because his hair was long enough to cover his face.

Marc slid into the booth next to Vero, giving her a kiss and I almost felt like I was intruding on them for looking.

“Dibbs!” Jordan yells as he jumps into the booth next to me, sliding right up to my side.  “Hi!  I’m Jordan,” he grins, holding his large hand out.

As a hockey fan, I hated the Staal brothers.  But damn it, the boy was good-freaking-looking!

I gave him an honest smile and shook his hand.  Vero then introduced me to Marc, or Flower.  “Vero talks 

about you so much I feel like I already know you,” he beamed.  “We’re practically best friends already!” he cringed as Vero grabbed his side, shaking her head.

“Oh dear god,” I laughed.  “I can only imagine what she’s said!”

Last was Kris.  As I looked over to him, he ran his hand through his hair.

“And you must be Kris,” I smiled.  Kris delicately grabbed my hand and kissed the knuckle, “Bonjour, ma belle.”

I couldn’t help but blush as he winked, which only made Flower and Jordan roll their eyes and moan.  Kris smiled at that with a smirk, I’m sure could get him out of anything.  Hell, it could me out of anything.

We ordered our food and drinks, and we dived into the typical getting-to-know-you conversations.  Kris was surprisingly witty, and was hilariously sarcastic.  Marc and Jordan were just big goof balls, cracking jokes and picking on each other.  Kerry was right, they were a lot of fun.

The guys had practice in the morning so we headed on out to say goodbye before going home.  I couldn’t help but laugh as Jordan engulfed me in a bear hug.  Marc told me that we had to get together again sometime soon.

“Yea right,” She gave me a hug and winked at me before climbing in Marc’s car.  She laughed as I stuck my tongue out at her while I glared and turned to head home.