***Author's note: I am so so sorry about the delay on this chapter. In fact, it's not even a complete chapter, but I knew I wouldn't get the rest done for a few more days, so I decided to post what I had. Life has been nutso. I was out of town for a few weeks, then got hit with a bad bad cold. I feel terrible about the delay, so while this is only the first half of the chapter, I felt like there was enough to post. I hope you enjoy. I had a bit of a selfish reason for posting this too, as of 13 minutes ago it's my birthday! I am off to Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon to see the Penguins game. I am going with two of my oldest and bestest friends, one is a HUGE pens fan and the other it's her first game. I am so excited. And they are playing New Jersey, which is my birth state, so yay! I promise to have the second half of this up in the next week (and this is a real promise, I swear!) Thank you for reading and Go Pens!***
Rebecca stood in front of the mirror trying to remember how just ten hours earlier, she had thought this was a good idea. She met her gaze in the reflection and took a deep breath. At 9 AM with her heart full and happier than she could have ever remembered, she'd gone into her house, up the stairs and headed for the back of her closet. Still in the gift bag, she'd grabbed it. Now, as the Penguins insignia stared back at her, the black, gold and white fabric still creased from being never worn, she felt trepidation. It wasn't that it was a Penguins jersey, it was the C that sat just above and over to the left that made her take pause. The 87 on the arms and the name CROSBY on the back that made her excited and terrified all at once. The Crosby sweater had been a gift from Chelsea years ago. Her friend had thought she was being cute, Rebecca thought she was crazy and the gift had gone into her closet and all but forgotten until this morning, when Sid had asked her to come the game.
Rebecca had been to a ton of games, as recent as this past weekend, but it wasn't till today that she remembered she had the jersey and the guts to wear it to tonight's game. She'd been uncertain of what today would bring and she'd felt confident that she didn't care what people thought and she didn't. But it was one thing to ignore the stares and the whispers, it was entirely something else to advertise her new relationship by wearing this garment.
She stared back at herself. She was happy. She was allowed to be happy. He made her happy. Loving him and he loving her back was their superpower. And though it seemed new, the love had been there for so long. Living hidden away for years. And now it was time to let it shine.
With a deep breath, Rebecca took one final look at herself and walked out of the shadows and into this new world.
She met Brandon in the hallway, he took a look at her and smiled, though shaky she returned his smile and they made their way to the front office suite. She could feel the eyes on her, but she kept her shoulders straight and her head up.
The first period was lively. Fast paced and lots of goals. Rebecca watched intently and cheered on the team. A few people came up to her, looked at jersey and then her. She stared them down, as if daring them to ask. Most didn't, but one did. "You and Crosby, huh?" Steve in sales asked. Rebecca nodded. He gave smile that bordered on creepy, "Nice." Rebecca took that as a cue to go get some air.
She hadn't gotten far when she heard someone calling her name. She turned to see a woman walking towards her. The woman was stylishly dressed, a form fitting top, showing off a small baby bump. Her hair was long and blonde and she was smiling at Rebecca. "Hallo," she said cheerfully.
Rebecca needed a moment to place the woman. She had an accent and a huge diamond on her left hand.
"Malin," the woman said, unfazed by Rebecca's puzzlement.
Malin Hornqvist. Rebecca suddenly realized. She had seen glimpses of the woman here and there, but mostly she knew Malin from emails and phone calls. Rebecca had worked a lot with the Hornqvists, first when they arrived from Nashville and also through the Olympics and the various assistance with travel plans for their Swedish extended family. Rebecca worked a lot with the players who came from overseas. And the large family Patric and his wife had kept her busy and often in communication with Malin. She now had a face to match the email address.
"Oh, hello. I'm sorry, it took me a minute." Rebecca said, tripping over the apology. Malin had always been very sweet on the phone and thorough and detailed in her emails. Rebecca always had a soft spot for the families that knew what they needed and when they needed it.
Rebecca watched as Malin eyed up her attire. "No worries," the Swedish beauty replied smiling, her eyes warm. "I've been meaning to introduce myself." Malin went on to explain that she was expecting and that her family would be coming over for the end of the season and into the playoffs. It was a bit strange, talking about plane tickets and car services when Rebecca had a suspicion that Malin knew.
Finally the question came, "So," Malin gestured to Rebecca, "Good news I hear?"
Rebecca wasn't quite sure how to answer.
Malin sensed her hesitation and gestured behind her. "Would you like to join us? Some of the girls and I are in taking in the game. We would love to have you."
Rebecca was caught off guard by the invitation. Then she panicked. She'd anticipated fielding reactions from her coworkers and the staff, but this one was one group she hadn't thought of.
The WAGS.
In all their primped and flat ironed glory. Call her a coward, but this was one group she was not ready for. Not tonight. No matter what Sid said.
They would look at her, judge her, compare her...to her.
Rebecca was definitely not ready for that.
"Oh thank you. I appreciate the thought, but I'm here with my replacement. He and I have some work to discuss. But next time, definitely." Rebecca hoped the excuse didn't sound as lame as she thought.
A bit of the brightness in Malin's eyes faded, but her smile remained. "I understand. Next time."
"Thanks, next time." Rebecca smiled genuinely, then gave a little wave goodbye. Her heart thudding against her chest as she started back towards her suite.
"Rebecca?" Malin's voice called again. Rebecca turned. "We would love to have you anytime, really." She smiled reassuringly.
Rebecca nodded in appreciation and felt a little bit better.
The Penguins lost. Three in a row. Their record was strong, so no need to panic, but the team didn't look great.
Rebecca finished up a few things in her office then set off for Sewickley. She thought about the Wags on the way there. She thought about how now her life and his life would weave together. Her friends, his friends. Her family and his. She needed to tell her dad, her aunt, her sister. She wondered what the Crosbys would think of her. For so long they just knew her as that girl who worked there. Nothing more. Would they be surprised. Would they hate her? Did they love Katy? Did they miss Katy?
By the time she pulled into Sid's driveway she was exhausted. She punched in the code Sid had texted her and parked the car. Grabbing her overnight bag, she made her way to the house and let herself in. She heard his voice instantly. It was a series of uh huhs and when she looked into the great room, there was Sid, phone to his ear and pacing. Back and forth. He gave her a smile and nod. Then he saw what she was wearing and she could see his eyes darken and a flush appear on his neck. He had changed into a tshirt and shorts, his sculpted arms snug in the fabric and Rebecca appreciated the sight she was seeing just as much. The coil of heat tightened as he walked towards her, phone still pressed to his ear. Then his fresh scent washed over her as he leaned forward and brushed his mouth against hers.
"Sorry," he mouthed. "My dad."
He held up a hand indicating five minutes and turned away. Then turned back, "Don't change," he said silently.
15 minutes later Rebecca sat on the couch, her chin in her hand as she flipped through the channels on the tv. Sid had moved to the kitchen and was literally go over every shift with Troy. She could hear him analyze where he was on each shot, where the defense had been, what the goalie had anticipated, what the goalie had not anticipated, who got the rebound, who didn't get the rebound. It was ridiculous. And they were only on the first period.
Ten more minutes passed.
Rebecca ventured into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Sid leaned up against the island, the phone still pressed to his ear. As she took a glass from the cupboard, Sid's focus stayed on the floor, he was back to the uh huhs again. She put the glass under the water dispenser in the fridge and pressed. As the cold water filled the glass, she heard him say, "Now, in the second period…"
She couldnt take it anymore. Setting the glass down, she walked over to him. Coming up quietly to his side, she pressed herself against him. Her mouth ghostly across his neck, her mouth settling softly against the curve of his jaw. His arm snaked around her waist and gave a light squeeze, then he walked away.
He walked away!
Rebecca frowned.
She watched as he moved to the counter and leaned back against it. His continued to chat, his eyes apologetic and his gaze met hers. Five minutes, he mouthed.
Five minutes, her foot.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Rebecca crossed over to Sid and in a blink of an eye, dropped to her knees.
She was partly terrified and partly aroused. She'd never done this before. Her limited sexual exploits before Sid had never included oral sex. And during her time with Sid, she'd never...done that with him. It seemed so personal. So intimate. And so for a long time it just never seemed appropriate.
Her hands ran up and down his ample thighs. If he walked away from her now, she would be mortified. Not to mention super pissed.
She peaked up at him. Sid was staring down at her, his face frozen in shock.
With a deep breath and a burst of bravery, she yanked down his shorts, his underwear coming down too, his rapidly growing erection sprang back at her. She swallowed and scooted forward and began pressing light kisses to the inside of his thighs. His skin was rough, the coarse hairs tickled her nose but he was clean, his skin with a fresh scent. Her hand closed around the thickening rod of flesh, it was cool and smooth in her palm. She'd never seen him up close. Not like this. She knew he was large, but this front row glimpse showed her how thick he was. The length of his penis was mapped with blood vessels, a purply pinkish color with veins that seems to pop up in seconds. The head already glistening, stared back at her. Rebecca decided to just go for it. She leaned forward and took him into her mouth.
"Da-a-ad," Sid stuttered, "I gotta go." And with that he ended the call and dropped the phone on the counter.
Rebecca moved her mouth slowly over the hearty flesh. Her hand moved up and down his column, covering the part of him she couldn't yet fit. It would take some practice. A mixture of his arousal and her spit served as a lubricant and she pushed and pulled, her mouth filled. She liked having him in her mouth. It turned her on and she could feel the tightening between her legs as she found a rhythm. Her other hand came up to cup his testicles, rolling them gently in her hand. She could hear his breathing. Loud and labored as moans seemed to get caught in his throat.
She felt his large fingers thread into her hair. He held her steady, his hands careful not to lead her into something she wasn't quite ready for. Her gag reflex was sensitive, but she found that what she lacked in depth she made up for in enthusiasm. She swirled her tongue around him, licking at the underside of his cock. It gave a twitch of approval as his fingers tightened around the strands of her hair. She kept at it, her eyes opened and she looked up at him, just as she was able to accommodate another inch.
He stared back at her. His eyes focused on her. Their eyes locked as she picked up speed. For the next few minutes, she put everything she had into giving him the best blow job possible. It was a bit clumsy. But he didn't seem to mind. She could feel the twitches as they came. Slow at first, then quicker and more scattered. Rebecca could tell he was getting close. Fighting the need to close his eyes, Sid maintained eye contact, but soon the rhythm of her mouth, hand, and tongue were too much and he threw his head back, his eyes clenched shut.
"You don't have to sw-" he couldn't get the words out and it was too late anyway, with a series of jerks a hot stream flowed into Rebecca's mouth. She was ready and it wasn't nearly as bad as the stories she had heard. She wasn't sure if it was her arousal addled brain or not, but to her, it was pleasant. The taste tangy, warm as she swallowed his completion. Her mouth stayed suctioned onto him until he softened. She pulled back, her knees sort of hurt and she had a cramp in her mouth. Otherwise, she felt pretty great and pretty proud of herself too.
She didn't have much time to think, before two strong hands hauled her to her feet. Lips came crashing onto hers, as fingers fumbled with her jeans. In mere seconds her pants and panties were around her ankles, as Sid began pressing warm wet kisses against her jaw and his fingers worked their way between her legs.
"That was insane," he mumbled against her skin.
"I had to get you off the phone," she sputtered out as she felt one finger enter her, then two.
"A+ on creativity, now I need to be inside of you," his mouth took over hers, as he kissed her deeply. His fingers worked her into a frenzy and Rebecca reached for the hem of the jersey she still wore.
"No," he said into her mouth. His free hand stilling hers. "Leave it on, please."
She obliged and smiled against his lips.
What an ego.
An hour later, Rebecca laid curled up in bed with Sid. From the kitchen they had moved to the bed, then the shower, now back to the bed. She felt sore and exhausted, the fight against sleep a losing battle. Her eyes were heavy, as Sid's embrace held her tight.
"I met Malin tonight," she said sleepily. "Patric's wife. She's nice. She invited me to sit with her."
He was quiet, then spoke. "Becs, you don't have to do anything if you're not ready."
Rebecca wiggled into him. "I know. I'm not ready. Not yet. They scare me."
"If it makes you feel better, they scare me too." Sid said with a chuckle.
There was more that she wanted to say, but lure of sleep was too strong and Rebecca felt herself floating away.
Tonight there were no nightmares.
For the next week or so, Sid and Rebecca were inseparable. Every night she stayed at his house. The house filled with boxes ignored. With each game, the season came closer to ending and regardless of a postseason, when the regular season ended so did her job. But they didn't talk about it. At first it seemed to hang over them. Then not so much until the two of them found an ease in pretending it wasn't there.
Besides life was too busy. Between her work and him being...him. The time alone they did have was precious. And neither wanted to spend it talking about a murky future. Instead it was spent making dinner, watching movies, going for long walks on quiet trails. It was spent with silly conversations and lingering touches. Long hot showers where she would press her cheek against the cool tile as he did delicious and mind numbing things to her body. It was spent playing games and figuring out ways to beat him, though it never seemed to happen. He was definitely not one of those people who let the other win out of kindness or even pity. It was spent with her head on his lap while she spouted out useless knowledge and serious concerns like global warming and netflix movies expiring at the end of the month.
Soon the team knew about them. She didn't wait to meet him at home, she met him outside the locker room. He held her hand in front of everyone and the whispers and the stares slowly went away. And it was normal. They were normal.
And just when it seemed like everything was calm.
It suddenly wasn't.
