Chapter Fourteen

Max realized that coming down to the dock wasn't the best decision… he should have gotten into his car and driven back to the city. Now to get out of here, he would have to walk up past the house and past her. He would just stay down here and cool off and then leave. Fuck it, Amber could drive the guys back. They would understand. She had just ripped out his heart and spit on it, she could deal with the damn side effects.

"Max, you should know… there's someone else…" The words kept repeating in his ears – a broken record he couldn't turn off.

He sat down on one of the chairs on the dock and leaned his head against the back of its stiff wooden boards. Had he really been too late? He knew she had dated here and there, hearing reports from his mom every Sunday. But nothing had been serious. And his mom hadn't said anything in a while, so he had just assumed that everything would work out… she was single and he was ready not to be. It was meant to be.

He had a hard time imagining the type of guy who would win her heart. He was probably the opposite of him. Probably didn't even play hockey. No, he thought. He would have to play hockey, and he would probably be good… probably not good enough for the NHL but good. He would have to play hockey to understand her chosen profession and the crazy dedication she had to it. Max had been so proud of her when she got a contract with Hockey Canada in Ottawa. Oh God, he thought, what if it's some stuck up politician… or worse, what if he was good enough for the NHL, what if he was a Senator? The idea of Amber with another hockey player made Max sick to the stomach. He'd have to find out who, just so he could beat the shit out of the guy.

"Whatever, it won't last," Max closed his eyes and thought to himself. "I can wait it out. I can prove to her that I am not joking around. We have waited this long… I can wait a bit longer."

Max smiled to himself and let himself start imagining their life together. They used to sit up and talk about this very same thing when they were younger. He imagined summer holidays at his favourite beach, winning the Stanley cup and bringing it home to her, teaching their kids to play hockey.

"Three boys," Max would say.

"Three?" Amber would always act shocked.

"It might take lots of practice…" Max would offer.

"Well I am a fan of the practice…" Amber would tease him, biting down on her lower lip and looking at him seductively.

Not that she needed to seduce him. 'Oh man she was good in bed,' Max thought. Granted back then he didn't have a whole lot to compare to but now, well, now he did and she was still the best. When they had broken up, Max had tried to find someone who could fill that void… someone who had that certain 'skill set' but never managed. That's why he knew he had to come back to her - no other woman was ever good enough.

He let his mind wander to the way he used to watch her body move over him. She was graceful and kinky at the same time. She never said no. She would try anything. The things that she could do with her body…

'Okay, time for plan B,' Max thought. He decided that leaving was no longer the best plan, what was that going to prove? No, instead he was going to stay. Offer her a truce, ask to meet the guy. If he wasn't a hockey player, that would be easy enough to solve. If he was a hockey player, Max was still better. 'Who else could score two goals in game seven?' He could easily make the schmuck feel insecure. And he knew that one thing Amber hated was insecure. Just to top it off, he'd take Sid with him. Sid brought out the insecurity in all hockey players, they all wanted to be better then him and knew they would never be. It was something that Max had made peace with years back. If he hadn't, he would have driven himself insane by now. It's something that everyone on their team had to deal with, especially when they first showed up. Training camp was always amusing, just seeing how hard guys will work to get on the team with Sid. Shero loved it. Guys took huge pay cuts and left their teams for just a chance to play with 'the next one'. It certainly helped their cap situation.

Of course for his new plan to work, Max realized he would probably have to apologize to Sid - again. He wasn't mad anymore. Maybe Sid knew that Amber was seeing someone and was just trying to warn him. That's the kind of thing Sid did. He was always looking out for his teammates. Sid would totally have his back on this plan. Maybe not the fighting but there were better guys on the team for that anyway. Cookie was always looking to rumble, Geno was looking to redefine himself and Tanger knew Amber well enough that he could probably get volun-told.

-.-

Sid finished drying the last plate and placed it in the cupboard. Jordan had already drained the sink and flopped on the couch, grabbing the TV remote.

"Think we should check on Max?" Jordan asked, while flipping channels.

"No. Just leave him, he'll cool down himself." Sid replied.

"Don't know what crawled in his pants this time…"

"I'm going to go check on Amber."

"Of course you are…" Jordan shook his head and turned his attention back to the TV, where he had landed on sports highlights.

Sid ignored Jordan's remarks and hung up the dish towel. Sid glanced down the hall towards her room. He took a deep breath and exhaled, forcing himself to slow down and plan his next move. He was just going to check on her – see if she was okay. It was the right thing to do.

He starting moving towards the door, when Max bounded in.

"Okay guys, I need your help," Max exclaimed. "Join me outside?"

Jordan and Sid quietly agreed and headed out to the deck. Max explained his plan to them and filled them in on their roles. Jordan kicked Sid under the table while Max explained his logic.

"Listen, I know I haven't been the greatest host since you got here but I need your help. I'm sorry and it's all behind us. Wanna hug it out?" Max did his best Ari Gold impression.

"Max, I just…" Sid started.

"Non, it's behind us. Oubliez ca. C'est dans le passé. I am going to talk to Amber in the morning and then you know, maybe while you two are here we can meet this loser. I know how she thinks. I know what kind of guys she likes. She just has to see that I am better," Max explained

"What if you're not better?" Jordan offered, smiling at his delusional team mate.

"Then one of the Senators? Pullleezzz!" Max laughed.

"How do you know it's a Senator?" Sid asked quietly.

"Because I know her!" Max snapped. "And because she lives in Ottawa… she only knows hockey players and she hates long distance relationships. She refuses to be in one. She is so stubborn, you don't even know!"

Sid exchanged looks with Jordan who was trying to hide his amusement. Listening to Max go on and on about breaking up Amber's relationship 'with that asshole' was only going to make it harder to tell him the truth.

"I mean, I guess there is a chance that she isn't dating a hockey player, but then I am even less worried. My plan actually works even better if she's not… regular guys are even more intimidated by you! It's perfect! We need to celebrate!" Max sprang up from his chair and headed inside to grab a couple of beers.

As soon as he was safely indoors, Jordan bust out laughing.

"Oh man… this is so hilarious! I am sooooo glad that I am not you right now!" Jordan was laughing so hard, he nearly fell off his chair.

"This is out of control. I don't even know how we got here…" Sid ran his hands over his face.

"You are going to have to tell him or he's going to go around beating up Senators… maybe we could just lie and tell him its Alfie or Fisher or someone… wouldn't that be great? Max going ape shit on Alfie? Oh man, now that would be a highlight reel!"

"That's not funny…"

"Shut up! Of course it is! You just can't see the pure comedy gold because you are going to get your ass kicked! I need to call TK! He will see the fun!" Jordan jumped to his feet and headed towards the door.

"Yeah fucking right! Sit your ass down Staal!" Sidney jumped to his feet and put himself between his teammate and the door. "You CANNOT tell anyone about this! You swore, man!"

"Oh come on! This is a gold mine!"

"No, its hell and until I figure something out, you are going along with Max's plan. We both are!" Sid rubbed his temples. "I just need to get some sleep and clear my head and figure something out."

Max emerged back on the deck with three open beer bottles.

"So? You guys in?" Max asked.

Jordan looked at Sid and smiled deviously. "Of course man, we are here for you."

-.-

*Please tell me what you think so far! Thanks!