When Dean told her to bring a blanket, Sydney questioned why. They were inside the Staples Center and she wore jeans and a mock turtleneck. Now she understood.
She was freezing her balls off.
Comforted in Dean's leather jacket and a warm blanket covering her legs, Sydney sipped the coke in her napkin-laced hand as she tried to comprehend hockey. It wasn't like basketball, where the players played certain positions and she had an idea who was the forward, center, and guard. It wasn't like football where she could tell the difference between the running back and defensive tackle.
In hockey, she saw a whole bunch of dudes with aggression and hockey sticks. Come to think of it, there probably needs to be something of the sort in real life for women. There wouldn't be so much hate and competition if that were to happen.
"So you're Dean's new chick?" Renee Young commented to Sydney. She was a tanned woman with dirty blonde hair and sharp eyes. Sydney was already uncomfortable with her. From the moment she sat down, she felt the older woman's not-so subtle side eyes on her.
Sydney already knew just by the first question alone, it was going to be a long-ass game. "Yes. I'm his girlfriend," she emphasized.
"I see." Renee nodded as if she understood. "I hope you stay around for a while. Dating a hockey player is tough. You have to deal with them constantly traveling, being injured and tired. Not to mention the groupies."
Sydney sipped harder on her coke. She wasn't a big fan of overly sugary beverages and preferred to drink water as much as possible but the coke was helping her some. It was making her not want to throw it in Renee's face. "Yeah," was all she could mutter.
Renee looked at Sydney. She was pretty enough. She had the shoulder-length hair, full lips that she assumed brought Dean a whole lot of pleasure, and probably a killer bod underneath all of that clothing and blankets. Sydney also looked…what was the word she was looking for…ah, yes…Sydney looked innocent. She wasn't hardened by Los Angeles, nor was she used to the lifestyle that dating an athlete brought with them.
If Renee had to guess, Sydney looked like a fish out of water. She wondered exactly what was going to be the final straw that would break her back. "How long have you and Dean been together?"
"Oh, enough with the goddamn interrogation, Renee. Shit." Naomi shook her head and leaned forward to focus on the game. She was married to one of the league's most valuable players and was considered to be the leader of the wives and girlfriends aka WAGs group. She was a dark-skinned woman with long, black hair and was nicknamed "Slayomi" for always showing up in some designer garb whenever she went out. It was no surprise her other gig besides being wife to Jimmy, was a fashion correspondent.
"What?" Renee asked innocently enough but not completely obvlious to how she acted. "I was just getting to know homegirl, that's all."
Sydney had to bite the inside of her cheek. Homegirl? Was that bitch serious?
"You were getting to know her but that's not all," Paige responded. She was a petite woman with dark hair and an English accent. She was the girlfriend to a man who simply went by Cesaro and that was good enough. "Let us enjoy the game."
"Can't two women have a simple chit-chat?" Renee defended and Naomi hardened her eyes at the woman. Renee shrugged and sipped on her water. "Okay. We'll continue getting to know each other after the game." She winked at Sydney.
Getting to know each other? Sydney silently questioned. She assumed getting to know each other meant both people asking questions, not a one-sided firing squad. She assumed Renee also wanted to know her blood type. "Sure."
During the break, Renee left to use the restroom and for the first time since she'd arrived, Sydney felt warmth in the arena. "I'm so sorry about that," Naomi moved over to Renee's seat and sat next to Sydney. "I would've warned you about her but I didn't think she was going to do that."
"Oh, it's whatever." Sydney finished her soda, which was a watered-down mess. "I'm used to it."
"You obviously haven't met Renee," Natalya Hart commented. She was a blond woman and stacked like a library bookcase. She had a warm demeanor that was a far cry from what Sydney got from Renee. "She can be interesting and not for any good reasons."
"So what's her deal?" Sydney didn't want to know but the woman cared enough to give her the inquisition.
"She used to screw Dean," Paige commented and Naomi socked her in the arm. "What? She was going to find out sooner or later!"
Sydney felt a swell of emotions arise inside her and none of them were of the heartwarming variety. Dean had introduced her to several people since her arrival, yet conveniently left that part out his fuck buddy was still present at his games. "Oh."
"They haven't been on for a long time," another wife, Alicia Fox, commented. She was a black female with long hair and pretty eyes. She looked like she could be a singer. "So you have nothing to worry about."
"So the natural question is why is she still around?" Sydney asked. "If she's an ex, why is she still attending the games?"
"Dean gave her a season pass," Paige interjected and Naomi made another sharp pass at her, "you're getting on me for telling her the truth? What?"
"Don't be getting into other couples' business!" Naomi admonished. "We don't know why she's really here any more than Dean does."
"Really?" Paige incredulously asked. "I think it's pretty obvious why Maple Syrup is still here."
"Maple Syrup?" Sydney asked.
"She's Canadian." Alicia commented.
"Which is an insult, by the way!" Natalya interjected. "You don't see me calling you Fish N' Chips."
"You should try it," Paige nodded, "I think you would like it, eh?"
"So why is she here?" Sydney asked.
"Because she wants to check out the competition," Paige spoke and Naomi socked the younger woman in her arm again. "Woman, you hit me one more time and I will drag you by your weave!"
Sydney stifled a chuckle. Paige's threat sounded so funny with her accent, though she knew the woman was serious. "Competition? What competition?"
"You!" Paige commented while the other WAGs shook their heads. "In case no one else wants to tell you, I will. You're the reason why Dean broke up with her. Maple Syrup doesn't like you because you stole her man."