Anna
I watch Sid round the corner to the front door and I stand.
"Hi" I say brilliantly.
"Hi" he replies.
We stare at each other saying nothing. A million thoughts run through my mind as I watch him stand in front of me. The main thought is: what the hell am I doing here?
"I should have thought this through more" I say.
"Um, ok" he replies.
My anxiety gets the best of me.
"Damn" I tell him. "I shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry Sid. I'm just going to call a taxi and leave."
"No, don't, it's ok" he tells me. "You came all the way here. Come inside, ok?"
Should I go inside? Can I really tell Sid how I feel and ask for a second chance? Or is it a third or fourth chance by now? What if he doesn't want to get back together now? What if the last time was really the last time?
"Anna, come inside."
It's his no-nonsense voice and I know that I'm smiling in response. He's so damn cute when he tries to be stern. I nod then he picks up my suitcase and leads me in the front door. After hanging up our coats, I follow Sid into the kitchen.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asks me.
"Um no, look, I'm sorry that I just arrived on your doorstep. I, um, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Ok" he replies. "About what?"
I should have come up with a better plan on my way here. What am I going to say to him? How do I do this, tell him that I love him and want him back? I need to say something because he's just staring at me now, waiting for me to do or say something.
"I love you" I blurt out.
Shit. Did I really just say that to him? Did I really just blurt that out? Sid looks stunned.
"Um" I begin. "I didn't mean to just say that, like that" I continue to fumble.
Sid frowns and asks "are you saying that you don't mean it?"
"No" I say quickly. Sid looks more confused. "I mean yes. Shit no" oh God, I'm really screwing this up. "Sid, I meant what I said, I love you, I just didn't intend to blurt it out like that."
"So you do love me?" he asks softly.
He's giving nothing away. I can't tell if he's happy, sad, angry, nothing.
"Um, yeah" I reply. "I love you Sidney."
"You do?"
"Yes, I do."
"Oh" he says.
Oh? All he has to say to me is 'oh,' seriously? Damnit, I can't tell what he's thinking.
"Sidney, I love you."
"Thank God" he says and in a second I'm in his arms.
Sid's lips are on mine desperately seeking, I don't know what, but it feels like he's seeking an answer for something. As my hands travel up his arms, shoulders and neck, I can feel how tense he is and my instinct is to sooth. I cup each of his cheeks and pull back an inch, just far enough so that I can see his face, and then stroke his cheeks lightly with my thumbs.
"I love you Sidney, I do."
I peck at his lips lightly, sipping, tasting, and slowly I feel him respond. Sid's fingers tighten at my waist and he pulls me impossibly closer. His lips slide to my cheek, over my jaw and then he hugs me close. He smells like soap and the gel he uses in his hair. Then there's that unique smell that is Sid that I've missed so much.
"You're here, you're really here" he whispers into my ear. "I can't believe that you're here."
"I'm here" I tell him. "And I love you."
He lets out a deep breath and says "I love you too."
I feel the words flow through me and warm every part of my body. Being in Sid's arms feels right, it feels like coming home and where I should always have been and should always stay.
Sid pulls back just enough so that we can see each other. He brushes the back of his fingers over my cheek and I shiver in response.
"I have to ask something" he begins.
"Ok, ask me anything" I reply.
"What about Matt?"
Of course he's asking about Matt.
"This morning, Matt and I broke up. We decided that we love each but not enough to be married" I tell him. "Besides, I'm in love with someone else."
I watch while my words sink in and Sid understands the meaning behind the words.
"You aren't marrying Matt?" Sid asks.
"No."
"You love me?"
"Yes, with all my heart."
"You want to be with me?"
"Yes, for the rest of our lives, if you'll have me."
"Yes, please" he says.
He kisses me again only slowly, lovingly, and I feel cherished and loved. Suddenly Sid bends slightly and picks me up in his arms. I encircle his neck and leave kisses below his ear.
"If you keep doing that I may drop you. That wouldn't be very romantic you know" he tells me and makes me laugh. "I've missed that."
"Miss what?" I ask.
"Your giggle. It's the happiest sound I've ever heard."
He continues up the stairs and then directly into his bedroom. At the edge of the bed, Sid lets me slide down his body until my feet touch the floor. We kiss again and he begins unbuttoning my shirt. His fingers brush against my skin as he releases each button and I shiver. When it's completely open, Sid pulls it off and then tosses it to the floor.
Slowly I slide my hands from his waist, up and under his tee shirt and continue so that I can pull it completely over his head. Wow. I forgot how hard his muscles are. My fingertips lightly trace each muscle starting at his shoulders, moving over his chest and then stomach. I can feel each muscle contract as I do. As I slip my fingers into the waistband of his jeans, I hear a sharp intake of breath and Sid's hands cover mine.
"You really need to stop" he tells me. "This will be over way too quickly if you keep that up."
"Keep what up?" I ask and wiggle my fingers.
"You know exactly what I mean."
"Oh, you mean this" I tell him and wiggle my fingers again.
"Yes, that" he says and pushes me, hard, so that I fall back onto the bed.
I watch as he lifts one of my legs, takes off my shoe and then repeats with my other leg. Next, he rolls down each of my stockings and tosses them aside. He runs his hands up my legs, calves first, knee, then thighs and takes my skirt higher with his hands. He doesn't stop until his hands reach my waist then he pulls my panties down and off.
With my skirt bunched at my waist, Sid kneels on the floor between my legs. He kisses the inside of my knee and then leaves kisses up the inside of my thigh. I shiver when his teeth nip at the soft skin then moan when his tongue licks where he just bit. He repeats his nips and licks a few more times before he moves to the other leg, kisses up until he reaches my thigh where he nips and licks.
Sid sits back pushes my thighs apart as wide as he can then leans in. I feel his breath on me. I'm so hot and wet that his breath feels incredible and I moan long and low.
"Fuck, you are so fucking hot when you moan" he whispers.
He takes a long, slow lick, I moan again and my hips tilt up having a mind of their own. Sid takes the opportunity to suck my clit with his lips. He alternates between sucking and pushing down with the flat of his tongue. Over and over he repeats sucking and pushing and my hips move with the rhythm. I feel the familiar quickening as my orgasm begins to grow. Sid increases speed and pressure and that feeling grows and moves throughout my body until I feel the electricity rush to my extremities and my orgasm overtakes me.
I think that I cry out but I'm not sure. I'm not sure of anything and can't think of anything because I'm a mass of feelings.
When I finally become aware of my surroundings again, I open my eyes and see Sid lying beside me with a huge smile on his face.
"Hi" he says.
"Hi" I reply.
I know that I'm grinning back at him. I reach up and pull him to me so that I can kiss those gorgeous, full lips. As his body presses against mine, I can feel his erection through his jeans and against my hip.
"Mmmm, roll back" I tell him.
I stand and pull my skirt off while Sid sits back farther on the bed. He looks so hot lying there wearing only his jeans. His eyes are heavy, his lips full and red and body, wow, that body.
I climb up so that I'm straddling his thighs, not an easy task since they are so huge, and then I reach for the button on his jeans. I watch his face while my fingers unbutton his jeans and then lower his zipper. Slowly and firmly I rub the length of him over his shorts. Sid groans and throws his head back. His hands are grabbing my thighs and his fingers dig into my skin. I trace the length of him over and over and Sid continues to moan. He gets impossibly harder and rubbing isn't nearly enough anymore.
I slip off of the bed and then pull both his jeans and shorts completely off. He springs free and I'm desperate to have him inside of me. Desperate. I need to feel him fill me.
I climb back on the bed and straddle him again. This time I don't stop until I can feel him at my entrance. Sid shifts his hips so that he rubs harder.
"You are so fucking wet" he growls.
I lean down and capture his lips. He quickly plunders my mouth with his tongue seeking mine. I shift my hips slight forward and back, over and over, so that he rubs against my centre. Oh god, he feels so good.
"Anna, wait" he says and I immediately feel old insecurities come to the surface. "I don't have any condoms."
Oh, that's it.
"It's ok, I'm on the pill."
Sidney
She's on the pill? When did that happen, not that I'm complaining, but I don't have any time to think it through.
Anna sinks down on top of me so that I'm reaching deep inside of her. The moan that escapes her makes me even harder and I thrust deep again. She moans again.
It's the oddest thing. It feels like we've never been apart and yet it also feels like I don't really know her. The same with her body. She responds to my every touch, as she used to, and yet her body is also very different. She's much leaner. Where she used to be curvy, she's now tight and toned. There's no better or worse, it's just, well, different.
Anna's breathing speeds up as does her hips. Her hands lean back on my thighs and her nails dig into my skin. This hasn't changed. Anna still has the same tells before her orgasm.
I thrust harder and she moans loudly. Suddenly, she lets go of my thighs, grabs my hands and brings them up to her breasts. I massage and knead then tweak her nipples between my thumb and finger. This sets her off. She throws her head back and cries out. I thrust deep twice more before I follow her.
When I can focus again, I notice that Anna is sprawled on top of me and she's still shuttering from her orgasm. It's the sexiest thing, after her moan of course. I run my fingers up and down her back, lightly teasing, because I can't seem to stop touching her. I'm still inside of her and yet I'm desperate for more.
She turns her head so that she's looking down at me and brushes the hair from her face. She smiles, widely, and I kiss those gorgeous lips.
"Hi" I say.
"Hi" she replies.
I turn so that we are lying side by side facing each other. I brush the hair away from her face again and then trace the beautiful planes of her face. Her high cheekbones, full lips, even her gorgeous nose and chin.
"You are so lovely" I tell her. "I'm missed you so much."
I actually feel a lump in my throat as I say this to her. I really have missed her. She's as vital to me as breathing. How was I going to live without her if she didn't come back to me?
"I never want to be without you again Anna" I tell her and kiss her forehead. "I can't see a future, a life, without you."
"Oh Sidney" she says and caresses my face. "I love you so much and I want that future, that life, with you too."
The weight of what you've both just said washes over me. I'm going to be with this woman forever, have a family with her, grow old with her, and love her for the rest of my life.
"Do you play tomorrow?" she asks me.
"Yeah" I tell her. "Practice in the morning and then game."
"Who do you play?"
"Rangers."
"Can I watch?"
"You want to watch?" I ask her.
"Of course I want to watch" she says. "This time I won't be an intern."
"You can sit in Mario's box with him and the family."
"Will that be ok?"
"Of course it will babe."
She smiles at me and says "I feel like the cheerleader going to watch her boyfriend, captain of the team, play."
"You kinda are" I tell her.
She looks surprised but then smiles again.
"Yeah, I guess I kinda am." She kisses my neck. "There are a lot of benefits being the girlfriend of the captain."
She slides her hand from my neck and over my chest.
"A lot of benefits" she repeats and traces my chest muscles. Her hand slides lower and her fingertips trace my stomach muscles. "Mmmm."
She watches her fingers on my stomach but I can't take my eyes off of her face. I've only seen that look briefly and periodically. It's teasing, sexy Anna. Only now there is a self-confidence about her that is very hot. Her fingers slide lower until she wraps them around my dick. Wow, very, very hot. Fuck.
Her eyes widen as I grow hard again and look up into mine.
"A great many benefits" she says and simultaneously pushes me onto my back and slides down my body.
Her hand slides up and down my length, slowly, almost leisurely. She leaves kisses down my chest and to my stomach where she pauses and traces each muscle with her tongue.
"You are incredible" she tells me. "Absolutely incredible."
Her breath whispers across my skin wet by her mouth and tongue. Before I can say anything, her tongue travels lower and replaces her hand. She licks me up one side and down the other before settling over the tip. My eyes must roll back in my head because I can no longer see as her tongue runs around and around my tip. I may even black out as she takes me into her mouth, deep, until l hit the back of her throat. She gags a little but doesn't stop. Her head bobs up and down, up and down, and I hear a groan that might be me. Anna moans in response and I feel it vibrate across my skin.
I'm going to blow, too soon, so I try to push her head away but she takes me deep again and tugs on my balls at the same time. That's it. I lose all self-control and explode. There isn't even time to warn her.
When I can finally open my eyes again, I look directly into Anna's eyes and she's smiling like a Cheshire cat.
"I think I'm paralyzed" I tell her. "Are my legs down there? I can't move."
Anna chuckles and slowly looks my body over down and then back up.
"I'm very happy to report that all of your parts are exactly where they should be."
I chuckle now.
"Don't go having any dirty thoughts" I tell her. "I need a nap, or some food, or both before we go again."
She slides away from me and picks up my tee shirt from the floor. I watch as she pulls it on over her head. Her lean muscles flexing as she pulls it on and then releases her hair from the neck so that it billows out over her shoulders.
"Where's your phones?" she asks me.
"Hmm?"
"Your phone Sid. Where's your cell phone?"
"Oh, my jeans."
She bends down, treating me a gorgeous view of her behind, and picks up my jeans. After rummaging through my pockets, she finds my phone, takes it out and hands it to me. I unlock it and hand it back.
"Not that I mind, but what are you doing?" I ask her.
"My phone is downstairs and, although I'm sure that you have changed since we were together, I doubt that you have groceries in your fridge."
She's right. I don't have more than Gatorade, water, protein shakes, fruit and a few prepared meals. I gesture to my phone and she looks for something then dials. As she orders, I notice that she remembers what I like, exactly what I like, when she orders my meal. It's interesting that she didn't ask what I wanted but just went ahead and ordered.
"Ok, we have thirty minutes" she tells me and grins.
When she climbs on the bed, on top of me, I throw my hands up.
"Ok woman, I need some food and a shower before the next round."
She pouts, totally sexy by the way, and then slides off of me. Standing beside the bed, she places her hands on her hips and keeps pouting.
"I guess you are thirty now" she says.
"You calling me old?"
"Not exactly, but you aren't in your twenties anymore. Men do tend to slow down."
"Nice" I tell her and chuckle.
"Come on" she starts walking to the bathroom. "We have enough time to shower."
Naked and wet in the shower with Anna. Mmm, maybe I don't need the rest and food.
We manage to clean ourselves even while also enjoying some water sports and make it downstairs before the food arrives. We're sitting on my sofa, enjoying a glass of wine, while we wait. Anna's hair is still wet so she has it in a bun on top of her head. She's in one of my sweatshirts and matching pants. I'm in a tee shirt and shorts. It feels very normal, natural and homey.
"What?" she asks.
"What do you mean?"
"You have an odd smile."
"Oh" I reply. "I was just thinking how natural this feels, having you here with me, on my sofa, after a very fun afternoon."
She smiles too.
"Yeah it does" she replies and then her smile disappears.
"What's wrong?"
I ask her.
"We have so much to talk about" she says.
"Yeah, we do."
"When?"
"I have a scheduled day off on Wednesday. Why don't we set that aside to talk?"
Her frown clears and she smiles.
"Sounds good. We just kind of fell into bed. I don't want us to avoid a conversation about our past and future because right now is so good. I really want to make this work Sidney."
"Me too. I agree, we have a lot to talk about."
"Now why are you frowning?" Anna asks me.
"I didn't realize that I was" I tell her confused. "I was just thinking that I used to need a crowbar to get you to talk to me."
"Yeah" she says and frowns herself. "That's one of the things I guess we need to talk about."
The gate rings and I go to let in the delivery of our dinner. The guy recognizes me and asks for an autograph which I give him. It's easier to just do it and get them on their way.
When I walk back into the kitchen, Anna has refilled our wine and is setting out dishes and cutlery. Together we take out the food and pile up our plates, well I pile up my plate while Anna takes barely enough to be called a snack, and then we sit at the kitchen table with our wine.
"I need to ask one thing" I tell her. "I need to know this now."
"Ok" she tells me.
"Why did you and Matt break up?"
She puts her fork down and takes a sip of her wine before answering.
"When I got back with Matt after leaving here, I told him about our conversation. You shouldn't be surprised Sid" she tells me. I guess I look as surprised as I feel. "Matt and I may not have started our relationship based on love but we promised to always be honest with each other. Always."
"Oh" is all I can seem to say.
"Yeah, I told him about our conversation and our kiss. He wasn't happy of course but I thought we worked through it. Anyway, this morning, Matt and I talked again. The result was our break up, ending our engagement, and my coming here."
"There's probably more to it than that" I tell her.
"There is, a lot more, but we can talk about that on Wednesday, right?"
"Yeah, right. I just wanted to make sure that I knew where you and Matt left things. It's important to me that you're honest with him too. It kills me to admit it but he's a good guy."
"Yeah, he is" she agrees. "And since we're talking about him, I want you to know that I loved him. Actually, I still love him. We were friends and it grew into more. It was a real relationship. I wasn't settling or forced into a relationship with him because of my parents. It was real Sidney."
I have to ask. There is no way that I can wait for Wednesday.
"So why are you here, with me, and not with him?" I ask her.
"I've come to realize that there are different kinds of love Sidney. I'm in love with you."
"It's that simple?"
"Yep, it's that simple."
She picks up her fork and continues eating her dinner. I guess I'll have to take that for now and wait until Wednesday when we can talk more.
"Oh shit!" she exclaims.
"What's wrong?"
"My mother. I need to call my mother about Matt and me breaking up."
"Yikes."
"Yeah yikes. Matt's going to deal with the media and I'm dealing with my mother."
"He might have the better end of that deal" I tell her.
"Yeah."
Anna sets aside her now empty dish and goes to the front door. When she comes back, I see that she has her purse and is taking out her phone.
"Do you mind if I give her a call?" she asks.
"Go ahead. I'm sure you want that over with as soon as possible. I'll clean up our dishes."
"Thanks Sid."
I take our empty dishes to the kitchen and start cleaning up while she goes into the family room with her phone. I can only hear the conversation when Anna's voice rises. Wow, I've never heard her be that direct and, I guess, argumentative with her mother.
Anna
That wasn't pleasant. After I disconnect the call with my mother, I call Matt.
"Hi" he says.
"Hi" I reply. "How are you?"
"You thought the campaign was hectic and crazy, the first day after the election is worse and I'm not even governing yet."
"Be careful what you wish for huh?"
"Yeah" he says. "How are you?"
I know what he's really asking me. He wants to know if I'm with Sidney.
"I'm in Pittsburgh" I tell him. "I just called my mother."
"I bet that was fun."
"Not really" I answer sarcastically. "She did a lot of yelling and telling me that I'm throwing my life away. When that didn't work, she switched to telling me that I'm dishonoring my father's memory."
"That's bullshit Anna!" he yells into the phone.
I hold it away from my ear for the moment as I see Sid walk into the room. He stops at the edge of the room and I gesture for him to come in, which he does, and then sits beside me on the sofa. I mouth 'it's ok' and then go back to my conversation with Matt.
"Matt, calm down. You knew that it wasn't going to be pleasant when I told her."
"I know Anna but saying that about your father is horrible."
"Yeah, well, that's what she does. Anyway, it's done now and I just wanted you to know. Did you decide what to do about the media?"
"You mean after I calmed Chris down?" he chuckles. "After breathing into a paper bag and a shot of bourbon, Chris started strategizing. He figures a one on one interview with a reporter that we trust. It will either be on cable or web TV but it will be me speaking. The messaging is still being finalized but we'll stick close to the truth. You and I are great friends, have been and will continue to be, but have decided not to get married. Something like that."
"Ok. Have Chris send me the speaking notes when they're finalized please."
"You should have them end of day tomorrow."
"Ok."
Now I feel awkward. I'm talking to Matt. I'm sitting beside Sid. It's weird.
"I have to go" he tells me.
"Ok, good luck with the rest of your media today."
"Thanks" he tells me. He doesn't disconnect right away, instead he continues "are you happy Anna?"
That's unexpected.
"I'm getting there, yes" I tell him. "What about you?"
"I'll get there too."
We both disconnect and then I cuddle under Sid's arm and by his side.
"I wanted to give him the update on my mother" I tell Sid.
"I guessed. It was ugly? With your mother I mean."
"Yeah. She said that I was dishonouring my father's memory by leaving Matt."
"That's bullshit!"
I chuckle.
"That's exactly what Matt said" I tell him.
"I guess we have more in common than loving you."
I turn to Sid and take his face in my hands.
"I love you Sidney. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life. I will be in love you will until the day that I die."
I watch Sid's eyes grow darker so that his pupil and iris are indecipherable. His tongue slips out and moistens his bottom lip. I shift my hand slightly so that I run my thumb across that lip and Sid kisses it.
"Good to know" he replies.
I narrow my eyes and look at him with comical suspicion.
"Ok fine" he says. "I love you too Anna."
When our lips meet, it is the sweetest and most loving moment I've ever experienced. Both of us keep our eyes open and staring at each other. Lightly, our lips rub together. After a few moments, I pull back and Sid pulls me onto his lap where I cuddle in.
"Do you mind if I put the TV on?" he asks me.
"The Rangers are playing?"
"Yeah."
"Go ahead" I tell him.
When the game is on, Sid settles back against the cushions pulling me with him.
"Fuck" he says.
"What?"
"I need to call my folks. I don't want them to hear that we're back together from someone else."
"Good idea. Do you want me to leave?"
"No, I don't mind if you don't."
I answer by settling back against him.
"Hi mom" he says into his phone.
Pause.
"I'm doing fine."
Pause.
"Really, my ankle is fine mom."
The next pause lasts a while with Sid adding 'hmm, hmm' every few moments.
"Look mom, I'm calling you to, um, let you know that Anna and I are back together."
I actually hear the squeal from Trina and look up to see Sid wincing and pulling the phone from his ear.
"Yes mom, we're back together."
Pause.
"Yes, she's here now."
Pause.
"No, you are not going to talk to her. Maybe tomorrow, ok?"
Pause.
"It just happened this afternoon. I wanted you to hear it from me so I'm telling you, ok? We can talk more tomorrow."
Pause.
"Ok, I promise, I will."
Pause.
"I love you too, bye."
He disconnects the call.
"I guess she's happy?"
"You heard her. She's very happy."
"I've missed your mom" I'm surprised when the words come out of my mouth.
"She's missed you too babe." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "Once we know what's going on with us and what comes next, I'd like to invite them down here to visit. Mom and dad want to see you."
"I'd really like that Sidney." Which makes me think of something. "I, um, need to find a place to live. I basically have this one suitcase with me."
"Well, you could stay here" he says.
He sounds uncertain. I'm not sure if he's asked because he thinks that he should or if he really wants me to live with him.
"Sid, um, we don't have to live together unless you're ready too. Just because we are back together doesn't mean that I have to move in. I mean, I want to be here with you but I don't want you to feel obligated to" I stop talking. "Shit, I'm doing this badly. I'm sorry."
I know that I'm holding my breath. This is really the first hurdle that we're having to jump together. Falling into bed was easy. Telling our mothers that we're together was easy. The rest is going to be really, really hard.
I'm relieved when I feel Sid's chest move under my cheek as he chuckles.
"I feel the same way. I don't want you to be obligated to live with me and I know we've got a shit ton to figure out Anna; but, I think you should move in if you want to be here with me. With my schedule, we'll only get to spend time together if we live in the same place. If not, one of us will be constantly traveling with a spare change of clothes in our back seat."
"So we should live together so that our clothes are all in one place?"
"No, shit, now I'm doing this badly?"
I tilt my head so I can look up at him and smile.
"You're teasing me" he says. "Nice, really nice."
His fingers dig into my sides to tickle me. I try to twist and turn away from him but he redoubles his efforts and pushes me back against the sofa cushions until I'm pinned under him. His lips attach to my neck, kissing, sucking, and nipping with his teeth. Wow, he's really clever with his mouth. Then his hand slides down my side until he reaches my waist. Slowly, too slowly, he slides his hand beneath my waist band, down my stomach and between my legs. I cry out when his middle finger slides beneath my folds and rubs lightly. My cry turns into a moan when he teases my clit and his teeth sink into ear lobe.
"Fuck" Sid says against my neck and pulls away until he's standing.
"What's wrong?" I ask. Then I hear the doorbell. "Who could that be?"
"The French mafia" Sid mutters under his breath and leaves the room.
I have no idea what he means but it sounds like he knows who it is so I sit up and put my clothes back in the right place. I've just sat back on the sofa with my glass of wine when I watch Marc-Andre, Kris and Pascal walk into the room. All three of them stop the minute they see me, in fact, Kris almost walks directly into Marc's back.
"Anna!" Pascal shouts and rushes over to me.
No sooner am I on my feet than Pascal has picked me up and is twirling me around. I don't even manage two feet on the ground before Marc and then Kris do the same thing. When I'm back on my feet, all them start talking at once and I think Kris has switched into French.
"Um, Pascal, I, um, just arrived this afternoon" I answer his question first and then turn to Marc. "I plan on staying so I don't have a date that I'm leaving." Then I turn to Kris. "I'm not sure that I completely got the gist of your question because it was in French."
Everyone starts laughing and then we sit down. Pascal passes around bottles of beer I think he brought with him and I pick up my glass of wine.
"I was asking if you were working with the Pens again" Kris says.
"I'm officially unemployed as of this morning" I tell him. "I have nothing figured out except that I'm not engaged anymore and I'm here, with Sidney."
All eyes turn to Sid and he nods to them which is followed by complete silence. Pascal is the first to react again.
"That's really great" he says warmly. "That is really, really great."
The rest agree and then Kris notices a great save in the game on TV. Everyone watches the replay and, just like that, the subject is changed and all of the awkwardness disappears. The next couple of hours is a lot of fun. I forgot how much fun these guys are when they're together, teasing each other and having fun. It isn't until I start yawning that I realize the game has been over for thirty minutes and the west coast game has started.
"Shit, it's late" Kris says when he looks at his watch.
The other guys agree and we all go to the front door. I'm hugged by each of them. Pascal is last and he whispers in my ear.
"I'm so glad you're back. Sid needs you" he whispers.
When he pulls back, he kisses my cheek and I smile at him. Sid puts his arm around me as we watch the guys drive away.
"What was that about?" Sid asks.
"He's glad that I'm here."
"That makes two of us" he says and then scoops me over his shoulder.
"What are you doing? You're a crazy man" I tell him.
Sid turns off the lights as he carries me up the stairs and to his bedroom. When he throws me on the bed, I giggle all the way down. It feels great.
Sidney
I'm nervous. I can't remember being this nervous before a game except for both times, in game seven, of the Stanley Cup final. This time my nerves are because my girl will be watching.
Anna will be watching the game as my girlfriend. She'll be with the Lemieuxs in their box watching the game, watching me play, as my girlfriend. Yeah, I'm really nervous. Anna made reference to being a cheerleader watching the captain play and it's exactly how I feel too. Sure, I've had girlfriends watch me play before, and in some really big games, but this is very different. I want to win for her. I've always wanted to win for my team mates, for myself and for the coaches; but, this is the first time that I've wanted to win for my girl.
"Sid" Tanger says beside me.
I look beside me, where he's sitting, and watch him point towards the door to the locker room. I know that I have a crazy smile on my face when I see Anna standing there. She's wearing a short skirt and tight sweater with a deep v-neck. Her boots are high heeled and go up to her knee. She looks too fucking hot and I feel my cup tighten. Damn.
I walk over to her and hear Tanger making kissing sounds just loud enough for me to hear him. Ass.
"Hi" Anna says when I'm standing in front of her.
"Hi" I reply. "You look really good."
Her smile widens.
"Thanks" she tells me. "I love seeing you in this jersey."
"Sweater" I remind her.
"Right, sorry, I love seeing you in this sweater."
"Thanks."
"I'm going to go up to the box but I wanted to stop down here and say good luck." She bites her lip. "Can I kiss you?" she asks softly.
I wait for the embarrassment to come or the fear of changing my routine. It doesn't happen.
"Please."
I bend down and Anna kisses my cheek. Before she can pull too far back, I cup the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine. I planned on a light, quick kiss but my lips seem to have a mind of their own and the kiss quickly deepens. I only realize what's going on when I hear some of the guys' cat calling behind me. I pull back and Anna's smiling at me. I look behind me and start chuckling. I'm never going to live this down, ever.
"I need to go" she tells me.
"I need to go listen to more of that shit" I tell her.
Anna kisses me one more time, quickly, and then turns to walk away. I don't know what comes over me, or why I do it, but I slap her ass. She squeaks, looks back at me surprised and stops. I'm frozen to the spot waiting to see what's going to happen next. Without missing a beat, she grabs my neck and brings my lips back to her and thoroughly kisses me, there's even tongue, and then she turns away and continues walking down the hall. I can't move until she's out of site. Fuck, her ass looks good.
"Jock a little tight?" Tanger says as he walks by me.
I ignore him, and the other guys chirping, then go back to my pre-game routine. I finish in time for Sully's pre-game meeting where he reminds us of the game plan. Then we go out for warm up.
I can't help myself. As I stretch on the ice, I glance up at Mario's box and I quickly find Anna. She's talking to some guy. Who is that guy? Is he one of Austin's friends? No, he wouldn't be here if he's Austin's friend because he would be in school. He's too young to be a friend of Mario's.
"Hey Sid, you going to join us?" Horny yells at me.
I look up and the guys have started line rushes and they're having to go around me. I give my head a shake and get my mind back into the game. I need to focus.
I manage to ignore everything around me when we come back on the ice for the game, throughout the first period and into the second period. We're up 3-0 and I've had two goals and an assist. Anna might be my lucky charm. I haven't had a multi-point goal game yet this year and then I do at the first game that Anna's here. I can't wait to see her.
Sully calls my line and we go out for the face off. I call the play and the guys go into position. When the puck drops, I win the face off easily and then go directly to the net. The play has Tanger taking the shot and then I'll be at the net to get a rebound if it doesn't go in. When I'm in front of the net, I turn looking for a tip in and the puck hits me in the ear before I can turn all the way around.
The pain explodes from my ear and throughout my head. For a brief moment, my vision goes blurry and then I fall to the ice barely catching my head from hitting it. I lift my head and try to stand up but everything turns upside down causing me to fall back to the ice.
"Stay down Sid" Horny says.
Chris, our trainer, kneels beside me and asks what happened. I tell him it was my ear and he looks at it through my helmet. All I can think of is how much worse it could have been if I didn't have the ear protector on it.
"Dizzy?" Chris asks.
I look up and then get onto my knees.
"No, I'm not dizzy anymore" I tell him.
"Ok, slowly get up and we'll go" he tells me. "In case I'm not clear enough, we're going off the ice and following concussion protocol."
I start to argue with him but catch myself quickly. Out of all NHL players, I know the importance of following the protocol even when I want to argue. No one likes being taken out of the game for any reason.
I skate beside Chris to the bench and hear the cheering of the crowd and the stick tapping by the players. Tanger apologizes to me as I pass him so I tap him with my stick. It's not like he planned to hit me.
Chris and I walk directly to the trainer's room and I see the team's doctor follow us out of the corner of my eye. So the protocol begins. I sit on the table. First I answer their questions about symptoms. Next they do the physical exam. My ear is bleeding so they slap on a temporary bandage to stop it while they continue with the test.
Next is the most absurd section. I know what venue I'm at, which period we're in, who last scored and which team we played last. Before we can move on, I hear raised voices from the hallway, a man and then a woman, I think.
"I just need to see him" I hear and know instantly who the female voice belongs to as she walks into the exam room.
"Sidney" she whispers when she sees me with the doctor and trainers. "Are you ok? No one would tell me anything. I saw you get hit with the puck and then you went off the ice. I couldn't find anyone to tell me how you were or what happened to you."
While she continues on, I ask Chris and the doctor to give me few minutes. They grudgingly do and I look at Anna. She stops talking and stares at me.
"Babe, I'm ok. Come here" I tell her and gesture her closer.
She does as I ask and stops directly in front of me. I take her face in my hands and kiss her lips.
"I'm ok baby" I tell her. "I got hit in the ear and I'll need some stitches but I'm ok. They are doing the concussion protocol because they have to but I have no symptoms. Honest Anna, I'm ok."
She encircles my wrists with her hands.
"Are you sure?" she whispers.
"Yes I'm sure" I tell her. "Now, can we let the medical team back in here to assess me so that I can get back on the ice?"
"Oh, yeah, ok" she replies.
I kiss her again, softly, and smile.
"Now go" I tell her.
She smiles and goes back to the door way.
"Thanks Chris" she tells him. "I'll see you after the game Sidney."
She leaves and the guys come back in and finish the assessment. As I told Anna, I'm cleared because I don't have a concussion. It's the end of the period so the doc sews up my ear and then I meet the guys in the locker room. No one asks how I am, we don't do that, but I get some nods. Tanger is in his stall when I sit with mine.
"You ok?" he whispers.
He must still feel bad about being the one who shot the puck if he's asking.
"I'm fine" I tell him.
He nods and goes back to his own end of period routine. I look up and see Anna standing at the doorway to the locker room but she doesn't come in. I smile and mouth 'I'm fine'. She smiles back and then walks away.
"That's a good woman you have there" Tanger says so that only I can hear him.
"Yeah" I agree. "I'm going to marry that woman."