Chapter 20 - An American Flavour

My house sort of became a hangout for some of the guys on the team. The ones who liked me at least. Cédrick Desjardins, the backup goalie, Danny Stewart, Mark Tobin, Jean-Michel and Francois Bolduc (no relation), Eric, Alex and Patrick were all regulars. I didn’t mind having them there at all. They were all nice guys for the most part. I mean, they are hockey players, and if my time at Shattuck’s, its that all hockey players have an ego.
It was nice though, most of the time, having the guys over. I say most of the time, because while I was never lonely (I didn’t exactly have the opportunity to be lonely for one thing, because there were always people there). I couldn’t exactly go to the bathroom without someone pounding on the door. (Which is one of the downfalls of having the master bathroom renovated during your first couple of weeks in the house.)
I spent a lot of time with Sidney, of course, especially before practices and in the early evening. I would go to class and come home to find him sitting in the kitchen doing his assignments. We’d sit together and work and then I’d drop him off at practice, or if I had a class, Eric would pick him up.
Some nights he would come over for supper, or he’d invite me over to the Bèlanger’s. Other nights, the boys would come over for supper, or they’d actually invite me to their billets to eat. It was really, really nice of them to try and include me, especially since they’d really just met me.
The one thing I really got from getting to know these guys was that they were anxiously awaiting the start of the season. They’d been cellar dwellers the year before of course. That’s how they got the first overall pick in the draft. However, they were all looking forward to the opportunity to prove what they could do with a true scorer on the team. I looked forward to the parties after wins. I suppose that’s the difference when you aren’t a player, or really that huge of a fan.
Sidney and my new friends and I continued with our routine until the opening day of the season. That’s when things really started to take shape. This was when the real routine was going to be established. This was when I was going to learn how I dealt with Sidney being on the road with the time.
I had quickly discovered that I really actually enjoyed being in Rimouski. It was nice to be away from the limelight that followed girls like me in New York or the Hamptons, but it wasn’t the purgatory that Shattuck’s was. I’d chosen it, and I wasn’t just enjoying it because Sidney was there, I was also enjoying it because I had real friends with the regulars.
By the time the season rolled around, I’d been in town for about a month and I was really happy. I knew that there were going to be people who were going to use me for the things I had or because I was friends with the guys. But I quickly discovered that it wasn’t as bad in Rimouski as it was at Shattuck’s or even in New York.
Sidney’s family was coming in from Cole Harbour to watch his debut in the Q. I was nervous, because Sidney and I had only been dating for a month and I was going to meet his parents and his little sister Taylor. The home opener was set for Friday September 12th, and I met his parents the night before when they got in.
Sidney had been at my place when his parents arrived. We’d been cuddling on the couch when his phone rang. “Hello?” He answered. “Hey Dad.” He said. “Yeah, I’m at Kally’s.” He paused. “No I am not always at Kally’s. You just happen to always call when I’m at Kally’s. If you called like, two hours ago I wouldn’t have been.” He chuckled at whatever his Dad said. “You guys are checked into the hotel?” He asked. “Okay. We can meet you there in a bit. No Kally has a car. It’s fine. ‘Kay see you in a bit Dad.”
“Well?” I asked, eyebrows raised.
“Dad wants us to meet them at the hotel for dinner.” He said. “You don’t mind do you? I didn’t really check with you but….”
I smiled softly at him. “It’s no big deal Sidney. You’d already warned me that you were going to introduce me to your parents this weekend. All I want is time to change.”
“I think that can be arranged.” Sidney said kissing me softly. “But only if I get to watch.”
I giggled. “You’re silly sexy.”
“And you’re hot baby. So I guess we’re even.” He replied.
I shook my head and went to change. I didn’t want to dress up too much, but I did want to show some respect for his parents. I glanced at him. “Skirt or pants Sid?” I asked feeling nervous and unsure.
“Just jeans baby.” He said. “You can wear them with a dress shirt and boots, but my parents are probably going to be in jeans and t-shirts.”
I nodded. “Will you at least put on a dress shirt sexy?” I asked. “You look so good in dress shirts.”
“Twist my rubber arm.” He teased, going into my closet.
He kept some clothes here. He didn’t spend a lot of nights here, but even so, he always had clothes in my house. It didn’t hurt that when I went shopping I often bought things for him, which he then insisted on keeping at my place. “So why are your parents staying at a hotel?” I asked as we both got dressed.
Sidney shrugged. “Where else would they stay?” He asked.
“Umm here?” I suggested. “I mean, I know that with you and Eric the Bèlangers don’t exactly have room, but I have three empty bedrooms. There is more then enough room for your parents and your sister.”
He shrugged. “We’ll see.” He said. “I mean, they are going to be here a lot. Well my Dad for sure, Mom and Taylor not so much, since Tay does have to go to school.”
I nodded. “Well if they decide that they don’t want to stay at a hotel they can always stay here.” I said, spraying a little perfume. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“Thanks baby.” He said hugging me. “I appreciate it for them.”
We got in the car and I followed Sid’s directions to the hotel his parents were staying at. They were waiting for us in the lobby. “Mom! Dad!” Sidney called happily, letting go of my hand.
I watched them hug with a smile. I realized that the only time I’d been that excited to see my parents was when Dad met me at the airport when school ended. It must have been nice to be that excited to see your parents all of the time. I thought about my Mom for a second. She was due in February and was going to be on bed rest soon… or so my Dad had told me in our last phone call.
Taylor was clambering on Sidney, telling him all about school and her new teacher. Sidney grinned and hugged her and listened to it all. “Tay can I introduce my girlfriend yet or are you going to keep talking?” He asked teasingly.
“But I haven’t seen you….” She whined.
“Just one second Taylor.” Mrs. Crosby said, smiling at me warmly. “And then you can go back to talking your brother’s ear off.”
Sidney smiled. “Mom, Dad, I know you’ve met Kally before, but I’d like to introduce her to you again. Kally, this is my Mom, Trina, and my Dad, Troy.” He paused. “Mom, Dad, Kallista Van Steen.”
“I thought it was Ormonde-Van Steen.” Troy said questioningly.
“Umm, my Mom and I aren’t exactly speaking right now.” I said. “I umm, had her last name dropped from mine. She’s pretty upset that I’m not going to College right now and that I’m not going to Brown.”
“I thought you were taking classes at the University.” Trina said.
“I am.” I said with a small smile at Sidney. “But I’m taking French, History and French Literature.” I said. “My Mom wants an accountant from Brown.”
“What about your Dad?” Troy asked.
I shrugged. “Dad wants me to do whatever makes me happy.” I said. “So next fall I’ll be going to Princeton.” I paused. “Actually Dad’s coming up for American Thanksgiving.” I said.
“Your parents aren’t together I take it.” Trina said.
“Her Mom’s remarried.” Sidney said with a wicked grin. “And expecting triplets in February.”
“Wow.” Troy said, his eyebrows raised.
I nodded. “Tell me about it.”
“What about me?” Taylor said indignantly.
Sidney rolled his eyes in my direction and I grinned. “Taylor this is my girlfriend Kally. Kally, baby, this is my little sister Taylor.”
“Nice to meet you Taylor.” I said shaking her hand.
“Nice to meet you too.” She said with a smile.
We went in for dinner then and we had a really nice meal. Apparently the Crosby’s had heard nothing but good things about me from Sidney. I could tell however, that Mrs. Crosby was a little, well I don’t know. I think it may have been a little weird for her to watch someone wear the kind of jewelry I was wearing. I was only wearing the pink diamond necklace and ring that Grandmama and Grandpapa had given me for my birthday the year before.
But I was also wearing some expensive regular diamond earrings and a Cartier watch not unlike the one I’d given to their son. We sat around eating and joking and laughing. I had probably eaten more since I’d been in Rimouski then I did in 3 months at Shattuck’s. It was nice, though I knew full well what Grandmama would say about my waistline.
Towards the end of the meal I said. “Sidney tells me that you are going to be here a lot.”
“We’re going to try and be.” Trina said. “Someone has to keep this boy from getting a big head, and while I’m sure you’re doing a very good job of it, but having an absolutely beautiful girlfriend is probably not helping matters.”
“Thank you Mrs. Crosby.” I said with a slight blush. “Either way though, you really shouldn’t have to stay in a hotel every time you’re here. I have a four bedroom house and I’m only using one bedroom.”
“And the closet of two more.” Sidney teased me.
I shrugged. “Only until the renovations are finished.” I said. “Then the extension to the bathroom and the bedroom will be done.”
“I thought you were just leasing the house.” Troy said. “I didn’t think you’d bought it.”
“My Dad is just leasing it.” I said. “But the owner doesn’t mind me doing renovations because it adds value to the house at no cost to him.”
“So what work are you having done?” Trina asked.
“I’m having an extension added to make the master bedroom slightly bigger, give it a walk in closet, and make the bathroom look less like the bathrooms at Shattuck’s.” I said. “Nothing too big or inconvenient or anything like that and the contractor assures me that everything will be done by the end of September.”
Troy nodded. “So you wouldn’t mind having us stay every now and then?” He asked.
“Not at all.” I said. “I mean, the house isn’t as big as my Grandparents places, but we won't be falling all over each other the way that we did at Shattuck’s. I’d love to have you stay with me Mr. Crosby.”
“We’ll consider it next time.” He said with a smile.
Then he and Sidney started talking about the team and their prospects and the team they were going to be up against first. Sidney and I held hands under the table the whole time and I realized as his fingers toyed with mine that I now felt comfortable with the idea of having sex with him.
I mean, not that I didn’t want to before, but now, here we were having dinner with his parents. The only other guy I’d slept with whose parents I’d ever met was Zach and that only came about by accident. Sidney had wanted me to meet his parents. He’d been proud to introduce me to his parents as his girlfriend.
I wanted him. Badly. It was the middle of September and I hadn’t gotten laid since the night of my New Year’s Gala when I’d gone back to the Parisé’s with Zachie. That was the longest I’d gone since I started having sex. It had been nearly 10 months and I realized I was totally antsy. I wanted to jump his bones.
Of course I knew that I wasn’t really going to get that opportunity tonight, because he had to go back to the Bèlangers, with the first game of the season, and his first game in the Q going tomorrow night and all. “Sidney?” I asked, interrupting his Dad. “I should probably get going sweetie.”
He glanced at me. “Oh shit.” He muttered, squeezing my hand conspiratorily. “I left my cell at your place.” He turned to his parents. “If it’s okay I’ll get Kally to give me a ride home.”
His Mom nodded. “That’s fine Sid.” She said. “Just make sure you’re home by 10.”
It was already just after nine. We weren’t going to have much time. “It was very nice meeting you.” I said with a smile to the Crosby’s. “Well and actually getting a chance to talk to you.”
“Nice meeting you too Kally, I’m sure we’ll see you at the game tomorrow.” Troy said with a wink at his son. “Just don’t keep him up too late.”