Chapter 34 - An American Flavour

I glared at Sidney, and stood, turning to walk away. As expected, Sidney followed grabbing my hand. “Kally wait.” He told me. “I’m sorry baby.”
I shrugged. “Sidney… just… just… why?” I asked him simply, even though I was so upset I was stammering. “Why the fuck are you bitching about me to people who don’t even know me? At least when I complained about you, which I readily admit I did, I kept my complaints to people who knew both of us.”
Sidney sighed and ran an impatient hand through his hair. “It was totally stupid of me Kally, but you have to admit. I’ve done a lot of stupid things this year. A lot of things that I am not very proud of.”
I gave him a small smile, relieved to see that he wasn’t totally pissed off at me for asking him why. “Yeah, you have done a lot of stupid things this year kid. I guess I was kind of hoping that you’d learned.”
Sidney shrugged. “What can I say Kally?” He asked me, sounding tired. “I’m slow baby, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you.”
I sighed. “I love you too sexy.” I whispered softly, feeling as exhausted as he sounded. “But I do not love Ashley, and if she makes another snarky comment like that, she’s going to find herself out on her ass.”
“I’ll tell Jeff to talk to her.” Sidney promised. “Hell, I’ll even talk to her if you want me too Kally.”
“Actually…..” I said slowly, trying to keep the jealousy from my voice. “I’d prefer if you didn’t… talk to her that is.”
Sidney didn’t say anything, so after an uncomfortable silence, I asked. “So do you want another drink?”
“Yeah, actually another corona would be good babe.” Sidney told me with a smile as he headed back to the game.
I wandered off to get him a corona and I tried to calm myself down, but on the inside I was seething. How dare that bitch come to my suite and say things like that about me? For that matter, how dare Sidney discuss me with a stranger like that?
Instead of calming myself down, those kind of thoughts were really just working me up. I sighed and took a deep breath. I had to calm myself down before I snapped and said something that I was going to regret in the morning. I forced myself to take several more deep breaths.
“Are you okay?” A male voice asked gently.
I just shrugged. “You sound like you’re hyperventilating or something.” Mikey Richards said. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked, surprising me by actually sounding concerned about me.
I shrugged again. “As okay as I’ve been in awhile.” I told him bluntly.
“You looked pretty pissed at Sid.” He said observantly.
“I’ve been pretty much permanently pissed at Sid since I moved to Rimouski.” I told him with another shrug. “It’s not really big news Richards.”
“Then why are you guys still together?” Mike asked quietly. “I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”
I shrugged. “We love each other.” I said. “We don’t necessarily understand each other right now, but we do love each other.”
“Is that enough though?” Mike asked, looking at me carefully.
“I don’t know.” I said. “But I have to try.”
“Why?” He asked.
“Because Sidney’s the first guy who cared about me for who I was, and who didn’t just want to fuck me.” I answered honestly. “We’ve had some trouble since I moved to Rimouski… and I’m not sure I appreciate him discussing me with strangers, so I’m not going to do the same.”
Mikey shrugged. “I’m not exactly a stranger Kally.” He pointed out. “You know me, and Sid knows me. It’s totally not the same thing as him talking about you with Jeff’s cousin. I’m worried about both of you, because you look so unhappy and he’s been a mess the entire time the team has been together. Ashley on the other hand… well she wants him in the worst possible way.”
“I didn’t notice.” I said dryly.
Mikey laughed uncomfortably. “I figured you had and that’s part of what has your panties in a bunch.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “My panties are not in a bunch thank you. If only because that is totally impossible. I’m wearing a thong.”
To my surprise, that made him turn beet red. I grinned, feeling pleased and grabbed Sidney his beer. “Wait a second.” He said quickly, grabbing my wrist.
“What?” I demanded irritably as I shook my hand free of beer, which, of course had spilt all over me when he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him.
“Don’t stay with Sidney just because he’s the next big thing.” Mike advised me. “If you two aren’t happy together and he’s already cheated on you, how do you think things are going to be when he hits the NHL?” He asked.
I shrugged. “If I don’t try, I’ll never find out. Besides isn’t it better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all right?” I sighed. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do here Mikey – get Sidney an easy way out, bros before hoes and all that shit, but I love him and I’m not just going to let that go.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do.” Mike said a surprisingly passionate look in his eyes as he gazed down at me. “Kally, I am trying to give you an easy way out.”
I smiled and kissed him softly on the cheek. “That’s sweet Mikey.” I told him. “But right now, Sidney is the only one I want.”
Mikey shrugged, and reaching down grabbed my hand, twining his fingers with mine. “We’ll see.” He said, squeezing my hand in his. “If things don’t work out with Sidney… well I see just how beautiful and intelligent you are.” He told me, his voice low and sensual. “And I’ll see in Grand Forks next year, one way or the other.”
I laughed and shook my head. “It’s nothing personal Mikey….” I said with a smile. “You’re a great guy and all, but I hope that when I do see you in Grand Forks, its with Sidney’s hand in mine.”
“That’s fair.” Mikey said. “But don’t be offended if I personally hope for the opposite.” He told with a shrug. “Because I’ve watched you over the past week and a half Kally, and I’ve watched him too. I’m not sure that he deserves you.”
“Well I’m not sure that I deserve him Mikey.” I told him with a small smile. “So I guess we’re even.”
With that I turned and walked away. That was, well, surprising to say the very least. I mean, here I’d thought Mikey was trying to give Sidney an easy out and instead he was really trying to give me one because he liked me. It was weird, especially considering he’d never really said very much to me.
He hadn’t been openly flirtatious the way Josh had been. Then again, I don’t think many people would be very flirtatious the way that Josh was. Josh was fun. I smiled to myself. All the boys should be here. I mean, they’d all lost. They all deserved to get drunk on my Dad.
“Hey Brent.” I said to Brent Burns, who was busy flirting with some chick. “Call the rest of the guys and get them up here.”
Brent smirked. “Getting back at Sidney because Ashley kissed him huh?” He said. “God you are such a bitch Kally.” He paused, grinning now. “I like it.”
Truthfully I had no idea that Ashley had kissed Sidney. But I wasn’t about to let Brent know that. I smirked and winked at him. “Turnabout is fair play Burns.”
Brent grinned. “Done and done hun.” He said, turning away from the girl and heading towards the phone.
As soon as his back was turned I fumed. Sidney had kissed Ashley and he hadn’t told me? Was Mikey right? Was Sidney just going to keep cheating on me and cheating on me? Because if that was the case, I’d take Mike’s easy out clause. I wasn’t the kind of girl to sit back while my boyfriend cheated on me. It just wasn’t in me to do that.
I went back to the living room only to find that Sid was no longer there. I glanced around. “Tony have you seen Sid?” I asked Anthony Stewart.
“He got up a little while ago.” Tony said with a disinterested shrug. “Wandered off. Not sure where he went.”
“Oh.” I said slowly. “I brought him his beer the ass.”
Tony laughed. “Check the buffet.” He said, indicating the dinning room with his head. “I think he mentioned something about being hungry.”
I took Tony’s advice and wandered into the dinning room. Only Sidney wasn’t in there either. I wandered from room to room, seeing all of the people and suddenly wishing that our suite wasn’t quite so big. I mean, I loved having money, don’t get me wrong, but I just wanted to be with Sidney.
He was no where to be found. I glanced around at all of the people in the suite… people that I barely knew, and I sighed in frustration. Maybe Mikey was right and Sidney and I weren’t meant to be together.
I sighed again. The noise of the party was starting to get to me. To press me. I rubbed my aching temples and wandered back into my bedroom. Instantly I was swept up in Sidney’s arms. “It took you long enough Kally.” He murmured as his lips slid over mine.
I moved my hands to protest but lost, giving myself up to his lips. When Sidney finally decided that it was time to come up for air I pushed him away. “Why did you kiss Ashley Carter?” I demanded.
Sidney ran an aggravated hand through his hair. “Who on earth told you that I kissed Ashley?” He demanded.
“Burns.” I spat.
“Fucking asshole.” Sidney muttered.
“Why do you say that?” I asked, hands on my hips. “The way I’m starting to see it kid, there’s only one asshole in this suite and he’s standing right in front of me.”
“Kally, baby listen to me.” Sidney said, his hand reaching out and pulling me back into his body.
“Why?” I asked tiredly. “I’m tired Sidney. I’ve spent months worrying about being pregnant without you. I’ve spent months worrying about our relationship… without you. I feel like I’m doing everything without you Sidney, when all I did was move to Rimouski to be with you.”
“I know.” Sidney said, his voice strangely strangled and hoarse. “And I’ve been nothing but an asshole Kally.”
“You could say that again.” I said, folding my arms across my chest, refusing to back down. “Sidney I am tired of feeling as if I am the only person in this relationship. The last time I checked it took two people to make things work, not one. I’m sick and tired of you checking out on me all of the time.”
Sidney’s head sunk lower. “Kally I’m sorry.” He said. “I haven’t done right by you at all.”
“Damn straight you haven’t.” I snapped. “I’m tired of being alone Sidney. So you need to make a decision.”
“What decision is that?” He asked, his voice still hoarse.
“Do you love me enough to just be with me?” I asked. “I mean, maybe I’m just hold over from your time at Shattuck’s. Maybe I was just a piece of Americanna that you thought you could enjoy while you were in the US and forget about when you came back home.” I said with a shrug. “I don’t know anymore Sid, and I’m not sure that you do.”
“What on earth are you trying to say Kally?” He demanded.
I took a deep breath, worried that I was going to go too far, but knowing full well that I had to. “What I’m trying to say Sidney is that if I was just some type of American flavour for your time at Shattuck’s then maybe kid, you need to let me know before this shit blows up in your face.”