Chapter 46 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Sidney and I spent the next little while telling Ryan and Dion all the funny stories about our time together in Rimouski, from how we met and got together to meeting Sid’s Mom to me and my girls drunk in Chicoutimi. Ryan and Dion were laughing their asses off.

That’s the nice thing about time Ms. Kulak. It takes thing that seem like huge tragedies and turns them into no big deal, funny things. I mean, if you’d asked me at the time, meeting Trina when I was wearing Sidney’s sweats was like, the biggest disaster ever. Now it was just a freaking hilarious story.

Around 10, people started showing up, empty handed as always, knowing that I’d take care of everything, from booze to food. I knew full well that some of these people were only using me, but at the same time there were people that I was thrilled to see. “Nickie!” A loud male voice called from the door shortly after ten.

I ran and jumped on him. “Johnny!” I cried. “How are you doing?”

“I’ll be better when you break out the keg.” He said. “And I know there’s one here somewhere.” He paused and handed me a bag. “Oh and this is for you.” I opened the bag as Johnny blushed. It was strawberry flavoured vodka, a favourite of mine. “I know that there’s probably tons of booze.” He explained. “But I figured that you could always use more.”

“Thanks sweetie.” I said, kissing him on the cheek. “Oh my gawd. You have to meet my boyfriend. He is so totally adorable.”

Johnny grinned. “I hear he’s not just adorable, the way I hear it, he’s phenomenal.”

I grinned and shrugged. “What can I say?” I said. “I know how to pick them.”

Johnny snorted. “Sure you can Nickie. You keep telling yourself that. If you’d been as good at it as you say you are, well you wouldn’t have picked Coby Scott.”

I shrugged. “Everyone is allowed one mistaken judgment aren’t we Johnny?”

“I suppose.” He said with a teasing smile. “Just don’t make that kind of mistake again Nickie and maybe I’ll forgive you.”

I giggled. Johnny had always been a good friend of mine. I raised my right hand. “I solemnly swear to do my best to not make poor choices in the realm of romance. Should I have doubts, I swear to uphold the tenants of the “bros before hoes” statue of dating.”

Johnny doubled over laughing. “Nickie, have you been in the booze for hours already?” He asked.

I shrugged. “A bit. Plus, I’m just in a silly mood. But you have to meet Sid.” I told him, leading him away from the door and into the party. “I promise that you’ll like him.”

“Are you sure about that?” Caitlin’s voice said nastily. “Personally, I don’t think Johnny will like any guy you’re dating.”

I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “Well then, we all know that you’ll like him Caitlin.” I said in an equally snooty tone. “Because if memory serves me, you particularly like the guys that I am dating. I mean, first you tried to go after Brandon Segal, when we were dating, then it was Coby Scott.”

Johnny and a few other people around us burst out laughing. Caitlin glared at us all. “First off, you were way too young for Brandon. For fuck’s sake, the guy was 18 and you were 14.”

I shrugged. “And I was desperate for my parent’s attention.” I said pointedly. “Then, when I was 15, you went after Coby. Now I’m 16. Are you going to go after Sidney now?” I asked. “Because Sid will see through you, the exact same way Brandon and Coby did.”

Caitlin snorted. “Honey we both know that I managed to get Brandon into bed, as for Coby, well that’s a whole other story. He apparently likes his women older. Much older.” She added with emphasis.

“Shut it Caitlin.” Johnny said tightly, leading me away. “Come on Nickie… where’s this boy of yours?”

I shrugged, not sure what exactly it was that Caitlin was trying to tell me. At that particular moment, I didn’t care either. I wanted a fucking drink, and I wanted Johnny to meet Sidney. I pulled open the mickey of vodka and took a swig, ignoring the burning sensation as it slid down my throat.

Johnny shook his head with a grin. “That’s my Nickie.” He said.

“I beg to differ.” Sidney’s voice said, as he appeared, extending a hand. “She’s my brat.”

Johnny chuckled and shook Sidney’s hand. “Nice too meet you Sidney.” He said. “I’m John Slade.” He told Sid. “Nickie and I’ve known each other since kindergarten.”

“It’s nice to meet you John.” Sidney said with a smile, wrapping an arm possessively around my shoulders.

John smiled and winked at me. “Well I’m going to go find the keg.” He told me, as he leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. “Enjoy the vodka.”

I took another swig. “Oh I most definitely will honey.” I handed the bottle to Sid. “Try some.” I commanded.

Sidney obediently took a swig. “Eck.” He said. “I don’t see how you can drink this stuff straight.”

“Practice.” I told him honestly, taking the bottle from him and taking another swig. “Are you having fun?” I asked.

Sidney nuzzled my neck. “I can think of many other fun things that we could be doing.” He murmured kissing me softly.

I giggled, arching into him. “That’s what you’re always thinking about.” I pointed out. “But phenom, we can’t do that all of the time.”

Sidney shrugged. “I like my life to be simple Nickie.” He told me. “Eat, sleep, play hockey, drink, have sex. It’s easy and comfortable.”

I shook my head. “And what exactly are you going to do when I’m here and you’re in Rimouski?” I asked.

“Eat, sleep, play hockey, drink, wish I was having sex.” Sidney replied quickly with a grin.

I laughed and shook my head, kissing him softly on the cheek. “Have I mentioned lately that I love you phenom?”

Sidney grinned wickedly as he leaned down to kiss me passionately. “I believe I made you scream something of the sort earlier this afternoon.” He mumbled as his lips covered mine.
We were in the corner of the living room kissing for awhile before a squeal of excitement caused us to break apart. “Nickie!”

I grinned, turning away from Sidney, conscious of his arms, still wrapped tightly around my waist. “Morgan!” I cried, equally excited. “Oh my gawd girl how are you?”

Morgan eyed Sidney. “Not as good as you are apparently.” She replied. “Who’s the hottie?”

“Morg do you live buried under a rock?” I asked with a giggle. “This is my boyfriend Sidney “the Next One” Crosby. Sidney this is my bff Morgan Gilberts.”

“Bff?” Sidney asked, looking confused.

“Best Friend Forever.” I told him with a smile. “Morgan and I got it off some cheesy family channel movie we loved when we were kids… Zeenon or something.”

Sidney shrugged. “Well I’ll leave you two to catch up.” He said. “My hands cannot be empty for too long tonight, and since you’ve stolen my girl from me Morgan, I think I need a drink.”

“Goof.” I muttered, shaking my head.

“So where on earth did you find him?” Morgan asked, watching him walk away appreciatively.

I shrugged. “Morgan, he’s like this hockey star who plays in Rimouski. Tante Amélie billets one of his teammates Mark, who totally bailed on this weekend by the way. I tried to bring him and Danny, but they had to go home or some shit.”

Morgan shrugged. “You know that I only have one use for hockey players.” She pointed out, in case I’d forgotten.

I giggled. “I know Morg.” I said. “They’re only good for fucking, and only because of the stamina.”

“Damn straight.” She replied.

“I so have to introduce you to Neufy.” I said giggling. “That is, if you want to get any tonight too.”

“Too?” She asked raising her eyebrows. “Last I heard Nicole Roy, you were clinging to your virginity like a drowning man will cling to, well anything.”

I shrugged. “It’s gone.” I told her simply. “Since February. Of course, if you bothered to call or keep in touch, you’d know that.”

Morgan gave me her trademark shrug. “Boys to do, places to fuck, people to piss off. You know the drill Nickie… hell you almost invented it. Minus the fucking part.”

“Well come meet Dion.” I told her. “He’s a honey. He played with Sid on Team Canada over Christmas, and our Grandparents are friends, so we’ve known each other forever.”

“Later ‘kay?” She said, glancing around. “I’m going to check out whose here for local talent before I worry about imports.”

“You do that.” I said, taking another swig of my vodka. “And find me when you realize there’s nothing worth having but my imports.”

Morgan giggled and headed into the kitchen to grab another drink. I cranked the music and started the makeshift dance floor in the great room, grinning at Sid, who would never dream of joining me on the dance floor. He was watching me intently and I was dancing just for him and he knew it.

The one problem with living in the suburbs is that your neighbours tend not to like loud parties. So I wasn’t surprised when, around one am, the doorbell rang and two police officers were standing on my stoop.

I flung my arms around Riley’s neck. “Riley!” I cried.

“Nicole.” He replied sternly as he set me down. “Why am I not surprised that the first weekend you’re home we have to come out and visit you?”

Riley was Caitlin’s older brother, and he’d been a police officer for the past 3 years… so basically since my party throwing days had started. He was ALWAYS the cop they sent out when I was throwing a party. “Umm because its exactly the kind of irresponsible thing that I would do?” I asked pertly.

Riley grinned and shook his head. “You know the deal Nickie. Lower the music and try to clear some people out please.”

I pouted. “But it’s the first time I’ve been home since New Years.” I whined.

“And your neighbour’s are wishing that you’d go back.” Riley joked.

“I am.” I said with a shrug. “I fly out on Tuesday morning.”

“Well that’s too bad Nickie.” Riley said with a sympathetic smile. “But that doesn’t change what you need to do honey, and that’s turn the music down and clear a few people out.”

I sighed. “Consider it done.” I told him closing the door.

I glanced around for Sidney, to see if he could help me clear some people out, but he was no where to be found. I sighed and grabbed Dion, who quickly helped me clear out about 20 people I either didn’t know, or didn’t want to know.

When we were done, I said. “Thanks honey.” As I kissed him on the cheek. “Have you seen Crosby?” I asked.

Dion shrugged. “Last time I saw him he was in the kitchen with the keg, but that was a long time ago.”

I sighed. “Well I guess I’m just going to have to go looking for the boy then. Trust him to manage to get lost.”

Dion laughed. “Good luck with that Nicky. I’m off to find the keg.”

I chuckled and headed off, doing laps and looking for my boyfriend. Little did I know that I wasn’t exactly going to like what I found….