Part 11 - Pure Gold

I didn’t actually drink that much. It wasn’t a good idea. Besides, I planned on waiting until the end of the tournament. Then we’d either drink out of sorrow or celebration. I mean, I know I talked about being drunk before I got to meet the guys, but now I would far rather spend time with the team then spend time with drunken fans. Canada won the game easily, 5-0.

After the game, Brent and I headed downstairs to the locker room. We were leaving for Grand Forks the next morning so I knew full well that the boys would be busy doing a lot of press. But that didn’t mean that I couldn’t sneak a quick congratulations in there somewhere. As we made our way downstairs we made our way past a large crowd of fans that were waiting for autographs and stuff.

I heard a voice call my name as we made our way past the crowd. I waved to Ashley and her friends, but Brent ushered me forward. I was grateful that he did too, because they would probably want something from me. Well they would definitely want me to introduce them to some of the players, and after the way Melissa had treated me, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do that. Ashley was a nice enough girl and all, but still.

After the last game, I hadn’t been allowed in the dressing room, and I figured after Sidney only managed one point tonight, that I probably wasn’t going to be allowed in again. But to my surprise, Brent ushered me into the holding area where all the media was waiting. He glanced at me. “If anyone asks, you’re Neufy’s cousin.”

I laughed. “That’s what Sid told some drunk guys.” I told him.

“I know.” Brent replied. “That’s what we told Coach we were gonna tell people if they asked, and he shrugged and said that we should say you were his sister because you might not be related by blood, but you are his sister.”

I shook my head and blushed. “I didn’t know that Coach knew so much about me.” I said, feeling a little self-conscious.

Brent shrugged. “From what I understand back in the day you used to be quite the topic of conversation in Red Deer… and Brent has been there for awhile. Plus D is close to both of you. Do you know a lot about Coach?” He asked pointedly.

The truth was, I DID know a lot about Coach. D talks about him and the team constantly. I nodded mutely, realizing how much Coach probably does know about me. Brent smiled. “Stay here. The guys will come talk to you when they have a minute.”

I nodded, still thinking. I wasn’t sure that I liked the idea that Brent Sutter knew so much about me. I didn’t have to do much waiting before the guys who were talking to the media made their way out of the dressing room, some still in their pads. Sidney came out and immediately came up to me. He was still in his pads. “Hey Drew.” He said trying to give me a hug.

“Ew Sid!” I squealed. “You’re sweaty and you smell.”

He laughed. “Sorry.” He said. “So, umm what did you think?”

“I think you should have gone to bed when I told you to last night.” I said quietly so only he could here me, with a small smile. “You were sluggish at the morning skate I heard, and you only had one point tonight.”

He shrugged with a sheepish grin. “And I would have gone to bed when you told me to.” He replied. “If you’d been willing to join me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Go talk to the press.” I said. “The guy from TSN looks like he’s going to wet his pants waiting for you.”

“If you say so… Mom.” He said with a laugh ignoring my glare, walking towards the guy from TSN.

I stood around for a little while waiting. More guys made their way past, always stopping to say something to me. It was nice of them, and it made me wonder who was talking about me… Colin, Brent, Sid or D, because really, those four were the only ones who knew me well enough to say anything, and all the guys seemed to have heard something about me. It was like being surrounded by a whole group of guys like Fez and Colin and D. I decided that I liked it.

My cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I saw that it was my Mom (thank goodness for call display). I sighed. I didn’t want to talk to her NOW. I was having too much fun. Plus I was just a little tipsy. I hate talking to my parents under normal circumstances. I knew I had to call them soon to let them know that I wasn’t going to be going home for Christmas (I hadn’t need to discuss that with Dion to know that) soon, since it was only a couple of days before Christmas.

But that didn’t mean that I wanted to do it now. I turned my phone off and put it away. “Who was it Drew?” D asked, finishing with some newspaper guy.

“My Mom.” I said rolling my eyes. “She and Dad are trying to push me to fly home tomorrow and spend Christmas with each of them, miss the game on Christmas, and then fly down to Grand Forks.”

D shook his head in disgust. “Don’t they get it?” He asked. “They are the reason you are here.”

“Apparently they don’t.” I said, a little louder then I’d intended. I lowered my voice. “I just don’t want to talk to either of them right now you know?”

D grinned. “You’ve been drinking.” He said, still grinning like a moron. “That’s the only time you absolutely refuse to talk to your parents.”

“Shh.” I said. “The media does not need to hear that part. Why the hell do you have to know me so well?”

“Because he’s a lucky man.” Sidney said, coming up on his.

I rolled my eyes. “D? A man? Doubtful.” I said with a snort.

D mock glared at me. “I’ll have you know that at 6’3”, 210lbs, I am every inch a man.”

I laughed and patted his cheek. “D, sweetie, how many times do I have to tell you. There is no….”

I trailed off as he continued, reciting my little speech from memory, having heard it enough times. “Such thing as a man, only guys and boys. Boys give you hope, because you think they might someday be men, whereas guys will always just be guys.”

“Damn straight.” I said.

Sidney raised his eyebrows. “So what’s Neufy?” He asked, interested.

“To me.” I said. “D is a boy. Because I yet hold out some hope for him. However, ask the other
girls around Red Deer, and you’ll hear he’s a guy.”

“And what am I?” Sid asked flirtatiously.

D glowered at him, but I just wrinkled my nose. “I don’t know you well enough to know.” I told him. “Right now, however, both of you really smell.”

They both laughed. “Fine, we’ll go shower.” D said, knowing full well that I hated the smell of sweaty hockey player (or sweaty football player for that matter). Because the pads smell of old sweat, and then you add the new sweat to it and the combination just absolutely reeks. (That’s for those of you who have never had the pleasure of being around either a football player or a hockey player after a game… or practice for that matter.)

“Thank you.” I said, wrinkling my nose again. “You’re both great, honestly, but right now, standing next to you for much longer may cause me to go all faint.”

Sid inched his way closer to me. “That sounds great. Then I could catch you.”

D rolled his eyes and grabbed Sidney’s arm. “Let’s go Darryl, before you make a total fool of yourself.”

I laughed. “Don’t worry about that D.”

“Yeah.” Sid replied, grinning at me. “I’ve already done that.”

“Several times by my count.” I said, grinning back him.

For his part, Dion just started muttering under his breath about how we were meant for each other because we were both idiots. Sidney smiled softly at me. “Well.” He said, standing close to me.

“Well.” I replied, feeling like a moron, my mouth suddenly dry.

“I should go shower.” He said, his eyes burning into mine.

“Yeah, you should.” I replied. “You smell.”

His smile stayed soft. “I know.” He said. “But your eyes won’t let me go.”

I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. There was something in those chocolate brown eyes. Something that he was hiding from the world that was constantly pressuring him to be the next one. I wanted to know what he was hiding. I blushed, realizing that this was the first time in my long (and I had meant it when I said I’d been around the block a few times) association with guys that my body had reacted this way to a guy.

I shoved him playfully in the direction of the dressing room. “You stink.” I said firmly. “Haven’t you ever seen those stupid Red Zone commercials? Scent is the strongest sense attached to memory. Is this how you want me to remember you?”

Sidney laughed, sniffing. “God no.” He said, turning away. “Wait here for me, D and I will make sure you get a cab okay.”

“I can take care of myself.” I said again, more to make the point then anything else. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to see them again, but a girl has her pride after all. “Besides, the way you keep calling me Mom, you’d think I was taking care of you too.”

He turned slightly. “Quit complaining Drew. You know you love us.”

I grinned. “Of course I do.” I said. “Why else would I put up with you?”

Sid grinned boyishly. “My charming good looks of course.” He replied.

“Well that explains you.” I said grinning back at him. “But then why do I put up with Dion?”

“Because….” He said with a wink and a quick glance at all the media people looking back and forth between us clearly trying to figure out who I was. “He’s family.”