Part 15 - Pure Gold

The next afternoon, after a Team Canada practice, I left in a procession of cabs (along with the bus that the guys were on) for the airport. D’s parents and I decided to share a cab, and most of the parents and families were on the same flight as the guys. Hockey Canada had arranged it that way, knowing full well that it was hard for these families to give up their sons for Christmas.
In the case of D’s parents this was the second year in a row they were giving up their son.

We chatted pleasantly on the way to the airport… I mean, I’ve known his family for what seems like forever now, so we caught up with each other. It was nice. They asked about my parents, and I gave them the brief version. I was honest. I told them that my parents were unwittingly using me to hurt each other and that D had decided for me (it was a long running joke that D liked to make decisions for me because I could be so indecisive).

We got to the airport and, to my surprise, Reggie Beauchemin was immediately by my side, helping me with my bags (and since the shopping trip, I had several more of them). “Thanks.” I said smiling up at him.

“No problem.” He said with a grin, giving me the once over. “I haven’t seen much of you. Where have you been hiding yourself?” He asked.

I shrugged. “I shop a lot.” I said. “The shopping isn’t all it could be in Red Deer.”

He laughed. “PA’s the same way.”

I shuddered. “I don’t know how you can live there.” I said. “I hate PA with a passion.”

“So I’ve heard.” He said with a chuckle. “Brent told me about it.”

“Oh.” I said, unsure of what else to say.

I hadn’t worn anything too risqué, I mean, after all, we were in Winnipeg in December. I had on a tight pair of jeans, a pair of high heeled boots (spike heeled, pointed toe, very sexy boots), and I was wearing a tight leather jacket. I knew I looked good so I smiled up at him.

Instantly, Sidney was by my side. He gave me a quick hug, glowering at Reggie as he did so. “Hey Drew.” He said letting me go.

“Hey Sid.” I said, turning slightly so that only Reggie saw me wink, then he chuckled and walked away.

“What was that about?” He asked, glaring after Reggie.

“You mean you didn’t notice Sid?” I asked teasingly.

He glared at no one in particular. “I noticed.” He said darkly.

I elbowed him in the stomach and grinned at him. “Sid, sweetie.” I added the last part in a low whisper. “I’m an attractive woman. You’re not going to be the only guy who’s attracted to me. You’re a hottie too. I’m not going to be the only woman who’s attracted to you.”

He smiled slightly. “I guess you’re right.”

I patted his arm lightly. “I know I’m right.”

He laughed. “Okay, fine you’re right. But that doesn’t mean that I have to like it.”

“You don’t.” I said. “But you do have to deal with it.”

“You know this is the most fucked up thing that has ever happened to me right?”

I shook my head. “And you think this is something I do every single day right Sidney?” I replied with a smile.

He laughed and shoved me gently with his shoulder as he pushed the cart with my bags (heaped on it by Reggie) into the airport. “I guess not Drew.” He said, his eyes smiling now too.

“So have you talked to your Dad yet?” I asked gingerly, knowing full well that I was bringing up an unpleasant topic.

He shrugged. “Yeah, kind of.” He said.

“Kind of?” I asked eyebrows raised.

“He talked.” Sid said, rolling his eyes. “I listened. Then he refused to do the same.”

“Sid….” I said slowly.

“Please baby, I don’t need another lecture.” He said, looking at me with pleading eyes.

“Sorry.” I said, smiling up at him.

He shrugged. “There’s hockey to be played, so we’ll deal with it later.” He said. “My Dad does love me, but he worries constantly. The lockout really worries him.”

“I, personally, have given up on NHL hockey a long time ago.” I said. “I mean, as a big a Flames fan as the next person in Calgary or Red Deer, but still. Gary Bettman needs to stop torturing us and just cancel the season already.”

“The Flames huh?” He said.

“My boy’s a Flames draft pick Sid.” I pointed out. “So damn straight Ima cheer for the Flames. Honestly, I almost HOPED someone would get hurt so D might get the call during the run to the Cup last year.”

He laughed. “My Dad was a Habs draft pick.” He said. “Montreal is my first choice, because I’ve spent so much time in Quèbec the past couple of years.”

“You know you’ll probably go to like, Columbus or some other shitty expansion team right?” I asked.

“I know.” He said. “But it would be nice to be able to go to a team like Montreal with a winning tradition.”

“Of course, they may do a lottery draft this year.” I said. “You know, just put thirty balls in one of those bingo thingy’s and then whoever’s ball comes out first picks first. Then the GMs can trade and stuff like they always do, and you can get drafted.”

“’Bingo thingy’?” He asked with a grin. “Is that a technical term Drew?”

I shrugged. “You know damn well what I mean.” I replied, shoving him with my shoulder playfully. “Besides, don’t tell me that you really want to go play in Europe.”

He shrugged. “I want to play where I’m going to be challenged. Part of me thinks that if I can’t go pro next year, I’d like to come play in the Dub if I could, not that I actually can, but at least the defense would be tighter.”

I nodded. “Yeah, but at least you get this.” I said. “I mean, you’re a whole lot younger then these guys.”

“And a whole lot better.” He pointed out.

I grinned. “That too.”

“I’m sorry about last night Drew.” He looked at me apologetically.

“No worries.” I said. “It’s over, it’s done, and it’s forgotten.”

“Thanks.” He said, looking visibly relived.

“You don’t have to apologize again Sid.” I said, realizing he still felt a little uncomfortable.

“Yes I did.” He said. “I messed up, and I wanted to make sure that you knew I was man enough
to admit it.”

He looked so eager to please. It was absolutely adorable. I reached up and ruffled his hair. “How sweet.” I said shaking my head with a smile.

“Its not hard to be sweet to you Drew.” He said, with a small smile of his own, showing me fairly clearly how unsure he was about how I actually taken things last night.

“If you were legal, I’d kiss you for that.” I said, knowing full well that I was blushing, because what he’d said had been sweet too.

He grinned, clearly feeling better then he had been. “If I were legal Drew, you’d be doing a lot more then just kissing me and you know it.”

I shook my head. “You, Sidney, have your mind buried in the gutter under a deep pile of filth.”

“So is yours.” He replied. “Because if it weren’t this wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.”

I shook my head with a chuckle. “You know if your parents heard any of our conversations I would never be allowed anywhere near you again.”

He shrugged. “They could try.” He said. “But it wouldn’t work.”

We had this conversation while we entered the airport, checked our bags, and made our way
through security. Our seats weren’t anywhere near each others, and I don’t think that made Sidney too happy. Personally I would have loved to spend more time with him, but somehow the more time I spent with him, the more dangerous it seemed to be. The closer I got to him the closer I got to forgetting all about the fact that I was so much older then he was.

I was watching him talk to his parents when an apparently somewhat cranky D mumbled. “Drew.” As he gave me a hug, startling me slightly.

“Frick D, you scared me.” I grumbled.

He just laughed, looking a little more awake then he had a few seconds before. “Good.” He said.

I shook my head. “Ass.” I muttered.

“I know.” He said shoving me playfully with his shoulder. “So Reggie told me he got glowered at for helping you.”

I laughed. “Reggie got glowered at for checking me out while he was helping me. Not that I minded the attention or anything, but Sid wasn’t exactly pleased with it.”

D laughed. “You know, if anyone had asked me if I believed in love at first sight before this I probably would have said no.”

“No one said anything about love.” I snapped.

“No one has to.” He replied. “It’s all over both of your faces pretty much all of the time.”

I shook my head. “Whatever D.”

“Ha!” He said. “You only say that when you know that I’m right.”

“Umm no.” I said. “I only say that when I know that you are so bound and determined that you ARE right that you aren’t going to give it up and I’ve decided that its not worth it to fight you on
it.”

He shrugged. “Whatever Drew.” He mocked me.

I shoved him playfully. “Ass.” I said. “So you guys skate today when we get to Grand Forks right?” I asked.

“Yep.” He said. “But not right away I don’t think, and its not going to be much of a workout, but you and I are going to go lift.” He told me. “They have a killer weight room and it’s all just for hockey. It’s the best facility I have ever seen.”

“Wow.” I said, knowing full well that if D was impressed then it was going to be pretty darn impressive. “Better then the Flames?” I asked.

He paused, thinking. “Well, I mean, the Flames are set up for pros. This is for University athletes, but its still one of the most impressive facilities I’ve ever seen.”

I nodded. “So better then the U of C or U of A huh?”

“By far.” He replied. “I don’t think any other University in North America can boast a facility like this one. So you are going to come work out with me.”

“Wouldn’t you rather work out with one of the guys on the team?” I asked, because even though D and I do run together in the off season, he always complains that I can’t keep up with him.
“Someone who can keep up with you?”

“And leave you to get all fat and out of shape?” He said poking my flat stomach teasingly. “Never.”

“I’ll have you know that I got a lot of exercise while we were here.” I said indignantly.

“Yeah, you exercised your wallet.” He said. “With all that shopping you did.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “I’ll have you know that shopping requires a lot of athletic skills, like endurance, hand eye coordination, and defensive skills. You couldn’t keep up with me in a mall.”

Dion laughed and rolled his eyes. “Drew that’s because no one can keep up with you in a mall.”

“True.” I replied with a grin as we handed our tickets to the flight attendants and headed down
the smelly walk way thingy to board the plane. “But that doesn’t stop people from trying.”

“I’m sure that Darryl would give it a valiant effort.” He said. “But while I don’t mind choosing what you wear, and in fact, I prefer it, I’ll leave the shopping part to you. Good choice today by the way.”

“Thanks.” I said with a smirk. “Nice suit.”

“Shut up.” He muttered, loosening his tie slightly. “I bet you didn’t say the same to Darryl.”

“Of course not.” I said shaking my head with a grin. “That’s because I don’t know whether or not he can’t stand to wear a suit the way you can’t, and because he actually looks GOOD in one.”

“I look good in a suit.” He replied indignantly.

“Sure you do….” I said, teasing him.

“Bitch.” He muttered.

“Ass.” I replied grinning, raising my eyebrows.

D laughed and hugged me around the shoulders. “I’m glad you came Drew.” He said. “It’ll be nice to spend Christmas with my best friend.”

I hugged him back hard, fighting back tears. “Probably the best way D. Probably the best way.”