Part 20 - Pure Gold

Sidney and I had a decent dinner with his family. His parents had clearly decided that they liked me, so I went to bed that night, after I had convinced Sid to go to be alone of course, happy. That feeling of contentment was sadly ended bright and early the next morning when Dion pounded on the door to my hotel room.

Now don’t get me wrong. Dion didn’t say or do anything to ruin my good mood. He just woke me up way too damned early for a vacation. “God damnit D.” I muttered as I opened the door for him, running a hand through my tangled hair. “I know I promised that I’d be yours all day today but today didn’t have to start quite so early did it?” I asked.

D just laughed. “Getting up early is good for you.” He said. “Now hurry up and get dressed. We don’t want to miss out on the buffet.”

“No.” I muttered as I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that read “I <3 Canadian Hockey
Players” and grabbed a pair of matching Nikes (red and white of course). “You don’t want to miss the buffet.”

“There’s pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream.” He tried to cajole me. “And breakfast sausage.”

“I’m up and I’m dressed.” I replied. “Isn’t that enough? Or would you like me to do a happy dance that I’m up at eight in the morning?”

“A smile would be sufficient.” He replied with all due seriousness. “Let your best friend know that you’re happy to see him.”

I rolled my eyes and gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I am always happy to see you D. I’m just a little LESS happy to see you before ten am when I’m on a frickin’ vacation.”

He laughed. “Well let’s go.” He said. “I’m hungry.”

I rolled my eyes again. “D you’re always hungry.”

“Very true.” He answered with a grin.

We headed down to the restaurant where, true to his word, a huge buffet was set up. We got food (D had two heaping plates for himself) and sat down at a secluded table together. “So how was your dinner with the Crosby’s last night?” He asked.

I shrugged, taking a bite of pancake. “S’ok.” I said. “I think his parents actually like me now.”

“Of course the do Drew.” D said, with a lot more confidence then I have ever felt on this particular issue. “Everyone likes you.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Yeah right.”

“Okay, well everyone who actually takes the time to get to know you likes you.” He corrected himself.

“Better.” I replied.

“Well at least the Crosby’s are taking the time to get to know you.” D pointed out.

“True.” I said. “But I think my taking the kid and teaching him how to two-step has something to do with it.”

“How did that go by the way?” He asked.

“Good.” I said before sticking my tongue out at him. “Despite the fact that you and Getter and Mikey totally bailed on me.”

D shrugged. “We can only handle watching you and the kid flirt for so long Drew.” He said. “If he were legal or you weren’t a teacher I’d tell you two to just fuck and have done with it.”

“I am well aware of what you would say. Or do you not remember what you told Stolly when we went to visit your parents in Edmonton last year?” I asked, reminding him of the last time he’d said something along those lines.

Dion grinned and chuckled at the memory. “And you two fucked and had done with it.” He pointed out. “And I didn’t have to deal with watching the two of your toy with each other any more.” He paused chuckling. “Seems to me it worked out very well for everyone involved.”

“True.” I said with a grin of my own. Jarett and I hadn’t really been that into each other, but we had definitely craved each other’s bodies. We were friends now, which was cool, but still D hadn’t needed to get involved. Sometimes I just think that he likes meddling in my life. “But we didn’t need your encouragement. In fact, I think Stolly was just looking for your permission.”

D laughed again. “It’s pretty sad when a guy who’s already an NHLer is scared of a guy in Major Junior.”

“D do you ever actually WATCH the highlights of your games?” I asked, rolling my eyes. “I mean, that hit you laid on that guy from Finland last year was like a fucking freight train hitting a compact car. If I didn’t know that you were actually a big giant teddy bear on the inside I’d be scared of you!”

He laughed. “No you wouldn’t.” D replied. “You aren’t scared of anything Drew.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “While I appreciate your faith in me, I don’t think that’s entirely accurate Dion.”

D rolled his eyes. “Okay, you’re scared of ending up like your parents, you’re scared of dying alone, you’re scared that the NHL won’t come back and that Sidney will end up in Europe and I’ll end up in Connecticut, you’re scared that Sidney’s parents won’t like you, and you’re scared that Sidney just wants in your pants.” He rolled his eyes again. “Not that that is even REMOTELY possible. The kid looks at you as if you hung the fucking moon. Did I cover it?”

I grinned at him wickedly. “You forgot my fear of cheese.”

D shook his head. “You aren’t actually scared of the cheese. You are scared of the cheese becoming fat. Two different things.”

“Either way, I avoid cheese like the plague.” I pointed out. “Except when drinking, because nothing goes better with beer then pizza. Well, except maybe wings.”

“You know I want to be there.” He said, completely confusing me.

“Be where?” I asked.

“There when you get drunk around Sidney for the first time.” He said with a chuckle. “It will be absolutely hilarious.”

“Gee thanks for all your loving support.” I said sarcastically.

“Aw come on Drew.” D said taking a huge bite of bacon, eggs and hash-browns all at once. He paused, chewing and swallowing. “I mean, you are funny when you drink, and if you’re horny then you get more then just a little touchy-feely. He’ll think he’s died and gone to heaven.”

“Haha.” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “And who says that I’m ever going to drink around the kid?”

“You know you will.” He pointed out with irritating logic. “Just bring him to Red Deer or Edmonton after he turns 18. Then he’ll be legal, and NOT a high school student. We’ll grab Getter and Stolly and whoever else is around and we’ll all go get fucked. It’ll be fun.”

“And right before NHL training camps are scheduled to begin.” I pointed out.

D shrugged. “One night won’t kill any of us.” He said. “Especially not the kid. He’ll get to play with whatever team drafts him right away no question.”

“If there’s a draft.” I pointed out.

D shrugged. “Whatever.” He said, taking another bite of food. He paused, then asked. “So what are your plans for the kid’s 18th?”

I shrugged. “Sidney wants me to go to Cole Harbour.” I told him. “Other then that, I have no clue.”

“He’ll plan something to make you feel special.” D said with certainty.

I glanced at D, before looking away and blushing. “He always makes me feel special D.”

“I couldn’t tell.” D said sarcastically.

“Well you always have been a little thick.” I pointed out.

“I love you too Drew.” He said sarcastically.

“Oh come on D.” I said, with a laugh and a smile. “You know that I’m just playing with you.”

“Yeah, well, you’re annoying.” He said.

“I’m so hurt.” I replied rolling my eyes. “So what do you want to spend today doing oh mighty Neufy?”

“I thought we’d hit the gym.” He said. “I do have to skate and all.”

I sighed. “That’s all you ever want to do.” I whined. “We worked out yesterday.”

D rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He said, crossing his arms across his chest. “What do you want to do?”

“Go back to bed.” I replied immediately with a tired yawn. “But I know that you’re not going to let that happen. So umm, why don’t we just hang out?”

D rolled his eyes again. “Drew when we just hang out it almost always involves drinking and overeating.” He pointed out. “And you know, there’s just this huge ass hockey tournament that
I’m in and I really can’t do either.”

“You suck Phaneuf.” I said pouting. “Can we at least go get ice cream for lunch?”

“If we workout first.” He bargained with me.

“I suppose we could do that if I absolutely have to.” I said. “But I better get my ice cream when we’re done, or they’ll be hell to pay.”

D laughed. “I promise.” He said holding up his pinkie finger. “Pinkie swear.”

I took his pinkie in mine. “Done.”

D and I continued talking as we finished our breakfasts. D eats so much it’s almost disgusting at times. I mean, I know that he works out all the time and burns a ton of calories, but still, it’s not always fun to watch. “So when do you skate?” I asked as D took care of the bill. (He’s signed with Calgary and even though he’s playing major junior he gets paid as if he was playing with their AHL affiliate as well as a couple hundred a week from the Rebels – he likes to pay for things.)

“At three.” He told me. “We play tomorrow at three thirty so, Coach wants us ready to go at that time.”

“So we’ll work out, get dressed, eat ice cream and then…?” I asked, eyebrows raised.

“And then we’ll play it by ear.” D said. “We have dinner with everyone and their family and friends at seven, and I think most of the families are going to do their gift exchanges.”

“Gah!” I said, slapping myself in the forehead. “I haven’t wrapped anything yet!”

D paused, thinking for a second. “Neither have I.” He said abashed. “I guess I know what we’re doing this afternoon huh?”

I laughed. “Wow. That’s going to be an exciting time huh?”

D laughed. “Probably not. But it needs to be done.” He paused. “Plus I still want to know what you bought for the kid, since you haven’t told me yet.”

“The same thing I got you.” I told him. “So I can’t tell you. Although yours is a little different from Sidney’s.”

“But I wanna know now.” He whined teasingly.

“You’ll find out tonight.” I told him. “After all the old people go away I’m going to make the rounds, giving everyone their gifts.” I paused. “And you don’t see me whining to find out what
you got me.”

“Who says I got you anything?” D replied.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Fine then, be that way.” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

“You know I’m just teasing.” Dion replied. “Now go get your gym stuff, and quit stalling.”