Part 36 - Pure Gold

I spent pretty much the entire night hanging out with Sidney. We actually talked about the things that we were feeling and the things that had been bothering us, instead of closing each other out. It was a wonderful way to spend an evening and it was probably the most fun Sidney and I had together other then the two-stepping since we’d arrived in Grand Forks.

The next day the team was busy preparing for the Gold Medal final. They’d made it to the Gold Medal game so many times in the past few years and had always come home empty handed. It sucked. This team was being billed as the best team that Canada had ever sent to the World Juniors and so far that had lived up to the billing. They had already set a record for least goals allowed in the Round Robin (with 5) and including the semi final game they’d only allowed 6 goals in the tournament, but they’d scored 35 goals.

I waited patiently as Sidney and the boys did their thing, but for some reason, today I just felt like hanging around the team… being nearby. Even during the closed practice I went with the boys to the University and just hung out in the arena. I spent some time talking to the guys from TSN (not on camera or anything) because they’d seen me around.

Mainly though, I just kind of hung out. When the boys were done practicing there was a little press stuff that had to be taken care of, but since the big game was tomorrow it was all minimal. The boys all had quick showers, and while they were doing that, I headed back to the hotel. I knew that someone would come to get me when they were done lunch, probably Sidney.

And that’s exactly what happened. I was laying on my bed in my hotel room, marking some papers, the door wide open, when Reggie came in. “Hey sexy.” He said, looking at the papers.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“Marking some essays that were due before Christmas.” I said, making a face. While I love to teach, I don’t particularly enjoy marking papers. “I promised the kids that they’d get them back when we got back from Christmas break.” I told him. “Then I came to watch y’all play hockey and forgot all about them.”

“Then leave them.” Reggie said with a shrug.

“I can’t.” I told him as I finished up my comments on one of the Rebels boy’s paper. He hadn’t passed, and I knew I was going to have to talk to Coach about him. This was a major assignment and he was going to fail the class as a result. “When I make a promise to the kids I teach, I keep it.”

“Then I don’t suppose you’re going to want to come watch us play cards huh?” Reggie said.

I shrugged. “I can come.” I said. “But you’ll have to deal with my bitching and complaining about the lack of grammar and sentence structure of my students. These kids are in Grade 11. They should know better.”

“Reggie you beat me up here.” Sidney’s voice said, sounding disappointed as he wandered in to the room. He grinned at me. “Hey baby.”

“Hi sweetie.” I said rising and kissing him on the cheek.

Reggie immediately pouted again. “No kiss for me?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it Beauchemin.” Sidney said.

I raised my eyebrows. “Remember Sid, you don’t really have much say about anything that I do.” I said giving Reggie a quick peck on the cheek.

Reggie burst out laughing. “She’s going to keep you in your place.” He informed Sidney. “That’ll be good for you. No other girl would dare.”

“Go play poker Reggie.” Sidney said, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

Reggie backed out of the room, his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Whatever you want Darryl.” He said, before winking and kicking the garbage can (that was holding the door open) out of the way.

The door closed behind him and Sidney pulled me into a tight hug. “How’s your back sweetie?” I asked, even though I knew that he probably wouldn’t want me too.

He shrugged. “It’s getting better.” He said, his arms still wrapped tightly around me. “But it’s not really that big of a deal. My back’s been bugging me for awhile. I take a lot of nasty crosschecks.”

“And they all make me cranky.” I informed him, pulling out his arms, even though he tried to keep me there. “I hate seeing you take dirty hits… just as much as I hate seeing D get called for clean hits.”

He released me with a sigh. “Why can’t you be like, 18?” He asked mournfully.

“Why can’t you be like, 21?” I countered, eyebrows raised.

Sid laughed. “Will 18 do?” He asked. “Because August will be here before we know it.”

I nodded towards the pile of essays on my bed. “Just like those papers need to be marked before I know it.”

Sidney laughed. “What are the papers on?” He asked.

“They had a choice.” I replied. “I always give kids three essay questions to chose from. The ones I’m marking right now are on the role of imperialism as a cause of the First World War.”

Sidney shook his head. “I hate history.”

I shrugged. “And I hate video games, so I guess we’re even.”

He laughed. “I guess so.”

“How was the press deal?” I asked as we sat next to each other on the edge of one of the beds.
Sidney shrugged. “It was talking to the press. Some times I feel like I see more of those guys then I do of my parents.”

I laughed. “Sid, that’s because you probably do.”

“And that’s completely sad.” He told me. “I miss my family when I’m gone.”

“Do you talk to them all the time?” I asked. “Like D calls his Mom and Dad or Dane every night.”
Sidney nodded. “Dad comes to Rimouski all the time.” He said. “But Mom and Taylor can’t… Taylor has to go to school.” He paused. “You’re right though, I do call them a lot.”

I nodded and placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I can’t say I understand, because I can’t, having never had to live away from home when I was your age. At your age I wished that I could live away from home.” I joked wryly. “I was doing to the teenage rebellion – getting drunk and dancing on bars thing, not the future of the hockey world – winning a million awards thing.”

That got a smile out of him. “Trust me; doing the whole future of the hockey world thing is not all it’s cracked up to be.” Sid said.

“I can tell sweetie.” I said, smoothing a hand over his back gently.

Sidney sighed, as if in pain, and flopped to his back. I instantly panicked. “I’m sorry sweetie, did I hurt you?”

Sidney laughed. “Not physically.” He said. “But if I have to be next to you and not touch you for much longer certain parts of me may never be the same ever again.”

I couldn’t help myself, I giggled. “You’ll be fine Sidney.” I told him firmly. “Blue balls are just an excuse that boys make up to get girls into bed anyway.”

“What would you know?” He asked, moaning as if he were in serious pain.

“I’ve taught health sweetie.” I replied. “So I do know a thing or two about anatomy….” I teased him. I paused then added. “Plus, we’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks, who says that I’d make things better for you yet?”

Sidney grinned wickedly. “Well Neufy promised me that you’ve got a reputation….” He teased me.

I looked at him pointedly. “What did you say Crosby?” I said punching him gently in the stomach.

“Nothing baby.” He replied, catching my hand and kissing it softly.

I pulled my hand away. “You are something else Crosby you know that sweetie?”

He smiled that charming smile of his at me and I just smiled back at him. Unlike some of our previous silences, this on wasn’t awkward at all. It was actually comfortable. We just kind of sat there, starring at each other. Well, maybe not starring, it was more like we were just examining each other. Looking in each other’s eyes.

Finally, Sidney broke the silence. “So where do you think I should play next year if there’s no NHL Drew?” He asked.

I shrugged. “What does it matter what I think sweetie?” I asked him.

“It matters….” He said slowly, trailing a finger up and down the sensitive skin of my arm. “Because you are my baby and I am going to want you with me next year wherever I happen to go and I want you happy.”

I grinned. “Well in that case I say sign with the Road Runners and I’ll come see you all the time.”
“What about Europe. Would you come with me to Europe?” He asked, his hands behind his head now, as he lay back down.

I thought for a minute. “In Switzerland.” I told him. “Because they have international schools. And only if your lawyer could get me a working VISA. I couldn’t just like, live off you. I’d need to work. I’m not that kind of hockey girlfriend.”

“So no Swedish Elite League?” He teased.

I raised my eyebrows. “If there was an international school I could teach at, yes.” I told him. “But not Russia. I will NOT move to Russia. Particularly since all the good teams are owned by the Russian Mob. I would prefer it if the money you earned was clean, and not covered in blood.”
Sidney nodded. “So basically, you’ll move to be with me, as a long as you can work?” He asked.
I paused, thinking. “At this point, yes.” I told him. “But we have to see what the summer brings.”

“Of course.” He replied. “But I know what it’s going to bring.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked. “And what’s that?”

“A lot of sex.” He kidded.

“And what else?” I asked, raising my eyebrows teasingly.

“The best time of my life spent with the woman I love.” He told me seriously.

I glanced at him and then away like a startled doe. “What did you say?” I asked softly.

“I said that I was going to spend the summer with the woman I love.” He replied. “In case you couldn’t tell baby, I’m already well on my way to loving you and I know that you are too, even though you try to deny it.”

“And why do you think I deny it?” I asked quietly.

“Because you’ve been burned before baby.” He said.

“That was a nice alliteration.” I said stiffly by way of reply.

“But its true baby and you know it. Guys have hurt you before, so instead of letting that happen again, you’ve left a string of broken hearts behind.” Sidney said.

I snorted. “I haven’t broken anyone’s heart.” I said.

“But you could break mine.” He said softly.

“And you could break mine.” I finally admitted after a long silence. “Can you promise me you won’t?”

“No.” He replied. “No more then you can promise me that you won’t. What I can promise you is that from now on I will be totally, 100% honest with you.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I can’t ask anymore of you.” I whispered softly. “I can’t ask anymore of myself.”