Part 39 - Pure Gold

And that’s exactly what we did. We went back and celebrated. There was one minor problem when Corey Perry went to pop one of the bottles of champagne that had been chilled just in case. Unfortunately the press hadn’t been completely cleared from the dressing room. The Team Canada press machine had to do some fast work to negotiate with the photographer. He was going to be allowed to release the picture, but the caption had to read that the champagne was non-alcoholic.

I choked down laughter when D told me about that later when we were back at the hotel in the special suite reserved to allow the boys to basically, get wasted. The guys drenched themselves and the dressing room in the “non-alcoholic” champagne before they showered and got back to the hotel.

Sidney, despite being covered in champagne, didn’t drink any. As soon as we got into the suite at the hotel I pulled him aside. “I can leave if you want to get fucked up.” I told him softly.

Sidney shook his head and softly kissed my hand his lips lingering. “I couldn’t celebrate if you weren’t here to enjoy it with me.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, eyebrows raised.

“Very.” He replied his gaze hot.

“Drew!” D yelled swooping me up. “Have a beer!”

“No thanks.” I replied.

“Why the fuck not?” D demanded.

I shrugged. “I just don’t feel like it.” I said.

He raised his eyebrows. “Yeah and none of us fucking want to get pissed tonight.” He said. “I know you better then that. Come on Drew have a beer.”

I shrugged. “Not now.” I said. “Maybe later.”

He shrugged, took a swig of his drink and then walked away. “Whatever you say.” He told me, rolling his eyes.

Sid glanced at me. “You know you can have a drink if you want.” He told me. “There’s nothing stopping you. You are legal drinking age after all.” He paused and laughed. “In fact, you’re actually legal here, unlike most of us.”

I shrugged, and squeezed his hand. “You don’t drink, I don’t drink.”

“You know there is a simple solution to that baby.” He told me. “We both drink.”

I looked up and him and burst out laughing. “Yeah, like that’s a good idea sweetie.” I said. “We’re in a hotel with plenty of empty bedrooms. We get drunk and we both know what will happen.”

He shrugged with a wickedly charming grin. “Like I told Neufy before, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

I pulled my hand out of his and he looked at me startled. “We can’t keep doing this sweetie. It’s not innocent and we can’t go on pretending it is.”

Just then, Troy walked up. “Mind if I borrow my son for a minute Drew?” He asked with a grin, a beer in his hand.

“Not at all.” I said, smiling at Sidney as I walked away.

“Dely!” Ryan yelled swooping me up in another hug.

I grinned and laughed at him. “You’re a goof.” I told him again. “Now put me down Getter.”

“Only if you have a drink with me.” He informed me.

“I can’t honey.” I told him firmly. “Sidney’s not drinking because I’m here, so I won’t drink either. It’s not fair.”

Getter rolled his eyes. “You are so irritating Dely. If you and Darryl both drink its not like anyone here is going to tell on you.” He pointed out. “I mean, Coach won’t say anything, none of us will say anything.”

“What about the parents?” I asked pointedly, looking at the Crosby’s.

Getter shrugged. “Well I can vouch for my parents. And Neufy, Fraz, Richards, and Beachemin can vouch for their’s. It’s not like anyone else here knows who or what you are.” He pointed out.

“But no one can vouch for the Crosby’s and I am not about to risk my career.” I told him. “And it’s not fair to Sid if I drink and then he can’t. In fact, I should probably go because he deserves to be able to celebrate with his teammates, and he can’t do that if I’m here.”

Getter shook his head. “Yeah, and you know what will happen if you leave right Dely?” He asked. “Darryl will go looking for you.”

I sighed. “I guess you’re right.”

“Now have a beer and have a good time.” Getter commanded.

I shook my head. “I can have a good time without having a beer.” I told him firmly.

“But you’ll have MORE fun if you DO have a beer.” Getter told me. “In fact you’ll have even more fun if you have several beers.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head even though I was chuckling on the inside. “I’m just going to enjoy watching y’all celebrate tonight.” I told him, kissing him on the cheek.

“Darryl help me talk some sense into this girl.” Getter said, looking at Sidney over my shoulder.

“About what?” He asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

“About having a drink.” Getter said. “She should have some fun.”

I rolled my eyes and shook Sidney’s arm off from around my shoulders. “I told her she should, but she won’t listen to me.” Sidney said.

“You guys, I am not going to drink. Peer pressure much.” I told them.

Ryan took a long swig of his beer. “You need to relax Dely.” He said. “You too Darryl. Both of you. Celebrate, drink.” He ordered.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on Sid.” I said, walking away, reaching for his hand automatically, even though I’d just told him that we shouldn’t.

He took my hand in his. “My parents want to talk to us.” He whispered in my ear, his breath hot but sending a delightful shiver down my spine.

“Sure.” I said as we headed over to where his parents were standing with Stephen Dixon’s parents.

“Mom, Dad.” Sidney said at a pause in the conversation. “You wanted to talk to us?”

“Yes we did.” Troy said. “Excuse us for a minute.” He said to the Dixon’s. Then he handed Sidney a drink. “Here.”

“Umm….” I said slowly, looking at Sid. “I’ll umm, take off now.” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Drew you should stay.” Troy said handing me a beer. “I handed Sidney the beer, thus implying parental consent. In fact, here is my parental consent. Sidney, you just won a gold medal, get as drunk as you want to.”

I giggled… not the most mature thing to do, but I couldn’t help myself. “Well I guess I can stay then.” I said taking a sip of my beer.

“Good.” Troy replied. “Now to new friends.” He toasted with a smile. “And to wide open futures.”

We clinked our beer bottles and drank before Sidney and I wandered away. “Don’t think this means that you’re getting laid tonight.” I warned him. “Well at least not by me. I’m sure you could find someone willing, but not me.”

Sidney laughed and took a sip of his drink. “I realize that baby. No worries.”

“Good.” I replied taking a sip of my drink.

Sidney laughed again. “But you will come visit right?” He asked. “Or come watch the Top Prospects Game?”

“We’ll talk Crosby.” I said. “I’m not sure that I can do that… I have to think about my job, and you have to think about your schedule too.”

He sighed and kissed me softly on the cheek. “I’ll wear you down.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Are we here to hide in corners or are we here to party?” I asked him pointedly.

“Well hiding in corners does have its appeal….” He said slowly trailing a finger down my arm. “But….” He downed what was left of his beer. “I did just win a gold medal….”

“Party it is.” I said downing my beer.

Sidney laughed, watching me literally pour the beer down my throat. He leaned over and whispered in my ear. “If you can do that with a beer I would love to see where else you can use that talent.”

I cuffed him gently upside the head. “Bad Crosby.” I told him firmly. “Bad.”

“And I would love to show you just how bad I can be Drew.” He said raising his and lowering his eyebrows at me suggestively.

I smacked him on the arm. “Come on.” I said, heading to where D was, with the boys from the Central ‘Dub, drinking and laughing. I grinned at Sidney. “I wonder if a boy from the Q can keep up with good old fashioned Central boys.”

“Unlikely.” Brent said downing his drink. “Besides, from what I heard this summer from Marc-Antoine and Patrick the kid does far too much of that clean living stuff to be able to keep up with Drew here, let alone the rest of us.”

Sidney shrugged. “Typically that’s true, but what they maybe neglected to mention is that when I do go, I go hard.” He said, as he downed most of his beer.

I shook my head. “And if you keep drinking like that Crosby, you’re going to be extremely ill in the morning.”

“Your concern is duly noted baby.” He said, rolling his eyes.

I shook my head and hugged D again. “Make sure Patrice makes him drink a couple of glasses of water before he passes out someone.” I said to no one in particular.

D hugged me back. “What is it with you and guys who can’t handle their booze Drew?” He joked.

I shrugged. “I like to have something to work on.” I said. “And since I pick them buff and decently smart most of the time, their alcohol tolerance, or lack there of, is all I’ve got.”

“Haha.” Sidney replied. “Ye of little faith.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Sidney if it weren’t for me, D wouldn’t be able to drink the way he does.”
“It’s true.” D admitted unashamedly swigging his beer. “When I got to Red Deer I was a young and stupid boy. Sure I’d gotten drunk, but Drew introduced me to REAL partying. I passed out so much that first year.”

I laughed. “It’s true. I had to hold his hair more times then I care to remember as he puked his guts out.”

“Not like I haven’t returned the favour Drew.” He retorted blushing.

I shrugged. “We all have those nights we can’t remember.” I said. “You, Getter and I just have more of them then most.” Everyone laughed and I raised my drink. “Congratulations boys. You’ve done Canada proud.”

“Thanks Drew.” Fraz said, giving me a one-armed hug. He grinned wider (if that were possible, he’d had perma-grin since he made the team) and said. “I don’t know about you and Neufy, but I can’t wait to get back to Red Deer.”

“I don’t know.” I said with a shrug, glancing at Sidney from beneath lowered eyes. “I can think of some reasons to stay here.”

The guys all laughed and Sidney blushed. “Drew he does have to go back to Rimouski.” Andy said. “They are in a playoff race after all.”

I shrugged and stuck my tongue out at Andy. “Don’t be such a party pooper Andy.” I said. “My fantasy world does not have to come crashing to a halt until tomorrow, so let’s leave it as is.”

“Fantasy eh?” Reggie said, coming up next to us and leering at me.

I shoved him. “You are horrible Beauchemin.”

“I want to know what you’re fantasying about though….” He whined.

“Me.” Sidney said grinning wickedly as he downed his beer.

I elbowed him in the stomach. “You shush.” I told him firmly.

“Yeah.” Dion said, backing me up, or so it seemed. “You have no idea what’s going on in that twisted mind of hers… and trust me, you don’t want to know.”