yep.

That night it snowed seven inches in Pittsburgh. My grandmother and I were up early in the kitchen, having been woken by the low roar of the snow plows as they passed by. “Nana,” I said, “there is something I’m supposed to do today. I think I want to try and cancel because of the snow.” My grandmother sipped her coffee, and eyed me up and down. I took a moment to admire her hands. The hands that had carried me and raised me, now thin and wrinkled, wrapped around her favorite coffee mug. A rush of affection swelled in my chest. I never wanted to leave this woman’s side.

“Well, darling, they are clearing up the roads quite nicely out there.” She gestured out the window where the rising sun illuminated the newly sanded and salted roads. “I think maybe you need to tell me what’s going on.” My grandmother adjusted the shawl around her shoulders and sat down at the little kitchen table.

My shoulders dropped. There was no avoiding this now. I sat down across from her. “Nana,” I started nervously, “Sidney Crosby wants me to come pick out carpet for his house. And he’s supposed to pick me up this afternoon.” There was a moment of silence. I wrung my hands together. My grandmother started laughing, trying to cover it with the edge of her shawl. My eyebrows rose, “Nana! This is serious!”

My grandmother stifled her giggles and reached out to clasp my hand in hers. “Darling,” She smiled at me, “only you would get yourself into a situation like that. Truly, you are the only girl in the world capable of charming a man into letting you decorate his house as a first date.” I opened my mouth to argue, but she silenced me with a hand. “Under no circumstances are you going to cancel. I didn’t raise you a coward, and it’s time you had yourself a man anyways. A man like that will be able to take care of you.”

I gaped, mouth open, at her. My grandmother had never even broached the subject of dating to me and now she decides that Sidney Crosby was the man for me? It was ludacris. I wanted to check her for fever just in case, but she was already up and out of the kitchen, calling her breakfast request over her shoulder as she went upstairs. I rolled out my shoulders and wrists and got to work.

Later on, after another set of arguments and tea with toast, I gave in. My knee bounced uncontrollably as I opened my phone. My grandmother was pretending to watch Jepoardy instead of me, but she was doing a bad job of it. I thumbed open the text message I had been avoiding.

Sidney Crosby:

:)

I sucked in a breath and hit send on my message.

Hi Sidney, do you still want me to come have a look at your media room today? We got a lot of snow last night, so it might not be worth the drive. Let me know :)

The reply came only moments later.

Hi! I’m glad to hear from you :) If you are still up for it I would like you to, yes. I could pick you up at 2?

Yes, that would be okay, if you’re sure.

I am. :) What is your address?

I sent my address, biting my nails raw, and Sidney replied with a singular smiley face. There. It was done. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my grandmother smiling at me. Vibrating with anxiety, I went to start the long process of preparing myself with social interaction with Sidney Crosby.

A quarter to 2pm I was shivering out in the snow on the end of my driveway. Stamping my feet and blowing on my fingers to keep warm I convinced myself that this was worth it. In no world would I subject Sidney Crosby to my grandmother’s questioning. It was better to wait out here in the cold.

The wind whipped through my coat, and just as I was about to give up a dark SUV pulled up beside me. Not caring if it was Sidney or not at this point, I just climbed in the passenger. It was Sidney, thank god, sitting there smiling at me as I struggled out of my mittens. “Hi. I’m glad to see you.” He said, looking stupid and warm and gorgeous as always. I diverted my attention back to wriggling out of my winter gear. The car was so warm I was already starting to sweat. “Hi, Sidney Crosby.” I replied. Without warning, he reached over to help me with my stuck zipper. I went hot all over. Fuck.

The ride across town was slow and beautiful. Everything was decked out in lights, and the snow glittered in the faint sunlight. Sidney was surprisingly easy to talk to after the initial awkwardness faded. By the time we pulled through the gate to his home I felt much more at ease.

Sidney held the door open for me and took my coat as we went inside. “Wow.” I breathed, looking around the entryway while I toed off my boots. Sidney snorted behind me, “I promise you it’s not that great. I haven’t been able to turn it into anything livable yet.” I really doubted this.

My doubt immediately faded as I made it further into the house, Sidney trailing behind me. I should probably have waited for him to show me around but my curiosity got the better of me. The whole place was so… clinical. Everything was a dark brown or a light cream color. It was unbelievably ugly.

I turned to Sidney, “This is unbelievably ugly.” I tried to keep a straight face as I said it, but I broke out into giggles anyway. Sidney just stood watching me, a soft smile on his face. It was such an intimate expression that I blushed. The two of us stood there for a moment, in the blank space between the kitchen and the dining room, just smiling at each other. The moment stretched until Sidney cleared his throat and gestured toward a door on my left. “Here’s the media room.”

The space was slightly cluttered but not messy. There was an array of massive gray couches all angled towards the biggest TV I had ever seen. The floors were a beautiful hardwood, stained almost black. Sidney picked up the binder of samples from one of the couches and offered it to me. Grateful for something to do I took it and started to pace around the room, flicking back and forth between samples. When I had narrowed it down to two choices I looked up, and my breath caught.

Sidney was relaxed on one of the couches, thick thighs spread wide, watching me curiously. When our gazes caught, I swear his eyes darkened. He knew I was looking. Fuck. “Um, uh,” I stumbled over my words, “I think, um, you would like either of these.” I held out the binder to him, and he rose to take it.

Sidney glanced at the samples for barely a moment before snapping the binder shut and tossing it behind him onto the couch. I stared up at him uncomprehending until he stepped further into my space. Frozen, I watched in slow motion as his hand came up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Hey,” He said, voice low, “If you don’t want this, tell me now.”

“I want.” I replied softly, leaning closer, entranced.

There was a flash of teeth as Sidney smiled, and then he was kissing me, right there, one hand gripping my waist, and the other gently cupping my jaw.

It was early Saturday morning when I headed to the university library. I was meant to be studying for a midterm, but I just couldn’t focus. The words on the pages of my textbook all blurred together. I took a break to walk to the coffee shop down the street, but even that couldn’t calm my nerves. I told myself to get it together. I was going to go to the arena tonight, say hello to Sidney in the kitchen, and then go home and make dinner for my grandmother. Maybe I could even catch the game on TV.

By the time 5:30 rolled around I had finished half my paper. Not my best work, but it felt good to have managed something. Usually the library was my happy place. Hopefully today was just a fluke. I packed up all my school things and ran to catch the bus. It was freezing outside, and the bus was full of tired commuters just like me. A baby shook its tiny fist at me from its perch on someone’s shoulder. I shook my fist back. The baby started crying. I turned around in embarrassment.

I speed walked the three blocks from the bus stop to the arena. Christ it was cold. I really needed a new winter jacket. My beloved purple coat was starting to fail me. Maybe I could cut it up and make it into something else. The wool was worn thin, but I had a few vague ideas for how it could be repurposed. The arena came into view and I sighed in relief. My breath billowed like smoke around me.

It was blessedly warm inside. I knew vaguely where the kitchen was, so I shuffled my way around until I reached the right area. Pulling open the door, I was greeted by the sight of what looked like a restaurant kitchen. Several people looked up at me so I did the only logical thing and immediately turned around and slammed the door behind me. This is the second time I’ve gotten lost in this godforsaken place and I’ve only worked here a week. I leaned against the wall across from the kitchen doors and considered options. I could wait here and hope Sidney would find me, go back in and ask for directions, look up a map of the arena, or give up and go home. Before I could make a decision the door swung open again. A man in a white coat stepped out drying his hands on a dishtowel.

“Oh good you’re still here.” He said. “Are you lost?”

I told him I was and about how Sidney had asked me to meet him in the kitchen at 6. He nodded as if this was a regular occurrence. “You’re looking for the team kitchen. Go down the hall, take a left, and then it’ll be the third door on the right. Big windows, can’t miss it.”

I still got turned around once, but I finally made it to my destination. The team kitchen was more like the office break room than a kitchen, but it was warm and cozy. The walls were painted a pale soothing yellow.

Sidney waved to me from his spot at one of the tables. His hair was curled around his ears, and his tshirt was much too small. Swinging my backpack off my shoulders, I sat down across from him. Sidney had a large binder open in front of him. It was full of fuzzy little squares.

“Hi.” I said. He returned the greeting and we sat awkwardly in silence for a moment. “So, are you excited to play hockey?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth I knew it was the wrong thing to say.

Sidney’s eyes widened and he started laughing. I stared at the ceiling. Sidney didn’t stop laughing, so I kept staring at the ceiling. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. Once it died down a little I chanced a look in his direction. He was staring at me, face flushed and smiling.

“Yes.” He said. “I am excited to play hockey.” I put my face in my hands. Sidney giggled again. Through my hands I could see the edge of the binder open on the table. Desperate to change the subject I asked him what it was. Sidney, a saint, let the change in conversation slide.

“It’s carpet samples. I want to redo my media room, and my sister said this would be good to soak up a little bit of the noise.” Sidney pushed the binder toward me. I nodded along, flipping through the pages of different samples. Absent-mindedly, I started to list off the pros and cons of the different materials and textures. Eventually I realized I was rambling and stopped abruptly, pushing the binder back to Sidney.

“Sorry,” I apologized. “I know that was probably more than you wanted to know.”

“No,” Sidney shook his head, eyes wide. “That was great. Are you into interior design or something?”

I explained to him about my major and how some of the same principles of fashion design overlap with interior design. He nodded along graciously but, again, it was definitely more than he needed to know. He just made me so nervous. “So, yeah. That’s it.” I finished awkwardly.

Sidney hummed to himself for a minute, flicking through the samples again. “I think I understood pretty much all of what you said, but I’m still not sure.” He pushed the binder back towards me. “Which one do you think is best?”

I slid the binder back to him immediately. “I can’t choose for you. I haven’t seen the space, and more importantly, it’s your home. You should choose what you like.”

Sidney flashed me a grin. “What I like,” He mused to himself. “I like knowing what’s best.”

I rolled my eyes. Sidney frowned at me, “I’m serious!”

“It’s just such a non-answer.” I said. “Aren’t you the captain? You’re supposed to be good at making decisions.”

Sidney seemed surprised by my sarcasm but not displeased. “Well in that case, what I want is for you to come see the space and choose what you think is best. That’s my decision.”

“Um, what?” I spluttered. “I couldn’t possibly.”

Sidney interrupted me, “Yes, you can. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”

I was at a loss for words. A week ago Sidney Crosby was basically a fictional person to me. Someone you saw on TV in passing, and now he was inviting me into his home. This was insane. My life was insane. Under no circumstances was I going into this man’s house.

“Yes.” My mouth was a traitor that was no longer connected to my brain apparently.

“Oh, great! I can pick you up after practice tomorrow? Would that be okay?”

I nodded dumbly, and Sidney smiled again. “Here give me your phone.” I handed over my phone, uncomprehending. Sidney fiddled with it for a minute before handing it back. “I texted myself so that you have my number.” He said this like it was an everyday occurrence and not the strangest thing to ever happen to me.

“Uh, okay.” I stuttered out. Someone called Sidney’s name from the doorway. He got up and knocked the table three times before shrugging into a jacket I hadn’t noticed before. I could see the outline of his abs through his tee. Feeling caught out, I averted my gaze before Sidney could notice. “Text me your address, okay?” He said, leaning toward me over the table. His voice was soft but his eyes were strangely intense.

I promised I would. Sidney nodded once, and turned and left without a word.

I sat by myself in a daze for what could have been a minute or an hour. When I came back to myself, I realized I was here for more than one reason and pulled my textbooks out of my bag. How was I going to tell my grandmother about this?

On my bus ride home later that night I looked up the score.

The pens won against the hurricanes 6-3.

CHAPTER TWO

The next day I sat at my desk practically vibrating with nerves. I was sure that any moment Stacy would come out and tell me that I was fired, and that was the best case scenario. I wondered if I could be arrested. Maybe that was a little far fetched, but I didn’t know Sidney. He seemed alright on TV but privately he could be the worst person to ever exist. I knew that wasn’t true either though. I thought back to how he had reached for me after I fell, and asked if I was alright. He looked so pretty even under the harsh fluorescents.

With a sigh I pulled myself back to my work. There were some organizational things that someone from the PR team had emailed to me. It made no sense to me but I didn’t want to ask for help. Looking stupid on day two was not the best move, so I tried to puzzle it out on my own.

Alicia came to perch on my desk while waiting for the copier. “Honey,” she sighed, “you have got to decorate your desk. It’s depressing.”

I pointed to the penguin tacked up on the bulletin board. “I’ve got Malcolm. He’s all I need. Plus, I’ve only been here a day.”

Alicia shrugged. “Most people bring things with them.”

Truth is, I didn’t really have anything to bring with me. I didn’t have many things at my grandmothers. “Well I didn’t.” I replied. Alicia rolled her eyes and offered me a stick of gum. “Did you catch the game last night?”

I took the gum, grateful she let the topic go. “No,” I replied, “homework and all that.” It was the truth. I had spent most of the night working on some design details after I had a good long panic about Sidney Crosby.

“Well they won in a landslide.” Alicia grinned at me. “It was crazy. I think Crosby managed like eight points or something.”

“Six!” Called Jonny from his desk. “Eavesdropper.” Alicia muttered, but she was smiling. The copier beeped behind her, and she knocked three times on my desk before going to collect her pages. Alicia had managed to make me feel much more at ease. I felt like maybe I was making friends. Work friends! Who would have thought?

The rest of the workday passed in a blur. The PR work kept me busy and reasonably entertained. There were a lot of quotes they wanted the team to use in interviews. Some of them were very cheesy. Just as I was packing up to leave Stacy came over to my desk. She patted my arm and leaned down. “Hey,” she whispered, “I need to see you in my office. Nothing bad.” She added after catching the panicked look on my face. Still, it felt like a death march as I followed her.

“Close the door behind you.” She said leaning back in her chair. I did and sat in the chair in front of her desk. My hands were so sweaty, I wanted to wipe them on my pants but I couldn’t. Stacy regarded me cooly for a moment. She drummed her fingers on the desk before finally breaking the silence. “Did you run into Sidney Crosby yesterday?”

Embarrassingly, my eyes felt a little hot. This was it. “I’m so sorry!” I blurted out. “Is he okay? I got lost and then I ran into him and I swear I didn’t mean to. It was an accident!”

Stacy stared at me as I wrung my hands together, a nervous habit I never managed to shake. “Uh, no he’s fine. Are you alright? He said you took a tumble. Hit your head on the concrete.”

I shook my head. “I’m okay. I didn’t even really hit my head.” This was a half truth. I’m pretty sure I had a bruise just above my right ear.

“Well,” sighed Stacy, “I’m glad you’re alright. However there is something I need to talk to you about.” I nodded. “Do you know anything about Sidney’s superstitions?” I nodded again. Of course I knew, who doesn’t?

Stacy folded her hands. “As you are probably aware by now, Crosby had a good night last night.” She paused, “And he seems to be convinced you had something to do with it.” I blinked at her. “He has asked to meet with you tomorrow if you are amenable.” Stacy continued.

“Sure.” I replied blankly, there was a buzzing sound in my ears.

“Great!” Stacy smiled at me, “That was easy and painless, huh? Practice is at 11am tomorrow and I would like for you to meet with him before that if you can. I know tomorrow is your day off, but if you could see your way to the third floor conference room at 9am tomorrow morning I’ll pay a full day’s worth of overtime.”

I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak. “Have a good night then.” Stacy said. I took it for the dismissal it was, and made it out the door in record time.

Later that night, as I was rolling out large swathes of shiny fabric on the floor while my grandmother knitted on the sofa, the reality of the situation set in. I poked myself with a pin and sat back on my heels with a swear. My Nana looked up from her knitting. “I’ve never seen you so distracted from your projects. What’s gotten into you?” She looked at me curiously. I shifted uncomfortably, “I don’t know Nana. I’m just nervous about the new job.” Nana narrowed her eyes, “Are they being good to you?” I nodded quickly. She didn’t look convinced, but went back to her knitting without another word.

—

Then the next day I was awake and dressed by 5:30am. I paced up and down the front hall clutching my coffee. There was no reason to be nervous. I was sure Sidney Crosby was a reasonable man and this whole thing would be cleared up in minutes. Obviously I had nothing to do with his win. I thought about what I would say to him, what he would say back, how he would look at me with his doe eyes. Fuck. Okay. I cleared my head and went to start Nana’s breakfast.

I was finally out the door at 8am, wanting to get this meeting over with. The conference room was shockingly easy to find and I was settled into a ridiculously comfortable high-backed chair by 8:35. Bored, I spun around in my chair, trying to see how fast I could go before I got dizzy. The answer was very fast. I was trying to break my record before someone cleared their throat from the doorway. I shrieked and stopped spinning. Sidney Crosby was standing in the doorway. I stood up quickly and smoothed down my shirt before offering my hand, “Hi Sidney Crosby.”

He raised his eyebrows at the greeting before reaching out to shake my hand. “It’s just Sid.” He sat down next to my chair and swiveled it around a bit. “Don’t you get dizzy doing that?” He asked, obviously referring to my spinning.

“Yes,” I replied, “I just wanted to see how fast I could go.”

Sidney nodded like this was a completely normal thing to say. I blushed, feeling stupid. “I talked to Stacy.” Sid said, “Did she talk to you?” He continued when I nodded, “I have all these superstitions I need to do before games, and, uh, I had a really good night the other night after we ran into each other.”

“I heard.” I said, “I’m sorry for running into you.”

Sidney laughed, “No worries. I was the one who knocked you over.” I didn’t have anything to say to that so I stayed quiet. After a moment of silence Sidney said. “Okay, well, I think you might have given me some good luck the other night and I’d really like it if you would come see me before the game tomorrow.”

I mustered up the courage to tell him, “I don’t think I’m any sort of good luck, Sid.”

Sidney raised his eyebrows. Clearly he wasn’t used to people disagreeing with him. “I think you’re wrong.” He replied. “Will you do it anyway?”

I knew he wasn’t going to let it go so I agreed reluctantly. Sidney’s return smile was blinding. “Great!” He said. “Meet you in the kitchen tomorrow night at 5pm.” It wasn’t a question. He smiled at me again, knocked three times on the table, and left.