002

Look sharp? I guess I could bejewel my bandage on my nose. After I got done getting ready, I pulled on an extra large hoodie and called for a cab. My insurance company worked really fast, and I had a feeling Sidney had something to do with that, because I already had a mid-size rental ready for me to pick up. When I walked into the office I saw Sidney and Mario sitting at a table in the corner. I ducked my head a little bit, but not enough as Sidney jumped up and ran up to me. "How are you feeling today?" he asked placing his hand on my shoulder which sent chills down my spine. He's only 20? "I'm pretty sore, but overall not that bad, just very happy I was able to get a rental car so fast," I smiled looking into his eyes. You could get lost in them. "Are you coming to Colby's tonight?" he asked while rubbing the palm of his hand with his thumb, I could always tell when someone was nervous. "I don't know yet. I don't think I want to show my face around too many people yet," I laughed and he hung his head. I could tell that he was still very upset over the whole incident. "Well if you do, and you want a ride or something, I can pick you up," he smiled trying to sound as normal as he could. I couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay, that was the wrong thing to say," he laughed finally easing up. "I'll call you," I smiled before heading to the counter.

I looked at myself in the mirror and could only laugh. There really was no anger, sure I was mad that my poor baby was in the shop, but it will be one hell of a story to tell to my grand kids one day. Remember Sidney Crosby? He broke my nose. I peeled my bandaged off and was thankful to see that some of the swelling had gone down. I pulled out my rarely used, expensive makeup and went to town. It felt really caked on, but the bruising didn't look nearly as bad as what it actually was. I cleaned off the cut, and wrapped my nose. I tried to think of ways to pull the attention from my nose, but hello it's right there sticking out from my face, there was no way I was going to hide it. Hmm, maybe lots of cleavage? That was a brilliant idea, I pulled out my black v-neck tank top that I bought in South Africa nearly three years ago, and had only worn it once before. Fit like a glove and made the girls look nice and perky. Slipped into a pair of jeans, threw on some boots and sat down on my bed. I sure was sore as hell. I opened my phone and looked down at the piece of paper in my hand. I wanted to call him, but I decided a text message would be much better. 'Just got done getting ready for Colby's promise not to laugh at me tonight, and I think I will drive myself, just to be on the safe side'. I signed off with a smiley face. Not thirty seconds later my phone beeped. 'Good idea. Can't wait'.

I found a parking spot around the corner from Colby's apartment and took one last look in the mirror before I got out. I couldn't tell if it was the freezing cold weather or my nerves, but I froze in my tracks just before I was going to cross the street. What were the odds Sidney would come speeding down the street and hit me? I took a deep breathe and made my way to his door. Before I could even knock Colby swung the door open with a huge grin on his face. I peeked inside and no one was there yet. "Where is everyone at?" "No one is coming til nine, but I wanted to catch up with you, and I knew you were always on time," he smiled pulling me into a hug. I peeled my jacket off and caught a glimpse of Colby's jaw drop a little bit. "What, I had to draw the attention off my face and put it somewhere," I laughed handing him my coat. "Well job well done." We sat on his couch for a while just catching up, I told him all about getting my master's in South Africa and even though I had my masters I was still working at a swanky breakfast place downtown. "So you're telling me, you could be making a lot of money, but you are working at a restaurant," he laughed. "I'll come around to it at some point, I just really enjoy working there, it's fun. I know I don't want to work for a hospital, but there aren't a whole lot of options outside of that with sports medicine," I explained the best I could. "You can work for a team, you know Pittsburgh has quite a few of them," he smiled and I could only laugh. He was right, I really need to get my ass out there and find a real job. After a minute of silence Colby looked at me with only eyes a mother would look at you with. "He's excited," he said just above a whisper. "Who's excited?" I asked very curiously. "Sid." The name rang through the empty apartment. No he's not excited, he just feels really bad.

The apartment was thumping and I kept to myself as much as I could in the corner. It seemed like everyone was there except for Sidney, but I wasn't necessarily looking for him. Max plopped himself down on the chair next to me and asked how I was feeling. I looked around the room and there were gorgeous men and beautiful women. "Out of place," I laughed. He shrugged his shoulders, then checked a message on his phone. "Not for long," he smiled before walking back over to the bar. I made small talk with some of the players before I felt a very cold glass bottle on my arm. I looked up and Sidney was standing above me smiling. "You look dehydrated, drink this," he smiled before sitting down next to me. Damn, those lips. Did I die in that accident and go to heaven? "Thanks," I smiled before taking a swig of the Long Hammer IPA, the best beer in the world. "You know I still feel so terrible for what happened, is there anything I can do for you?" he begged. I lifted an eyebrow while looking at him. "You know if it was really bad Colby would have put you through the ringer already, but since it's not, I guess I can settle on maybe a game. I've missed hockey so much and would like to start going to games again," I smiled taking another swig of my beer. "That I can do." Damnit, stop starring at his lips. Stare at something else, wait a second, he's looking in my eyes, not at my nose, or my chest. After a few seconds of silence I couldn't help but laugh. Was I honestly flirting with a twenty year old? I'm ancient compared to him. I couldn't keep myself from starring into his eyes, and it seemed like he was doing the same thing. "Yes!" Colby shouted jumping in the air standing next to me. I couldn't hide my blushing even underneath all of the makeup.

Eight beers later, I somewhat became the center of attention, everyone wanting to hear my embarrassing stories about Colby. Never before have I seen a man with so many marshmallows in his mouth. I can't believe he beat me by two. People were starting to clear out and I could feel Sidney staring at me from across the room. I glanced over and smiled before Max approached me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Looks good on ya," he laughed. I immediately covered my nose forgetting about it once again. "Not that, the smile." The blushing once again kicked in. "But hey, good job adverting the eyes downward, we all like it a lot," he laughed pointing to my girls. Colby somehow squeezed his head between Max and I and turned his back to Max. "Whatever Michelin Man," he laughed. That became his new nickname that night after my marshmallow story. "Take him home would ya?" He asked me pointing to Sidney who was sitting by himself in the corner just staring out into space. "I ain't taking no one home, I'm either sleeping right here on this couch, or someone needs to drop my ass off on my front lawn." "There's the Avery I know!" Colby shouted pulling me into a hug. Oh Riley, why? This feels so right Riley. Why? I snapped my head up and saw Sidney starring at me once again. I pulled away from Colby and walked toward him. "You are in no shape to drive tonight, since I live by you, I can take you home." He stated. Wow his lips move so graciously. "I don't know kid, your driving kind of scares me." I laughed and before I knew it I was sitting on his lap. How the hell did I end up here, you better get up pronto. Just as I was about to stand up, he wrapped his arm around my waist. "You're drunk aren't you? Do you want to go home? I promise I won't speed this time," he smiled. Everything that came out of those lips sounded so amazing. I couldn't say no.

I stepped out of Sidney's rental and nearly lost my balance on the ice. This sure was going to be a cold winter if the roads were iced over like they were this early in November. I could hear Sidney turning his car off and he walked over to me. "Let me help you," he wrapped his hand around my forearm and helped me up to my porch. I searched around for my keys and couldn't believe it. "You have go to be shitting me." Just like the night before I once again dumped the contents of my purse out on the ground and shifted through everything. I was relieved when I found my key wedged between some pages in my calendar. I unlocked the door and threw the rest of my things in my purse. I walked through the door leaving it open for Sidney, but he didn't come in. I turned around to see him just standing there starring at me. "Are you coming in?" I asked a little bit irritated. "I better get home, I have to be up early tomorrow for some interviews, are you going to be okay?" he asked with some sadness in his voice. "Yeah, I will be fine," I smiled as he reached for the door to shut it. "Hey!" I shouted only a millisecond before my door was to shut. What the hell? "When will I see you again?" He got a big grin on his face, "soon." With that he left and I passed out on my bed still in my clothes.