022

I waited outside of Ziggy's and was getting a little frustrated that Melissa and her roommate were now fifteen minutes late. I was getting ready to leave when I heard her shout my name from the corner. "Avery, I am so sorry that we are late, but trying to find parking around here is murder," she explained. I never really thought of that before considering I always parked in the players parking lot. "Oh that's totally okay," I smiled as I looked at her roommate. "Avery, this is Andrew my roommate," she introduced us. "You are a goddess in my eyes Avery, thank you so much for bringing us to the game. That Ryan Malone is a total hottie, pretty much the only reason I watch the team," he giggled. Male roommate? Gay male roommate, PERFECT! I laughed myself and could only imagine the crap the guys would give Bugsy if they just heart what Andrew said. "Well you guys ready to go?" "Of course," Melissa smiled. Yeah she is going to be perfect for Colby. "Now I have to warn you, we're sitting with Mario, and then after the game we're going out for some drinks with Sid and his best friend Colby," I smiled. Andrew mouth dropped a little bit and I could tell he was very excited to hear we would be sitting with Mario. "Colby, he's the cute goofy looking one right?" Melissa asked and I laughed. "Yes, that would be him. He's a great guy, I've known him for six years."

Andrew didn't say a single word when he met Mario, he was completely star struck. Mario has this effect on men that was astonishing, first my father, now Andrew. "Hey Avery, how are you doing, feeling better? Sidney told me you were in the hospital, I hope everything is okay." "Yeah, I'm doing much better, I was just unusually very, very sick. Sid took me to the hospital just as a precaution and they kept me over night," I smiled taking the beer he offered me. "How's the brewery coming along?" "Oh it's amazing, we have all the equipment in there, now it's just a matter of constructing the pub and offices. Sprucing up the outside and we should be open by June. I also decided to have a hockey theme, and to tie it in to the northwest, I've named it Thunderbird Public House after the WHL team out in Seattle, it's very exciting." Talking beer always got me hyped up. "I would love to come see it. There's already a lot of buzz going around the guys about the opening, sounds like it's going to be the party of the year," Mario laughed. "Yeah, I wasn't really planning on having a big grand opening party or anything like that, but it kind of sounds like I have no choice now."

After chatting with Mario for a bit, I felt like I needed to get to know Melissa better before I just threw her at Colby. She was a very sweet girl that I wanted to keep for myself. "School just wasn't for me, I've dropped out of college twice and it just kills me. I know I'm better than that, but I just couldn't put all my focus on it," she explained. I wanted to relate, but really, I couldn't. I didn't even know what to say. "I take it you finished school," she laughed. "School was my life for a long time, it was my savior in ways. I did school work to keep my mind off of other things. So I graduated early and got my master's in sports medicine this past May," I explained to her. "Wow, that's impressive. I usually play the piano to take my mind off of things, it's very freeing." Yeah, I want to keep her for myself. I chuckled to myself and turned my attention back to the ice. "So Colby, what's his story?" Melissa asked a few minutes into the second period. "Colby is awesome. I was best friends with his brother back in Seattle, so through his brother, Colby and I became pretty good friends in the two summers we spent together. He's from Saskatoon which has to be the armpit of Canada, there is absolutely nothing to do there, but he's very proud of that" I laughed. I noticed a huge grin come over her face, it looked like she was getting excited in meeting him.

The Pens won the game five to two and I was getting very nervous for the grand introduction that was about to take place. I dragged Melissa and Andrew downstairs and we waited outside of the locker room. When Bugsy walked out, I thought we would have to call an ambulance for Andrew. He didn't say a single word but I think his heart stopped for a moment when Bugsy came and said hi to me. I saw Colby peak his head outside of the locker room and quickly disappeared. Everyone had left the locker room, and I knew Colby was ready to go, but he must of been waiting to walk out with Sidney. Colby's nervous, that's cute! Sidney finally emerged from the locker room with Colby very close behind him. I gave him a quick kiss and congratulated him on the win. "Sid this is Melissa and her roommate Andrew. I met Melissa at the mall the other day. Melissa, Andrew this is Sidney my boyfriend," I smiled all while trying to drag Colby out from behind Sidney. "And back here is Colby, Colby this is Melissa and her roommate Andrew, guys this is Colby." Melissa and Colby exchanged hand shakes and it sent chills up my arms when I saw the intensity in their eye contact, it reminded me much of Sidney and I on the flight to Toronto. It was very cute.

Over some drinks Andrew managed to chat Sidney's ear off, and I couldn't help but watch the way Melissa and Colby were interacting. I should become a match maker. They were in their own little world, and I couldn't be happier. When the bill came Sidney quickly paid the bill and was more than ready to get home, I think he had become annoyed with Andrew. "Okay guys, we're going to head out, see you soon," I smiled before walking out with Sidney. A few minutes later I heard my phone beeping with a new text message. When I looked at my phone I saw that I had two, one from Melissa and one from Colby each saying thank you. Oh that's so cute! I smiled and grabbed onto Sidney's hand as he drove home. "Hey Sid, I love you, I'm happy we met," I pulled his fingers up to my mouth and gently kissed them. "I love you too. Aren't you excited this is our first Christmas together?" "I am, I just hope you like what I got you," I smiled knowing damn well that he will. "I told you not to get me anything, but I'm sure whatever it is I will love it." "I got you lifetime supply of beer," I laughed. "You are one amazing woman," he laughed back.

The next morning I woke up to see that I had a voicemail. Great something is wrong at the warehouse. "New message sent at 4:45 AM," what the hell? "Hi Avery, it's Colby, it's just about five in the morning and I just dropped Mel off at her place. She is amazing and I just wanted to thank you for thinking of me when you met her. She said she works at a lingerie shop and you were a customer, damn girl Sid's gonna die. Well anyways, I will see you soon. Thanks again, love ya Av." I began to laugh and was overcome with joy. "Come back to bed," Sidney shouted from the bedroom. I stripped out of my sweatshirt and sweatpants down to my tank top and underwear and climbed on top of him. "Oh I just wanted to cuddle, I wasn't expecting this," he smiled as he wrapped his arms around me. "Sorry babe, still can't have sex, but I know something else that I can do for you," I smiled with a little laugh.