029

One game at a time, that's how I began to look at things, just like Sidney did. Four wins, that's all they need, and the cup would be ours. Detroit was good, there was no question about that, they were really good, but so were the Pens. I wanted to feel the energy of the arena, the excitement, so I asked Sidney if he could secure me a seat behind the penalty box. I don't know how he did it, I didn't even ask but there I was, decked out in white just like everyone else, sitting behind the penalty box. The Penguins were already down in the series two games to none, so tonight was a must win to have any chance. Never before in my life had I been so nervous for a hockey game, there were some points where I couldn't even watch. Of all the hockey games I've been to in my life, this was the first one where I actually started to cry. Sid opened the scoring with only a few minutes left in the first period. The man sitting next to me quickly became my best friend as we jumped in the air hugging one another. It felt so good to once again be a fan, but I couldn't stop myself from crying. I must look like an idiot. "Hey your Sid's girl aren't you? I recognize you from the TV," he shouted to me over the loud music. "I am," I smiled and it was left at that.

Sidney scored again in the second period to take a two to nothing lead. This time I didn't cry though, I only yelled and screamed until my voice became very hoarse. The Penguins went on to win the game three to two and I couldn't wait to see Sidney, even though I could barely talk. I jumped into Max's arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "Did you enjoy the game?" he asked with a big smile on his face. "I did." Wow, my voice is gone! Max began to laugh uncontrollably. "You lost your voice! That's awesome! Finally we shut her up!" He yelled over to some of the other players. I punched him in the arm and managed to ask him how long Sidney would be. "It's probably going to be awhile, but there's someone in the lounge you might want to see," he winked at me and I became confused. I walked into the lounge and wanted to scream, but I couldn't. "Colby!" I managed to yell but not a whole lot came out. I jumped into his arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "When did you get in?" "I got to the arena in the middle of the second, I thought for sure you would be in the owner's suite, where were you?" "I was sitting behind the penalty box, obviously enjoying myself to much," I laughed as I pointed to my mouth. "Yeah, you lost your voice, I'm sure Sidney will enjoy that," he grinned and I hit him in the arm too. "So I have to tell you, Riley comes to town tomorrow. I think he lands around ten, so a few of us are going to lunch he wanted me to invite you. You can completely say no, I will understand," Colby explained to me with his hands on my shoulders. "I need to see him Colby, I want to show him I'm over him, that I've moved on," I smiled just as I saw Sidney walking into the room. "Hey Sid, she lost her voice," Colby laughed as they had their man hug. "Really?" he asked raising an eyebrow. What is it pick on Avery night?

One last check in the mirror and I was pretty sure I was ready to go. "Sidney, come on, we're already late," I tried to shout to him, but not a whole lot came out. "I don't know if I'm comfortable with this Avery. Are you sure you want to go?" "Yes, I want him to see that I am so over him, that I'm in love with you. I want him to see how happy I am," I smiled wrapping my arms around his waist. "Are you really over him? When you see him in twenty minutes you're not going to regret being with me are you?" What? "Yes, I'm really over him. I have everything I want in my arms right now, I don't regret anything babe. Well I might regret yelling and screaming so much last night, but that hottie captain of ours scored two goals, I couldn't contain myself." He could only smiled and leaned down and gave me a big kiss. "Okay, can you promise me one thing though?" I nodded my head. "Go get yourself a car, don't make me go buy one for you," he smiled snatching his keys out of my hand.

Oh no he isn't! "Ugh, I like it like that, she working that back, I don't know how to act. Slow motion for me, slow motion for me, slow motion for me, move in slow motion for me. I'm a dick thrower, her neck and her back hurting, cut throat will have her like a brand new virgin. It's like when she gets used to it, then you start serving, hop up on top and start jiggy-jiggy jerking." Did I honestly just witness that? "It's nice to see Max has you listening to rap," I said trying to control my laughter. "He was offended by my Celine Dion, so I had to change it up." We pulled up to the sandwich shop and I thought for sure my nerves would be through the roof, but I was perfectly fine. I walked in and smiled and waved to Max, Colby, Mel and then in the back corner sat Riley who was looking at his phone. "Avery my darling, I saw you in the Gazette this morning, congratulations!" Max smiled pulling me into a very big hug. Oh yeah, the article, I totally forgot. "Yeah Av, it's out there now, people know that you two are the hot item of the town," Colby laughed as he hugged Sidney a little friendlier than the night before. Mel and I hugged and then I looked back over at Riley who was still looking at his phone. Whatever, ignore me. I sat down between Max and Sidney with Mel across from me, Colby next to her and Riley across from Sidney. He finally brought his head up and blushed a little. "Sorry about that. Hi Avery, how are you?" he asked. "I'm doing great Riley, how have you been?" "Doing alright, just enjoying my summer," he said before his head shot back down to his cell phone. I looked over at Colby and he just gave me a look of confusion. This was odd.

During lunch Max kept trying to slide his hand onto my leg, and everytime he did I would jab my fork at him. "So Maxime, Sid over here was rapping earlier today, can you tell me what that's about," I said laughing. "Yeah man!" Max shouted giving Sidney a high five over my head. "Let me guess, he was singing 'Slow Motion'?" Max asked laughing. "Yeah, actually it was," I smiled. "That's the only rap song he knows," Colby chirped in laughing. "So you guys are coming to Detroit for game 5 right?" Sidney asked Colby and Mel, Riley was far gone at this point. "Of course we are, well only if we get to crash in the suite with Avery," Colby smiled looking at me. "I know I'm about to sound like a terrible girlfriend, but the brewery opens in seventeen days, and I still have so much I have to do," I explained feeling terrible. "Don't worry about it Army, I already have a plan. She's getting on that plane if she likes it or not, I might have to up the ante on that deal she made me for driving Sid around," Max explained with a very, very wide smile. "What deal?" Sidney asked and my head dropped into my hands.

After lunch we headed to the rink to watch the guys practice and I pulled Riley to the side. "What's with you? You haven't said more than a few words all day, that's very unlike you." "Colby made me read the article on you when he picked me up from the airport. I'm just dealing with knowing I've lost you forever, that's all. I'm just, I'm proud of you Avery, and I truly believe that Sid is a really good guy for you, the article said it all, you guys are very much in love." Mission accomplished. Wait, I haven't even read the article yet! "Thank you Riley," I smiled before giving him a small hug and we rejoined Colby and Mel. "Avery, we're on the guest list for your opening right?" Colby asked as I sat down in the row in front of him. I pulled the list out of my purse and looked it over, "what's your name again?" I continued to look up and down the list and then looked up at him with a big grin. "Yes, all three of you are on here. There's about a hundred and twenty people on the list, and there will be a lot of reporters, but you're use to that." "Reporters? Damn, that means we have to behave ourselves!" Colby said with a frown. "They're not allowed upstairs though, in 'The Nest'. Which has it's own guest list, and that list has the whole team on it, you included," I smiled. "'The Nest', I love it."

After practice I finally went car shopping, Sidney had been bugging me, so I figured it was time. "You should get a Jaguar so I can drive it around," he smiled as we drove around some car lots. "Ha, you would have it wrecked in a week tops." I drove by some Jaguars and they really did look nice. "I guess we can check them out, they are a little pricey though, I was thinking more along the lines of a Ranger Rover like this or a Cadillc Escalade. I wanna be a pimp like Flower," I laughed. "That would be cool, you could murder it out." Murder it out? HA! "Wow Crosby, you're turning thug on me," I laughed as I parked the car to look at the cars. We took a spin in the Jaguar XJR and I just wasn't feeling it, I was so use to bigger cars. "Okay, let's go look at the Cadillac's," Sidney smiled as we left the lot. Oh there's my new baby. A big smile came onto my face as we pulled into the Cadillac lot and there was a beautiful black Escalade. I jumped out before Sidney even turned the car off and was sitting in the Escalade when he walked up. "I want it," I smiled rubbing my hands on the steering wheel.

I had a huge grin the whole ride home, finally a new car, and a nice one at that. "How long did he say it would take to customize it?" Sidney asked as he pulled into the driveway. "At first he said it would be like three weeks, but then he found out I was paying cash up front and it turned into a week," I laughed. We sat in the driveway just starring at each other and I began to laugh. "What's so funny?" "Babe, I love you, you know that. I love everything about you, but that beard. It's not even a beard it's fuzz outlining your jaw, I'm sorry. It just looks funny," I smiled rubbing my fingers across his 'beard'. "I can't shave, you know how superstitious I am. You're just going to have to deal with it, I'm sure it will feel nice against your thighs. You might not be able to scream and yell as usual though," he gave that smile no one could deny. "Then why are we sitting out here in the car?"