Chapter 15

Sunday morning and Karen woke up to the sound of her cell phone going off. She fumbled around half asleep until she found it and answered it.

"Whoever this is better have a damn good reason to calling me this early on a Sunday."

"I do have a damn good reason, I want to hear my girlfriend's beautiful voice before playing hockey today. Besides, I won't get to hear or see her until game time."

"Mmm, morning stud" Karen said smiling into the phone.

"Morning baby. You really aren't a morning person are you?"

"Not after all I drank last night."

"I don't think it was the amount as much as what all was in it" Sidney said laughing.

"Yeah, remind me to not let Sheril be bartender anymore. What time is it exactly?"

"10am. I'm getting ready to head to the arena in a few minutes."

"Well good luck today stud. I can't wait to watch you out on the ice."

"Why's that baby?"

"Watching you on the ice and playing the game, it just turns me on to no end. Plus you are wearing a jersey and you know what a uniform does to me."

"Actually I don't. What does it do to you?" Sidney asked with a level of huskiness in his voice.

"How about I show you after the game?"

"Well then let's get this game going so it can get over." Sidney laughed when he heard Karen giggle into the phone. "Alright baby, I need to go. I can't wait to see you in the stands cheering for me."

"I thought you never looked at the stands during a game?"

"I don't, but I have a reason to now. Besides, I am only looking for you."

"You are a charmer I will give you that and I will see you later stud."

"Bye baby."

"Bye."

They hung up from each other and Karen closed her eyes for another hour of sleep.

At 11:15am, Karen's alarm rang and she groaned at the sunlight coming into her room. "I am going to need to get heavier curtains in here."

"Yeah, escpecially if you want to keep it all dark during the day so you and Sidney can play in the dark" Sheril said coming out of her bathroom.

"What the hell are you doing in my bathroom?"

"Sorry chippy but Natalie is in the one downstairs and Diane is in the guest bathroom. So that leaves yours and I needed a shower before the game."

"Oh. Are you almost done so I can get mine?"

"Yeah, let me dry my hair, then its all yours."

Karen laid there and thought about the dream she had just woken herself out of. She started smiling to herself as she played it back in her mind until Sheril came out to interrupt her thoughts.

"All yours chippy. What are you smiling about?"

"Just remembering a dream I had."

"About Sid the kid?"

"Trust me, he ain't a kid."

"You would know" Sheril said as she left the room laughing. Karen just shook her head and got up to get ready to head to the game.

At 12:30pm, the girls arrived at the arena and waited around for the doors to open. They found some friends that had come to the game and stood around talking. A few mintues later, the doors opened and everybody headed inside. The girls got their beers and nachos and went to sit down.

A couple minutes later, the players came out for their warm up skate. Karen was busy talking to the people behind them when Diane got her attention and told her to look at the ice. Karen looked down and saw Sidney in front of them. He shot her a wink and a smile before grabbing the puck and shooting it on the goal.

"Man, he's got it bad for you girl" Diane said quietly.

"From the look on her face this morning, I say he ain't the only one" Sheril chimed in.

"Leave her alone guys" Natalie said " she hasn't been this happy in a long time."

Karen tuned them out as she just watched Sidney skate around the ice. He changed his concentration from her to his game and was amazed how he got so focused. She was brought out of her thoughts when on of the ushers stopped and tapped Karen on the shoulder.

"Could you come with me ma'am?" the usher asked.

"Is something wrong?"

"I just need you to come with me."

"Ok."

Karen told her friends she would be back and they all looked at her with a questioning look. Sidney saw Karen being escorted out of the stands and smiled before heading off the ice since warm ups were winding down.

The usher led Karen downstairs and through a hallway.

"Can I know where you are taking me?"

He stopped at a room that nobody was in and told her to wait there as someone would be in to talk to her shortly. A few minutes later as Karen just stood and looked around the room, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.

"You know, if Sid sees us together like this, he won't be happy." Karen turned around in his arms and smiled at him.

"Why do you do that?" Sidney said while moving a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Because it's fun. Besides, it's not like I actually gave a name or anything."

"I don't think I want to know who'd you name."

"So why am I here when you need to be focusing on the game?"

"Seeing you in the stands, I had to give you something to help me focus on the game."

"What did you need to give me?"

Sidney just leaned in and kissed her with a hard, yet passionate kiss that lasted for at least a couple minutes.

Karen pulled away breathless "if you can concentrate on the game after that kiss, I will be impressed."

"Well you know that's my plan....to impress you."

"I say your two for two" Karen said as she leaned up to meet his lips with hers.

As their kiss deepened, Sidney heard his name being called and broke the kiss.

"Do you remember how you got down here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Take this pass and come back down here after the game. If you have any trouble, show them this and you should be fine." Sidney kissed her again, then left. Karen stood there and brought her fingers up to her lips. She touched them and smiled before heading back up to her seat. She got there before the national anthem and told the girls everything was ok.

The Penguins had won the game, but Sidney was held without a point and played a good game. Karen and her friends left their seats and headed to the exit. They met up with their other friends and Karen told them goodbye. She said she was going to hang around for a bit and she'd see them during the week.

Karen waited around until there wasn't many people around and headed back downstairs. She was stopped once, but she pulled out the pass and was waved on by. Karen saw a lot of people hanging around outside the locker room and stood back waiting for an opportune time to find Sidney and tell him she was there. A few minutes later, Sidney walked out of the locker room in shorts and a t-shirt and saw Karen leaning up against the wall. He walked over to her and grabbed her hand, taking her with him. She didn't ask any questions until she saw where he was headed....post game interviews with the media. She looked at him with a scared looked, but he just kissed her temple and let go of her hand, walking in to sit down. Karen just stood off to the side and listened to the media hound him.

Fifteen minutes later, Sidney was done with the media and headed back to the hallway. He saw Karen talking to Mario and walked up to them.

"Surprised that you're still here boss."

"I was on my way out and saw this lady here. I decided to stop and talk to her until you were finished. Did they ask anything new?"

"Are you kidding? I could've asked better ones."

"That could be a twist, you ask the media questions" Karen said.

"Yeah, there was one I should've asked....wanna meet my girlfriend?"

"You could have, but then you wouldn't have a girlfriend after that."

"Something you guys want to tell me?" Mario asked with a questioning look.

Karen looked around and saw the bathroom, "um, I'm going to leave that explanation to Sid and I'll be back."

Sidney laughed as Karen went to the bathroom. Mario shot him a look and walked him away from the media so they wouldn't overhear. "What's going on Sid? I thought you and Karen were just friends."

"We started out that way, but it just feels right with her. She understands about the game better than any other girl who tries just to impress me. I can be myself with her."

"I just don't think you need this right now."

"I think I do. Look at what she's been through and done. If something happens and we lose our chance at the Cup, who is going to understand what I am going through?"

"Karen will" Mario said with a sigh. "Alright I get it Sid, but be careful with her. I don't want this to be a distraction for you."

"She said the same thing to me before we got together. It will be fine, trust me."

"I do, but that's only because I trust Karen more. See you at home."

Mario walks away and Sidney saw Karen standing with her back up against the wall. He walked over to her and kissed her.

"Thank you for letting me handle that all by myself."

"You're quite welcome sir" Karen said laughing. "I'm sorry, but I just figured you could explain it better without me. Besides I know he's going to ask me on my own anyways, him knowing your side first will make it easier on me."

"Well as long as I made it easier on you...." Karen didn't let him finish as she brought him down to her lips. He broke the kiss "let's take this somewhere else."

Sidney grabbed her hand and led her down the hall. He took her to the equipment room and wrapped her up in his arms, kissing her. Karen knew where this was heading and didn't mind, but for a moment she forgot where she was and let her feelings for him take over. Sidney moved them over to the door as they continued kissing. He let his hands roam down Karen's body to her leg. He lifted her leg up and held it at his waist. Karen's hands went under his shirt and dug her fingernails into his back as she felt Sidney thrust his hips into her. He left her lips and went to her neck and his spot.

"Mmm, you know you are going to need a cold shower if you keep going."

"Well, we might need to change it to a hot, steamy shower."

"What do you mean we?"

"Like I am going to let you get me this hot and not let me finish you off."

"Finish me off? Um, I think you have it backwards stud. You are the one who will need finished off because it won't show on me."

"You play dirty baby. Maybe I could wait to get my shower at your house and then you can join me."

"That option I like."

"Come on, let's head out."

Karen and Sidney leave the equipment room and head back to the locker room, only to be met by another visitor.

"Dad? What are you doing here?" Sidney said as he let go of Karen's hand and hugged his dad.

"I decided to come down for the game and then make the trip to New York with you instead of meeting you up there. Did I interrupt something?" he asked looking at Karen with skepticism.

Sidney walked back to Karen and mouthed 'I'm sorry' before taking her hand and bringing her over to his dad.

"No, we were getting ready to head out. Dad, I would like you to meet Karen."

"Nice to meet you Karen" he said with his hand stretched out for her to shake.

"It's nice to meet you too Mr. Crosby" she said shaking his hand.

"So, do you work with the team?"

"No, just a long time season ticket holder that happens to be friends with some of the players."

"And Mario. They've known each other since '91."

"How long have you known my son?" Troy asked.

"Well I've known of him since he came to play here in '05, but we officially met last week."

"I see. It didn't really take you long to make your way down here after a game and look to be all friendly with him, now did it?" he said with a disapproving look.