The Games We Play

When James stepped off the plane, the heat hit him like someone opened the door to an oven. The bright sun made him squint, so he lifted his pitch black sunglasses from the collar of his shirt and slid them on.

Behind him filed the men who were brave enough to join him for the Vegas adventure: James’ three brothers, plus his Penguins family: Crosby, Geno, Martin, Vitale, Sutter, Bortuzzo, and Bennett. They didn’t stand out quite to the degree James had imagined, and for that he was thankful. Except for Nick and Mike, the rest of the guys were dressed as nice as they normally dressed. They each wore some combination of short-sleeved tops with jeans or shorts. James opted for a light blue t-shirt with a small chest pocket in a darker shade of blue, combined with knee-length plaid shorts and sandals. Of the entire crew, he looked the most relaxed.

Mike didn’t do so bad: first class flight, free liquor on the plane, followed by pick-up service in a limo. James made sure to thank him when the pile of them slid into the spacious open seating in the back of the limo. If this wasn’t a bro’s club, James didn’t know what was…but he could easily get used to it.

It was a short drive from McCarran International Airport, which was situated smack dab in the middle of the Vegas Strip. The entire place catered to its guests, which even included the placement of the airport. Within minutes, the guys were transported to the Aria, passing by the landmarks that made the Strip world famous. Hotel after hotel, flashing lights, giant crowds holding drinks as they filled the sidewalks, music and billboards and towering replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Space Needle. James stared out the window of the limo, wondering if this would be the last time he’d look upon the Strip while sober.

When the limo pulled up to their hotel, the driver had their luggage unloaded and on a gold cart, which disappeared up to their room. The minute the guys filed into the hotel room, they stopped, nearly walking into one another. Their eyes slowly drew upwards, jaws slowly drawing downwards.

“Jesus Christ.” Paul stared up the immensity of the lobby.

“Told you fuckers it was ritzy” Vitale replied.

James wiped his mouth. He’d never been so excited in his life. Everywhere he looked it was glitz and glam, shiny and sparkly and exciting – everywhere. Las Vegas was the definition of excess and the epitome of gluttony, and James intended on using the next two days for just those purposes.

As Mike stepped up to the front desk, the others huddled around one another. Geno had a grin on his face like he’d just won the lottery, and Sid couldn’t stop gazing up. James had to snap his fingers to bring everyone’s attention back to center.

“Okay, so I basically have a hard on just walking in here” he joked. “So I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna do when I see whatever Mike booked for a room.”

“I don’t even wanna leave this place” Sutter said, a look of awe still stuck to his face. “Fuck the Strip man, this hotel alone has everything! Look…” He walked over to a giant display, back-lit with tiny gold lights to make the board appear as if it were on its own stage. “There are five clubs in this place. FIVE, Nealer.”

“Well we got some fucking planning to do then, boys.” He saw the rest of them match the grin he was currently wearing, knowing all too well tonight would only get better as it the hours passed.

“Hey Groom!”

James and the others turned around. Mike strolled forward arrogantly, swinging a handful of lanyards that contained cards in each.

“Ready for the Sky Suite?” He let the lanyards dangle from his hand as he held them up.

James snatched one of his own and headed for the elevators, with the rest of his boys close behind. The elevator ascended, taking them to one of the top most floors where the Sky Suites were located. None of them really knew what to expect, save for Mike, who stood in the elevator with a shit-eating grin on his face.

When they finally reached the suite that would be theirs for the next two nights, the elevator actually opened up – not to a floor, but to the room itself. Their own private elevator.

“What. The. Fuck.”

James walked off the elevator like he’d been transported to some sort of fantasy dreamland. Each one of the others stepped into the room slowly, eyes travelling up and around and over the excessively large room.

“Mike.” James looked over at his brother. He was standing back from the rest of the group, nodding with satisfaction. “How the fuck did you pay for this?”

“We all did, and don’t fucking worry about it.”

James felt light headed. The place was too much and just right, all at once; the perfect bachelor pad for a group with money. The first thing that stood out was the winding staircase that led up to a second floor balcony. A flat panel tv the size of an entire wall hung opposite a U-shaped couch, the backdrop the skyline of the desert southwest mountains beyond massive picture windows.

“Holy fuck” Geno said, walking over to the window. He stared out for a moment, stunned just as much as the others. “Nealsy.”

James walked over to look out the window. Geno pointed below at the pool, which still appeared massive despite how far from the ground their suite was.

“Your pool” he said excitedly. “Crazy.”

James nodded, his heart beating fast. If I knew how good this engagement thing could be, I would’ve done it years ago.

“Nealer!”

Everyone looked up the staircase where Paulie stood. He leaned over the gold railing, waving at them.

“The fucking bathroom is INSANE.”

The group went for the staircase. They piled onto the second floor, cramming to look inside the bathroom. Polished gray marble floors curved up to meet matching marble walls, with a substantial hot tub in the middle of the room, directly in front of floor length windows overlooking the Strip.

“I’m fucking someone in there.”

James stared at Crosby, wide-eyed. “What?!?”

“I’m serious.”

Geno slapped Sid in the back. “Nice, Sid!”

James couldn’t help but laugh in surprise. “Jesus, Sid – it’s like you’re the one getting married.” He couldn’t argue with him, though. The hot tub was as sexy as any he’d ever seen, and the view couldn’t be beat. It rivaled the view he and Ali had in Colorado.

Fuck, I forgot to call her.

“Hey guys, leave the master bedroom free, would ya? I gotta call Ali—“

“—The FUCK you have to call Ali” Bortuzzo said, grabbing the phone right out of James’ hand. “There will be zero phone calls to Ali, dude. There will be zero phone calls PERIOD on this trip.”

“Come on, man – I told her I’d at least call her to let her know we made it.”

Bortuzzo put James iPhone in the pocket of his khaki shorts. “Sorry, Nealer. Rules are rules.”

Mike shoved James in the shoulder. “You’re supposed to forget about everything on a trip like this anyways, don’t you know how this goes? It’s supposed to just be us, celebrating you, celebrating you final weeks being a free man!”

The rest of the guys cheered when they heard this, save for Sid, who merely smiled at James as sympathetically as he could.

“I could call her for ya—“

“—NO.” James ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, no…that’s alright Sid, it’s fine. She’ll understand.”

Sid nodded, not believing him for a second but let him think whatever he wanted.

“So we go out?” Geno asked, slinging an arm around James’ shoulder lazily. “Time to get Nealsy drunk, eh?”

Another round of cheers went around the room. Downstairs, the elevator dinged and in came three bellboys dressed in suits, carrying all of their luggage. Some of the guys dispersed back downstairs to help while others spread out into the various bedrooms, calling to one another to come look at whatever posh theme their bedroom was. James watched Bortuzzo run into a room with Beau, claiming their spot as a few other guys did the same.

James really did want to call Ali, and he was already frustrated the guys were making him do shit he didn’t want to. He promised Ali that morning in the kitchen, with her in his arms, her hair still messy from sleep, that he would call when they made it. He at least wanted to tell her all about what Mike picked out for a suite. He thought she’d totally dig how awesome a place it was. The more he included her, the less he hoped she wouldn’t feel left out.

“Hey.”

James turned towards Sid, who’d stepped up to him. “You can just use my phone. Later, though.”

He smiled. “Thanks.”

“But only one call, got it?” Sid flashed his crooked grin, which had just the slightest hint of naughtiness in it. “Then it’s nothing but mayhem from then on.”

* * *

The drinking started in the room when Mike busted out four bottles of champagne. He made everyone raise their glasses, James raising his last because it just felt weird. Listening to his brother recount what an ass he was, and how much ass he’d gotten in the past, and how little ass he was about to lock himself into…all he could do is shake his head and laugh.Oh how wrong you are, Mike. Ohhhh how wrronnng.

When the chirping ended and Mike commenced the speech, James and the guys clincked glasses, drank the champagne, refilled, and did it all over again.

And again, and again, and again.

When their bottles were empty, they moved down the Strip as the late evening shades of desert orange spilled over the buildings, turning even the most colorful billboard to a shade of gold. The day’s heat rose from the pavement of Las Vegas Boulevard, causing the temperature outside to feel even warmer than it already did. The group walked down the street, already starting to feel a buzz just from the champagne combined with the excitement.

They found themselves at a rich looking club inside the Bellagio next. No matter what, James never went without a drink. When he got to the bottom of an empty glass, someone handed him one that was full. Three bottles of Grey Goose later, they picked it up and headed further down the Strip, entering Ceasar’s Palace next. Each hotel had at least four or five clubs and restaurants right inside, so they literally just picked at random where they wanted to try next.

Once inside the Bellagio, Geno spotted a club right that not only perked the drunken interests of the others, but it definitely perked James’ interest. Its claim to fame was its naked dancers, hidden behind giant silk screens with only their silhouettes visible to those partying. When Geno pointed to the entrance, James nodded.

“I’m in” he said loosely. They drug him towards the entrance, and each flashed their IDs to the bouncer at the door.

Once inside, the lights felt like they went out. There was nothing but a hot fuchsia glow that mixed with the darkness inside, and everyone’s focus went straight to the ceiling-length screens. At least ten lined each of the walls, showing silhouettes of shapely girls with nothing on, their soft flesh bouncing to the music that seemed to swell inside James’ ears. Long hair swished side to side, hips grinded and swiveled provocatively, calling their names but never saying a word.

They sat down at a table as close to a silhouetted screen as they could.

“I love Vegas” Beau said, gazing up. “I fucking love Vegas.”

James was laughing and shaking his head. Everywhere they went he seemed to be confronted by sex. Now he knew why it was called Sin City.“It’s too much” he said, still laughing. The liquor was starting to make everything funny. “My dick won’t be able to handle this if every club we go to keeps finding ways to make me hard.”

“Save it!” Vitale shouted over the music. “Bottles are coming!”

Mike signaled a waitress over. James took a good, long, healthy look as her walked over to them. Her shapely hips were wrapped in a garter belt made of some sort of red and black ribbon that tempted James to remove with his teeth if he could. Tan legs covered in black fishnet stockings stood next to him where he sat. He lifted his blue eyes up to see her matching eyes looking down.

“So this must be the bachelor?” Her teeth were perfectly straight, bright white, with a smile that showed years of practicing for this sort of moment.

“That’s me” James cooed. He could feel the vodka from the last club filtering through his arms and legs.

“Well baby, your drinks are free.” She tossed her hair, shifting her hip into his shoulder. James felt his cock throb in response. “These guys gotchya taken care of.”

His fuzzy gaze went to his brothers, who were sitting closest to him. “You guys suck” he said, smiling.

“We love you too” Nick replied, handing him a glass. “Drink.”

James lifted the glass, his smile never leaving his face. He downed the liquid, his eyes going up to the double D’s that were bouncing behind the silk screen in front of him.

I fucking love Vegas.

* * *

Next thing he knew, James was plopped down on a couch that faced a dance floor packed with scantily clad young people, both men and women, grinding against one another, their sweaty skin shining beneath the rapidly moving strobe lights that pulsed to the beat of the music. Somewhere along the line, he wasn’t sure when, Sid and Geno apparently found girls to join them. A petite blonde with the greenest eyes James had ever seen was hanging on Sid.

“Who the hell is that?” James pointed at the girl on Sid’s arm. She had a black mini skirt on with a flowy white camisole on top, with plenty of her ample chest visible beyond the neckline.

“This is Chelsea, Nealer.” Sid said it as if he was already supposed to know that. “From the last bar?”

“Oh, shit.” Did I black out? No. I couldn’t have. I can’t be that drunk. He looked for Geno, pulling him closer by the forearm. “When did Sid find a chick?”

Geno shrugged. “I don’t know. Not seen her til now.”

Knew I wasn’t that drunk, he thought to himself. He moved his eyes back over to Chelsea, eyeing the tight little package that she was. Sid said something about him being the groom to her, so James smiled.

“Pleasure’s mine.”

“Congratulations!” The blonde practically fell on him, but James helped her stand on her feet.

“You okay?” He noticed the 5 inch black stiletto heels she wore, wondering if it was her blood alcohol level or the heels that caused her to fall.

The girl reached for Sid as he slid in to the booth next to James, Geno, and Geno’s girl. James had no idea where the others guys went, assuming the bar, but he couldn’t even see where that was because of the immense size of the club. It was impossible to think with the music and the lights, so James was running solely on sensory clues. A sound here, and body movement there. When he heard the high voice of Chelsea near him, it brought his attention back to the Captain who was directing her.

“Hiiii” she said to Sid, sliding onto his lap a little further.

“Hi to you.” His lips went to the curve of her slender neck. Large hoop earrings swung as she tipped her head to allow Sid access.

James snorted. “What the fuck are you doing, Crosby.”

Sid ignored him because now the girl’s hands were travelling up his large thighs to the center of his lap. James started to laugh. It was like watching a movie he thought he would get scolded for watching.

“Shit, dude.” James was talking to himself because those two were clearly in their own world. He tapped Geno in the knee. “Where did everyone else go? We’re not the only ones here?”

Geno nodded off in the distance, beyond the dance floor. “They go to bar – said they’d come back soon.”

“For what?”

“For drinks! I don’t know.” Geno laughed at James. “You drunk, Nealsy? Finally!”

He was 95% drunk, he knew that much. James also knew he needed that last 5% to seal the deal. He reached for the drink Geno had in his hands and guzzled whatever liquid was in it, not caring what it was. A lump formed in his throat when he realized it was some sort of whiskey.

“Fuck, G….” He handed the glass back, wiping his mouth. “The hell? Going hard tonight?”

“Yeah. And now I need more.”

James watched his tall friend give him the ‘one minute’ sign and then trotted down to the bar, wherever it was, James still didn’t know. Meanwhile, on his other side, Crosby had his tongue halfway down the chick’s throat. James started a slow clap, applauding the scene he was witnessing. It ultimately pulled their mouths apart and Sid’s eyes darkened.

“What’s up, man.”

He didn’t sound happy. James didn’t care.

“Your phone, Sid. I need your phone.”

The blonde in Sid’s lap was trying to unbutton his shirt, her lips still working the flesh beneath the neck of his shirt.

“Can’t you see I’m busy here?” Sid patted the ass of the girl, causing her to giggle.

James thought the entire thing was hilarious. He’d only seen Sid work a chick three times in his entire life, and never was he as open as he was at that moment. Apparently even Sidney Crosby thinks what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. He couldn’t decide if he wanted Sid’s autograph or if he wanted to find them a room.

“Just gimme your phone. It’s my party, and I’ll call who I want to.” James held out his hand crookedly.

Frowning, Sid spread the girl’s legs, the short hem of her dress riding up even higher than it already was. Both James and Sid’s eyes fell to the purple thong that was now visible as Sid fished for his phone in his pocket.

“Sorry” he said to the girl.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind.” She spread her legs a little more.

Sid stopped feeling around in his pocket at the sight, and James had to slap him to make him go back to getting it for him. Finally, he pulled it from his other pocket and tossed it to him.

Shakily, James stood, feeling the room spin and the music seem to grow more intense as he tried to find his way through the bodies to somewhere that would be better for calling Ali. Fit, toned bodies of girls swarmed around him; their eyes finding his, their hands sliding up his chest.

This place is like a some sort of sexual playground he thought, smiling at a brunette with a short, choppy haircut as he passed by. He felt her hands grab his ass when he walked by, and he gave her a nod when he looked back to find her grinning at him.

On and on he walked, first entering the bar area by accident. At least now I know where it’s at. He saw his brothers and the rest of his teammates standing at the bar, drinking and laughing. James turned and went in the opposite direction so they wouldn’t see him. He needed just five minutes alone, that’s all.

Somehow he turned and found himself in a hallway that led to the restrooms. Lights on the ceiling glowed blue and green, shifting between the colors and playing tricks on his fuzzy eyesight. Fuck, this isn’t it either. He turned and tried another direction. Finally he found the entrance and headed out to the lobby of the Mirage, and the music and the heat of bodies crammed together seemed to disappear almost immediately .

Not bothering to look for Ali in Sid’s contact list, James dialed her cell number manually, surprised that he’d gotten it right on the first try. He paced down the hall a little, trying his best to avoid people as they walked by.

“Sidney?”

Ali’s voice was like a pacifier to James’ ears. “It’s me babe, how’s my girl doing?”

“Ohhh!” Ali started to laugh, and it instantly made James smile. “I’m doing well, but missing you” she said, a slight curl to her voice. James could tell she was getting flirty. “Why do you have Sid’s phone?”

“They took mine for the night” he answered. “And Sid’s currently deep sea diving down some slut’s throat.”

“Oh. Wow. Really?”

“Really.”

“Hmm.” There was a pause. James envisioned Ali trying to sort that one out the same way he had. “So….How is everything so far? Are you loving it?”

“Lots of naked bodies, I’ll say that much” James answered, probably a little too truthfully. “And lots of liquor. And heat. It’s hot here, babe.”

“It’s the desert, silly. Maybe that’s why everyone’s naked.”

Her little joke made him wish she was there. “You’re cute, Ali.”

“And you’re tipsy.”

“Am not!”

Ali was giggling again. “It’s okay, babe – you’re supposed to be.”

James laughed out loud. “Fuck, I think I’ve drank more in the past four hours than I have all year.”

“Well don’t go so hard you’ll regret it tomorrow…it will ruin everything.”

“Everything’s ruined because you’re not here.” James leaned against a nearby wall, wishing he was leaning into her ear. “I mean, the chicks here. Holy fuck. But they’re not you.”

“Um. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is! None of them have the ass you do…”

“…okay, okay, just….just stop talking” Ali said, laughing.

James smiled. “I don’t think they’re going to let me call you anymore after this. I don’t know if I’ll be able to anyways.”

“Why!?”

“I don’t know.” He rolled his eyes sloppily. “Guy code or something. Fucking lame.”

“Well have Sid call me if you die or something.”

“Okay.”

“Where are you right now?”

“MGM or Mirage or something…something with an M.” James blinked, feeling the lobby start to spin now. Behind him, the sound of clinking coins and electronic music filled the air just loudly enough for him to know he was close to the casino. He turned and headed back towards the club. “I should go, they’re probably wondering where I went.”

“Hey babe?”

“Yeah?” James stopped walking.

“Try not to do anything stupid….okay?”

There was a hesitation in Ali’s voice James didn’t like, but he understood it nonetheless. Bachelor parties, especially ones in Vegas, came with a stereotype for a reason. He had no intentions of cheating on Ali. None. It never once crossed his mind. But was treating it like he was on a diet: he could look at the menu all he wanted, just not order from it.

“I love you, Ali. I won’t. You know that.”

“Okay. Have fun, James. Please don’t get too sick.”

He chuckled. Even now, she looks out for me. “I’ll try. Touch yourself tonight for me.”

“Uh huh. Suuuuure.”

“Do it right now.”

There was a few seconds of silence, and James waited.

“There. Just touched myself.”

“Where?” The thought of Ali rubbing herself at his command was turning him on more than all the silhouetted bodies in the last club.

“On my elbow.”

They both laughed and James gave her the point. “Love you, baby.”

“Love you too.”

James was on the move. He needed another drink and he needed his guys. He was officially off the hook and none of them had to know he called her. From here on out – it was nothing but a party.

* * *

Ali let James hang up first, her fingernail getting worn down by the hour thanks to how much she was biting it. She was both surprised and thankful he’d called, but it didn’t do much to quell the knot of nerves that continued twisting inside her stomach.

Not every bachelor party ends up like the movies, Allison.

She un-muted the bedroom television and went back to watching the mindless cooking competition show that she’d flipped it to earlier. Having zero interest in it to begin with, she had even less interest now.

So Sid’s the one being naughty tonight, huh…..Weird.

Ali wouldn’t have guessed it, but she wasn’t all that concerned about it. James had mentioned how many hot girls there were there, which wasn’t a surprise at all. She’d been to Vegas only once, back in college for spring break, and even now she couldn’t remember most of it. She knew how Vegas worked, though, and she knew the young, beautiful, rich people that occupied the Strip. It wasn’t all gambling grandmas, no matter how much she tried to tell herself that’s all was there.

And they took his phone from him. Why? So he couldn’t call her? Why was that not allowed?

She knew why. James had called it ‘Guy Code’, and that worried Ali the most. What else was game for ‘Guy Code’?

He won’t cheat on you again. He won’t. You are a fool for thinking he will, and you know it.

But do I?

Ali clicked the tv off and rolled over. She could try looking at James’ Twitter account, but she wanted nothing to do with that. That was all him. A long time ago, she promised herself she wouldn’t be ‘that girlfriend’ – the one who snooped. With a guy like James, and a job like he had, there were pictures upon stories upon videos upon memes…all about the James Neal everyone thought they knew. Ali purposely didn’t have a Twitter account, and tried to limit her time on Facebook, and didn’t even want to venture into Instagram or Tumblr. All areas that would only lead to trouble. All areas she wanted to pretend didn’t exist.

I should’ve had my bachelorette party this weekend too, then I would at least be distracted. Fuck you, Hyatt.

The thought reminded her to set her alarm. Her shift the next day was an early one, starting at 7 o’clock and not ending til the afternoon. Maybe they would be busy enough to keep her mind busy while her fiancé got hammered with a bunch of guys who wanted him to celebrate his final days as a single man.

Bachelor parties are so fucking stupid anyways. Men just do it because they think they have to.

Ali felt herself getting angry and needed to get to sleep before it got any worse. Reluctantly, she placed her phone on the end table and stared at it. She momentarily debated if she should keep the ringer on incase James called again, but she knew he wouldn’t. Deep down, she knew he may not call the rest of the weekend.

She felt her heartbeat spike again, so she silenced the phone and turned over onto her side, facing James’ spot on the bed.

I just need to get through this weekend. If I get through this weekend, I’m in the clear.

Despite these thoughts, Ali fell into an uneasy sleep, tossing and turning most of the night…and never getting another call from the city of Las Vegas.

* * *

Notes

~~ Updates may be a little slower these days because of all the holiday hub-bub, but will be working on them steadily! Gotta see if James passes this final test, right? ;) ~~

And for those of you who are wondering, of COURSE I'll provide pictures!

The Aria hotel: http://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/aria_070710_01-630x446.jpg

The guys' sky suite: http://ariaskysuites.com/images/bg/home5.jpg

Annnnnd another: http://ariaskysuites.com/images/suites/sv/sky-villas.jpg

PS: Am I the only one who loves the idea of a drunk and carefree Sidney Crosby? *melts*