The Games We Play

James stood between Geno and Sid, and flanking them were Sutter, Bortuzzo, Fleury, Martin, Bennett, and Vitale. Also in attendance were Dupuis and Kunitz, whose foot was no longer in a cast but in a temporary walking-splint. They stood by the stereo facing the line of the other guys in the living room.

“Okay, one more time” James instructed. He motioned for Dupuis to hit the music on the stereo again as the others waited for their cue.

“Wait, wait, Nealsy.” Geno held his piece of white paper in front of him with a confused look on his face. “Why Sid no sing after first line?”

“The first line is Sutter’s, remember?” James looked over at Brandon. “Right?”

“Yeah, I got it, man.” He held his paper up so James and Geno could see. “Sid comes after me now, Geno.”

Geno shook his head, slightly flustered. “Alright. Keep going.”

Duper stood at the large stereo system at the opposite end of James’ living room, his finger on the Play button. “Are we ready then?”

James gave a nod. “Hit it.”

The music began for the 15th time that night as the guys practiced their song for the wedding reception. The corny, tinny sounds of the song filled the room, and each guy there was staring at their papers, waiting for their line.

Sutter stepped forward and opened a hand to an invisible crowd, pretending to sing along with the first set of lyrics:

I love myself…I want you to love me,
When I feel down, I want you above me…

Sid stepped forward:

I search myself…I want you to find me,
I forget myself…I want you to remiiiiind meeee…

He held the note rather awkwardly as the others laughed. Up stepped James with Geno beside him to cover the chorus:

I don’t want
Anybody else…
When I think about you
I touch myself!

Ooh-ooh-oh, I don’t want
Anybody else…

“Oh no! oh no! oh nooooo!” Geno filled in, singing loudly.

Dupuis and Kunitz stood over by the stereo, wincing as the guys sang the song off key and off beat. Though for their 15th attempt, it was sounding slightly better.

Bennett and Bortuzzo stepped ahead as the others fell behind, taking the next few lines:

You’re the one…who makes me come runnin’

Bortz turned to face Bennett, a shit-eating grin on his face:

You’re the sun, who makes me shiiinnnee…

James was biting his lip so hard as they continued that he feared he might taste blood soon. There was absolutely no way they would pull this off without a straight face, let alone on cue and in the order they practiced when the reception came.

It had all been James’ idea to get him and the guys to do something special for Ali. If his vision came true and it actually worked, all the men on the Penguins team who were attending the reception would stand on the small stage in the ballroom. Once in place, Dupuis and Kunitz would run the music as James and the others serenaded Ali in a silly display of affection for her, using an equally silly song in order to do so. James hoped it would make her laugh and make all of their guests laugh as well, and start the reception off on a light note.

In the middle of Vitale’s solo, James’ phone rang loudly from its spot on the coffee table, which they’d shoved out of the way and towards the doorway. The ring was shrill and hard to ignore, so Dupuis paused the music while the guys chirped James for even bothering to answer the call.

“It’s Ali” he told the group, a naughty grin on his face. “Should I put her on speaker phone? This has gotta be good…”

“Do it!” Beau answered, shoving James so he would hurry and do it before the ringing stopped. James answered, hearing a small amount of commotion on the other line. “Hey babe! How’re the festivities!?”

“Hi James!!”

He looked at the guys standing around him as he held his phone out. He, and everyone there, was dying to hear about the party ensuing downtown.

“Are you drunk yet?”

“Fuck yeah, AND I’m horny.”

James pressed his lips together, his eyebrows rising in surprise. The other guys started to chirp him in fine fashion, but he held his hand out to silence them.

“You’re always horny, baby” he taunted, smirking at the guys around him. “Where are you?”

“In the hotel room…” Ali’s voice was turning even flirtier. “I wish you were here…”

“And why’s that?” James was purposely egging her on, and it worked.

“…because I wish I could suck your dick right now.”

James lowered the phone so he could laugh along with the others, pressing the receiver hard against his chest so Ali wouldn’t hear them. He got himself together a little and brought the phone back up again.

“Aww, babe, you’re just saying that because you’re drunk.”

“You know that’s not true!”

James met the eyes of those around him rather proudly. “So Ali – where all did you go tonight? And did the others have fun? How is Brittany doing?” As he asked this, he jabbed Beau hard in the side.

“Brittany’s drunk too. We’re all drunk!” Ali burst into a fit of giggles. “I’m sorry…I don’t know what I’m doing, really. What are you doing? Are the guys there? HEY! Maybe we should get Brittany on the phone with SUNNY!”

Beau held his hands out. “No way, dude.”

James rolled his eyes. “Beau’s a little busy right now, but maybe later?”

“I wanna be a little busy with you right now” she slurred, which ended in a giggle. “I mean…Can’t you come to the room?? They won’t even notice you come in…”

“I think you should get some sleep and we can fuck tomorrow” James replied. “IF you’re not hungover, that is.”

“Fuck hangovers. They suck. Sucky, sucky, sucky on your penis—“

“Babe!” James laughed out loud, holding his hand over the receiver again as he and the others laughed at Ali’s tipsy talking. “Just get some sleep, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Promise?”

“Promise, babe.”

“Okay…goodnight Bachelorette.” James met the eyes of the others as Ali sputtered out a goodbye and a messy kissing sound and then hung up.

“Dude.” Fleury looked at James, shaking his head. “How the hell did you land a chick that cool?”

He shrugged, wondering the very same thing himself. He would likely wonder it every day of every year of his life.

“And yet he goes and chooses a song by the Divinyls to sing at his wedding reception” Dupuis added, rolling his eyes. “At the end of every day, Nealer will always be Nealer, eh buddies?”

Everyone agreed, even James.

* * *

--------------------------------------
One Week until the Wedding
--------------------------------------

“Come workout with me.”

Ali was having a hard time focusing on anything other than the way James’ hand felt over the smooth pane of her stomach. He looked at her with those full blue-green eyes that still held a touch of sleep in them, one corner of his soft mouth turned up in a tender smile.

“I’m not going if you’re doing anything involving those damn ropes” Ali responded, her eyes still following James’ large hand as he caressed her skin. She flicked her eyes up to meet his. “That feels good.”

“Good.” He leaned over to kiss her on the temple. “Now come workout with me.”

“Arrgghh, fine. But if I’m sore and can’t walk down the aisle, guess who’s not getting laid?”

James’ hand stopped moving. “So we’ll skip the ropes.”

Ali patted him on the cheek. “That’s my boy.”

They lay together, naked under one of the thin sheets, even though that night had been the first night that they needed to turn the air conditioning on. Now that it was the middle of June in Pittsburgh, the humidity had finally settled in. Beautiful evenings and sherbet colored sunsets led to muggy nights with the sound of insects buzzing outside. Mornings were cool and dewy, and this morning was no different.

Even as the sun rose and the first rays of light streamed through the curtains and blinds, James stared at Ali’s dark eyes as the light hit them at just the right angle. Compared to their usual deep, espresso color, they now took on a clearer, more chestnut shade in the new light. When those eyes shifted to the side again to look at him, a smile accompanied them.

“In one week, we’ll be lying here and you’ll have a ring on your finger.”

“One week after that, we’ll be lying in a bed in Italy.” James drug his hand up to Ali’s neck to cup her face. “And I’ll be giving you your third orgasm of the day.”

“Pfffffft.” Ali rolled her eyes and giggled softly. “I know you’re good, James, but you’re not that good.”

His mouth opened in shock. “What did you just say?”

“I saaaaiiiid—“

Ali couldn’t say, because James was on her. He shifted his large body over her smaller one, two hands now roaming over her body as his mouth worked hers.

“Do I need to prove you wrong this morning?” He kissed her again. “Or should I wait and let you suffer from all the suspense until we’re on our honeymoon?”

“Suffer?” Ali punched him in the shoulder and knocked a laugh out of him. “Please! If this is suffering, I never want to be pain-free ever again.”

With James hovering over her, Ali took her time scanning all her favorite parts of him; from his bare arms, one dark with ink and the other bare, their muscles flexed on either side of her head down to the gentle cut of muscle around his chest. She let her eyes slide further down his torso until it disappeared under the sheet covering them. All of it made her giddy, which caused James to tilt his head a little with wonder.

“What?”

She shook her head. “Nothing, nothing.”

“Come onnnn. Tell meee.” James nuzzled the side of her head near her ear, his breath warm on her skin.

“Just ogling my fiancé, that’s all.”

“Mmm…I like that…”

His voice was lowering just as other parts of his body were elevating. Ali could feel him pressing against her thigh, his lips barely touching hers. Before things got too worked up, she pressed very gently on his chest to signal a pause.

“Something wrong?” James asked her.

“No, not at all.” She felt silly, thinking some of the things that popped into her head so close to their wedding day, but her mind was all over the place anymore and she wasn’t about to care about sounding dumb. “Question for you…”

“Answer for you” he said with a grin.

“Can you not shave for the wedding?”

James looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. “Babe.”

“What!??!” She knew it sounded stupid. “I’m sorry, it’s just—“

“—Listen to me.” James’ hands found each side of her head and held her still. He waited until her eyes slowly moved back to center and she was looking at him again. “Whatever you want, and don’t look at me like you’re embarrassed to ask.”

“I’m not embarrassed.”

James laughed. “After all this time, you think I can’t read you?” When Ali didn’t answer, his smile grew. “Exactly. And yes – I’ll keep the stubble you love for our wedding.”

“Just like it is now” Ali stated, hoping he’d remember how it looked. There was really nothing she loved more about James than the short amount of hair that framed his jaw and his perfectly kissable mouth.

“Question for you” James stated.

“Answer for you” Ali responded.

“This might be super gay of me, but…..how are you doing your hair?”

Ali laughed. “Really!?!?”

“Yes!” James wound a piece of her dark hair around one of his fingers. “You have the best hair.”

“Thought that was you?” Her smile mocked him, so James tugged on her hair ever so slightly.

“So how are you doing it? Down? Up?”

“Left? Right?”

“Dammit.”

Ali lifted her head so her lips could press against his. “I’m just having fun, babe.”

“And I’m just trying to picture what my fiancé is going to look like as she walks down the aisle.” His eyes refocused and narrowed on her. “You know…so my breath isn’t instantly taken away when I finally get to see her.”

Ali thought her heart was about to cease beating in her chest at that one simple statement. Her short moment of hesitation let James know he’d struck a chord within her.

“It’s going to kill me, you know” he admitted. “Seeing you? With your dad?”

Keep it together, Allison.

He laughed at himself and lowered his gaze. “I keep thinking about it, actually. I don’t know why…I guess I’m just excited.”

Ali wrapped her arms around James’ neck, pulling him close so that he was flat against her bare chest; skin on skin, one heartbeat against the other. “How will I be able to not cry when I see you?”

“Not possible.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “You cry too easily.”

He was right; Ali knew she’d likely be a mess…or maybe she’d actually be able to hold it together, if only until they said their vows.

“Our vows” she exhaled, completely forgetting the most important part.

“Got ‘em written.” James smiled at her proudly. “Wrote them in Whitby, after…well, you know…”

“You wrote them already?” Ali studied James’ gaze, so strong and confident and unwavering. He nodded, but said nothing. Everything that needed to be said was spoken in his eyes.

He wrote them in Whitby, when he escaped to avoid feeling the loss of the playoffs. Images of James alone in his childhood home and writing his wedding vows was almost too much for Ali’s heart and mind to take.

“They’re good, too” he stated, his crooked grin growing even larger. “Wait ‘til you hear them.”

Ali laughed, completely in love with the dorky hockey boy that lay over her at that very moment. She slid her hands up the side of his face, sinking her fingers into his dark hair. “You’re the best, James.”

“I love you.”

They kissed, but James was the first to pull back.

“Now come work out with me.”

* * *

It may have been one of the last “normal” days James and Ali spent together before their wedding, as the following days became just a blur for the both of them.

Ali was a nervous wreck. She’d made a checklist to ensure that every final preparation was met and completed. She wanted absolutely nothing nagging her in the back of her mind on her wedding day.

After calling hotels to make sure arrangements were set for all of her and James’ out of town guests, she phoned the photographers they’d hired and double-checked everything was set in stone with them as well.

Sitting at the kitchen table studying her list, Ali ran her eyes down the length of the paper, chewing on her pen.

Flowers and decorations scheduled for set-up, all vendors are paid, limo is set up, guys have their suits….

She tapped the table with her finger nail, thinking as she scanned the list.

Mom and Dad have their arrangements made. Peter and Deb have theirs. Bridesmaid gifts purchased….just need to get them wrapped. Makeup and hair appointments are scheduled…

Ali sighed. She was starting to get a headache, already feeling a dull throb behind her eyes as she rubbed them exhaustedly.

At least I haven’t turned into a Bridezilla yet.

She laughed into her hands, still covering her weary face and burning eyes. There was one thing left she had to do, and she knew procrastinating wouldn’t get her very far.

Reluctantly, Ali reached for her cell and dialed the number to the boutique where she’d purchased her wedding gown. She spoke with one of the tailors there and arranged a final fitting for that evening, understanding that it was now or never. The wedding was less than a week away, and it was time to see how much weight she’d gained since her initial fitting.

Shuffling into the living room, she found James and Paul sitting on the couch playing video games. They’d been there most of the morning, yelling at one another and at the screen, all in good fun with plenty of laughs. Sometimes it was pretty comical, listening as their competitive sides came out.

Both guys looked up from their controllers when Ali came into view.

“Hey beautiful” James said, eyes quickly going back to the tv screen.

Ali watched as the two men very tensely maneuvered their fingers over the controllers, Paul letting out an exasperated cry, which was followed immediately by a loud crash and bang on the tv.

James tossed his controller on the ground and stood; arms up and hands held high in victory. “BOOM. Totally BURNED your ass, Paulie!”

Paul was shaking his head on the couch, slumped back against the cushions with his controller limp in his hand. “Whatever, Nealer. Even a blind mouse finds the cheese once in a while.”

Ali laughed a little at Paulie’s chirp. “You two are so in love, it hurts.”

Both of them looked at her and glared. She shrugged, watching as James approached her. He placed his hands on the sides of her arms. “You look stressed. What’s up?”

If it was one thing James was good at, it was reading Ali. She knew that, and so often, she tried to get around it. Apparently, his eyes were too good; not just with a puck, but with her as well.

“I scheduled my gown fitting in an hour or so.”

James nodded. “You’re still worried about that pan of brownies you ate.”

She laughed. “Yes, but you don’t have to rub it in.” James’ eyes lit up at as he rubbed her arms. It made her feel better, just feeling his touch. “So I guess I’m both excited and stressed.”

“Can I come?”

Ali threw her head back and laughed. “Oh James, you crack me up sometimes.”

Paul lifted a hand from the couch. “Uh, Nealer? I even know you can’t see her until the big day.”

“It’s a fitting, dude” he protested. “All I want to see is some skin. Ya know…a chick pinning and tucking and maybe a little nipple touching—“

In unison, Ali and Paul both groaned.

James gave an innocent shrug. “Just saying.”

“You two still going to be here?” Ali asked them. “If so, you want me to bring back food or anything?”

“I’m good, thanks Ali.” Paul waved in thanks.

James placed a quick kiss to her cheek, then regained his spot on the couch. “You know me, babe – if you bring back anything, I’ll eat it.”

“Oh, I know” Ali said with a smirk.

She headed upstairs, taking them two at a time. Feeling a bit excited to see her wedding dress again after a reprieve of a few months made Ali feel even more excited for the big day. She went into her closet and quickly chose an outfit to wear that would be easy to put on and take off, considering the fitting she was going to.

As she was changing, the sound of heavy footsteps coming in the room caused her to spin around.

“Hey.” James came forward, string at the bottom half of Ali, which was still bare except for the tiny boy short panties she wore. They were blue with little balloons all over them. “Cute underwear, babe.”

“Shut up.” Ali initially didn’t realize she’d had a pair of ‘comfy’ panties on that day, as opposed to anything that might be deemed sexy.

James was still smirking at her as she slid a pair of white shorts over her hips. “Do the balloons mean there’s a party in your pants?”

“Oh you are just killing it today with the one liners, aren’t you?”

“I always wondered what a Pants Party looked like—“

She buttoned the shorts, straightened the flouncy, billowy sea green colored tank top, and then slid her hands around James’ waist. She felt the taught muscles of his abs beneath her hands; a hard surface for her to grasp as she gazed upwards.

“I’m excited.”

James nodded. “I see that.”

“Why did you come upstairs?”

“To wish you good luck.”

Ali smiled. “Thank you.”

“Plus…” James’ smirk reappeared. “I figured if I can’t see you change in your gown yet, I thought I’d just come upstairs and grab a peek at whatever I could see.”

Beneath the dark bill of his hat, Ali could see a spark of both humor and desire within his eyes. Ali knew that look anywhere, and matched it with her own look of desire.

“Later, babe. Pants Party. Me and you.”

He laughed. “Party of two?”

“Party of two.” She lifted onto her toes to reach his mouth, feeling his full lips brush against hers.

“One other thing…” he said softly.

“Yes?” Ali remained staring into James’ perfect eyes.

“Tell your dress I said hi.”

* * *

“I think that should do it, Miss Diserelli.”

Ali turned slowly so she faced the multiple panes of mirrors that surrounded her. Her eyes didn’t know where to look first, but no matter where she looked, she stared at the reflection of what she would look like in less than seven days.

“It’s so gorgeous.” Ali ran her hands down the detailed sweetheart bodice, feeling the intricate beading and lace woven together. As she felt the gown, she also felt her racing heartbeat.

She looked over at her seamstress, Sue, feeling a little shaky. “Sorry, I’m nervous…”

“That’s a common thing we see here all the time, hun.”

The woman’s sweet smile calmed Ali a little. She looked back at the mirrors, feeling the flowy fabric below her waist that led down to a shorter train behind. Everything felt so soft and pretty; she felt soft and pretty.

As Ali continued to gaze at herself in the mirrors, Sue found another area in the back that needed a little more adjusting. Trying to hold herself still while the woman did her work, Ali couldn’t believe how quickly her chest was heaving. She looked down at her hands, which were shaking ever so slightly.

“Are shaky hands a common thing too?” Ali asked with a nervous laugh.

“Absolutely.”

“Even now? Just days away from the big day?”

The kindly, older woman stood and placed both hands on her hips, the measuring tape hanging loose about her shoulders. She looked at Ali with compassion and a slight amount of humor. “If I may be so bold: you are holding it together more than most girls do when they come in here, and I’m actually quite impressed.”

“Really?” Ali brought her eyes back to her multiple reflections. In her mind, she transported to the reception ballroom her and James checked out just a few weeks ago. She could so clearly see them dancing together, to the song James had sung to her that day. Suddenly, Ali felt a burning sensation pricking at the corners of her eyes.

Sue, who had been jotting numbers down on a piece of piece of paper nearby, heard quiet sobs coming from the platform where Ali stood. “Oh hunny!”

Ali shook her head and waved her hand. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing….” Her inhale was shaky and tears continued running down her face.

Sue approached cautiously. “Are you sure? Is it the dress?”

“Oh God no.” Ali wiped her eyes, feeling stupid beyond comprehension. “I’m just happy.” She looked over at Sue and smiled weakly. “I’m really, really happy.” She laughed and cried all at once, even as Sue placed a comforting hand on her bare shoulder.

“It’s okay, Allison. Let it out. This is a huge deal! Girls come in a cry all the time as well, and it’s nothing to feel silly about.”

“Thank you” she sputtered, sniffling a little. “Because I feel silly.”

“Don’t. Not for one second.” Sue went back to the desk she’d been writing at and grabbed a tissue box, handing it to Ali. “Here you go.”

Ali gave her a sympathetic smile. “Thanks.” She laughed as she dabbed at her eyes. “I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later, huh?”

Sue’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Hunny, I have a feeling this is just the start.”

* * *

Notes

….I can't even believe I'm at chapter 90. I can't. Thank you guys so much, and trust me - my heart's going to hurt a little when this tale ends as well.

….but I promise - it's not the *end* end. ;)