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The Games We Play

Ninety-three (Epilogue)

Sid was on his third champagne and was already debating a fourth.

He stood off to the side of where the main action was, watching the giant crowd gathered in the ballroom. James and Ali were dancing together amongst a group of friends; Ali holding up the bottom of her wedding dress while James clapped and danced right along with her.

He smiled as he looked on, taking another long drink from his champagne flute.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?"

Sid glanced over to see a woman standing next to him, arms folded over the bust of her kelley green dress. She had a relaxed smirk on her face, her hazel eyes gazing at the dance floor.

"I'm sorry?"

She nodded towards the dance floor. "James and Ali. I don't think I've seen that girl that happy in all the years I've known her."

Sid's focus went back to the newly married couple, smiling and laughing as if they were only two in the room. "I actually have to agree with that" he said, his smile reappearing. "Nealer hasn't been like this in all the years I've played with him."

The woman's eyes, alive and bright, centered on him. "Played?"

"Hockey."

She laughed. "I know it was hockey, hun. What's your name?"

Sid's eyebrows rose. She doesn't know me. "Sidney." He held out his hand. "Crosby."

"Crosby" she said with a nod. Her smile grew as her hand clasped his. "Piper. I used to roommate with that crazy girl."

Both of them looked over as Ali was lifted onto James' shoulders. She was giggling like a little kid as James spun her around.

"Really?" Sid grinned at the thought. "I bet that was something."

Piper's friendly smile grew even larger. "Oh man, you should've seen it. Crazy times…and Ali thought I was the crazy one."

"Crazy one, eh?" Sid purposely raised one of his eyebrows. "How crazy?" When he saw Piper smirk at him, he thought he also detected a bit of a twinkle in her stunning eyes.

"Crazy enough to ensure a good time."

Sid felt parts of him wake up that had been dormant all day. He suddenly lost interest in everyone in the room as he took a moment longer to admire what was standing before him. He noticed Piper had the smoothest skin he'd even seen; soft and glowing, her cheeks colored with just a hint of pink. Her hazel eyes shone bright under full lashes, her light brown hair fell in gentle waves to just below her shoulders, with subtle blonde highlights and side-swept bangs. Long silver earrings played against the bare skin of her open neckline, swaying gently as she moved and talked.

Piper caught him staring, which made her smile even more. Even that reaction, Sid didn't expect.

"Sorry" he said quickly, looking down at his glass. He debated chugging the rest of the champagne right then and there. Instead, of all things, he felt Piper touch his arm.

"It's okay by me." She shrugged, her confident stance never faltering. "In fact, if you decide to do it again, I promise not to interrupt next time." She ended her statement with a wink.

Sid let a surprised laugh escape, nervously downing the last of his champagne. Before he could reply, Piper was already one step ahead of him.

"Need another? Because I do."

The look in her eye suggested Sid should join her. In fact, just the way she held herself, the way her eyes focused on him as though he was the only one in the room, was enough for Sid to let his entire guard down. She had an intriguing air about her, and he wanted to know more than just her name.

"Yeah, actually…I do."

Piper grinned. "Well then, Sidney Crosby, show me the way."

* * *

James and Ali gave one final speech before the end of the night. James got the attention of everyone in the room, clicking a fork against his glass into the microphone. Ali had her arm linked in his, her eyes never leaving his face as he thanked everyone who had come to the wedding and the reception. Ali, her gorgeous smile a permanent fixture on her face, thanked everyone as well. Her and James kissed, and James took it upon himself to turn a simple kiss into a full-on make out session.

Everyone in the room whooped and hollered, giving them a round of applause even as James dipped Ali in his arms.

Piper and Sid had never left one another since the moment they exchanged names. Now that the end had come, neither was very sure as to what to do.

Sid knew what he wanted, and Piper definitely knew what she wanted. Standing there clapping for her old roommate, laughing when she saw her new husband go in for the kill, it only made her desire for Crosby grow. She shifted her eyes sideways, watching as he clapped for the couple, a genuine look of happiness on his face.

There was something to him, that was certain. Piper didn't know much about the Pittsburgh Penguins, and up until just a month ago when she received the invite to the wedding, she didn't know much about James Neal. Ali sure landed a winner, that was evident…but she could hardly believe the gorgeous man standing next to her still didn't have a ring on his finger.

"So what's the deal, Crosby?" she asked, feeing the champagne doing most of the talking for her.

He looked over, a hint of surprise in his gaze. "The deal?"

"Do I give you my number? Or do I get yours?" She flashed him a smile, hoping it didn't sound too bold. She was beyond interested in him, but she didn't know much about him. And while they'd talked nonstop the past two hours of the reception and even danced once, she was still unsure of where this might go.

Sid ended up laughing, his large eyes becoming even fuller than before. "Umm…"

Piper leaned over to the table that was beside them. She rummaged through her clutch, finding a pen she counted her blessings would still be in there. A few quick movements, and her number was written down on the napkin, which she handed to Sid.

"Here. If you call it, I'll feel like the luckiest girl in the world. If you don't - I'll understand completely…..but I'll be pissed nonetheless" she said with a soft laugh. She watched Sid glance down at the napkin.

"Wow, Piper, um--"

"Shh." She held a finger up to the luscious mouth she'd been staring at the entire night. "No sense in saying anything right now."

She brought him in for a hug, feeling for the first time the amount of firm muscle that was hidden beneath his tux. While he'd lost the coat a few hours back, the white shirt he donned had made Piper even more curious as to what was beneath, because what was beneath strained against every inch of fabric.

"Hopefully we talk again." She broke the hug, letting her hand linger just a moment longer on his chest. It was as steady as his shoulders and back had been. "Thanks for a great evening, Crosby."

The click of her stiletto heels kept Sid's attention on her long after she'd left him standing there with the napkin still in his hand. Her slender body and all its alluring curves walked away, and Sid suddenly felt like he'd done the wrong thing by not immediately going after her.

Looking down, he read the numbers one more time. She said he didn't have to call, and that she'd understand if he didn't. He was off the hook. He could go back to his one true love, his one true commitment in life, and not feel an ounce of guilt if he never spoke to her again.

But even Sid knew that wasn't possible anymore. Not now, not after meeting Piper, and not after having his heart beat as wildly as it did having spent two hours with her.

Folding the napkin up carefully, Sid placed it in his pocket, promising himself he would make time to call her…no matter what.

* * * * *

Notes

And there it is, friends! The End - and yet, just the beginning. The beginning of…..dun dun dun……"In Your Eyes" - which will be the sequel to this story, focusing on Sid and from Sid's point of view.

This will NOT be the end of James and Ali - they will very much be present in this sequel - but the focus will be on Sid and what happens next with him.

Thanks again to all of you for everything, and I hope…when I do begin "In Your Eyes"….you'll find it to be as enjoyable as "The Games We Play" was.

Love to all,
Winter

Comments

@Lolo2020


Thank you so much! Amazing people still read it and enjoy it so much. That was my goal :)

Winter22 Winter22
2/6/17

I absolutely adore this story! I've read it a few times and it gets better each time!

Lolo2020 Lolo2020
12/12/16

Love love loved this :) great work!!

anna anna
9/17/14

Just started reading. Can I say that they do not have to do anything but acknowledge people if even that when they are in a club. If girls are approaching them they can say no, they can just chose to ignore them. So James saying there was a s slip up is crap. He is allowed to be friends and talk to other girls and all but having someone literally just hang off of him. No

6-28-14 ** A NOTE TO MY READERS **

As a result of James getting traded, I've found myself at a loss for words; a loss I'm not sure I'll be quick to recover from. The trade was a hard hit, and it will take some time for me to get over the initial hurt.

I wanted to post a message to at least tell all of you who have followed my stories up to this point that after this, I'm not sure how long it's going to be before I post a new story. James will forever be a Penguin to me, and likely to many of you as well. I'm just not sure how to go forward right now. As a result - I can't promise I'll be back, but I hope to be. I really do.

Let's let the dust settle and the hurt fade...and maybe we'll find one other again on this wonderful site.

Thank you all again for your support...It really has made writing so much fun for me, and I don't want to go forward with another story until it's fun again. Right now - that doesn't seem plausible.

I'll leave it open for any of you to message me anytime, if you'd like. I will occasionally check in just to see how everyone's doing. :-)

Regards,
Winter

Winter22 Winter22
6/28/14