Unexpected
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
I started my day like any other only I ran on the beach. It was nice to have the coolness of the water floating in the air. This beach was deserted and it was awesome. I ran my 10 miles and walked two more cooling off. I noticed a girl running down the beach her sandy blonde hair swinging back and forth with each step she took. As she neared me I realized she was the chick from the pizza joint in town. I waved at her and she slowed but ran in place.
“Hey aren’t you they guy that was with Jordan Staal last night?”
“Yeah that’s me.”
She extended her hand out to me. “Stephanie”
“Sid” I answered her back.
“Nice to meet you. How in the world are you friends with Staal? He is such a womanizer. All those professionals are.”
“I don’t know that I would say all.” I frowned.
I wasn’t one to jump in the sack with girls and wasn’t about to compromise my career with a fling. She was different. I knew that right away.
“How would you know you are probably just friends with him to ride along on his gravy train. He has quite the reputation with the ladies.”
“That’s Gronk for ya.”
“Yeah I guess so.”
I gave her my sideways grin and her eyes widened a bit. She liked me and she knew it.
“It was nice talking to you Sid. You got a last name?”
“Crosby” I answered her a bit reluctantly, hoping she wouldn’t put two and two together.
“Well Sid Crosby it was nice to meet you.” She turned to start running away.
“Your name?” I questioned.
“Proulx”
“That’s French?” I asked
“My dad is French Canadian, Hockey is his game. That’s why there is this lonely little Hurricanes sign hanging in the bar. No one even knows who they are. He is a HUGE Pens fan. I don’t follow Hockey so I have no idea?”
Oh great her dad was a Pens fan, could my luck get any worse.
“Will you tell Jordan Staal my dad is working tonight. I didn’t tell him he came in last night so if he could surprise him that would.. Nevermind, I am sure he is too busy.”
I knew I had to make it happen and hoped like hell her father wouldn’t know who I was although I seriously doubted it.
“Yeah, I will make him come out tonight if I have to drag him kicking and screaming.”
I got the pleasure of a full on smile. A glorious white toothed smile.
“Thank you Sid Crosby.”
“anytime”
I walked back to the house climbing the stairs and ran right into Tanger.
“We are heading down to the beach, you in?”
“Yeah I will be down later, I think I am going to put on my blades and skate around with my stick for a while.”
“That is the only action your stick ever gets.” Talbo heckled me
I shook my head not wanting to go there yet again with that womanizing prick. I love Max Talbot like a brother but he didn’t know when to quit. It had devastated the team when he went to the Flyers but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. I understood but I like him better in the black and gold and not that awful Orange.
“Stop being a Twat Talbo.” Tanger hit him in the head with his rolled up towel.
“I am the Twat master.” He grinned
I shook my head and by passed them into the house. I put on my roller blades and hit the street. I bounced the ball back and forth across the uneven pavement, finding my rhythm and enjoying it. My shirt was sticking to me an hour later but I felt good about my work out. I figured I had put in about twenty miles this morning. I need to lift some weights but two weeks off shouldn’t hurt too much.
I lay down on the bed and rested for a few. I jumped in the shower and rinsed off the sweat. The shower still burned, but it was a good burn. The color looked good on my skin. Maybe North Carolina wasn’t that bad.
After lunch we played x-box for a while. I kicked the shit out of Talbo in black ops and he just dumped the remote walking away cursing in French.
“Hey Gronk, can we pick up a few sandwiches from that pizza joint tonight?”
“Sure, what’s everyone want?”
There were 3 simultaneous “meatball” shouts from around the house.
“On me guys” I shouted.
Gronk, Eric and I left the house and headed into town. Staal’s brother Eric also a player for the Canes had come in today for the weekend. We rode in silence.
“I hope her dad is there I am sure he would get a kick out of both of you guys walking into his joint.”
“Don’t discount yourself Captain Canada” Eric smirked.
“He likes the Canes I do not.” I popped Gronk across the chest making him rub it
“Dude?”
“Are you really saying Dude?” I slapped him again
“It grows on you down here in the Carolinas.”
“I will stick with Guys for now.”
“Sidney fucking Crosby in the Carolinas who would have thought.” Eric spoke from the back seat.
We arrived at the bar walking up to the door I had a small complex being between these two giants at 6’4” they towered over me but I had width which they didn’t. I guess you couldn’t have it all.
“Oh my God the Staal Brothers.” The man came from around the counter. “I heard you had a house her on Topsail Mr. Staal. I hoped I would run into you.” Gronk shook his hand first then Eric.
“It is nice to meet you Mr…”
“Proulx” the man answered.
“Steph”
“yeah dad” I heard her answer from behind the swinging doors.
“The Staal Brothers are here. You know they play Hockey for the Canes.”
She poked her head out of the door waving to us and giving me a small smile and then spoke thank you to me.
I just lowered my head and smiled.
“A two for one special.” She laughed.
“There are four of them and we have 3 right here in North Carolina. How is she treating you boys? You are a long way from Thunder Bay.”
“The sun is my favorite part.” Eric answered.
“I like the girls.” Gronk smirked.
“Carolina girls are nice. Can I get you guys something to eat?”
I kept my head lowered so he wouldn’t notice me. We followed him over to a booth around the side of the bar. I came face to face with a space that looked like someone had thrown up Penguins gear everywhere. There were sweaters framed and there were pictures of me everywhere. I stopped and counted seven Jersey’s with my name stitched along the back. He even has a Jersey from my days at Rimouski Océanic. I saw a picture of me framed with my signature on it. This man was die hard for sure.
“Ha, Sid you have a shrine.” Eric poked me with his elbow.
This was not what I had expected for sure, when Stephanie had said her father was a Pens fan he looked more like a Crosby fan.
“What can I get you boys? Dad says it is on the house.”
“What do you recommend?” I asked her
I got my foot stomped on by Gronk and a sly smile, which I returned with a glower.
“The italian sub is my favorite.” I heard her continue to talk and wondered how she didn’t recognize me with all the stuff everywhere.
“The Italian it is.” I smile up at her.
She was tall only a few inched shorter than me and beautiful.
“Why don’t you join us?” Gronk asked
“I am sure my father would love nothing more than for me to catch your attention Mr. Staal, but no.” she turned and walked away.
“We will have meatball subs please.” Eric called after her
“You got it.” She waved and disappeared behind the swinging doors.
“Why do you have to be such an ass Staal?”
“I was just trying to hook a boy up.”
“I don’t need to be hooked up and what would I want with a girl from here?”
“It is just a nice face to see when you are on the road. That’s all.”
“Staal, that may work for you but I don’t play like that.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Hey I will be right back can you see if you can get a Sharpie?”
He walked out of the bar bringing back his sweater and sat and signed it with the pen that Mr. Proulx had brought over.
“Thought maybe a Staal Sweater would look good up there with all the Crosby’s. It is my game sweater, thought it would mean more.”
“Thank you so much Mr. Staal.”
“Jordan my name is Jordan.”
Thank you Mr. Jordan.” He was staring at my face trying to place it and I knew it was coming he had just called Gronk, Mr. Jordan. The smile spread across his face and it turned beet red.
“Sidney Crosby? Are you Sidney Captain Canada Crosby” he was shouting
At least he didn’t call me Sidney Fucking Crosby
“Yes sir, I am.”
He reached over and grabbed my hand forgetting that Jordan and Eric were even in the booth. I guess he didn’t know that I didn’t like to be touched but I sucked it up for him. He was Stephanie’s father, I think I can make an exception.
I saw the cross look on Gronk’s face and knew that my name had just taken a shit on his parade.
Mr. Proulx was stammering trying to say twenty five things at a time.
“That goal… you won… I am glad you are here.”
Stephanie came around the corner with three plates in her hands, stopping when she saw her dad standing at the table shaking my hand.
She looked me over then realization crossed her face. She dropped the plates on the table and turned to walk away. I stood walking around her father grabbing her hand and turning her to me. “What?” I asked her
“You are The Sidney Crosby?”
“Yes, and what?”
“you are Sidney Fucking Crosby, that’s what?”
“That is my name but it doesn’t define who I am.”
“You let me run off at the mouth about you professionals and you said nothing. You’re a prick.”
“You didn’t know who I was and it was nice. Would you have even spoken to me if you had known?”
“Probably not.” She was looking down at the floor.
“Please Stephanie, look at me. I just want to talk.”
“Hockey guys don’t ever just want to talk.”
“First of all don’t do that it isn’t nice. I didn’t come in here calling you a bar wench and assuming that you only know how to mix drinks. Just because I happen to play Hockey for a living doesn’t make me an asshat.”
“Playing Hockey for a living is not what makes you an asshat.” She threw my words back at me and then snapped her hand from mine disappearing behind the doors. I followed her without shame.
“Look maybe I should have come clean but it is hard never being Sid. I always have to be Sidney Crosby number 87 who plays for the Penguins. Having a little peace in my life was nice. I haven’t had a conversation like the one this morning in well, never. Girls fall all over me and it gets old. I just wanted to talk and maybe grab some dinner. I am not trying to get in your pants. Not that I don’t want to but, well that is not the point.”
“You are an Asshat. I cannot even believe that I am having this conversation with the man whos face has graced my house for the last I don’t even know how many years. My dad has followed you for as long as I can remember. He talks about Sidney Crosby the best Hockey player ever. It gets old, and then here you are popping up on my island and causing a ruckus. I don’t need this, so get the fuck out of my kitchen.”
I stood there for a minute, admiring her. She had no puck bunny in her, none what so ever. I liked her and her tenacity a lot. I bet she would give Max Talbot a run for his money.
“Ok, but please let me at least take you to dinner for being as asshat.”
“No Sidney Crosby, you don’t get that pleasure.”
“Of course she will have dinner with you Mr. Crosby.” I heard her dads voice coming from behind my shoulder.
“Dad, stay the fuck out of this.”
“You go have dinner with him. He asked you don’t turn down the best Hockey player ever to touch the ice.”
At least her dad was on my side.
She dropped her eyes and said “Fine whatever.”
“I will pick you up tomorrow around 6.”
“You do realize that we will have to go to Wilmington. There is nothing here but us and a putt putt.”
“Putt Putt could be fun.”
“Yeah you can play with a stick, fun times for me.”
Damn she was hard. I had my work cut out for me on this one.
I started my day like any other only I ran on the beach. It was nice to have the coolness of the water floating in the air. This beach was deserted and it was awesome. I ran my 10 miles and walked two more cooling off. I noticed a girl running down the beach her sandy blonde hair swinging back and forth with each step she took. As she neared me I realized she was the chick from the pizza joint in town. I waved at her and she slowed but ran in place.
“Hey aren’t you they guy that was with Jordan Staal last night?”
“Yeah that’s me.”
She extended her hand out to me. “Stephanie”
“Sid” I answered her back.
“Nice to meet you. How in the world are you friends with Staal? He is such a womanizer. All those professionals are.”
“I don’t know that I would say all.” I frowned.
I wasn’t one to jump in the sack with girls and wasn’t about to compromise my career with a fling. She was different. I knew that right away.
“How would you know you are probably just friends with him to ride along on his gravy train. He has quite the reputation with the ladies.”
“That’s Gronk for ya.”
“Yeah I guess so.”
I gave her my sideways grin and her eyes widened a bit. She liked me and she knew it.
“It was nice talking to you Sid. You got a last name?”
“Crosby” I answered her a bit reluctantly, hoping she wouldn’t put two and two together.
“Well Sid Crosby it was nice to meet you.” She turned to start running away.
“Your name?” I questioned.
“Proulx”
“That’s French?” I asked
“My dad is French Canadian, Hockey is his game. That’s why there is this lonely little Hurricanes sign hanging in the bar. No one even knows who they are. He is a HUGE Pens fan. I don’t follow Hockey so I have no idea?”
Oh great her dad was a Pens fan, could my luck get any worse.
“Will you tell Jordan Staal my dad is working tonight. I didn’t tell him he came in last night so if he could surprise him that would.. Nevermind, I am sure he is too busy.”
I knew I had to make it happen and hoped like hell her father wouldn’t know who I was although I seriously doubted it.
“Yeah, I will make him come out tonight if I have to drag him kicking and screaming.”
I got the pleasure of a full on smile. A glorious white toothed smile.
“Thank you Sid Crosby.”
“anytime”
I walked back to the house climbing the stairs and ran right into Tanger.
“We are heading down to the beach, you in?”
“Yeah I will be down later, I think I am going to put on my blades and skate around with my stick for a while.”
“That is the only action your stick ever gets.” Talbo heckled me
I shook my head not wanting to go there yet again with that womanizing prick. I love Max Talbot like a brother but he didn’t know when to quit. It had devastated the team when he went to the Flyers but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. I understood but I like him better in the black and gold and not that awful Orange.
“Stop being a Twat Talbo.” Tanger hit him in the head with his rolled up towel.
“I am the Twat master.” He grinned
I shook my head and by passed them into the house. I put on my roller blades and hit the street. I bounced the ball back and forth across the uneven pavement, finding my rhythm and enjoying it. My shirt was sticking to me an hour later but I felt good about my work out. I figured I had put in about twenty miles this morning. I need to lift some weights but two weeks off shouldn’t hurt too much.
I lay down on the bed and rested for a few. I jumped in the shower and rinsed off the sweat. The shower still burned, but it was a good burn. The color looked good on my skin. Maybe North Carolina wasn’t that bad.
After lunch we played x-box for a while. I kicked the shit out of Talbo in black ops and he just dumped the remote walking away cursing in French.
“Hey Gronk, can we pick up a few sandwiches from that pizza joint tonight?”
“Sure, what’s everyone want?”
There were 3 simultaneous “meatball” shouts from around the house.
“On me guys” I shouted.
Gronk, Eric and I left the house and headed into town. Staal’s brother Eric also a player for the Canes had come in today for the weekend. We rode in silence.
“I hope her dad is there I am sure he would get a kick out of both of you guys walking into his joint.”
“Don’t discount yourself Captain Canada” Eric smirked.
“He likes the Canes I do not.” I popped Gronk across the chest making him rub it
“Dude?”
“Are you really saying Dude?” I slapped him again
“It grows on you down here in the Carolinas.”
“I will stick with Guys for now.”
“Sidney fucking Crosby in the Carolinas who would have thought.” Eric spoke from the back seat.
We arrived at the bar walking up to the door I had a small complex being between these two giants at 6’4” they towered over me but I had width which they didn’t. I guess you couldn’t have it all.
“Oh my God the Staal Brothers.” The man came from around the counter. “I heard you had a house her on Topsail Mr. Staal. I hoped I would run into you.” Gronk shook his hand first then Eric.
“It is nice to meet you Mr…”
“Proulx” the man answered.
“Steph”
“yeah dad” I heard her answer from behind the swinging doors.
“The Staal Brothers are here. You know they play Hockey for the Canes.”
She poked her head out of the door waving to us and giving me a small smile and then spoke thank you to me.
I just lowered my head and smiled.
“A two for one special.” She laughed.
“There are four of them and we have 3 right here in North Carolina. How is she treating you boys? You are a long way from Thunder Bay.”
“The sun is my favorite part.” Eric answered.
“I like the girls.” Gronk smirked.
“Carolina girls are nice. Can I get you guys something to eat?”
I kept my head lowered so he wouldn’t notice me. We followed him over to a booth around the side of the bar. I came face to face with a space that looked like someone had thrown up Penguins gear everywhere. There were sweaters framed and there were pictures of me everywhere. I stopped and counted seven Jersey’s with my name stitched along the back. He even has a Jersey from my days at Rimouski Océanic. I saw a picture of me framed with my signature on it. This man was die hard for sure.
“Ha, Sid you have a shrine.” Eric poked me with his elbow.
This was not what I had expected for sure, when Stephanie had said her father was a Pens fan he looked more like a Crosby fan.
“What can I get you boys? Dad says it is on the house.”
“What do you recommend?” I asked her
I got my foot stomped on by Gronk and a sly smile, which I returned with a glower.
“The italian sub is my favorite.” I heard her continue to talk and wondered how she didn’t recognize me with all the stuff everywhere.
“The Italian it is.” I smile up at her.
She was tall only a few inched shorter than me and beautiful.
“Why don’t you join us?” Gronk asked
“I am sure my father would love nothing more than for me to catch your attention Mr. Staal, but no.” she turned and walked away.
“We will have meatball subs please.” Eric called after her
“You got it.” She waved and disappeared behind the swinging doors.
“Why do you have to be such an ass Staal?”
“I was just trying to hook a boy up.”
“I don’t need to be hooked up and what would I want with a girl from here?”
“It is just a nice face to see when you are on the road. That’s all.”
“Staal, that may work for you but I don’t play like that.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Hey I will be right back can you see if you can get a Sharpie?”
He walked out of the bar bringing back his sweater and sat and signed it with the pen that Mr. Proulx had brought over.
“Thought maybe a Staal Sweater would look good up there with all the Crosby’s. It is my game sweater, thought it would mean more.”
“Thank you so much Mr. Staal.”
“Jordan my name is Jordan.”
Thank you Mr. Jordan.” He was staring at my face trying to place it and I knew it was coming he had just called Gronk, Mr. Jordan. The smile spread across his face and it turned beet red.
“Sidney Crosby? Are you Sidney Captain Canada Crosby” he was shouting
At least he didn’t call me Sidney Fucking Crosby
“Yes sir, I am.”
He reached over and grabbed my hand forgetting that Jordan and Eric were even in the booth. I guess he didn’t know that I didn’t like to be touched but I sucked it up for him. He was Stephanie’s father, I think I can make an exception.
I saw the cross look on Gronk’s face and knew that my name had just taken a shit on his parade.
Mr. Proulx was stammering trying to say twenty five things at a time.
“That goal… you won… I am glad you are here.”
Stephanie came around the corner with three plates in her hands, stopping when she saw her dad standing at the table shaking my hand.
She looked me over then realization crossed her face. She dropped the plates on the table and turned to walk away. I stood walking around her father grabbing her hand and turning her to me. “What?” I asked her
“You are The Sidney Crosby?”
“Yes, and what?”
“you are Sidney Fucking Crosby, that’s what?”
“That is my name but it doesn’t define who I am.”
“You let me run off at the mouth about you professionals and you said nothing. You’re a prick.”
“You didn’t know who I was and it was nice. Would you have even spoken to me if you had known?”
“Probably not.” She was looking down at the floor.
“Please Stephanie, look at me. I just want to talk.”
“Hockey guys don’t ever just want to talk.”
“First of all don’t do that it isn’t nice. I didn’t come in here calling you a bar wench and assuming that you only know how to mix drinks. Just because I happen to play Hockey for a living doesn’t make me an asshat.”
“Playing Hockey for a living is not what makes you an asshat.” She threw my words back at me and then snapped her hand from mine disappearing behind the doors. I followed her without shame.
“Look maybe I should have come clean but it is hard never being Sid. I always have to be Sidney Crosby number 87 who plays for the Penguins. Having a little peace in my life was nice. I haven’t had a conversation like the one this morning in well, never. Girls fall all over me and it gets old. I just wanted to talk and maybe grab some dinner. I am not trying to get in your pants. Not that I don’t want to but, well that is not the point.”
“You are an Asshat. I cannot even believe that I am having this conversation with the man whos face has graced my house for the last I don’t even know how many years. My dad has followed you for as long as I can remember. He talks about Sidney Crosby the best Hockey player ever. It gets old, and then here you are popping up on my island and causing a ruckus. I don’t need this, so get the fuck out of my kitchen.”
I stood there for a minute, admiring her. She had no puck bunny in her, none what so ever. I liked her and her tenacity a lot. I bet she would give Max Talbot a run for his money.
“Ok, but please let me at least take you to dinner for being as asshat.”
“No Sidney Crosby, you don’t get that pleasure.”
“Of course she will have dinner with you Mr. Crosby.” I heard her dads voice coming from behind my shoulder.
“Dad, stay the fuck out of this.”
“You go have dinner with him. He asked you don’t turn down the best Hockey player ever to touch the ice.”
At least her dad was on my side.
She dropped her eyes and said “Fine whatever.”
“I will pick you up tomorrow around 6.”
“You do realize that we will have to go to Wilmington. There is nothing here but us and a putt putt.”
“Putt Putt could be fun.”
“Yeah you can play with a stick, fun times for me.”
Damn she was hard. I had my work cut out for me on this one.
12/29/12