Captains Come First

It had been three days. Three silent days. Heather had been at Mario's doing not much of anything. Meals were provided by his personal cook, anything she needed laundered was done practically immediately. Her every need was attended to. She had been making sure that Mario's every need was attended to as well. For a man of 48 she still found him very attractive and he was very sexually verile. At times she felt like she was paying penance to him for her sins. A knock came at the door mid afternoon shortly after Mario had left for a meeting with directors of his foundation. Heather went to answer the door. She knew it had to be somebody who knew how to get by the gate. Somebody familiar with the Lemieux household. "Sid." She said taken aback. The two hadn't spoken since he declared his love for her. In his hands was a bouquet of purple gladiolus and sprigs of Heather flowers spread throughout. "Come in." She said not taking the flowers. They walked in together to the kitchen where she found a vase to put the flowers in. "They're beautiful. And you're not supposed to be here." Heather said with a stern voice.

"I got permission. I'm invoking captain's privilege." He said as she carried them into the spacious living room.

"Captain's privilege?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "Is there such a thing?"

"Listen, I didn't come to ask for forgiveness. I just wanted you to hear me out." He said to her. "You know how I knew?"

"Knew what?" Heather said shaking her head coldly.

"That you were the one for me. Our birthdays are a day apart. I'm 8/7/87 and you're 8/8/84. What are the chances?" He said to her raising his hands.

"Your OCD is getting a bit much. Maybe you need to see somebody about that." Heather said rolling her eyes. "Ok, but your first name starts with an H, he 8th letter of the alphabet. Plus your name has 7 letters in it." He said excitedly,

"Ok, now this is just getting a little too weird." She said to him. "Sid look. I'd be lying to say you're the only one interested in a relationship with me right now. I let go of Jason because I just don't think I'm that type of girl." She said looking at the clear disappointment in his eyes. "I like what I have, the variety, no commitment, somebody new everyday." She said with a smile.

"Bullshit." Said Sidney getting up. "You're afraid. You don't want to commit your heart and have it broken." He said to her. "You are comfortable having no responsibility. Nobody to be accountable to. You've been treated like garbage so many times and you don't even realize it." Sidney said standing raising his voice intensely. "I love you Heather. I've said that before and I'm being honest again. I love you."

"You know what the sad thing is?" She said to Sidney. "It's sad it's taken you this long to say this whole numerical equation thing to me." She said to him. "You don't love me! You love the idea of me. Some silly little fluff piece that CBC will go apeshit over. Do you honestly think I'd be happy sitting at home being Mrs. Sidney Crosby popping out perfect little babies just like daddy?Being the wife who looks perfect next to her perfect husband holding his hand standing by him during his emotional interviews and appearances? Leading the WAGs in their charity functions and being your personal cheerleader? It's taken me this long to have my own life Sid, do you really think you alone can make me happier than I already am?" She said standing up with her arms out

. "Yes." He replied quietly. "I do." He didn't move from his seat. He just sat there and gazed into her eyes. Heather let out a huge sigh not knowing what to say to that. The whole moment made her think of James. How James had simply asked her to just be with him. The innocence yet passion in the question that was more like a command. Heather had no words.

"What about my job Sid?" She a asked him.

"Quit." He said shrugging.

"Then what do I do for money? House?" She asked exasperated as If trying to find a reason to say no.

"I'd look after you." He said with another casual shrug.

"That's just exactly it Sid. I don't want to rely on you." She said to him.

"And that's exactly why I know that I can let you." He said with a smile. Heather's phone buzzed a message going off. She excused herself for a moment lying saying it was Avery her son. It was James.

RealDeal: Babydoll I know I'm not supposed to be texting you right now but it's worth the risk. I miss you. I miss your face, your laugh, your voice, everything about you. Last night I couldn't sleep and all I wanted was for you to hold me and sing me to sleep with your beautiful voice. In case you're worried, I've shut Candy out completely. I think most of the guys have actually. Miss you. Please talk as soon as you can xxxooo Jame

Heather smiled. His simple gesture was so sweet. That was a huge difference between James and Sid. James kept it simple. From a song at the karaoke bar to the silence of just holding her while going to sleep. At times it felt like Sid tried too hard. Everything was a grand gesture. In the end, they'd both betrayed her. Both broke her heart. This was a time she needed girlfriends to talk to. Or at least her mom. Sadly that wasn't really an option either. "Sid, look I really appreciate the gesture." She said returning alluding to the flowers. "And I really like you too." She said with a smile. His face brightened up. "I just need a bit of time. Can you give that to me." She asked.

"Heather you know that thousands of girls would love to be you right now." He said with a smile.

"Sid" she said crossing her arms in anger.

"But you also know that I haven't said yes to a single one of them." He added. "I should go." He added as they silently walked towards the door. After opening the door he turned towards her and planted a sweet soft kiss on her lips. No tongue, just his own full lips massaging hers. It wasn't the hottest kiss but it was still felt all the way down between her legs. Was it her libido doing the talking or her heart? That was the confusing part. After Sid left she immediately dialed James' number. She was almost giddy to talk to him. A smile came across her face as he picked up on the first ring.

"Babydoll." He said smiling. "Is your suspension up already?" He asked excitedly.

"No. Mario isn't here. And I don't think that my line is tapped yet." She smiled listening to his laugh. "Sid came by." She said careful not to give away how she felt about it.

"That cheater." He said with mock anger. "At least I just called you." He said. "So what did he have to say?" Heather didn't really want to tell him, but was curious for his reaction.

"He said...he said he loves me." She blurted out like word vomit before she could even think. "He wants me to leave the job and be with him."

"Oh." Said James. Clearly he was beat he thought. How could he contend with that? "I hope that you guys will be happy together." He said almost hanging up on her.

"James, I didn't say yes." She said clearly. It was like a bell went off in his head. Things were clear again and he still had a chance. "I'd miss you guys too much. All of you." She said with a smile.

"You know I'd never ask that of you right? Even if...even if I did ask you to be with me." He said softly.

"James, you did ask me to be with you." She said to him.

"For the night." He replied. "I also asked you to fall for me." He said with a stoic tone. Heather didn't want to reply to that one. She had started to fall for him a long time ago.

"You mean you'd be ok with your girlfriend fucking your teammates?" Heather asked a bit confused.

"Strangely yeah." He said to her. "It's like your job. I'd know the difference between you fucking them and you making love to me." He added.

"You know Becca thought we were back together at Christmas?" Heather said walking up to Mario's bedroom where she had been taking up residence. "

Becca thinks Beau is her boyfriend because he texts her." James laughed.

"You mean sexts her." She said quietly

. "What?" James said angrily

"Kidding...sort of."

"Promise that as soon as you're free you'll come see me." James asked sadly through the phone. It was like they were two middle schoolers whose parents forbid them to date.

"Of course." She said with a smile.

"You know I could always slip over and call you down from your balcony, hop over the wall like in Romeo and Juliet." He said as Heather laughed. He definitely knew how to make her laugh.

"And risk an injury or getting benched? Get real James." Heather said giggling.

"You know if I you just happened to go to Diesl for a drink tonight, and I just happened to be there, it wouldn't be against the rules now would it?" James said casually. There was a silence as Heather thought about it. Suddenly her phone beeped from an international number

. "Text me later I have to take this call. Bye babe." She said hanging up. She switched over to greet Andrew surprised "Andy. Just the man I need to talk to." She said happily.

"Uh oh, why do I sense trouble Bunny?" He asked with a laugh.
"I need your advice. Man advice." She said firmly

. "Hmm...how about never shave your balls the day before a date. The jock itch will make for some awkward scratching." He said as Heather laughed.

"Eww gross. You'll never grow up Andy." Heather said between laughs. "But seriously. Jason and I are over for good." She said seriously

"Good. You were too good for him anyways." He said to her. "I sense there's more." He added.

"There is. I have two other guys who are perusing me." She said.

"Oh?" He asked a bit surprised. "Well they must have good taste if it's you." He said as Heather smiled. Andy would never stop flirting with her ever.

"Sidney and James." She said. "Sid is serious, he has this whole math equation for why we should be together. And he said he loves me." She said.

"Woah. Deep." Andrew said taken aback. "And James?" He asked

"Sweet, funny, didn't say he loves me." Heather said. "They're like polar opposites." She said

. "Heather have you ever thought of not dating a hockey player?" Andrew asked her laughing

. "It must be programmed into my brain or something". She laughed

"You're hopeless Bunny." He said. "Ok, who gives you those feelings inside?" He asked.

"Feelings?" Heather asked.

"Who torches your panties when he enters the room?" Andrew asked bluntly. "Besides me."

"You're like my straight gay best friend Andy." Heather said a little bit embarrassed. "I'm going to be honest, other than Jason and you I don't really get that. And Jason hasn't done that to me for a long time." She said. "Just you."

"The one that got away babe." Andrew said.

Notes

I've had writers block lately your comments fuel me!