Gonna Make You Sweat

Michelle was on her third cocktail of the night. She and Casey had gone to a local sports bar for dinner, the team was away playing Minnesota. It was the third period and Michelle was feeling pretty good with some alcohol in her system. Brandon Saad had fired one past the goalie to make the score 5-1. Michelle jumped up from her seat "That's my boy! Atta boy Saadfather!" She said smiling as she jumped up and down shaking her hips in excitement.

"You know if I didn't know better I'd say that he was your boyfriend. Not Captain Toews." Said Casey running a hand through his unruly hair. "What do you see in that guy anyway?" He asked taking a sip of beer. "Besides a multimillion dollar contract?" He asked her.

"He's fun. We have fun together." Michelle said starkly.

"Oh really?" Casey said. "So you sitting here telling me how he doesn't pay attention to your career, he has bogus rules for you to follow..."

"He does not." Michelle said offended.

"Michelle the man tells you what you can and cannot wear to games." Casey said pulling a cigarette out sticking it behind his ear. "You could be dancing naked for him in front of the tv and he still won't sleep with you on game days." When Casey said it like that it did sound bad.

"He's just superstitious." Michelle shook it off. "I mean he doesn't have a lot of time for me lately but..."

"But nothing. You gave up your life for this man and what has it gotten you?" Casey said pulling his chair closer to hers. "You deserve a man who puts you first. Michelle you're a star. You need a partner, a confidante, a companion. You deserve somebody to come home to who isn't always on the road" he said putting a hand on her face stroking her cheek.

"Casey don't." Michelle said Turing away from his hand. "I may be liquored up but don't think I can't tell when a guy is just trying to get me into bed." She said downing her martini.

"What? I'm not." He said scoffing.

"Please Casey, those models all talk. I know you've bedded half of them." Michelle said laughing. "You're charming but I can see through it." She laughed.

"Smart girl." He smiled with his blue eyes sparkling. "Just so you know, if you ever want a night of pure, unadulterated passion, the kind that leaves you feeling boneless and dizzy for days, I'm available." He winked.

"Thanks Case, but I think I'm good." She smiled. The buzzer sounded and the game was over. Brandon Saad was named the first star. "That boy is going to get so much ass tonight." Michelle said signalling the bartender for another drink. Casey smirked

"are you volunteering?" He asked laughing. "So if Johnny was an average joe nobody knew would you still be with him?" Michelle had to pause for a minute. His being a hockey player was a huge turn on to her. She couldn't lie about that. Things had begun so well, he was sweet to her. But it quickly seemed like she'd just be a dirty little secret. Somebody he only acknowledged when he needed her.

"I....I want to say yes." Michelle said stirring her olive in her glass.

"But you can't?" He asked her.

"Yeah." She said quietly as she downed the rest of her drink. "Casey I think I need to go home now." She said as she stumbled to get up. She knew she'd be paying for this at her 8 am class in the morning. Maybe she could find a sub? Casey drove her home cigarette lit hanging from his mouth.

"I can tell this whole talk isn't a whole shock to you." He said to her:

"My friend Abby basically said the same thing." Michelle said leaning against her window. "I just. I don't know what to do." She said. "I moved my whole life here." She said.

"Which is why you deserve more." Casey said placing a hand on her left thigh squeezing it. They got to her building and Michelle leaned in and looked at Casey. She paused and they shared a kiss. It wasn't intense, it wasn't passionate it was just...a kiss. No spark, not leading to anything

. "I've gotta go." Michelle said smiling. "I'll call you" she added heading in. She got into her apartment and texted Delia at the club advising her to call the instructor on call first thing in the morning. This was going to be a long night. She grabbed a little more liquid courage in the form of a bottle of tequila and took a swig before settling down onto the sectional in the livingroom. She called Jonathan's cell. Four rings and no answer. That's odd, he always picked up for her. She tried again. This time two rings then straight to voicemail. Something was up. Michelle dialed another number from her phone. A still energetic Patrick Sharp answered with a bright "hello"

"Sharpie? Where the fuck is my boyfriend right now?" Michelle asked sort of angrily.

"Chelle? Are you ok? You sound..." He started.

"I'm drunk Sharpie. Save the lecture. Where is Tazer?" She asked firmly.

"Michelle I shouldn't be the one to tell you this." Sharpie said sounding angry. "Have you tried calling him?"

"Enough crap Sharpie. Would I be calling asking you if I knew where he was?" She asked which got no reply. "So where is he?"

"Michelle I'm sorry. He and Kaner left the hotel to meet up with some girls that they met last night at a club." He said to her breathing a sigh of relief that it was out

. "Oh my God." Michelle said as she could feel tears forming in her eyes. She didn't think it would hurt her like this.

"I'm sorry Michelle. Just don't do anything stupid. Call Abby, I'm sure she'd love to have you come over for the night. I want to be sure you're ok." He said sounding concerned for her well being. "But take a cab, you're drunk."

"Sharpie...I can't believe...I" she couldn't finish her sentence. "It's over"

"Wait and talk to him first. You both deserve that much." Patrick said to her. "You're like my little sister. I never want to see you hurt."

"Thanks sharpie." She said trying to smile through her sobs. They said goodnight and hung up. Michelle didn't even dial his number again. She simply texted him two words: it's over. She took a minute to sob, her tears salty and bitter falling down her face. She didn't know if he had an explanation. Right now she didn't want to hear one anyhow. All that she could think of was the support that she'd given him. That and what a fool she'd been for moving so quickly. Her phone lit up. Her hopes that it was Johnny were quickly dashed when she saw that it was Brandon. That however brought a smile of its own to her face. "Hey Saader." She said with a small smile. Her sobs could still be heard through the phone.

"Hey Michelle. Sharpie told me that you might need a friend tonight." He said softly, thoughtfully.

"That's so sweet Brandon, but shouldn't you be out celebrating your game? You were the first star!" She said trying her best to stop the tears.

"that doesn't mean much when a friend is sad." He said genuinely. "Anything I could help with?" He asked her.

"Johnny, I'm pretty sure he's cheating on me. Sharpie said that he saw him leave the hotel with some girls." She said starting to sob again. "So I tried to call him. He ignored my calls. So I texted him. We broke up." She said.

"Oh my God Michelle I'm so sorry." He said. "I wish that...that I could help somehow." He added. "If I was home I'd be there to let you cry on my shoulder, hug you, whatever you needed." He added.

"That's sweet Brandon." She smiled. "I feel so stupid right now though." She said.

"Why?" He asked her curiously.

"I went out for dinner, with a friend. And I kissed him." She confessed. "Please don't tell Johnny." She added.

"Your secrets safe here." He said to her. "But did it mean anything?"

"Hell no." She said. "Sure Casey is hot, but it felt like nothing. Like kissing a friend." She said to him. "Like kissing Sharpie or something."

"Oh I don't know Michelle, I'm not sure if I could resist him." He said with a smile that made Michelle laugh. Michelle's phone buzzed, she looked down putting Brandon on speaker. Casey had sent her an I retouched photo from her suit. Her wet looking curls were hanging down her bare back. She was looking over her right shoulder eyes wide and lips slightly parted. The curve of her breast could be seen but her left hand was covering her nipple as she leaned against the right arm. She looked stunning.

"Hey Brandon, can I show you something? It's a proof from my shoot. Johnny was supposed to be the first to see it but screw that." She said smiling.

"I'd be honoured." He said as she sent it to him. He looked drawing a Deep breath in. "You're...you're beautiful." He said to her in awe. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

"It's not retouched yet so it will be better released." She said accepting the compliment. "Michelle, this doesn't need retouching. You're amazing as you are." He said to her. Michelle smiled

Notes