Public Relations

I’m sitting on my bed in my hotel room with papers all around me. I’ve been working solid for the last four hours. I haven’t moved from this position since we got to the hotel and I’ve powered through a lot of stuff I had to get done. I’m working on one of the press releases I need for the weekend when I hear a knock at the door. By the time I get to the door the person on the other side has knocked four more times, much harder. I get to the door and I pull it open.
“Took you long enough.” James says when the door is open.
“Sorry.” I say.
“Right.” He says pushing past me into the room. I follow him and he stops in front of the bed. I unfortunately didn’t see him stop and I walk right into him.
“Ouch shit, James what the hell?” I ask.
“This is why you took so long to get to the door?” He asks.
“Yeah what’s wrong with that?” I ask.
“You’re working way to hard.” He says turning to me.
“No I’m actually not working hard enough that’s why I have so much work all over my bed.” I say. James shakes his head.
“You’re kind of crazy you know that right?” He asks. I don’t answer him because I disagree with him. Plus he has no reason to make comments to me. Most of these guys work everyday. I at least make myself take time off. I guess I just think I’m never doing enough. I was much worse than this when I was in Vancouver. At one point I burned myself out working so much with a child. I made a promise to myself when I moved to Pittsburgh that I wouldn’t work as hard when Reid was around and I would work twice as hard when he wasn’t around. That way I would still be caught up with work, but I would also have a ton of time with Reid.
We stand there without saying anything to each other.
“Anyways, I need to talk to you about something.” James says. I look at him. He’s trying not to look at me. The lightheartedness of the conversation before gone now, he’s looking very serious.
“What?” I ask.
"I'm sorry to put this on you now." James says. He's looking down at the ground.
"Just spit it out James." I say.
"I'm asking for a trade when we get back to Pittsburgh." He says finally looking up at me.
"What?" I ask. He didn't just say that.
"You heard me." He mumbles.
"I'm hoping I heard wrong." I say.
"I don't want to get in the way of you and Sid." He says.
"Why do you keep saying that?" I ask.
"Come on Alex." James says. "It's obvious you love him and everyone knows he loves you."
"James...It's not..." I start. He puts his hand up and I stop talking.
"Alex, I love you and part of me believes you love me too, but the other part knows that Sid and you should be together." He says.
"I do love you." I say. "I just don't think we should be together right now, but that has nothing to do with Sid."
"I guess you don't see it now, but you will." James says. "Honestly Sid is a great guy. Just don't make him wait to long."
"James..." I start. He stops me again.
"It's okay Alex. I forgive you. You can be with him. I want you to be with him." James says. "This is what's best."
I can't help but cry now. I feel a couple tears fall down my cheeks. I do love Sid, but do I want to be with him? It's not something I ever even considered. Now I'm more confused than ever. James closes the gap between us. He pushes a piece of my hair behind my ear and wipes a couple tears off my cheek. He leans down and gives me a kiss on the lips. I sigh as he pulls away.
"Don't make him wait to long Alex. He won't wait forever." James says before turning and leaving me standing in the middle of the room.
I can't believe James is considering asking for a trade. That's crazy. He loves it here in Pittsburgh. I try to process everything he said. At least he told me before I had to find out at the rink. Could he be right about Sid? I didn't want to think about that now. I walk over to my phone on the nightstand. I unlock it and dial Sid's number. It rings a couple times before going to voice mail. I hang up and try again four more times. Each time it rings right through. Finally I leave a message asking Sid to call me. I text him as well just in case. After ten minutes he still hasn't answered. At this point I'm pacing the room back and forth. I decide I need a drink. Maybe it will calm me down. I quickly change into black leggings and pull on a thin pink cardigan over my white tank top. I realize I only brought heels because I never wear anything else at work. I sigh and pull on a pair of black thigh high boots. I grab my phone and wallet off the bedside table before going out the door. I start down the hall toward the elevator. I’m muttering about stupid selfish hockey players when I hear chuckling behind me. I stop and turn around. Brandon is standing in his doorway shaking his head.
“Can I help you?” I ask glaring at him.
“Yeah.” He says. “You can start by not glaring at me.”
“Sorry.” I say looking at the ground.
“No problem.” He says.
“Second?” I ask looking back at him.
“Second you can tell me who the stupid selfish hockey player is.”
“All of you are.” I say.
“I’m not.” He says smiling.
“I guess you’re right.” I say softening.
“What’s bothering you?” Brandon asks. “James or Sid?”
“Both.” I say.
“Want to talk?” He asks.
“I was actually just going for a drink at the bar downstairs.” I say.
“I could go for a drink.” He says.
“Then why are we standing here?” I ask.
“Good question.” He says. He pats his pocket. “Key card.”
“Right.” I say smiling. He pulls the door closed behind him before walking up to where I stopped. Once he gets to where I’m standing we keep walking toward the elevator. We don’t say anything on the way to the bar. We walk into the bar and its almost empty. There are two couples on the far side of the room. One of the couples is in a booth and the other is at a small table, both deep in conversation.
“Sit anywhere.” The short blonde behind the bar says.
“Alright.” I say. “Lets sit on this side.”
“Sure.” Brandon says. He follows me toward booths on this side of the room. We both sit down on opposite sides of the table. The short blonde comes over to our table.
“Can I get you guys a drink?” She asks.
“I’ll have a gin and coke.” Brandon says.
“I’ll have a whiskey sour.” I say.
“Coming up.” The blonde says. After she’s out of earshot Brandon looks at me.
“Okay so what’s going on?” He asks. I sigh and put my hands under my chin leaning up on the table a bit.
“James, Sid the usual.” I say. “You have to promise you won’t say anything to anyone.”
“Lips are sealed.” Brandon says. I sigh again.
“James wants to ask for a trade when we get back to Pittsburgh.” I say. “I just can’t believe he wants to leave.”
“Did he say why?” Brandon asks.
“He says he doesn’t want to get between Sid and me.” I say.
“Oh.” Brandon says.
“I just don’t understand.” I say.
“Why?” Brandon asks.
“I don’t know if I even have feelings for Sid.” I say. “We’re friends.”
“Right.” He says. “That might complicate things between you two. You probably don’t want that.”
“Not really.” I say. The blonde brings our drinks putting them out in front of us. I take a long sip before putting the drink down in front of me. I wrap both of my hands around the glass.
“What’s going on with Sid?” Brandon asks. I shake my head.
“That one is kind of stupid.” I say laughing a bit.
“Why?” Brandon asks.
“I just wanted to talk to him after James left and he wasn’t answering my calls.” I say looking down. I feel my cheeks get a bit warm.
“I’m pretty sure he went out with some of the guys.” Brandon says.
“Really?” I ask looking up at Brandon.
“Yeah, he probably didn’t even hear his phone.” Brandon says. “Geno went with them so you know he’s probably been feeding Sid drinks.”
“Good point.” I say laughing again. Brandon laughs too. “I guess I tend to overreact.”
“No it’s understandable.” Brandon says. I finish my drink. I flag the blonde over again.
“Another round.” She asks.
“Yes please.” I say.
“Alright.” She says before walking away.
“I can’t believe James wants to leave.” I say.
“I’m sure he will stay.” Brandon says.
“You don’t understand.” I say. “He was serious.”
“Are you sure?” He asks.
“I know James. He looked so sad, but so determined.” I say.
“Maybe he feels like he needs to do this.” Brandon says.
“I just don’t understand. He can’t just wait until the end of the season?” I ask.
“He probably feels that if you and Sid do get together he wouldn’t be able to sit there and watch it.” He says.
“I don’t know why he would even bring this Sid thing up. I have no plans to be with Sid.” I say.
“No plans?” He asks.
“I don’t even think of him that way.” I say. “He’s just a really good friend.”
“Does James know that?” He asks.
“I tell him all the time.” I say. “He just doesn’t’ believe me.”
“I’m sure he will one day.” Brandon says. The blonde brings over another drink for both of us. I suck back my drink quickly and after a short time I’m working on my fifth drink. By this point I’m pretty tipsy going on drunk.
“We should get you back upstairs.” Brandon says who is just finishing off his third.
“That’s a good idea.” I say. He pulls out his wallet to pay the tab.
“No.” I say. “It’s on me.”
I fumble with my wallet almost spilling its contents in the process of trying to get out my credit card.
“It’s on me.” He says.
“That’s not fair.” I say.
“I’m the one who invited you.” He says.
“Not really.” I say.
“Pretty much.” I say.
“I want to pay.” He says.
“Well if you insist.” I say laughing.
“I do.” He says. He puts down a hundred dollar bill before getting out of the booth. He helps me out and we go back toward the elevator. I’m able to keep myself upright without any help on the way to my hotel room. We got to my door and I attempt to open it. I fumble with the key card and end up dropping it on the ground.
"Crap." I say. Then I start giggling.
"I'll get it." Brandon says. He reaches down to get the card. "Maybe I should open the door."
"I think that would be best." I say.
"Probably." He says as he opens the door. He holds it open for me and I walk in past him. He follows me in, but stays by the door. I look at the papers on the bed that I was sitting on. I decide that I'm not going to be sleeping there tonight. I walk over to the other bed and flop down.
“I should go.” He says hesitating at the door.
“Why?” I ask leaning up on my elbows.
“It’s getting late.” He says.
“Stay.” I say.
“Alex…” He starts. I get off the bed and walk over to where he’s standing by the door.
“Please?” I ask. I don’t know what comes over me I lean up and kiss him. For about two seconds he doesn’t know how to react, then he seems to realize what’s happening and he kiss’ me back. We make out for a couple minutes. Things start to heat up a bit and I tug on his shirt. We break apart only long enough for him to pull his shirt off and then take mine with it. Our lips meet again and his hands move to my breasts, which are still covered with my bra. I moan into his mouth when he pushes my cups out of the way to get to my nipples. He pulls at them making me moan more. After a couple seconds his hands trail down my sides to my ass. He cups my ass in his hands. My hands move down to his jean button. I undo it and push his pants down. He steps out of them. We break apart and I pull him toward the bed. I push him down in front of me and I stand between his legs. I quickly shed my bra and my pants taking my panties with it. He assess my every curve.
“Damn.” He says. “You are beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I say. “I’ve worked very hard for this body.”
“You can tell.” He says. He pulls me on top of him so I’m sitting on his lap. The only thing between my sweet spot and his member is his thin layer of his boxers.
“I want to be on top.” I say.
“Do it.” He says. I smile. I get off his lap and move over to my suitcase.
“Where are you going?” He asks.
“Condom.” I say.
“Right.” He says. I pull one out and walk back over to him. He stands in front of me and I push down his boxers. He’s well equipped. I rip open the condom and roll it over his hard cock. I move down to my knees and take him in my mouth. I get him right to the point where he’s about to cum before I stand up and push him down on the bed. I climb on top of him and slowly lower myself on him. He is definitely not as big as Sid is. Sid completely fills me. I go all the way down once and stay there. I adjust my leg positioning and put my hands on his chest. Slowly I rise up and go back down. I keep a slow steady pace for a couple minutes. Then I speed up. I get myself to a point where I’m moaning. I finally slam down hard and throw my head back feeling the sweet release travel up my body.
“Yes.” I say.
“God damn.” Brandon says. His hands are digging into my hips as he holds on to me. Without warning he flips us over so he’s on top. He starts out a bit slower, but quickly speeds up. He’s twisting my nipples and nipping at them with his teeth.
“Harder.” I say through clenched teeth. I feel that sensation building again. After a couple more strokes I’m screaming ‘yes’ again. I know he has to be close at this point.
“Let me help you finish.” I say.
“Okay.” He says. He stands up and I get back on my knees. This time I pull the condom off. I already know he’s clean from all the testing they did at the beginning of the year. I take him in my mouth fully before starting to slowly move in and out. I use my hands to help him along. After no time he’s ready to cum. I let him finish on my breasts. I look up at him.
“You are the most beautiful girl ever.” He says smiling down at me.
“You’re just saying that because I have your sperm all over my breasts.” I say laughing.
“No really.” He says.
“Well thank you.” I say. “I’m going to go clean up.”
“Sure.” He says. As I get up he’s pulling his boxers on. Before I go into the bathroom I see him lie down on the bed and flip the TV on. I quickly clean my breasts off and go back into the room. I slip on a nightgown and lie down on the bed next to him. He pulls me into him. I cuddle in. We don’t speak for a long time. We’re watching some sitcom. After what feels like a long time he finally speaks.
“Are you okay?” He asks.
“Yeah why?” I ask looking up. I’m still extremely drunk. I’m surprised I haven’t passed out yet.
“You were pretty upset before.” He says. I had actually forgot all about that. Now that he mentions it I remember the conversation I had with James and Sid not answering his phone. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“James is asking for a trade.” I say shrugging. I try not to care. I take a shaky breath.
“How do you feel about that?” He asks.
“It sucks.” I say. I feel tears prickle my eyes. One escapes and I brush it away.
“Shit, please don’t cry.” He says. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have brought it up again.”
“It’s okay.” I say. The tears start to come harder and faster now. Crap. I can’t seem to stop them. All the stress from James and Sid comes pouring out of me. I’m crying so hard and shaking. I can’t stop myself. Brandon is trying hard to soothe me, but he can’t. I just keep crying.
“Let it all out.” He says. So I do. I just keep crying. That’s the last thing I remember is crying on Brandon. I probably looked horrible with tears running down my face and snot dripping. I just remember crying a lot and then not much after that. I guess I fell asleep which is probably a good thing. I was starting to get a bit of a headache. I just hope I don’t wake up with a headache in the morning.

Notes

I may not have finished this by the end of November like I wanted to, but I'm hoping by January I will be finished.
Hope you guys are still loving this story!!!