Chapter 26

I’ve been staying at Sidney’s place in Pittsburgh for the past two weeks. Luckily, it seems that my “admirer” has given up on me. Since the note in Philly I haven’t heard from him. It’s gotten to the point where I can no longer justify staying here. Truly, ever since Sidney suggested this I wondered what it meant for us. Did he offer just to be nice? Or is this supposed to be permanent? We’ve done the staying in Pittsburgh during downtime before, but this felt different. Regardless, I need to go back to L.A. or have a serious conversation with Sidney. Considering that the playoffs start in a few days I doubt that Sidney and I will sit down to discuss our relationship.

When Sidney comes home from his morning skate I’m sitting at the island in his kitchen. I have a rather large suitcase, which is filled with the clothes that I did manage to bring with me from L.A sitting near the door. He walks into the kitchen and kisses me on the cheek, “Hey babe.” He grabs a Gatorade from the fridge and then freezes mid-motion. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going back to L.A.” Sidney’s face immediately falls and I can guess what he’s thinking. I probably should have figured out a better way to say this. “No, not like that. I just mean I feel like I’ve been hiding out here.”

“So you don’t want to break up?” I shake my head. “Then why do you want to go back to California?”

I sigh, “Sidney, why did you ask me to move in with you?”

“Well, you didn’t feel safe.”

“And that’s it.”

He pauses and I know that he is choosing his next words carefully. “I mean I love having you here.”

“And I love being here,” I grab Sidney’s hand. “I only want to be here, if this is permanent. Honestly, Sid I can’t justify paying for an empty house that I only spend a few days in, it won’t even work as a vacation home. And being here, just sitting around all day makes me feel like a kept woman.”

“Babe, you are so much more than that.”

I smile, “Thanks. I just want to make sure we both know where we stand. This doesn’t sound too needy does it?”

“Not at all,” He squeezes my hand. “So this would be a bad time for me to ask you to move in with me?”

“We both should just think about it. I know you are going into a really stressful time in the season, so let’s put it off until after, okay?”

“Why do you have to be so damn practical?” I shrug and sit on Sidney’s lap. “You have to come to my games when they are in Pittsburgh. I need you there.”

“When I can make it, you bet I’ll be there.” We kiss and then Jacob walks in the kitchen.

I start to move and Sidney holds me still. “What’s he doing here?”

I smile sheepishly, “He’s taking me to the airport.”

Jacob finally joins the conversation, “I protect her, remember man?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I finally get off Sidney’s lap. “Wednesday, April 16th, you better be here.”

I kiss him one last time, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Being back in L.A. always feels a little weird. Everything just seems a little more outrageous. My first Friday night in my house I get a call from Emma, “Bridge! It is a Friday night in Hollywood, please don’t tell me that you are staying in.”

Sidney’s game comes on in about thirty minutes so yes, technically I did have plans. But I know that’s not what my best friend meant. “No, I suppose I don’t.”

“Perfect. I heard of a party that’s happening on the Coast. We need to go. You owe it to yourself to go.”

I think about her proposal and it sounds tempting, it really does. But then I think about what Sidney would say or even what Jacob would say. Neither of them would want me to go, but it’s been so long. Emma of course doesn’t know why I’m hesitating. “I don’t know Emma.”

“Come on! I know that you just got sent some new clothes. It’s just a house party and I’ve heard that the guys are really cool.”

I haven’t been to a house party without Sidney in ages and I realize that I desperately want to go. “Fine, let’s go, but we can’t tell Jacob okay?”

“Works for me.”

As I get dressed, I reason with myself. It’s been weeks since I’ve heard from that weird fan so I’m sure that I’m fine. They probably got over whatever obsession they had and moved on to someone else. I send a quick text to Jacob blatantly lying by saying that I’ll be staying in to watch Sidney’s game. My doorbell rings and I rush over to let Emma in. She is holding a brand new handle of rum in one hand, “Ready to party?”

I emphatically nod and finish getting dressed while she makes the drinks. It’s April in L.A. aka summer so I slide on a tribal print skirt and a yellow gauzy top. With a pair of nude heels I’m ready to go. When I present myself to Emma who chose to wear sparkly shorts with a bandeau, she approves. “Alright, how are we getting there?”

“I rented a car for the night.” She has the decency to pretend that she feels bad about it.

“Janet is going to kill you,” We interlock arms and I can’t help but laugh. “At least we can both get wasted.”

“That’s all that I wanted.”

When we get to the address the party is hopping. Luckily the palatial house is a good distance away from any neighbors. The door is open so we walk right in. It’s a scene from a movie (ironic right?). Speakers are blaring the latest pop music while girls dressed in next to nothing mill around. We walk a little further into the debauchery. Honestly for Hollywood the ratio is pretty good. Whoever threw this party was more concerned about everyone having a good time than trying to get laid. It’s strange, I don’t see any familiar faces. Usually I always know someone. We end up in the kitchen and Emma starts to mix our drinks. I turn away from her and look around again to identify anyone. Someone jostles the two of us and I panic for a second, I feel claustrophobic. Suddenly uneasy I lean over to yell in Emma’s ear, “Who is hosting this party again?”

Before she can answer someone loudly proclaims, “Well I’ll be damned Brooklyn Donahue!” I turn to the vaguely familiar voice and locate the King who tried to ask me out so many weeks ago. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”

He approaches us and I don’t have the heart to tell him that I don’t even know his name. “Yeah, um hey, good to see you. Great party!”

“Actually, it’s my party.” This new character holds out his hand. “Mike Richards.”

“Oh right, we met briefly.”

He nods and quickly takes in my appearance, “Trust me I remember.” Mike then turns to his teammate. “Why don’t you go out by the pool, before Brooklyn is forced to admit that she doesn’t even know your name?”

The young kid blushes and I wince as he scurries away. “I did feel really bad.”

“Trust me, he’ll rebound.”

I take the leftover solo cup from the counter and notice that Emma has disappeared. We sip our drinks silently for a moment and he tries to say something, but I can’t hear him over the music. He eventually motions to the back and I follow him. Once outside my ears thank me. It’s perfect a little less crowded and the music a little quieter. “That’s so much better.”

He smiles, “Yeah. Now, what brings you here? Last anyone heard, Crosby was keeping you under lock and key.”

I nudge him with my shoulder, “Trust me I wasn’t complaining. But I needed a change of scenery and Emma, my friend, suggested we go to this party.”

“So, it’s my lucky day then?”

“You must have done something right recently. Shouldn’t y’all be focusing on the playoff though?”

“This is the last hoorah before they start. Are you heading back to Pitt then to support Crosby?”

I take a rather large sip, “Most likely. It kind of sucks dating a hockey player you know?”

“So I’ve been told.” We are quiet for a while again. The D.J. starts playing a great song. “Do you want to dance?” Before I can answer though, someone shouts his name. “Damn, stay here. I’ll be back.”

Once he leaves I get up to search for Emma. I’m not upset that Mike got stolen away, I have no interest in dancing with anybody tonight, especially hockey players. The last time I did it didn’t end so well.

Walking through the party I notice that it’s thinned out a little. A crowd is gathering around the couches and I make my way over to see what’s wrong. There in the middle lying on a couch is Emma, who is passed the hell out. “Shit, move. She’s my friend.” I get to her and try slapping her face, her eyes simply roll into the back of her head.

Mike leans into me, “How much did she have to drink?”

I do a double take when Mike just magically appears. She was sober at my house so I know it can’t be much, “Maybe three drinks. She’s not a lightweight though. Can you just help me get her home?” He nods and helps me get her into our car. “Thank you, so much.”

“Of course, and I’ll the guys to keep it off the internet.”

God bless this man, “Thanks. Good luck in the playoffs.” He closes the door and then we pull away.

I struggle to get my friend into my home, but finally I get her to my couch. Moving quickly I grab a trashcan and pull it over. Then get some water. After I splash some water on her face she starts to respond. And I breathe a sigh of relief, “Emma, talk to me please.”

“I just want to sleep Bridge.”

“Drink some water first.”

She does and only about half actually makes it in her mouth, “Fun party right?”

I laugh at her slurred words, relieved. She should be fine. Just then my phone rings and I hope it’s not Sidney or Jacob. “Hello?” Breathing is on the other end and my stomach curls into knots, not again. “Hello?”

“Brooklyn, you disappoint me,” The voice on the other end is garbled. “I know you’re a smart girl, you know who I am don’t you?”

“My so-called admirer.” I’m up locking all of my doors and windows.

“Brains and beauty. You frustrate me unfortunately.”

Part of me wants to hang up, but the other part is just so curious, “Really, why?”

“We were going to have so much fun tonight, but your friend got in the way.”

My blood runs cold and I fish out Emma’s phone to text Jacob to get over here ASAP. “What do you mean?”

“She drank out of the wrong cup, a shame really. I added something extra to that one.”

“You were at the party?”

He chuckles, “Did you think I forgot about you?” He clicks his tongue. “Tsk, tsk. I’m never going to forget about you.”

My vision goes black once he finishes that sentence.

*******


My cell wakes me up in the middle of the night. We are in Colorado and I’m exhausted, so I don’t really know how I manage to answer the phone, “Hello?”

“It’s Jacob. Have you talked to Brooklyn tonight?”

I rub my eyes, “Um, earlier yeah. She texted me after the loss. Why? Is something wrong?”

“Well, I got a text from Emma’s phone begging me to come over to Brooklyn’s place. Only I can’t get in. All of the doors are locked. And Brooklyn’s phone is busy. Hoping you could shed some light on the issue.”

Suddenly I’m alert. I sit up in bed and turn on the bedside lamp, “Let me try.”

“Now why would that work?”

Ignoring Jacob’s doubt I hang up and call Brooklyn. After five tense rings she answers, “Oh Sidney. Thank god it’s you. I was afraid, it was…”

I’m torn between relief and fear, “Afraid it was who, Lynn?”

“Him.”

Something obviously happened tonight, but she needs to let Jacob in first, “Babe, do me a favor, Jacob is at the door. Let him in please?”

There is some rustling and then the door opens and I overhear just mumbles. Finally, Brooklyn speaks again, “My head hurts. Well, I’ve only been out for 15 minutes.” And then I hear Jacob say something about roofies.

“I need details Lynn.”

“Well, Emma and I went to a party,” I roll my eyes, frustrated that my girlfriend apparently cares little for her safety. I can only imagine Jacob’s face. “And we got separated. When I found her she wasn’t responding so I got her home. At home my cell rang and it was him. He was at the party and tried to drug me, but Emma drank it instead.”

I hear Jacob swear as I do and then Brooklyn starts to cry, “Brooklyn, listen to me. You’re safe now. I love you so much. Emma is going to be fine. Nothing is going to happen to you okay? Okay?”

She inhales on a gasp, “Okay.”

“That’s my strong girl. I’ll call you tomorrow. Now put Jacob on the phone.”

“Crosby.”

“She is coming back to Pittsburgh. That sick fuck isn’t getting any closer.”

There’s silence, “I feel better protecting her here.”

“Well she wasn’t harassed in Pittsburgh. It’s the better option Jacob.”

He groans, “Fine. Tomorrow we will work something out. If she doesn’t want to go I’m not going to make her.”

“Fair enough,” We are silent for a moment. And I get to thinking. “Did you know she was going to the party?”

“No.”

“Then how did you get to her place so fast after she texted you? Isn’t traffic in L.A. horrible?”

There is silence. “I’m fast driver. Is this interrogation over?”

“Yeah. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” We hang up and I fall asleep trying to piece this together. It feels like I’m missing something.

After our game day skate in Colorado I finally have a second to call Brooklyn. The guys all went out to lunch so I have some privacy in the hotel room. This time she answers on the first ring, “Hey, Sid.”

She sounds tired, “Hey babe, how are you feeling?”

“Scared. This is serious. I didn’t even know he was there at the party,” Brooklyn takes a shaky breath. “What should we do Sid?”

“We need to get the police involved.”

“No, we can’t”

“Why not?”

She sighs, “Jacob, Janet, Ethan everyone agrees that the police won’t do any good yet. They think that they can handle it.”

I pace around the hotel room in the hopes of calming myself down. “Are you kidding me? They haven’t been able to ‘handle’ it yet.” My voice rises. “How much closer does he have to get to you?”

There is silence on the phone and I wonder if I went too far. “Getting the police involved will just turn this thing into a media circus.”

Taking a deep breath I try to compromise, “Then come back to Pittsburgh.”

“No. I refuse to be intimated by this guy Sid.”

“But…”

“No, when we move in together it will be because we want to, not because of some delusional fan.” She interrupts me and I know that I pushed too far. “I’ll see you on the 16th as planned.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose I try to stave off my anger and frustration, “Fine.”

“Good. Now focus on the game tonight, not on me. I love you and I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you too.” I hang up and proceed to throw my phone across the room. It has to be Jacob that wants to keep her in L.A. He’s been in love with her forever and now he is keeping her to himself. I need to work out to get rid of some of this frustration, but I don’t have time. Instead I try to figure out what I can do to catch this guy and bring my girlfriend back to me in one piece.

******


A week and a half later I fly into Pittsburgh for the first day of the playoffs. Of course, Sidney is not at the airport to pick me up. Vero is there instead with little Estelle. She looks, as always, perfectly put together, but now sporting a tiny baby bump. “Brooklyn! Ma petite, I’ve missed you.”

We hug and I throw my bags in the back of her car. “Yeah, it’s been crazy for a while. I’m ready to watch our guys win this though. How’s Marc feeling?”

She sighs pulling out into traffic, “He feels like there is a lot to prove. I mean it seems the only way he can get back his confidence is to not allow a single goal. And that’s impossible of course. I can only tell him that he’s doing a great job so many times.” I simply nod. “Sometimes I just hate this time of the year.”

“Why?”

“The guys are insanely stressed. And they stay in a hotel for most of the time.”

“Wait, a hotel?”

“Yeah, to minimize distractions. Most guys still make time though of course. It’s not like they abandon us.” She laughs half-heartedly.

Her laughter doesn’t lighten the mood. I was looking forward to spending time with Sidney, but apparently that might not be possible. Not to mention that he was supposed to be around so that I wouldn’t be completely alone. “Of course.”

“Really this is when all the WAGs come together. We have to keep our worry and problems away from the guys so we just share everything with each other.” I still don’t respond. “Is something else wrong? You look a little tired.”

It’s always nice when someone tells you that you look tired instead of like shit. Both words mean the same thing in this case. Vero is right though, I look like shit, partly because I’m tired. Since the scare after the party things haven’t died down. They’ve actually gotten worse. Jacob and Ethan were practically living with me by the end and things still didn’t get better. I’m keeping everything together by a hair, but Sidney can’t know. He has to keep focused. And if I say something to Vero it could get back to him so my role starts here. For the next weeks I have to be the carefree, perfect girlfriend, so I smile, “Yeah, just a little jet-lagged.”

The rest of the ride we make small talk and when she drops me off at Sidney’s place she promises to save a seat for me at the game. I walk into Sidney’s enormous house and instantly feel lonely. Truthfully, I don’t want to stay here alone for most of the playoffs. It all feels like a cruel trick. Sure, we are in the same city, but we can’t spend time together. I send Sidney a quick text letting him know that I was in and would see him after the game, and then I make a beeline for his bed.

I arrive at Consol just before the game starts. My nap ran a little long not to mention it took me a while to not look ‘tired’ anymore. I’m here now dressed in my usual leggings but with a long-sleeved Pittsburgh Penguins shirt. Driving to the arena it looked like the entire city had gone Penguins crazy, more so than usual. And the atmosphere inside the arena was electric. Finally, I make it up to the suite and take a deep breath before going inside. I’m surprised to see that the suite is emptier than usual. When I find Vero I ask her about it, “Where is everyone?”

“Well, like I said no more distractions. So that means no casual girlfriends, and less kids.”

Her explanation makes sense and I nod before focusing on the game. Columbus takes the quick lead and I see Vero fidgeting nervously. I take her hand in mine, “They’ll rally. Don’t worry.”

Turns out that I’m right, the guys score the fourth and winning goal in the third. We cheer of course and then go to see the guys. Everyone is euphoric when we finally see them. Sidney crushes me in a hug, “I’m so glad you’re here babe.”

“Me too, Captain,” We quickly kiss. Marc and Vero come over to us. “Nice game, Marc.”

“Thanks, Brooklyn.”

We make small talk for a little while longer while a few other guys join us. Sidney’s hand is rubbing my back and I’m finding it difficult to focus on the conversation around me. When my mischievous boyfriend’s hand slides a little farther down I cough to cover my gasp. He simply smiles, “I think Lynn and I are going to head out. Night guys.”

Sidney and I don’t make it inside his car. He pushes me against the door and smothers me with a kiss. His hands are hungry in the way they are after a win. And I’m the same way. Sidney and I have always had amazing chemistry and I need him right now. The sound of footsteps does remind us that we are in a private place. “Have I mentioned that I’m happy to have you here?”

“Once or twice.”

We get into separate cars though and make it back to his house. Promptly we pick up from where we left off. And in a few hours we are laying in Sidney’s huge bed, finally satiated. I lean on my boyfriend’s chest, “I’m surprised you came back here tonight.”

“Why?”

“Well, Vero mentioned something about a hotel,” I try to keep the worry out of my voice.

“Oh right. It just depends since we don’t have a game tomorrow, I have some leeway.” His hand runs gently through my hair. “I should have told you earlier shouldn’t I?”

I bite my lip so I don’t snap at him, “Yes that would have been nice. I was looking forward to spending time with you, but I understand.”

He dips down to kiss my forehead, “I’m sorry, but thank you.”

“Just this is nice.”

“You’re worried though.” He sits up in bed. “Has it gotten worse?”

“No, no. I just don’t want to get lonely and I don’t want to invite Emma and Jacob to stay in your home.”

He is quiet for a second, “My parents are coming to town next week, but I could see if Taylor wanted to come and hang out with you.”

For a moment I was afraid that he was going to suggest quality time with just his parents. Thank God he offered up Taylor instead, “That sounds great, it will be good to spend some time with her.”

******


It was the morning of the second game of the playoffs and the hotel bed is already bothering me. I try not to think about it as I get ready for the morning skate. With one game under our belt I figure it will be a pretty loose practice. And I’m right the guys are having fun and the rink is full of the excitement that only the playoff can bring.

When the interview starts I’m in a great mood, “Sidney, how is the atmosphere in the room right now.”

“Really good I think. Obviously everyone wanted that first win and now we have to focus on the second.”

The next reporter speaks up, “As far as team confidence in Fleury goes?”

This question again? I’m sick of it. “Really the only questions are coming from outside of the team. We have faith in Flower.”

“Brooklyn was seen at the game on Wednesday and it’s been noticed that there is an increased media presence around Pittsburgh. Will these things become distractions?”

I sigh, “No, there is always more pressure during the playoffs. What happens outside of the arena stays there and that’s even more true now.”

A guy that I’ve never seen before speaks up next, “Any comment on the rumors that your girlfriend and you are being targeted by a stalker?”

I can’t mask my surprise when he asks this question. No one should know anything about that and I’m immediately suspicious. Also, I’m not sure how I should answer this. Wiping my face I take a second to gather my thoughts, “That seems a little out there.” I chuckle slightly, “I really don’t know what to say.”

The rest of the reporters buy my answer even if the stranger doesn’t and the interview comes to a close quickly. When the locker room is almost empty I leave and notice the reporter standing near the door. I walk over to him and he says, “Figured you would want to talk to me.”

“Yeah, where did that question come from?”

He smiles, “You really have no idea how many people watch your girlfriend do you? Complete teams of interns are dedicated to her at every major magazine and entertainment website. People close to her can be bribed. And her movement has been mysterious. Not to mention we have access to her phone records. At first we thought she was cheating on you, but judging by your reaction I was right.”

“Great,” I turn to walk away from the reporter.

He yells after me, “It’s just going to get worse now, especially with your sister in town.”

It takes all my will power to not turn around and demand more answers. When I lay down for my nap I’m still shaking with pent up anger. The game doesn’t go much better; we lose 4 to 3 after blowing a 3 to 1 lead. Any carefree atmosphere that existed before the game is gone. We are all pissed and then I notice that there are a few more unfamiliar faces in the press scrum. The reporter from this morning is also there with an ‘I-told-you-so’ grin.

The questions at first are expected until one new reporter speaks up, “Is Brooklyn back in Pittsburgh for her own protection?”

The rest of the reporters look confused and I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes, “She wanted to come support me, she’s a great girlfriend.”

Another one speaks up, “So, she’s not here to escape a potential stalker in L.A.?”

Finally our PR girl intervenes, “Alright scrum over. Remember hockey pertinent questions only, thank you.”

When they leave I throw some shit in my bag. I don’t want to think about this stalker shit, partly because I can’t and partly because it scares me. Pascal, who I’m assuming overheard the exchange, comes up to me, “What was that all about?”

I sigh and realize that I truly want to tell someone about all of this, “Someone is stalking Brooklyn. He tried to drug her in L.A. and he’s been calling her.”

“Seriously? Do the police know?”

“Her people want to keep it quiet, not that it will stay that way for long now. Keep this quiet for me?”

He nods, “Of course man. And if Brooklyn needs somewhere to go, Carol-Lynne would be more than happy to have her.”

Duper is a true friend, “I appreciate that.”

I’m alone when I walk in the family suite and see Brooklyn first standing in front of some people. When she turns it takes me a second to realize who is behind her. Taylor is sitting on Geno’s lap and it’s one of the strangest things I’ve seen. “Hey guys?”

Upon hearing my voice Taylor jumps up, “Hey bro. Good effort.” We hug quickly.

Then Brooklyn comes over and envelopes me in a hug, “Good game, babe.” She smiles slightly.

“Thanks. Some reporters asked me about you.”

My girlfriend looks puzzled for a second and then realization dawns on her. “Well shit. I’ll tell Janet then. Everyone will probably be here by Monday now if that’s the case.”

“Fine,” Ever since L.A. I can’t shake the thought that Jacob has something to do with this whole thing. “Hey, what did you ever do with those letters?”

“I gave them to Jacob, why?”

“No reason,” I kiss her on the forehead. “Ready to head out?”

Our group of four leaves the arena and we part ways by the car that Brooklyn is driving. She softly touches my cheek, “Don’t worry about this okay? Your house is a veritable fortress. We will be safe. Also, how do you feel about me getting your sister drunk?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” We both laugh and I’m in the best mood that I’ve been in for hours. Geno and I walk to the waiting bus and I have to ask, “Why was my sister on your lap?”

He shrugs, “She needed place to sit.”

“Next time, get her a chair.”

*******


“Did you see my brother’s face, when he saw me sitting on Geno?”

Taylor and I are driving home from the game and both of us are on the verge of laughing, “Trust me I did. His eyes almost popped out of his head, absolutely priceless.”

“Wait until I tell him that I have a boyfriend.”

I almost crash the car when she says that, “You have to tell me everything. What’s his name? How did you meet him?”

A small smile comes to the young girl’s face, “Well, his name is Ryan and he was in my biology class. He is really nice.”

“When we get to Sid’s house I need to see a picture.”

“Why do you still call it Sid’s house? Didn’t you move in together?”

“It’s a little more complicated than that.”

She rolls her eyes, “All I know is that he talks about you all the time and so does mom. It feels like the two of you are already married.” I’m speechless. “Shit, I probably wasn’t supposed to say any of that.”

I laugh, “Don’t worry about it.”

“For the record, I’m glad the two of you are back together. He has never been this happy.”

I don’t make good on my promise to get Taylor drunk until Sidney’s next game. It’s during the first intermission and I’m a bundle of nerves. Also, a little bored. So Taylor and I decide to make a run to the super market. “Alright, we are about to have a wine lesson. Do you drink wine?”

“Not really.”

“Okay, we are going to get cheap wine so you can go back to school in the fall and be practical. But we are also going to get the good stuff if you want to sound knowledgeable. Sound good?”

She nods and we buy and exorbitant amount of wine. Outside of the grocery store a few paparazzi mill around and once we step outside pounce. I hold the bags and toss the keys to Taylor. Jacob and Ethan emerge from the shadows and help keep the paparazzi away from us. Taylor and I link arms and plow our way through the small group to get to Sid’s car. Once we pull away I apologize.

“Nothing to be sorry for. That was the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me!”

I simply lean back and laugh. When we get back to Sid’s house the second period is just about to start. “Perfect timing.”

By the time the game is over Taylor and I are pretty tipsy, but I make sure that I’m more sober than Sidney’s underage sister. We are giggling and laughing about God knows what when she looks at me seriously for a second, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“This feels like I have an older sister, and you seem like you genuinely like me.”

“Of course I like you. Why wouldn’t i?”

She shrugs and takes a gulp of wine, maybe I should cut her off. “I thought you might only talk to me because I’m Sidney’s sister. You are a big movie star and all.”

I stop her, “Every time we’ve hung out I’ve had fun. I’m so glad we get to spend time together, seriously.”

“Can I ask you for some advice then?”

“Anytime.”

“And you won’t tell Sidney?” I nod and she finishes her wine. Yep, I should definitely cut her off. “Ryan, my boyfriend, I told you about him. Anyways, he um he wants to have sex and I don’t know what to do.”

Now it’s my turn to finish my wine. Shit, I don’t know what to say, “Well, do you want to have sex?”

“No, I’m not ready yet.”

“That’s perfectly fine. If he really cares about you he’ll wait. I know that sounds like a load of crap, but it’s true.”

“So, I should just tell him no?”

“Explain how you feel. I mean there is a lot of fun to be had without having sex.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth I want to take it back.

“We fool around a little.”

I pour us more wine. “If that doesn’t satisfy him for now than maybe he isn’t the right guy. Seriously, no shame in waiting. I was twenty almost 21 before I had sex.”

“Really? How was it?”

I wince remembering the memory, “Bad, like really bad, which is why it should be with someone you’re comfortable with. The best part about it was that he actually cared about me so next time and every time after it got better. ”

She nods, “Well that makes me feel better. It seems that everyone has already had sex in college.”

“Doesn’t matter, focus on yourself.”

“It’s worth it though right?”

“Trust me, it’s so worth it.”

“Wait, you’re thinking about my brother,” She shivers and then puts her hand to her mouth and runs to the bathroom.

I run after her and hold her hair back as she empties her stomach. Once she stops I offer to get her to the couch and she wants to stay there for a little, so I leave in search of clothes and water. My phone starts to ring, “Hey Sid, great game! What’s up?” Hopefully I sound a little more sober than I am.

“Just checking in, how are you two doing?”

From the bathroom I hear retching and I wince, “I think I broke your sister. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Broke my what? Brooklyn don’t hang up!” I do though and rush back into the bathroom.

Finally I get her on the couch and into clean clothes. “Thanks Brooklyn.”

I brush some hair out of her eyes, “Anytime, hun.”

When I wake up the next morning on the couch my head tingles a little, but I can only imagine what Taylor will feel like. I stretch and head out to grab the morning paper. On the doorstep is a box as well so I bring it in. “Oh a present!” Taylor’s voice shocks me and I let out a little yelp. “Ah, no loud noises.”

I laugh, “Sorry, there’s some leftover pizza in the fridge.”

“Great! Sidney never has pizza.”

She keeps chatting but I focus on the box now. It has no return address or stamps and I feel Goosebumps on my arm. I know who this is from and I refuse to open it, instead I throw it away outside. When I come back in Taylor asks about it. I simply shrug, “Some scam, I just threw it away. Heat me up a piece of pizza?”

If I focus on the package or what it meant I won’t get through the day and I won’t be able to talk to Sidney later without going into hysterics. I need to call Jacob today, Pittsburgh isn’t safe anymore. And now this might endanger Taylor as well.

Notes

It took a little while longer than usual, but here's the next chapter. Hope y'all enjoy! Thanks for being patient!