The Moonstone Starlet

Chapter 14

Before flying back to Chicago, Elia found time to meet up with Sidney. She felt bad about kind of being a bitch to him the previous day. Although she hadn’t mentioned it to the guys, she had been a little rude. When he introduced himself, she had responded in a “Who the Hell are you to be talking to me?” kind of way. Elia tried to stay grounded, but she wasn’t perfect, and sometimes found herself expecting certain things or acting like she was better than other people. One reason she loved hanging out with the Blackhawks is that they wouldn’t let her get away with it. They treated her like everyone else. For example, when she woke up that morning, she found that Burish and Sharp had stolen all of her shoes out of her room.

She had called Sidney early in the morning and asked him if he still wanted to hang out. When he said yes, she asked if he could bring some sandals with him, and although confused, he agreed to bring something. He picked her up a little after 10:00 a.m. in a grey Range Rover with a pair of yellow crocs and a big smile. He pointed out that they were one size fits all, but they were huge. Elia was wearing a long, fitted navy blue blazer that came down to about her mid thigh. Underneath she wore only black tights. And now yellow crocs. Her hair was down and wild, and she smiled back at Sidney.

For their date Sidney took Elia to the Andy Warhol Museum. The entrance was a hallway wallpapered with neon yellow and purple cows heads, ending at a wall of pictures of Andy Warhol repeating. As they walked through the museum, Elia asked if he frequently went there. Sidney admitted that he had never been there before, but thought she liked art. In a room full of silver balloons Elia apologized to him for being rude the day before. To her surprise, Sidney apologized back, saying he used a stupid line on her. The guys thought I should come on strong, he said. Sidney had a charming demeanor. He was somehow able to come off as humble and dominating at the same time. Like Jonathan, he had become Captain at an extremely young age. There was such a difference in the two. Sidney was affable, and seemed to draw people in. He talked a lot about his younger sister, who also played hockey.

They finished touring the museum and Sidney drove them to the Bluebird Kitchen for lunch. Lunch had to be quick though, because Elia had to get back to the hotel to pack up and make her flight back to Chicago. When he dropped her back off he leaned in for a kiss and then awkwardly hugged her instead. He put his hand on her cheek and then said he would call her. Elia was slightly perplexed by the whole thing.

On the way to the airport Jonathan had a lot of questions. Did he touch her? No. Did he ask her back to his place? No, he lives with Mario Lemieux, what was that about? Did he kiss her? No, but he kind of tried. Did she want to see him again? She wasn’t sure. Did she think he was hot? He had a great ass, that was a fact. Patrick was less concerned with Elia potentially dating Sidney Crosby. He thought Sid was a nice guy. While they were waiting for their plane to board Elia got a text from Sid.
“Had a great time, hope we can do it again :) “
Patrick laughed at him for using emoticons. “Sid the fucking kid uses smiley faces and can’t put moves on a girl,” he shook his head laughing. Jonathan said nothing, but sat frowning.

It turned out that the Hawks were playing the Rangers the next day. Elia sat with Burish at the United Center during the Blackhawks morning skate, googling pictures of Henrik Lundqvist. She didn’t understand why they wanted to prevent her from meeting Lundqvist. Sure, she did get along with goalies in a weird way, but he really wasn’t her type.

“I don’t think he’s attractive, at all.” She said to Burish.
“He was in People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People.”
“He’s too pretty, like Sharpie. I like my men a little rough around the edges,” She said smiling at him.
Instead of playing back, Adam sighed, not looking up from his magazine. Things had been weird between her and Adam since Anaheim, but with him being injured they were often stuck with each other.

“Are you mad at me?” She asked, “Because I went out with Sidney?”
“No, I don’t care that you went on one date with Sidney Crosby, that obviously won’t last very long.”
Elia scrunched her face annoyed.
“Why would you say that?”
Adam closed his magazine and looked at her.
“Because Sidney Crosby is a pussy. He wouldn’t be able to handle a woman like you. Why would I care about that? I don’t.”
Elia didn’t appreciate his language, and thought it was really rude to say that about Sidney but she wasn’t interested in that at the moment.
“Then why are you acting so pissed lately?”
“Elia, are you serious? You tell me you don’t want to hook up because of what it would mean, and then you turn around and hook up with Shia LaBeouf like it’s nothing?”

She was surprised, and hadn’t even considered that.

“That is so different--” she started to say but Adam cut her off.
“I don’t think it is.”
“Because I know Shia won’t turn around and brag to his friends that we hooked up. Because I know Shia respects me as a friend and a woman.”
“Is that what you think I would do?”
“That’s what I’ve seen you do!”

Adam stood up and started walking back into the locker room. Elia let him go. She wasn’t sure what to do about Adam. Going out with Sidney was one thing, if it didn’t work out she wouldn’t see him again. If she slept with Adam, or dated Adam, and they ended badly, there would be more consequences than just a broken heart.

Chicago beat New York that night in another shootout. The following night they flew to Buffalo to play the Sabres. Patrick’s whole family came out for the game, and Elia was thrilled to meet his Mom, Donna, grandfather, and sisters, Erica, Jessica and Jackie. It was a short trip, but they invited Elia and her family to come back for Christmas.

Back in Chicago winter was trickling through the city. The snow had started to fall, slowly, but hadn’t stopped for days. All the trees along the streets were lit up. Wreaths and garland decorated the buildings. The carriage horses were adorned with lanterns and bells, carrying holiday shoppers around Michigan Avenue. Daley Plaza had been overtaken with the Christkindl Market. Chunks of ice floated through the river now, and washed up on the beaches. The fresh fallen snow looked beautiful coating the city, but by morning would be pushed into piles along the road gathering soot and dirt.

After losing to Buffalo the team won five of their next six games. There were only three days between games for players to go home for Christmas. The european players stayed in Chicago and celebrated together, but most of the Canadians and the Americans would fly home to see their families. Before leaving Elia and Jonathan visited Lincoln Park Zoo for Zoo Lights and to exchange gifts.

They walked through in by the wolves and through the Children’s Zoo to see the otters, then past the sea lions. To the right they stopped to get some hot spiced cider, then continued to the carousel. They sat side by side in a giant swan chair. She handed him a small box and he gave her one back. Elia pulled the ribbon and lifted the top of the white box. Inside was a rose gold bracelet adorned with seven small moonstones on a bar and a small gold circle imprinted with the letter E. She lifted it out smiling, and told Jonathan she loved it. He helped her put it on before opening her gift. He unwrapped the silver paper and set it between them on the seat. Inside the box was a Heuer watch, with three calendars. Elia said it was a 1950’s Dato-Compax, but with a new band. Jonathan knew she had gotten Pat a watch too, but this was different. She didn’t walk into a store and buy this, she went looking for this particular watch. He put it on and watched the second hand tick past the moon phase calendar. The trees around them were lit in a dazzling array of colors, red, blue, green, purple and white but what Jonathan loved the most was the way they reflected in Elia’s eyes. For a while they just sat in the carousel listening to the music and enjoying the winter night.

The next morning Elia, her mother and her brother Brian took a flight to Buffalo with Patrick to his family’s home. Her other brother Taylor flew in from his private boarding school in Vermont. Donna Kane had insisted they stay in their home, she didn’t want them staying in a hotel for Christmas. Elia was sharing a room with Erica and her brothers were sharing a room with Patrick. It was weird and wonderful all at the same time to be doing something so quaint as sharing rooms. If Chicago was cold, Buffalo was freezing. During the day Christmas Eve the seven of them played hockey on a pond near the Kane’s house. When the sun went down Pat’s cousins came over and they all had an air hockey tournament in the basement. After Christmas Eve dinner Elia and Patrick took the family dog for a walk down the street, mostly to steal a few drinks out of a thermus they filled with egg nog and rum. Snow fell softly around them, the street lights casting a soft glow on the street. Elia had always thought Pat was a great guy, but it was different seeing him around his family and seeing how content he was. Every house they passed he told her a story of his childhood. Of water balloon fights with neighbors, backyard barbeques, trick or treating. She loved getting to know another side of him. They stopped at the edge of the block and let the dog sniff some brush. Elia looked up at Patrick.

“Have you ever thought of us...you know...as more than just friends?” She asked, cautiously.
“I’ve wondered, if it would ever go that way. But I wouldn’t mess up what we have.”

Maybe it was the lights, maybe it was the snow, or the egg nog. Whatever it was, they decided to try and see what would happen if they pushed the boundaries. Elia closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the right. Patrick’s forehead connected with hers.
“Ow! Ok let’s try again.”
She leaned in again, but they bumped noses instead.
“Are you going left? I thought we would both go right?” Elia said. Patrick took his hands out of his pockets and grabbed her face. He leaned down and put his mouth on hers. She opened her lips and felt his lips against hers. After a few moments he let go of her head and pulled back.

Elia opened her eyes slowly and looked at Pat.

“That wasn’t right,” He said, his face contorted.
“No, no. Let’s not do that again.” They took off their gloves and pinky swore never to kiss again.
“Were you wearing lip gloss?” Patrick asked as they walked back.
“Dr. Pepper chapstick.” She replied.
“I kind of liked it, can I have some?” Elia pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him. He put some chapstick on and then put it back in Elia’s pocket. As they walked back to the house Kane put his arm around her shoulders.

“You know, you can still be part of my family even if you aren’t my girlfriend.” He said. Elia put her arm around his waist and leaned in close to him. He looked down at her and smiled. Elia loved Patrick’s smile. She knew them all so well. His mischievous smile, his confused smile. The way he smiled when he scored a goal. This was her favorite smile. The smile that said he was truly happy.

Notes