Hatred Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

A few Months Later…..
“Alright, Matt the knee looks good bud you’re doing good work!” I smiled at my patient. He was a hockey players for Temple University and was getting ready to transfer to Boston College to start the race to the NHL.
“So tell me again what it was like working with Crosby?” He said getting up from the table that I was working with him on
“It’s was cool he’s a sweet guy, amazing player, you can tell by his body how hard he works after games he would just be absolutely dead and I think that shows how much he leave out on the ice always remember that to always leave every last shred of yourself out on the ice after every game” I told him with a smile. I had been back in Philadelphia for a few months and had quickly found a job with Temple University Hospital working with the Temple athletics and with some outside patients and some that were admitted to the hospital. Being back in Philadelphia was the best feeling in the world, all my friends were here and I was able to pick life right back up like I had never left. Temple used my prior work experience to market more clients to get training through the hospital and many of the student athletes were more than willing to work with me just to get to know what it was like working at the professional level. I got a phone call soon after I got back to Philadelphia from the Flyers for a job but I respectfully declined I don’t think professional athletics were my place anymore. I had met and dated some guys after Sid but none of them were worth my time and I decided if it was meant to be it would happen so I gave up looking. Ross was another athletic trainer for Temple and I had developed a slight attraction to him over the last bit of time so when he asked me on a date I was so excited to go out with him. He didn’t tell me where we were going but he said I would love it, when he picked me up there was a flyers sweatshirt on my seat when I opened his car door
“Ross?” I asked questioning
“Yea?” He asked with a smile
“Why’s there a Flyers sweatshirt?” I asked as a smile crept on my face
“Flyers/Pens game! I know you love the Flyers and I’m sure you have some feelings toward the Pens now since you worked for them so I thought this would be perfect” He smiled lacing his fingers in mine. I felt my heart shatter in my chest at the thought of seeing Sid on the ice right in front of me. I hadn’t seen or heard from him since the afternoon in my bedroom so I had no idea how this was going to go. Once we arrived at the Wells Fargo Center Ross handed me my tickets as we walked inside and prayed our seats weren’t anywhere near the glass so I could blend into the other 19,000 people there. But, of course, Ross being the amazing guy he is got seats right on the ice.
“My brother works in finances in Center City so he gets awesome tickets for games” He smiled as we sat down watching warmups “Unfortunately we’re on the Pens side but it’s be good since we can see the Flyers score” He said with a huge grin watching them warm up. I looked around but didn’t see Sid on the ice but I knew he never skated in Philly for the first part of warm ups but came out later it was his thing. Steve Downie skated past me and I looked down hoping he wouldn’t see me. There was a young Pens fan sat next to me so Steve grabbed a puck and threw it over the glass to him and our eyes met quickly and they locked but he looked away shaking his head trying to convince himself that it wasn’t me sitting there. He skated over to Kris Letang pointing over to me as he skated closer and then skated back as they both skated over quickly kissing the glass. I always did love the two of them and their antics never failed to make me laugh. I smiled and waved to them and I could see Steve mouthing ‘Caps still in the dressing room’ I smiled and nodded but took Ross’s hand in mine showing Steve who looked down awkwardly. I looked over to the visitor’s tunnel as I saw Sid skate out onto the ice taking a lap as he skated past me my grip on Ross’s hand tightened and I looked down. He stopped in front of us and started stretching, I wanted so badly to fix his technique but I couldn’t. Steve and Kris skated over and said something to him looking up at me as Sid jumped up turning around and stared. I was in shock and couldn’t move myself so I just sat there not sure what do to. Sid smiled and waved at me and I returned his pleasantry.
“Shit so you know Sidney Crosby?” Ross asked surprised
“He was my main players I worked on” I smiled and shrugged. At the end of the first period the Flyers were up 3-0 and Sid was not playing as his normal self and I couldn’t shake the feeling it was because of me. I took out my phone hoping he hadn’t changed his number, I knew he usually didn’t look at his phone but I was hoping maybe he would this time
“Don’t fuck this up. You’re better then how you’re playing and don’t round your back when you stretch” Was all I said before sending almost instantly my phone went off again
“Why do you care?” I felt rage wash over me but I played it cool
“I don’t want to be the reason you play like shit play like shit for yourself”
“I’m not playing my hip is sore and I can’t skate, no one in Philly knows how to work my hip out” Sid sent and I didn’t respond but I knew what he was getting at but it wasn’t going to work. I sat and waited for Ross to get back from getting us drinks when I large security guard tapped me on the should
“Excuse me? Presley Adams?” He asked
“Uhh yes?”
“You’re Mr.Crosby’s girlfriend” He asked making me roll my eyes
“Yes, is he alright?”
“He’s asking for you if you could come with me” The man said starting to walk away but I hesitated because I really didn’t want to face him but maybe I did since I did text him. When I stood up Ross was walking toward our seats
“want to meet Sidney Crosby?” I asked grabbing his hand and pulling him with me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walked down the tunnels underneath the Wells Fargo Center with Ross’s hand in mine until we reached the visiting teams locker room. I slowly walked in and saw Sid still in full gear with his head in his hands. When he heard the door open he looked up with a smile until he saw my hand connected with Ross’s.
“Hey Sid” I said awkwardly
“Hey” He huffed
“You alright?...you know what, Ross can you give us a second?” I smiled as Ross left the locker room leaving just Sid and I. Before I could say anything Sid jumped up grabbing me and pinning me against the wall kissing me violently. We stayed like that for a minutes until he pulled away out of breath
“Presley you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that” He said breathlessly

Notes