Trina grabs all the things we need to make the pasta. We actually decide to make lasagna instead. She gets on that while I make the meat sauce and the breadsticks.

"You're making breadsticks?" Jack says when he comes over to stand next to me. He's really close once again, our arms almost touching.

"Of course! Bread always goes with lasagna. Move over I need my space," I say pushing him away using my hips as I knead the dough.

" Well sorry, Chef Seraphina. Hey, that has a nice ring to it," Jack grins proudly.

"You should be," I say joking.

"Where'd you learn to cook?" Troy asks as he walks back into the kitchen. I didn't even realize he was back in the room after he left with his son.

"Traditional foods from my mom, everything just out of my own interest. I watch the food network a lot," I answer shyly.

"Do you cook a lot at home?"

" I try to," I say while putting the sticks of dough on a baking sheet. I put a melted butter and garlic mix on top of the sticks and put them in the oven. Washing my hands in the sink, I continue explaining.

" I work a lot of hours so sometimes I have to buy dinner, which can get expensive since it's New York. I like to make large quantities of things so I can just eat the leftovers so I don't have to cook," I finish while I dry my hands with a paper towel.

"A smart girl, finally Sid got himself one of those," Troy chuckles. I snort and look over at Sid who is glaring at his father. Sidney looks back at me with apologetic eyes.

" How's Columbia?" Troy asks, his demeanor all serious again. I'm beginning to feel as though this is an interview.

"It's going well. It's been a lot of fun thus far and sophomore year should be interesting. I'm trying to get an internship at ESPN in New York City and HBO but I'll have to go to Connecticut for like a month and a half."

"You'll get it, why wouldn't you?" Jack asks.

"Because I'm a girl, not many work in sports broadcasting so it'll be a challenge," I grumble. The downside to the work force. I've always ran with the boys ever since I was a kid. All my friends were guys, I always related better to them than with girls. I'm like another son sometimes to my father. So pursuing a job in a male dominated area wasn't scary to me, but now thinking realistically, there is a big chance I might not get it. I love Vogue, trust me but I always wanted to work in sports more than anything.

"Bullshit, you'll get it," Jack says throwing me a big smile. Something goes off in my chest. Butterflies?

"Thank you jack, you're too kind. If you could tell, I'm blushing."

" I know, I try but it just comes naturally," he grins and pats himself on the back.

"Whatever," I mumble.

---

Dinner goes over well. I make it a point to get as much info on Sidney as I can. His mother was more than happy to tell many stories much to Sid's dismay. Jack behaved and sat far away from me, while Sidney sat right next to me. Most of dinner his hand was on the upper part of my thigh. I enjoy dinner much more with the Crosby's than with my own family. Mine is very quiet and make dinner feel like another job that has to be done. Sid's family is full of laughing and animated storytelling. Though Troy remained quiet for a good chunk of dinner, his limited comments were intriguing and humorous . Jack, Taylor and Sam go outside to play while Sid and I help do the dishes and clear off the table.

"I have something to show you," Sidney says in my ear while I finish cleaning up.

"Can I go to the restroom first?" I whine as he takes m hand. I can feel my lipstick has waned a bit from the sauce and wine.

"Yeah, down the hall and it's the second door on the left," he directs me and kisses my forehead. I take my time walking to the restroom, stopping to look at photos of his family. It's crazy to look at how small he was but still be able to tell that's the handsome man I'm falling deeply in love with. I open the door on the left to the restroom, which is small and normal with white wallpaper featuring little lighthouses all over it. Looking in the generous sized mirror, I reach into a pocket on my dress to retouch my lipstick; a pretty mauve color courtesy of Nars Cosmetics. I tease my hair a little bit more and check my teeth for any abnormalities. When I think I'm presentable, I open the door and turn off the light, walking down the hall back to the kitchen.

I hear voices talking in the living room— it's Sidney and his parents. I can tell by Sid's voice that he is pissed off.

"I don't really need your advice on who I should date, dad," Sidney states sternly. I make sure to hide near the stairs that lead to the upstairs and hopefully out of sight. I have a queasy feeling that tells me I don't want to hear this argument.

"She's wonderful Troy, please stop. Sera comes from a wonderful home, she is very well spoken, smart, independent and beautiful," Trina counters her husband.

"I understand that. I'm just looking out for our son. We don't know if she is really here because she loves our son. She is a writer, she has a lot of outlets she could tell about you," Troy implies. I nearly run from my spot to give him a piece of my mind.

"Are freaking kidding me dad?" Sidney cries out incredulously. "She would never do that and even if she did, I have nothing to hide! I'm so lame I have nothing to hide about my life. And as for you implying that she has ulterior motives— she has none."

"I'm sorry Sidney, your father is just a little overprotective, that's all. I do worry about the tattoos and piercings though," Trina trails off. What the actual fuck. Why is everyone on my case?! I practice my deep breathing from yoga so I don't blow my cover.

"I happen to love every single tattoo all over her body," Sidney states. "I love how intelligent she is, how bold she is, I love her skin, her laugh. I love her and there's really nothing you can do about it. She's been all I can think about this past summer and I'm glad. After last season with the concussion bullshit, I'm extremely happy to have someone on my side who isn't getting on my case about anything," Sidney finishes in my defense. It takes everything in me not to rush out there to kiss him. I settle for beaming from ear to ear.

"What about when the season starts?" Troy asks. I hold my breathe during the awkward pause.

" You can't ask her to leave her home and follow you to Pittsburgh. You're barely ever home," Troy finishes. To be perfectly honest, I hadn't thought of that either. And I don't want to at the moment, I just want to enjoy my summer with him. I figure this is a good time to come in a break up the conversation. I collect myself and strut into the living room, as though I did not hear any of their conversation.

"Hey babe," I start. I pause in the entrance to the living room as Sidney and his parents turn to look at me. Everyone's face is startled then nervous. Sidney relaxes and walks over to me, a slight pained look is on his face.

"Is everything ok?" I ask. Sidney grabs my chin and tilts my face up toward his. He plants a firm kiss on my lips that clearly indicates his frustration. When he pulls away he turns to his parents.

"I'll show her the rest of the house," Sidney's voice his hard and defiant. He takes my left hand, pulling me toward the stairs that lead to the basement. Carefully leading me down the stairs, I get to look at the basement where Sidney tore up his mother's dryer, the dryer has since been replaced but the wall behind it still has marks left by the pucks that missed their intended target. Some of the piping is dented but not too out of shape. Clothes hang on a line around the semi finished basement. Hockey equipment is a common theme around the room.

"Sidney, are you ok?" I ask him when we're fully in the room. Sidney just shoots me a look before he picks me up, wrapping my legs around his waist and carrying me to the washing machine. Sitting me on it, he grabs my face roughly in both hands before he kisses me. He starts slow but progressively becomes rougher.

"Baby, stop. What's wrong," I ask when I'm able to pull away from his grasp. Sidney's breathe is heavy, his eyes are as intense as they get during a game.

"I. Want. You. Do you understand me? I may not get everything I want but I sure as hell will make sure I keep you," he gasps. My mouth falls open to his words. This is the first time
I've heard him be this possessive.

"I understand," I nod. " I want you too." A small smile comes across Sid's face before his lips are crashing against mine once again. I sigh into his mouth as I open mine to let his tongue in. A low growl escapes from him while he pulls me painfully close. His hands are grabbing at every curve of my body; they start at my thighs and move up under my dress to grab at my ass. I lean back to get my legs further around his waist as I wrap my arms around his neck. Sidney bites my lower lip before moving to my neck where he bites and sucks aggressively. I pray hickies form. His hands move from my ass to the front of my dress, starting at my stomach then cupping my breast while kisses and sucks at the top of each one.

"Sidney, babe. We have to stop," I groan when I notice a hand at the zipper of my dress. As much as I want to keep going, it would be oddly suspicious that we've been in the basement for more than an hour. Sidney groans against my chest but stops. He gently kisses his way back up to my mouth as I run my hands through his growing, dark locks.

"I'm sorry," Sidney mumbles into my neck. His arms are on either side of me, his body is tense with heat radiating off him. "It's just, family pisses me off sometimes."

"What's wrong?" Sidney lets out a long sigh before he lifts his head. Sad eyes look up at me.

"Nothing we need to worry about ok? I didn't bring you down here to get you all worked up," Sidney smiles while his fingers trace my collarbones. I let out an involuntary shiver. I wish I didn't tell him to stop now.

"Oh? Then what are we doing down here Crosby?"

"I'm going to show you how to shoot a puck," Sidney grins as he pulls away from me. He lifts me off the washer and sets me on the floor.

"I like all the dents and black smudges on the walls.You missed completely over there!" I say pointing to the wall behind the dryer.

" Hey! I was a child! You wanna try?" Sidney asks pointing at a net that's against a wall. "After the dryer got really messed up, my parents just got me a net," he blushes.

" Uh, I don't know," I say hesitantly. "I don't want to look stupid."

"You, my dear, could never look stupid. I'll help you do it." He goes to the net and grabs his stick and a shorter one for me. He sets up the net opposite of the washer and dryer. Grabbing seven or so pucks from a shelf, he dumps them on the floor, collecting the rolling ones back.

" I used this one when I was a teenager," Sidney states when he gives me the shorter stick. I get into the position like I'm going to shoot the puck; curved end pointing to the right. Sidney lays a puck down in front of me and take,well attempt,a slap-shot. It hits the right post.

"Oh! Just missed it. So close but yet so far away," he says laughing.

"shut up just take your shots," I grunt pushing him out of the way.

"Ok, watch a pro, " Sidney smiles playfully at me when he lines up five pucks in a row. He takes a second before he starts firing shots. All of them go in.

"What the fuck? " I whisper. I know he's good, why am I so impressed and slightly turned on? Sidney turns around with a grin, arms spread out cockily. I hate him.

" I told you to watch a pro."

"I know, I know. Why don't you teach me your ways, jedi master."

"Alright, here." He comes behind me and helps me into the shooting position. He puts his left hand on top of my mine at the left end and his right closer to the beginning of the stick.

"Keep your lower body grounded and turn at the hips while bringing your right arm in a little when you bring the stick up," he guides me through the movement a few times before actually shooting the puck. I actually do it on the third time and it goes in. " Fuck yeah! That was awesome!" I exclaiming while jump up and down.

"Good job! You should totally play hockey," he says while putting the sticks away " I should, I would be amazing. Just kidding I'll leave that to the pros."

" That's a good idea. I have more things to show you, it's upstairs," he says reaching for my right hand.

" Wow what else is there?"

" You'll see," he says grinning. He leads us up the stairs to the first floor then to the second. We make a left and we stop. I know where we're going. He opens the door and I freak.

" Oh my gosh it's your room. I might die." It's small just like how mine was but his is covered in hockey posters obviously and awards. He has jerseys hung up on the walls and child things like a stuffed teddy bear wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey. I go over to his desk which is surrounded by medals and pictures of the days when he was in the midgets. Some pics of family are on top of his dresser. I go to all his medals and trophies and read them. Most of them are all first or second place. Then I see one third place.

" What? The fuck is this?" I ask pointing to the third place trophy.

"Oh that, yea not so good. I guess you could consider it a bronze trophy I don't know. My team won that, they let me keep it because I was the captain."

"Always the leader huh? We'll do great things together."

" Sometimes and I hope so. Come sit next to me," he says patting his former twin sized bed. I close the door first and walk over to him. I lie down next to him and just look at him.

" You've come a long way, babe," I say to him.

" I guess I have, huh? I never thought I would ever be in the NHL doing what I love almost everyday. Sometimes I have to pinch myself cause it's so surreal."

"Your family is awesome, you know."

" I know, they're so supportive. Most of the time," Sidney's voice fades out.

"Sometimes they're not?" I ask. I want him to talk about the conversation he had with his parents earlier.

"I mean, only when it comes to romantic partners. I can't say I've dated a lot. Traveling so much and being thrust into the spotlight since I was a kid, it's made me shy and awkward and apprehensive when I think about dating," he admits shyly. I stroke the side of his face lovingly.

"That didn't stop you with me," I smile as I nuzzle the side of his face. Sidney laughs.

"Yes because it was so easy with you. It felt natural, like I didn't have to be something I;m not to impress you. God knows I wanted to impress you but you beat me to it," he chuckles, pulling me closer to him. I rest my head on his shoulder.

"So what does that have to do with your parents?"

"They, particularly my father, are over protective. For good reason. I'm a young guy with millions. Not every girl out there is like you. They just want to make sure that you're not. That's why I was all over you in the basement. They were giving me some fucking bullshit about you being a golddigger and about you tattoos, which by the way, I love."

"Oh, well they can kindly fuck off. I would never be with someone for their money, I have so much more going for me. I want the pride that comes with saying I earned everything I have.You're a big kid, you can make you're own decisions."

"I know and I agree. They're trying though," Sidney murmurs. His hands run up and down my hip, dipping into the curve my waist then back down towards my thighs. I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation.

"Wish I had your parents..." I mumble as his hand creep up my dress.

"Why? Aren't yours supportive? They seem nice," Sidney questions. His fingers play with the hemline of my panties. I shove Sid's hand away— maybe a little too harsh— from my hips.

" Ha!" My laugh is fake and harsh. I have to sit up because the thought of my family, my parents in particular, make me want to throw up.

"What do you mean?" Sidney asks. He remains lying down, his hand rubbing the small of my back.

"They're nice to you because you're not me. Ever since I was younger they've always been on my case. I mean they have their reasons but they don't understand that I'm human. I'm gonna fuck up. That I have issues. That I can't be perfect all the time," I list through gritted teeth. The relationship I have with my parents has always been tumultuous. Foreign parents don't leave much room for forgiveness, especially when you have a problem child like I was. They love to have a competition about who had it harder.

"You have issues?" Sidney asks as he sits up. He wraps his big arms around me, engulfing me in body heat. "What kind of issues? You don't have to talk about it," he says. I take a deep breathe. This is what I was waiting for.

"The kind that land you in a mental hospital for a semester of college so you lie to everyone that you had to take a break for family reasons. The kind that nag at you every fucking day as you pretend to be happy. The kind that make you overthink every little detail at work and in your life that drive you crazy. They kind that make you hurt yourself via cutting or drinking. The kind that make sleeping hard because you wake up in cold sweats and screaming from night terrors. The kind of issues that you go to therapy for and your parents don't want to acknowledge you're hurting because you're siblings are sick as well. The kind where I have to take pills every morning so I can function like a normal person. Those kind of issues." There's silence when I'm done speaking. I turn to look at Sid, whose face is contorted with the look that you give to others who express that they're in pain but they cannot do anything about it.

"I am so sorry," Sidney finally says. He strokes my face as I fight to keep tears from falling.

"You must think I'm crazy, I would. I think."

"No, you're not. What matters is that you're dealing with your anxiety and depression productively and getting help. I'm here for you ok? And I'm sure Morgan is too and all of your friends. I'm not going to leave you unless you want me too. Just please don't ask me to leave," he begs. I throw my arms around him, making him fall back onto the bed.

"I don't want you to leave and thank you for listening," I cry into his neck. He rubs the back of my head in an effort to comfort me.

"I won't and you're welcome. You're my girl, I love you. Nothing is going to change that."

Notes