I finally get back to Pittsburgh after a few weeks completely exhausted. I use my key and walk through the door.
“Thank god I’m home.” I say to myself. I hear Sidney in the kitchen and leave all my stuff in the doorway in a heap. “Honey I’m home,” I yell out. He comes around the corner with a huge smile on his face.

“I didn’t know you were coming home today,” he says hugging. I melt in his arms and take in his familiar smell. He has his suit on and I forget it’s game day. “I would stop and talk but I’m going to be late, are you coming to the game?” he asks.

“Yeah, if you want me sleeping in the stands,” I say yawning. He laughs and kisses my head.

“Good luck,” I say hugging him. He leaves and I shower and put on my comfiest pjs. I go down to the down to the den and see Rocky in his tank. I take the lid off and take him out.
“Hi baby, mommy missed you.” I coo to him. I was surprised at how large he had gotten over such a short period of time. I take him over the couch and we watch the game together. I feel myself getting tired so I put him back in his tank and I grab a blanket and curl back up on the couch.
I don’t know what time it is when Sidney comes in, but I wake up to someone pushing my hair behind my ear. I open my eyes and he’s crouching in front of me.

“Did you win?” I ask groggily.

“Lost 5-3 unfortunately.”

“That sucks.” I reply. He picks me up and carries me to the bedroom. He sets me down and pulls the covers over me. I hear him get undressed and then crawl in bed. He pulls me close to him and starts kissing my neck and jaw.

“You better not have an end game,” I say warningly.

“It’s been six weeks Phoenix,” he says almost whining.

“You’ll have to wait an extra week. It’s shark week.” It takes him awhile to get the reference.

“You call your period shark week?” I nod and he sighs exasperatedly. “Make that two extra weeks. I leave for a road trip tomorrow.” I burst out laughing and he looks at me confused.

“The universe really doesn’t want us to have sex.” We both start laughing.

“I’m happy I get to see you though, even if’s only for 12 hours.” He tells me about hockey and I slowly fall asleep.

---

“You’d be so proud of me. I did a baby shower and a bar mitzvah,” Natalia says proudly the next day. She came over to help me unpack and catch up.

“Look at you establishing yourself. I’m very proud,” I reply.

“So how excited are you Olympics are over? Now we can plan your wedding! I brought your wedding binder!” she says excitedly, lifting I gigantic binder onto the table.

“Ugh oh yeah, the wedding,” I say dreadfully.

“Why don’t you sound excited? It’s your wedding.”

“Sidney is the one that wants a wedding. My dream wedding is going to City Hall and getting it done in under fifteen minutes,” I reply.

“I forgot how much of a hopeless romantic you are,” she says, rolling her eyes.

“That’s why I’m excited you’re here, so you can put you input on flowers and stuff like that.”

“Fine, but I’m not doing everything. I will pick final options for everything and you will pick from those options.”

“K deal.” I say smiling.

“Okay where are you guys having the ceremony?”

“In Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. I was thinking ceremony at like sunset and then reception at night with lots of those string lights.”

“Ooh very nice,” she nods approvingly. “And you’re having it in July?”

“Yeah. The offseason is the only time we can have it.” I reply. We go over all the big details and I’m happy I have Natalia doing this for me because she makes it kind of fun. We drink wine and watch the Penguins beat the Cauncks that night.


The next two weeks follow a similar pattern and finally the day Sidney comes home arrives. He walks through the door and into the kitchen and I continue cleaning. He clears his throat and I look him.

“Oh hey,” I say casually and continue to clean.

“That’s it,” he says. I see him run towards me and I try to run away. He easily catches me up and bear hugs me. He starts tickling me and I scream out.

“Okay I’m sorry! Sidney stop!” I laugh and he finally stops.

“Nice to see you too babe,” he says smiling. I waltz back towards him and peck him on the lips.

“I missed you,” I lean in to kiss him and I soon get lost in it. Sidney’s hand creep under my shirt and I pull away.

“Before that thought I have to run an errand,” I say breathlessly.

“Are you kidding me Phoenix?” he asks in disbelief.

“Natalia left her phone. It’s her lifeline. We just have to drop it off. It’ll be quick I promise.” He signs and follows me to the garage. We take my jeep and soon get to Carl’s place. We head upstairs and I use my old key to get in. We walk in only to find Natalia naked on top of Carl on the couch.

“OH MY GOD!” I yell covering my eyes. I hear scrambling and the scene I just witnessed is officially burned in my brain.

“What are you doing here?!” Carl yells.

“I CAN’T UNSEE WHAT I JUST SAW. WHAT HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!” I yell louder. Sidney taps my shoulder and I uncover my eyes. Natalia has a blanket covering her and Carl has a throw pillow shielding himself.

“It’s not what it looks like. Okay actually it is what it looks like but it’s not what you think?” he discloses.

“What it looks like is my best friend and my brother screwing behind my back, am I wrong?” They both fall silent. “How long has this been going on?” I ask angrily.

“Since after the Olympics,” he admits.

“It’s been two fucking months and I’m just finding out about this now? Ugh I can still see it,” I say revolted.

“It’s not like we’re just screwing around. It’s serious.”

“Yeah Phoenix, we just didn’t tell you because we knew you had a lot going on. We didn’t mean to ambush you like this,” Natalia says sympathetically. Without another word I put Natalia’s phone down on the counter and leave. I unlock the vehicle and finally Sidney catches up. I start driving, trying to erase the picture that’s burned in my skull.

“I think you’re being a little hard on them,” Sidney says after awhile.

“They both lied to me about it,” I say irritated.

“Didn’t you do the same thing to Carl with McDonaugh?” he asks cautiously.

“Whose side are you on? Carl knows Natalia is my only female friend plus Carl didn’t have to walk in on it.” I stop at a red light and look over at Sidney. “How much did you see?” I ask suspiciously. He turns bright red and I roll my eyes.

“That’s just great,” I mumble.

“It’s not like I wanted to. Plus it’s not as big of deal. I see Carl naked all the time,” he says trying to make the situation lighter.

“Ugh I just saw it again. I seriously need to wash my brain with bleach.”

“Don’t you want the best for both of them? Maybe that best is them being together.” Sidney had a point. If they were happy then I should be happy for them. We get home and I head to the kitchen.

“By the way Mr. mediator, if you think I’m going to have sex with you after witnessing that, you’re surely mistaken.” He throws his head back and sighs.

Notes

Two chapters in one day. Yay for weekends!