Hockey Players And How To Fix Them

Charlie had left early to spend the day with Geno.

My head was pounding as I got out of bed. Making my way towards the kitchen, I realized I wasn't the only one suffering from last nights poor choices. Sidney's harsh words and Chelsea's general treatment of my friends was still weighing on me and I began to question whether or not I would actually enjoy this job. Sitting around the small coffee table, Lily, Schechter, and I popped ibuprofen and fell in to a comfortable silence. Charlie spent most of the night with Geno. However when we tried to question her about her night, she avoided giving us any gory details. Slightly annoyed with Schechter's words last night, I ignored him the whole morning. Which wasn't that hard seeing as none of us really wanted to talk. I had to have a conversation with him about this constant need to pimp me out. It was getting out of control and I wasn't sure if I could trust him again in front of the players. Around 11:00 a.m. I started to get ready, Lily worked at night too so she was there to 'help' me get dressed.
"Do you think Charlie is moving a little too fast with Geno?"
Lily frowned a little, "I don't think so. I mean she's never really spent a lot of time with a guy before this but I don't think she's giving out her cookies for free or anything."
Lily was definitely the most sexually active out of us, so maybe asking her about boundaries was ill advised.
"Speaking of cookies I think Sam is trying to hook up with her co-worker."
Lily said to me as she laid on my bed watching me get ready for work.
"Some guy in accounting, I think his name is Will- Are you seriously wearing your hair like that?"
I looked over at her from my place in front of the mirror, "Its just a pony tail, I'm going to work and I need my hair out of my face."
Getting up from her place on the comforter she wove her hands through my hair to form a soft braid.
"Honestly, you are just as pretty as Charlie but you don't even take advantage of it."
"Some of us don't see our physical appearance as our only source of self worth"
Looking at me in the mirror, she huffed. "I'm not trying to make you feel like that. It's just that Schechter and I both see an opportunity that you AND Charlie are wasting."
"Gold digging is not an opportunity."
Slumping back into her original position, she sighed, "Whatever."
Tonight we had a home game against the Dallas Stars and I was grateful that I didn't need to be in the stadium until 1:00. The players had to nap and eat leaving the medical staff with little to no work. I scored an extra ticket for Lily, hopefully making her feel better. Having worked for the Stars before, I was a little apprehensive to see the team again. Selfishly, I just wanted that to show the Penguins that I could go somewhere else if I wanted too. I looked back at the mirror, feeling too lazy to rework my hair into the way it was before.
...
"Oooo do you see that one #19! He's one of the green guys!"
Lily was excited to say the least. Her hope to find a handsome man still fueling her actions.
"He's practically edible! Do you know him?"
I squinted to get a better view, not recognizing him from my intern days.
"No I don't think he was on the team when I worked with them. I think that's Tyler Seguin though."
"Well that's a shame! He would be worth the late hours and small pay if you ask me."
"But I didn't. Now I have a job to do."
Lily stuck out her tongue at me playfully, and then turned her attention to the hockey players. Clapping every so often.
Sitting down in the box next to the other medics and consultants I got my aid kit out and placed it near me just in case. #19 skated through the Penguins' defense and scored, gliding past the box too wink at me. The men who could see what had happened stiffened at the obvious sign of disrespect. Sidney looked over at me, a strange expression on his face. He stepped out to play awhile later. During overtime he struck Tyler with his stick unexpectedly, giving the other player an injury.
Being a home game, one of the medics was required to help the other players. I was told to follow him into the locker room and check on his various scrapes and bruises. After patching up a few lacerations, he started to talk.
"So you're the new team physician this season?"
I nodded, preoccupied with the task at hand.
"I feel bad for you. Having to work with Sid, he can be an ass sometimes."
Reminded of his words about me the other night, I refocused on Tyler's attempts at conversation.
"Oh, really? What's he done to you?"
Tyler looked down, "Well, sometimes his fame gets to his head. Not that I blame him. He really thinks he can get whatever and whoever he wants." I stared up at him, silently encouraging him to continue. "When we were at the Olympics together, I was dating this girl and it was getting pretty serious. When she came up to visit I was planning to propose. I was going to surprise her you know? Be all romantic and waltz into her hotel with a bunch of flowers... But when I opened the door, she was with him."
He didn't need to go into detail; my view of Sidney was already changing. At first I thought he was just socially inept. But apparently he was just a grade a dick. Awkwardly putting my hand on Taylor's shoulder as a source of comfort I said, "I'm sorry."
He put his hand over mine, a look of self-pity crossing his features.
"Like I said before I don't blame him. A guy with that much talent expects better treatment."
I frowned at his words.
"I don't think being rich and famous gives you an excuse to be an ass whole."
He nodded, hand still on mine. Suddenly aware of my proximity I stepped away, grabbing my bag to leave. The game had ended in our favor and my phone buzzed from a group chat including the people from the night before.
Geno: Everyone invited to house for victory party! Bring friends too!
Lily: Can we invite the other team?
Schechter: Yes! To be good sports!
Sidney: I don't know about that...
Sam: Can I bring a coworker?
Geno: Yes! The more the merrier!
Putting my phone back into my pocket I turned back to Tyler who had started to undress as the locker room filled up.
"Would you like to go to a party with me?"
...
Geno's house was beautiful to say the least. The party was held around the pool where alcohol was served to scantily clad women and men.
"This is fantastic! Look at all these men!"
Lily hopped up and down as she scanned the crowd full of hockey players both Penguins and Stars. Schechter came up to our circle, holding rum punch in three cups for us.
"Look at Charlie! Isn't she gorgeous?"
Schechter pointed at our roommate, who was wearing a cover up with bright blue and white swirls on it that brought out her eyes. Her hair was put up in a bun, some slightly fanning out to frame her face. She was talking to Geno animatedly, laughing at something funny he had said.
"Hey isn't that the guy Sam brought along? Will?"
I pointed at the only person wearing slacks at the pool party, a blond-ish man with a set frown on his face. He was hovering around Charlie, looking at her longingly.
"He isn't really a looker is he?"
Schechter said, turning to Lily for info.
"Oh yeah and he seemed really anal."
"So why is Sam interested in him?"
"Hell if I know, he's stacked but she's not the type to be interested in a guy for money."
Schechter looked over at me, eyes glinting mischievously. He left us to go talk to Will and I looked around for Chris hoping to catch him before Sidney came. Not realizing, I bumped into something solid and looked up to find Geno with two cups in his hands.
"Caroline! You have good time?"
I nodded, glancing at the empty containers in his hands. Noticing my scrutiny, Geno explained himself.
"I get drinks for Charlie and I"
"Do you know if Taylor is here yet?"
Geno frowned, "He canceled. Got in a fight after the game."
Disappointment washed over me, he was slightly interesting and admittedly I wanted to know more about Nathan's past.
"Oh, well, thanks anyways"
"No problem. By the way, you look very pretty."
I smiled, walking over towards the bar to refill my cup.
"Here"
I turned to face Sidney with a new cup in his hand. His knuckles looked raw and his lip was slightly swollen.
"Thanks but no thanks."
I said lifting my cup and filling it with more punch. His presence made me a little excited, which annoyed me, and now that I knew more about him I had come to the conclusion that I should avoid him outside of work.
"Listen, I'm sorry about the other night. I didn't know you were there."
"Oh so that makes it better?"
He seemed a little lost, "Well uh no. I'm just trying to say that"
"That you only felt bad you were caught "
"No- No that's not what I'm trying to say that came out wrong."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated.
"It really doesn't matter."
He looked up at me then.
"I know exactly the kind of person you are."
I left him confused at a party for the second time this week, feeling a little better.
...
Schechter had really done it this time. Drunkenly introducing me to Will he said, "Will, meet my room mate Caroline, who is very single. Unlike Charlie, the girl you wanted to talk to."
After giggling a little bit, he left us to converse. I shook Will's hand being polite but not really wanting to talk.
"So you work for the Penguins?"
"Yep."
"I'm going to as well, my friend Mr.Hall got me the job. He's very important over there you know."
I nodded remembering the rude man I had met on my first day. Will continued to gush animatedly over Mr.Hall and his accomplishments. I was barely paying attention as I watched Sidney talk to a few players. Wondering how such a terrible person could look so inviting. Well maybe that's why he can be terrible, I thought. He can easily fool people into thinking he's this nice boy from Nova Scotia.
"Caroline?"
"Huh? What?"
Will looked at me condescendingly, "I was saying how Mr. Hall is the head of the teams operations and how he appointed me as one of the Penguins' new accountant."
I smiled, trying to look interested, "Oh really? How exciting."
"I know." He continued, putting a hand on my knee.
"You know that means I would make double what I already do."
I shrugged away from him, uneasy.
"Uh I don't think you should be doing that. You came here with Sam."
Will smiled.
"She's a nice girl but from the moment I saw you I knew I had to know more."
I cringed internally at his cheesy pick up line.
"I'm not interested."
Will didn't put his hand away though, and out of fear I slapped it off.
"Now, I know some women like to play hard to get, but you can drop the act. You've already got my attention."
"I'm not the type of girl to date a man for his money, especially in spite of his poor manners. Don't fucking touch me again."
Angry and a little scared I rushed towards the crowd, brushing past Sidney. Catching my arm he looked at me with concern, "What happened? You don't look so good."
Tired of men touching me, I snatched my arms away from him.
"I don't need your help."
Schechter and Charlie found me a few minutes later in Geno's kitchen.
"Why don't these players have normal food in their houses?!"
Raiding through the pantry and the fridge for something edible I was left with nothing. Only finding several different kinds of protein powders and kale drinks.
"I think the real question is why did you turn that guy down?" Schechter yelled.
"Were you up to this, did you put him under the impression that I was interested in him?"
Charlie turned to Schechter, "Is that why you came up to talk to him?"
"Originally he was for you."
"But you pawned me off to him because you realized she was too good for him?" I said, a little hurt by the fact that he thought Charlie to be better than me. And angry when I realized it was only because he thought of our physical beauty before anything else.
Schechter, waving his hands around, yelled back.
"Of course! Why else would he come up to you? You put up this fence and no man wants to approach you!"
"Well I'm glad I have a friend like you to pimp me out. Its nice to know I'm only worth something when I have male attention."
"Whoa. That is not what I'm trying to do! You haven't gone out on a date in months-"
I sighed, leaning on the counter. Suddenly exhausted.
"I just don't get why you are so focused on money"
"I- I don't know why it has to be rich men. It's just that... I want to see you happy. You don't even try to look approachable! One day someone will catch your eye and you'll have wished you knew what to do with your self! You'll have to really mind what you say and do then because you wont know how to act around someone you love!"
"Look" I grabbed Schechter's hand, finally understanding his crazy.
"I'm fine being single, okay? And I know somehow you think you're watching out for me but I don't need a sugar daddy."
A door slammed and Sidney appeared in the kitchen, a plate of food in hand. Charlie, being as perceptive as ever, guided Schechter out to the party to leave us alone. Sidney jerked the plate out to me, his eyes silently motioning towards the meal. Slowly, I took the plate. Eyeing him as I ate.
"You shouldn't go out by yourself with men like that."
I peered up at him, noticing the curve of his jaw and the unruly dark tufts of hair that stuck out near the crown of his head. A bruise was forming on his cheek.
"I don't need people telling me what to do. Especially now that I know what you've done-
"What?"
He scowled at me, suddenly defensive.
"Tyler told me all about you-
"Tyler? Tyler Seguin? Oh how good of him to tell you about me."
His fists balled at his side, knuckles turned white.
"You should be ashamed."
"Oh my god" Sidney muttered, anger twisting his features. He stepped to close the space between us, glaring down at me.
"Tyler deserved what he got and if you can't see that then I really misjudged you."
The fury radiating off him was affecting me. And I found that I had trouble finding words when he was so close. I stared up into his eyes, noticing flecks of green as the light bounced off of them.
"What did you think of me before?"
Our noses were nearly touching. His breath fanned out over my face. I should have moved away. I should have made it clear that I was in no way interested in him. I should have lied. But my thoughts became muddled. All I could focus on was him and how badly I wanted this. A vein was popping out of the side of his neck as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. He leaned in and I could smell the minty scent of his after-shave. His eyes focused on my mouth as a hand came up to angle my chin towards him.
"What you doing in my kitchen?"
Geno was standing near the door with a handful of towels in his arms. Nathan quickly stepped away from me to leave, his usual look of annoyance back on his face. I suddenly felt cold from the absence of his presence. Feeling slightly embarrassed at how Geno found us.

Notes