Sidney’s house was filled with his teammates who could make it, their wives and families, his family and my older sister and her fiance. I floated through the crowd, losing Sidney to a game of flip cup in the garage. I smiled to some of the people invited. Honestly, I didn’t know everyone here, and honestly, the only thing on my mind was the pink slip that, as far as I knew, was buried in one of the drawers in the kitchen.
“Jesus, Van, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Kris Letang spoke as he stood in front of me.
“Shit, Kris.” I mumbled, jumping slightly. “Aren’t you supposed to be babysitting my boyfriend?” I joked.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with him enjoying this?” Kris retorted.
“Yeah, I just-” I paused. “I lost my job and that’s the only thing I can focus on right now and I know I should be enjoying this party, but god, I don’t have a job.” I rambled to Kris.
“Sid told me. Everything happens for a reason. Just focus on tonight. You, Catherine and Vero did too much to not enjoy this party. Tomorrow, you can worry about your job.” Kris explained. “For now, please go find your boyfriend before he drunkenly wanders off the edge of the dock.”
“Thank you, Kris.” I laughed, giving him a light hug.
I walked through the kitchen, taking a beer from the cooler and walked outside on the back deck. I looked out into the night and saw a figure standing on the pier. His muscles were so prominent in the henley he chose to wear and I could tell it was him by his stance. Hands tucked into his pockets, head focused on whatever was ahead, never behind. I smiled to myself, holding my beer tightly and running down the steps.
I waved to people who called out my name, trying to drag me into their conversations. I ignored them, trotting through the grass, making my way to Sidney.
“Hey, handsome.” I whispered as I walked behind him, slipping my arm through his and wrapping it around his waist. Sidney looked down and smiled widely.
“Hi, beautiful.” He winked, leaning into to give me a delicate kiss. I blushed and giggled against his lips. Sidney was so drunk and I could taste the booze on his lips.
“You’re so drunk.” I laughed, kissing him once more.
“You’re so beautiful.” He whispered, kissing me again. I sighed contently and curled into his chest.
Sidney wrapped his arms over me protectively, warming me up from the cold Cole Harbour night, and keeping me close to his body. I let one of my hands reach over and grip his large bicep, tapping it lightly.
“This is the best birthday in a while.” Sidney whispered.
“Yeah?” I hummed, looking up and kissing up his jawline. Sidney smiled and let go of me, placing his hands on my cheeks instead to cup them.
“I love you, Savannah. I fucking love everything about you from your blonde hair, to your laugh, to the amazing blowjobs you give me. I love you and you made this birthday absolutely amazing. I don’t ever want to spend a birthday away from you.”
“I love you, Sid.” I responded, at a total loss for words.
“I want you to move to Pittsburgh with me.”
“Babe,” I started.
“No, listen to me, please.” He whimpered, reaching for my hands. “I may be drunk, but I love you and I want you to be with me every single day. It’s hard enough not having you over everyday and knowing that you’re going home to your house all alone. I want to fall asleep and wake up with you every day until I die.” Sidney confessed. I felt tears welling in my eyes as I reached up and kissed him deeply, balling his shirt in my fists.
“I will do anything you want me to if it means I get to be with you forever.” I promised, letting him hold me tightly against his chest.
“Hey, guys, wanna do cake?” Kris asked a he stepped on the dock.
“Yeah, let’s go.” I smiled, taking Sidney’s hand in mine, leading him to the backyard.
A table had been brought out to the yard and a large cake sat in the middle of it. Sidney pulled me close to him as his friends and family began singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ The candles casted a warm glow on his face and as I obnoxiously held out a note. Sidney looked down to smile at me and I burst out laughing.
“Make a wish!” I cheered as Sid leaned over to blow out the candles. His hands rested on my hips and he left a kiss on my cheek once the candles were all blown out.
“I wished for you.” Sidney laughed as I handed him the knife to cut the cake.

---

Later that night, Sidney laid across the couch while I tried to clean as much of the party up as I could. I ended up giving up and joining him on the couch. I curled into his chest and watched as he opened his eyes to peer at me.
“Can I help you?” He asked, laughing and giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
“No, I just want to be impossibly close to you.” I giggled. Sidney rolled his eyes and pulled me close. One of his hands traced over my skin, leaving goosebumps in it’s wake.
“You know, I do remember every single thing I said to you earlier. I’m not that much of a drunk.” Sidney whispered. I looked at him and scrunched my nose jokingly. He nudged me and tried to regain his focus.
“I love you, Savannah. I do really want you to come with me to Pittsburgh. We said we’d take it slow, but I want to go fast and just see where we go. Please?” Sidney asked.
“I’ll go with you.” I whispered against his lips, leaning into kiss him deeply.
Sidney cupped my face, deepening the kiss and opening his mouth to let my tongue slip in. I lifted one leg, straddling him and draped my arms over his shoulders. Sidney’s calloused hands still rested on my hips, slowly pushing up my shirt. His thumbs ran over my hip bones as I pulled away from my mouth and began leaving kisses down his jawline and neck. Sidney groaned, dropping his head to rest on the back of the couch, giving me more room.
“Babe, let’s go upstairs.” he whispered, pleading almost. I sighed and crawled off of him, letting him stand up.
“Sid-” I spoke up, pulling on his hand before he walked away. “Happy birthday, and I hope that I never spend another birthday away from you.
“I love you.” Sidney smiled and pulled me to my feet. I kissed him once more and let go of his hand, running up the stairs.
I heard his heavy footsteps follow me as the two of us laughed. I made it to the bedroom first, throwing myself down on the comforter as Sidney came in shortly after. He made it look as if he would jump on top of me, but landed to the side of me. The force of his body landing on the bed made me go airborne and burst into a fit of giggles. Sidney laughed so hard he made himself snort. As much as I wanted to reach over and just make out until the night became the morning, I was enjoying his laugh to do anything to stop it.
“Sid, Sid-” I breathed out, trying to catch my breath. Sidney was still balled up laughing his ass off and hitting him with a pillow only made him laugh harder.
“I swear if you piss on this bed I’m gonna murder you.” I said through my own laughs. Sidney went to get the pillow to throw it at me but ended up rolling off the bed and landing on the floor. I screeched, totally losing any composure. By now it hurt to laugh and Sidney clearly learned his lesson.
“Ow, okay, okay.” He smiled, standing up and climbing back on the bed. “Van, shut the hell up.” He joked, leaning over to shut me up with a kiss. The lack of oxygen made it easy for me to calm down as I melted into the kiss.
“Can I get back to making sweet love to you now?” Sidney asked, kissing my forehead. I nodded and sat up, bending my legs and watching Sidney do the same. He pulled off his shirt, leaned in to kiss me and cupped my cheek. I brought my hand to the back of his head and tangled my fingers in his dark curls. I let my other hand reach for his toned biceps and squeeze tightly.
Sidney pulled away first, but left chaste kisses on my swollen lips before getting off the bed and dimming the lights and turning on the electric fireplace. He stripped the form fitting henley I wanted to rip off all night and stood in the tight khakis. Feeling too clothed, I peeled off the black dress I wore and revealed the matching lingerie set I bought for his birthday.
“Babe,” He said in a shallow breath of air. He sauntered over to the bed and carefully undid his belt.
I pushed myself up against the pillows and watched his every mood. His large hands worked delicately as hs undid the belt and slid it through every belt loop. He unbuttoned his pants next, taking his time to unzip them and slide them off. By the time he was just standing in his boxers, I was salivating and beyond impatient. Sidney reached for my ankles and pulled me towards the edge of the bed and planked above me, his large arms resting by my head.
“Sidney Patrick Crosby, I love you.” I whispered as the glow of the fire illuminated his frame. He dipped his head to my chest and left kisses along the lace lining of my bra. I inhaled deeply, running my hands over his muscular, yet smooth, back. I wanted let him lift me up to undo the bra and slide it off my body.
Almost instantly, Sidney pulled me flush against his chest and began kissing my shoulders and neck, occasionally leaving marks. I moaned lightly and tangled my fingers into his curls. He laid me down on the bed, kissing down my chest and to the underwear I wore. He pulled it off slowly, almost teasingly and pulled all the way till it dropped off my ankles. I gasped as he kissed from my ankles up to my core. Rather than giving me what I wanted, he paused to peel away his boxers and slowly rub his cock until he was hard enough to slide into me.
“Shit, babe.” He grunted, meeting my lips and kissing me hungrily.
Our bodies worked in sync as we both built our orgasms. While my core spazzed and tightened around Sidney’s, he carefully and reluctantly pulled out of me due to not having a condom and released across my chest. I let myself come down and relax into the bed as Sidney left to get me a towel.
“I fucking love you.” I whispered as he wiped his come off me. Sidney laughed and kissed my forehead before tossing the towel into the laundry basket. He stopped at his dresser, getting a pair of boxers and a shirt for him, and a shirt for me. He dressed me carefully before pulling on his own clothes and crawling into bed next to me. I sighed contently and kissed his cheek.
“Best birthday ever babe, I love you.”
“Love you more. I can’t wait for Pittsburgh.”

Notes