The Roommate

Sid was up in his room by the time Bri came home. She was stressed out just by the thought of her work changing on her like that. Especially because she was really looking forward to doing what she wanted. She walked up to her room and put her things on her desk. Next was to change her outfit. She grabbed a bite to eat on the way home, hoping Sid wouldn’t notice just how much of a junkie she is.

He could hear her sighing to herself from his room. Clearly she did not have a good day at all. Should I go talk to her, or should I leave her alone? Those were the only questions on Sid’s mind. He toyed with knocking on her door and asking how she was but decided against it. If something's wrong she might come to him.

She went down to the living room and sat on the couch after she opened the bottle of wine she had got on the way home, which gave Sid a cue to go see what was the matter. She looked stressed out and sad, and it broke his heart. “Hey! Your home. How was work?”

“Not too bad, how about you?”

“Wow, it’s not often someone calls hockey my work,” he chuckled. “But it was good. You don’t seem like you had a good day.”

“I didn’t. Want some wine?” she asked, offering him the bottle.

“Sure, why not?” he sat down next to him, took his first swig and decided to dig a little deeper. “What happened to make you have a bad day?”

“My boss changed her mind on a project I was working on, that’s all. Then I had to deal with bratty people after that. Didn’t think I’d come home this late,” she answered with a sigh.

“I was going to suggest going in the hot tub, you interested?”

She thought carefully about her decision. Should she let herself become vulnerable in that way or leave it be? “I don’t think it’s a good idea tonight. I’m not in the mood. I’m bloated as hell,” she laughed.

Sid gave her a confused look, “Uh, why?”

“I had McDonalds because I was hungry and in the mood to emotional eat.”

“So you’re an emotional eater eh?”

“I am actually. My mom could always tell when I was upset because of what I ate and how much.”

“Are you close with your family?”

“Extremely. Me leaving was actually a really hard thing to do. I was crushed to have to leave, but I knew it was what was best for my brand and career. Plus, she gets it. She was married to someone who always had to travel for work.”

“So you never told me, who was your dad?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you or not.”

“Why? I can handle it?”
“It’s not that I don’t think you can’t handle it. It’s I don’t want you to judge me or think I’m someone I’m not.” She hid her face in slight embarrassment, unsure if it was the proper time to tell Sidney about her past and her childhood.

“Well whenever you’re ready to tell me, let me know.” His reassuring smile helped Bri in the moment.

“But yeah, my mom took me leaving pretty good. I was the one who cried the entire way to the border and well over once we crossed,” she giggled.

“I can understand that. My mom was kind of the opposite when I left. I mean, I really haven’t been home since I was 15. I’m home for summers and that’s about it. She felt I was too young and obviously missed me, but she knew I had to in order to live my dream. I’m obviously no parent but I feel like if you know the timing is right, sometimes you have to let them go early.”

“I agree!” Bri responded, feeling a deep connection for Sidney growing over her body. “My dad didn’t want me to leave because he was afraid of me experiencing the real world.”

“If my dad had it his way I would have experienced that when I was 9,” he chuckled. “Kids these days grow up far too fast.” Bri immediately started blushing and it didn’t take Sidney too long to realize it. “What are you getting so bashful about? I thought we were having a genuine conversation?” he laughed at her starting to laugh.

“I’m afraid what you’re going to say when I tell you!”

“Tell me what?” he laughed back.

“My age!” she giggled even harder than she already was. They both had a very playful nature right now and neither of them noticed how much fun the other was having with their company.

“How old are you? 27?” She shook her head quickly. “30?”

She shook her head again and asked, “How old do you think I look!? I’m not 30!”

Sid just laughed at her response, his eyes glazed by the moment they were having. “Then how old are you?”

“Promise you won’t judge?”
“Of course.”

“22.”

His heart sunk. 22!? What!? “You’re not 22.”

“I am. I’ll be 23 in three weeks though.”

“You do not act your age one bit. I can’t believe it.”

“I get that a lot actually.But yeah, 22 turning 23. So I did kind of grow up too quickly too.”

“And you willingly moved countries at the age of 22. That’s absolutely amazing. You must have a strong passion for what you do to make a move like that so soo in life.”

“It’s what I love. I mean, living in Toronto on and off my whole life has made the world of a difference. I’m comfortable with large cities and the excitement that comes with them.”

“So you grew up in Toronto for half of your life?”
“On and off yes. I went to school in Newfoundland at Memorial University-” she was cut off by Sidney nodding, saying “good school,” and continued, “Then I did some work in Boston, spent some time in Vancouver and Nashville.”

“All for the same things?”

“Pretty much. This is my longest contract hands down.”

“So is travelling something you like?”

“Yes and no. I love travelling for the purpose of growing my own blog and the experience of it all. But I don’t like the instability. I know one day when I have a family of my own I won’t have this opportunity so I might as well do it while I’m young. Do you like travelling?”

“I do. It sucks because whenever I do travel I’m there for a job so I can’t really enjoy my surroundings too much. It’s a shame because I’m lucky to go to all these wonderful places. You don’t fully take it in until you leave and realize all you’ve missed. Though it’s different when I play for the Penguins because I go to those cities so much it’s normal for me now. At first it wasn’t. But when I play for Canada and go all over Europe, that’s when it becomes surreal.”

The wine had definitely hit the both of them a little too much than they would have liked. She was acting a little flirtatious towards him, and he didn’t notice through his buzz. Yet he was being just as flirtatious with her.
“22! I can’t believe it!” Sidney yelled again, throwing his head back in disbelief.

“How old are you?” Bri asked, slightly scared.

“27! I feel like a grandpa next to you!”

“We’re only 4 years apart though. That’s not bad,” she giggled, leaning a little bit closer to him. “It sounds a lot worse than it is.”

He was about to reply and lean a little closer but his phone started ringing. He was annoyed the phone rang when it did but it was his mom and he knew he had to answer. That’s when he remembered. His parents were coming to the home opener next weekend.

Notes

Sorry for the bit of a delay, had a very busy week lol

Looks like sparks are flying! Could something happen in the next chapter?

Let me know how you're liking it so far! :)