Opal's Boy

Chapter 18

On Friday, Sidney made me an amazing dinner. I was scheduled to leave Saturday afternoon and he had a game that night, so I'd be traveling alone.

"Who taught you this recipe?" I asked in awe as I shoved a potato in my mouth.

He laughed at the sight and shook his head. "Growing up with multiple hockey families has its perks."

I smiled and kept eating, trying to enjoy my last night with him.

After a while, we were cuddled in his bed, watching a movie. It was really just background noise, though.

"Do you know when we'll see each other again?" I asked him as I absentmindedly ran my fingers through his thick black hair.

He looked over at me and sighed. I wasn't going to like his answer.

"We've got a road trip that lasts three weeks. I'll have to check again, but I don't think we'll be stopping in Chicago."

I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder. I really shouldn't have asked.

"We'll see each other again afterwards. It's just part of the business, remember that. You of all people should know how hard it is. You work so closely with the guys in Chicago. You have to hear them talking about relationship strains," he said, trying to make me feel better but actually making me feel worse.

"Yeah, I hear them talking about how great it is to be on the other side of the country so their wives and girlfriends can't catch them when they're cheating."

"You can trust me, Opal." he said seriously, obviously noting how bad cheating bothered me.

I nodded and laid my head on his chest, accidentally falling asleep.

...

"Opal, get up. Its noon."

I groaned and pulled a pillow from the other side of the bed and pressed it to my face. I heard Sidney's deep laugh and suddenly the pillow was from my face and his lips were on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tried to pull him closer. I felt his limbs go out as he fell on top of me with an "oomph".

I laughed and pushed him to the other side of the bed, sitting up and leaning my bare back against the backboard.

"Sid?" I barely mumbled as he pulled on a shirt.

He turned towards me, eyebrows raised.

"Would you be mad if I stayed in Chicago?"

He chewed the inside of his lip and sat on the edge of the bed. He'd been waiting for this question, but I could tell he didn't have an answer.

"There's no right way to answer that, Opal. You know I'd love for you to stay in Pittsburgh, but if Chicago is where you feel right, stay in Chicago."

I stood up and started pacing. "Stop saying that! If you want me here, tell me! If you want me to go to Chicago so we can break up, tell me! Don't just sit there and act like you're above all of this! Help me! Fight for me!" I screamed.

He looked at me, his face full of concern and confusion. He took a step towards me but thought better and stood his ground.

"Opal, what are you talking about? Why would I want to break up with you?"

"If I go back to Chicago to stay, it's pretty much guaranteed we're over! Just say it, Sidney. Quit leading me on." I fell back on the wall and let my eyes close.

"I don't know who put that idea in your head, but that's not how relationships work. I'm not going to break up with you just because we live in different states. I keep telling you to decide because its not my decision to make. If you stay here because of me, you'll just be missing Patrick. If you go back to Chicago, you'll miss me. You need to decide for yourself what situation is better for your life. I'm not going to help you with this, Opal. If you don't like that, sorry, but it's up to you. It's your turn."

...

I was met at the airport with an extremely happy Patrick Kane. Ignoring the bouts of people surrounding him, he ran straight towards me, picking me up and swirling me around like we were on a movie. He finally placed me back on my feet and kissed my forehead.

"Holy shit I've missed you Ope."

I wrapped my arm around his waist and pulled him towards the door. "I've missed you too Kaner."

Arriving home was like walking into a party. The entire Blackhawks team was there, dancing and having a good time. I tried to search through the crowd for Veda, but was spotted by the captain before that happened.

"OPAL!" He shouted, making the whole team turn my way.

I was soon pulled into the sea of hockey players. They passed me around, hugging me and telling me how much I was missed. It made me feel guilty. I'd made somewhat of a decision on the airplane on where I was going to work. That's why I needed to talk to Veda, not walk into a party.

So instead of moping, I joined the party. I got drunk off my ass and ended up in my bedroom with Patrick.

"How was Pittsburgh?" He asked, fully sober.

"Good, those girls are sooooo nasty," I slurred.

"Nasty, eh?"

"C'mere," I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him towards me so I could whisper in his ear.

"The athletic trainers give some of the guys blowjobs before big games," I whispered.

He pulled back and looked at me with wide eyes. "Why can't you guys do that?"

I hit his shoulder and fell back into my mountain of pillows.

"Pat?"

"Right here, Ope."

"I like Pittsburgh. I really like being with Sidney. The players there are great. I think I need a fresh start." That wasn't supposed to come out. Especially when I was drunk.

Silence.

"Patrick?" I rolled over and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, his back turned towards me.

"Hey," I reached over and touched his back but he stood up and walked to the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Opal."