offsetting minors | s. crosby

I'm not asking you to marry me

I wake up on the couch the next morning sweating profusely because it feels like a personal radiator has taken up a permanent residency next to me. Last night, the two of us had been too eager to even make it to the bed, and afterwards, we were both so exhausted that we ended up collapsing into each other right there on the couch, unable to move. 

Surveying the situation at hand, I discover that Sidney has intertwined his body with mine due to the limited amount of space and we're a tangled mess of very naked limbs. Immediately, I regret the events that transpired because it's 5 A.M, my alarm is already going off, and I'd gotten fewer than four hours of sleep.

Sidney groans at the interruption to his sleep. Ultimately, it's a good thing that I have to get out of here so soon to go to the hospital because I'm not sure how this conversation is going to play out and at least this way I can divert it to later on. The sex was great- undisputedly the best I've ever had, though the list to compare it to is admittedly short and unimpressive. But Sidney proved last night that he was the exact opposite of unimpressive, and as soon as I move to untangle myself from him and leave the couch, I feel the effects of last night and find that I'm sore in places that I didn't even know could be sore.

I pick his heavy arm up from where it's draped across my waist and try to stealthily climb over him to get dressed. But to my dismay, his grip tightens and he's pulling me down so that I fall on top of him ungracefully. "Nope. Sun's not even up. You're not going anywhere."

"I have a job, Sidney. Doctor, remember? Dying patients to see, world to save and all of that."

"Call in sick. Didn't you say you weren't feeling great yesterday anyway?"

I roll my eyes, but the impish grin on his lips tells me that he's not serious. "No. Today's important, we're going to come up with a plan to remove Justin's tumor and see if we can get him into surgery by the end of the week. If I want a chance to even think about scrubbing in on it, I have to make a good impression today and I don't think that showing up late because the man I slept with last night won't let me out of bed is a great way to prove myself."

He lets me go, albeit with a dramatic sigh. "Alright, but I want to hear about Justin later. I can't stop by because we have the game tonight, but I'll still see both of you guys there later right? If you come to the arena around  5 Justin can come down to the locker room and see the rest of the guys."

I get up and head to my bedroom to hunt for an acceptable outfit, and Sidney follows me, stopping to slip on his boxers that had ended up under the coffee table. I pull on a black long sleeved shirt that I can throw my scrub top over and a pair of jeans. "Yep, we'll be there. Dr. Roberts told me that he thinks this is a good thing. Justin's headaches aren't as frequent anymore since they've put him on some pretty intense meds, but all the drugs are taking a lot out of him and he doesn't have much to look forward to these days. He's so excited to leave the hospital for once, and Dr. Roberts thinks this might give him a reason to keep fighting. So really, thank you."

The smile on Sidney's face is genuine and it makes me wish that we were still entangled on my small couch. "The guys are all excited too. I'm telling you, it's way too easy to fall in love with that kid."

"I know. I've known him for a day and he's already got me wrapped around his finger. I'm even going to sit through a hockey game for him." I'm teasing him and he knows it, but he sends me a playful glare anyway.

"Hey, watch it. The guy you had mind-blowing sex with last night might take offense to that."

"The guy I had mind-blowing sex with last night should get moving before he makes me late for rounds." I begin to push him towards the door. Sidney stops in the living room and makes a hasty job of pulling on his wrinkled clothes. I don't pretend to hide my stare as he leans over to pull on his jeans, and it's certainly a pleasant sight. He's definitely showing all the signs of what went down last night, but he doesn't have anywhere to be until his morning skate in a few hours and it's not like he has anyone to impress on the way home.