Hockey One Shots

#11. Jake Guentzel

You walked through the concourse of PPG Paints Arena trying to find the suite with all of the Penguin's WAGS.  It was your 21st birthday but your boyfriend, Sidney Crosby, had a game that night.  You wanted to celebrate your birthday, but you knew playoffs were coming and you knew that Sidney needed to focus so you didn't push anything birthday related.  You wanted to wait and see what his mood would be like after the game and then you would try and see if going out was an option.
You walked into the crowded suite seeing kids running around everywhere and a ton of women scattered about chatting with each other.  You spotted Kayla Dumoulin and walked towards her.
"Oh my god, Y/N!" She gushed as she wrapped her arms around you.
"Happy Birthday!" She smiled.
"Thank you, Kayla." You replied as you picked up a bottle of water and walked towards an empty set of seats.
"We are all going out after the game for your birthday, I'll tell everyone." She said.
"Let me talk to Sidney first." You said.
"How are things with him?" She asked lowering her voice.
You often confided in Kayla, so when you and Sidney began having problems, she was the first person you went to.  You let out a loud sigh.  You were suddenly unsure how to answer her question because you honestly didn't know how your relationship with him was.
"So...we have good days and really really bad days.  The bad days have become more frequent, it's like he's pushing me away. I can't describe it.  It's just like I'm a burden to him sometimes I guess..." You said trailing off.
"Well I don't care what he has to say tonight.  You're coming out and that's final." She smirked.
"I'm sure things with him will get better, you guys have been together forever!" She added.
You looked down on the ice and watched him skate around for warm ups.  What Kayla just said was the entire problem.  You and Sidney had been together for so long that it felt like he wasn't in love with you, but in love with the idea of having you as a trophy on his arm. You had experienced everything with Sidney so you knew how to handle the media and how to handle fans.  You knew how important Sidney's clean reputation was to him and you did everything you possibly could to keep it that way. Sidney used to light up when you walked in the room, now he hardly even looked at you; that sparkle in his eye when he saw you was gone.
You watched the game intently as you sat next to Kayla.  The Penguins were playing the Flyers and Sidney hated them with a passion.  You were so nervous, knowing Sid's past with this team.  The game was relatively calm and very little fighting went on which you were thankful for.  However, the Flyer's won 3-2, you knew Sidney would be less than pleased and your heart broke for him. 
You walked with Kayla down to the family lounge to wait for the guys to come out of the locker room.  I was bouncing my leg anxiously waiting for Sidney, unsure of what sort of mood he would be in.  Would he suppress his anger from losing so you could have a good birthday?  Or would he forget all about your birthday so he could go home and sulk.  
"Don't worry, Y/N.  I'm sure he'll just want to celebrate your birthday.  He loves you!" Kayla said practically reading your mind.
The locker room door opened as the first few guys walked out towards their families.  Jake Guentzel walked out with  to Brian Dumoulin close behind.  Jake scored a goal tonight and you were so happy for him.  Jake had always been one of your best friends on the team.  He always came to you for advice and you did the same with him.  At team functions, Sidney often had to constantly mingle with a ton of different people and when it became overwhelming, Jake was there to calm you down.  Jake supported you through so much and was such an incredible man. He knew you and Sidney were having problems lately, so he often would check up on you when he saw you.
Jake and Brian walked towards you.  Kayla quickly pulled Brian into her arms in a tight embrace and she began whispering into his ear about the game.
"Jake, you played so well!" You said as you wrapped your arms around him tightly.
"Thank you.  Happy Birthday." He replied.
"Thanks Jake.  I'm sorry you lost." You said pulling back from the hug but allowing your hand to linger on his arm.
"It's okay." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Besides, I'll forget all about it tonight when we're drunk for your birthday." He added with a smirk.
You smiled, still unsure of whether or not Sidney would want to go out or not. 
"Oh, before I forget...." He said reaching into his pocket.
He pulled out a puck with the date written on a piece of white tape wrapped around the side.
"Since it was your birthday." He said handing me the puck.
"Giving the captain's girl a puck? That's dangerous territory, man." Brian joked.
"Jake, I can't accept this.  You scored that goal on your own, it being my birthday didn't have anything to do with it." You said trying to give him the puck back.
He shook his head.
"I thought of you as soon as I scored.  You should keep it." He explained with a smile.
You pulled Jake in for another hug.
"You are the best." You smiled against him as you felt his arms grip you tightly into him.  
You seriously had so much respect for Jake and cared for him so deeply.  While a puck might seem like nothing, this gift meant so much.  It was the thought behind it.  It was the fact that as soon as the puck went in the net, his mind was on you.
You heard someone cough behind you so you both quickly turned to see Sidney standing there looking pissed.  You were suddenly realizing how bad it looked that Jake had his arms wrapped tightly around your waist.
"Hands off, Guentzel." Sidney said and Jake removed his hands from your body and stuffed them in his pockets.
Sidney walked towards you and you tried to gage what sort of mood he was in.
"What's this?" He asked as he took the puck from your hand, being incredibly rude.
"Oh, Jake gave it to me since it was my birthday, it's from his goal.  Wasn't that so nice, Sidney?" You said trying to remind him that it was in fact your birthday and he shouldn't overreact. 
Sidney chuckled and held the puck in his hand.
"You wouldn't have even scored that goal had it not been for the pass I sent you. Stay away from her." He said gesturing to you and handing the puck back to Jake.
You said Jake an apologetic look from behind Sidney and he walked away.
"Sidney..." You said upset with how he handled the situation.
"He's my friend." You urged.
"I don't care.  You're my girl and he doesn't need to be giving you stuff like that." He said.
You sighed.
"Come on, let's go home." He said taking your hand.  
Before he could begin pulling you in the direction of the door.
"Crosby, I know you're not about to deny this girl of going out for her 21st." Kayla warned walking in front of him.
He turned around to look back at you and all you did was smile trying your best to convince him you wanted to go out tonight, without coming out and saying it.
"We can go for a little." He agreed reluctantly.
"Thank you." You said so only he could hear.
"We'll all just meet there, yeah?" Kayla asked.
You nodded your head.
"Great, I'll invite everyone." She said motioning towards the room full of players and their families.
Sidney walked with you towards the parking lot in silence.  Once you were both in the car you thought he would say something but he didn't. The silence became uncomfortable; you had to say something.
"Okay, just so I know what I'm dealing with here, are you mad about the game or is it the Jake thing?" You asked trying to make sense of the situation.
"Both.  You have no idea how crushing it was to lose that game, and then when all I wanted was to just go home; I walk out to find you in my teammate's arms, what if there would have been cameras around? What would people think?  And now I have to go to some crowded bar." He said coldly.
Sidney never yelled, but you had only seen him this angry a handful of times.
"Sidney, I'm sorry." You said reaching to touch his bicep.
He pulled his arm back from your reach.
"Please, just give me a little to cool down." He said in the same tone as earlier.
It broke your heart hearing his words.  When he told Jake to stay away from you, you thought it was him being protective of you; turns out it was him trying to protect his own reputation. The fact that he didn't even want you to touch him killed you.  Sidney used to crave your touch, it used to be what kept him sane and now it was something he pulled away from. 
"We're staying for one drink and leaving, I don't need people seeing me in a bar." He said pulling you from your thoughts.
You nodded your head knowing better than to argue.
"You played really well tonight, honey." You said trying to shift the conversation and put on a happy face even though you were dying inside.
"I still have a lot to work on, I hate that team." He replied with a groan.
"You looked good out there, don't worry about them." You said unsure of how to comfort him when he was like this.
Finally, you pulled up to the bar.  You and Sidney headed in and walked towards the VIP area, you settled in and waited for everyone to arrive.  You had one drink while you waited and Sidney seemed very on edge.
"Are you okay?" You asked placing a hand on his arm.
"Just don't want anyone to see me.  If we're with the team it's different, but if it's just us, it could look bad." He explained.
You nodded your head as you felt your heart break again.  He couldn't let you have this one night, it always had to be about him.  You understood that Sidney needed to be careful, but him being in a bar with his girlfriend and friends was just so harmless.
"Y/N! Happy Birthday!" Anna, Geno's wife, said coming up to you pulling you from your thoughts.
"Thank you." You smiled hugging her.
"Why are you not drinking?" She laughed realizing you were not holding a drink in your hand.
She pulled you up out of your seat and lead you to the bar.  You both ordered drinks and walked back over to where your men were sitting.  More people from the team had begun to arrive.  Everyone insisting on buying you drinks. 
You were very intoxicated after the last few rounds of shots you did with a very persistent Geno You were standing at the bar, chatting with Kris Letang's wife Catherine when Sidney came up behind you.
"We need to leave." He whispered in your ear.
Maybe it was the alcohol flowing through you, but you weren't going anywhere.
"No." You whispered back. 
"What?" he asked confused..
In the 3 years of being with him, not once had you said no to him.  
"I said no Sidney.  I'm staying." You explained.
He was shocked.  Catherine was standing next to you unsure of what to do as well.
"You're just drunk.  Come on, Y/N, let me take you home." He said reaching for your arm.
You pulled your arm back before he could touch it.
"No, Sidney." You repeated.
Sidney studied your face, unsure of what exactly you were doing.
"Sidney, not once, has our relationship been about me.  It is always constantly about you!  I get that hockey is your life, but where do I fit into that?  Sidney, you were literally trying to make my birthday, the one day out of the year that should be about me, about you.  You have controlled everywhere I've gone, everything I've done, everyone I've talked to for the past 3 years and I'm done.  You don't even love me anymore!  How could you love me when you never let me be myself?  I'm done with this relationship!" You said causing all of your friends to turn and look at you.
"Keep your voice down, I don't want people to hear you!  You're acting crazy!" Sidney seethed with his jaw clenched suddenly very aware of all of the eyes on you.
You couldn't believe him.  You had poured your heart out, even going as far as accusing him of not loving you, and he was still worried about his reputation.  You were so hurt and so embarrassed.  
You quickly turned on your heel, wanting to be far away from Sidney as possible.  You walked through the club trying to find an exit.  You could hear your name being yelled in the background trying to get you to come back, but you ignored it.  You walked as fast as you could until you found the entrance of the club. 
You walked straight out the door, allowing the frigid Pittsburgh air engulf your body.  You remembered that you had left your jacket at the bar and instantly regretted it.  You walked down the street finding a small coffee shop, you walked in and sat down in the back burying your head in your hands.  You stayed like that for a few minutes until you heard someone enter the coffee shop.  You looked up and your eyes met Jake's piercing blue eyes.  He looked upset as he walked towards you; quickly pulling you into his arms.
"Thank god." He whispered as he held you.
"I was so worried about you!" He said keeping you in his arms.
"I'm sorry, I just needed to get away from Sidney..." You trailed off unsure if Jake had heard what you and Sidney had said to each other at the bar.
Jake sat down in the seat next to you.
"He doesn't deserve you, Y/N.  He never has." Jake said. 
You looked up at Jake with glossy eyes, your tears threatening to fall at anytime.
"Y/N, do you understand how much it has killed me to see how he treats you?  Do you understand how anytime I hear him say something hurtful towards you, it takes everything in me not to just punch him right in the mouth?  Y/N, he doesn't take care of you.  You give him so much of yourself and he doesn't return the favor." Jake said.
His words struck a nerve in you and your tears were freely flowing down your cheeks at this point.
"Sidney is the captain and he's very important in the hockey world.  He doesn't have time to worry about me." You said sadly.
"Y/N, leave him.  You could have any guy you wanted, why are you wasting your time on someone like him?" Jake asked.
"I don't know Jake..." You said as the tears became more intense.
Your entire body was shaking as the sobs wrecked through you.  Jake immediately stood up and moved to the chair next to you pulling you into his chest.
"Jake, I'm sorry about what Sidney said to you after the game.  Your goal was beautiful." You said remembering what Sidney said to Jake about his goal.
He chuckled.
"You're incredible.  You're literally having a mental breakdown in Starbucks but you're concerned about how I felt a few hours ago?  I can't believe how stupid Sidney is for not seeing how amazing you are." He said.
"I just can't believe he didn't come after me.  I don't think he loves me anymore..." You breathed out.
"I love you." Jake said looking into your eyes.
"Jake..." You said unsure of where this was going.
"No, listen to me Y/N, I have been in love with you since the moment I met you.  You are so beautiful, literally when you smile it feels like my heart is going to stop.  I cannot believe that Sidney doesn't see it.  You are so incredible; you would do anything for anyone.  You have a heart of gold and an amazing soul.  When I first met you, you were so happy and care-free, I had to watch that girl slowly disappear as Sidney brought you down.  Let me be the one to bring that same sweet, happy girl back.  Let me show you how you deserve to be treated." He said.
You were shocked.  You had feelings for Jake at first but you had to forget about them because of Sidney.
"Jake, Sidney's your captain..." You said unsure if he knew what he was getting himself into.
"I don't give a fuck about Crosby.  Let me make you happy, let me do what he isn't.  Give me a chance, please."  He begged.
He reached into this coat pocket and pulled out the same puck he tried to give you after the game.  He placed it into your hands and looked deeply into your eyes.
"Please." He repeated.
"Jake, I liked you at first but I don't know now with Sidney.  I don't want to complicate things for you on the ice...  I don't know what to do, I don't know where to go.  Literally, everything I own is at Sidney's house...." You trailed off.
"Let me worry about all of that.  Just let me take care of you. Let me support you." He said with glossy eyes.
You looked into his beautiful blue eyes and could see how much he loved you.  You remembered so many things you had done with him, all of the times he was there for you, all the tears you cried on his shoulder.  You realized why all of the things Sidney did to you didn't hurt, it was because you were in love with Jake.
"Okay." You whispered.
"Y/N." Jake said pulling you into his arms.
"You will never have to feel like this ever again.  You will always be taken care of and always happy, I promise." He whispered into your ear.
For the first time in 3 years you felt safe, you felt supported and you felt happy.  Who knew that exactly what you needed was in front of you this whole time?