Bridge over troubled waters

7| Wildly Canadian

Bailey

The coolest thing about being in Chicago was the amount of people who come here to see the sights or the teams or just to be in such a city. It was awesome to be someplace where people flock to for one reason or another. Growing up in a small town in Canada makes coming to a place like this feel like a dream. And I wanted to share this amazing experience with everyone.

So I had Mark come down for a weekend to look around and he can be a part this amazing place with me. He was French-Canadian so he was north of the border through and through, and this is going to be quite the culture shock for him. He knew English fluently but his first language was French. But for a weekend I think he can get over himself and sight see with me.

"What's that smell" he asks as he scrunches up his nose. I giggle at the silly face he was making and just pat his chest.

"It's industrialization" I assure him.

"Why are the buildings so tall" he asks again as I shake my head.

"Why the hell not" I wonder.

"Just seems a bit... unnecessary" he claims.

"You can't fit millions of people in a few miles if you don't build up" I defend.

"And what if something happens, like 9/11" he questions and my eyes go wide.

"Alright, I'm gonna need you not to bring that up here. You will get slapped and I will let it happen.

This city is like New York but nothing like it all in the same. These are blue collar workers who have broad shoulders and bright eyes. And they're prideful of their city so please... let's not say the things you've been saying" I beg.

"Alright alright, I'll lay off. Why don't you show me your art studio" he says and I smile. While he was not that artistic type he supported my work, even if he didn't support me coming here.

"We're actually pretty close to it so we can do that" I assure him.

So we take off to the art studio and I show him around. I've done a few things but I kept coming back to the first painting I did. "Woah" he gasps as he looks at it. "This is insane. You really did this" he asks making me laugh.

"I didn't go to art school because I sucked" I insist.

"Babe this is incredible. You selling it" he wonders.

"I don't know. I thought about making it a series but I don't know if I can recreate this vibe" I shrug.

"What made you paint like this" he questions.

"It was Corey, actually" I admit. He stops walking and he looks over at to me. I know he doesn't like how close Corey and I are but he knows as much as anyone that we're just friends. We were the three best friends anyone could have for a while so he should know that Corey and I will never be a thing. In fact if it wasn't for Corey we wouldn't have even met.

He waits for me to explain myself and I do so. "I asked him what my first Chicago piece should be since he is more familiar with the culture and he said the music here was a big part of the city. Music inspires me so I figured this should be it" I say and he lets out a sigh of relief.

"Well I think it's amazing" he says and I smile.

"Really" I ask.

"Of course" he says with that million dollar smile.

Mark and I had been friends for a while before we started dating back in 2005. And it kinda just happened one night when I was over at his place studying during university. We kissed in the heat of the moment and the rest is history. It's been him and I ever since. That was over five years ago and we're still going strong. It's a little rough right now with me being here and him there but we're making it work.

Once we look through the paintings I bring him back to the apartment. He wanted to see Corey and I did too so we head over to his place. I knock on the door and he opens it quickly. As soon as the two see each other Corey pulls Mark into a huge hug and my heart could have exploded it was so full. My boys I love more than anything here together again.

"Hey man, you're looking great" Corey claims as he welcomes us in.

"Me? Look at you on a big league contract and tearing it up on the ice. Just like you said you would" Mark smiles.

"Hey, I'm a man of my words" Corey teases.

We head on over to the couch and I sit next to Mark as Corey sits on the love seat. Mark rests his hand on my leg and I smile to myself. I've missed him like hell and I was happy he was going to stop pouting long enough to let me enjoy us being together again.

"So how have you been Mark? You making it without Bai there to watch over you" Corey teases.

"I'm still not happy about it but I'm making do. The dog probably misses her most but I sure as hell wasn't going to let her take him" Mark jokes. Dogs weren't allowed here anyway.

"Well you guys should come to the game together tomorrow night. My treat" Corey offers.

"Seriously" Mark pops up and I smile. Like I said, he's wildly Canadian and he loves his hockey. He played up until college and follows the Canadiens religiously. As did most people in our little city.

"Hell yeah" Corey assures him.

"You know I tried to get Bai to come to games back home and she never would. Now all I see is her at games on Facebook" Mark accuses.

My cheeks start to burn as Corey's eyes turn to me. He sends a shit eating smirk my way and I roll my eyes. "I don't know them like I know Corey, why in the world would I pay the money they ask for to go watch them play" I defend.

"It's professional sports, not everyone knows a NHL player. They just go because they like it" Mark explains.

"And my father sucked every ounce of love I had for hockey out of me by middle school" I insist.

"You were pretty good though, you can't deny that" Corey remembers.

"Wait... you played" Mark gasps and I send him a "I'm innocent" smile.

"Maybe a little" I say. I mean I am Canadian, we've all at least tried hockey or thought about it in our lives.

"Her dad ran a team, and a damn good one if I say so myself" Corey explains and I send him a glare. I really wish he would shut his mouth.

"How come you didn't tell me" Mark pouts.

"You never asked" I shrug.

"Well you learn something new every day I guess" he says.

We chill out with Corey for a little while longer before we slip out. I take him to the bean because it's not a Chicago trip without going there. We stop right in front of it and he smiles. I remember my first time here and I felt like a kid on Christmas Day all over again.

"Alright... this is pretty cool" he finally admits and I laugh.

"See, this place isn't that bad" I tease as I nudge his side.

"It can't be because it has you" he claims. I feel my cheeks get warm like it always does when he says that kind of stuff to me.

Mark was your certified hot guy, caramel brown hair and big blue eyes. A perfect smile and a athletes body. But that was never what I cared about. We had been friends for years before we started dating so this wasn't about a first impression. It wasn't until we kissed did I get that feeling like I couldn't deny how much I loved this man. He was always there for me, went to college to stay with me and supported me. He could never be Corey, but he was a amazing boyfriend.

I softly pull him into a kiss and he quickly kissed me back. My fingers get tangled in his hair and my heart beats faster. If only he could stay here with me and it really would be perfect.