Just Hold Me (Sidney Crosby) EDITING THEN CONTINUING

Chapter 17 - Practice With The Guys

I am starstruck by the star of the National Hockey League. I smile at him, ready to wrap my arms around him. I did.

He hugged back instantly.

The feeling of his hug made me want him to carry me to the stadium and just hold me like a child waiting to go home from a long walk. Except maybe bridal style. It'd be great, because right now I'm too weak in the knees to carry my ass anywhere. And who wants to put pressure on the joints when you've got a perfectly capable, strong, and able man to do it for you?

He pulled off.

Aw, don't go.

You smelled good.

He retreated from the door as I started to open my door.

As soon as the latch was open on my door, Sidney pushed it shut.

I opened it again. He pushed it again.

Again.

"What?" I ask him, my eyes wide along with my smile.

"It's my job." He says, sounding possessive over my door opening abilities.

"Okay."

He opens my door and takes my hand in his.

We walk into the arena and through a few long hallways. He leads me to a door.

"Hold on."

He turns around knocking on the door.

"ARE YOU GUYS NAKED?" He screams.

"AH! DON'T OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR! Ah, wait no. WE'RE FINE!" A voice screams.

"Ladies first.." Sidney says.

"Kay. Go ahead." I say, joking around with him, and loving his 'Are you serious but it's funny look'.

"Are you really sure I'M the lady in this situation? BECAUSE I--"

I smile and explain I was joking.

"I know you were." He smiles at me.

I nod, glad he knew. Not everyone gets my great sense of humor.

We walk in and, as explained through a loud male voice from earlier; yes everyone was dressed.

"It's actually just about 15 minutes till practice really starts, so just make yourself comfortable. I'm gonna go get changed." Sid explains.

Then he pecks me on the mouth right in front of everyone. My face gets red as he smiles and everyone else goes silent.

Evgeni walks over and hugs me.

"Long time no see." He says, releasing me.

"It was just yesterday."

"Long enough, eh?"

I giggle.

"So uh, I guess I might as well get to know you guys. What did you hate most about school?"

Everyone groaned.

"I see. Explain."

Marc Andre Fleury speaks up.

"On the first day of high school, I came home mad as hell, because you know it's high school."

Don't remind me, I thought.

"Well my mom asked, " What did you learn today?" And I said, "Apparently not enough. We have to go back tomorrow." He cracked up in the middle of his sentence. Those kind of people are my favorite kind of people.