TWENTY-EIGHT

The shrill ringing of my cell phone jolted me out of an uneasy sleep. I answered without looking at the ID, praying Sidney's voice would greet me.

"Sidney?" I asked hopefully, albeit with underlying caution.

"Non, Karine, c'est moi," Sylvie replied apologetically.

I sighed heavily and pressed the bridge of my nose between my thumb and index finger. I could feel a killer migraine coming on.

"Sidney just left our house," Sylvie said in a gentle tone. "I thought you weren't going to tell him until after the Winter Classic?"

"He wanted to buy a house together," I choked. "I couldn't hide it any longer."

"He's really angry," Sylvie replied quietly.

"I know," I groaned. "I really fucked up. I should have told him as soon as I found out." I inhaled shakily and wiped the tears from my face.

"I'm really sorry, Karine. Do you want me to come over?"

"No, there's nothing you can do. I just want to sleep." I looked at my alarm clock. It was only one AM. "I hope he calls tomorrow," I added, feeling a sob form in my throat.

"I'll come over tomorrow," Sylvie said resolutely. Apparently, she could hear the desperation in my voice and she didn't like it.

"Okay," I resigned quietly, flipping my phone shut.

***

I took another sip of lukewarm coffee, my eyes never leaving my phone that was resting on the table in front of me. I had turned the ringer up to the maximum volume and had never let it out of my sight, terrified of missing Sidney's call.

It was eleven o'clock Thursday morning, and I had just crawled out of bed although I had been awake for two hours. I couldn't bring myself to move from my comfortable, safe bed—I had almost convinced myself that last night was a bad dream.

Unfortunately, when I did manage to move from my bed I was greeted by an empty apartment, and, even worse, no messages from Sidney.

I thought about getting into the shower, but decided to put it off lest Sidney call and I didn't hear my phone ring. I downed the rest of my coffee and buried my head in my hands. If I could just talk to Sidney and explain everything, maybe we would be okay again. Our future was in his hands now—I could call him, but I knew he wouldn't answer. He just needs some time to calm down, I told myself. He'll call soon.

My thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on my door. My stomach lurched as I thought for one irrational moment that it was Sidney. I knew it wasn't though. He had his own key, and there was no way he would show up without calling me first.

Sylvie greeted me with an uneasy expression and coffee and bagels from Panera Bread.

"He went to your house last night?" I asked as soon as I opened the door.

Sylvie nodded and sat on my couch. "I tried to convince him to call you, or come back here, but he wouldn't hear any of it," she said as she spread cream cheese on a bagel.

"What did he say?"

"Well, Marc and I were in the living room and he burst in the house without even knocking. He was literally screaming at me, saying things like you betrayed his trust, and he couldn't believe we all knew before he did. Marc dragged him outside and eventually calmed him down. They came back in, and…Karine…" she averted her eyes and played with a napkin nervously, "…he was crying." I exhaled unevenly and closed my eyes. "Marc left the room, and Sidney and I had a talk. He doesn't want to lose you, but he's so angry at you right now. He doesn't understand why you didn't tell him until now, and only after he basically forced it out of you."

"I was only trying to protect him," I repeated the weak excuse I had given Sidney last night feebly. Even I didn't believe it at this point.

"He's absolutely livid, Karine. You need to talk to him."

"He said he'd call."

Sylvie sighed and munched on her bagel thoughtfully. "Are you going to the game tonight?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I'm supposed to, but…probably not."

"You should come," she replied. It was more of an order than a suggestion. "If the boys win, Marc and I are having a party at our place tonight. It wouldn't be the same without you."

"Sylvie, I really appreciate what you're trying to do, but…"

"Just come," Sylvie repeated. "You need to get out."

"I'll think about it," I sighed. I took a swig of coffee and watched Sylvie pick at her bagel nervously. There was something else she wasn't telling me.

"What else did he say?" I asked suspiciously.

"He said a lot of bad things," she admitted. "I'm sure he didn't mean any of it, he was probably just speaking out of anger, but he's really, really pissed at you."

I groaned and rested my head in my hand. "This isn't going the way I thought it would."

"Well…how did you think it would go?" she asked hesitantly. "I mean, you knew from the start he wouldn't take this well. You knew the longer you waited the worse it would be."

"I know!" I snapped. "I know! I fucked up, and now I have to clean up this mess but I don't know how I'm supposed to do that. I just want him to call." I rubbed my eyes and sighed. "I'm starting to regret even coming to Pittsburgh. My life was so much simpler pre-Sidney Crosby."

Sylvie smirked. "You know he's worth all this. And he knows you're worth it, too. Go to the game tonight and try to talk to him. Honestly, you don't have anything to lose."

I sighed and realized Sylvie was right. I had absolutely nothing to lose by trying to talk to Sidney after the game. Things were already at their worst, how much more harm could an attempt at conversation be?

"Can you do me a favor? I need to take a shower, but if Sidney calls can you come get me?" I asked as I handed Sylvie my cell phone.

Sylvie looked at me sadly and nodded. I could tell she was thinking I was pathetic and desperate, but I couldn't bring myself to care. All I cared about was speaking with Sidney.