Your Hand In Mine

- Kris -

"Tanger! You want a beer, man?" was the first thing I heard when I walk through Marc-André's front door.

"No thanks, Max," I reply as I shut the door behind me. I did not really hate Max anymore. Well, to be honest, I had never hate him; I was just really pissed. And sure, I am still a little mad at him, and I have not forgiven him yet, but at least we were talking now.

"Are you sure?" he push further, raising an eyebrow.

"I never drink, you know that."

"Alright, man," he sort of slur. "I just thought I'd ask because, you know, everyone else has one and shit."

I shook my head indicating that I still did not want one then I watch him walk away. I stood by the door for a second more before I walk toward the kitchen, hoping to find a bottle of water or something. I was practically the only one who did not have some type of alcohol in their hand. It was normally just me and Sid. Sometime, though, Sid would occasionally pick up a beer, but he never had more than one or two.

I pushed my way through all my teammate and their girlfriend and some other people I had never seen before then finally came to the refrigerator. I opened it up and start looking from the top to the bottom. There was no water.

"It's out back, red cooler," I heard Marc say from behind me.

"Merci," I reply as I close the refrigerator and turn to face him.

"I'm glad you could make it. Finally get out of your apartment, you know..," he said, taking a sip of his Budweiser. "How are you holding up with the loss and all?" he ask as he set his beer down on the kitchen counter.

"Um..," I started, thinking back to Game 7 against Montréal. It sure as hell sucked. I was still a little bit down even though a week had already went by. Everyone else except for maybe Sidney and Geno and me were fine, ready for summer. The three of us were sort of.. not. But it was alway mainly us three that had a harder time than the rest of the guy when it came to getting over a loss. Flower alway seem to be the first one to shake thing like that off and keep his head up. I wish I could say that happen to me, but it did not. "Uh, I am okay, I guess. Better than that night and the next day. 'ow about you?"

"Good," he shrug. "I'm disappointed we didn't make it farther, but at the same time I'm happy we get more time to rest and enjoy time with our family and stuff."

I gave my head a nod as I saw Vero, Marc-André's girlfriend of a thousand year, walk into the kitchen.

"Salut, Kris. I'm sorry your season ended earlier than you would have liked," she smile warmly, wrapping her arm around Marc's torso.

"It's okay. There was nothing you could do about it," I told her, forcing a smile on my face.

"Well, there's water and pop outside," she said. "Help yourself."

"Merci," I said then walk around the two of them to door that lead to their backyard, only to be stopped by Marc-André.

"Let loose, have fun, okay? Everything will be fine," he said. "This is probably the last time you'll see everyone until next season, too, except for me and Max."

"I will try," I replied. And I really was going to, but it was so hard to enjoy yourself when you were at a party that really end the whole season. And you know what really made it hard? Looking around and seeing every single guy with their girlfriend or wife, and some of them even with their kids. I was the odd one out, like a white gumball in a sea of colored gumball. In a way, I just did not belong.

Everywhere I looked there was a couple. Outside, Pascal and his wife, Carole-Lyne, were standing near each other as they watched Maeva, Kody and Zoe try to keep a beach ball in the air. Staalsy and his girlfriend, Heather, were playing beer pong with Geno and Oksana--ten bucks Jordan lose. And some other guy were swimming and messing around with each other while their significant other sat by the pool.

I sighed and finally grab myself a water from the cooler. I took a seat by Geno and Staalsy, hoping to see Jordan miss the cup more time than I could count.

"Let me show you how it's done, Geno. First you spin," Jordan start, spinning in a small circle. "Then you do a little bit of the robot.. Some of Whitter's pre-game dance.. And lastly, the middle finger." Geno and me let out a bit of a laugh.

"Ego, big," Geno said as he spread his hand apart from the other.

"You just wait and see, Geno. I'll make it in the cup."

"Okay," Evgeni mumble in a sarcastic tone as Jordan toss the ball.

"SHIT!" Staalsy yell as he slam his fist on the table as Geno laugh at him. He miss the cup.

"Jordan! There's kids around!" Pascal shout back from the other side of the lawn.

"Sorry!"

Just then, Sidney sat down in the chair next to me, and I instantly felt a little better. We were the only two on the whole team without a girlfriend or wife. I mean, even Max had a girl--they might not have been the same girl every time, but he alway had one. I did not envy Max, though, not at all. I would rather be single and heartbroken than using women left and right to try and get over someone. Maxime was not getting over anyone, though, he was merely having 'fun'--something I wanted no part of.

"What happened?" Sidney ask me, motioning to the two guy.

"Staalsy got all cocky and make it seem like 'e could not miss, but 'e did," I explain.

"Figures," Sid joke before he take a sip of his drink and turned to the guy. "Geno kicking your ass, eh, Gronk?"

"Very funny, Crosby. I'd like to see you try," Jordan said as he held out a ball to Sidney.

"I may have good hand-eye coordination, but that's way too much alcohol for me," he replied with a chuckle.

~!@#$%^&*()_+

"Kris, tu n'avez vraiment pas besoin de rester et de nettoyage," Veronique said as she enter the kitchen.

"Tout va bien. Ça m'est égal," I told her, still collecting all the red cup.

"Kris, vous avez déjà faire beaucoup. S'il vous plaît, je vais prendre soin de ce gâchis," she state, resting a hand on my shoulder.

I sighed, setting down all the cup. Then I put both hand on the counter and pushed down a little bit. "Can I ask you somet'ing?" I said as I turned to look at her.

"Sure."

"Que dois-je faire? Je veux dire, je vais retourner à Montréal la semaine prochaine, et je ne serai pas de retour avant la fin du mois d'août. Je n'ai pas parlé à Shane depuis cette nuit. Juste, s'il vous plaît, dites-moi ce que je ferais," I said in a defeated voice.

She did not say anything for a moment or two, she just look at me. "Je sais que tu l'aimez et que tu feriez n'importe quoi pour elle..," she drift. "Tu avez besoin de savoir que c'est assez, Kris. Elle fait de tu une personne complètement différente, meilleure, personne plus complète. Elle tu fait vivre, et elle tu rend plus heureux que n'importe qui d'autre que tu connaissez. Elle est votre autre moitié," Vero said. "Je ne peux pas tu dire quoi faire ou comment le faire. N'oubliez pas que tu la connaissez mieux que quiconque."

"Merci, Vero," I smiled.

"Tu êtes les bienvenus," she nod. "Can I ask you something?" she mock, a smirk on her face.

I laughed. "Sure."

"Ce n'est pas aussi grave, mais tu me faire une faveur à la maison et Maxime? Il veille promenades et détruit notre maison quand il fait."

"Pas de problème," I answered.

As much as Vero protested, I stay and help her clean up. I felt bad leaving her there to clean up the disaster everyone left behind, even though I had no part in the mess. Sidney usually stayed to help, too, but he had to be somewhere a few hour ago.

I had never really thought about it before, but Sid and I were closer than most people, and even I, realize. We did not drink much, we are single, we do more for other people than ourself, and we are quieter. There were differences, though. I tend to stay closer to the guy who speak French, he will talk to everyone. He deal with a lot more in the hockey world, I did not. He can speak perfect English, I can not. I am twenty-three, he is twenty-two. The list go on..

About forty minute later, the place was pretty much spotless. Vero was finishing cleaning in the game room, and I headed off to find Max. It was not hard to find him; he usually venture to the same spot when he is about to pass out--the bathtub. Do not ask me why he goes there, he just do. Normally, he would add a little bit of water and bubble bath. I could not tell you how many bottle Vero has had to replace because of him. Sometime, he even throw in a rubbery ducky and puts a shower cap on his head. He was only laying in the bathtub with a bottle of beer this time.

"Come on, Max," I said as I reached down and slung one of his arm over my shoulder. Thankfully he stirred a little bit and stood up on his own.

"Hey, I know you," he told me, wiping the drool off his face with the back of his hand then wiping it down my shirt. Lovely. "Where are we going?"

"'ome," I told him, helping him out of the tub.

"Wait, we're forgetting the beer," Max state as he look back over his shoulder to the bathtub.

"It is empty."

"Really?"

"No," I said.

He shrug. "Okay."

Five minute later, I finally got him out the door and into the car. As soon as his head hit the seat, he was out cold. That did not change when I pulled up to my apartment, either.

After I put the car in park, I sat there for a minute or so. I did not feel like dragging him out of the car and up to his own apartment, so why drag him out of the car and up to my apartment.. I opened the door and got out, locking the car as I walk up the step to my apartment, leaving Maxime in the backseat.