Trick or Treat

"Max just died!"

"Suck it, Talbo!"

"Oh wait. Wait. I just killed you!"

"I can't believe you just said you're the best player."

"No, but I said you're the worst."

"Max is a douche."

Engo laughed in the seat next to me and I threw an empty Reeses Pieces package at his head. I knew it had the proper effect when I heard Engo mutter "fuck," and Sid threw a triumphant arm up in the air. "YEAH!"

The brooding defenseman turned to glare at me and I simply smiled and waved. Rupper laughed from across the aisle and asked, "Are you sure messing with Godsy's little protégé there is a such a good idea?" Before I could shoot back a smartassed response, Engo grabbed me in a headlock and crushed his knuckles against my hair.

"Dude, Engo, how old are you?!" I yelped as he noogied the shit out of my head. Sid's raucous laugh filled the cabin and I heard a "Get 'im, Engo!" from Godsy and Brooks in the back. I tried to get my arm up as far as possible to flip them off, but I'm sure they couldn't see it over the seat.

I needed new friends.

--

As I sat with Sid at breakfast the next morning, he leaned over and asked, "So come on. Tell me you don't completely hate me. You know me making that bet with you was the best thing I've ever done for you." I glanced over and saw his smug little smirk and rolled my eyes.

"You're a cocky little bastard, Sid. You know that?" I took a drink of my juice and picked up my fork to poke at a piece of sausage on the plate that had just been placed in front of me. He gave me a cheesy grin and I shook my head. "I mean, yeah. I'll admit it. I'm glad you did it. But that doesn't change the fact that she scares the hell out of me."

Sid pushed some food around his own plate before nabbing a strawberry. "Really, Talbo? What the hell is so scary about her?" He took a drink of his water before adding, "I mean, I get that you really like her, but-"

"That's just it," I retorted through a mouthful of toast. I chewed and swallowed quickly before adding, "It's an entire lifestyle change, Sid. It's completely different. I'm not used to wanting to change." It's true. My raging reputation as a total man-whore throughout Pittsburgh and a good bit of Quebec had kept me busy over the years. While the rumors were usually larger than the actual number of conquests, it's not ridiculously far of the mark. Changing all that - more so the want to change that - is what's scaring me. The idea of commitment and potentially breaking a heart...or having mine broken.

The captain rolled his eyes before replying, "Well sometimes change is a good thing, Max. Just remember that." He stood up and headed out to get ready for the morning skate. After his frame was out of sight, I slumped against the elbow resting on the table. I needed to figure my shit out.

--

"Max! Obtenez votre cul ici!"

Having one of my best friends for a roommate was awesome. I loved Marc like he was one of my brothers. But one day, I was going to kill him.

I nabbed my tie and called back, "Ferme ta gueule!" I rolled my eyes and pulled my coat off the hanger and closed the door behind me. I looked at my friend to see a smirk that was becoming all too familiar. My fellow Frenchman uncrossed his arms and led the way down the hall.

"You're always running late anymore, mon chum." He dug his elbow into my side as I caught up to him and added, "You were talking to Hannah again, non?" His sneaky grin didn't surprise me and he said, "I'm not saying it's bad. It's sweet. You deserve to be happy. Just don't let it get in the way of hockey."

Flower had learned that lesson before. I didn't dare remind him of that. Instead, I pushed my phone further down in my pocket and stared at the elevator doors in front of us, willing them to open. I wanted to know why everyone was shoving this down my throat. I wanted to take things slow and figure everything out. I wanted to breathe. I wanted to-

"Max?"

I looked at the tall goaltender and he smiled at me. "You know I'm just being a pain in the ass. I'm glad you're happy. Don't let her go." The elevator doors closed in front of us and I sighed. He was right. Damn him.

--

I spent the flight home wishing I could talk to Hannah. I wished I could talk to her instead of dealing with Sidney fucking Crosby, neb-nosing extraordinaire sitting across the aisle. Engo had been pulled into a card game with the gambling addicts in the back and from the sound of it, Geno was kicking his ass.

"You fucking card shark!" I heard him bitch at one point. The others laughed at his expense and I thought I heard the sound of fluttering cards as though Engo had gotten pissed and thrown them at the others. Before I could turn to snoop, Sid was sitting in the vacant seat next to me and I about jumped a mile when I was suddenly met by his face.

"What the fucking hell, Sid?!" I yelped. "You're a fucking creeper, man!" I was really getting ready to take a swing at the guy. This was getting ridiculous. Yeah he'd started everything, but this was my life and I was going to live it as I saw fit, his opinions be damned.

He shrugged and got out of my face. "I was just wondering if you talked to Hannah today," he stated matter-of-factly.

I balled up my fists and took a breath before saying, "Sid. Listen to me. This is my life. I appreciate that you pushed me, but I will handle this as I see right for me and for her. And as far as 'wondering,' for all you wonder about Hannah and I, I should be asking you all about Jessi." I knew for a fact Sid had asked Hannah for her friend's number. I also knew that Hannah had given it to him.

Sid blushed and stood up, leaving Engo's forgotten seat for his own next to a zonked out Flower. I knew that would shut him up. I'd get my pay back. Sid better watch out.

--

I wearily unlocked my front door an hour later and let my suitcase hit the floor as I kicked the door shut behind me. My phone buzzed softly in my pocket and I opened the text from Hannah. I'd sent her a message when we landed and we'd been talking since. She'd congratulated me on the win. I'd told her about Sid being a creeper. She told me she'd talk to Jessi to get me revenge on Sid.

No wonder I liked her.

As I pulled my suit from my body and grabbed for a pair of sweatpants, I thought about what it would be like waking up next to Hannah some morning. That thought stopped me faster than any before it. I really was falling hard for the masked girl.

I crawled into my warm bed and turned off the light next to the bed. With the phone plugged in, I continued to text Hannah.

How about lunch tomorrow. Are you off? Dan gave us a free day.

Actually, I work during the day. I could do dinner, though. And if you really wanted to get Sid back...

Set him up on a blind date of his own?

We work so well together.

Bring Jessi. I know for a fact he's been staring at his phone ever since you gave him her number.

Oh could I tell you some stories there. He's like a puppy, Max.

I'm not surprised.

--

The next thing I knew, light was pouring into my bedroom and the light on my BlackBerry was blinking. "Shit," I muttered as I checked the texts from Hannah. I'd fallen asleep on her. I rubbed my eyes and opened the message.

It's hilarious.

After I hadn't replied, she'd sent one more.

You must be exhausted. Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow. How's 7 at the Cheesecake Factory? Jessi will be off work by then.

I smirked and replied to her that it was perfect, then sent a message to Sid. This would be the perfect revenge. He set me up. Why couldn't I set him up?

Once the plans were in the works for dinner that night, I started to try to figure out what to wear. Once again, I was stressing over this for nothing.

I was an idiot.

--

I pulled up outside the restaurant with Sid in the passenger seat. Hannah had agreed to drive Jessi to keep the surprise. I wasn't sure if Hannah had told her who from the team I was bringing, but something told me she didn't want it to be the captain. She liked Sid well enough as a person, but she had told Hannah he was too "pretty" for her. The word "perfect" might have also been used. She was "more into the guys like Engo and Godsy" who were "kind of broken up and not such pretty boys."

Sid's silence when I asked him about Jessi had spoken volumes. Considering he had asked Hannah for her phone number, there was no way he wasn't somewhat interested in her. I was going to find a way to throw it at him if it killed me. It would teach him to butt into my personal life.

"Come on, Max," Sid pleaded for close to the fiftieth time in an hour's time. I was going to take swing at him soon, I knew it. I understood why he was picky about women. When you were the most sought after bachelor in not only Pittsburgh but a good chunk of Canada as well, you had to watch out who you dated. You never knew what someone's motives were for getting close. Some girls - most, really - wanted him to say they'd slept with him. Others wanted the money. Why put yourself into the position?

Actually...now that I thought about it that way, I felt bad for shoving this all in Sid's face. He had genuinely liked Jessi and here I was making fun of the fact that the one girl he seemed mildly interested in had no interest in him.

...I was a terrible friend.

We climbed out of the car without an answer from me. Instead, we headed inside where I had been informed the girls already had a pager and were waiting for a table. Heads turned as Sid and I made our way into the packed lobby. I waved Hannah down and she approached Sid and I with Jessi in tow.

I couldn't help but stare at Hannah. Her black dress cut off just above her knees while the sweetheart neckline fit her frame perfectly. She held a black jacket over her arm and her curls cascaded around her shoulders. She looked beautiful. I wrapped an arm around her and pressed a light kiss to her temple.

"Vous êtes beau, mon cher," I whisper into her ear with a smile She's gorgeous.

Sid was staring at Jessi, apparently unable to speak. I wasn't sure if it was the fact that he was shocked to see her or if it was the blue, V-necked dress with strappy black heels she was wearing. Finally, he choked out a, "You look amazing."

Jessi was saved from a potentially awkward situation as the pager started buzzing. We headed up to the host stand and were escorted back to the booth in the far back. Apparently Hannah had learned lately.

As we ordered drinks, Sid ordering a double shot in his didn't go unnoticed. Hannah, never missing a beat, leaned over and asked, "Nervous about something, champ?" Sid choked on air and Jessi slid down in her seat. Clearly I'd missed something more than I thought I had. I'd have to get a full run down later from Hannah.

When the drinks came, Sid chugged his down. I'd never seen him drink like this. We upheld a nice conversation while we waited for food. Jessi had brushed off any awkwardness and was trying to ignore how odd Sid was acting. By his third drink, though, I was noticing signs of "Sid needs to be cut off" and tried to subtly inform our waitress as such. But that didn't - and couldn't - stop what happened next.

"So, Hannah," Sid slurred, edging on drunk. "I bet you never thought a bet would work out so great, huh?" My blood ran cold as I realized what Sid was saying. He was telling Hannah that I'd picked her on a dare. A dare I had made a bet. Fuck. My. Life.

I tried to derail the near disastrous conversation. "I bet you never thought Sid would be such a lightweight, huh, Jessi?" But there was no swaying Hannah. She looked from Sid to me, confused and slightly hurt.

"Bet?" Her eyebrow arched and she looked at me while addressing him. "What bet, Sid?"

I wanted to crawl into a hole and pull the dirt over top. Stick a fork in me, I was more than done. Sid just smiled his idiotic, drunk smile and said, "The bet I made with Max that he couldn't bring back a pretty girl. Actually, my end was a dare. I told him that to bring back a girl, she had to have a mask." He giggled drunkenly and I begged any god listening to me to strike me down swiftly and end it all. "But he turned it into a bet and said 'a hundred bucks says I still get the hottest' or something like that."

Hannah turned to glare at me and Jessi joined her. I swore I saw her lip tremble before she growled through gritted teeth, "I never should have thought you changed, Max Talbot." She grabbed the glass of water in front of her, doused my face in it, and stormed out of the booth. Jessi turned to us and I noticed the balled fists right away. I braced for impact. Instead, she said, "Fuck you both" and followed Hannah, calling after her to wait.

I turned to look at Sid who was laughing at his own stupid joke I hadn't even heard. I threw a hundred and fifty dollars onto the table and grabbed Sid by the neck of his jacket. "Get up." Dragging his drunk ass outside, I steered him around back and screamed, "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" before my fist collided with his face.