Someone To Save Me

Sid and I were together now for 8 months and we were going to his parents for his birthday weekend. We’ve had some minor bumps along the way, I probably would have been more upset with him if he wasn’t gone all the time with the team but I missed seeing him too much to spend our time together mad at him.

There was a time when he was away that I thought could have broken us. He was in Jersey after a game I was sent a picture of him at a bar with two blondes hanging off of him their hands all over him. The one time he goes out and has fun this is what happened. Some random person sent me a picture stating that he went home with them. I don’t know what freaked me out more if it was that some random person now had my number or that when I called him later on he didn’t answer the phone. When he came back the next afternoon I didn’t know what to say. Instead I just opened the message holding up the phone to him with out saying anything. Luckily, for him at least, at this point I was more concerned with if he was ok then the smutty girl he was with. I remember tearing up as he explained what happened, he had gone to celebrate with the boys and was on his way out when they came over asking for pictures with him. He left soon after and passed out in the hotel, by himself, with his phone on silent. He promised that nothing had happened and I believed him, there was something in his eyes that made me sure that he was telling me the truth. We sat on the couch his arms wrapped around me for hours, falling asleep there only moving when we woke up the next morning.

I was nervous to meet his infamous father and sister, but happy to see Trina again. I was, of course, nervous for no reason Troy was very welcoming and Taylor was an absolute sweetheart. I am currently standing in the Crosby’s backyard enjoying a barbeque for Sid’s 24th birthday listening to his childhood friends recount stories about all the trouble they caused in the small town.

~Sid’s POV~

“So” I said taking a sip of my beer. “What do you think dad?” I looked out into the yard at all my family and friends, and Katie. She looked so at ease surrounded by my friends.

“She’s a nice girl. Your mother and sister love her, and it’s apparent that your friends do” he said tipping his head towards a large group of my friends laughing with her.

“Good.”

“It’s obvious that she loves you, and that you love her too” he continued.

“Well, yea. I do.”

“I can say in all honesty that I can see her as a part of the family.”

“Good, because I’m going to ask her to marry me” I said non-chalantly looking out over the party that my parents had thrown together.

“Really? When?”

“Tonight.”

“What are you waiting for then?”

“The courage to do it” I said with a smile, I set my drink on the table and walked over to her.

“You realize that he’s never going to live that down now” she said laughing. “Oh wow.”

“Mind if I steal my girl for a bit guys?” they shook their heads and I led her over to a bench near where my mom had put candles and tiki torches.

“Your friends are so funny” she said lacing her fingers with mine.

“Yea, they’re a good group of guys.”

“Are you having a good birthday baby?”

“Yea, I am. Mainly because I got to spend it with you.”

“That was cheesy but adorable” she smiled resting her head on my shoulder. I didn’t know what to say, how to start this off, I’ve never proposed to anyone, maybe I should have gotten a little advice from my dad or some of the married guys on the team. “Are you alright Sid? You’re awfully quiet.”

“Yea sorry I’m just thinking.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t know what to say . . . Rather how to say . . .”

“Sid you’re starting to scare me” she said sitting up to look at me.

“No Katie, I love you. Everything about you. The way you fit seamlessly into my life, my family loves you and my friends think you’re the coolest girl ever. I love coming home from roundtrips and having you there. I love how you like to watch the most random movies and that you can always find the positive in a situation. You know how to comfort me after a loss and when we win you can keep up with the guys and have fun. I love how your nose wrinkles when you smile, your melodic laugh, and your gorgeous eyes.” I slid out of the seat and kneeled down in front of her, getting the ring box from my pocket. Her eyes looked watery and her breath visibly stopped for a few seconds as I opened the box. “I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. So Katherine Scarlet O’Callaghan, my Katie, will you please make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”

“Are you sure?” she asked softly her hand resting over her month in surprise. “Because if you’re not sure then you can take it back and I won’t hold it against you.”

“I’m sure” I chuckled.

“But I’m crazy Sid. And I know there are a million things that you find agitating that I do . . .”

“All those things are what I miss the most when I’m away from you” I said as she started to cry.

“Ok” she nodded. “Yes.”

“Yes?” I smiled widely.

“Yes!” I jumped up and wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug before leaning down and kissing her passionately forgetting we were in a backyard filled with people.

“Best birthday ever” I whispered resting my forehead on hers. I took her left hand and slid the 3 karat diamond ring on her finger watching her eyes light up. “Do you like it?”

“Are you kidding it’s beautiful” she said as a tear slid down her face. “It fits perfectly.”

“I took a ring from your nightstand and had them size it with that” I said finally noticing the people around us.

“Well you did good handsome” she said kissing me softly.

“I did indeed. I’m so glad you called me out on my facial hair that day” I said thinking back to almost a year ago when she walked in to the pool hall. She had been wearing a black north face with dark jeans that fit her to perfection, her hair and makeup flawless but not over done. She was by far the prettiest girl I had seen, and it helped that she knew sports and could give me a run for my money at pool. And now I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to keep up with her. The prettiest girl I have ever met was going to be my wife.

“I am too” she whispered before my mom came over to congratulate us and welcome Katie to the family, she was followed by Taylor who said that she always wanted a sister. My dad being a man of few words gave her a hug and a fatherly peck on the cheek, that made her tear up again.

~Katie’s POV~

When Troy came over and welcomed me into the family I couldn’t help but cry, thinking about how my parents wouldn’t be there when Sid and I got married, that my dad wouldn’t be walking me down the aisle to give me away, there would be no father daughter dance and no speech about how he wouldn’t have given me up for anyone less worthy. My mom wouldn’t be the one going with me to pick out a dress or help me with the planning, she wouldn’t be there for me to yell at her for crying after our makeup was finished, or to make sure I had my something borrowed something blue something old and something new.

I knew all this. But I never thought of the impact until now. When I actually had someone who wanted to marry me.

“Are you ok sweetie?” Troy asked looking concerned.

“Yes sorry, I just need a little bit” I said squeezing Sid’s hand to let him know that I would be fine.

I made my way through the yard and into the house, finding Sid’s childhood room. I sat down on his bed trying to compose myself. This was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life, I shouldn’t be sad. I shouldn’t be crying and looking lost when there is a man down stairs who loves me, who wants to marry me, spend his life with me (and hockey), a man who wants a family with me.

“Katie” I heard Sid say from the doorway. “What wrong?”

“I’m sorry I must look like an idiot right now. Your friends probably think I’m some dumb girl who cries all the time.”

“They don’t, they’re concerned, my family too. What is it?” he said sitting next to me wrapping his arm around my shoulders drawing me closer. “You don’t want to take it back do you?”

“Oh hell no Sid. I want to marry you. I just wish that my parents could be here. When your family came over all I could think about was what my parents would be doing. Or should be doing. I want them to be here to see how happy you make me. To know that I’ll be taken care of. But mostly I just wish that they could just have met you to see how much you mean to me. I love you Sid and I want my parents to know that” I said looking directly into his eyes.

“I’m sure they know. They’re here, they see everything that you just said, they might not physically be here but they are here for you. I’m sure your dad would have given me the traditional ‘If you hurt my daughter I have a 45 and a shovel with your name on it’ speech” he said making me laugh knowing that he would have said something along those lines.

“You always know what to say to make me feel better Sid.”

“That’s my job now.”

“I don’t pay very well, just in food and unconditional love. . .”

“And sex don’t forget that” he laughed.

“How could I forget the sex?” I laughed giving him a kiss firmly on the lips. “Mmmm I love those lips, and that nose. Those amazing eyes, and smile.”

“Gee thanks baby” he replied kissing me again holding me tightly to his body. I could feel the firm muscles of his chest and arms, making me melt even more into him. “Are you ready to head back down . . .”

“I’d rather we stay up here just a little bit longer” I said, his mouth hovering over mine waiting for me to respond.

“Sounds like a good plan” he smiled. “I would like to celebrate with my fiancée” he said brushing his lips over mine lightly.

“Not too much celebration though Sid there are a lot of people here” I said with a soft laugh. “I can’t believe we’re getting married.”

“I know, I was seriously worried you’d say no.”

“Why would I do that? I love you damn it!” I said louder than I thought.

“I love you too!” he laughed placing both hands on either side of my face before kissing me hard and long. Like it might be the last time he’d be able to do so. “I can’t wait to marry you. I would do it now.”

“Well that’s not really enough notice. How about next summer in like June so we can have a nice long honeymoon” I suggested.

“Sounds wonderful, a whole summer of honeymoon. Hell yea!”

“You are such a boy, one thing on your mind. A summer of post-matrimonial bliss. . . .”

“Yea, lots and lots of fun” he said wiggling his eye brows.

“Save it for when there isn’t 40 people in your parents backyard.”

We went back outside and mingled with everyone, the women wanted to see the ring and the guys wanted to razz Sid about settling down before they did, to which I commented that they were just jealous they couldn’t find girls as cool as I am. After about 2 hours of being talked to about a wedding we hadn’t gotten to plan yet at all, Sid and I went back to the house he had near by to relax and bask in the fact that we would be married in less than a year.

“Holy Shit we’re getting married. I’m going to be Mrs. Sidney Crosby” I said lying on the couch next to him.

“Yes you are! I’m going to be Mr. Sidney Crosby. . .”

“Dork . . .” I laughed. “It’s going to take time to get used to the name change.”

“I like it though, you’re going to be my wifey.”

“Yep and you will be my handsome hubby. The one that all the girls wish they had” I said with a smirk. “Then I’ll be like HA! He’s mine and I am his. You can’t have him!”

“Possessive much? It’s kind of hot, since I know you’re not physco.”

“Shut up . . . I love you.”

“I love you” he said leaning over pressing his lips firmly to mine once again. Every second possible he’s been kissing me like this since the proposal, I’m not complaining it’s very nice. Pulling away he had a goofy smile on his face.

“You’re a goof ball” I teased.

“You know you love it.”

“I do indeed.”

“Damn straight.”

“You realize that people are going to freak when they find out you’re engaged.”

“Who cares?”

“I’m just making sure you know this . . .”

“I know and don’t care. My personal life is none of their business” he said making me smile. “Speaking of business I have a photo shoot when we get back to Pittsburgh, and you should come. Actually you have to come.”

“Why do I have to come? I mean I would if you wanted me to but why do I have to come?”

“It’s for a piece on athletes and their significant others.”

“Oh?”

“Yea, and we get to do a mini interview and have pictures taken together.”

“We should probably tell families and friends that we’re engaged before this then so they don’t hear about via a magazine.”

“Probably, Poppy knows though already I asked him.”

“You asked Poppy‘s permission” I cooed.

“Yea, so we just have to tell our friends and your sister” he said just as his phone rang. “Speaking of . . . Max . . . Hey man I’m going to put you on speaker, Katie and I have news.”

“Hey Maxie!” I said.

“Hey Katie-bug. What’s the news?”

“Well . . . Someone is getting married!” I shouted.

“Oh so they did tell you.”

“Who told us what Max?” Sid asked confused.

“Tanger and Janie . . . Vegas . . . They didn’t tell you?”

“No” I said softly looking over at Sid.

“Well then who else is getting married?”

“We are” Sid said smiling.

“No fucking way! That’s awesome.”

“Yea, except now our thunder is stolen” I said sarcastically. “So when are they going to Vegas and why aren’t we all on our way there to witness this?”

“That’s why I called, they just flew out like an hour ago, they were stopping back in Pitt for a few things then heading out, and I was thinking if we got a few of us out there it would be nice.”

“So sentimental Maxie. . .”

“I try Katie-bug. But I’m not going to take all the credit Meg came up with the majority of it.”

“We’ll get the first flight out just stall Tanger” Sid said.

“Oh and Maxie, Since all the girls will be there at the same time don’t mention the engagement. I don’t want to ruin Janie’s day and well it will be nice to have them all there to hear it.”

“No problem, See you in VEGAS!” he shouted making me laugh.

“Bye Max” Sid said hanging up. “I guess we have to pack.”

“I’ll do that, you call the airline” I said kissing him lightly.

“Ok. And Katie I’m sorry that you’re getting a little over shadowed” he said pulling me onto his lap.

“It’s not like they knew Sid. Besides I’m marrying the man I love, so is Janie. Everyone is happy.” I placed my forehead on his kissing the tip of his nose before he pulled my face to his in a deep and toe curling kiss.