Physical Therapy

Roxy’s POV

“Mama, Papa this is Roxy; Roxy this is Mama and Papa” Geno said and gave my hand a squeeze.
I gave his hand a squeeze back before stepping forward to shake their hands. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Malkin” I said with my hand out. I have always heard Russian people were cold and I thought Geno was an exception, but his mom proved me wrong by pulling me into a hug.

I knew they spoke little English so when she pulled away with a big smile on her face and said “Call me Natalia” I smiled back at her and nodded immediately.

I turned to his dad and stuck out my hand, he took it with a warm smile and said “Vladimir” I gave him a smile and nod too.

“Come sit before dinner” Geno said and gestured to the couch and chairs in the living room. We took the couch while his parents took the love seat by the fire place.

“Evgeni tells you…” Natalia started off before stopping, thinking and asking her husband “learn Russian?” she continued

“Da” I said with a small smile “I am learning and know a little” I said and Geno wrapped an arm around me. His mother said something to him and he turned to me.

“They want you to talk about yourself” he said with a smile

“Okay but slow me down if you need to, you how I talk fast when I get nervous” I said and he gave me a nod. I turned to them and smile “I grew up in Florida; I have a sister named Sarah that I live with, and I work for the Penguins as a Physical Therapist. I helped Geno rehabilitate his knee and I have been helping Staal with a wrist injury” I said and felt Geno rub my arm and I took that as a message saying calm down.

I looked over to see them with confused faces and looked back at Geno for help. When he translated my words I could pick out a few here and there and saw the look of recognition on their faces.

“Parents?” Natalia asked me

“My mother’s name is Margaret and my father’s name is Allen. They are married and live in Florida” I said with a smile

“Come for Christmas?” she asked and a wave of sadness washed over me and I guess she noticed because she was telling me sorry in Russian and giving me a small smile.

“It’s fine” I said before taking a deep breath and Geno kissing me on the top of the head “No my parents are not coming for Christmas” I said with a shake of the head. I heard the timer go off in the kitchen and excused myself. While in the kitchen I started the water for the potatoes and checked on the meatloaf. After that was done, I closed my eyes took a deep breath and tried not to think about how weird this Christmas would be without spending time at my parents or seeing them at all. I felt two warm arms envelop me and I sunk into Geno’s chest.

“I miss them” I whispered and breathed in his scent that I love.

“I know” he said and after a few minutes he pulled away and gave me a kiss. “I love you” he said

I smiled at him “I love you too”

*************************************

Dinner went really well and everyone raved about my cooking.

“Thank you” I said for the hundredth time “I can’t wait to try some Russian food” I said looking at Natalia. I stood up and cleared the plates from the table. I rinsed them off and put them into the dishwasher before deciding to go home for the night. I walked in to find everyone still in the dining room talking.

“Well I am going to head out” I said to Geno and I could see he didn’t want me to go.

“Stay” he said

“No really, I told Sarah I would be home tonight and I haven’t been around for a while” I told him.

“Okay” he said with a smile and a nod of the head. He told his parents, what I assumed, was that I was going home and we all said goodbye.

“Spokoynoy nochi, moy dorogoy” she said to me after a hug and it brought tears to my eyes but I blinked them back before any could fall.

“Spasibo, spokoynoy nochi” I said back with a smile. I moved over to Vladimir and stuck out my hand but he surprised me by pulling me into a hug and whispering a small goodnight.

“It was really nice meeting you” I said as I got on my coat and shoes. “I will see you soon, do svidaniya” I said to them and turned to Geno. “Walk me out?” I asked him and he nodded.

After putting on a light jacket and some shoes we made our way outside but didn’t get very far. He spun me around the second the door closed and gave me a heated kiss that made my knees weak.

“You’re amazing, I love you” he whispered in between kisses. “They love you”

“Really?” I asked and pulled away to see his face.

“Yeah, they not that friendly when meet new people” he said “and papa never hugs people” he said with a smile. “I wish you would stay”

“I know but I have seriously been living here more than my own apartment” I said “I feel like I haven’t seen Sarah in a months and I makes me feel like a shitty sister and roommate”

“Go spend time with Sarah” he said “But you good sister and she loves you”

“Thank you, I just didn’t know how hard it would be to balance a job, my sister, and you at the same time” I said

“All work out” he said and gave me one last kiss before walking me to my car. When we got to my car I turned around and gave him a smile.

“I love you” I said

“I love you too. Text when you get home” he said and looked me in the eye.

“Yes sir” I said with a smirk and opened up my door. “I will see you tomorrow” I started up the car and rolled down the window.

“Good night and drive safe” he said before giving me one last peck.

“I will” I said and reversed out of the driveway.

***************************************

I got home safely and texted Geno to let him know before crashing on the couch with Sarah. I told her everything that happened tonight and what she thought.

“I think they like you” she said “They obviously made an effort to get to know you and were interested”

“That makes me feel better” I said “So how are you doing?” I asked

“If you mean me as a person then good, if you mean me as in my relationship with Sid then good I guess” she said with a shrug

“What happened?” I asked

“Nothing, he is just a little stressed about the classic and HBO” she said “I get it, but sometimes I feel like he doesn’t care if I am there or not”

“Have you told him how you feel?”

“No, he has so much on his plate already I just don’t want to put my needs on there too”

“But you are his girlfriend, your needs are kind of his business too”

“I’m not his girlfriend” she said and I looked at her like she had three heads.

“Not his girlfriend? What are you talking about? You have been going out since Thanksgiving”

“No we have been sleeping together since Thanksgiving” she said and I could hear the hardness in her voice. “He has never once called me his girlfriend; we have never gone on a date out to a restaurant, and I have only stayed a full night once and that was because I was too buzzed to drive” she said and I could see her eyes were welling up with tears.

“Do you want to know what I think?” I asked her and she nodded her head “I think Sid has no idea what he is doing. He probably just assumes you know you’re his girlfriend because he has never done this before. I’m not positive, but I don’t think he has ever had a girlfriend during the season and he probably doesn’t know how to balance you and hockey.” I said

“You’re probably right” she said

“And I also think you should tell him how you feel but in less words and no crying”

“How do I do that?”

“Just ask him what you two are” I said “If you are together exclusively or bed buddies”

“Okay thanks, I will talk to him tomorrow” she said before yawning

“Well I am now exhausted from worrying all day” I said while getting up from the couch.

“Yeah worrying for nothing” she said with a smile “Goodnight, see you in the morning”

“Night” I said as I made my way to my room, I changed into some pajamas then climbed into my bed. While laying there I went over the events of today and decided I really liked Vladimir and Natalia. I just hoped they really liked me too.