No Thank You

The post season had started very early for the Flyers, but even the Penguins had not been able to keep themselves in Cup contentions for that much longer. It was somewhat relieving that the Pittsburgh team was no longer in the run for the Stanley Cup, as most of its players had left town to return home for summer or had jetted off on some sort of holidays.

Alex was sitting in a rather comfortable chair in a small Speak Easy on a Friday evening, waiting for Kyla to get back from the bathroom. Scott’s sister had come to Pittsburgh 3 days ago and was loving all the sightseeing she had been able to get out of Alex. She still had various arguments that Pittsburgh was in no way as nice as Philadelphia, but she loved Alex' little house just in the outskirts of the city. Shopping trips had been done and they were now sitting out at a small bar in Pittsburgh, both enjoying their last night together.

“You know there are things I have been meaning to ask you Alex.”

The meaning of her question was heavy, and Alex knew that she couldn’t really escape questions, as her brother would have already told her everything there was to know before she even embarked on her journey from Canada to Pennsylvania.

“Yes, I love your brother. But you know as well as I do that I told him a steady relationship is out of the question at the moment. Me being with Sid not once but twice pissed him off, and I cannot build a new relationship on that just yet. I know he thinks we could make it work, but at this stage, it’s simply not something I can make work.”

Taking a drink of her wine, Kyla looked thoughtful. Alex adored the younger Hartnell sibling: she had a loving husband and a gorgeous child and was still able to hold down her own business.

“That is fair enough, but you haven’t been with Sidney since that last time. Right?”

The way her question was followed by raised brows, Alex knew that she was solely referring to sexual encounters. But she didn’t want to give her half truths.

“I have been in contact with a few of them and have met with a couple of them for coffee or even dinner. Never alone with Sid as he’s still somewhat pissed after I declared that I wouldn’t ever be with him like that again, especially after I was told what he had said after his goal celebration in Philly. So to answer you: no, I haven’t been with him.”

Both women awkwardly drank from their respective drinks before Kyla turned towards Alex again.

“I know it’s none of my business, but I know Scotty never stopped loving you. You have your thing going here and I am so happy for you babe…but would you ever consider moving back to your home town and try make it work?”

The girl looking after their section came by to collect their empty glasses, breaking their conversation as she dropped two new bottles of Sam Adams on their table. Both girl raised their eyes in silent dispute as the younger woman simply threw her thumb over to another table, pointing out 3 Penguins’ players Alex knew all too well.

“Oh boy.”

She breathed out in her dismay. Kyla just laughed and raised the bottle towards the men in question.

“It’s that easy, is it? Damn, if only I wasn’t married and flaunt my maiden name a bit more…!”

She giggled again before taking a sip of her beer, watching the three men in question leisurely strolling over to them.

“Hi guys.”

Alex said in a defeated voice, quickly chugging some of the beer. Matt was definitely eying Scott’s sister with interest, not something she wanted to entertain at the moment.

“Back off, this is Scott’s happily married sister, you creep! What are you still doing in town, I was sure most you boys had left for the summer.”

Instead of the frown she had expected, Matt smiled and grabbed Kyla’s hand for a firm shake.

“I knew I remembered you from somewhere! How do you like the city so far?”

he totally ignored Alex’ comments and she growned inwardly. This was not the kind of night she had planned on having with her friend.

“Oh it’s definitely different to Philly, that much is sure. But Alex has been great showing me around, so I was able to see all the sights. But as she mentioned: why are you still in town? Shouldn’t you be home at this stage, your season ended over 2 weeks ago if I’m not mistaken.”

I bit my lower lip at her words, not sure if to laugh or pity Matt, but he took it in stride and edged closer to the edge of the table Kyla was sitting and semi-whispered:

“But what would be the fun in going home this early? Alex avoided all the bars we knew for the remainder of the season, I knew she would come out of hiding as soon as we were out of cup contention.”

Alex’ brows rose as she heard this. She was about to throw in her own 2 cents as her phone rang and she leaned back into the booth to check on the caller. Scott. Picking up with a chuckle, she raised the phone towards her ear.

“Well hello Mr. Hartnell, how nice of you to join us this fine evening!”

Alright, her and Kyla had drank way too much for either of them to be serious, seen that Kyla burst out into a fit of giggles as she heard Alex announce who exactly called.

“Hello to you, too! I see myself in a conundrum, care to help me out beautiful but very drunk lady?”

Alex couldn’t help but giggle again at his obvious amusement.

“Whatever you need my dear.”

She could hear street noise over the other end of the line and Scott’s voice thanking someone before the slam of a car door.

“I need to know where you’re at.”

Was all he said. Kyla was yet again laughing at something one of the Penguins’ guys had said, but she could feel Matt’s eyes trained on her as she continued her phone call.

“Oh, we’re just a couple of streets away from my place at a tiny bar, your sister seems to be charming the pants off of some guys at the moment seen that we were just bought a new round a minute ago. Why did you need to know?”

She could hear more street noise before he answered her:

“Well that is nice to know! I just had a cab drop me off at your place thinking you two would stay in for a quiet night for her last night, but I stand corrected. Don’t move, I know the place you’re talking of, I’ll be there in 5.”

He had disconnected the call before she could say anything. With her eyes wide open like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights, Matt waved his hands in front of her face a couple of times before she shook her head to look at him, without Kyla even noticing.

“What?”

Matt mouthed from across the table littered in empty glasses and bottles.

“Well shit, I guess Scotty will be here any minute now. I need a shot!”

She shot up and squeezed past Kyla, who carried on with her conversation as if she didn’t care. Hell, why would she care, she was on a holiday and was talking to new people. But Alex on the other hand already felt guilty with just the prospect of Scott thinking that they had gone to this bar to meet Matt and his friends.

Racing to the bar with Matt hot on her heels, she quickly ordered 2 shots of tequila and only seemed to relax when the two beverages were placed in front of her. The second Matt’s hand shot out to grab one, she slapped his hand away and frowned at him.

“The fuck is wrong with you A., so your ex is turning up, so what?”

Swiftly ordering a new beer for himself, he turned towards her again as she emptied her first tequila.

“You don’t understand: it would be fine if he’d just turn up here….but it’s you and your friends sitting with us. In his stupid mind he’ll think we’ve been hanging out this entire time and he will be an asshole about it!”

Quickly lifting the 2nd shot to her lips, she drank it and slammed the glass to the bar with a disgusted look on her face. Matt just chuckled as he paid for her drinks as well as his beer, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they made their way back to the table they had left the others at.

“Oh come on, Pittsburgh is a big place and I’m sure he can appreciate that we literally just ran into you girls.”

Having slit into her original seat, with Kyla still talking to the both men Alex didn’t even know the names of, Matt smiled at her.

“Yes, you’re right.”

Alex said, much more to make herself feel better of the entire situation that trying to reason with the ideas Scott might have once he got here.

“That a girl. Now, can I buy you another drink to settle your nerves?”

Her head immediately bopped up and down in a nod. Matt only laughed as he left again. Turning around in her seat, Alex kept watching the entrance, until she felt a jab in her side.

“Stop being so weird!”

Kyla whispered, before going back to the conversation at hand. Having to consider if telling her about Scott would be a wise choice or not, she quickly forgot about it as she looked towards the bar and eyed both Matt and Scott standing right next to each other in an awkward man hug.

Maybe this wouldn’t be as weird as she had feared.