Apology

To my awesome "followers",

Hope this post finds you well. I'd like to first thank each and every one of you for your undying support - it means so much to me!

Secondly, I'd like to apologize for leaving everyone hanging, it's been a tough few months and I haven't been able to find the time to write and/or edit the chapters to my liking, but I haven't forgotten about this story! Although I can't promise updates before December, I will guarantee at least 3-5 new chapters by then - hopefully they'll make up for my being M.I.A. for so long. Sorry again, and thank you for sticking around :)

xoxo
Cupid

Chapter 10

Vanessa's POV

"Thanks for waiting," Heather said, as she and Daisy pulled out seats for themselves across the table.

"Sorry," I mumbled through a mouthful of guacamole. "I was starving."

It was almost thirty minutes after I'd showered and dressed that the next girl had woken up, so I'd decided I'd meet my friends downstairs. I finally breathed in the fresh air I had needed so badly last night and was laying by the pool when my stomach let out an embarrassing growl, letting me know it was time to refuel.

"We can see that," Daisy laughed, tossing me a napkin.

"Good night, last night?"

Heather shrugged. "As good as any."

"Where's Lara?"

"Right here," she sighed, dropping her beach bag on the floor. "God, I am tired!"

"I would be too, if I was knocking boots till six in the morning."

"With the old man?!" I asked, almost choking on my food.

"David," Lara corrected, narrowing her eyes at me. "And I was home before four. We didn't end up doing anything because he freaked out over some hockey player!" she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff.

"You were discussing sports?" Heather asked, incredulously.

"No! There was some hockey player on the beach when we took our walk and -"

My stomach churned.

"- I thought Dave was gonna orgasm, the way he got all excited at the sight of the poor guy."

"Poor guy?"

"Well, it looked like he was having a rough night. Who else walks the beach at three in the morning, alone?"

"Well, who was this guy? What was his name?" Heather demanded.

Lara shrugged. "I dono, David got him to sign his shirt. Sandy Crosby or something?"

"SIDNEY CROSBY?!" Heather practically jumped out of her seat.

"Wait, yes... that sounds more like it. Is he, like, famous?"

Daisy's mouth gaped open as Heather continued to squeal. I was quietly relieved, having heard that Sidney was by himself and not out fucking Yasmine or whatever the hell he had called me.

"Famous and gorgeous!" I thought Heather was going to pass out from all the excitement.

"Is he? I couldn't really tell in the dark, all I could see was that huge nos-"

"It is not big!" Daisy hissed, finally coming to. "It suits his face just fine."

"Well if I had known you girls were going to get your panties in a knot over this guy I would've accepted the invitation -"

"What invitation?" I interrupted.

"Geez, can a girl get a sentence out over here?!"

"Sorry."

"What I was about to say, was that Cindy -"

"SIDNEY!!!" we yelled in unison.

"-Sidney is staying at the Villas too, and there's some party for the guests there tonight that Dave invited us to -"

"And you said no?!" Heather looked as if someone had told her the truth about Santa Claus.

"Well, yes... how was I supposed to know you guys wanted to hang out with - what was it you called him?" Lara asked, turning her head to face me. "The 'old man'?"

I blushed. "I...I didn't mean it. I was just - "

"Ya, ya, cut the crap... I'll find Dave and tell him I've had a change of heart," Lara said, rolling her eyes with a smile.

"THANK YOU!!!" Heather and Daisy nearly knocked over the silverware as they came around the table to embrace Lara in a bear hug.

"Vanessa, isn't this amazing?!" Daisy gushed, reaching over to pull me into the squeeze.

I responded with a weak smile. My breakfast was on the rise.

****

The girls and I spent the rest of the day prepping for the party. Even though I was dreading it, I had to look my absolute best: manicures, pedicures, and tanning were in order. We even hit the gym for a bit; suddenly, the 'liquid diet' we'd been on for the past two days didn't seem like such a great idea.

"What do you think he'll be like?" Daisy asked dreamily, tossing me a towel.

I covered my face, pretending to wipe my forehead. "No idea."

Truth was, I didn't know. The Sidney I met yesterday morning versus the Sidney from last night were two entirely different people. Who knew if Jekyll or Hyde was coming out tonight?

"He's fucking sex on skates," Heather drooled. "I can't wait to meet him! Oh, and I call dibs on him first."

"He's all yours. I don't do children," Lara said, making a face.

"And you can count us out," Daisy said matter-of-factly, motioning between me and her.

Speak for yourself, I wanted to say, but kept my mouth shut.

"Great!" Heather grinned. "I wasn't too keen on the idea of a five-some anyway."

***

Sidney's POV

10pm. I was anxious for this party to start. Yesterday was evidence that I couldn't keep up with the guys and I was already on my second beer. My charm apparently faded after the 4th.

"Stop sipping like a pussy and down that shit," Jordan said, tipping my bottle up so that the beer dribbled down my chin.

"Fuck off, Staalsy," I said, swatting his hand away. "You just ruined my fucking shirt."

"Relax, I brought a whole shit load. Check my suitcase," Max laughed, cracking open another can for himself.

"INNNNCOMIIIING!" someone bellowed from outside, as a large group of women arrived and the DJ fired up the sound system.

"Damn, I think I just found my baby mama," Max breathed, pressing himself up against the window with his tongue hanging out.

"You're a dirty perv, you know that?" Tyler laughed, before turning to me. "You changing or what?"

I nodded, running up the stairs two steps at a time. Max may be a dog, but he had the right idea. It had been two days too long since I'd been laid. Tonight, things were going to change.

ON HIATUS

Sorry folks, i'm not going to be updating for a little while - a mix of being super busy, and finding some of my work incorporated into others' fan fics...

Must say, i'm a little disappointed that my ideas/writing style have been mimicked or paraphrased in a number of blogs I've come across since posting my own story up on the web a few weeks ago. Please, people, be a little bit more respectful of your fellow writers who put a lot of thought and effort into their stories, as you do.

On a brighter note, thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments and helpful hints, it has really helped my writing and tweaked some of my ideas as to where this story will go. I hope to update within the next few weeks, and appreciate your continued support.

xoxo
Cupid

Chapter 9

Vanessa's POV

I don't know when the girls came home, or how I'd made it to bed - but the next morning, I awoke next to Daisy with my head pounding, my mouth parched. My eyes were dry and my face felt tight, still tear-stained from the night before. I cringed, as the memories of an awful first night flooded back.

"Hey, you're awake," Daisy murmured, rolling over.

I nodded my head against the pillow.

"You look rough. Did you throw up again last night?"

I shook my head.

She raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason you're not speaking?"

I was afraid to open my mouth, for fear of an emotional takeover. I couldn't cry again - I wasn't drunk, there would be no excuse to use. Instead, I touched my throat, indicating it hurt, and pushed myself up off the bed.

"Water," I croaked, headed for the bathroom.

It had been over 12 hours since I'd last seen myself in the mirror: disheveled hair, raccoon eyes, smeared lipstick - boy, was I a winner! Maybe that's why I wasn't good enough for Sidney, I thought, as a fresh wave of tears spilled over. I turned on the tap to drown out the sounds of my sobs.

I had so wanted it to work, even if it was just for the week. People dreamt about their celebrity crushes every day - how many of them actually got to have their ultimate fantasies fulfilled with them? I had had my chance, and I blew it because my ego had gotten the best of me. So what if he couldn't remember my name? Was it really that important?

No, but you're also just one of a million other girls. You're not important to him either, a voice inside my head reasoned.

But it's not like we were getting married, the other one argued. It was just sex!

The devil won its battle, and there were no more excuses for my royal fuck-up last night. I had not only thrown Sidney out of my room, I had physically assaulted him. I physically assaulted him, I repeated in my head, and suddenly my tears were replaced with a hysterical fit of laughter. I get a chance with the sexiest man alive, and instead of screwing his brains out, I beat him up! Hahaha...

***

Sidney's POV

"Rise and shine, Sugar Lips!" someone yelled, barging into my room.

I opened an eye. "Fuck, Max - what time is it?"

"It's almost NOON, you lazy ass! Get the fuck up - we wanna hear your story about last night!"

I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. "I'll be down in 10 minutes."

"No, you won't. C'mon buddy, let's go," he replied, grabbing my arm in an attempt to drag me out of bed.

"Dude, I don't have boxers on."

"See ya downstairs," he said, bolting for the door.

I pulled the covers back over my head, dreading the face-off between myself and the nosy pack that was my team. I had spent half the night avoiding them, nursing my face and wandering the beach, alone. I didn't want to be in bed when the guys came home - they'd think I struck out with Vanessa if I was asleep before them.

I was back at the spot where we'd first made love - our bodies still imprinted in the sand. I remembered how soft her skin was, the way she shivered when I touched her; the taste of her sweet lips; the scent of her perfume... I stood there for a long time, wondering what would have happened if I hadn't gone to her room; if I had just let things fall into place on their own. I was sure she was just as into me as I was into her - she had pretty much implied we'd be having sex again, promising we'd have "plenty of time to finish" when she left me on the beach - so why didn't I just wait?

"SIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDD!" Jordan yelled from downstairs, breaking my flashback.

I dragged myself out of bed, knowing I would never get back to sleep with these guys in the house. I figured I'd play along for the question-and-answer period and then feign sickness or something, depending on where they wanted to go. I was not in the mood to run into Vanessa today.

"It's about fucking time... long night, bro?"

I shrugged, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

"What the hell is that? We're waiting for details," Marc-Andre piped up.

"Or maybe there are no juicy details. Hey Sid - bet you two stayed up all night and talked, didn't you?" Max laughed, reaching over to high-five the rest of the guys who laughed along with him.

"No one resists the Captain," I lied, putting my feet up on the table.

"I thought you said she didn't know who you were?"

"She doesn't, I'm just irresistible."

A newspaper was whacked over my head as Brooks strolled into the kitchen with his mug of coffee.

"Get your stank feet off the table, we eat on that thing!"

"So, what was she like? Big tits? Nice ass?" Max made a big round gesture with both hands.

"Nice everything," I replied, setting my feet on the ground. "She was perfect, man."

"Was?" my old friend Mario laughed. "What, you got rid of the evidence or something? Introduce us tonight."

"Beach. Now," Geno interrupted, dumping his plate into the sink. "Girls waiting."

"La Russe est vraiment," Max said, rising from his seat. "Sid, you lead the way. I'm sure Yasmine has friends she can hook us up with."

"Nah, gonna lay low for a bit...don't want her getting all clingy and shit."

"That's why you have to make the terms clear from the start!" Max shook his head. "So young, so much to learn."

I rolled my eyes. "You only get ass because you know me."

"Touche, my friend, touche."

"You guys go ahead without me...I have some more sleeping to do."

Max shrugged. "Suit yourself. Allons-y, boys!"

And with that, my friends cleared the villa and I went back to bed. It was going to be a long day.

Chapter 8

Minutes must have passed before I let myself fall to the floor, almost convulsing in tears. Being called a "slut" had stung, but nothing hurt more than to hear him call me "used goods". I was used. He didn't care for me; he just wanted pussy, like I had feared. That on its own was painful to swallow, but to realize that he'd gotten me to cheat on my boyfriend of eight years was even worse. How could I ever come clean with Rob? Eight years of near-bliss and I had thrown it all away for a one-night stand? Star-struck or not, he would never forgive me.

I hate him!, my brain screamed. How could I have been so stupid to think that this NHL superstar had any interest in me outside of sex?

***

Sidney's POV

I unclenched my jaw as I pounded down the pavement, sprinting back to our villa before the rest of the guys returned.

How did they do it?, I wondered, thinking back to the countless number of women my friends managed in a night. I thought maybe it was liquid courage and outdrank them all tonight, but that clearly backfired when I couldn't even remember the girl's damn name. Mind you, I had never thought in a million years I'd be quizzed in the middle of sex.

I had told the guys about the beautiful brunette I had met on the way to lunch, and Max immediately started calling her "Yasmine", in reference to his favourite Baywatch babe. The name stuck, and I guess it must have slipped out when I was with her and really set her off. It was a shame, too: the brunette had been perfect. Not only was she hot, but she had no clue who I was, and likely never would. I thought she might have been Canadian - she had thrown in an "eh?" when we had spoken earlier - but I would have been recognizable to anyone from the Great White North by now.

The boys had had a good laugh at my expense, calling me "soft" and bet that I wouldn't be able to "hit it and quit it" with her, as they so lovingly referred to one-night stands. I was determined to shut them up and prove it on this vacation. During the regular season, the guys always gave me a hard time for not taking advantage of the bevy of women that threw themselves at us, but the truth was, I just wasn't the type to kiss-and-tell. I'd had my fair share of women - sometimes it was as innocent as a coffee date, other times it was incredible head and a good fuck - but I kept those rendezvous off the radar. It was hard enough finding a sane, attractive woman not looking to get her 15 seconds of fame through me; I didn't need a woman with a vendetta against me if she knew she wasn't the only one I was sleeping around with. The innocence I projected also attracted more classier women, and if the girl had a reputation to keep, she wasn't going to blab our story. Yup, I had my sex life down to a science.

I let myself into the palatial private villa we were calling home for the next week. I glanced at the grandfather clock in the foyer - 2:06am. I probably had 20 minutes to pack ice on my face before some of the guys showed up. I had to rummage through the freezer for ice cubes - most had been used for our pre-drink earlier - and quickly wrapped them in a dishtowel. I ran up to my room to check out the damage in the mirror. Red, but not bruised. Yet.

I couldn't believe I'd been slapped. I had never been hit - let alone turned down - by a girl in my whole adult life; who did this chick think she was? I felt bad for what I'd said to her - I had a lot of respect for women and didn't usually use such vulgar language against them - but it was the first word that came to mind after she humiliated me. Besides, she needed an ego-check. Like seriously, who likes to hear the sound of their own name that much that she had to stop having sex because I couldn't remember it? She was so vain...

Fuck. It was Vanessa.

Chapter 7

"Now that's the kind of scream I was looking for hours ago," he grinned, stepping through the door frame. "Mind if i come in?"

Jeebus, was he stalking me?! I stepped aside as Sidney let himself into my room.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, both confused and elated.

"I was passing by when I saw you go back to your room. Noticed your friend come back out, too. Figured you could use some company." He gave me that cheesy grin again.

"I'm actually not feeling so well. Came back to lie down."

"Please, don't let me stop you." He motioned for me to return to bed.

I didn't know what to do. Was he joining me? Was he taking care of me? I shut the door but didn't move. My legs felt like jelly, my heart was pounding and my vision was a bit hazy. Alcohol + lust = trouble.

"Or, the wall is fine, too," he said, inching closer.

His hot breath brought goosebumps to my skin, as he tilted his head and put his lips to mine. He held his hands firmly on my hips as we kissed; aggressive and sloppy, not at all like the first time we had. In fact, we were practically knocking teeth as he kept trying to swallow my mouth. Or was it me? I couldn't tell who was more drunk.

"Sid, stop..." I said, turning my face away. This was not how I wanted to continue. I could barely hold myself up, everything was still spinning.

"It won't take long," he growled, lifting me against the door. As if on auto, my legs wrapped around his waist as his hands slithered up my skirt for the second time tonight. He pulled my thong to one side and slipped two fingers inside, his lips continuing to smother my face with wet kisses.

He was rough, finger fucking me like he was pounding an elevator button in a hurry.

"Sid..." I breathed, wanting him to stop but not strong enough to pull myself together. I had wanted him a few hours ago - still did - but this was not the fantasy I had imagined. This was actually kind of painful, like I was some cheap whore he was just using for pussy.

He took the sound of his name as a sign to keep going, I guess, because in one swift motion he had pulled his cock out of his jeans and pushed between my wet lips. I wasn't ready, and almost had the wind knocked out of me as he thrust forward, trying to get in deeper.

He rocked my body against the heavy metal door, and I eventually gave in, wrapping my arms around his neck for stability as I rode his throbbing cock. He buried his face into my cleavage, prompting me to lift my dress over my head and expose my full breast. He took one in his mouth and sucked eagerly, his cock never missing a beat inside my dripping pussy.

"Oh, Sid..." I moaned, hoping that I was going into orgasm and not passing out because of the alcohol I'd consumed earlier.

My eyes were still closed when I heard him grunt an unfamiliar name in return.

"What was that?" I asked, forcing myself back to reality.

"Ssshhh Babe," he replied, hiding his face in my hair and continuing to push forward.

He could fuck himself if he thought he was going to cum inside me while thinking of someone else, I thought.

"What did you just call me, Sidney?" I repeated, unwrapping my legs from around his waist and trying to slide off his dick.

"Just relax," he said, not stopping. He had me pinned against the door, his hands planted firmly on my ass. I pushed against his chest, trying to break his grip and get him to pull out.

"Let me go!" I demanded, my voice starting to rise.

He finally looked at me; he had stopped trying to fuck me but his swollen cock remained inside me.

"Are you kidding me?" he asked with a straight, almost angry, face.

"What is my name?"

When he failed to answer, I thought I was going to puke. How many women was he sleeping with around here that he couldn't remember me from this morning??

I shoved him in the chest again but this time he didn't put up a fight. The passion was obviously lost now and Sidney went limp, pulling himself out but leaving his pants unzipped.

"Tell me this is a joke," he said, as I pushed past him to dress myself again.

"Ok, this is a joke. You coming in here expecting to get laid when you can't even remember my name? Yeah, pretty funny to me," I replied, anger burning up inside me.

"You've gotta be kidding me. How fucking juvenile are you?" Sidney shot back, whipping me around to face him.

"Don't touch me!"

And before I could stop myself, I slapped him across the face with my open palm.

Sidney was stunned. His hand flew up to his cheek, already reddened from the hit. For a moment I was too scared to breathe - he looked pissed. I knew I had had too much to drink - including the cocktails at dinner - but I had never let my emotions get the best of me like this before.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry" I gushed, reaching for his face.

He grabbed my wrist in mid-air and held on so tightly I thought it would snap. "Don't you ever touch me again, you fucking slut."

He let go and I stumbled backward, almost knocking over a chair.

"Hope your boyfriend doesn't mind used goods," he sneered.

Then he turned around and left, slamming the door behind him.

Chapter 6

I took a detour back to the resort so that I could sneak back up to our room to change. My dress was completely muddied in the back, signs of a sure-fire rendezvous on the beach. On my way back down, I saw Heather and Daisy combing the lobby - presumably for me.

"Daisy!" I called out.

She spun around with a frantic look on her face. "Where the hell have you been?!"

"I went to the bathroom, got lost, I'm sorry..."

"For 45 fucking minutes?! Are you kidding me? I was just searching the beach for your dead body!" Heather said through gritted teeth, trying to stay calm.

"I felt sick, and then I went upstairs to lie down-"

"I went upstairs 20 minutes ago. You weren't there," Daisy cut me off.

Thank God I had just missed her.

"And why are you changed? Did you throw up on yourself?"

Bingo!

"Ya, I told you - I felt sick. But i'm better now, don't worry. Where's Lara? " I asked, trying to get the attention off me.

"She's still with Hugh Hefner," Heather replied sarcastically. "We told her to stay there in case you returned. You sure you're alright?"

"Ya, ya. I'm fine. Just needed a breather. Let's get back to the party."

I needed alcohol. I felt horrible about what I'd just done to Rob, and yet, I was more disappointed at not being able to finish with Sidney. I needed to drink my sorrows away.

Heather shrugged and linked her arms with mine. "If you insist."

***

"You sure you want that?" Daisy asked, eyeing my shot of tequila.

She had taken it upon herself to be my watchdog, after I'd said I wasn't feeling well and had let her believe I'd thrown up.

"Ya, Dude," Lara chimed in. "You don't look so good, and we don't want you yakking again. Maybe you should take it easy."

So I looked like crap?

"Hey, I'm acting fine, right? Trust me, guys, I can handle this." And with that, I downed my shot in one gulp.

Within the hour, I was a drunken mess. I could barely stand upright and the tears began to spill uncontrollably.

"Get a grip, Nessa!" Heather exclaimed. "Why are you crying? What is wrong with you today?"

"I...I n-need...t-t-to c-call....Rob," I managed, through sobs.

"I'll take you back to the room," Daisy offered, grabbing my arm.

The other girls remained at the bar as Daisy lead me back. I held her hand the whole way, for support in both the physical and emotional sense. She just didn't know it.

"Want me to stay while you call?" Daisy asked, as she unlocked the door for me.

I shook my head. "I'll be fine, I just need to talk to him."

Daisy furrowed her brows in concern. "Ok, but we'll be right downstairs if you need us. Keep your phone on you."

I wiped my tears and gave her a fake smile. "Thanks, Dais. I'll probably just crash after the phone call. But I'll see you girls in the morning."

Daisy nodded and left the room. I checked the clock above the television. It was only 1am? This was the longest day, ever! I nervously hit the SEND button on my cellphone, the last call tracing back to Rob. My heart pounded with each passing ring.

It finally went to voicemail. I checked the clock again, only to realize that it was Saturday night and that he'd probably gone out with the boys. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least he'd get my missed call, and I didn't have to speak to him while I was an emotional wreck. I shut my phone off and lay my head down on the pillow. My head spun in dizzying circles, so much that I thought I really would vomit. I sat up; I needed to take a walk.

I quickly scribbled a note for the girls and proceeded to head out. Only when I turned the handle and opened the door, a figure was already waiting for me in the door frame. I screamed.

Chapter 5

He was still laughing when he picked up a handful of wet sand and threw it at me before taking off further down the beach. It was refreshing to see him like this - a carefree 22 year old - as opposed to the all-business Sidney Crosby I always catch on TV.

I chased him, scooping up some of my own sand and hitting him square in the back. He fell dramatically to the ground, pretending he'd been shot. I finally caught up to him, trying to catch my breath and laughing at his theatrics.

"Truce?" I stuck out my hand to help him to his feet.

"War," he replied, pulling me down to him.

I shrieked as he began tickling me in the sand, his body almost saddling mine.

"Stop!" I begged, between fits of laughter.

But he continued, until his fingers grazed my upper thigh when the hem of my dress rose amidst the struggle. He stopped and I froze, letting out a tiny gasp of surprise at the sensation his hand had left. He stared at me for a moment - hesitating in case I objected, I assumed - before lowering himself onto my body so that our faces were only inches apart.

"Ever had sex on the beach?" he whispered into my ear.

I closed my eyes as he inched his hand up my skirt, his hot breath lingering over my collarbone. He put his lips to my neck, moving towards my mouth with every kiss. My right hand was stuck under the weight of his broad chest, but my free hand was wrapped around his body, pressing against his hard, muscular back.

He finally found my mouth, kissing me softly at first, then firmer as his hand reached my waist. Our mouths opened slowly in unison and our tongues danced back and forth, his hand continuing to wander over my body. I moaned and tugged at his hair as he ground his pelvis against mine, digging his knees into the sand.

It should have stopped before it started, but the passion I felt with Sidney was like none I'd ever felt before. Soon, his shirt was off and the strap of my dress lowered. His body was smooth and warm, his dick hard and thick. I had unzipped his pants and stroked the length of his shaft as he swirled his tongue over my erect nipples. His hot breath on my bare skin brought goosebumps and I shivered in delight. As I pumped, feeling his dick swell in my hand, he took two fingers and moistened them in his mouth before slipping them inside me. Oh my God.

"Feel good?" he asked, a small smirk on his face.

I just nodded, afraid that if I opened my mouth I'd scream, "fuck me already!" - and wished to save myself the embarrassment of looking overly horny. Thankfully, it was only moments later that he wiggled out of his jeans and pressed the head of his cock against my clit. Sidney wasn't pulling out any condoms nor did he ask me if I was on the pill, but lucky for us, I had been on birth control for several years now. It surprised me that he lacked concern, but since he figured I had a boyfriend, he probably just assumed I had us protected.

He struggled to enter me, and I must have had a pained expression on my face as he pushed, because he suddenly stopped and asked if I was okay.

"You're just a little bigger than I'm used to," I confessed, short of breath.

"You're definitely a little tighter than I'm used to," he said, with an almost victorious smile.

He finally squeezed himself through my opening and I could feel my muscles clench around his dick the deeper he tried to go. He groaned and I whimpered, our bodies moving in unison. Just as he rolled me over to saddle him, we heard a frantic cry in the distance.

"VANESSSSSAAAA! VANESSSSAAAAA!" the person was screaming.

"What the fuck?" Sidney, his hands still holding onto my hips, shifted me to his left to get a better look at the screaming coming from behind me.

But I recognized the voice almost immediately and scrambled to my feet, leaving Sidney with his erect penis out in the open.

"Where are you going?!"

"That's Heather, one of my girl friends. Shit, they're probably worried sick about me, we've been gone so long," I explained, slipping back into my thong.

"But we just started..." he sighed, propping himself up on both elbows.

I leaned down to give him a quick kiss. "And we've got plenty of time to finish," I promised in his ear.

Chapter 4

The night air was buzzing with excitement; bottles were popping, laughter was resonating, and the live band was bumping. I had just finished my third margarita - to go with my 2nd glass of wine - when I spotted Sidney approaching the bar at the far end of the restaurant. A few guys that had walked in with him were dispersing into the crowd, searching for available women to keep them company on the dance floor.

"I feel like dancing!" I suddenly announced, removing the napkin from my lap and rising from my seat.

"One more round, first!" Heather motioned for the waiter to bring us another tray of cocktails.

I shook my head. "Nah, i've had too much already. I'll see you girls on the dance floor," and attempted to slip away but Lara grabbed my arm just in time.

"I'm ready to dance, too. I see a hot guy by the bar, anyway."

I prayed that it wasn't Sidney as she and I approached the dance floor area. Thankfully, she had her eye on an older gentleman, with enough jewelry on him to put Birks to shame.

"Really, Lara?"

"What? He's hot! Kinda like Richard Gere, isn't he?!"

I was about to argue and stop her from approaching the man, when my eyes flickered toward Sidney and we made eye contact.

"Oh! Ya, you know what? He kinda does!" I said with renewed excitement, focusing back on Lara. "And he looks rich, too. Find out if he's staying at the Villas." I hoped she didn't detect my hurry to get rid of her.

"Ok, that's random...? But I can't approach him alone, anyway. I need you as my wing woman. You have to talk to his friend."

I looked back to Sid who was beginning to make his way over. I panicked; I didn't have time to think of a distraction for Lara, so I did the first thing that came to me. I pushed Lara into the man she wanted to meet, blaming it on the guy behind me who was struggling to keep up with his Salsa partner.

"Oh, i'm so sorry!" I apologized to the man, while Lara mouthed 'what the fuck?' to me. "God, it's getting crowded and sweaty in here, eh? I think it's time we got another drink."

I smiled sweetly at the man as he nodded and helped Lara to her feet again.

"Are you ok, pretty lady? What can we get to fix this night for ya?"

Lara shot me a dirty look before turning her pretty face back to him and ordering a Vodka Tonic.

"Order one for me, too," I said, stepping away from the group. "I'll be right back. Ladies room!"

"Hey!" I heard someone shout over the noise.

I looked up to see Sidney holding a glass above his head, indicating that he was on his way over to me. A quick glance over my shoulder to where Lara was standing - she was not paying attention - and I squeezed through the throng of people to reach him first.

"Hey, i was just coming over to meet you."

"Ya, i know. Listen, i'm not really a fan of this music. Wanna take a walk?"

"Um, ok...?"

I lead Sidney out of the canopied restaurant, away from all the people and onto the now deserted beach.

"Is everything ok?" he asked, when I stopped to kick off my heels.

"Huh? Oh ya, sure. Just needed some air."

"That was an open air bar," he laughed, overtaking me.

I couldn't think of anything better as I struggled to keep up with him, my bare feet sinking into the soft, damp sand.

He finally found a spot well away from the hotel, set his beer down in the sand and took a seat next to it. I cringed - my beautiful dress was going to be ruined if I sat down. But I couldn't make any demands to move; I'd already changed our date from dinner to drinks, then took it from the bar to the beach. Any more requests and he would surely leave me.

"So what's the deal?" he asked, as I carefully lowered myself onto the sand next to him.

"I don't get what you mean- ?"

"Avoiding me in public. Blowing me off for dinner, coming out here instead of hanging out at the resort like everyone else..."

I was silent as I tried to think of an explanation. Why hadn't I just told him I knew who he was? At least that way I could have used the excuse that I was avoiding public arenas for his benefit.

"It's a boyfriend, isn't it? You have a boyfriend and you don't want your friends to tattle. Am i right?"

Crap. He was going to think I was a cheat if I admitted to sneaking around because of a boyfriend; but I also couldn't tell him that I knew he was a famous star and I didn't want my friends to get a piece of him, too. That would just label me a crazy fanatic.

When I hesitated, he said, "I think that's kinda hot."

I turned to look at him. Was he serious?

He grinned and took a swig of his beer, turning his head to look back over the water.

"I won't tell him if you won't," he continued. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him, right?" I was still staring at him in silent disbelief. I couldn't believe what he was saying!

He looked back at me and shrugged. "That's my motto, anyway," and downed the rest of his beer.

When I finally managed to find my voice, I asked him if he had a girlfriend.

"Sure, if you can call her that. We're dating but we're both really busy people. She does her own thing for most of the year and vice versa."

I wondered if 'she' was the girl rumoured to be dating him all over the internet - the catalogue model from New York City.

"And she knows you're not in a monogamous relationship?"

He laughed. "It hasn't been said, but it's understood. My job... I'm away on the road a lot. It's hard to touch base with her, and, well... shit happens, I guess."

If I hadn't known better, I would have thought he was a deadbeat trucker. But I had to admit, it was nice to hear him speak candidly about his - and most other hockey players', I'm sure - off-ice behaviour.

"So, I'd just be another one for the books, eh?"

If Sidney had caught on that I was Canadian, he didn't show it. "Who said you made the cut?" he teased, before dodging my playful punch.

Chapter 3

It took me a moment to regain my composure after Sidney had left me on the path, but I eventually made my way to the pool, where Daisy was sunbathing and Heather and Lara were shamelessly flirting with the bartender at the swim-up counter.

"They know the drinks are included, right?" I asked with a roll of my eyes, settling down next to Daisy.

She removed her sunglasses and cocked an eyebrow. "Do i detect a little jealousy?"

"Of what? A chance to be with that greaseball? No, thank you," I said, my mind wandering back to Sidney Crosby. Now he would be worth the trouble of flirting with...

Daisy laughed. "There are a couple of hotties around...not that you and I will really benefit from that. Still nice to look at, though."

Ugh. It was at times like these that I wished Daisy wasn't so prim-and-proper. I would never cheat on Rob - I had no reason to - but a little flirting never hurt anyone! I knew Daisy, though, and she would be super against anything of the sort.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Jake called me before you got here, said Rob was worried about you because you hadn't touched base yet. I told Jake to pass on the message that we've landed safely, but did you call your boyfriend back yet?"

I slapped my forehead. "Shit! I'll be back... left my phone in the room."

I jogged across the manicured lawns back to the hotel, cursing myself for forgetting about Rob. I never made such careless mistakes... neither of us did, not when it came to each other.

"We meet again."

"Oh!" I gasped, taken by surprise. I clutched my heart. "I didn't even hear you behind me."

Sidney grinned. "Scared you, did I?"

"To death."

"Bet I could make your heart race in a good way, too."

Whaaaa-t? No way - he couldn't have just said what I thought he said. The Sidney Crosby portrayed on TV and every glossy cover across the nation was a complete gentleman...super polished...completely...innocent?

"Sorry, too soon?" He still had a smirk on his face.

"No, just taken by surprise."

"Why? Are you saying I don't look like the type of guy that gets girls?" He pouted, pretending to be hurt.

Oh my God, those lips were going to be the death of me! So luscious, so kissable...

I snapped back to reality. "Oh, um...no, that's not what i meant. It's just that on TV -" Shit! He had no idea I knew who he was. "Um, you know, those lines never work. And i'm just surprised you'd pull such a cheesy one on me." I let out nervous laugh, praying he would buy my explanation.

Thankfully, he did. "Well," he said with a laugh. "I thought that was an original, but if it's cheesy, I'll gladly take suggestions to help my case in the future."

This couldn't be happening. Sidney Crosby was not at my hotel doorstep, asking me to help him with his sex life. I turned the handle to let myself in - then turned back to Sidney.

"Why don't you try the traditional route - date first?"

He pondered the thought for a moment. "Sure, I could do that. It'd be the cheapest date I've ever taken anyone out on, considering we're already at an all-inclusive."

I laughed along with him before realizing what he thought I was implying. He thinks I want to date him first.

"So, how about we meet at 8 downstairs?"

I hesitated before answering. I wanted to have dinner with him, but I didn't want to have to introduce him to my friends, too. Besides, they'd blow my cover and reveal that we all knew who he was.

"Uh...why don't we meet up after dinner? It's our first night, and the girls really want to have dinner together, just the 4 of us..."

"Fair enough," he paused, before continuing. "Post-dinner drinks by the bar, then?"

I couldn't say 'no' twice. "Sure."

"Great, see you tonight." He winked and continued on his way, whistling as he walked.

I entered my hotel room in a daze, forgetting why I had come back up here in the first place. How was I going to sneak off to have drinks with Sidney Crosby without the girls noticing? I'm sure he wouldn't be alone, either, and his friends would want to know if I had friends to introduce them to.

Riiiiiiiiiiing. I jumped up from the bed, surprised by the familiar ring tone. Rob!

"Hello?"

"Where have you been? I've been texting and calling you all morning. I was worried sick!"

I grimaced. "I know, I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I got sick on the plane, and then I rested my head for a bit when we got to the hotel, and after we showered we went down to the pool and I... just lost track of time, I guess. I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry to hear that you were sick, but I wish you would have called or at least texted me to let me know you were ok. Are you ok? How's your head?"

"Feeling much better, thank you." I leaned back against the headboard, smiling at the thought of my boyfriend waiting for me back home. My boyfriend. I had a boyfriend.

"That's good. Did you eat anything yet?"

"No, but I will. Came back up to get my phone to call you, actually."

"Well, I'm glad I crossed your mind at some point today," he chuckled.

Only every time I was talking to another man I wished I was with, I thought guiltily.

"I miss you."

"I miss you, too. Are you having a good time, though? Get a chance to meet new people yet?"

I bit my lip as I lied to my boyfriend and said 'no'. I could've told him about Sid - he would be excited, really - but that would also mean he'd spread the good news to his buddies, including Jake. Jake would then call Daisy, and soon the girls would all know that Sidney Crosby and his entourage were here at the resort. And I wasn't ready to share yet.

"Ok, well update me again when you have a chance. I have the afternoon shift today, so I'll be free tonight if you decide to call."

"I will."

"Ok. talk to you tonight then. Love you."

"Love you, too."

I waited for Rob to hang up before I let out a huge sigh. Tonight was going to be a mission - dinner with the girls, drinks with Sid, post-party phone call to Rob. I hoped I could pull off all three - but I was really just excited for one.

***

"What are you wearing tonight?" Heather asked, taking over the mirror.

I shrugged, collecting my cosmetics off the bathroom counter. We were back in the hotel after a long day out in the sun: a friendly game of beach volleyball with some of the resort staff, a dip in the pool, and lunch in the open-air restaurant where we met some of the other vacationers; but we never ran into Sidney. That was both a good and bad thing - my girl friends were still clueless about his presence, and yet I wished he had seen my awesome spikes during the game.

"You don't seem very excited. Tell me it's not because you miss your boyfriend!"

Truth was, it had nothing to do with Rob. I was nervous about meeting Sidney later tonight - I mean, who wouldn't be?

"I'm fine, just a little tired. And I'm debating between the black mini and the zebra one-shoulder, if you really want to know."

"Zebra print," Lara cut in, holding up two dresses in front of the full-length. "You're talking about your black tube mini with the ruffled skirt, right?"

I nodded. "It's one of the hottest dresses I own."

"Um, yeah - super hot, but also totally inappropriate for the beach! Who the hell are you trying to impress?"

I turned away from the girls to hide the smirk across my face. If you only knew, I thought.

"Anyway, the zebra print is lighter. Satin-y. Alcohol comes right off it. Go with that one."

Thirty minutes later, I was wearing my short zebra print dress, cinched at the waist by a thick black belt; my sky-high black Steve Maddens; silver bangles and a pair of silver hoops. My hair had been pulled back high into a messy bun, and Heather had helped with the smoky eyeshadow and nude lips.

"Wow," Daisy breathed, taking in my outfit, hair and makeup. "Vanessa, you look stunning! We have to take pics for Rob."

I laughed it off, pretending that I hadn't planned on looking extra hot tonight.

"Group picture, and then let's get this show on the road! I'm starving!" Lara said, jumping into the shot.

Chapter 2

"Which bus do we take?" Heather asked, pointing to two shuttle buses with the name of our resort plastered on the sides.

We were exiting the Arrivals gate, luggage in tow, figuring out the next step of our journey. I shielded my eyes from the sun and scanned the group of people boarding both buses when I spotted the pink Polo shirt.

"That one," I answered, pointing to Bus 1. The guy I had bumped into aboard the plane had his back turned to us, in line for Bus 2, and I was avoiding him at all costs.

The ride to the hotel was bumpy, but the friendly bus driver and the beautiful scenery more than made up for it.

Buzzzz. My cell phone vibrated as I rummaged through my purse to find it. One new message.

'Hey Gorgeous, hope you landed safely. Call me when you're settled in. X'

A smile crept over my face as I read the text from my boyfriend, Rob. We were high school sweethearts, having been together since he and I were 15 and 14, respectively. He was the kindest soul I had ever met, and he wasn't hard on the eyes, either. Rob was tall, medium-built, with sandy brown hair and blue eyes so clear they almost glowed. He had a dimple in his right cheek and a smile that could melt your heart. My parents adored him, my brother idolized him and my friends couldn't love him more if they tried. In short, he was perfect. Almost.

The one thing - and probably the only thing - that bugged me about Rob was that he was less than ambitious. His education - or lack thereof - and current employment situation was a reflection of that; when Rob had turned 19, he accepted a job at the local casino that paid twice the minimum wage for less than full-time hours. At the time, it was a sweet deal. Four years later, Rob is still hanging onto that job. Sure, he had job security and he was getting by on the pay, but that meant Rob had no intention of striving to do something more meaningful with his life. He was happy where he was, satisfied with what the Casino - and the city of Brantford - had to offer. I, on the other hand, dreamt of jet-setting around the world, driving fancy cars, owning a mansion in Bel-Air and earning more money than I could ever spend. Superficial, maybe, but that was the difference between Rob and I.

"Dude, why are you still staring at your phone?" Lara nudged me with her elbow, breaking my thoughts.

"Haha, sorry, text from Rob."

"Awww, how is Prince Charming? Miss you already?" Her face had that 'oh-he's-so-dreamy' look across it as she spoke.

"Nah," I laughed. "Just wanted to make sure we got in ok."

Daisy checked her cellphone and pouted. "No message from Jake."

"Good God, need I remind you that we're here for eye-candy and tequila?!" Heather sighed, re-applying lip gloss to her pouty pink lips. "No more boyfriend talk for the rest of the trip, please!"

Daisy and I exchanged knowing glances - Heather was in the mood to party, and she was taking all of us down with her.

Heather was the fiery one - confident, witty, and fiercely protective of her loved ones. She didn't take anyone's bullshit, and if you were close to her, you didn't have to take anyone's bullshit, either. People often mistook her attitude for bitchiness, but she was really just a hard shell with a super soft interior. She grew up with 4 older brothers and without a mother - she had passed away shortly after Heather was born - and was often left to take care of the house, cooking and cleaning up after them. Her father worked 2 full-time jobs for as long as I could remember - day and night shifts - just to keep a roof over his children's heads. Her brothers had taught her how to fight, play sports, and to treat men as if every one of them was expendable; this was their way of saving their little sister from inevitable heartbreak. Not that they had much to worry about; most guys were afraid of Heather - not only did she have 4 older brothers, but she stood 5 feet, 10 inches tall all on her own; had a solid, curvy frame; and short, platinum blonde hair that was often tucked under a sweaty baseball cap.

Daisy was the soft-spoken, quiet one. She came from a well-to-do family; her father was co-owner of 3 gas stations and her mother was a nurse at the local hospital. She had a younger sister (also named after a flower), a boyfriend who adored her, and a 2-year old Jack Russell Terrier that hated my own 2-year old Shih-Poo. Daisy was a devout Christian, a member of the Church choir, and sweeter than sugar. Though I couldn't say the same for myself, she and I looked very much alike on the outside - with our long, chocolate brown hair, olive skin, dark eyes and petite bone structure; we were often mistaken for sisters.

"How far is this effing resort? Shouldn't we be there by now?" Lara whined, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

Lara, the raven-haired beauty, was often the hardest to please. She came from a modest, mixed family - her mother was Chinese and her father, Irish - but both parents relished in spoiling their only child. Her fair skin was a stark contrast to the rest of her features - the dark hair, the dark, slanted eyes - and her personality was just the same. Underneath that innocent, angelic exterior was a hot-blooded diva with a penchant for hard liquor and rich men.

Just then, the bus pulled up to our palacial resort, and all complaints stopped.

"Here we go, ladies!" Heather grinned, jumping from her seat and heading for the front of the bus.

I put away my phone and dutifully followed.

***

The four of us settled into our room, taking turns showering and changing into more beach-appropriate attire. I was the last to get ready, as I had taken a short nap after our arrival to shake off the dizziness from our flight.

"You coming?"

"I'll meet you guys at the bar," I replied, as Lara, Heather and Daisy stood by the door. "I need a few more minutes."

The girls agreed and left me to it. I struggled to tease the hair at the crown of my head, my locks lying greasily and flat against my scalp. Of course my hair wasn't going to co-operate - it never did when I needed to impress. Wait - what? I have no one to impress, I thought to myself, grabbing a wide brimmed hat off the bed post. I'm in a loving, committed relationship and don't need attention from anyone else.

I took one last glance in the mirror - red bikini, off-the-shoulder t-shirt long enough to cover my "assets", white flip flops to match my hat, wavy hair partially hidden by said hat... I was finally beach-ready.

It was gorgeous outside - clear blue sky, temperature in the high 30s, the slightest of breezes coming in from the water... oops, my hat! Just as I turned to chase it down, someone caught it for me.

"It's a good thing I was here," he said with a smile.

My breath caught in my throat. There, in front of me, stood 6 feet of utter deliciousness.

"I believe this belongs to you," he added slowly, handing over my hat.

"Th...thanks," I stammered, quickly replacing it on my head. 'OMG! Sidney Crosby!!!' my brain screamed.

"You look familiar. Did you fly in today, too?"

Oh God, please no... don't let him be the guy from the plane!

I shook my head.

"Oh..." he frowned, trying to recall where he'd seen me if it wasn't on the plane.

Say something you idiot! But I was too star-struck to listen. Sidney Crosby, the NHL's greatest player and the man of my wildest dreams, was striking conversation with me and all I could do was stare back at him hopelessly.

"Ok, well, I better get back to my friends," he said, stepping around me to head to the bar.

You're losing your chance!

"Wait!" I called out, just a little too loudly.

Sidney stopped in his tracks. "You ok?" he asked, bewildered by the urgency in my voice.

Should I tell him he was the love of my life? No, I had weirded him out already. Plus, I'd heard once that Sidney shied away from lovestruck fans. Better to pretend I knew nothing at all.

"Vanessa," was all I finally managed to get out.

"Sidney," he replied, shaking my outstretched hand. God, he was strong.

I smiled, about to open my mouth to speak again when a stout, blonde friend of his appeared on the stone path, motioning for Sid to hurry up and follow him.

"Sorry, I gotta go... it was nice meeting you though," Sid said, tipping the beak of his cap toward me.

"See you around!" I called after him.

He turned his head back to look at me, his beautiful, bee-stung lips curled into a smile. "You betcha'," he said with a wink.

Chapter 1

"I think I'm going to be sick already," I groaned, as I slid further down in my seat.

I hated planes - the close quarters, the food, the smell...everything about them. Not to mention that my ears plugged every time we took off or landed, and I was guaranteed to throw up at least 3x from motion sickness on every trip.

"Oh man, how did I get stuck seated next to you?!" Heather asked incredulously, shaking her head. "I rigged the friggin' draw!"

"Sucker!" Lara laughed from behind, sticking her tongue out at Heather. "That's what you get for trying to scam us!"

I closed my eyes as my best friends continued to talk amongst themselves, thinking happy thoughts and trying to push away the nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach. There were four of us in total - Heather, Lara, Daisy and myself - and this was our first trip together in over 4 years. We had grown up together in the small town of Brantford, Ontario, but had gone our separate ways for University and College - the first time we'd been apart in over 15 years. When we tearfully said our goodbyes, we had made a pact to travel together after graduation. Fast forward to four years later, and here we are, aboard Air Canada Flight 227 bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"Vanessa, are you going to be okay?" Daisy asked me softly, peeking out from behind my seat.

I nodded. "I'll be fine, thanks. Just let me know when we get there."

I pulled the window shade down next to me and got comfortable in my seat, preparing to fall asleep for the remainder of the flight.

***

About an hour later, I was jerked awake when the plane was caught in turbulence. I sat upright, clutching my arm rests tightly and taking deep breaths.

"Relax, Vanessa. This is perfectly normal," Heather said with a reassuring smile, rubbing my back.

I nodded in agreement, about to reply, when my face suddenly contorted and I knew what was coming next.

"What?? Why are you making that face?" Heather furrowed her brows, not able to read my expression.

I fumbled with my seatbelt and finally pulled it off before rising and covering my mouth, hoping she'd get the picture and get out of my way.

"Oh shit! You're gonna throw up!" she exclaimed in horror, hastily removing her own seatbelt and jumping out into the aisle.

I ran to the nearest lavatory, only to find it was occupied. As was the one on the other end of our section. I panicked, sure that I was about 10 seconds away from puking on the poor passenger in front of me. 'Why the hell did they remove barf bags?!' I wondered, just as Lara appeared out of nowhere, pulling me into the Executive Class wing and pushing me through a lavatory door.

"Don't worry, the airline hostess said you could use it," she explained, reading my mind. "Need me to come in with you?"

I shook my head, thankful that I had such concerned friends, and shut the door behind me.

***

What a mess. My sallow face stared back at me through the mirror above the sink, my mascara wet and smeared from tears and my lips chapped from all the rinsing and scrubbing post-puke. Ugh. I hated planes.

Knock-knock.

Damn. I had forgotten Lara was waiting for me outside. "Just a second!" I called out, dabbing at my eyes and checking the toilet one last time for any remnants of this morning's breakfast. Yuck. I pushed away the thought before it brought on another wave of sickness.

I stepped outside expecting my girl friend, only to bump into a gorgeous man - er, boy? - waiting patiently for me to finish.

"Sorry," I mumbled, looking down and turning away quickly. I was embarrassed that I wasn't supposed to be in his section, and more embarrassed that he had probably already made his own assumptions as to what took me so long in the washroom. I made my way back to my seat, praying that he wouldn't recognize me once we were off the plane.