Chapter 91

Max's POV

I spent the next 10 minutes sitting in my car not being able to move. I was...I don't really know what I was. Numb? Devastated? Heartbroken? Furious? Disappointed? Hurt? Yep, all of them! That pretty much summed up how I was feeling right now. My best friend, the person I came to when I needed someone to talk to; when I needed someone to hang out with; when I needed a shoulder to cry on; when I needed someone to tell me that I was being an idiot; when I needed to feel like someone actually could love me; the only female who ever liked me for me; my best friend Bekah, just smashed my heart into a million little pieces. She was supposed to be supportive. She was supposed to like Brittany almost as much as I did and the four of us were supposed to be like the four Musketeers. Inseparable. Hang out together; go out for dinner together; all the stuff that all the other guys got to do with their girlfriends but I was never included in because I never had a "girlfriend". Sid either for that matter. Up until he met Bekah, it was always him and I that would hang out together when the guys were out together with their girlfriends, when he wasn't driving me nuts that is. I was always envious of that time the guys spent together in the "couples" groups and this was my chance to finally be part of that. Bekah and Brittany were going to be the ones to turn things around for me. Guess that was too much to ask for.

I wiped the tears that has fallen down my cheeks and drove away from my best friend's house; well my former best friends house.

I don't understand why Bekah would make up such horrible lies about Brit. She only had one dinner with her. How can you hate someone so much after only what? An hour and a half that you feel the need to say such vile things about them?

As I drove, Bekah's words just kept running through my mind. Brittany did not spend the whole night talking to Sid. Did she? And did she seriously expect me to believe that she overheard Brit on the phone telling someone she didn't like me but was gonna use me to get to Sid? I don't think so! But why would she lie about that? How would she even come up with a lie like that?

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know! All I know is I feel empty because I just lost my best friend.

A month later....

"Lil, I don't know what to do anymore!" I said exasperated. "It's been a month and Max still won't talk to me. It's killing me."

"I don't know what to tell you hun," Lily said taking a sip of her coffee. "What does Sidney say?"

"Ugh, he is absolutely NO help! He just keeps telling me to give it time; that Max will come around but he's not. He won't give me any info on how Max is doing or how things are going with the bimbo, nothing! It's like he'd be breaking some damn guy code or something! It pisses me off, but I'm not going to push the issue."

"Does he believe you yet?"

"I don't think so. He's only been around them a couple of times and nothing has happened so he says. We don't really talk about it because it usually results in me crying and Sid hates to see me cry. Things have actually been soooo good between us, I don't want to screw it up."

"Good plan."

"Sometimes I get so frustrated I just want to scream. Why couldn't you have hooked up with Max way back when instead of going home with that guy from college? You could have hooked up, fallen madly in love and all this could have been avoided!"

"Yeah, cause I'm the kind of girl to settle down! Helloooo, have you ever met me?"

"I know, I know, but maybe Max would be the guy to turn you around!"

"Beks, maybe Sid's right. Maybe he just needs some more time then he'll come crawling back."

I was quiet for a minute. "Did you know that since the day we met, Max and I never went more that 12 hours without talking to each other?"

"Oh hun, I'm sorry," she said while rubbing my arm. "I wish there was something I could do."

"At this point, I don't think there's anything anyone can do."

"Have you tried calling him?"

"More times than I'd like to admit to. He won't return any of my messages."

"Have you tried apologizing?"

"Apologize! For what? I didn't do anything wrong, I told him the truth. He asked what my opinion was and I told him. I wasn't and still am not willing to stand by and let this bimbo hurt my best friend."

"I know that, and you know that, but maybe it's a way to get your foot in the door. Maybe you've been taking the wrong approach here! Just think about it...if you apologize and you guys make up, then you can start hanging out with them again."

"The last thing I want to do is spend time with that bimbo!"

"You're not seeing the big picture here Bekah. Right now you and Max aren't talking and you have no idea what's going on in their relationship and more importantly, in that little head of hers. If you apologize and make up then you're back in! You can monitor the situation and keep your eye on her and your man. What's that saying...keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"

It was like a lightbulb went off in my head. "I can't believe that I didn't think of this earlier! You are so right! I don't need to try and keep her away from him, I need to be her friend and watch her self destruct!"

"Now you're thinking!"

"Oooh, there's just one small problem with that plan, well two actually."

"What's that?"

"I need to know what Max told Brittany. If he told her what I told her about overhearing her conversation, she'll never believe that I want to be her friend."

"Good point. Maybe Sid will be willing to part with that information. What's the second problem?"

"Sidney and Max both know when I'm lying. If I'm going to pull this off, I need a performance that's Oscar worthy."

"Think about what's at stake here. Your boyfriend, your best friend; other best friend that is, and your happiness. I'm pretty sure that's enough motivation for you."

"You're right," I said picking up my phone.

"Who are you calling?"

"Sid."

"Yeah, hello?" he said breathless.

"Hey, did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No, no. I'm just getting off the bike. What's up?"

"I need to ask you something and I really need you to give me a straight answer."

"Okay, you've peaked my curiosity."

"I know you've got some guy code thing goin' on but I need to know what Max told Brittany about our fight. More specifically, I need to know if he told her that I overheard her phone conversation."

"Beks, why can't you just let this go for now?"

"Because my best friend hasn't talked to me in a month and I'm miserable. I've had enough. Someone has to put a stop to it and it's going to be me."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm going to apologize and hope that Max will forgive me."

"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you, Rebekah Katherine Jones, just say you were going to apologize?"

"Yes I did, now please, can you answer my question? Did he tell her what I said."

"He'd kill me if he knew I was talking to you about this."

"Sidney..."

"No. No he didn't tell her. He didn't want to hurt her by telling her what you supposedly overheard. But Beks, I don't know if he's ready to forgive you yet. He's really hurting still."

"So am I. Can you do me one more favour?"

"Anything for you baby."

"When he gets my message, can you maybe...encourage him to hear me out?"

"I'll try, but I'm not making any promises."

"You are the best boyfriend ever ya know that?"

"Yeah I am."

"Okay, I'm going to call him right now. I love you.

"I love you too!"

'I hope this works...for all of our sakes," Sidney thought as he headed for the showers.

"It's a go," I said squeezing Lily's hand excitedly as I dialed Max's number. "Wish me luck!"

"And the Oscar goes to..." she whispered.

"Hi Max, it's me again. Look, I'm not going to beat around the bush. Enough is enough! It's been a month and I am miserable. I miss you and the boys miss you. I need to talk to you. Sid won't tell me anything, but I'm assuming you're still with Brittany which would mean that clearly I was wrong. I owe you an apology but I am not going to beg my best friend for forgiveness over the phone so...the ball's in your court. Please call me. Okay, I miss you and I love you. Bye Maxie."

"Good call playing the kid card," Lily said as I snapped my phone shut. "So now what?"

"Now...we wait."

FYI

Just wanted to let you know that I edited the story a bit - not much; I just made Bekah's brother older instead of younger and gave a bit more background info. It really doesn't affect the rest of the story except something that may happen in the future (hint hint!). Re-read the beginning if you want to catch up on the revised version!
Thanks!
P.S. I hope to update tomorrow!

Chapter 90

I opened one eye and looked at the time on the alarm clock. 8:01.
"For fuck sakes!" I mumbled getting out of bed and heading to the front door. "This had better be..."
"Good morning sunshine!" that cute little french accent exclaimed. "Ugh! Guess I woke you up huh? Sorry but the day is just wasting away. Here, I brought you coffee," he said shoving the cup into my hand.
"Max, it's 8 am. I don't have to work today, the Parkers are taking the boys to school and you wake me up at 8 in the morning? I'm going back to bed," I said putting my coffee cup down on the counter and going back to my room.
"Then I'm coming with you," Max said following me down the hall. "Wait. The kid isn't back there naked is he, cause that would gross me out!"
"Why, you see him naked all the time," I shot back as I climbed in bed and pulled the covers over my head hoping Max would go away. I felt the bed shift with his added weight and knew that I wasn't going to be able to avoid the conversation I was dreading much longer.
"You're lucky I didn't show up last night," he said chuckling. "But I figured you and the kid would be...occupied. So here I am and I'm dying here bijou! Don't keep me in suspense any longer. I have to know what you thought of Brittany."
I didn't answer right away.
"Helloooooooo?" he said putting his hands under the covers and trying to tickle me until I gave in.
"Max, stop! I can't breathe."
"Are you ready to talk?"
I pulled the covers off of my head and rolled over to face him. There was so much hope in his eyes; so much excitement. Ugh! I curse you bimbo, for putting me in this situation!
"You liked her right?"
"She seemed nice enough."
"Nice. That word is being used an awful lot lately."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"That's what she said about you. You were nice. I had to drag her real feelings out of her."
"And that is...?" I asked sitting up, now intrigued by what the blond bitch thought of me.
"She didn't say anything bad; just that your interrogation was a little intense and she got the feeling that you didn't like her very much."
'Maybe she's not as dumb as I thought!'
"It's not that I didn't like her Max, I just...I just don't think she's the right girl for you." There, I said it.
"How can you say that? She's perfect for me!"
"I don't know, it's just a gut feeling."
"A gut feeling? Come on Beks, I know you better than that."
"Don't you find it a little odd that she was so interested in Sidney?"
"What?"
"Max, she talked to him all night! It's like we weren't even there. She wanted to know everything about him; and asking him if he had a girlfriend? Could she be any more obvious?"
"She was trying to get to know him, which is a lot more than I can say for you."
"She wasn't trying to get to know him, she's trying to get with him! I can't believe neither of you see it!"
"Neither of us? You told Sid about this?"
"Of course I did."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what? I'm not doing anything! You asked me what I thought and I'm telling you."
"I knew it was too much to ask," Max said shaking his head.
"What?"
"For you to give Brittany a chance. For you to be happy for me. You just can't do it can you?"
"Max, if she really was who you thought she was, I'd be ecstatic that you found her; but she's not who you think she is. She has no interest in you. She wants my boyfriend and she's using you to get him. I'm sorry, but that's the truth."

He just stared at me shaking his head. The normally warm blue eyes looking back at me were now cold and had no feeling in them.
"You are unbelievable," he said quietly. "I thought you were my friend?"
"I am your friend Max. That's why I'm telling you this; so she doesn't hurt you down the road," I said putting my hand on his arm. He pulled it away, and I have to admit, I was a little surprised.
"You're the one hurting me Bekah. You are supposed to be my best friend. I finally find a girl that I like and you make up these...these lies about her? You promised you'd never lie to me. Why are you lying about this?"
"I'm not lying Max, I swear to you."
"I don't believe you. How do you get that she doesn't like me and is only using me to get to Sid from one dinner? I don't get it."

A tear rolled down his cheek which instantly triggered my own. It had never really occurred to me that Max wouldn't believe me. We had a strong enough relationship that I just assumed he'd trust me enough to believe me. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him any more than I already had, but I loved him, and he deserved to know the truth.

"I didn't want to tell you this Max, but you have left me no choice. When I went to check on her in the bathroom, I overheard her on the phone. She was telling her friend, Gina I think her name was, how amazing Sidney was. She must have asked her about you because she said that you were great but she wasn't attracted to you. She had her eye on the prize and the prize was Sid. She said that you were just the means to an end and she wasn't going to stop until she got Sid. I'm so sorry Max, I know how much you liked her," I said reaching over to hug him.
"Don't," he said sharply putting both his hands on my arms. "I have to go," he said getting up of the bed.
I managed to get a hold of his hand. "Don't go Max. Stay. Let's talk about it; let me help you."
"I think you've done enough don't you?"
Max slipped his hand out of mine and went to the bedroom door. He turned around slowly and took a deep breath before speaking.
"I'm sorry Bekah. I hoped that this would work out better than it did. I really wanted my best friend and my girlfriend to get along, but clearly that's not going to happen. I love you Bekah, more than you probably know, but..." He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "If you can't be supportive of my relationship with Brittany then..."
"Then what?" I asked with a trembling voice.
"Then I can't...I don't want to choose but... I just can't be around you anymore if you're going to be like this. Goodbye Bekah."

Chapter 89

I held Max a little longer and a little tighter in a goodbye embrace before leaving the the restaurant with Sidney. How was I supposed to tell my best friend that the girl he was obviously enamoured with was only using him to get to Sidney?

I barely noticed Sidney tracing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb while we were driving home.
"You're awfully quiet," he said after bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it gently.
"Is that a question or a statement?" I asked without looking at him.
He sighed deeply knowing by my tone that he was about to have a conversation he didn't want to have.
"Did I do something to make you angry?" he asked.
I didn't reply.
"Are you upset that I didn't tell Brittany that you're my girlfriend?"
"No," I said looking at him for the first time and giving him half a smile. I could hear him let out a sigh of relief. "No one is supposed to know about us."
"Do you wanna tell me what's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"
"Yes and no."
"This is about Brittany isn't it? You didn't like her did you?"
"No."
"Oh Bekah come on! She was nice and sweet and couldn't have made a better impression."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. I thought she was great. She wasn't phased by being around 'hockey players' and she was comfortable around us; not like most girls who only care about who we are and what we do and try so hard to impress us."
"I should have known you'd take her side," I huffed, folding my arms across my chest.
Sid laughed which only infuriated me even more.
"Sides? Since when has there been sides?" he squeaked out through his high pitched laugh.
"Since I decided I don't like her. She's not good enough for Max. She doesn't even like him!"
"Okay, it's official. You have lost your mind! She's crazy about him even I could see that!"
"Oh puh-lease!" I spat. "She didn't even know Max existed. She was too busy paying attention to you all night!"
"Oooooohhhhhh, I get it now! You're jealous!"
"What?" I screeched much to Sidney's amusement.
"You-are-jealous," he said giving me a little poke with each word. "You had to watch me talking to another girl and it made you jealous."
I gabbed his finger and twisted it slightly. "Do NOT poke me if you don't want your fingers broken."
"I love it when you're feisty," he snickered.
"For your information, I am not jealous of that bimbo. I know we've been over this before, but clearly you need to be reminded. In order for me to be jealous of her, she would have to have something that I want."
"She does...Max."
"Excuse me?" I said completely caught off guard.
"Bekah," he said softly while caressing my arm. "You are used to being the only girl in Max's life, the one he came to when he needed something, the one he would always talk to, the one he spent alot of his free time with; and now he has Brittany. It makes sense that you'd be afraid that she's going to 'replace' you."
"First of all, no one will replace me in Max's life. Second of all...oh just forget it."
"No, tell me what's bugging you."
I knew this was going to be pointless but...
"Don't you find it odd that she spent the whole night talking to you and ignoring Max and I? It's like we weren't even there."
"That's not true. We were all involved in the conversation."
"No, no we weren't. It was just you two. Max and I would smile an nod every once in a while when either of you acknowledged that we were still there."
"She was just trying to get to know me. That was the point of this evening wasn't it? Max's girlfriend getting to know his friends?"
"She didn't seem too interested in getting to know me now did she?"
Sidney didn't really reply.
"Did you ever stop to think that maybe she's not interested in Max and that maybe she's just using him to get to you?" I said calmly, finally putting it out there.
"Um, noooo. Beks, she didn't even know who I was. She didn't even know Max was a hockey player for Christ sakes."
"You are completely oblivious you know that? It's complete bullshit she didn't know who either of you were. You guys go in there alot, and I mean really Sid. She knew exactly how many times you'd been in her restaurant."
"I think you're being a little paranoid Beks," he said as he opened the car door for me. "If you could have heard Max when you guys were in the bathroom...he's crazy about this girl!"
"I heard enough when I was in the bathroom thanks," I mumbled.
"Pardon?"
"Just because he's crazy about her, doesn't mean she feels the same way. I think his judgement is a little clouded by his feelings for her. Trust me, he is not the one she wants. She wants you Sidney," I said flopping down on the couch utterly exhausted from this conversation.

He sat down next to me and pulled me towards him until I was leaning against his chest. He kissed my bare shoulder before moving to the sweet spot on my neck that made me weak. I melted into him, trying to forget about the bimbo and just enjoy the sensations I was feeling.

"I don't think you could be more wrong," he whispered in my ear. "But if you're not, I guess it's a good thing that you are the only one that I want isn't it" he said softly before taking my ear between those luscious lips of his. Damn you Sidney Crosby! How did he always know the right thing to say?

Max's POV

"So what did you think?" I asked her once we were both in the car.

"About what?"

"About my friends silly girl," I chuckled.

"Oh. They're nice," she replied simply.

"Nice? That's it?"

"Okay, Sidney's great! I loved getting to know him and hearing about growing up to be...what did you say they call him? The next great one? I can't believe someone that has so much weight on his shoulders is still so incredibly sweet and down to earth."

"That's Sid! What about Bekah? What did you thing about her? She's amazing isn't she?"

"Well..." she started, "she's...okay. Not very friendly really."

"You serious?" I asked in complete shock. I'd never even considered that Brittany wouldn't like my best friend.

"She was more concerned with grilling me than getting to know me. She's very intense."

I laughed. "That's my bijou! Bekah has had a rough life. She's very wary of people until she gets to know them. The third degree was just her way of getting to know you. She's also fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. I'm sure she was just trying to see how compatible we are."

"I'm pretty sure I failed that test! I don't think she liked me very much."

I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm sure it's just your imagination; in fact I know it is."

"Oh and how can you be so sure?" she asked in that flirty little voice that drove me crazy.

"Because she told me."

"What did she say?"

"I'm not going to tell you what she said, that would be like breaking the 'best friend code of conduct', but I can tell you that she liked you.

"Come on Maxie, tell me."

"I can't."

"Pwease," she said batting her eyelashes at me.

"Uhh, please don't look at me like that," I begged.

"Like what?" she asked all sweet and innocent in her little girl voice.

"Like that! When you bat those eyelashes at me, it drives me crazy. It's all I can do to stop myself from climbing across this car and..."

By now she had stretched over the centre console and was mere millimeters away from my ear. Her warm breath was sending shivers through my entire body. God I wanted her!

"And what stud," she said in a very sultry voice that was turning me on. "What are you going to do to me?" she whispered.

I opened my mouth to talk but nothing would come out. I wasn't used to this. It was usually me that was the one talking like that. This role reversal was definitely making me hot. I don't know how much longer I could wait; it's been over a month already! Thank god we were at her place already.

"Let me come up and I'll show you," I begged her with my eyes.

"Hmm. Tempting as that is hot stuff...can't. My roommates are home."

'Noooooooooooooooooooo!'

"Come back to my place."

"I'm sorry Maxie. I have to work in the morning and I'm sure you have some important hockey stuff to do or something."

"I don't have to be at the arena until noon, and you work at 11:00 so it's perfect! I can drop you off on my way to the arena."

"Max, I'm really tired. Tonight was emotionally exhausting trying to impress your friends. Besides, I have errands to run before work. Can we make it another time?"

As disappointed (and horny) as I was, I didn't want to push her.

"Of course."

"You're not mad at me are you?"

There were those puppy dog eyes again!

"No, I'm not mad," I assured her.

"Disappointed?"

"Of course disappointed, but nothing a cold shower won't cure," I said laughing.

"I promise, it'll happen soon."

"There's no rush Brittany. I can wait."

"Really?" she sounded surprised.

'Yeah, really? That was new!'

"Yes really."

"You are wonderful," she said leaning over and kissing me on the cheek before opening the car door. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said before shutting the door and running into her building.

'Cold shower it is' I thought to myself as I pulled back onto the street. 'I wonder if it's too late to call Beks? I'm dying to know what she thought about Brittany.' I looked at my watch and figured it wasn't too late to call her but...her and the kid were probably...busy. 'Oh well, at least one of us will be gettin' some. I'll call her in the morning.'

"Cold shower, here I come!"

The dress

Sorry, I couldn't post the picture of the dress in the last chapter for some reason, so here it is!

Chapter 88

Sincere apologies for taking so long to update. I was up to my eyeball in assignments and then exams last week and then I had to celebrate the day of my birth with a fiesta (and more than a few margaritas!) on the weekend and now...now I finally have time to breathe (and update). So here it is at long last!

P.S. Thank you for all your support, kind words and comments! I love them, keep em coming!



"Wow, Mom, you look really pretty!" Alex said as I emerged from the bathroom. "What's the occasion?"
"I'm having dinner with Sidney, Max and Max's new girlfriend" I said, not doing a very good job at hiding the contempt in my voice as the 'g' word rolled off my tongue.
"Like a double date?" Jake chimed in.
"No, like four friends going out for dinner together," I replied.
"Well you look pretty good for it not being a date," Alex goaded. "Are you sure you're not trying to impress Sid?" he added hopefully.
No, I'm actually trying to intimidate the shit out of this bimbo Max is making me meet.

"No honey, sorry."
"You know mom, me and Jake would totally be okay if you were going on a date."
"Yeah, especially with Sid!" Jake added his two cents.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you two matchmakers, but Sidney and I are just friends," I replied.
"Mmm hmm," they both managed in unison.
"Enough, go get your coats on, Mr. Parker will be here any minute to take you over to his house.
"F-i-n-e," again in unison.

After the boys had left with Mr. Parker, I gave myself a once over in the full length mirror at the end of the hallway. 'Not half bad' I thought as I smoothed my hand over the skirt of my dress. A dress that I had to shop for only a few hours before. I cursed Max in my head for dropping the girlfriend bomb on me out of the blue and then giving me no notice in making me meet her. Knowing Max, she was probably this blond, skinny bitch that resembled something that you would see walking down the catwalk during fashion week.

I started to feel inferior the moment I left the restaurant yesterday. It's bad enough I had the likes of Vero and the other ladies to be compared to, but now this...this Brittany. As soon as I got home I ransacked my closet looking for something to wear. Max said we would be going to the fancy steakhouse downtown so I should dress appropriately. It was a wasted effort because I knew there would be nothing in there. I had no fancy clothes; I had no need for them. I didn't date! My wardrobe consisted of scrubs and a few pairs of jeans. That settled it, I needed to go shopping first thing in the morning.

The second I tried on my dress I fell in love with it!(you can see a picture at the end of the chapter) It was classy, yet sexy and the first thought in my head while I was looking in the mirror in the dressing room was 'I wonder what he'll think of this?' It was a sleeveless chocolate brown sheath dress with a plunging (very plunging) v neckline that really accentuated my assets. It was simple and feminine and actually made me feel beautiful. The colour complimented my creamy ivory skin tone and made my blue eyes pop!

The sound of the doorbell snapped me out of my thoughts. I took one last glance and headed for the door, only to find Sidney already walking in. His back was to me as he shut the door behind him and when he turned around to face me I heard his breath catch in his throat. I smiled and moved towards him and a smile quickly grew over his face. He took both my hands in his and held my arms out to look me over.

"You are absolutely stunning," Sid said when he finally found his voice. "Just beautiful." He leaned in and planted a sweet kiss on my waiting lips. It had been a few days since I had seen Sid and I needed more from him. I wrapped my hands around his neck and entangled my fingers in his hair and deepened the kiss. Our tongues danced and when we finally came up for air, we were both a little weak in the knees.

"You don't look half bad yourself Crosby," He was wearing a dark brown suit with a pale blue shirt underneath that perfectly complimented my dress.
"Trust me, no one will even notice me with you walking around in that dress. Bekah you really are stunningly beautiful," he said planting a soft kiss on my bare shoulder sending a wave of heat through my entire body.
"You already said that," I giggled as his hand caressed my arm.
"And I'll continue to tell you how beautiful you are until I have no more breath in my body."
"Are you ready to go?" I asked grabbing my purse and keys.
"What's your hurry? We still have a while before we have to meet Max.
"I just want to get there early."


The ride to the restaurant was mostly silent. I had a million thoughts running through my head about what the night ahead was going to bring and what she was going to be like.
"So this is a little weird eh?" Sid said finally breaking the silence.
"Weird? Why?"
"Two days ago Max couldn't stand me and now we're going out to dinner with him and his new girlfriend."
"That's not really weird. And I wouldn't be too quick to call her his girlfriend," I added.
"Beks, I hate to tell you this, but she is his girlfriend. Max doesn't bother to introduce the other women in his life to us, so he must really have it bad for this girl."
"We'll see about that," I mumbled.
"I know Max is like your best friend, but you are going to keep an open mind right? He really likes her Bekah, and he wants your approval."
"Well than she better be all he says she is and more. She will have to be nothing short of fabulous to be good enough for Max," I said with a huff.
"Bekah...promise me you'll behave."
"Sid, really. I don't need the lecture. I'm a big girl, I think I can handle this."
He chuckled. "I know how you handle people you don't like. Just don't rip her to shreds okay?"
"Why do you have to think the worst of me?"
"Because I know how much you love Max and how protective you are of him. If Brittany so much as looks at you the wrong way...the poor girl won't stand a chance!" he laughed.
"I don't find this funny. I'm a little offended that you think so little of me."
"I don't. I'm just curious to see how the night unfolds."
"Me too."




I thought we were early enough that I had some time to settle down, maybe down a glass or two of wine before I had to face the "bimbo", the name I had not so affectionately given to Brittany, but I was wrong. Sidney and I were led to a table in the back of the restaurant where Max and the bimbo were already waiting. They both stood up to greet us; Max shook Sid's hand and gave me the traditional French kiss on each cheek. I looked at the bimbo and she seemed nervous.
'Good'!
"Sid, Bekah, I'd like you to meet Brittany. Brittany, this is Sidney," they began to shake hands and I couldn't help but notice a little sparkle in her eye that I was all too familiar with. "And this is my best friend Bekah." I extended my hand for her to shake and was stunned when she wrapped me in a hug instead.
"It's soooo great to finally meet you. Max has told me so much about you that I feel like I already know you."
"I wish I could say the same, but sadly Max has kept you more of a secret," I replied trying to politely pry myself from her grip.
Sid faked a cough/clear your throat kind of thing and threw in a muffled "behave" which nobody but me caught and I shot him a glare.

Sidney helped peel the wrap off my shoulders and when he did, I couldn't help but notice Max's eyes practically bulge out of his head. He fumbled to find words before he finally got out, "Bijou!
You...I can't believe...you look absolutely amazing," Max stuttered over his words.
"Merci Maxie," I smiled coyly as I sat down in the chair that Sid had pulled out for me. The bimbo waited for Max to pull the chair out for her, but decided to take her seat when it didn't happen. Max's eyes never left me as he went to sit down and slightly missed to the left but was able to save himself before completely going down. I was secretly smiling on the inside.

"So," bimbo was the first to break the silence, "what was the name you just called Bekah Max?"
"Bijou?"
"Yes. It sounds beautiful, is it French?"
'No, it's Japanese you idiot!'
"Oui, I mean yes. It means jewel."
"Why do you call her that?"
'What's with the 20 questions?'
"Do you want to tell the story Beks?" Max asked.
"I don't know that I know the reason, maybe you should tell her."
"Well, it was the family skate at Christmas that the name really stuck. Bekah here, got all pissed off at Sid for something, I can't remember what, and challenged Mr. NHL to a skating competition. She was fuming, she was so mad. Sid tried talking her out of it but she wouldn't hear of it. The throwdown had been issued. Everyone was there; all the guys, their families everyone, and here's this little spitfire challenging the kid here. By the time they were done Bekah's eyes were as blue as sapphires, her cheeks red as rubies and it was pretty clear that she was strong as a diamond cause she kicked Sid's ass!"
"She did not," Sid interjected. "It was close."
"Not really man. Anyways, I instantly thought 'mon petit bijou - my little jewel and the name just kind of stuck."
"You really skated faster than Sidney?" she asked me.
"Yes I did."
"Great, thanks for bringing this up guys. I'm never gonna live this down am I?"
"No," Max and I both replied in unison.
"Did you ever think that maybe I let you win?"
"No way! The stakes were too high for you if I recall?"
"Oooh what were the stakes?" bimbo asked.
"Nothing we're going to talk about, right Sid?" I said.
"Right. Can we change the subject now please?"
"Yes. Brittany, Max says you work at a restaurant?"
"Yep mmm hmm."
"Which one?"
"The Carlton."
"Isn't that around the corner from Mellon?" I asked.
"Yep, that's where Max and I met."
"We go there sometimes after practice or in between practice and meetings."
"I didn't know you guys went there. Have you been Sidney?" I asked.
"I've been once or twice."
"Three times actually," bimbo retorted.
Now my interest was peaked. Why was she keeping tabs on my boyfriend?
"So how did you guys get together?" I asked.
"Well, it was like the third or fourth time Max had been in with some of his friends and they were sitting at my table. Max shamelessly flirted with me all night and then left me a $100 tip and his phone number on a napkin."
"Oh Maxie, you didn't? That is so cheesy!" I teased.
"Hey, it worked didn't it?"
"Not at first! If you recall, I did not call you. You came back a few days later and harassed me for not calling you until I agreed to go out with you and well, here we are a month later."
"So you work around the corner from the arena and you had no idea that Max played hockey?" I asked before feeling Sid's firm grip on my knee. I ignored it and pressed for an answer.
"I know it sounds funny, but I don't really follow sports and I haven't been working there that long, almost three months now."
"I see. And now that you know? How do you feel about dating a public figure? Do you know what kinds of things go along with dating one of these guys?"
Sid's grip tightened on my knee and I shot him the death glare.
"I haven't really thought about it. I mean to me, he's just Max."
"So you're okay with all the time commitments he has, all the times he's going to be on road trips, and all the other women that are going to throw themselves at him? Not to mention all the charity commitments that you will be expected to fulfill."
"Bekah, stop you're freaking her out," Sid said a little too sternly for my liking.
"What? If she's going to be with a hockey player, she needs to know the kind of life she's getting herself into. It's better to find out at the beginning than to be surprised by it later."
"To be honest, I'm pretty easy going. I just kinda take things as they come. I don't work myself up over little things and things I can't control."
'Was she implying something?'
"It almost sounds like you've had experience being a player's girlfriend, and a bad one at that." bimbo said.
'Who the hell did she think she was?'
They guys looked at each other and then at me waiting to see what my reply would be.
"My brother played. I've seen the kind of toll it can take on relationships."
Max and Sid exchanged confused looks but didn't say anything.
"Oh. He doesn't play anymore?"
"He passed away," I replied solemnly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea."
"It's fine really. How could you?"

The rest of dinner went along pretty uneventfully. Sid quietly reminded me to "behave" whenever he thought I was crossing the line, but I continued on if I thought it necessary. Shortly before dessert was served, bimbo excused herself to go to the ladies room. Max looked at me like he was expecting me to go with her but I never left my seat.
"Well, what do you guys think? She's pretty great non?" he asked anxiously.
"Yeah Max, she's really nice. I think she'll be good for you," was my boyfriend's reply.
"Bekah? I think you've asked her every question under the sun, what do you think?"
Both Sid and Max were holding their breath awaiting my response.
"She's nice."
Exhale.
"That's it?" they both said at the same time.
"Yeah, she's nice. I told you Max, if you liked her I would too."
"So you like her?" he asked.
"Yes." I lied. That was the politically correct best friend thing to say right?
There was something about her that was rubbing me the wrong way and I sure as hell didn't buy the bit that she didn't know who Max was or what he did. And she spent most of the night fawning all over Sidney. Of course neither Max nor Sidney noticed. Men were such idiots when it came to this kind of thing, but I sure picked up on it. She asked him about home and growing up and what it was like to be the "face of the NHL" and anything else she could think of. She even asked if he had a girlfriend.
"Why are you going to set him up with one of your friends?" Max asked half jokingly.
"I might have something in mind," she smiled.
'Just try not to hit the bitch' was the only thing going through my mind at this point.
"Sorry Brittany but I'm not really interested in having a girlfriend right now. This is just my rookie year and like Beks said, I have so many time commitments, I don't have time for a social life right now."
I patted him on the leg to let him know I approved of his reply.

"Beks, Brit's been gone for a while. Will you go see if she's okay?" Max asked me.
"I'm sure she's fine Maxie, relax."
"I'd feel better if you went to find her. Just pretend that you have to go to."
He was looking at me with those bright blue pools so how could I resist.
I made my way to the ladies room and only had to open the door a crack before I heard that voice that had been grating on my nerves for the past two hours.
"Gina, oh my god! He is soooo hot. Way hotter than I expected. What's he wearing? Oh my god, he's wearing a brown suit and a blue shirt and holy shit! His ass is the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life."
'That fucking bitch was talking about Sid!'
"No, I asked him and he doesn't have a girlfriend. He said he didn't have time for one. Well let me tell you, I plan on changing that!"
'Excuse me?'
"I know. Max is sweet and everything, but I'm really not that attracted to him. He's more the means to the end. I have my eye on the prize now, and I'm not going to stop until I get Sid."
'That's what you think bitch! You may not stop, but I will stop you."
I shut the bathroom door and leaned back against the wall taking in a few deep breaths. I couldn't believe what I just heard. I knew that bitch was no good and I was right. Always trust your women's intuition.

I took one last deep breath and headed back out to the table with my blood boiling. When I got back, both men stood up until I sat down and Max was looking at me expectantly.
"She's fine I said. She'll be right out."

A look of relief washed over my best friend's face and I wondered how I was going to tell him that his new girlfriend was just using him to get to my boyfriend.