Chapter 20

“Sidney Crosby is a wuss,” was all Ken said to me when I walked, more like hobbled, into Physical Therapy on a bright day, early in February. The Steelers had just won the Super Bowl and all of Pittsburgh was riding high except for the members of the Penguins, who continued their atrocious losing streak.

“Ken! Stop insulting my boyfriend. My God,” I said with exasperation as Dan, a physical therapist in training, led me to my usual table. He gave me a sympathetic look as if to say, “I’m sorry he’s such a dick.” I actually didn’t mind being teased. It made physical therapy so much easier to get through.

“So how’s school going?” Dan asked as he got me everything I needed for my exercises.

“Horrible,” I sighed. “I can’t get anything done because of this stupid brace. It’s just too hard to get everything together. And Sidney hasn’t been in a great mood lately because of how they’re losing, so I feel bad if I ask him…” I trailed off. I was making myself sad about everything that had been happening. My grades were slipping, and Sid and I hadn’t been doing too well, what with the team’s losing. He always came home in a bad mood and I was always scared to bother him.

“It’ll get better,” Dan said before walking off to help another patient. I did my exercises with thoughts flying through my head about Sidney and I and where we stood relationship-wise. Our relationship was still intact, I mean, we had sex almost everyday, but that was usually a direct result of him yelling at me about minding my own business when I asked about his games, and then some 20 minutes him later apologizing to me. But sex isn’t everything in a relationship. Our communication level had dropped tremendously. It seemed like he was always in a bad mood, and I never wanted to bother him. My thoughts were then interrupted by Ken coming over to work out my knee.

“How’re you doing Miss Crosby!?” he boomed at me as he walked up. I had taken to wearing a Penguins shirt or a Crosby shirt every time I went to physical therapy.

“Fine,” I snapped at him before surrendering my knee to him.

“Ohh, a little touchy today are we?” he asked mockingly. I glared at him and he recoiled a bit. “Sorry, sorry. So, how’s the knee been? Giving you any trouble?”

“No,” I said with a huge sigh for emphasis. I plopped myself back on the table and let my head rest on the pillow.

“Then what’s the problem?” he asked, concerned.

“Nothing’s the problem,” I said with a grimace as he began to stretch my knee.

“Trouble in paradise?” he asked with a laugh and a smile.

“Not really…” I trailed off. I wasn’t about to talk to Ken about Sid. He hated him. There was silence for awhile as Ken worked on my knee.

“Did he give you that necklace?” he asked, pushing on my knee. One thing about Ken is that he had the eyes of a hawk. He definitely noticed when I wore my Sidney Crosby brand sweatpants and that brought on the ongoing argument about who’s better. Ovechkin or Crosby.

“Yes. He did,” I replied stiffly. “It was a Christmas gift.”

“He obviously cares about you if he’s taken care of you during your surgery, and as a plus, he got you that necklace.”

“Alright Ken. How about I ask about your personal life now? So how’s the wife?” I said sarcastically with an edge to my voice.

“Barbara’s fine,” he replied. I just sat there in stunned silence. Ken and Barbara? Barbie and Ken? Honestly?

“Your wife’s name is Barbara?” I asked in amazement.

“Yeah,” he said, giving me a look. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Uh, Barbie and Ken? Ever heard that one before?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at him. Dan had wandered back over by now and was doubled over in laughter.
“Oh, good one Crosby,” he mocked. “I’m sure before you actually met Sidney, you had a poster of him on your ceiling and everyday you’d wake up and say, ‘Good morning Sidney! I love you!’ and blow him a kiss.” Dan was now on the floor in laughter and I was on the verge of tears, laughing so hard. All of this nonsense took away from the fact that my life was falling apart. I looked forward to going to physical therapy and joking around with Ken and Dan. It was an escape from the arguments that were waiting for me back at Sidney’s house.
-
“Sidney?” I called timidly when I walked into his house a few hours later. I knew he was there somewhere, they didn’t have practice. I walked down the hall and into the living room where I saw him on the couch, hands over his face. “Sidney?” I asked again, this time a little softer. He sat up and looked at me, surprised by my entrance.

“Hey babe,” he said, getting up from where he was sitting and greeting me with a kiss. I was surprised, to say the least, by his gesture. I stepped back and looked at him. He looked a little weary and tired.

“What’s wrong?” I asked concerned.

“Nothing’s wrong. I actually think that things are going to turn around for us here in the next few weeks.”

“You’re sure?” I asked, skeptical.

“Weren’t you the one who said nothing’s ever for sure?” he countered, making me laugh a little at what I said about my knee. “I just have a feeling. Go with me on this one, OK?”

“That’s what I’m here for,” I said as he pulled me into a massive hug.