Chapter Thirty-one

The look on his face at first was relief, but it quickly turned cold and angry when Sidney saw who was in the green house with Payton.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked angrily.

“I just wanted to see what was out here. Alex saw me come in and wanted to say hello. That’s all,” Payton answered, suddenly very nervous about the tone of his voice.

“Come with me,” he ordered and took her arm.

“She is fine. You no need to be rough,” Alex said, standing up quickly.

“It’s none of your business. You stay away from Payton,” Sidney seethed, turning back toward Alex and getting up in his face.  Alex towered over him, leering in return.

“Stop it. Stop,” Payton exclaimed, getting between the two men, pushing her hands against their chests.  “Sidney, let’s go. Please.”

He let her lead him to the door.  Alex did not follow, but still stood as if he was ready for anything that might happen.  She smiled weakly at him as she left the green house and mouthed, I’m sorry.

“Do you have any idea how worried I was? You can’t disappear like that. Paul has been scouring the grounds for you. Tony was about to call the police.  I thought…”

“Oh, Sidney, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.  She felt him relax some and he returned her embrace.

“I want you to stay away from him,” he said quietly.

“Sidney, don’t be silly. He’s not a threat. He’s not going to hurt me.”

“You don’t know him like I do.  Just do what I ask this one time, Payton. Stay away from him.”

“Sidney… he told me what happened,” she answered him apprehensively.

He pulled away from her quickly and looked her in the eye, “I don’t want to talk about this now and certainly not here. Let’s just go back to the party. People are waiting on me.”

She felt the tension return to his body as he grasped her hand and led her back to his peers.  She watched him put on his “Crosby” face and mingle among the NHL brass.  She was quiet and uncomfortable. She was not as good at this as he was. He introduced her to some people and played affectionate, but she could feel that he was still angry.  She could see when he smiled at her that his eyes were cold.  She grew more uncomfortable as the night went on.  She couldn’t turn around without seeing Paul standing just a few feet away. Finally, she just sat in her seat at the table and let Sidney move around the pavilion.  Alex caught her eye more than once, but, thankfully, he kept his distance.  All she could offer him was a weak smile before she looked away. By the time Sidney was ready to leave, Payton was miserable. 

He was quiet on the ride back to the hotel. Payton sat staring out the window watching the lights go by. She didn’t even realize she was crying until he moved close to her and took her into his arms. 

“Sidney, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t mean… anything.”

“Shhh, doesn’t matter now. Don’t cry. I’m sorry.  I should have told you myself.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t let it go. I should have just let it go,” she said.

“Yes, well, it’s over.  Let’s just forget about it. Just listen to me when I tell you to stay away from him.”

“But, Sidney, he didn’t do it,” she protested.  He looked at her dumbfounded.

“Payton, you’re so naïve. You believe everything people tell you. Don’t get me wrong, I love that about you,” he added as she rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to fight anymore about this, whether he did or didn’t, whether she played me or not, I want you to stay away from him.”

He said the last four words with such force that she knew he really meant it.  She didn’t have it in her to argue with him about it. Besides, how often was she going to see Alex Ovechkin anyway.