Tough Love

Chapter 6 - The Crosbys

After Sid had left, Brooke quickly dried herself off and blow-dried her hair before putting on some black jeans and a crème-coloured blouse. She then braided her hair into a side-fishtail-braid and put on some high heeled boots, and after taking her bag and the roomcard, she left to go down to the lobby. Beau was on his way down as well, and he whistled when he saw Brooke. "Do you want to join me or not?" he asked and Brooke remembered that he'd invited her earlier. "Uh, the Crosby's invited me to go with them. Next time though, all right?" she told the blonde guy and Beau nodded with a smile and left the elevator after her. "See you later, Brooks," he shouted over his shoulder and Brooke shook her head with a soft smile before spotting Sid and his parents and walking over to them.

"You must be Brooke! Sid has been telling us about you. I'm Trina Crosby," Sid's mother stated, pulling Brooke into a hug and Brooke couldn't help but smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Crosby. I'm Brooke Lemieux," she responded. After greeting Sid's father, who introduced himself as Troy, they left the hotel and Trina walked next to Brooke. "Now tell me, isn't it hard for a girl to work with a team full of hockey players?" she asked and Sid snorted, making Brooke turn around and hit him in the chest lightly. "To be honest, Mrs. Crosby, I really enjoy it. The guys have been treating me with respect, and they've become good friends. I think it's also a bit because of the fact the Mario Lemieux is my father, but I couldn't say anything bad, I'm just enjoying it," Brooke stated and Sid's mother nodded. "Just call me Trina, dear. Yeah, Sid said something about you being Mario's daughter. The hockey-gene runs in the family then, right?" Trina asked and Brooke nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I guess so. I know how to play hockey, and I'd say I'm not too bad. Not on an NHL level of course, but I do know how to handle a puck on the ice," she said and Sid, who had been walking behind them and talking with his dad, stepped forward. "You know how to play?" he asked astounded and Brooke lifted an eyebrow. "That's kind of a given as Mario's daughter, right?" she responded with a grin and Sid nodded, tilting his head. "We're going to get you play a little game with us one day," he decided and Brooke just held up her hands. "Oh no, I'm not going to get on the ice with you. I'd be down in about a second," she stated, shaking her head with a laugh.

Throughout the afternoon, they went to different tourist attractions, and sometimes Sid had to take some pictures with fans or give autographs before they could move on, and both Trina and Troy talked with Brooke about different things. Sid's parents were really nice, and Brooke liked them immediately. She could easily see how much Sid loved his parents, and how much they loved him, and it was nice to see a family have such a strong bond. Eventually, they decided that it was late enough to have dinner, and Sid led them to a good restaurant he had been before, pulling out the chair for Brooke like a gentleman and then sitting down next to her. Brooke just smiled at him thankfully and then looked at the menu the waiter had brought them, softly biting her lip while thinking about what to eat. After they had ordered, Trina leaned over to her and Brooke looked at the woman with a smile. "So Brooke, tell me, are you in a relationship?" Trina asked her and Brooke was taken aback at first but then smiled. "Mom! You shouldn't ask that," Sid spoke up but Brooke shook her head with a smile. "It's all right. Yes, I am seeing someone at the moment, but it's just in the beginnings," she stated and felt Sid relax next to her. Trina nodded with a soft smile and looked at her son for a second before looking back at Brooke. "I've been telling Sid that he should find himself a nice girl for ages now, but the only thing in his head is hockey," she said and Brooke giggled quietly and looked at Sid for a moment. She felt a bit bad lying to Trina, but she knew that whatever happened between Sid and her needed to stay a secret. "I'm sure it's not the only thing on his mind, Trina. He's such a gentleman, he'll find someone when the time is right," she told her and Trina nodded and looked at her son with a fond smile before leaning back when the waiter brought their plates. Brooke grinned when she felt Sid's foot knock into hers softly and just knocked back with her food before starting to eat as well. After having dessert, they decided to head back to the hotel for an early night, and back in the lobby, Trina hugged Brooke once again. "It was lovely meeting you Brooke. I'll see you tomorrow, all right?" she said and Brooke nodded and smiled at Trina, before hugging Troy as well. "Good night everyone. Night Sid," she stated and Sid tilted his head before looking at his parents and hugging them. "Night mum, night dad. I'm just going to make sure Brooke gets to her room safely," he stated and then walked to the elevator with Brooke.