#St Louis Soccer Park | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

hopetorun · 2 years ago

Note

Anon here, I was just telling you which scene instantly comes to mind, and it's that scene! Although, I would not be against you doing either a DVD commentary or POV switch, because again, love that scene haha!

oh my god i totally forgot i did that other meme! how embarrassing 😩

here's a dvd commentary, though, for being lovely ❤️

Cammie offered them a box, but Matthew argued for seats in the stands. [prior to this season especially i had noticed how seldom the tkachuks got luxury boxes at games -- obvs the playoffs stuff last year, but also keith and chantal's trip to nashville where matthew got his 99th point in 2022, and my long-ago memories of watching keith watch matthew at world juniors] He’s taking Draisaitl at his word on that whatever, and distantly hoping that Cammie doesn’t narc on him. It’s more fun to be in the stands. Boxes are nice and everything but you’re not really part of the crowd unless there’s enough people to fill up the seats. Besides, this way they might even be able to talk to other people.

Also, being in the stands makes it harder for them to be filmed the whole time. Instead, Cammie makes them swear to take pictures that they can turn over to her afterward. They’ll probably have their faces on the jumbotron too, Blues forwards Leon Draisaitl and Matthew Tkachuk. Whatever, Matthew’s used to that. He’s not here to hide. [this might be lie. matthew wants it to be true, though. it ought to be true]

Before the game, they meet a few of the players, and get shown around the stadium with Cammie and someone else from the front office—Yusuf, maybe, he didn’t introduce himself—following them with a camera.

For once, they mostly talk to Draisaitl. He’s surprisingly chatty, especially once they get him talking about soccer instead of how he’s settling in here in St. Louis. Cammie’s good at this; she gets him talking about his favorite memories of going to games in Germany. He’s never been to a soccer game in North America, apparently, though Edmonton has a second division team. He doesn’t get to go to as many games in Germany as he used to, because soccer’s a winter sport there and he’s usually in North America. He tells a couple of cute stories about going to games as a kid that Matthew gets the feeling he’s shared before. [a couple things here -- establishing that leon's behavior toward matthew is a deviation from the norm and that he's being a good sport with the team, and also matthew paying enough attention to him to clock that he's telling some of his go-to childhood stories]

He can feel himself incorporating this story about Draisaitl being punished for fighting with his sister by not being allowed to watch soccer on TV for a whole month—and the evident tantrum that he threw about it—into his idea of Draisaitl’s personality. And not only the story, the way he tells it too: the smile when he talks about his sister, the way he laughs when he talks about how upset he was, the grin when Cammie asks whether it worked and he says “absolutely not.” [Maybe They're Not So Different After All. on a more practical note i did just want to make leon seem appealing and pleasant enough that it wasn't like, why does matthew even like this dick]

She asks Matthew a couple of questions about the team (he has to politely elide that he doesn’t really pay attention to them), whether he’s been to any games before (a couple), what he thinks someone needs to do to really get to know the city (the Cards game, a trip to Forest Park, maybe he’ll do the Anheuser-Busch tour soon). “So Leon’s making good progress,” she says, and Matthew’s smile only feels a little forced.

And then it’s time for them to find their seats.

On the ice, Matthew finds it easy to ignore that Draisaitl is the kind of hot that makes people around him a little stupid sometimes. Tall and nicely proportioned, a jawline that hasn’t suffered at all as he’s aged. On the ice, he’s always been a competitor, and that supersedes anything else.

Right now, though, Draisaitl’s just the guy sitting next to him at a soccer game, wearing a plain black t-shirt and what Matthew’s pretty sure is the same Blues cap he was wearing at the Cards game. The jawline that he can ignore on the ice is highlighted nicely by a short beard that he didn’t have last week. Matthew thinks, for half a moment before shoving it aside, about beard burn. [i always feel like i don't spend enough time in my writing letting people be physically attracted to each other, which mostly is what it is but with this particular ship (and in this particular story), where so much of the foundation rests on for some reason they started fucking a lot, it feels important to reiterate that matthew thinks leon is hot]

“Where are you staying?” Matthew asks, because they have to talk about something or he’s going to keep staring.

Draisaitl frowns. “The team got me an apartment for now. It’s near the baseball stadium. I guess I’ll find somewhere of my own soon.” [my st louis accuracy reader going through this stuff like, okay so here's what's plausible for the story in terms of location]

“Not a hotel?” Matthew asks, and Draisaitl shrugs.

“I need more space for my dog.”

Matthew raises both eyebrows. “I’m not leaving my dog at a kennel for that long,” Draisaitl says. [speaking of plausible for the story ... this isn't at all, except i wanted him there for the specific summer vibes and it's a fanfiction yolo whatever]

“Makes sense.” Matthew doesn’t make the words hit quite as smoothly as he hoped. The problem with Draisaitl is that he’s as good at needling Matthew as Matthew is at needling him. [the main reason i'm here at all]

There’s an uptick in the action—Matthew can feel the crowd really tuning in to the game again, the kind of thing you miss if you’re sectioned off privately—and Draisaitl leans forward in his seat. He hisses when one of the St. Louis players tees up for a great opportunity and totally whiffs it, the ball rolling between his legs. Once the ball’s been cleared, Draisaitl sits back, and Matthew clocks the exact moment he realizes Matthew was watching him. [there's SO much watching each other through the beginning of this story, because they're both trying to figure out what the other one's game is]

Draisaitl shrugs, arranging his body into a pose that’s clearly meant to convey disinterest. [through a lot of the beginning of this story, and especially this scene, leon is kind of simultaneously looking for proof that matthew is a dick so he can be a dick in return AND proof that matthew agreeing to be on the same team means that actually maybe there's still something there between them. so far his data is mixed]

“It’s a fun game,” Matthew says. He can be polite.

“I didn’t think you were a fan.” Draisaitl’s words are clipped. [he was listening, earlier]

Matthew tips his head, conceding the point. “I’ve watched some games. My sister played soccer for a while.”

He’s got a scarf wadded in his lap that he stole from Taryn, actually. That’s the thing for soccer games, apparently, but it’s hot as balls and his neck got itchy under it after about 10 minutes out of the air conditioning. Draisaitl glances at it, a look on his face like he might say something, and then he turns back toward the field, clearly watching intently. [leon, considering making more polite conversation and then deciding he's not going to try that hard]

They’re quiet for a while after that. It’s a lot less awkward than it would have been to be silent walking around the Arch. Matthew cheers when the home team scores, a beautiful goal arcing into the net from outside the box. Draisaitl claps politely. It makes Matthew want to laugh, for no reason that he can articulate.

“Not a fan yet?” he asks. Draisaitl shakes his head, even the movement conveying a flat expression.

“I already have a team,” he says. Which—fine. Matthew didn’t give up the Cards when he was spending most of his time in Calgary, though it wasn’t like Calgary had a baseball team competing for his affections. “Besides,” Draisaitl adds, “I clapped.”

This is the first sporting event Matthew’s ever been to with Leon Draisaitl that they weren’t both participating in, and he does have to admit that it’s hard for him to picture Draisaitl cheering at anything but his own team’s successes.

Silence falls between them again.

After a few minutes, Matthew notices that something on the field is making Draisaitl clench his jaw as he watches, a tendon in his neck straining. Matthew knows the basics and has a solid grasp of games of passing and possession and goal-scoring, but the details of soccer have always passed him by. But Draisaitl’s clearly a big fan, that much was obvious from his conversation with Cammie earlier, and it’s hardly a surprise. [someone made a stupid play and leon is judging them for it]

If he didn’t look quite so focused, and grumpy, Matthew would ask him what’s pissed him off. Whatever it is, it passes because Draisaitl relaxes before the whistle blows to end the half.

They go get beers at half time. Draisaitl frowns at the selection available on tap, and Matthew tries to find a way to joke about it, but the truth of the matter is that it gets his hackles up. Anything he said wouldn’t come out teasing. Draisaitl chose to come here, or at least didn’t choose not to come here.

Draisaitl keeps on making a show of rolling his eyes and agonizing over the selection. He’s probably pissed off about American beer; it’s not like Matthew’s never heard it before. [here leon is being a little antagonizing on purpose. he's all over the place lmao, he wants matthew to like him again and he wants matthew to be a dick so that he has a reason to be a dick back, and he wants to go back in time and tell himself not to gamble on this particular series of events]

“There’s another place a little ways down,” Matthew says, too sharp. “If you want to see what they have in bottles.” He pauses, considers not being snide, but the look on Draisaitl’s face is too much for him. “They might even have some imports.”

“It’s fine,” Draisaitl says, and then he orders a St. Louis Lager. As they walk back to their seats, Matthew hears him mutter “Is everything in this city owned by Anheuser-Busch?” [i have actually never been to st louis but i grew up in a city/metro area of a similar size and when you have one enormous company that just names everything ... it's very striking]

Just because he’s right doesn’t mean he’s not also being a shithead. Also, he’s extremely good at being a shithead. [it's so important to me what a shithead leon can be] Matthew would know.

For a few moments earlier today, it was hard to remember why he used to swing his stick at Draisaitl’s ankles every opportunity he could get. But any time he’s tried to have a conversation today, Matthew’s found himself considering violence. [i didn't notice it through MULTIPLE editing passes but oh the use of today in consecutive sentences here grates now] He could stick his leg out right now and trip him. It would be easy; he’d probably eat it right in the middle of the concourse and spill his beer everywhere. And there’s no penalties for tripping someone who’s being a pain in the ass at a soccer game, except for getting yelled at by Cammie, and probably a half-dozen other people too. Well, and the whole locker room cancer reputation he’d probably get. [matthew as a person very clearly wants people to like him off the ice and wants to be A Good Team Guy but he's also such an effective pest on the ice, and i'm curious about how those urges play out off the ice]

So they both make it back to their seats untripped.

Right before the second half kicks off, their faces flash on the giant screen at the end of the field. Matthew watches himself wave, tries to keep himself from watching Draisaitl instead. They both look normal, at least, if bored. Matthew doesn’t even think it’s obvious that he’s considering if it would be worth spilling beer on Draisaitl.

As soon as the camera leaves them, he takes a long drink instead.

The second half gets off to a slow start, the players kicking the ball back and forth in the middle of the field, and Matthew finds his mind wandering. The seats are close enough together that his leg is nearly touching Draisaitl’s, skin dangerously close to skin since they’re both in shorts. Matthew forces himself to not think about being on his knees between Draisaitl’s thighs. [just constantly reminding myself to include physical attraction through this scene]

The Oilers got booted in the play-in, back when he and Draisaitl were briefly on whatever the hell the terms they were on then could be called, and Matthew was happier to see them go than he was sad to lose a sure thing—and after a frankly impressive three hook-ups in a week and a half, despite the restrictions, he was pretty sure Draisaitl counted as a sure thing. [just laying the groundwork for the future reveal of what their relationship could have been ...]

The final time he managed to sneak into the other hotel—when he was confident the Oilers were done but not quite ready gloat about it out loud—he fucked Draisaitl’s face while Draisaitl scrabbled at his thighs and hips. It was sloppy and bordering on too rough and all Matthew could bring himself to do was hope that the marks from Draisaitl’s fingernails would fade quickly, because like hell was he going to stop for that.

In a feat of inhuman strength, he pulled back a few seconds before he came. Pushing himself up onto his knees, he urged Draisaitl to roll over. He remembers that part clearly, scooting down the bed to be balanced over his thighs, the way Draisaitl’s cock was flushed dark and wet at the tip. “Come on,” Matthew said. “Come on, Leon, flip over.”

He also remembers the way Draisaitl’s first name felt in his mouth, his lips curling around the vowels. It wasn’t the first time he said it, but he didn’t say it much. [this isn't particularly insightful commentary but i love this bit. i held out on the actual nameswitch in the present for SO long but it was really fun to scatter through the flashbacks. a sprinkling of intimacy. seasoning the stew of matthew's emotions with it]

Draisaitl responded to it, let himself be coaxed onto his stomach. He hissed, probably his painful-looking erection getting pressed down into the bed. Matthew was presented with the smooth expanse of his back, a pleasant golden tan after the summer. Running a hand up Draisaitl’s back, Matthew said, “Can I jerk off on you?”

The noise Draisaitl made, low and rough, wasn’t very clearly a yes, but considering that he could have flipped back over and shoved Matthew off the bed, Matthew was willing to roll with it. Besides, Draisaitl was rocking his hips down against the mattress, tiny little gasps escaping him. Matthew dropped his full weight onto the back of Draisaitl’s thighs, effectively pinning him.

It made Draisaitl moan, loud and raw and incredibly hot. He managed to suppress the end of it, the sound abruptly cut off, but all of it was like fire in Matthew’s veins; the aborted noise, the aborted movements, the half-hearted resistance.

Matthew only managed a few strokes on his dick before he came all over Draisaitl’s back, making a mess of him. His teeth were digging into his lower lip to muffle the noises that wanted to escape him, and even so a punched-out gasp made its way out of his mouth as he came.

Draisaitl groaned, and Matthew thought he might have wanted to sound grossed out but he didn’t at all. Besides, he came like that, his hips working against the bed and Matthew’s come pooling in the dip of his spine. The bed was disgusting, after, and it remains to this day one of the hottest things Matthew has ever done. [honestly still extremely pleased with myself about this bit, i think it's really enjoyable messy hot horny stuff that both conveys the it really was just sex aspect but also the trust and intimacy especially of sex that isn't just super standard stuff]

When he got up to clean himself off, Matthew gave in to the urge to snap a picture of Draisaitl. He did ask Drasaitl if he could keep it—he’s not an asshole—and Draisaitl agreed only after Matthew showed him the folder that held the handful of pictures Draisaitl had sent over the last few months, password protected and inconspicuous. And he insisted on having a picture of his own, too.

Matthew obliged, arranging himself on the bed to Draisaitl’s specifications—back against the headboard, one knee up, a hand curled loose around the base of his dick. He was barely starting to get hard when Draisaitl snapped the picture. He remembers the way Draisaitl had looked at him, sharp and discerning. He remembers, way too clearly, the way Draisaitl said that if it weren’t for the rules, he would leave bruises all over Matthew’s pale skin.

He remembers the punched-out way he’d said Draisaitl’s name at that, “Leon,” again.

They fucked again that night, and Draisaitl sucked a mark into the inside of Matthew’s thigh, high enough that it actually did go unnoticed by his teammates. He also left one low on Matthew’s ribs, large and smudged enough that Matthew was able to pass it off as a hockey bruise. They didn’t usually kiss much, but they did that night, Draisaitl’s mouth almost painful against Matthew’s.

The locked folder of pictures on his phone did help a lot in getting him through the first round, and more than he’s ever going to admit for getting him through the concussion. The one, long since deleted, of Draisaitl lying facedown on the hotel bed, legs splayed, jizz streaked across his lower back, was a particular staple of late, miserable nights.

They never fucked again. Not after the way things ended. [not subtle but i think it works, lol]

Next to him, in the present, Draisaitl is fiddling with his empty beer cup, oblivious to Matthew’s thoughts. He’s already unrolled the rim, and now he’s starting to tear the cup into strips. The cup crumples loudly in his hands as he holds it steady, but the strips themselves tear quietly enough. It doesn’t look like the first time he’s done this. [he fidgets SO much. i also fidget a lot, so i assigned leon a thing i have done many times when i'm feeling fidgety]

Also, his hands are distractingly large. Matthew doesn’t want to be thinking about that, it’ll lead to thinking about what Draisaitl’s hands felt like wrapped around his hips or what Draisaitl’s fingers felt like inside of him.

After he’s torn the cup into strips, he starts tearing the strips themselves into narrower ones. They’re all still connected to the bottom of the cup, fanning out into a circle. It’s strangely fascinating. Eventually, he can’t tear the strips any smaller. Draisaitl drops his shredded cup onto the ground, and folds his hands in his lap. It lasts about 25 seconds, and then he starts jiggling his leg, jostling Matthew’s seat with the movement.

“Do you ever sit still?” Matthew hisses. Draisaitl makes a very annoyed noise. It emphatically doesn’t remind Matthew of any of the noises he used to make in bed. [he's lying, obviously]

Matthew focuses his attention back on the game. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Draisaitl pull his phone out of his pocket and start tapping away at it. Probably complaining about him, he thinks with a laugh he manages to stifle. The typing is a lot less annoying than the other stuff was, so at least there’s that. After a few seconds, he shoves his phone back into his pocket and then he manages to sit mostly still for the better part of five minutes, his eyes fixed on the game. Then, abruptly, he reaches for the scarf that’s once again balled up in Matthew’s lap. [anon, you mentioned this moment specifically in your original message and tbh i love it! the thing about all of this is that leon feels just as unsettled as matthew -- he doesn't understand why matthew signed with st louis if he hates leon so much, and he doesn't know why matthew stopped talking to him, and he kind of wants to needle matthew into doing something and showing his hand. but he also doesn't want to be a bad team guy and intentionally antagonize a teammate. so: weird stuff it is]

“Can I look at this?” he asks, but he’s already got it in his hands so it doesn’t really matter what Matthew says unless he’s willing to rip it out of Draisaitl’s grip.

“Sure,” he says, instead of you already are. Matthew deserves a fucking prize for being polite and congenial. Draisaitl’s definitely not trying this fucking hard. For one thing, he just snatched Taryn’s scarf out of Matthew’s lap and has started fiddling with it, looking at the logo, examining the pattern on both sides, and then picking at the fringe to untangle it. [also a thing i'll do when i'm feeling fidgety]

“That’s my sister’s,” Matthew says mildly. Draisaitl doesn’t stop pulling at the knots in the scarf fringe.

“You said she used to play?” he asks, his voice as carefully mild as Matthew’s was. Maybe he’s playing nice now; Matthew’s not used to that. [matthew ... try using your whole brain for a change]

Taryn at least is easy to talk about, at least, and pulls Matthew’s wandering mind away from memories of Draisaitl on his hotel bed. He nods. “Yeah, when she was a little kid. She comes to games here pretty often, I think.”

Draisaitl nods. “Have you been to any with her?”

“Just one. I’m mostly a baseball guy in the summers.” He pauses, tracks a play for a moment. The guy who was making the play loses possession, and he turns back to Draisaitl. “Guess I might go to a few more now.” [almost entirely unrelated to the whole leon situation, matthew is also still trying to wrap his head around how his life is going to change. he hasn't lived in st louis full time for a long time!]

“Does your sister live here?” Maybe Matthew needs to retract his mental accusation that Draisaitl isn’t trying.

“She does,” Matthew says, and he can’t help smiling. “It’ll be nice to see her more.”

“I bet,” Draisaitl says. He sounds different when he says it, his voice tighter, and Matthew thinks about everything he’s learned about Leon Draisaitl over the past decade, either on purpose or by accident.

“Is your sister in Germany?” Matthew asks. Draisaitl nods, but doesn’t say anything. Matthew doesn’t know what else to ask; do you miss her? is too personal. Do you miss your family? is even worse. He can’t imagine being across an ocean from his family for a whole season, much less for more than ten years. He can’t imagine Draisaitl wants to talk about that with him, either. [this is obviously a bit more of the maybe not so different after all, but it's also very much matthew trying to navigate finding the right level of intimacy and familiarity with leon, and how much he's allowed to ask and allowed to know]

They sit in silence again for a while, as the number on the game clock ticks steadily up. After a few minutes, Draisaitl drops the scarf back into Matthew’s lap. “Thanks,” he says. His voice is oddly rough.

“Are you planning to skate again soon?” Draisaitl asks, breaking the silence. It’s not a peace offering—Matthew doesn’t want a peace offering—but it is a suggestion that Draisaitl understands their relationship on the same terms as Matthew. They can tolerate each other well enough, under certain circumstances. [this is excruciating for both of them, but the skating was okay. they can relate to each other better on the ice]

“This week, probably,” Matthew says. Draisaitl nods, sharp, but there’s something promising in the curve of his mouth. Not quite a smile, but the corners of his mouth are tight like he’s fighting against one.

There’s not much else to say after that, really. A few terse comments on the game, a sharp nod from Draisaitl shortly before the final whistle. Matthew hadn’t taken him for the kind of guy to leave a game early, but Charlotte’s [why charlotte? because i'm from charlotte and we love an easter egg] up 3-1 and he’s hardly the first person to head for the exit.

Matthew stays until the bitter end, watches one more fruitless corner kick and doesn’t stand up until the final whistle sounds. On the drive home, he remembers that they were supposed to take pictures together. [i think the focus on handling the immediate awkwardness and navigating the relationship to the exclusion of doing team stuff works but this is mostly because i forgot to include it and realized during revisions]

#sorry this took so long anon! you sent me the ask and i immediately went on vacation lol #my fic #ask meme #fic by daisysusan #home by now

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deadlifts-and-deadlines · 1 year ago

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Random thoughts:

I��m going to miss this period of being home with Ender so much. It just isn’t financially feasible for me to continue to stay at home once Ender is in school full-time, and to be honest, it’s not mentally feasible for me either. I need something to do to fill my downtime now that I can’t workout and train like I used to, and we could absolutely use the money. I am just hoping I can strike a good work/life balance so I don’t feel like I’m doing it all, but badly.

I realized this morning that I’ve been drinking caffeinated coffee all week. And my body feels okay! I also can’t believe I was able to have that vodka seltzer on Saturday. I was a little worried I was making a stupid choice when I drank it, but I really wanted to sit poolside and have a drink with my SIL’s. I don’t miss alcohol, but sometimes I do miss little experiences like having a drink socially. Drinking something non-alcohol is fine. I don’t even like alcohol, lol, and I don’t mind having something else, but it’s never quite the same. And I don’t really like being stoned when I have to be social, I always feel so slow or delayed.

Now that my bagel wound has healed and my energy is better I’ve been hitting CrossFit and sandbag workouts again and I’ve really been surprising and impressing myself. I’m getting much better at handstand movements now that I practice them routinely. My speed on things like running is not great but I still have a lot of stamina somehow. And I got the ROM back for pull-ups and got three strict ones the other day. I still can’t really do any kipping movements, but I will get there. There is no rush. Also, before the lupus flared I had moved up to the 30# sandbag for goruck workouts, the dropped back to 20# once I was able to get started again, and now I’m not only back up to 30# but I’m beating Shawn in workouts with it, which is extremely satisfying.

I’m really liking this summer and we have settled into a good weekly rhythm with activities. Swim lessons are on Monday and Fridays; I coach CrossFit on Tuesday mornings and Friday evenings so Ender gets grandparent time then; Wednesdays are “adventure” days; we have soccer on Thursdays and Saturdays; and then on the weekends Ender gets one-on-one time with dad while I work out and then Ender and I usually do pool time with cousins in the afternoons. We’re going to do some little day or weekend trips instead of a big trip with Ender this summer; probably a local waterpark this month, St. Louis for the zoo and parks in July, and Chicago for the aquarium and the air and water show with some friends in August. However, if I can find a good deal for GWL anytime this summer, I will probably take it since I still hate that Ender got so sick and couldn’t enjoy most of his waterpark trip in January. He’s over it, but I am still sad for him, lol.

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laresearchette · 1 year ago

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Sunday, June 11, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: 76TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS (CTV/Paramount +) 8:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT?: YELLOWSTONE WARDENS (TBD - Animal Planet Canada)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

OOPS ALL BABY DRIVERS

AMAZON PRIME CANADA BABY DRIVER (!)

NETFLIX CANADA BABY DRIVER (!!!)

WNBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 1:00pm: Wings vs. Liberty (TSN5) 3:00pm: Mystics vs. Storm

MLS SOCCER (TSN3) 1:00pm: St. Louis vs. L.A. Galaxy (TSN5) 10:00pm: Portland vs. Dallas

MLB BASEBALL (SN) 1:30pm: Twins vs. Jays (SN Now) 1:30pm: Rangers vs. Rays (SN1) 4:00pm: Mariners vs. Angels (TSN4/TSN5) 7:00pm: Red Sox vs. Yankees

CFL FOOTBALL (TSN/TSN3) 7:00pm: Roughriders vs. Elks

FARMING FOR LOVE (CTV) 7:00pm: Jealousy brews as the daters vie for attention from their farmers, who struggle with juggling multiple relationships at once.my

AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS (Nat Geo Wild) 8:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Exploring the iconic, wild wonder of the West.

MYSTIC (Super Channel Heart & Home) 8:00pm: Amanda decides to give Gordon a chance just as Issie starts doubting him; Natasha is the bearer of bad news for Caroline; the true cause of Dora's shipwreck is revealed.

CAR S.O.S (Nat Geo Canada) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend undertake dramatic automobile interventions across the U.K.

DəNE YI'INJETL - THE SCATTERING OF MAN (documentary) 9:00pm: In a wave of development, the Tsay Keh Dene people find themselves displaced from their land amidst rising waters.

LITTLE BIRD (Crave) 9:00pm: Esther finds her adoption papers and a newspaper clipping that evoke fuzzy memories of her life before her adoption; determined to learn more, she uproots her life and sacrifices everything in search of her family and identity.

#cdntv #cancon #canadian tv #canadian tv listings #farming for love #mystic #little bird #wnba basketball #mlb baseball #mls soccer #cfl football

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moonley18 · 9 months ago

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The Open Cup Matters T-Shirt

Make a statement in support of grassroots soccer with The Open Cup Matters Shirt, a collaboration between the cool-kid soccer brand Olive & York and STL Santos supporter group. Major League Soccer's decision to largely skip the 2024 US Open Cup sparked grassroots protests, and this shirt amplifies the voice of fans who believe in the significance of the tournament.

Featuring the iconic slogan introduced by STL Santos, this shirt is more than just a piece of sportswear – it's a symbol of community, passion, and the rich history of the US Open Cup. By wearing this shirt, you contribute to the cause, as proceeds go to Marquette Park in St. Louis, fostering soccer and community spirit in a diverse neighborhood. Join the movement, celebrate the Open Cup, and support the beautiful game with The Open Cup Matters Shirt.

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chrismbr · 2 years ago

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Some recent figurative #melbournelife statues: Molly Meldrum in Richmond by Louis Laumen, 2018 (who did St Mary McKillop & MGC sportspeople); Soccer player & coach Ferenc Puskás near AAMI Park by Béla Domonkos, 2017, a gift from the Government of Hungary; Michael Gudinski, music entrepreneur (and founder of Mushroom Records) outside the Rod Laver Arena, 2022, by Darien Pullen of the Meridian Sculpture Foundry in Fitzroy. (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpZEoRFO5t9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#melbournelife

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whatsonmedia · 2 years ago

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Multi Sports: Sports Events This Week!

WhatsOn student journalists Zareen Subha brings a list of sports to watch this weekend and relax at your home comfort. This can be watched in TV, mobile or tablet just get the your happy hormones going. Here is the list of Sports to watch this weekend! Football : 11.02.2023, Saturdaypremier LeagueWest Ham vs ChelseaTime : 12.30Venue : London StadiumLeague 1PSG vs MonacoTime : 16.00venue : Stade Louis Women's Super LeagueMan city women vs Arsenal womenTime : 12.30Venue : Meadow park 12.02.2023, Sunday Premier LeagueMan city vs Aston VillaTime : 16.30Venue : Etihad Stadium Serie AJuventus vs FiorentinaTime : 17.00Vanue : Juventus Stadium La LigaBarcelona vs VillarrealTime : 20.00Vanue : El madrigal Women’s super LeagueLiverpool FC Women vs Leicester WomenTime : 14.00Venue : prenton park 14.02.2023, Tuesday Champions LeaguePSG vs BayernTime : 20.00Venue : Parc des Princes 15.02.2023, Wednesday Premier LeagueMan city vs ArsenalTime : 19.30Venue : Emirates Stadium La LigaReal Madrid vs ElcheTime : 20.00Venue : Santiago Bernabeu 16 February, 2023, Friday Europe LeagueBarcelona vs Man UnitedTime : 17.45Venue : Camp Nou Cricket : Zimbabwe vs West IndiesTime : Sun 12 - Thu 16 February, 14:00 (BDT)2nd Test, Zimbabwe v West Indies - 2023 Test SeriesVenue : Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. Australia U19 vs England U19Time : Mon 13 February, 06:00 (BDT)1st Youth ODI, Australia vs England - 2023 Youth ODI Series | Venue : Allan Border Field, Brisbane. 11.02.2023, Saturday Match 2, ICC Women's T20 World Cup, South Africa, 2023Time : Sat, 06:30 PMWest Indies Women’s vs England Women’sVenue : Boland Park, Paarl. Match 3, ICC Women's T20 World Cup, South Africa, 2023Time : Sat, 10:30 PMAustralia Women’s vs New Zealand Women’sVenue : Boland Park, Paarl. 12.02.2023, Sunday Match 4, ICC Women's T20 World Cup, South Africa, 2023Time : Sun, 06:30 PMIndia Womens’s vs Pakistan Women’sVenue : Newlands, Cape Town. Match 5, ICC Women's T20 World Cup, South Africa, 2023Time : Sun, 10:30 PMBangladesh Women’s vs Sri Lanka Women’sVenue : Newlands, Cape Town. February 14.2023, Tuesday Match 8, ICC Women's T20 World Cup, South Africa, 2023Time : Tue, 10:30 PMAustralia Women’s vs Bangladesh Women’sVenue : St George's Park, Gqeberha Basketball : 11 February, 2023 Time : 7:00 pmNBA BasketballPhiladelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets Time : 8:00 pmNBA BasketballIndiana Pacers at Washington Wizards 13.02.2023, Monday Time : 8:00 pmNBA BasketballAtlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets 14.02.2023, Tuesday Time : 11:00 pmNBA BasketballWashington Wizards at Portland Trail Blazers Hockey : 11.02.2023, Saturday Time : 7:00 pmNHL HockeyColorado Avalanche at Florida Panthers Time : 8:00 pmNHL HockeyNew York Rangers at Carolina HurricanesHurricanes 13.02.2023, Monday Time : 8:30 pmNHL HockeyCalgary Flames at Ottawa Senators Time : 9:00 pmNHL HockeyArizona Coyotes at Nashville Predators 14.02.2023, Tuesday Time : 9:30 pmNHL HockeyBoston Bruins at Dallas Stars SOCCER 11.02.2023, Saturday Time :8:00 pmEcuadorian Serie A SoccDeportivo Cuenca vs. Barcelona Time :9:00 pmMexico Primera Division SoccerJuárez vs Santos Laguna 12.02.2023, Sunday Time : 8:50 pm2023 CONCACAF U-17 ChampionshipCosta Rica vs Guadeloupe 13.02.2023, Monday Time : 8:50 pm2023 CONCACAF U-17 ChampionshipTrinidad and Tobago vs. United SHoPredators 15.02.2022, Wednesday Time : 9:00 pmNASCAR Cup SeriesBluegreen Vacations Duel 1 At DAYTONA, Qualifying Golf : 11.02.2023, Saturday Time : 1:00 amDP World Tour GolfSingapore Classic, Final Round MIXED MARTIAL ARTS 11.02.2023, Saturday Time : 9:00 pmESPNLO1UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski -Suriname Read the full article

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mubashirnews · 2 years ago

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RFT Asks: What’s It Like To Fish in Forest Park? | St. Louis Metro News | St. Louis

click to enlarge BENJAMIN SIMON Denny Vaninger and Kevin Burke tough out the cold in December to fish at Forest Park. On a cold Monday morning at 10 a.m. in December, two people are fishing at Jefferson Lake next to Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park. Their names are Denny Vaninger, who once played for the U.S. men’s national soccer team, and Kevin Burke. The gentlemen wanted to talk but…

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soccerstl · 3 years ago

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St. Louis City SC MLS Next and MLS Next Pro Update

St. Louis City SC MLS Next Update including photos from @stlouisstarz and video from @stl_from_above

via NextSTL, St. Louis City SC have submitted paperwork for building permits on the training fields and @mlsnext Academy facilities on January 16, 2021 On January 16, 2021 NextSTL.com noted that St. Louis City SC had submitted paperwork for building permits on the training fields and related MLS Next Academy facilities with the rendering shown above. I thought I’d take a moment to update the…

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#Alex Langer #Bendan Gittemeier #Bomi Park #Elvir Kafedzic #John Hackworth #MLS Next Academy soccer #MLS Next Pro #St. Louis City SC 2 #St. Louis City SC Academy #Tyler Harris

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belovelyphotography · 3 years ago

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Shelby {senior}

#Senior session #Shelby #high school senior #class of 2022 #graduating #St. Louis #Twin Oaks Park #St. Louis Senior Photographer #Be Lovely #teens #soccer

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ok-ak · 3 years ago

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a running list of things louis thinks he does not do but has, in fact, done many times:

wears cowboy hats (dallas)

messes up lyrics (austin)

bluegreens more than quite literally everyone else (houston)

pronounces st. louis incorrectly (st.louis)

acts like a teacher (dallas)

takes way too many selfies (nashville)

acts like a big! ole! tease!-yeah i’m looking at you Perfect Now😤 (washington dc)

acts like a drama king™️ that mic drop hello?! (new york, night 1)

throws chicken nuggets at fans remember the nugget thrown from the hotel pls (new york, night 2)

wears pajamas on stage (pittsburgh)

aggressively sings Princess Park™️ (philadelphia)

smiles knowingly at bears hm? what bears? idk (boston)

dresses like a soccer footie dad (cincinnatti)

forgets the lyrics to walls tsk tsk louis (detroit)

acts like a 5 year old on stage after winning rock paper scissors (indianapolis)

plays with his fans emotions that set list change for what (chicago)

tries to kill us on purpose with his outfit (minneapolis)

wears Suggestive Shirts™️ king of communication via t shirt (kansas city)

pulls down his shirt too much let it showww bestie(denver)

wears Suggestive Shirts™️ x2 compass again hello (orem)

bluegreens more than quite literally everyone else x2 the same shirt 28 days later bye (seattle)

models for adidas (portland, night 1)

models for calvin klein (vancouver)

acts as a circus conductor in SHORTS (portland,night 2)

i’ll keep adding as tour goes on

#andddd today’s reblog #lt tour #all men so is lie #refer to the original post as i add more !

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gypsealife · 3 years ago

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What to do in New Orleans

Do you want to go to New Orleans but aren't sure where to begin? I'll tell you about some of the top things to see in New Orleans in this article (Louisiana). NOLA, or The Big Easy as its residents refer to it, is known around the world as the metropolis of jazz, Creole cuisine, and a distinct dialect.

New Orleans, located in southeastern Louisiana, is described as beautiful, colorful, relaxing, and fun.

It is a city of French and Spanish ancestry with strong African-American characteristics, exhibiting American pluralism via architecture, music, and cuisine.

Since President Thomas Jefferson purchased New Orleans for $15 million from Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been a great American rare.

Immersing yourself in its French Quarter is like stepping back in time to the 18th century, while also taking in the cultural distinctives that have been added during the 19th and 20th centuries to create this the country's most eclectic city.

Due to its origins on the banks of the famous Mississippi River, it has a large ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, as well as one of the most important musical diversity in the United States. It is a melting pot of cultures, including French, Spanish, African, Latin, and Caribbean, and as a result, the majority of its residents are of African heritage.

1. Go to New Orleans' French Quarter.

Bourbon Street is located in the center of New Orleans' French Quarter.

The French Quarter is unquestionably the crown jewel and thus one of New Orleans' must-see attractions. It covers around 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue and is known among its residents as "The Vieux Carre" or simply "French Quarter." Bourbon Street, studded with restaurants, cafes, bars, and strip clubs, is one of the city's most popular and busiest streets.

Visit James Square, one of the city's most prominent squares, which is located along the Mississippi River. You can see the gorgeous St. Louis Cathedral from here, or take a rest in the famous Café du Monde, which was built in 1896.

2. Show your support for the New Orleans Saints.

Of course, we can't ignore the most popular sport in the United States, American soccer. This sport is extremely popular in Louisiana, particularly in New Orleans. The New Orleans Saints, 2011 Superbowl champions, and their home stadium, the stunning Mercedes-Benz Superdome, are based in New Orleans. The team is well-liked and respected by the locals because they exemplify the principles of hard work, tenacity, and never giving up in the face of adversity.

These qualities also represent this metropolis, particularly when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 and wreaked havoc on the city. After winning the Super Bowl, the team's fans elevated them to the status of heroes.

3. Get to know New Orleans by riding the streetcars.

Streetcars in New Orleans

Another thing I recommend doing in New Orleans is taking the streetcars to get a feel for the city. These fantastic electric streetcars date back to the 1600s and provide lovely excursions in buildings that are still in use today.

There are currently four primary lines that provide tours of some of New Orleans' most popular and noteworthy attractions. You'll be able to see the Mississippi River from angles you've never seen before on one of these tours.

4. Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square

Congo Square is a historically significant square. New Orleans was the only city in the northern United States that allowed slaves to meet in public and play their native music during the French colonial era, when slaves were transported.

On Sundays, their one day off, they met in Congo Square to do so. Today, it is part of Louis Armstrong Park, which was once known as "La Place des Negres" by the settlers, where they sang, played music, and sold homemade cuisine. As a result, it may be stated that in the early twentieth century, Congo Square gave birth to an era's worth of indigenous music: Jazz.

5. Treat your ears to some music at Preservation Hall.

New Orleans' Preservation Hall is a jazz venue.

The Preservation Hall, located on St. Peter Street in the center of the French Quarter, is a historic location where you can enjoy acoustic jazz music in an intimate setting practically every day of the year. Every day, the facility has a cast of more than 50 local musicians who perform in various formats.

If you come in on any given night, you'll be treated to the sight and sound of local and resident musicians improvising great tunes. If you appreciate this type of music, New Orleans holds one of the country's largest jazz events, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which takes place every year.

6. Historic Voodoo Museum in New Orleans

New Orleans was the core of the slave trade and commerce in the United States before the abolition of slavery in the 18th century. During this period, the slaves' cultural and religious traditions, which originated mostly in Africa and Haiti, were assimilated into the metropolis. Voodoo was one of the city's most enduring traditions.

After centuries, the city of New Orleans established the New Orleans Historic Vodoo Museum, which is solely committed to educate people about African culture and religion. Throughout history, ritual books and voodoo dolls or amulets have been found here.

7. Take a walk in City Park in New Orelans to get some fresh air.

City Park, one of the city's main green lungs, situated roughly 3 miles northwest of the French Quarter. With a total area of 5.3 square kilometers, you can breathe fresh air while exploring centuries-old oak forests, walking routes, biking paths, lakes, picnic places, and more. The New Orleans Museum of Art, as well as the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, a garden full of free sculptures and the New Orleans Botanical Garden, are all located inside the park's borders.

The park also features two stadiums, golf courses, rugby and soccer grounds, and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including weddings and the Vodoo Music + Arts Experience, which is the largest music festival in the world.

8. The New Orleans Museum of Art is number eight on the list.

If you enjoy art, the New Orleans Museum of Art - NOMA - is a must-see in New Orleans. The museum, which is located within the magnificent City Park, has an extensive art collection of 40,000 items covering 5,000 years of history, as well as a sculpture garden in City Park that is open to the public for free.

Hours:

Monday was a holiday.

From 10:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Price:

Adults are charged $15.

Students at universities pay $8.

Admission is free for those aged 19 and younger.

9. Oak Alley Plantation is number nine on the list.

Oak Alley Plantation's Avenue of Oaks

Nearly a dozen old plantations with gorgeous houses and exquisite gardens can be found about 50 miles west of Downtown, along the Mississippi River. Whitney Plantation, Laura Plantation, and Felicity Plantation are a few examples. A visit to Oak Alley Plantation is highly recommended.

You'll need at least 2 hours to absorb 200 years of history and tour all of the properties of this old sugar plantation, when roughly a hundred slaves worked between the field and the house as men, women, and children.

Schedule:

Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

Price:

Adults are charged $25.

$10 for youth (13-18 years old).

$7 for children aged 6 to 12.

Admission is free for children under the age of five.

10. Take a Mississippi River cruise

I urge that you see New Orleans from a different vantage point. Get to know it by taking a trip down the Mississippi River on the Natchez, Louisiana's most famous steamboat. It would be nearly difficult to truly appreciate New Orleans without traveling down the Mississippi and aboard the Natchez.

You will not only go through the entire city of New Orleans on this expedition, but you will also travel through the states of Kentucky and Missouri, among others. Aboard this lovely old ship, you will have a wonderful time. Don't miss out on wonderful meals and fantastic musical performances!

11. Enjoy a meal at the historic Commander's Palace.

Commander's Place Restaurant in the Garden District of New Orleans

The remarkable ethnic mix of New Orleans is reflected not just in religion and music, but also in the food. The most popular cuisine in the city is "Cajun," which combines classic, rustic French cuisine with regional products and influences.

The legendary Commander's Place restaurant is located in the Garden District, surrounded by lovely and historic colonial farmhouses. I recommend stopping by to get a feel for the area and sample some Creole cuisine.

The National WWII Museum is number 12 on the list.

New Orleans is home to the acclaimed National WWII Museum, which opened in 2000. This museum is a must-see for history buffs who want to learn everything there is to know about WWII.

You can also accomplish it using interactive artefacts and artifacts from the historical period. It is, without a doubt, an attraction not to be missed.

#what to do in new orleans #new orleans

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iamtheblondestblonde · 4 years ago

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Clear as Day

Part One?

AN: Here’s some friends with benefits with Vince that I came up with in between cases at work. Vince if you’re reading this I’m so sorry please stop right here but also hmu I swear I just wanna be friends. I don’t know much about being a pediatric nurse (financial law anyone?) but I did volunteer at a hospital for a while so I hope it’s not super far off. I have plans and some stuff written for a part two that could be the same length so let me know you want one but it could be complete like this. (First person narrative but again no names or descriptions for the mc)

Warnings: language, definitely (also English isn’t my first language so perhaps some mistakes) and smut, also definitely (yes you read that right I did it again)

Word Count: 13.3k

I loved my job. I really did. I found it rewarding to be able to make tiny faces light up but I was currently on my second day of 12 hour back to back shifts, with yesterday closer to 14 hours, and I just really wanted to spend the entire day in bed.

It wasn’t even 7 a.m. yet and the streets of Toronto were already bustling, everybody preparing for a busy day. The sound of the ice cubes sloshing around in my coffee had become a staple background noise for the walk from the employee parking lot to the front entrance of the hospital, it soothed me.

As soon as I stepped into the building I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, despite being sleep-deprived and basically needing a break already. There was a new drawing pinned to the wall by the nurses’ station and if the image of my smiling face wasn’t a dead giveaway already, it was hard to miss my name written on top of it in big bold letters.

It had started out as a joke really, a half-hearted complaint about me not getting as many drawings as others because most of my patients didn’t stay long in the ICU. From that moment on Lucas, my only long-term patient right now and all-time favorite teenager, had made sure that there was always a new one waiting for me every week. He was really good at drawing as well and I had an entire stack of amazing portraits, landscapes and lots of other random things at my apartment that I cherished dearly.

“He wanted to give it to you himself but then we had to give him something and he asked me to put it up so you’d see it as soon as you got in.” I turned around to see Mariah standing behind me, her face showing the same look of fondness as mine. Most of the nurses were pretty convinced that he had a crush on me and while I had to face lots of playful jabs because of that, she never gave me shit about it. She was probably about to head out and I knew that she only stayed behind to tell me this so I made sure to thank her.

“Is he up yet?”

“Surprisingly not, although he should be soon. He’s had a rough night and he stayed up way too long to draw but I doubt that anything could ruin this day for him, two dreams coming true and all.”

As soon as her words registered with me I mentally facepalmed, I’d completely forgotten that we’d get a visitor in a couple of hours. Because of Lucas’ surgery he hadn’t talked about hockey all that much lately, so I’d kind of forgotten that today he would get to meet one of his idols. I was about to respond something when I spotted Sydney waving me over.

Sydney was in charge of all of the pediatric nurses during the day shift, meaning that I had approximately three seconds to make my way over before she’d get impatient because she was always so busy. I waved goodbye to Mariah and speed walked over to Sydney, curious to see as to what she needed of me. She never beat around the bush, always coming straight to the core of things so I didn’t expect the conversation to last long and today was no different. She probably held the world record for fastest talker.

“So you know we’re getting a visitor today which means that I need someone to run a tight ship for me. You’re young and perky and I asked around and people love you. I know you helped with some of the Leafs the last time so you should already be familiar with the protocol. This is a big hospital and I want all of the kids on the list to get a chance to talk to Mr Dunn and that won’t happen if he gets lost so I want you to stay with him at all times, got it? I’ll get one of the on-calls to take over for you during everything.”

I couldn’t even get a word in before her pager went off and she jogged off after practically thrusting a file into my hands, unable to respond anything as she said something over her shoulder about this being a gift. I stared after her with my mouth hanging wide open, not really comprehending what had just gone down yet.

Being ‘young and perky’ had apparently just managed to get me demoted from a RN to a babysitter for yet another over-confident celebrity which didn’t really feel like a gift at all.

Lucas had told me all about how great this Vince apparently was but I had seen my fair share of famous people walking around these halls with camera teams following them, it was kind of a part of working with sick kids. There were exceptions of course, some of them were really nice but those were usually the ones that didn’t visit the kids for some good PR. While I was glad that it would make Lucas happy it didn’t really impress me anymore.

Besides I hadn’t really paid attention to hockey ever before, although it was hard to escape the hype right now with me being a St. Louis native. Some of my friends had sent me pictures of the parade from about a month ago but I hadn’t really paid much attention because I’d been slammed with work, not recognizing any of the players either way.

The file Sydney had given me consisted of a schedule for the day and a list of the kids that wanted to meet Vince, which was surprisingly long for this being a hospital in Toronto and him playing for the Blues. Even with my limited, read non-existent, hockey knowledge I was pretty sure that the team wasn’t liked very much in the league but I blamed it on them winning. Sydney was right, we would have to make good time to get through everybody.

I couldn’t exactly spend forever going through the file because I had mostly new admissions assigned to me and that meant lots of charting and running tests. I did spend my break reading through everything and trying to come up with a plan while shoveling food to my mouth at record speed however. Even if I wasn’t exactly thrilled with this assignment there was absolutely no way I wouldn’t be prepared. I would leave this hospital with the best possible impression of me, all things be damned.

It was kind of hard to focus on what was written in front of me though when I had three other nurses standing close by and ranting about how hot Vince apparently was. Lucas had shown me his hockey card a few times but I didn’t really know what he looked like because I was usually busy putting in a new IV line at the time, something he’d come to hate so talking about hockey was the perfect distraction. I was tempted to google him but before I got the chance my pager went off, signaling that the incoming convoy was about to arrive.

Unable to stop myself I checked my reflection quickly in one of the mirrors on my way out of the restroom. Call me vain but I didn’t want to end up in any pictures or videos looking like a total slob, even if it was just in the background. I’d taken the time to shower this morning but I definitely would’ve added more than the layer of concealer if I’d known about this earlier. At least I’d gotten my brows done and my lash extensions refilled a couple of days ago. Deciding that it was too late to do anything else about it I walked towards the front entrance with the file in my hands, making sure one last time that I knew where to take this Vince first.

It wasn’t hard to spot him in the group that arrived, the big shiny trophy he was lugging around kind of a dead giveaway.

He was good-looking, I had to give him that. Not in the rugged handsome way however, it was more of a defined features and beautiful way. The kind of look that got you dubbed as a pretty boy during high school, the polo shirt he was spotting only reinforcing that image.

I couldn’t really imagine him playing ice hockey. He was fit of course, but he wasn’t as big and bulky as I’d thought and if I had to guess I’d peg him as a baseball or lacrosse player, perhaps soccer even. If all hockey players looked like him however, I might have to catch a game or two after all.

I walked over with my big work smile plastered on my face, hand outstretched and he set the cup down to shake it as I introduced myself first. I caught him looking me up and down quickly but I wasn’t really one to talk because I’d done the same exact thing just seconds earlier.

“Hi I’m Vince, nice to meet you. Love the scrubs by the way”, he responded with a dazzling smile, gesturing at my outfit. Compliments weren’t a bad start, especially since I was wearing one of my favorites with an adorable blue and pink dinosaurs print.

“Thanks, one of my friends paints them for me.” Not willing to dwell too long on awkward small talk I continued: “Do you want me to get like a wheelchair for the cup or are you gonna carry it the entire time?”

“I think I’d get a lot of shit for not carrying it so thanks but no thanks.”

I quickly introduced myself to the rest of the team before herding everyone towards the elevators because he had to be upstairs in a couple of minutes. The camera team was more intimidating than I’d thought and I tried my best to distract myself from it as I pointed out different things around the hospital, only hoping that I wasn’t rambling without making any sense.

I was pretty sure that Vince could tell that I was uncomfortable because he kept our conversation going the whole time, obviously trying to make me laugh. His own laugh was hard to ignore and by the time we walked into the room where a livestream would take place the smile on my face was real. At least he wasn’t just easy on the eyes but he seemed fairly entertaining so far as well.

I watched him do the stream with Owen, who I’d spent some time in post-op with after his surgery a couple of weeks ago, and then stood close by as he talked to the long line of patients and people who were able to come up here. Sometimes when he saw a special needs kid getting closer he’d turn to me to ask for advice and tips and even all that ruckus didn’t stop him from keeping up a normal conversation with me.

He’d pick up right where we left off whenever there was a small break in between people and I wasn’t only amazed at his multitasking, but also at how amazing he was with the kids. He made me show him how to hold a baby and I think I’ll never be able to forget the image of a cute little baby boy in the cup.

“I ate cereal out of there this morning”, he whispered conspiratorially to me after the mother was finally done thanking him and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Of course you did. I hope you put it in the sink afterwards at least.” He gave me a wounded look, as if me insinuating he was not a clean person was hurting his ego and I laughed even more. I couldn’t really tell if he was trying to flirt with me or if he was like this with everyone but the mixed signals he’d sent me all afternoon were starting to get confusing.

“You think so lowly of me, I thought you’d know better by now.” With anyone else the wink he sent me as he delivered his line would have probably been overkill but somehow it worked for him.

The fact was that I did know better by now, even if it had only been just under two hours. I probably hadn’t been this wrong about something since I absolutely botched a math test in tenth grade thinking I aced it and he had turned out to be nothing like I had imagined him to be. Perhaps the early morning sleep-deprived me lacked the sense of being able to assess character that I usually had.

When I told him that it was time to leave he looked at me with a puppy eyes, pleading with me to let him stay a little longer. Working in pediatrics I got this a lot but somehow it had a whole different effect on me coming from a 6 feet tall hockey player with lips that were practically made for pouting.

“But there’s still some people left that I haven’t gotten to.”

“There’s also some kids that couldn’t come up here because they are too sick waiting for you in the ICU and you won’t be able to see all of them in time if we don’t go over there now. There’s a tight schedule for a reason you know.”

“Fuck the schedule, I’ll just stay longer,” he said with a cheeky grin but not before covering the ears of the little girl in front of him with his hands so she wouldn’t hear him curse. At this point I felt like it was way too easy for him to make me laugh but at the same time I didn’t really want to do anything against it. These halls had seen worse things than people laughing after all.

“You fit right in with all of my patients, you know that? And don’t you have plans with the cup for this evening?”

I didn’t get an answer straight away because Vince took his time to talk to the last five families left in line before we made our way back to the elevators. I had kind of forgotten about the camera crew that was there to document it all until all of us were crammed back inside the tight space, my shoulder brushing against Vince’s arm so I wouldn’t bump into any of the expensive equipment.

“I promised to make an appearance at this club but they’ll wait for me. By the way, you should come as well.” At first I thought he was joking, surely he had to be as we’d only met, but his try at a winning smile told me he was anything but. Again, was this him flirting or was I losing my mind?

“Shooting your shot while you’re in my good graces because of the kids, I see. I’m gonna have to disappoint though, I’m stuck here till seven and then I have another 12 hour shift coming up tomorrow so I can have a four day weekend.” I had already kind of accepted that we would never see each other again, especially with me turning him down now, and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a bit sad about it.

“That sounds brutal. I’m throwing another party at my condo on Saturday if you’re free then.”

“I’m actually driving up to a lake house with some friends for the weekend, sorry.” By now I really was interested because he seemed fun and I wanted that for my last few weeks up here but his timing was truly the worst.

“Wow, you’re really making me work for it,” he let out a teasing chuckle then, running his hand up and down his neck in a very distracting move as he contemplated his next words “I’m assuming you have a busy week next week as well so perhaps next Saturday?”

“Ummm.. I already agreed to meet some friends at a bar on that Saturday,” his face fell at that so I couldn’t help but add “but you’re welcome to meet us there if you want to see how the working class parties. Bring some of your friends as well if you want.”

The smile he gave me at that was equivalent to that of a five year old patient when they get told that they could have a slice of the chocolate cake and it made me glad that there was no one monitoring my heart rate at the moment.

The next day was just another regular day at work and while I had lots of fun yesterday, I was glad to be back in my comfort zone. Working days was anything but boring and I had been so busy that my watch told me I’d already reached my step goal for the day halfway through my shift.

I finally had some time to update the charts while sitting down at the nurses’ station, desperately hoping for some down time soon so I could perhaps even grab another cup of coffee to stop me from climbing into a free bed and taking a nap right there.

I’d seen many people pray in this building and not all of them got what they wished for but somehow today must have been my lucky day because just as I’d finished that thought someone cleared their throat in front of me. I was ready to answer some questions from worried parents but what I totally didn’t expect was Vince standing there with two coffee cups.

“I thought I’d drop this off as a thank you for babysitting me yesterday and I had a feeling that you’d need it”, he said before giving me one of his dazzling smiles. He looked good in a black t shirt and some jeans, his perfectly styled hair in contrast to the messy bun currently on top of my head. That is if the rat’s nest could even still be called a bun.

“Vince Dunn you just keep on surprising me”, I responded with a breathless laugh, not really knowing what else to say at the sweet gesture. What do you say to a good-looking hockey player that not only asks you to spend time with him three times but also takes the time out of his day for this?

Well, besides thanks, obviously.

Vince handed me one of the cups and I took a sip before looking up at him in surprise.

“How do you know the way I like my coffee?”

Instead of answering, he pointed at something behind me and I turned around to see the coffee order list I’d started a while ago in case someone decided to grab some for everyone, my name on top of the sheet.

“I noticed it yesterday in passing, I swear I’m not a stalker or anything.” He blushed at this and it was so cute and unlike his otherwise smooth self that I couldn’t just let him off the hook.

“You know, that’s exactly what a stalker would say”, I responded with a sly smile and while his face turned even more red he burst out laughing. By now we had the attention of every nurse close by and I was pretty sure that all of them were eavesdropping but who could blame them, I’d do the exact same thing. People here lived for the drama, kind of a given with how much time we spent in here because it didn’t really leave much space for a life outside of these halls. Especially if said drama involved a very hot hockey player.

“I’m changing the topic now before I embarrass myself in front of you even further just so you know. I did actually come here for one more thing,” he trailed off before bending down to pick up a bag that I hadn’t noticed before, too distracted by the guy in front of me. “I brought this for Lucas so he has something to show his friends once he gets back on the ice.” He pulled out a Blues’ jersey and turned it around so I could see that it was one of his, complete with a signature and a small message.

Lucas had been an avid hockey player himself up until his kidneys basically decided that they didn’t want to work anymore a while ago. Things had gotten so bad that he had to permanently stay in intensive care with us until after months of dragging people in here to get tested they finally found a donor in a family friend last week. At least his surgery had gone well and while I’d miss having him around, I was glad that he’d finally get discharged to recover at home later today.

I took another sip of the coffee before getting up and walking next to Vince to Lucas’ room. Lucas greeted me with a smile, which only grew after he saw who was following me into the room. Despite having struggled for so long he had always been in a good mood, even when he had to celebrate his fifteenth birthday in the hospital a few weeks ago.

“Look at you, it’s your last day in here and things just keep on getting better.” Vince and Lucas did the handshake they’d come up with yesterday, something that was absolutely necessary as a hockey player or so I’d been told.

Lucas had grown up in Chicago and he’d seen Vince play for the team there but had only really started paying attention after the apparently best fight ever Vince had gotten into at one of the games. Obviously not my words. The connection between the two of them had been instant and all the hockey talk had my head spinning more than during the first few weeks of nursing school so I made a quick exit, leaving them to it.

“I bet every nurse wishes they could trade spots with you right now, me included by the way”, Rachel, my partner in crime since day one of our college classes together, said as soon as I returned to my spot at the station.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about”, I responded, acting clueless. With a raised brow she reached for my coffee cup, spinning it around to reveal a small note written on the side of it that I hadn’t even noticed before.

“You sure about that? This fine specimen of a hockey player just gave you his number and you still act like there’s nothing going on? Besides, everyone saw you two getting all chummy yesterday.”

I snatched the cup out of her hands, quickly checking if the coast was clear before pulling out my phone to add his number to my contacts while keeping my head down so I wouldn’t have to look her in the eyes.

“Oh wipe that shit-eating grin off your face. All I get is annoying parents and you get hot dads and famous athletes hitting on you out left and right. Like leave some for the rest of us girl, it’s not fair.”

Even though I’d shot Vince a quick text so he could have my number as well, I never really expected anything more than his response that he’d saved it.

To say I was surprised when he texted me the following week was definitely an understatement. It wasn’t a booty call either, no, he’d texted me in the middle of the day asking if I was working days or nights this week.

Me: days as usual but I’m actually on-call today, got luckyy

Dunner: so you’re home right now?

Okay so perhaps this was a booty call after all. Not that I particularly minded.

While his first response had been pretty fast he took a little longer to answer after I told him that I was home indeed. Laying on the couch in an oversized shirt and yoga pants rewatching some Grey’s Anatomy on to be exactly. Almost the same as working. The rainy weather set the perfect mood for a lazy day in though so I hadn’t moved from my spot ever since returning from the gym this morning.

Dunner: this Chinese place near me has a special two for one offer today and I wanted to bring you some to work

I still wasn’t sure if this was him flirting but I’d also never had somebody I’d only met a week ago offer to bring me food to the hospital so he had to be, right? I sent a screenshot of the message to Rachel but I knew that I couldn’t count on her responding to it anytime soon, seeing as she was actually at work right now. I decided to be forward, telling him that I wouldn’t complain about some good food either way.

Inviting someone who was basically a stranger over to your apartment generally wasn’t exactly the best idea, but I counted on the impression I had of him so far and the reputation he surely had to uphold as a NHL player. Besides, we had lots of medical equipment scattered around the apartment so surely I’d find a syringe or something to defend myself if needed.

Dunner: I’ll be over in 30 so try not to get called in before then

True to his word the bell didn’t ring much later. I’d debated making an effort and changing but I wasn’t about to wear jeans or a skirt to hang out so that didn’t leave many options. Brushing your hair wasn’t nothing either so that counted in my opinion.

Vince had gone through the same train of thought as well apparently because he looked super cozy in some sweatpants and a hoodie that had gotten slightly wet, presumably from his walk from his car to the building as our parking situation was really shitty. He stepped inside and reached up to run his hand through his damp hair before shaking his head, making little droplets of water fly in every direction.

“This is why they don’t allow dogs in here”, I laughed, gesturing to my shirt that now looked like an abstract splash painting.

“Let me make it up to you with some of the best food you’ve ever had because I brought lots” was his response as he lifted the bag of take out while slipping off his shoes by the door, hair now sticking in all directions.

“Alright Dunner, show me what you got”, I said with a wink over my shoulder as I made my way into the kitchen, continuing my bold streak from earlier. I had also learned by now that nicknames were even more important than handshakes as a hockey player. I was pretty sure I’d heard him mumble something along the line of ‘Gladly’ but I was already too far ahead of him to be absolutely certain.

“You’re watching Grey’s Anatomy? Isn’t it like crazy inaccurate?”, he asked with a look at the TV in the living room as I hadn’t bothered to pause the episode.

“Yeah of course it is but I still like it somehow. It’s like the hospital equivalent of bad trash TV shows so it’s kind of my guilty pleasure.”

“Okay give me a quick summary of what I need to know for this episode so we can watch it while we eat.”

I looked at him like he was crazy but he urged me on, looking up at me expectantly from where he’d sat down on the couch. Eventually I gave in, trying to keep explanations as short as possible but even then it took me quite a while to get through, yet Vince never once looked like he was bored. He didn’t lose his interest in it after that either, only looking away from the screen to decide what he was going to eat next, all of the choices delicious just like he promised.

Stuffed like a turkey on Thanksgiving the both of us stayed unmoved on the couch watching episode after episode. Somehow my legs had ended up on his lap and his hands were resting on my knees, drawing slow circles as we made eye contact from time to time. Every few minutes his hand would inch up a little and with him biting his lip as he did it there was no way I would stop him, any doubts about his intentions long gone by now. I couldn’t stop the smile spreading on my lips as his hand finally reached the top of my thigh, softly kneading the sensitive part on the inside. If I was into hand porn, I would have orgasmed already at the sight of his hands wrapped around my thigh.

“What are you grinning about?”, Vince asked with an easy smile himself, looking at me in a way that told me that Meredith had long lost his attention.

“Just waiting for you to finally make a move.”

“I was trying to be somewhat of a gentlemen but I really can’t help myself with you wearing those pants..”

“Well you seem to be awful at it so don’t be one then”, I teased back feeling confident yet again.

In a flash he had somehow - I’ll probably keep wondering about the details for the rest of my life - managed to lift me up enough to shift me so I was straddling his lap, now turned on by his manhandling and the way he was currently looking up at me. For a second both of us stared at each other, trying to figure out if this was really going to happen. Vince lifted his hand from my hip to my face, slowly pulling me down towards him.

Our lips didn’t even get the chance to connect before my phone started ringing.

I jumped up from his lap, immediately recognizing the ringtone I had set for all work calls and almost kneeing him in the crown jewels in the process. One look at my screen told me that it was an emergency which prompted me to run into my room cursing. I quickly pulled on the pair of scrubs I’d laid out in the morning, one hand still pulling the top down while the other was trying to attach my badge properly by the time I made it back into the living room. Vince hadn’t even moved from the couch yet, eyes wide and legs still comfortably spread apart, a sight that made me want to climb back on top of him but unfortunately I couldn’t do that.

“I’m so sorry but I gotta go, you don’t need to rush though. Feel free to keep on watching if you want but please don’t rob us and make sure the door is closed if you decide to leave after all, it locks automatically. The food was delicious thank you very much and bye!”

I barely heard him saying bye as well before I was already through the door, not really looking forward to spending the next few hours in the chaos that usually came with emergency calls. Especially after how much I’d enjoyed spending time with Vince and how much I wished that we would’ve just skipped all of the testing-the-waters stuff and would’ve just went at it like madmen.

The weekend couldn’t arrive fast enough and by the time it was Saturday I was ready to abandon all of my plans so I could sleep the rest of the day. I’d gotten in late last night after working overtime and I probably would have stayed in bed till noon if it wasn’t for Rachel and Mariah bursting into my room at nine in the morning. At least they didn’t wake me at the crack of dawn and the cake they were carrying to my bed looked pretty delicious as well.

“Look at you, another year older and yet still sexy as fuck”, Rachel exclaimed as she hopped onto the bed beside me after they’d finished their horrible rendition of Happy Birthday. Mariah settled on the other side of me and I guess my friends knew me well enough because we didn’t move from that position except to grab some more food and booze until it was time to get ready for tonight. Best roommates ever.

“You need to look extra hot tonight, I want Vince to lose his shit when he sees you.”

Ever since I’d sent the screenshot to Rachel and told her about the couch situation, she had been on my back about the thing. Something about me needing to bag rich hot athletes for her sake. I didn’t even argue with her anymore, only rolling my eyes in sync with Mariah whenever she brought it up.

To my surprise Vince hadn’t been deterred by my hasty exit a few days ago, something that had definitely surprised me. It wasn’t the first time that my job had cockblocked me and it definitely won’t be the last and I’d met more than my fair share of guys who were absolutely not into that at all. The fascination with nurses died really fast once people realized how much time we spent on the job.

Vince and I had texted constantly since he spent the day with me and he had somehow managed to make casual conversation with a flirty undertone the entire time. We’d already established that neither of us was looking for anything serious right now but I had decided that I would definitely not say no to some fun with him.

Some birthday sex would be great for starters. I let Rachel curl my hair while I focused on perfecting my make up because I wanted to look good tonight, not just for Vince but also because by next weekend I’d already be packed so this was really my last big hurrah before moving back home.

The thing about spending most of my days make up free in sports bras, comfortable panties and running shoes was that if I did bother to go out, I put in a lot of effort. I was determined to turn heads tonight so I pulled on a black lace bodysuit that practically presented my boobs on a silver tray, a pair of jeans that made my ass look spectacular and some black stilettos that I hoped wouldn’t kill my feet in a few hours. I had to go braless under the bodysuit, the mesh part on the back making that very obvious and I had a feeling that Vince wouldn’t exactly mind either.

“Girl I’d totally bang you because you look so hot but that outfit shows off everything that’s wrong with you”, Rachel said as we all examined ourselves one last time in front of the full-length mirror in my room and took pictures. I shot her a confused look.

“Wait what’s wrong with me?”

“Well for one your ass looks bangin and so do your boobs and I’m pretty sure that I could tell if you had a dick wearing that and people with dicks are my type soooo..”, she trailed off and both Mariah and I turned towards her with an incredulous look before bursting out laughing, all the day drinking taking its toll already. It wasn’t exactly new for Rachel to stop making any sense once she had some alcohol in her but it was still just as entertaining every single time.

“I can’t believe you’re complaining about her not having a dick right now”, Mariah sighed and I couldn’t stop giggling at my idiotic friends.

“I’m not complaining! I’m just saying that I need a dick to-“

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence. Just – just for once in your life be at least somewhat normal please”, Mariah interrupted her exasperated and the both of them continuing to bicker still had me laughing by the time we climbed into the back of our Uber.

We were the last to arrive of course, because Rachel had insisted on us being fashionably late so by the time we made it inside the bar I could already spot my friends sitting in the back. She had also insisted on me wearing a stupid Birthday Girl sash, reminding me how many free drinks it would get me, but I drew the line at the tiara she had pulled out of her purse as well. I was too old for the full 21st birthday look after all.

After I was hugged by everyone and had received all of the birthday wishes and presents I realized that Vince wasn’t among the group, which was weird because we’d been texting all day and he had asked to confirm the time and place again just this morning.

It was as if my thought made him appear because soon I felt two hands gently grab my waist while his cologne infiltrated my senses. He spun me around and the force of the move had me reach out to rest my hands on his shoulders so I wouldn’t fall over. I knew he had done that on purpose.

We were standing so close that we would have definitely gotten in trouble if this were a middle school dance and the way he looked down at me right now made me curse everything that came to my mind because I just wanted to drag him to the nearest bathroom so he could bend me over the counter but of course that wouldn’t be acceptable in front of all my friends.

“Why didn’t you tell me that today is your birthday? Now I’m going to have to make up for the fact that I didn’t get you a present.”

I had a feeling that I wouldn’t mind whatever this making up entailed, if the way he tightened his grip while looking at me as if he was thinking about bathroom counters as well was any indicator.

“Because you don’t just tell people that it’s your birthday, that’s weird.” He pulled me even tighter then, wrapping his arms around me and wishing me a happy birthday after giving me a kiss on the cheek that gave me goosebumps. Before he had the chance to pull away however, I leaned up on my tippy toes because even with heels he was still taller than me and whispered “I can’t wait for the making up for it part though” in his ear.

He groaned in response and he dropped his hands to give my hips a squeeze before reluctantly letting go of me. Only now did I spot the two guys behind him that were all watching us with amused expressions, which had to be the friends he said he’d bring. Introductions were quick and I didn’t even bother to introduce everyone to Vince and his gang because the group was so big that the three of them wouldn’t be able to remember many names either way.

We settled into one of the booths and Rachel practically pushed me into the seat next to Vince, not that I minded of course. Conversation flowed easily, as did the drinks, and soon I found myself climbing out of the booth because I had just about consumed my body weight in liquid and desperately needed to go to the bathroom for something that unfortunately wasn’t sex. Walking over I could feel a slight buzz already but not to the extent that would make me stumble in my heels, perfect for a night out.

By the time Mariah and I returned I could tell that another one of Rachel’s plans was in action because now there was one more person sitting at our table, meaning there wasn’t enough space left for both Mariah and I. I was about to move to sit with some other friends in the booth next to ours when Vince, who was conveniently seated at the edge of our booth, told me to sit on his lap and that was an offer I would never turn down.

He grabbed my hips to pull me closer and onto his lap as he said: “Don’t worry I won’t bite.”

I couldn’t resist messing with him though, so I purposefully shifted closer to his crotch and leaned towards him so only he could hear me as I whispered: “What if I want you to though?” I could tell he was trying to suppress a groan and he gripped me even tighter, pulling me back into him.

Poor Vince, his balls were going to be the same color as a Blues jersey soon enough.

Unfortunately I couldn’t elaborate to make the situation even worse for him because I was being pulled into the conversation at the table. I could feel him growing hard underneath my ass though and the fact that I was able to rile him up so easily really did wonders for my self-confidence..

After I could tell that he had calmed down again I decided to put him out of his misery. Well, kind of. Me leaning across one of the pool tables as I took my shot gave him a perfect view of my cleavage or of me bending over after all, depending on where he stood.

“Are you always this bad?”, I asked after he missed yet another shot.

“No, usually I’m average at least but I guess I’m a little bit distracted right now.” He didn’t even try to hide him staring at my boobs as I took my turn. We’d both long dropped any pretense about where this was headed. After I made my shot I walked around the table to get a better angle for the next one, accidentally brushing up against Vince who now had a perfect view of my ass.

“I hope you’re only average at pool and not at anything else”, I teased him with a look over my shoulder after watching the ball roll into the hole the way I’d planned before straightening up again.

“Let me take you home so my neighbors can confirm me being anything but average”, he responded, his voice deep as he moved next to me, one of his big hands resting on my lower back to play with the fabric there, the heat of his hands practically burning my skin as I looked up at him.

Our intense eye contact was interrupted by one of the waitresses who walked up to the pool table sheepishly with a drink on her tray.

“Hey, that guy over there sent you this and I’m supposed to tell you to come over to him so you don’t have to, uh, keep playing with a - um - loser. His words not mine, sorry.” She pointed to a guy a few tables over who was decently good looking but radiated Asshole Energy off of him, his incredibly rude move not really helping either. Even if it wasn’t for Vince standing next to me I wouldn’t have touched him with a ten foot pole.

Vince had tensed up at the words and I watched him ball his hands into his fists, every muscle in his body tightening with anger. I had no doubt that because of his hockey experience he could hold his own in a fight but it wasn’t something I needed tonight. I thanked the waitress before setting the drink down and making a show of turning towards Vince, one hand trailing up from his biceps to the back of his head so I could interrupt the stare off he was currently having with the other guy.

“Don’t worry, I’m flattered that I seem to be able to distract you so much. To be honest I can’t really concentrate either because now I really want you to make me scream so loud that your neighbors file noise complaints.” Vince choked slightly and then reached for the drink that was sitting next to me, taking three big gulps while looking at me, his eyes dark.

He then grabbed my hand and I didn’t miss the smug look he threw at the other guy over my shoulder before pulling me towards the backdoor of the bar, the pool game abandoned without a second thought. The air outside had cooled down a bit by now but I didn’t even get the chance to acknowledge that because Vince had me pushed against the wall in a second, one hand resting next to my head while the other reached up to cup my face, dropping his head for a kiss.

All this teasing had finally led to this.

It was rough and yet sensual at the same time, his lips demanding and it didn’t take long until his tongue licked along my bottom lip, asking for entrance. He then deepened the kiss even further and I reached up to bury my hands in his stupidly perfect and soft hair, eliciting a throaty groan. When he pushed one of his legs in between mine I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me in turn at the delicious friction, followed by yet another one as he dropped his head to suck along my neck. I could feel how hard he was and it turned me on beyond imagination.

The thought that I would probably let him fuck me in this alley right now brought me back down to earth because this was not how I envisioned my night going.

“Vince, hold up”, I murmured and as soon as my words registered with him he pulled away, both of us panting.

“What’s wrong?”

I laughed at his expression, he looked at me as if he was truly worried that he’d overstepped a boundary. As if I hadn’t thrown hints left and right for the last couple of days. His swollen lips made it hard to concentrate because I just wanted to sink my teeth into them until he groaned again the way he had only seconds ago and I silently cursed his stupid perfect lips. I wondered what damage they could do.

“Nothing’s wrong, nothing at all. I just wanted to say let’s go back inside for like another hour or so and then we can take off.” The smile that quickly spread on his face made it obvious that he was going to say something not-PG-13 before he opened his mouth again to ask:

“Do you think your friends would mind if I dragged you home right this second?”

I had to laugh at that but it quickly died in my throat as he moved his hands to my hips to pull me close again before crashing his lips back onto mine. The going back to the others part would apparently be slightly delayed but with the way his lips and body moved against mine right now I would probably agree to anything if it meant getting to stay right in this position a bit longer.

This time it was less rushed and frantic and instead he took his time to explore every inch of my mouth while his hands wandered my body. Mine were roaming as well, from the neck down his muscular shoulders around to the front before finally creeping up his back below his shirt. I enjoyed the way I could feel his muscles tense under my touch but eventually we had to pull away from each other. We’d spent way too much time out here as it is.

“Let’s go back inside, the faster we get back the sooner we can leave and besides they’re probably wondering what we’re doing out here so long.”

The smug looks we received once we made our way back to the tables after I fixed my hair and make up and Vince did whatever he had to do to conceal his massive hard on made it clear that everyone had a good idea of what had gone on outside though. I’m pretty sure Rachel would have high fived me if it weren’t for the people sitting between us.

I sat on Vince’s lap again and this time it was torture for the both of us to wait until it was finally an acceptable time to make a getaway. I let Rachel take all the presents for me and she made Vince give her his address and phone number before she let him pull me into the back of an Uber.

I was pressed against him for the entire ride, his hand resting way higher on my leg than technically publicly acceptable. With every turn or bump in the road he accidentally brushed my core and at more than one point I had to hide my face in his broad chest so the driver wouldn’t hear the soft moans that couldn’t be stopped. I could tell that he was trying his best not to get too handsy as not to cause a scene but once we were alone in the elevator of his building all bets were off.

He walked me back against the doors, pushing one of his legs in between my own again and kissed me with a force that made me glad that I had tons of metal behind me as leverage to push back. He only pulled away once the little ‘ding’ could be heard and even then he only held off until he had me inside his apartment, barely waiting a second before he shrugged off his jacket, quickly moving onto mine.

Somehow we managed to make it onto the couch without breaking apart our kiss and I barely had time to admire his floor to ceiling windows before he pulled me close until I was straddling his lap. His lips were working on my neck again and I reminded him to not leave any marks there because I had to work on Monday morning, which only prompted him to move down lower, sucking at the skin right above the lace of my bodysuit.

“No one will see those then”, he murmured against my breasts and I moaned as he reached up to palm them through the material. By the time he was done I had several purple marks littering my cleavage and I really needed to see more of him so I motioned for him to take his shirt off, watching in awe as he reached back to pull it over his head in the perfect way only guys managed to.

His body could only be described as a work of art and I could tell that he worked really hard for it as I traced the outline of his abs, muscles contracting and goosebumps rising at my touch. The city lights made for the perfect lighting and the way his skin glowed in their reflection belonged in a museum if ever captured.

Vince reached for the button of my jeans and looked at me as if to ask if I was okay with that. I nodded before standing up, trying to get out of my jeans and heels in a quick but still somewhat sexy motion but I probably succeeded only halfway. He didn’t seem deterred by my struggle at all, the hungry look in his eyes never once vanishing.

As soon as I stood upright again Vince reached up to trace the lace embellishments, slowly moving his hands down lower towards where I really wanted them. Considering the fact that the bodysuit had already been pretty revealing in itself there wasn’t really much ‘new’ skin to see so far but he still looked at me with an intensity that almost made me shiver.

He reached to pull me down on him again but instead I surprised him by sinking down to my knees in front of him, his breath audibly hitching in his throat. For a second he was silent but as soon as I poked my tongue out to trace the ‘V’ on his lower stomach he let out a low moan, throwing his head back.

“Impatient much?”, I teased him, pleasantly surprised at my ability to make him almost lose his shit without even really doing anything.

“You have no idea. I’ve thought about this for days”, he admitted and I only smiled in return, moving to pull his jeans down along with his boxers without revealing that I had done the same. He got up to step out of both while I was focused on watching his dick bounce with the movement, amazed at the size of it.

As soon as he made himself comfortable again I grabbed the base with one hand while resting the other one on his thigh as I moved to lick the drops of precum that adorned the tip. When my tongue made contact he moved one of his hands into my hair, holding it back so he could get a better view.

“Fuck, you look so good like this”, he cursed when I finally wrapped my lips around him, taking the head into my mouth while swirling my tongue around him and taking him a bit further. I removed my lips and I could tell he was about to protest but any words died in his mouth when I started sucking his balls, reaching up to pump his length that was already slick from my spit with my hand.

He seemed to find his voice again once I licked up the underside of his dick but it was only a string of curses that turned into moans when I took him into my mouth as far as I could, my nose touching his pelvic bone. I relaxed my throat and swallowed around him, my name falling from his lips again and again as I reached up to massage his balls at the same time. I looked up to see him watching me with his pupils blown, hair sticking in all directions from running his hands through it so many times and his mouth slightly open. His arms were spread out beside him on the back of the couch and I wanted to take a picture to commemorate the moment, wanting to remember this forever. He had definitely never looked better and no one could convince me otherwise.

The hand in my hair helped me set a rhythm as I bobbed my head while licking around him and Vince was a moaning and cursing mess above me. It didn’t take long before he quite literally pulled me off him, running his hand across his face and taking a few calming breaths.

“You’re incredible but I don’t want to cum yet”, he finally murmured when he helped me back up and I wasn’t sure if he was only complimenting my blowjob-skills or more but the way he was looking at me right now made any thought besides wanting him inside me disappear.

“Vince I need you”, I practically begged and he quickly nodded before standing up with me still in his lap, reaching out to grab the back of my thighs to prevent me from slipping down. He somehow managed to walk up the stairs with me still wrapped around him while I trailed kisses along his collar bones and it was probably the hottest non-sexual thing I’d ever experienced with a guy.

He turned on a soft light once inside his room and while I would have loved to have a look around I was pretty distracted by the way he literally threw me on the bed before crawling on top of me, my legs falling apart to make space for him as if it was the most natural thing on earth.

Vince kissed down my breasts before suddenly stopping somewhere above my belly button.

“Okay I have to admit I’m a bit lost here, as hot as you look in it how the fuck do I get this thing off?” I probably shouldn’t laugh in such a somewhat serious situation but his helpless expression did nothing to stop the giggles that escaped my mouth. He was smiling as well and I was glad that we could laugh about the slight hiccup without it turning awkward.

I quickly reached down to snap open the buttons before sitting up and pulling the piece of lace over my head, discarding it in some corner of his room now completely naked.

“Much better”, he murmured, one of his hands reaching out to grab a hold of my boobs while the other one wrapped around my back, lowering us back onto the mattress. Eventually he trailed his kisses over the part of my skin that was marked up by him until he sucked one of my nipples into his mouth, his hand taking care of the other one.

Slowly but surely he kissed his way down my body, skipping over the part where I needed him most to suck along the inside of my thighs. The sensation rushed through me, my core already throbbing from days of built up expectations and I let out a whine. I was tempted to try and close my legs so I could at least get some kind of friction but his shoulders between them made that impossible.

“Patience baby, don’t you know that good things come to those who wait?”, he murmured and I shuddered at the feeling of his breath fanning across my heat. I didn’t even have the time to think about the fact that he had just called me baby or that I was actually a firm believer in good things happening to those who worked for them because he reached down to drag one of his fingers through my folds and all thoughts left my body.

“Shit, you’re so wet already”, he said softly but I was unable to give him any response besides a frantic nod and another desperate whine.

I’d fantasized about this for the last couple of days of course but nothing came close to the reality of one of his thick fingers dipping into my core. He teased my entrance for a bit, only pushing inside to his first knuckle but then I whined again and he pushed it in as far as he could. I was so lost in the feeling that I hadn’t even noticed him moving back up my body until he littered the valley between my breasts with heated kisses.

“So tight. I can’t wait to feel you around my cock.”

As if the words he’d moaned into my ear weren’t already enough to make any coherent thoughts disappear, he added a second finger and I arched my back into him, the change of angle just right in a way that had me gripping the sheets so tightly that my knuckles turned white. He reached dropped down to tease my nipples, sucking and licking them expertly while his hand thrust up into me.

My moans were already filling the room but then he started circling my clit with his thumb and I knew that I wouldn’t last much longer, the anticipation and desperation definitely helping to speed things along. He looked up at me to watch my reactions and the sight of him with his mouth latched onto my breast was almost enough to send me over the edge by itself.

“I’m so close Vince, please don’t stop”, I begged and this seemed to spur him on further, his movements turning even more eager as he continued to place sloppy kisses along my skin. It was the combination of everything he was doing to me that finally brought me over the edge, the release so sweet after needing it for so long.

He made sure to extend my orgasm as long as possible, only pulling his hand away after I whimpered slightly, the stimulation a bit much now. His softly kissed his way back down and along my thighs now and I could tell that he wasn’t quite done with me yet.

“How’s the birthday girl feeling right now?”, he asked with a teasing smile and normally I probably would have smacked him for this but right now I would tolerate it because I was still in my blissful post-orgasmic state.

“Amazing so far, could do better though.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhm, I’m pretty sure I was promised some making up for the lack of a present and I don’t think we’ve reached that point yet.”

“Well excuse me then while I go back to work.” And with that he flattened his tongue and boldly licked one long stripe across my slit.

He started out slowly and I was glad because I was still a bit sensitive from my last orgasm, lapping at my entrance and pushing his tongue inside of me, making me gasp. It didn’t take long however until he grabbed my hips to pull me closer and onto his mouth, pushing my legs up to expose me even further to him and ultimately giving him better access.

When he sucked my clit into his mouth I couldn’t help but arch my back off the mattress again, burying my hands in his hair as he reached up to hold me still. This guy’s lips weren’t just pretty, they were apparently amazingly talented as well.

He replaced his tongue with one of his thick fingers, slowly pushing in and soon his name fell off my lips in a religious chant as he added yet another one, curling them upwards for maximum pleasure. I could feel my high coming from a mile away and Vince apparently must have too by the way I was grinding myself against his face because he quite literally dove back in, determined to shatter my word.

And shatter my world he did.

I was pretty sure I would have floated away as I reached my high if it wasn’t for Vince’s hand across my stomach keeping me grounded. My legs were still shaking with the aftershocks of one of the arguably - no hands down - best orgasms I’d had while getting head in my life. By the time I was finally able to open my eyes again he was wiping his face before grinning down at me.

“You look so fucked out already and we haven’t even gotten to that part yet”, he teased and I let out a chuckle before pushing at his chest. Leave it to him to make fun of me after he was the one who put me in this situation. Not that I was complaining of course.

“Don’t worry, it’s a good look on you. One that I’d definitely like to see more often.” He leaned down to nip at my neck then, his cock prodding at my thigh.

“If you keep doing that you definitely will”, I responded with an airy laugh, still kind of breathless. All talk died down after that however when he captured my lips with his again as he crawled on top of me, settling between my legs. Kissing him was definitely addicting and the fact that I could taste myself while doing so only made it ten times more hot.

Vince rolled his hips against mine, groaning into my mouth when his cock dragged against my skin while I couldn’t stop the moan escaping my lips either. Breaking the kiss he pulled back in a way that had him in a push-up position above me, giving me a moment to enjoy the view. His hair was sticking in all kinds of directions, his pupils so blown that they almost seemed black instead of the usual beautiful green and his muscles were flexing from holding the position.

“Still want to keep going?”, he asked and in my daze it took me a second to realize that this was him asking for consent. I had no doubt that he wouldn’t do anything I didn’t want him to but this, him offering to stop when he had done so much for me already while not getting off yet in return, was sweet. Especially since I had made it more than obvious that stopping was definitely not on my mind.

I moved to flip us over then, straddling his thighs and wrapping my hand around his dick, pumping him a few times and in case that wasn’t confirmation enough for him I leaned down to whisper a “definitely” in his ear.

“Condoms?”

“Top drawer on your right.”

Only because we weren’t in the middle of his huge bed was I able to reach said drawer, grabbing one of the foil packets out of the box and ripping it open with my teeth before rolling it down on him. I scooted up enough to line his cock with my entrance and while I tried to watch Vince as I sunk down on him the way my eyes fluttered shut at the sensation was out of my control.

While there had definitely been enough foreplay to make the sliding in part easy it was still quite a stretch, one so amazing however that it had the both of us moaning at the same time.

“Shit you feel incredible”, he breathed and I nodded my head in agreement, too lost in the pleasure to form any coherent sentences. Rolling my hips against him created some amazing friction that had my head spinning as I clenched my muscles, eliciting throaty groans from him.

Vince reached for my hips, gripping them tightly as he helped guide me along, my clit catching on his pelvic bone with every backward movement. “You got one more in you babe?”, he asked and to my surprise I could tell that I did. The fact that I could already feel it bubbling inside of me spoke volumes of our chemistry in bed together. This was a friends with benefits arrangement I could definitely get behind.

He sat up then, changing the angle at which his cock dragged against my walls and also making it possible for him to take one of my nipples into his mouth, gently grazing his teeth against it while tightening his grip on my hip as he thrust up into me. At this point I was a moaning mess on top of him but I honestly didn’t care. I hadn’t had sex this good in a while and the way he looked up at me in awe made it impossible to feel anything but sexy.

I didn’t even need any extra help to reach my third orgasm of the night with his name falling off my lips, the feeling so strong that my mind was absolutely blank and I saw stars dancing across the back of my eyelids as I arched into him with my eyes shut. He made sure to let me ride it out, groaning as he felt my walls tighten around him but as soon as I slumped against him he turned us around so he was on top of me, never once pulling out.

The pace at which he was chasing his own high now was relentless and hard and I would have held on for dear life if he hadn’t raised my arms to keep them above my head. One of his hands easily encased both of my wrists while he used his other to keep at least some of his weight off of me. I knew that a fourth orgasm was off the table, I was way too exhausted for that by now but he still felt amazing inside of me. I wrapped my legs around him to allow him deeper, the smack of our skin and our moans so loud that I was glad that we didn’t have any nosy roommates right next door. Those noise complaints from the neighbors I’d mentioned earlier might still roll in though.

With this pace it didn’t take long for his thrusts to lose all rhythm and I could tell that he wouldn’t last much longer. I clenched around him to bring him even closer and he groaned into the crook of my neck where he had buried his face, my name and some colorful curses falling off his lips. He readjusted his position so he could lean up enough to look at me while still holding my wrists above my head and I watched him throw his head back in pleasure as he slammed deep inside of me one last time, face contorting in pleasure as he reached his high. I could feel him pulsing inside of me and a pleasant shudder ran through me, making me sigh at the feeling. Perhaps this was my body’s way of saying girl if I could have, I would have.

He let go of my wrists then and I wrapped my arms around him as he dropped down on top of me. We both caught our breath for a few seconds which honestly wasn’t easy with the extra weight on my chest but it was a nice feeling. He had to carefully pull out and roll off of me eventually, throwing the condom next to the bed to dispose of later. For now it was nice to lay beside each other, covered in a sheen of sweat and still panting.

After finally landing back on planet earth I looked to my right at the alarm clock waiting on the nightstand, only now realizing how late it had gotten. Vince lifted his head enough to check the time as well and let out a light groan at the sight.

“You can spend the night if you want but we should definitely shower before that. Even if it wasn’t your birthday – well technically it’s not anymore – I’m not some dick that would kick you out in the middle of the night.”

I was surprised at his offer, I’d been with guys who were those dicks but I was even more surprised when he told me to pick something to sleep in from his closet before pulling on a pair of boxers and getting up to grab waters for the both of us.

I decided to postpone this until after showering, quickly making my way to his ensuite to use the toilet. I saw enough UTIs at work, I didn’t need them following me home. I was trying to wipe my make up off as best as I could with a washcloth and the face wash from his counter when he returned to his bathroom, a new toothbrush triumphantly in his hand.

“Found this in my junk drawer in the kitchen but I’ll be honest, I have no idea how it got there. The wrapping is unopened tho”, he admitted sheepishly and I laughed.

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll take it.”

Our shower was quick, both of us too exhausted for any more funny business but if my gaze had dropped from time to time appreciatively no one would ever know. He had an amazing body and I would have to be a nun not to acknowledge that.

Especially while he was naked in the shower.

I definitely wasn’t a nun.

Looking for clothes to sleep in turned out to be more difficult than I’d originally thought because of his affinity to clothes that were at least one size too big. Most of them would reach my knees in a really unflattering way and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to sleep while drowning in fabric. I tried on three, neatly putting them back afterwards and actually contemplating sleeping in only a pair of his boxers before finally finding one that didn’t make me look like a kid.

I could tell that it was an old shirt, perhaps from a previous team, worn down over time with a slightly faded print but it was comfortable and it smelled like him, even if I doubted that he had worn it anytime recently.

Vince was already tucked into bed by the time I stepped back into his bedroom, scrolling through his phone but putting it down on the nightstand once I got closer. I could see that he’d searched for a second charger so I could plug my phone in overnight as well and it was such a little gesture but yet it made me smile.

“I prefer to sleep on the right side, I hope you don’t mind”, he said as I climbed under the cover beside him. I shook my head no before responding:

“Nah, I actually like the left side better.”

“See, we’re meant to be fuck buddies.”

“I could already tell from the three orgasms but hey, if that’s what it takes for you to realize that.”

“You have a point there.”

Any other time and I certainly would’ve stayed up for a while longer so we could talk but right now I knew I wouldn’t last long. For a second I wasn’t sure how to do this, would it be weird to cuddle?

Vince made my decision easy however when he pulled me close until my back was flush against him, wrapping his arm around my waist. After our exhausting shenanigans earlier it took neither of us long to fall asleep.

The next morning I woke super early, my inner clock not allowing me to sleep past seven despite staying up late. I’d turned around in my sleep to lay on my stomach but Vince had somehow managed to keep his arm around me and get even closer.

I was slightly worried for my safety because of the fact that I had managed to sleep through a 200 pound guy basically laying on top of me but I’d slept like a baby. I could tell that Vince was still asleep by the even breaths that fanned across my neck but one part of him definitely wasn’t, poking my side. Bless the male population for their sleepy boners.

I was trying to let him sleep as long as I could, I really did, but with him so close to me and the images of last night combined with the very interesting dream I’d just woken up from burned into my memory I couldn’t help myself. I slowly turned in his arms so we were back to the position we’d fell asleep in, on our sides and pressed together spooning.

Even through my shirt I could feel his body radiating heat and if the night had been warmer it definitely would’ve been too much but right now I just wished for all barriers between our bodies to disappear.

My shifting had apparently woken Vince up successfully because he let out a throaty groan before, consciously or not, rocking against my ass and burying his face in my neck.

“Morning”, he said and I’m not gonna lie his husky morning voice did things to me that didn’t exactly help my situation.

“Morning, how’d you sleep?”, I asked, turning my head slightly so I wasn’t having this conversation with his incredibly comfortable pillow.

“Could’ve been longer but I don’t mind. Now that I’m up however..”, he trailed off, lightly biting my neck and moving his hand from my waist to grab my boob, rocking into me again, this time definitely on purpose.

This was definitely a friends with benefits situation I could get behind.

Somehow Vince managed to weasel his way into my life after that. He’d come over after I finished a shift at the hospital, spend the night and leave me incredibly satisfied the next morning when both of us went our separate ways again. Our time with each other was pretty short, only a week, but somehow I’d had more sex in that one week than in the last few months combined.

My last shift at the hospital on Saturday was, for a lack of better words, sad as fuck. So many people came up to me, telling me how much they would miss me and what a great addition I had been over the past year. When they brought a cake into the break room with a sweet message written on top of it I couldn’t help the tears that welled up. I could see Rachel subtly wipe at her eyes as well and I hugged her tightly.

“Remember our first day of classes? Oh how things have changed since then”, she muttered against me and I nodded. One thing that hadn’t changed however was our friendship. She was the reason I had come to Toronto, where she had grown up but it had been five years since I left my home to go to college and I knew that it was time to go back to my family and childhood friends.

“Don’t think you’ll be getting rid of me this soon, I’ll call you all the time and with there only being a one hour time difference between Toronto and St. Louis you have no excuse to avoid me.”

“As if I could ever avoid you, you little shit. But if your hometown insists on having you back I’ll allow it, I guess.” Her insulting me told me that she was okay again so I let go of her, the both of us still sniffling a bit as we each grabbed a piece of the cake.

When I finally made my ay back home that night Vince was already there. Mariah had probably let him in. There’s been some raised eyebrows at first but after seeing him here every day neither of my roommates was surprised when he knocked at our apartment door. Somehow he seemed to sense that I wasn’t in a talking mood right now, especially about having to say goodbye to the place that had been my home for the past year.

I was excited to see my family and friends in St. Louis again, don’t get me wrong, but goodbyes were never easy.

He greeted me with one of his comforting hugs that I’d already grown accustomed to before dropping his head to press a soft kiss on the top of my head before pulling me to the bathroom.

My shampoo and other toiletries were some of the last few things that hadn’t been stuffed in boxes and duffel bags yet and the sight made tears well up in my eyes.

“It’s okay, you know. I don’t like leaving here either”, he murmured in my ear as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, moving us so we both got hit by the stream of hot water. I wanted to forget everything but the feel of his naked body pressed against me but right now I knew I was too in my head to actually be able to enjoy it. Later maybe.

“But you get to come back every summer for a couple of months. I don’t know how long it’ll take until I can visit everyone again and even then it’ll probably only be for a few days.”

“That’s true. But your friends can also visit you. And in a few weeks I’ll be down as well and then you’ll be so annoyed by me constantly bugging you that you won’t be able to miss your friends here anymore.” My sniffle turned into a laugh at his words and I almost swallowed a big gulp of water in that moment, making both of us break into fits of laughter.

I was glad I’d have him with me again in a few weeks. Hopefully at least. We’d talked about our situation and I told Vince to hit me up again once he’d made it to St. Louis too in a few weeks and while he said he would, I knew that there was the possibility that he might not. I didn’t have the opportunity to dwell on the thought too long though because he’d managed to distract me yet again when he placed searing hot kisses along my shoulder.

If he hadn’t managed to get me out of my shell back in the hospital I never would’ve ended up with him in the shower right now. Or bent over the mattress a few minutes later.

Vince Dunn, the arrogant professional athlete, had turned out to be nothing like I’d expected and I had never been more happy to be wrong.

#Vince Dunn #nhl #nhl hockey #vince dunn imagine #nhl imagine #nhl writing #my writing #clear as day #hockey imagine

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allsassnoclass · 4 years ago

Text

I’ll be sad without you (I want you to have it all)

Pairing: Michael Clifford/Ashton Irwin

Rating: Teen and Up (for one instance of swearing lol)

Key Tags: college AU, graduation, bittersweet

Word Count: 3,373

part of the mashton college au

Read on AO3

Ashton graduates college. Michael tries to be happy for him.

The night before he graduates, Michael gets Ashton all to himself.

The week leading up to commencement has been filled with the end of finals, Michael working or sitting around twiddling his thumbs, and everyone that Ashton has ever met at college scrambling to see him one last time before he graduates and is off to bigger and better things. Everyone has suddenly realized what Michael has been trying to forget for the entire semester: Ashton is about to leave and they might never see him again.

Michael knows that he’s being a bit dramatic. They’re dating, so of course Michael will see Ashton again. He only lives two and a half hours away from campus, so he can come down and visit next year while Michael is still taking classes or Michael can take a break and swing by to see him, although staying overnight would mean that he has to stay with all of the Irwins since Ashton is going to live at home until Michael graduates and can move in with him. He has a job as a grant writer for a nonprofit in the next town over and figured he’d save up rather than live by himself, and with how much he missed his family this semester Michael thinks that’s a good idea.

Michael has spent a lot of nights this week in Ashton’s dorm or dragging Ashton back to his apartment to get as much time with him as possible. It’s even lonelier now that Calum has gone back home to visit before heading off to an internship in St. Louis for the summer, the space far too quiet when he’s the only one home. Michael is staying on campus this time. He’s one of the main employees at the campus recording studio now and he got a job at the one of the town grocery stores restocking overnight, and since he’s paying for the apartment through next year he might as well make use of it. It means he’s a little further away from Ashton than he would be if he was home, but that’s fine. They can make it work. He keeps telling himself that things could be so much worse, but it doesn’t make him feel better.

“Hey,” Ashton says, breaking him out of his thoughts with a gentle knuckle against Michael’s cheek. They turned the lights off a while ago since Ashton needs to be up early, but neither of them are that tired. They’ve simply been laying together, Michael’s head tucked into the crook of Ashton’s elbow, hands resting between them.

“What are you thinking about?” Ashton asks. Michael sighs. He knows that this is supposed to be a happy occasion, especially since Ashton fought so hard to make it to college and is managing to graduate with so many accolades, but the truth is that he’s really fucking sad.

“Next year,” he says. “I’ve never known college without you. I don’t know how to do it by myself.”

“Hey, you won’t be by yourself,” Ashton says gently. “You’ve got Calum and Luke still.”

“You know what I mean.”

Ashton hums. There isn’t anything for him to say here and they both know it. Michael has spent the entire week pretending to be excited for Ashton, something that he’ll have to do again tomorrow morning, but the facade is breaking and trying to fix it now is only going to make things worse later. He smiled while Ashton was seeing all of his other friends for the last time, he smiled when Ashton finished his last final ever and returned his books for the last time, and he smiled while he was helping Ashton pack up his dorm room for the last time, working quietly because Ashton needed a moment to process that this was actually happening. He’s usually the problem-solver of them, always beginning whatever tasks need to be done while Michael gets overwhelmed and freezes, but packing had been a stumbling-block. It was the only instance this week that has made Michael think that Ashton could feel bittersweet about graduating, too.

“I’ll be happier tomorrow, I promise,” Michael says. “I’m just going to miss you.”

Ashton pulls him closer, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek and then rearranging them so they’re tangled together fully. Michael wishes he could sink into Ashton and stay with him after tomorrow, continuing their life without any distance between them. Ashton takes a deep breath, chest rising and falling under Michael.

“I’m not going to propose to you tomorrow, because I think graduation proposals are overdone and cliche and we are not confined to any timeline, but it’s me and you forever, yeah? It’s always going to be me and you. A year is nothing compared to the rest of our lives.”

Michael nods. He takes a deep breath, too, because he promised himself not to cry in front of Ashton. He doesn’t speak until the tears stop prickling the corners of his eyes.

“I know. I’m still going to miss you, though.”

Ashton doesn’t say anything else, just pulls him impossibly closer and presses another kiss to the side of his head. Michael tries to push everything inside him down, tries not to ruin the last night he and Ashton will have together for a while, but he’s not sure how successful he is.

-/-

Ashton’s alarm goes off at 6:45, which Michael thinks should be illegal.

“Why are you graduating so early,” he groans as Ashton reaches over him to turn the alarm off. Ashton huffs a laugh, making Michael crack an eye open to catch a glimpse of him in the morning light. He’s breathtaking even though he has pillow creases on his face and half of his hair is flattened against the side of his head. Michael is going to miss him so much it hurts.

“Stay in bed a bit,” he says, wrapping his arms around him again and pressing his face into his chest. “You can afford a few minutes.”

“Oh yeah?” Ashton asks. “What’s in it for me?” Michael cracks an eye open at him again, then kisses the teasing look off his face. Ashton laughs into it, but soon he’s kissing back just as thoroughly, like he’s trying to memorize Michael in the same way Michael is trying to memorize him. He should have been paying more attention every other time they kissed. He’s had the feel of Ashton’s skin under his hands and the smell of him ingrained into his memory for a long time, but he’s still scared that as soon as Ashton accepts his diploma Michael will suddenly forget everything.

Ashton pushes Michael onto his back and swings a leg over his hips. Michael wants to memorize this, too. He wants to freeze this moment, capture Ashton’s weight on top of him and the way he grips Michael’s hands and pins them against the covers, fingers interlocked, holding on just as tightly as Michael is. When Ashton eventually leans back Michael feels a piece of his heart break.

“I have to get ready,” he says, a small smile gracing his features. Michael tries to mirror some of his joy. He can be sad after Ashton has left with his family.

“Five more minutes?” he asks, but they both know that he’s already lost the battle. Ashton leans down and kisses Michael once more, sweet and chaste, then gets up and heads to the bathroom to shower. Michael lays in bed for a few more minutes staring at the ceiling, then makes himself get up and start preparing toast.

Ashton eventually exits the bathroom in dress pants and a dress shirt with the top few buttons undone. For a split second Michael can see a future like this, Ashton prepared to go to his dream job at a publishing company and Michael running late for whatever he ends up doing with his music business degree. He can see a million mornings of burning Ashton’s toast but getting his coffee perfect and Ashton smiling at him and kissing his cheek and saying thanks in that sweetly sincere way he always does when Michael does something completely ordinary for him, as if he’s still surprised that people are willing to do small favors even though the only thing Michael wants to do with his life is take care of him.

“I love you,” Michael says. Ashton pauses with his toast halfway to his mouth. He beams and Michael feels a little bit better about everything.

“I love you, too. Come eat breakfast with me.”

Breakfast goes by in a blur. Before Michael can blink they’re piling into Ashton’s car and driving to the soccer field where graduation will take place. Each college at the university has an outdoor, in person commencement to allow for proper social distancing, and Ashton drew the short straw by being in the college of Libral Arts and Sciences and having to line up at 8:00. He got four tickets for family and friends, so Michael gets to wait for Anne Marie, Lauren, and Harry to show up and then join them to watch. Then they’re going to officially move Ashton out of his dorm room, go to lunch together, and Michael will have to say goodbye to the love of his life.

They follow directions for parking and join other groups of grads and loved ones waiting outside the field. Ashton grabs his robe, cap, and cords from the back seat and Michael holds things for him while he puts them all on.

He has a gold Summa Cum Laude stole, a medal from the honors program, a cord from reslife, and a cord for being a first generation student. Michael helps adjust everything so it’s laying flat and even, although the ceremony isn’t for another hour and there’s more than enough opportunity for it to get messed up again. Ashton lets him fret anyway, then puts his cap on and straightens the tassel to complete the look. Michael feels emotion well up in him again, but it’s not sadness this time. Looking at Ashton fully decked out and glowing with happiness, he thinks the feeling might be pride.

“Okay, I need to go get lined up,” Ashton says. He puts on a mask and pats his pockets for his phone and wallet. Michael hugs him before he goes.

“I’m proud of you,” he murmurs. “Have fun. We’ll find you after.” Ashton squeezes him, then sets off towards the tent where the graduates are gathering with a wave behind him. Michael watches him leave until he steps under the tent and gets lost in the crowd of other black-robed students.

He’s going to miss him.

Michael heads towards the entrance of the field and finds a corner to mess around on his phone and try not to think about it. Scrolling through social media posts of his other friends graduating or commenting on the end of the school year doesn’t exactly help, but Candy Crush is engaging enough that he can turn his mind off.

“Michael!”

Michael jumps about five feet in the air at the loud voice right next to him.

“Holy fu-- don’t do that Harry!” he says while the kid laughs. Anne Marie and Lauren reach them at that time, both of them smiling in amusement. Michael blushes and gives Harry a noogie in retaliation, then gives Lauren a fist bump and hugs Anne Marie.

“It’s so good to see you, Michael,” Anne Marie says. She hugs the same way that Ashton does, arms wrapped securely around him and holding him tight.

“It’s good to see you, too.”

Anne Marie has the tickets on her phone and presents them to get them in the field. An unfamiliar professor leads them to their section, and the Irwins keep a constant stream of conversation with him, catching him up on their lives this semester and asking about his. He doesn’t have time to get stuck in his head about Ashton leaving before a recording of “Pomp and Circumstance” starts playing and the graduates begin filing onto the field to take their seats in the middle. Michael sees Ashton the moment he enters. He taps Harry’s arm and points him out and they all watch him walk down the aisle and take his seat on the field. He’s on the opposite side from them, but when he walks across the stage he’ll be facing them. At least Michael won’t have to watch him walk away.

The president of the university says a few words, they sing the anthem, then more stuffy old men say more words. Everyone keeps it brief and it goes by quickly, but Michael still zones out for most of it. The student speaker is fine, but Harry shoots him a look for jiggling his leg partway through even though he’s been sneakily playing games on his phone instead of listening.

When they start reading the names Michael waits with bated breath. He recognizes a few names of Ashton’s friends or classmates that he’s talked about before, but the vast majority of the students are complete strangers until the reader announces Ashton Fletcher Irwin!

All of them cheer obnoxiously. Ashton has his mask on, so they can’t see his smile, but Michael knows that it’s wide and bright. He waves at them between nodding graciously at the dean and president. Michael blows him a kiss. He stops paying attention to people’s names after that, watching Ashton instead. He keeps adjusting his mask or fiddling with his cords in between clapping for his classmates, restless now that he’s walked across the stage. He doesn’t have a diploma to keep his hands occupied since they’re getting mailed out later, but since their ceremony is only one college instead of the entire university he’s not restless for long. Michael thinks he can hear his cheer at the end of the ceremony even from halfway across the field. They have to wait for the ushers to dismiss them before they can find him outside, and it’s the longest wait of Michael’s life.

“Mom, are you crying?” Lauren asks. Michael looks over and sees Anne Marie gently catching tears under her eyes.

“I’m so happy,” she sniffs. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll cry at your graduation, too.” Lauren makes a face but grabs her mom’s purse and gets a tissue out for her. Michael feels like he shouldn’t be seeing his boyfriend’s mother cry, so he looks at his hands. Ashton painted his nails black earlier in the week while quizzing him on music theory and the paint is chipping now. He doesn’t want to pick at it. He wants to keep as many physical reminders of Ashton with him for as long as possible.

Harry sighs and turns to him.

“At least you’re not crying.”

Michael doesn’t want to tell him that he probably will as soon as he has to go back to an empty apartment. He shrugs.

“Crying at graduation is a mom thing,” he says. Harry accepts the answer and goes back to his phone. Michael checks his own and finds a text from Calum asking how he’s holding up. He’s a good friend, and he partially understands what Michael is going through since Roy graduated with his masters this semester, but the difference is that Roy is staying in the area. Michael has to do long distance for a year. There will be no more late-night ice cream runs or eating lunch together or sitting Ashton’s security shifts with him. Michael is going to be sleeping alone for a long time.

He tells Calum that he’s doing fine. It’s a placeholder answer until Ashton officially leaves and he has time to sort through the tangle of emotions knotting themselves in his gut, and Calum will understand that.

The usher tells them they can go now, so Michael follows the family out of the field and to the concrete area before the parking lot where all of the graduates have gathered. A lot of them have taken off their masks for pictures, and Michael feels his anxiety spike despite him, Ashton, and Anne Marie being fully vaccinated. It gets worse the longer he looks for Ashton without finding him. He wishes that Ashton had decorated his cap to make him easier to spot, but he hadn’t thought of it until the last second and didn’t know what to put.

“There he is! Ashton!” Anne Marie leads them over to him, immediately wrapping Ashton in a hug as soon as he turns around and sees her. Michael hangs back and watches him laugh and smile with his family, then darts in for his own hug as soon as Ashton motions him forward.

“Hi,” he says. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Ashton replies, turning to kiss his cheek before he remembers that they’re both wearing masks. It makes him giggle, which makes Michael giggle.

He’s really, really going to miss him.

“Say cheese!” Anne Marie says, snapping a picture of them on her phone. Michael swaps out and takes the camera then, getting pictures of Ashton with his family and other graduating friends that they find. Ashton is beaming in all of the pictures, happiness oozing out of him with every hug gifted to his classmates and every word exchanged. His laugh sounds lighter, like walking across that stage lifted a weight from his shoulders.

Michael is going to miss him, but it’s harder to remember that when Ashton is glowing. And that’s what love is, right? Wanting what’s best for another person even if it doesn’t make you happy in the moment? Michael may be terrified and out of his depth when he thinks about his own graduation next year, but Ashton clearly isn’t. Ashton has been waiting for this for a long time, and Michael can be happy for him.

When they split up to go back to campus for pictures Ashton stops him before they get into his car.

“This isn’t a proposal,” he says, digging around in his pockets.

“Yeah. Those are cliche and we’re not confined to a timeline,” Michael repeats, frowning. Ashton finally finds what he’s looking for with a little noise of triumph. When he opens his hand a stainless steel ring is in his palm.

“It’s a promise ring,” Ashton says at Michael’s sharp inhale. “I know you’ve been upset about graduation.”

“No, Ash--”

“It’s okay,” Ashton interrupts. “You don’t have to pretend. I’m really going to miss you, too.”

Michael looks down at the ring. It’s simple and understated, but it’s beautiful. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I was thinking that having this might help you miss me a little less,” Ashton says. “We’re a sure thing, and now you have a little piece from me to remind you of that.”

“Oh,” Michael says quietly. He looks down at his hands again, then up at Ashton. “I don’t know what finger a promise ring goes on.” Ashton laughs.

“I don’t really know, either. You can do ring finger, or one of your middle fingers, or the fourth finger on the other side. There’s not a rule for it.”

“You choose,” Michael says, spreading his fingers so Ashton can slip the ring on any of them. Ashton considers for a moment, turning the ring over in his hand, then puts it on Michael’s ring finger. Michael’s heart leaps into his throat at the new weight. He runs his thumb against it, metal warm from being in Ashton’s pocket.

“I love it,” he says. “I love you.” He takes off his mask and gently unhooks Ashton’s from behind his ears, revealing his smile. He cups Ashton’s jaw and leans forward, Ashton meeting him in the middle sweetly. When they pull away, Ashton’s eyes are watery.

“Hey, what are you crying for?” Michael asks gently. Ashton laughs at himself, looking up and blinking a few times until he’s forced the tears back.

“I’m happy. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before.”

For the first time all day, Michael can mirror his smile fully. He’s going to miss him like crazy, but Ashton is wildly, sincerely happy, and that’s all that Michael needs.

“I’m happy, too.”

#my writing #mashton #5sos fic #alrighty lads have a treat #it is probably not the treat anyone wants but I'm just happy to be posting something #also these two..... this iteration of mashton..... I love them

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