#calargy flames

[izzylovesyou2022]

I Got The Girl (She Got My Heart)~ Mat Tkachuk *pt 1*

TW: none for this chapter

The golden hour settled over the three-story brick house as a slim finger trotted to the garage to put her gardening tools back where they belong. Her short, wavy, half-pink, half-purple hair stuck out under the baseball cap she wore. She was happy to be done gardening for the day and pleased with how her work turned out.

Alvara flipped her hat around so it sat backwards on her head and squinted down the street to see if any signs of Mat's white Jeep came around the corner. Her sun-kissed lips twitched when they saw the familiar Jeep.

She waved frantically and stood on her toes to ensure Mat properly saw her. Not that it was all that necessary: Mat's big grin told the whole story.

"Petal!"

Mat's grin grew wider as Alvara threw herself into his arms. After a long day of hanging out with his teammates, Mat needed time with his best friend.

"Welcome home, Mattie," she whispered, tilting her head up so she could see his face. Days of helping her in the garden had definitely helped his tan and she counted a few new freckles on the tip of his nose.

Gardening had been Alvara's hobby since she had been four, but Mat enjoyed helping her any chance he got. Sometimes she'd come home from school or work to find new pots hanging in her garden thanks to Mat.

"I see you worked in the garden today, petal," Mat observed as he lead Alvara up the stone path to their front door.

Alvara nodded and gestured towards the furthest corner of her garden.

"I might need your help pulling those weeds up tomorrow, Mattie. They're killing my flowers."

Mat chuckled at the pout on her face and patted the top of her head.

"That's no problem, petal. I'll do that after I get home from my run tomorrow."

Alvara made a pleased humming noise and pushed open the door so they could get out of the sun and into the air-conditioned house.

They'd bought this place together during Mat's second year with the Flames. Alvara had insisted on paying the bills as a compromise for Mat buying the house and Mat didn’t put up much of a fight.

He watched with a wide grin as Alvara pulled a beer out of the fridge and then pulled one out for herself. The tradition of having a beer with his best friend never really grew old.

“Ah, it’s like you know me like the back of your hand, petal,” he observed, letting out a half-gasp, half-laugh as her hand punched his shoulder.

“Hmm, yes, I’ve known you my whole life and have been living with you for 5 years. I ought to know you pretty well by now otherwise I haven’t really done my job as your bestie.”

Mat’s breath hitched as Alvara stood up on her toes and brushed her lips across his cheek.

“I’ll be waiting outside for you, rebel,” she whispered, flashing Mat the cheeky grin he’d come to know as she bounded past him.

“Oh no,” Mat mumbled under his breath as his heart began to pound in the best way possible, “I think we’re in trouble.”