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sc0tters · 11 months ago

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All Star Memories | Brock Boeser & Elias Pettersson

summary: it’s the all star break when you and your boyfriend decide to spice up your relationship, little did you know this would involve his teammate.

request: yes/no

warnings: sexual themes, p in v, oral (fem & M receiving!), swearing, slight degradation.

word count: 4.60k

authors note: I had to get this out before the regular season games were back and I’m glad I did even if it was by a couple of hours! I think we need to make an entire segment on this account for fics where I write out @fantillisdaylight’s ideas into full smuts, so idea people let’s thank her for this one! I don’t wanna give away too much but I think you guys are going to enjoy this one, even with its different ending.

You knew you were playing a dangerous game.

Elias had been the captor of your heart for the last three years after you moved in with Quinn when you needed a change of scenery. Your older brother had to admit that he was surprised to see you in love with his teammate. But as you made Elias constantly smile till his cheeks hurt, Quinn knew that the Swede was in love too.

Yet one thing your brother never seemed to care for was that another one of his teammates had fallen for you too. Brock let his eyes hover on you for far too long to ever be seen as appropriate especially when you were in a relationship. Elias knew how his teammate felt about you and in all honesty he thought it was cute. There was something about it coupled with the fact that you clearly thought Brock was attractive.

Elias knew that you would never cheat on him but there was always something amusing about how you loved pissing Brock off. On the flight to Toronto you ended up between the two and as Elias fell asleep Brock teased you “you’re just his good little girl arent ya?” He joked letting out a laugh as you furrowed your eyebrows “I so am not!”

The argument continued on and as Brock thought he won, you knew that it was you who would win in the end “you okay älskling?” Elias mumbled as he watched you do your makeup “can you pick Brock last?” Your question made him smirk as his hand ran over your jaw hooking his fingers under your chin.

It made you smile as he was clearly considering it “and why would I do that?” He asked wanting to hear your reasoning “because you love me.” You quipped back making him laugh.

As he leaned down he kissed your lips “I’ll think about it.” What Elias didn’t know was that you had already convinced Jack and Quinn to do the same but instead with them you brought up the fact that they tried to stop you from dating Elias at the beginning. It was your perfect get out of jail free card for anything.

If Ellen were to find out the pure lengths the boys went to trying to stop Elias from going on a date with you. They would all be dead, especially now as your mom adored the love you held for your boyfriend. So it left you with the perfect thing to keep over the boys heads and now was the time that you were cashing it in.

Elias’ sigh brought you back to reality as he squeezed your shoulder “you ever think about him being our third?” His voice was barely over a mumble as he tapped your thigh motioning you to sit on his lap as he sat on your seat.

You forced your thighs together as you thought about it “he’s your teammate E.” You sighed as you shook your head.

Whilst you two had agreed on being open to the idea of a threesome, there was never someone you could find for the two of you. Brock was a logical option as you were both comfortable with him and that was easy to combine with the feelings he clearly had for you.

The boy smiled as he tucked your hair behind your ear “would you do it if he wasn’t?” The Swede pressed soft kisses against the skin of your neck “you know I only want you my love.” You groaned as you tried to get out of his grip “you know that you didn’t answer my question.” Elias squeezed the skin at your hips as he made you squeal.

He loved teasing you like that “I would want him to be our third then.” As you nodded it seemed the universe was set to taunt you as a knock came at the door “Elias you ready bro!” Brock complained as the Swede hadn’t responded to his messages.

Elias laughed as he saw your eyes go wide “yeah y/n is just finishing up.” You weren’t just finishing up, you weren’t even dressed yet “leave her she’s too slow!” You let out a scoff as you sat up “you asshole I’m not deaf!” It was now Brocks turn to laugh as Elias kissed your lips.

His hands were warm on your cheeks “see you later.” He mumbled pecking your lips before he left your room with you running your finger over your lips where his mouth left your smiling.

The draft came and went and before you knew it you were stood with Brock teasing him about what the boys had done “and you thought that Elias was in charge of me.” You laughed as you shook your head leaving Brock confused as he looked at you “is he not?” The blonde looked over you as Quinn and Elias were talking in the distance but the Swede was clearly more focused on the conversation that you were having.

Your lips formed a pout as you turned to see what he was talking about “you wanna know why you were drafted last?” You trailed off finally leaving him to gasp as he nodded figuring out what it was that you had done “well I think Elias over there wanted you to think he was listening to you.” Brocks words made you frown.

What you didn’t know was that as the American motioned to you to come closer to him your boyfriend was making his way over to you both “was told about how bratty you have been all week.” His rough voice made your cheeks turn red.

The pieces of the puzzle quickly found themselves connecting in your brain as your jaw went slack “was not.” You tried to protest as your hands formed fists “don’t lie to him älskling.” Elias clicked his tongue as he shook his head.

You didn’t know where you were meant to look “if I’m so bratty what are you gonna do about it.” You crossed your arms as you smirked thinking that you had beaten him “absolutely nothing.” Elias’ words made your face drop “but Brock here instead will make sure you are given exactly what you deserve.” He mumbled as he kissed the shell of your ear.

It was customary that Elias was physical with you yet Brock felt his mind run wild as he watched you both “he is?” Your thighs pressed together in an attempt to suppress the feelings you felt “only if you want me to.” Brock was quick to shake his head as he placed his hand on yours.

All of the worries that were once in your brain about Brock being a threesome partner for you two seemed to dissipate as you smiled merely sending him a nod. Elias was quick to kiss your head as he dug into his pocket and pulled out your key card before he slotted it into your hand.

You furrowed your eyebrows as Brock laughed “you want to be a good girl and go wait upstairs for us?” Elias tucked your hair behind your ear as they watched the gears turn in your mind “how do you want her?” As the question came to Brock it all but totally knocked the wind from his sails.

The way your eyes scanned his face brought him back to being that nervous boy who couldn’t talk to you without stumbling on his words “‘s up to you Brocky.” You smiled running your fingers over his shirt “on your bed.” The American sounded unsure of himself when he stood there trying to pick up on Elias’ body language.

Elias watched another player walk past you all “what do you want her in?” The Swede whispered to his teammate making the boys cheeks turn red “nothing.” Brock imagined it as his eyes practically undressed you themselves “älskling you hear him?” Elias turned his attention back to you as you nodded.

The boy pecked your lips as he smiled “you go upstairs and we will be there in a few minutes.” It should have been embarrassing the way you sped through there as you headed to the elevator. The teammates couldn’t help but laugh as they watched you send them one final glance before you were off “you sure you’re cool with this?” Brock knew that it was Elias who brought it up to him but the Swede was known for being possessive of you, and rightfully so.

You stared at your reflection in your mirror as you were in nothing but your underwear and heels “you getting cold feet?” You could hear them from outside the door as it reminded you that you were meant to be getting ready for them.

As you reached back to unclip your bra the door opened leaving you looking like a deer in headlights “älskling I had such high hopes for you tonight.” Elias sighed as he clicked his tongue “I’m sorry I-” you were cut off as he kissed your lips.

Brock stared in awe as you were in a black matching set with your black heels “you were meant to be in nothing.” Elias ran his finger over your bra strap “I know but.” You tried to protest but it was clearly no use with the boys “how do we punish her?” The Swede’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

Having all that power it made Brock almost go mad “want her on the bed.” You listened as you sat down and looked at the duo “put your head on the pillows.” Brock motioned to you to shift back as you nodded.

Elias went and sat on the chair that sat to the left of the bed “remember he’s in charge älskling.” The Swede did just enough to remind you that he was still there “god you don’t know how much I’ve been thinking about this.” Brock confessed as he dropped his knees to the bed.

His hands were rough around your ankles as he undid your heels “you have me now.” You whimper as he pushed your legs apart letting him get a full view of your covered soaked cunt “Petey said you been thinking about this?” Brock teased you as he kissed your thighs making sure that each had its fair share of attention before he made any effort to move closer to your core.

All you could do was nod as you bit your lip “wanted it so bad.” Again Elias knew you loved him, but you each had people you that you guys classified as your free cards that you could find attractive and admit it. His were mainly celebrities in the form of models or actresses, yours just so happened to be his teammate who was right in front of you.

Brock smirked as he blew air on your cunt as your body shook “shouldn’t make you wait then?” He joked as you nodded “lift those legs of yours f’me then.” Brock watched your hips push to the air.

He hooked his fingers into your waistband as he slid your panties over your legs before he let them drop to the floor “god.” The American felt his jaw drop as he heard Elias laugh “she’s a pretty fucking girl ain’t she?” The Swede smirked as he had a similar reaction when he first went down on you.

Your cheeks grew warm as you turned your attention to Elias “think you need to get a move on before she keeps on looking at me.” Your boyfriend taunted his teammate “you really are just a needy girl aren’t ya?” Brock let his hand lay flat as he hit your cunt.

You jumped at the feeling as your head turned back to him “Petey she’s fucking soaked.” Brock groaned as he ran his fingers over your clit “she tastes even better.” Elias going down on you and he was going to let Brock know how responsive you were “loves tugging at your hair when you get her at the right spot.” His words made you writhe as you brought your hands to your chest.

The American decided that he wasn’t going to wait any longer as he finally dropped his head between your thighs “fuck!” You groaned feeling his lips latch onto your clit “how good is he baby?” Elias didn’t often refer to you with English pet names but as you sat there all you could do was moan as you turned to see him watching intently from beside you both.

Brock slowed himself down as he found his pace when he slotted his fingers into your cunt. They were arched in an effort to go closer to your g-spot “don’t stop.” You pleaded as you grew used to how different Brock was.

You had Elias who was always pushing you to your limits but he did it by edging you and Brock, on the other hand, was treating you like his last meal as he didn’t know when he’d get this chance with you again. Moans escaped from between your lips as they mixed with your innocent gasps. All of it seemed to only encourage Brock further as he looked up to see you staring at him.

As your cunt clenched around his fingers you felt your legs begin to give out “shift up baby.” Elias’ tone was soft as he towered over you “gonna make me come.” You announced as you pushed your chest up using your grip on Brocks golden locks to help you as his groan sent shivers through your body.

Before you were thrown back against Elias who let your head rest against his lap. The boys looked between each other as Brock looked for the direction he was meant to go with. Yet when Elias shook his head it was you who complained “someone needs to learn that brats don’t get to come.” He squeezed your cheeks between his fingers as you let your lips form a pout.

Brock let his lips leave your clit with a pop “want to start apologising then pretty girl?” Your eyes were hazy as you clearly didn’t have a lot more brain power left in you “he asked you a question.” Elias mumbled as he pinched your nipples over the fabric of your lacy bra.

Your mind was blocked as his fingers rolled your sensitive bud between them “please.” You begged feeling Brock circle his thumb over your clit “think you can do better than that pretty girl.” Brock smiled as he shook his head.

Elias pulled your bra down by its straps letting his hands grip at your tits “want to come so bad.” You whimpered “so so bad.” Tears filled your waterline as your body shook.

The boys laughter taunted you “gonna be a good girl and make a mess f’me then?” Brock asked as you nodded repeatedly “want to be the best girl for you.” The words made both of their cocks strain against their shorts “let go for me then sweet girl.” As the words left the Americans lips he dropped his mouth back to your cunt as he thrusted his fingers into core.

Elias had a different idea as he pinched your jaw forcing you to stare at him “stick your tongue out.” His tone was soft but you knew he was being serious. So all you could do as nod as you listened “such a pretty little slut.” Elias grumbled watching your tongue roll out of your mouth.

Brock took the chance to look up as he watched saliva drop from his teammates mouth and into your own “fuck!” The American groaned as he watched the Swede smirk “keep it in your mouth until he lets you come.” Elias teased your nipples as he punched and tugged at the sensitive buds.

You moaned as your body began to shake “yes sir.” Even as your words were muffled it still went straight to their cocks. Brock continued to lap at your cunt until your thighs wrapped around his head “Brock you’ve got her fucking obsessed with you.” Elias watched the sight in front of him as he was in awe.

It finally came when your cunt burst letting waves of pleasure coarse through your body “look so fucking good like this älskling.” You couldn’t help but clench around Brocks fingers as Elias watched you swallow his spit “let the girl breathe Brock.” The Swede teased as he watched his teammate continue to finger you.

Brock looked up with an apologetic look as he pulled his fingers from your cunt “sorry.” He mumbled letting his lips leave your slit with a pop “c’mere Brocky.” You smiled as you motioned your finger in his direction as you sat up straight.

The look of your orgasm glistening on his chin made you feel wet all over again “think you should thank him for that.” Elias’ words were met with a nod as you took the first move to kiss Brock. The American was quick to melt to your touch as he swore he was dreaming.

Elias clearly had a similar opinion as him as he watched you both with a smile on his face “now you know the deal Boeser.” His voice made you pull away from the American as you turned to your boyfriend with a confused expression “only get her mouth.” Brock reiterated his words making you squirm in the process.

You knew it was stupid but even after all of this time you still adored the fact that Elias craved a certain level of ownership over you. You were his girl, and that was never going to change “this pussy is mine.” Elias smiled as he cupped your cunt making you almost fall into Brocks arms.

The boys were quick to reposition themselves as Elias stood over the bed and Brock was crouched over on his knees “hey pretty girl.” Brock cooed as he ran his fingers over your jaw “hi.” You smiled letting Elias grip at your hips from behind you.

The air that encapsulated the room was tense as Elias dragged his cock through your slit as he watched his precum mix with your wetness. It was like torture to the both of you “still such a needy girl even after her first one.” Brock teased looking like a school boy as he smirked “just loves being fucked like the cock hungry slut that she is.” Elias clicked his tongue as he pushed the head of his cock not your cunt.

He let out a hiss as your walls began to stretch to accommodate his size “don’t be afraid Brock you can fuck her mouth.” The Swede let his cock fully slide into you as he stopped for a moment when he bottomed you out.

The American was quick to fiddle with his belt as he began to pull his pants down letting his cock hit his pelvis “be a good girl and open wide.” He ordered as Elias took the chance to begin fucking you, quickly forcing your mouth open as your jaw grew slack.

Brock took his chance to slide his cock into your mouth as he moaned “ain’t she a good little girl?” Elias let out a grunt as you clenched around his cock at the compliment.

Your tongue swirled around Brocks cock when the boy gripped his hands around your hair forcing it into a makeshift ponytail “you’re such a lucky dude god.” Brock was beyond jealous as you looked up at him through your batted eyelashes.

Elias got the chance to have you everyday and he was no stranger in letting the American know that you were always waiting for him. It Elias had a big game then you would be on your knees in one of his favourite lingeries “you hear that älskling?” Elias taunted as he watched your ass bounce with each thrust that he sent into you.

All you could do was let out a muffled moan as you nodded “he thinks you’re fucking perfect.” Skin slapping against each other echoed on the walls was you didn’t know which side you should have been focusing on “she’s a heavenly from this side too.” It was clear that as Elias picked up the pace of thrusts he wanted to remind his teammate that he was only here because Elias let him be.

Brock nodded as he swore that you hollowing your cheeks out was going to be enough to make him come on the spot “made by the fucking gods.” Both boys hummed in agreement as Elias sent his fingers to your clit sending long moan from your lips.

You felt Brock’s grip around your roots tighten as he tugged at your hair “gonna make me come if you keep making those noises.” The American warned as you felt your cunt clench at the thought of his release.

It seemed that Elias wasn’t too far behind you either as he felt his cock throb “want to be a good girl and taste his come before I make a mess in your pretty pussy?” His accent was accentuated by the last phrases as you began to nod bobbing your head almost nonstop.

The American took it as his green light “don’t stop god.” He gritted out as he body stumbled as his release coated the walls of your mouth practically sucking the life from Brock as he rode out his orgasm “fuck!” The boy groaned sliding his cock out of your mouth before he replaced it with his thumb that collected any of his release that had seeped from between your lips before depositing it back into your mouth.

Your tongue swirled around his finger “you keep squeezing my cock like that and I’m gonna end up with a fucking baby inside of you.” Elias warned as he was painfully close “wanna milk your cock.” You got the words out before you went back to sucking his teammates thumb “do it älskling.” It wasn’t often that he would just let you come like this and you weren’t going to let this opportunity pass you by.

It was quick that your eyes began to roll back into your head as a flurry of incoherent whimpers came from your lips “keep hugging my cock like that.” As his fingers strummer against your clit like it was a guitars strings the coil that built up in your stomach snapped.

Causing your arms to shake as your body grew unstable “fucking so good.” Elias grunted as he finally came letting your release mix with his whilst his cock continued to help you ride through your orgasm. The air in the room came tumbling down as your lips lost Brocks thumb letting a string of your saliva break from your lips as it followed him. And if you were fully cognitive you would have sworn you saw his eyes sparkle as he watched it.

Elias let his cock slide out of your throbbing cunt as he kept his hand around your waist to stop you from collapsing onto the bed “how you feeling älskling?” His voice was soft as he kissed your temple “so good.” Your blasé state made him laugh as he set you on the bed softly.

Brock was fascinated by his friends softer expressions as the boys truly never thought that aftercare would be something that Elias would be so good at “bath, shower or bed?” The three options were all you usually wanted after sex and all of them always had Elias in them “bath.” You nodded reaching for the blanket that was next to you as your skin craved warmth.

It was the way that you and Elias worked so well together that served as a dagger to Brocks heart. He knew you weren’t his but it was having to see you with someone else that suddenly got all too much for him “I should head out.” Brock announced as he reached to pull up his boxers.

A frown found its way onto your lips as you nodded trying to understand his choice “you were good.” Your compliment made a smile form on his lips “you were too pretty girl.” Brock kissed your head as he watched Elias scoop you into his arms “see you tomorrow dude.” The boys sent a look of goodbye to each other and whilst Brock went out your door Elias carried you into the bathroom.

He scanned your face to see if anything was up as you stayed silent “what’s going on in there?” Elias asked as he kissed your cheek “thank you for letting me do that.” You mumbled as your fingers gripped the blanket now craving a warm bath instead.

It made Elias smile as you enjoyed your night “maybe it doesn’t have to be the last time?” He proposed as you nodded, oh if only he knew just how wrong he’d be.

The last few weeks had your heart feeling hurt. When you came back to Vancouver Brock promised that things wouldn’t be weird but after three weeks of him totally avoiding you and trying his best to avoid any activities beyond training and games with Elias. You both began to see how the American was drifting.

Thankfully Quinn didn’t come to any conclusions as he finally thought that Elias had enough of Brock’s long looks in your direction. Elias did his best to help you not feel guilty about what happened as you blamed yourself for him losing his friend. Yet eventually you both came to terms with the fact that there was nothing either of you could do about the radio silence from Brock beyond simply waiting.

It was a cold day in Vancouver as rain had been pouring the entire morning “I’ll be back in a bit!” You called out as you had been looped into a Pilates class with some of the other wags “have fun älskling.” Elias smiled as he pecked your lips before he went back to his phone enjoying the fact that the boys were having a late practice today.

You did your normal routine as you walked down to your car but before you got the chance to unlock your door your phone started going off “what the.” Your eyes went wide seeing Brocks contact appear on your screen.

Before you let the chance pass by you, you answered the call “Brock what the hell has been-” you went to lecture him but was cut off as his grunt echoed in your ear “fuck y/n.” He groaned as he looked down to where his hand wrapped his cock when he picked up his pace.

Silence filled your mouth as you were almost shocked at what was going on “keep thinking back to that day and I wish it was your pussy I fucked instead of your mouth.” Your leggings stuck to your skin as you forced your thighs together almost surprised that he was even admitting this to you.

The sound of his hand hitting his skin was barely audible in the speaker but you still knew what he was doing “god Petey doesn’t deserve you.” You felt dirty feeling so turned on by Brocks actions as you stared at your keychain that had the little E on it.

But before you could say anything more the line went dead leaving you with a decision you knew you shouldn’t be making.

Do you want to send this message to ‘The WAGS 23/24’?

you: hey girls I can’t make it today, something came up.

#Elias Peterson smut #brock Boeser smut #Elias Peterson imagines #brock Boeser imagines #nhl imagines #nhl oneshots #nhl smut #hockey imagines #hockey oneshots #hockey smut #amber writes fics #oneshots #imagines

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cellythefloshie · 23 days ago

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;; All Too Well (10-Minute Version) Written for The Eras Tour Hockeyblr Fic Challange

Summary: Love blossoms quickly, but fades even faster. When a chance meeting at a cocktail party introduces you to Vince, your whirlwind connection feels like the beginning of something lasting. But as seasons change, so do intentions. Kinks & TW: age gap (younger reader), implied car sex, toxic relationship, unprotected sex — the smut in this fic is REALLY mild. Like blink and you miss it, because it just didn't fit the vibes like I had expected it to. There was so much more story to tell. Word Count: 14.9k+ Author Notes: A huge thank you to @comphy-and-cozy and @wyattjohnston for putting this challenge together. I have found myself to be a blossoming Swiftie since the release of Midnights, so I was very excited to take part! And it was very much a challenge to me (though @hockeyboysimagines would probably argue differently) when I received All Too Well as my song. This was a song I had listened to 2 times before this fic. Once upon its release while watching the video, and again while watching The Eras Tour when it was released on streaming platforms. So I had this song on repeat a lot while planning and writing this fic. I would also like to say a huge THANK YOU to @laurenairay who was sweet enough to review my outline AND the fic when it was complete because I was terrified that I was missing key points to the song and needed another Swiftie's opinion. This is a well loved song, and therefore an intimidating song. I hope I did it justice ��️ This fic is also posted in chapters on Archive of Our Own.

As the bright orange and turquoise taxi drove further from the heart of downtown Toronto, the more out of place it became. Towering buildings became squat, and traffic thinned as it traveled over the smooth streets. Soon, buildings did not stand side by side with nothing but a mere alley between them, Yards began to sprawl and trees stood tall as your ride took you further into what you called cottage country - though it was nothing more than a quiet neighborhood that had Lake Ontario at their doorstep.

It was a long ride from the city, and you kept yourself busy in the back of the taxi. You fixed your hair with the help of the rearview mirror and a few bobby pins. Next, you fixed your makeup, taking it from day to night with a little more mascara and a darker shade of lipstick. Then, you checked your phone, rereading the message from your best friend:

Dinner and cocktails tonight, dress for the occasion.

Sighing softly, you looked down at the slinky slip dress that had spent the day in the bottom of your purse. It was a color that was your favorite, but no matter how desperately you smoothed your hands over the fabric, you could still see the wrinkles left behind. It was a little detail you would have to force yourself to ignore, and one you hoped no one else would notice. You fiddled with the fabric until you felt the taxi come to the stop at your destination.

You looked up at the crowded driveway first, taking a nervous breath through your teeth as you noticed how many cars were parked along it and down the street. Your eyes lingered on the cars as you dug through your purse for your wallet. Then you looked at your driver, smiling as you paid your fare and thanked him for the ride. As you stepped out of the back seat, your heels clicking again on the pavement, feelings of excitement and nerves swirled in your chest. Sweaty palms attempted to smooth out the fabric of your dress one last time before you approached the house. At first, all you could hear was the sound of your own footsteps, but as you grew closer, you could already hear the hum of conversation and clinking glasses before you could cross the threshold of the door.

When you reached the large, heavy door, you wasted no time knocking. You didn’t need to. Your best friend’s place was practically your second home. Besides, no one would have heard it, anyway. Inside, the warm glow of the chandelier greeted you in the entryway. There was no one there to greet you, but you could hear the beckoning of voices in the dining room. Taking a deep breath, you tucked your purse away with the coats and delved into the party as if you were walking into the cold of the lake: one toe at a time.

Moving into the dining room, you wore a soft smile to hide the panic that festered in the back of your mind. You didn’t recognize anyone - and judging by the side eyes they greeted you with; they didn’t recognize you either. Great.

Hands flexing into fists before relaxing at your side, you moved deeper into the dining room and found the table set up with drinks and finger food to hold everyone over until dinner was served. You took a flute of champagne between your fingers, and for a moment considered grabbing two. Smiling, you reached out for a second glass, but then you heard your friend excitedly greeting you. So you settled on one.

You sipped your sweet champagne slowly as you turned in place, your lips curling up along the rim of the glass at the sight of your best friend. She was stunning, dressed in a white cocktail gown that fluttered around her knees as she seemed to glide through the room. She looked almost ethereal in the light, the perfect host, and the beautiful bride to be. Your lips parted to compliment her, your arms opening to accept her incoming hug, but you teased her instead, “I didn’t realize you knew so many people.”

She laughed into your hair before she pulled back, her arm looping through yours. “Blame my fiance. This is practically his event. All of his teammates, plus their wives and girlfriends. Some family and friends too. Thought hosting a night at the house was the least we could do after having everyone travel in for the wedding—and speaking of the least I could do…” her words trailed off as she looked around the room for something - or someone, “... I have someone I want to introduce you to.”

Your interest piqued, your eyebrow raising as she led you through the home and into the backyard. The deck seemed to glow in the dim light of fairy lights. But the fire that burned down below, where a group of men gathered, burned brighter. Some had women on their arms, like subtle accessories, as the men seemed to hold the conversation, while others stood alone. Behind them all as they stood together, dressed in relaxed suits and party dresses as they drank from champagne flutes or crisp aluminum cans, the sun sunk low on the horizon.

Among them was your best friend’s fiance, his smile easy and welcoming as you approached. It attracted your friends like gravity, her arm slipping away from yours and she glided to him, fitting into the group so effortlessly that, for a moment, it left you feeling out of place. You took a long, nervous sip of your drink that almost left you choking as she returned her attention to you. She beckoned you with the simple wave of her arm, enticing you to join the circle around the dancing flames.

“Everyone, this is my best friend,” she finished the introduction with your name.

“The one she never shuts up about,” her husband teased her, earning a playful slap from the back of her hand against his chest.

You laughed along with everyone softly, quietly finding your place among the group, intending to be nothing more but a wallflower until dinner time. That was until she was speaking your name again to capture your attention. Then, she was calling out to someone else, “Vince, hey!”

When you saw who exactly she was speaking to, your stomach did a small flip that made it feel knotted. Vince was just on the other side of the crowd, lost in laughter, until his name cut through the conversation. Your friend’s voice had demanded attention in an instant and he answered it with a smile that sent a rush of warmth through you. Suddenly you devoted attention completely to him, the world narrowing just to him and the party suddenly gone. Looking at Vince was like looking at a Disney Prince. His dark hair that curled just above his forehead, and his green eyes that paled in the amber glow of the fire. Your gaze fixated on his stare as he moved around the crowd and closer to you—and when his eyes flickered away from your friend and to you for a mere moment, you could see a glimmer of something there. What that was, you would have to figure out.

“This is the friend I was telling you about,” your friend smiled and with the introduction made she found her place at her fiance’s side.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Vince spoke. His voice was smooth and warm like velvet as he extended his hand out to clasp yours. You shook it slowly, your touch lingering as your pulse pounded against the delicate flesh of your neck.

“I wish I could say the same,” you admitted slowly, trying to calm the thoughts that raced through your mind, “but I appear to be at a disadvantage. Seems she talks a lot more about me than she has to me about you.”

You bit the inside of your cheek. Your words had come off harsher than you had meant to. But it was just the reality of it all. Your best friend hadn’t spoken of Vince at all. No texts, no calls. All you knew of him was what you could see on the surface, but you knew better than to judge a book by its pretty cover. And while you hoped your appearance alone would make a good first impression, you didn’t want Vince walking away with superficial feelings.

The two of you talked until dinner time, scraping the mere surface of your lives. You told him what you did for work, and how he had spent his summer training for the next season of hockey. Conversation had flown with ease, and it left you disappointed as you both went your separate ways in the dining room. You circled the table slowly, watching as people slowly found their way into place seated in front of their place card.

Of course, she would have assigned seating.

You had hoped that you would spend your night seated beside your friend, but now you would be stuck making small talk with strangers. You took a desperate sip of your drink as you rounded the table, chugging back the harsh bubbles of your champagne as you found your place card at the opposite end of the table, right next to Vince.

You smiled inwardly at your friend’s not-so-subtle matchmaking move. While you wish she had been a little more coy, it was one you couldn’t help but appreciate.

The conversation reignited between you and Vince with soft pleasantries - before the first course finished; his easy humor left you laughing. Vince was funny, effortlessly making you laugh in ways that made you laugh in ways that you forget strangers surrounded you and you were doing your best to play it cool. Throughout dinner, the conversation flowed easily between you and Vince. The clatter of plates and mummer of voices faded into the background as you lost track of time, engrossed in his stories, his laugh and the way his eyes seemed to linger on yours. Vince made you feel like the only person at the table, and despite what you learned to be a seven-year age gap, the two of you shared an undeniable spark that you couldn’t quite explain.

The conversation you shared over dinner felt intimate. Almost like a first date, though you were surrounded by people—or at least, you thought you were. As time slipped by, the two of you didn’t notice how the table cleared around you, or how the guests had slipped away until it was just the two of you that remained. Only did you notice when your friend approached, her evening wear replaced with a fluffy robe and a sleepy smile on her face.

“Do I need to get a room ready for you?” she teased gently, her eyes flicking between you and Vince.

You gasped out a soft apology, only then realizing just how late it had gotten. “No, I should really just catch a cab home.”

You stood quickly; the chair dragging harshly across the floor as you quickly moved to gather your things. Your cheeks were red hot with embarrassment at how you let yourself get carried away with him - but he didn’t seem to mind. He followed just behind you in your stride, gathering his own coat that now hung alone next to your own.

“Let me walk you out?” He offered gently.

You accepted the offer with your own smile, your eyes falling to your feet as he opened the front door. The night air was cool, a welcome relief from the warmth of the party. It left you shrugging on your coat as you walked together down the driveway, your steps slow and hesitant. You didn’t want the night to end, not when Vince had made what you expected to be an awkward night one you didn’t want to forget. You reached the end of the driveway together, waiting awkwardly at the curb for your taxi to arrive, but it was the first moment that night the two of you were truly alone.

That thought gave you butterflies in your stomach as you watched him reach into his pocket and pull out his phone. “Here, put your number in?”

“Yeah,” you smiled a little too wide as you reached into your bag and pulled out your own phone. You traded them, and you added yourself as a contact in his phone. As you returned his phone to him, the subtle touch of his fingers against your hand leaving you to hold your breath, a taxi arrived and parked at the end of the drive.

“You take the first one,” Vince told you, stepping towards the taxi to open the door for you. He gave you just enough room to slip inside before he was leaning down, one arm on the door of the cab and the other over the top. If it were anyone else, you might have panicked, feeling confined in the tiny back seat of the taxi, but as stupid as it was, you felt safe with Vince.

“Goodnight,” he said, his smile soft as his eyes left yours to linger on your lips for just a moment before he closed the door behind you.

You leaned your head back against the seat, silently cursing how pathetic you were for wishing he had tried to kiss you. Biting your lip, you rolled the window down, and leaned your head out of it, echoing his voice with your own feeble, “goodnight.”

You settled into your seat with a sinking heart. Your night was over. Meeting the eyes of your driver in the rearview mirror, you gave him the address of home and you left your friend's home and Vince behind you. But your thoughts remained on Vince — the way he made you laugh, the way his presence made the whole evening feel different. Special. You didn’t know what had started that night, but you knew something was there, and you could wait to see where it would go.

Your best friend’s wedding had been beautiful, but it paled in comparison to what continued to grow between you and Vince in the week that followed. Seemingly overnight, the two of you had become inseparable. If you weren’t together, you were always texting or calling, your connection seeming to grow deeper with each casual date you shared. It was like the last days of summer, hot and vibrant. But as the days became consumed by the cooler temperature that would become autumn, whatever you and Vince shared only continued to grow.

Friday of the September long weekend, he picked you up from your downtown Toronto apartment, and the two of you took to the road. The city skyline was shrinking behind you, seen only in the rearview mirror. You didn’t know where Vince was taking you, but you didn’t need to. You were happy just being there with him, one of his hands on the wheel while the other rested comfortably on your knee. The radio was turned up loud. Shania Twain’s greatest hits the soundtrack of your road trip, her lyrics leaving both of your lips as you sang along. You danced in your seat, the seatbelt the only thing holding you back as you felt the music. And Vince sang, his tone carefree and out of tune as his thumb moved in slow, lazy circles on your knee. Your eyes dropped, watching the careful stroke, smiling as you sang.

But then your gaze shifted upward, and the world around you snapped back into focus. The glow of the solid red light was harsh against your eyes, but the car was still moving full speed. Vince hadn’t even tried to slow down, because instead of looking at the lights, he had been looking over at you.

“Vince!” you shouted, pointing towards the red light.

His head whipped around, his soft expression hardening with alarm as his foot slammed onto the brake. The car screeched to a stop, your seatbelt restricting around your chest as your body jerked forward before falling back against the seat.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the radio and the sound of your hastened breaths as the shock of what could have been hung over you both. Then Vince turned in his seat, the seatbelt straining against his chest as he looked at you. He reached out with both hands, cupping your cheeks in his hands as he looked you over with his eyes that were left wide with concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his thumb stroking your skin as if to soothe the shock that left you feeling sick to your stomach.

You nodded, your heart still pounding against your chest. And then he kissed you. The touch of his lips against yours brought an instant calm. He brushed over yours so sweetly, so gently, that it washed away all the tension, and when he pulled back, his kiss lingered in the calm between you until an impatient honk from the car broke it.

The light had turned green.

Pulling back, Vince smiled, and you couldn’t help but smile back, leaning your head against the seat as you relaxed. You let it lull to the side, watching the trees as they passed, their leaves only just beginning to change from their vibrant greens to shades of gold and crimson and had yet to fall lazily to the ground. You watched them until you noticed the car turn off the main road. The anticipation built as the car wound its way up a long driveway lined with trees. You sat up straight in your seat at the sight of the house at the end of the drive. It was a cozy home, nestled against the horizon where the sun was already beginning to set. Your hands gripped into fists in your lap nervously. Vince hadn’t told you where you were going. You didn’t know whose house this was, or why you were there. So as he switched the music off, you looked to him for answers.

“Come on, it and meet everybody,” he said with an easy smile, and he was already climbing out of the car before you had the chance to answer.

“Everyone?” You muttered to yourself, slowly stepping out of the car to hear a small crunch beneath your feet. Looking down, you narrowed your eyes. A child’s toy? Kneeling down, you picked up the broken pieces and cradled them in your hands. Then you looked out over the sprawling yard, taking in the little details you hadn’t quite noticed on the drive up. The yard was alive with the signs of a family. Scattered in the grass were children’s toys, and a small play structure with swings sat in the shadow of the house. You could even hear faint laughter in the distance. For a moment, you stood still, taking it all in before following the path Vince had taken inside.

The front door swung open to a rush of warmth that graced your cheeks like a kiss. It came from both the heat of the house, and the feeling of home that lingered there. You didn’t know what quite gave you the feeling. It could have been the soft lighting from decorative table lamps, the scent of a home cooked meal that lingered in the air, or the symphony of voices you could hear in the next room - or a combination of them all - but it all put you at ease. The unfamiliar place felt so familiar as you stepped out of your shoes and hung your red scarf and coat over the bannister where other coats were already piled.

With the broken toy in hand, you walked deeper into the house, where many unfamiliar faces greeted you. The first, after a quick introduction, you learned was Vince’s mother, who smiled at you warmly and pulled you into a soft hug. Then, there was his brother and his wife who welcomed you into their home as if you were no stranger at all. Vince’s step-father was too caught up with the kids to offer much more than a quick hello and a smile, but it all still felt natural, so easy. Like you belonged there.

“I’m sorry,” you told Vince’s sister-in-law with a soft voice, “I stepped on one of the toys in the yard.”

You offered the pieces to her on the bed of your palms, but she waved it off like it was nothing.

“They have so many they won’t even notice this one’s gone,” she assured with a soft smile. And while you just met her, her smile felt genuine. “Mom and I were just going to finish up dinner. Would you like to join us in the kitchen?”

You shot a quick side-eyes glance to Vince, his nephew’s swarmed him, taking all of his attention. Their laughter rang throughout the room as they clung to his legs, pulling him towards the games they were playing with their grandfather. You got lost in the sight of his care and gentleness with the children, but also the carefree silliness that sent them wild with laughter. A part of you wanted to join him, but Vince had brought you there to meet his family, so you offered his sister-in-law a smile and followed her into the kitchen.

There wasn’t much more to be done for dinner. Vince’s brother had chicken and ribs out on the barbeque, leaving the rest of you to work on the sides. You were quickly assigned to chopping up vegetables for a salad. But Vince’s mother, who snuck into the kitchen with a photo album, quickly interrupted your duties cradled in her arms.

“You have to see these,” she said, a mischievous smile on her lips as she opened the album up in an open space on the counter. You stood alongside her as she flipped through the pages, your smile growing when you saw a young Vince among the photographs. He couldn’t have been more than five in the picture, and wore a pair of thick glasses on his face, and a shy smile on his lips as he sat on his bed in his bedroom that was decorated floor to ceiling with Toronto Maple Leafs memorabilia.

“That’s him,” Tracy confirmed, her words laced with a laugh that was warm like a mother's embrace, “back when he was on the Timbits team. His grandfather took him to every single game.” The stories flowed easily, and you couldn’t help but laugh as Tracy pointed at another picture of Vince. He was around the same age in the last picture, but this time, he was beaming proudly as he stood in his oversized hockey equipment. “He used to trip over his skates more than he’d actually skate.”

Leaning over the book, you admired each photograph and welcomed each story his mother offered to tell. You were so completely enthralled in the moment that you didn’t even notice Vince approaching until his one arm was around your shoulders and the other rested around his mothers. He planted a quick kiss on your cheek, yet he was the one with flushed cheeks, embarrassed.

“You’re telling stories, aren’t you?” Vince grinned as he reached out for the family photo album. He shut it slowly before reaching it up to place it on a shelf up high and out of reach.

“Oh, you’re no fun,” his mother teased. “Why bring a girl home if that means I don’t get to embarrass you?”

“You do that well enough without breaking out the photo albums,” he assured, pressing a kiss to her temple before he took his place next to you. He offered you a sweet smile before reaching out for the knife you had abandoned and continued with your work in the kitchen. You helped him where he could. His presence beside you felt easy - like you were already part of the family, fitting so effortlessly into his line.

That feeling only grew throughout the evening. It felt right, like the changing of the seasons-natural, inevitable, and beautiful.

When it had come time to leave, the sun had long dipped below the horizon, casting a deep indigo hue over the world outside. The air was cool, the warmth of the house fading as you and Vince stepped out onto the front porch. Both hands raised to clutch at the breast of your jacket, trying to keep the chill of the night from your neck as the cold enveloped you. A single hand clutched the neck of your coat, your steps stuttering down the steps as you realized you had forgotten your scarf on the banister. But before you could go back, before you could even say a word, Vince was smiling at you as he tossed his car keys at you.

Your eyes went wide, your hands reaching out only to fumble for them. The keys jingled as they hit the ground, his keychain half buried in the dirt. It left your hands dusty as you knelt down and picked it up from where they rested at your feet.

“You drive,” Vince smiled at you playfully, “we’re just going up the road.”

The soft glow of the porch light cast a soft twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. You mirrored his soft smile as you gripped the cool metal of his keys in your hand and moved towards the car. It was another small, simple moment between the two of you, yet your stomach fluttered full of butterflies every time. You didn’t know if it was excitement, nerves or the anxiety of knowing that summer was over and autumn was to begin and all of what you had in just a week could be gone. But you didn’t dwell on it. Instead, you slipped into the driver's seat, taking the time to adjust the mirrors, and started the engine.

Its rumble cut through the stillness of the night, the grinding of rubber tired against gravel roads, the new soundtrack of your night as you drove down the quiet country road. It was lined with trees that cast long shadows across the ground, their leaves beginning to bare as their leaves changed from the brilliant green of summer to the gold and maroons of fall.

Vince sat, relaxed in the passenger seat beside you, his seat leaned back and his arm draped casually across the back of your seat. It remained there during the short drive down the road, one that led you to a secluded dead end nestle deep within the property. You looked around, the car lights illuminating the trees and brush around you. Then, suddenly, the light was gone, and darkness surrounded you. You almost jumped, startled, before you realized Vince’s hand had left the back of your seat and he had reached across and turned off the engine. Then, without a word, his hand fell to your seatbelt. He unbuckled it with the simple press of two fingers before his hands, gentle but insistent, found your hip. Vince guided you across the center console and into his lap.

Your knees rested on each side of him, squished between the car door, the console, and his body. It left the passenger seat feeling small, intimate, as you shifted your weight just right to comfortably settle against him. Your hands came to rest on the car seat, on each side of his head, but Vince’s hands came up to stroke loose strands of hair from your face. The gesture made your heart race, the world outside the car falling away, leaving you both seemingly the only two people in it. Then, with his hand still lingering on your cheek, Vince drew you in, and placed a slow kiss on your lips.

His kiss sent a wave of warmth to spread through your body, your breath hitching in the back of your throat. You shuddered in his lap, your lips meeting his sweet and gentle kiss that became deeper as he felt your eagerness to kiss and be kissed by him. Slowly, his hands strayed from the angles of your face, his feather light touch dragging down your body. His touch coasted over your shoulder, knocking your cardigan sleeve down your arm and teasing the exposed skin with the ghost of his touch before each of his hands settled on the swell of your hip. His grip tightened there, drawing you closer, your skirt inching up your thigh, and you let out a soft sound. It was not quite a moan, but more than a sigh, as your stomach swirled with the dance of butterflies. Your entire body was buzzing with the electric, weightless feeling—it felt like you might float away if Vince dared to let you go.

His hands didn’t leave you as you finally pulled back, breathless, your eyes meeting him in a dreamy stare. Taking a shuddering breath, your teeth caught your swollen bottom lip as his fingertips slipped beneath your skirt. His touch graced parts of you he was only just discovering as he whispered out, “I leave after the long weekend.”

His words were soft, almost apologetic, and hung in the air between you like a heavy weight. It sent your heart sinking a little in your chest, the reality of his departure setting in. It felt like a goodbye, your week-long whirlwind romance coming to its harsh and bitter end, as you should have expected from the start. Yet, a small voice inside you couldn’t help but wonder why Vince had made it more than just a fling. Why had gone through the trouble of taking you to meet his family if he was just going to leave?

You dwelled on that thought, your gaze leaving him to look out the window at the darkness that swallowed everything beyond the car window. You saw nothing but the blackness of night, your bite on your own lip growing sharper until Vince’s words cut through the quiet and eased your racing mind. “I want to fly you out to see me in Seattle when the preseason is over. Would you do that for me?”

His words sparked something inside you, excitement - no, hope - replacing the sinking feeling in your chest. Maybe this didn’t have to end today. You nodded quickly, your hair falling back into your face. It brought Vince’s touch back up to your face, his hands brushing it back behind your ear as he chuckled softly.

“Good,” he muttered, leaning in to kiss you again. But this time, the kiss was deeper, more urgent.

You parted your lips for him, welcoming the taste of his tongue as it met yours. The intoxication of his kiss left your head spinning in the best way. Your hands ran up over his chest, wrinkling the simple fabric of his t-shirt, wishing you could peel it off of him. You were ready; you wanted more, and as if he could read your mind, Vince’s hands inched higher up your skirt.

Your hold tilted back as you gasped, a single hand reaching out and finding the cold glass of the car window. It slipped briefly over the slick condensation, bracing yourself against it as the touch of his hands graced the most intimate parts of your body, as if solidifying the promise you’d just made.

The plane began its slow descent, the city of Seattle spreading out beneath you like an ocean of lights glittering against the early evening skies. Your head rested against the wall of the plane, your eyes watching out the window as the details of the skyline came into view. But you couldn’t focus on the landmarks in view, not when your thoughts were racing - drifting excitingly to Vince. It was later in the season than you had originally planned to visit him. But early in the season, Vince had been injured. He needed the time to heal, and he wanted you to see him play when you visited. It led to greater time apart, but it didn’t feel as distant as the miles between you. Not when he was so eager to text, to call, and when date night could still happen on a video call. The two of you had spent countless late nights together, and each one made you more excited to see him.

You smiled to yourself, your heart pounding and filled as your mind was clouded - stupid with the kind of love that made everything else seem insignificant. Your flight had been delayed, and you had spent hours seated beside a baby who wailed most of the flight. But you didn’t complain. Not once, because when it was all over, you’d get to see Vince. You let out a dreamy sigh. Love. You really did love him. You could feel it in how your heart skipped in just the thought of him. Sure, maybe it was too soon. The two of you had only been together three months, but you felt it. And you were sure Vince felt it too. Why else would he have introduced you to his family, and fly you all the way out to Seattle to spend the weekend with him? It felt like it was all building up to something bigger—for him to say the words. This weekend, Vince would tell you he loved you, you were sure of it.

The plane landed smoothly, and after gathering your carry-on, you made your way through the airport to the baggage carousel. You watched as each bag went around and around, the familiar buzz of the bustle that consumed airports all around you as you waited for your small bag to catch your eye. And when you found it, you were off like a shot, your focus on one thing: Finding Vince.

You found him standing just outside the doors for the pickup of arrivals. He was leaning up against the passenger door of his car, his black coat unbuttoned although the wind was cold and greeted you with the harsh reality that while winter on the coast was different, it was still cold. You regretted leaving your coat shoved in your bag, but you wasted no time in pulling it out to put it on. Instead, you ran to him, your smile growing with his as his eyes locked on you.

His arms and warmth wrapped around you, your bag dropping to the ground as your arms wrapped around him in return. Your fingers clung to him for the first time in months, his strength lifting you off the ground as he pulled you into a tight embrace. You could feel the warmth of his breath against your neck, and the soft kiss of his lips as he placed a simple kiss there before he returned you to your feet. Then, his hands slid down the angles of your back, his touch sending a shiver down your spine.

“I’ve missed you,” he spoke gently, sending a shy smile over your lips as he helped you into the passenger seat. You welcomed the warmth of the car as you tucked your carry on between your feet, finally opening it to pull out your coat as Vince put your bag in the back seat. You watched him in the mirrors as he rounded the car and met his smile as he sat beside you in the driver's seat.

“We’ve got the entire weekend,” Vince said, his smile easy. “I’ve got plans for us- dinner tonight, then tomorrow you’ll come to one of my games, and Monday morning, I’ll drop you off at the airport.”

“That sounds great,” you nodded, feeling the excitement bubble up inside you. It felt just as it had at the end of summer—there was a level of comfort you had with Vince that you couldn’t quite explain. One that simply being around him put you at ease, and left you excited for the weekend to come. It felt perfect, like a dream.

The ride from the airport to his apartment was quick, but with the delay you faced with your flight you were already running behind for your dinner reservation.

“The bathroom’s just there if you want to freshen up. I’ll call the guys and tell them we’re going to be a little late,” Vince told you gently, and you perked up? The guys? He was taking you to meet his friends — his teammates?

“I’ll just need a minute to change,” you assured, dragging your suitcase into the bathroom with you before you shut the door.

You looked over it with wide eyes and suddenly panicked. If you were going to be meeting his friends, you wanted to make a good impression. Dropping to your knees, you sorted through the clothes you had brought. At one time, while you were packing, you told yourself you had packed too much. That you wouldn’t have needed so much for two days, but now, as there were so many unknowns, you were relieved that you had let yourself over prepare. You traded your comfortable pants for a nice skirt and pair of tights, and your hooded sweatshirt for a turtleneck sweater and a dainty necklace. A pair of black boots replaced what you always wore to travel. And then all you had to worry about was hair and makeup. If you had more time, you would have styled it. But all you could really afford to do was touch up your lipstick, your mascara and tame any flyaway strands. Then, if you felt ready or not, it was time to leave.

Hand in hand, you walked with Vince down the sidewalks of Seattle. The restaurant was nearby, leaving you to enjoy the crisp autumn air that mingled with the smell of rain that had fallen and the scent of fallen leaves as they weighed down wet and heavy on the sidewalk. The wet pavement reflected the amber glow of the streetlights that flirted with the red, yellow and greens of the stoplights in your path. You admired every detail of the city Vince called his second home, small talk that didn’t really feel like small talk slipping from your lips. After months apart, there was so much for you to share, to catch up on, but the moment you walked through the restaurant doors and Vince’s hand fell from yours, the air became heavy, silent.

“Reservation under Dunn,” he spoke to the hostess, who greeted him with a soft smile and eyes that were only for him. You watched her for a moment, her everything the very opposite of you. It made your stomach sink as his smile matched hers, so easily — so effortlessly it seemed like more than just being nice.

Slowly, you slipped off your coat and hung it over your arms and hugged it to your chest. It was like a blanket of armor as you followed Vince through the restaurant like his shadow. You kept your head down, watching his heels, and scared to look up as the clamour of your table grew loud. It was only a small group of his friends, none of whose faces you recognised, but it sounded like an entire team. Four men, all comfortable in their seats with no girlfriends, only empty bottles to keep them company.

One hand slipped out from beneath your coat, reaching out to Vince for even a semblance of comfort, but he was already out of reach taking his seat at the table.

“Sorry, we're late,” Vince said casually. “Someone had to change.”

You had the sudden urge to vomit, the embarrassment all consuming as you draped your jacket over the last empty chair at the table. It was at the very corner of the table at one end. Vince sat to your right, and there was an empty walkway to your left.

He introduced you by name, before nodding around the table to each of his friends. Tye, Brandon, Ryan and Shane. Some of them offered subtle nods, others a simple hello as you seated yourself at the table and suddenly you felt out of place. As Vince fell into conversation with his friends, you felt like nothing more than a decoration as you glanced over the menu. Around you, the laughter felt distant, and the conversation felt impossible to contribute to. Your shoulders felt heavy with the feeling that you didn’t quite fit in, and it had you desperate or any kind of comfort.

You reached for Vince’s hand under the table, seeking his touch and reassurance. It brushed over the top of his thigh before flipping, laying your palm open for his hand to take. His hand dropped from the table, but instead of taking yours, he gently took you by the wrist and placed your hand back in your lap. And he left it there, untouched.

Your front teeth bit down on your lip to keep your mouth from falling open. His actions sent your heart sinking so deeply into your chest that you felt empty. Dread was all-consuming, and your embarrassment was so heavy that you thought about grabbing your coat and walking towards the door. Instead, you reached out for the glass of red wine in front of you. You took a long sip and tried to swallow that knot that formed in your throat down with it as you fought back the tears that threatened to spill.

When the server brought you your plate, you didn’t touch it, and once your first glass of wine was empty, you didn’t indulge yourself in another. The laughter, the conversations, even the clinking of silverware continued all around you, but you didn’t do more than breathe and stare at the empty glass that had nothing more than a single drop of wine resting at the very bottom. It was mere background noise as you retreated into your thoughts, heavy and spiraling.

Your silence followed you from the table and hung heavily over you and Vince on the walk back to his place. The autumn rain had left the streets glistening, and there was a chill in the air that left your skin prickled with goosebumps. As the temperature dropped, rain became glistening snow, and Vince’s hand reached out to yours as the two of you walked alone in the streets, but you didn’t take it. Not after he had made you feel the way he had, and your mind was spinning with questions you weren’t sure how to ask.

But the moment you arrived back at Vince’s place. His words cut through the silence.

“Why are you so pissed off?” Vince almost sounded offended, and if you weren’t so angry, you might have laughed at him.

You kicked off your shoes at the door, leaving them toppled over, before you walked away from him and to the kitchen with your left overs that your stomach was aching for. Your shoulders shrugged as you opened the fridge and tucked them away. When you closed it, Vince was leaning up against the cupboard just on the other side, waiting for answers.

“I’m not pissed off. Who said I was pissed off?” You answered him with a question of your own, your words firm and heavy with the hurt that still hung over you.

“Cause you’re acting pissed off,” Vince huffed, his hand reaching up to push through his curls, “Is it because of my friends? Because they were super fucking nice to you-”

“I liked your friends. I never said I didn’t like your friends,” you set him straight quickly. “I didn’t like the way you acted around them.”

“What do you mean?” His face softened, perplexed.

You laughed out a short and hollow ha as you circled in the kitchen. You couldn’t stand still.

“You didn’t even look at me once!” Your voice raised, though you were trying your best not to yell.

“Oh, come on,” he scoffed.

“You didn’t say one to thing the entire night-”

“That’s such bullshit, and you know it,” he punctuated his words with your name, and it only made them sting more.

“And you dropped my fucking hand! What am I supposed to do with that?” Your voice strained as you grew closer and closer to tears.

“I didn’t even fucking notice–What are you talking about?” Vince’s brow furrowed. “I was catching up with my friends! What are you trying to make this entire night about you?”

It was at that moment you wanted to scream, because the night was supposed to be about you. He was the one who flew you out to Seattle just to see you. To show you the city and introduce him to his friends, his team, his life! And suddenly, this trip wasn’t all about you.

“You’re being so fucking selfish.” His words stung like a slap.

You stilled for the first time since coming in the door, and your head cocked to the side as you looked at Vince with narrowed eyes. “Oh, I’m selfish?”

“Right now, that’s exactly what’s happening!”

Your face went blank, wearing a doe eyes stare as you were suddenly void of any anger as you looked at him. You held only disbelief—had he just yelled at you?

Just as quickly as his tone shocked you, Vince’s voice softened. “Don’t look at me like that…” his words were a gentle plea as he came up beside you, his arms slipping around your waist to pull you into him.

You stood with your back against his chest, your arms hugging over his as he kissed the back of your neck softly. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his breath warm against your skin, “about dinner… About everything. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

His words were soothing, easing you into a forgiveness that you shouldn’t have wanted to give him. But you hadn’t wanted to fight, you had simply just wanted Vince to hear you and he had. He was sorry.

You let Vince turn you around in place slowly, his soft playful smile on his face and bringing one to your own. “I’m sorry,” you muttered into his shoulder as you let yourself cling to him, but Vince only let you hug him for so long. Too soon he was pulling back, but his touch didn’t leave you. Instead, he turned you around in place, and swayed with you to the hum of the refrigerator like it was music.

His sudden playfulness coaxed an easy laugh from your lips as you stumbled over your own feet. He caught you with ease and led you into a dance that eased the tension that had built up during the night. It lifted the heaviness that weighed down on your chest and your shoulders, and in that moment you were back to feeling like yourself in his embrace.

This was the Vince you travelled all the way to Seattle for.

“You’re ridiculous,” you laughed, your voice soft but teasing as you looked up at him.

Vince grinned, twirling you slowly one last time before his hands settled on your waist. He pulled you in close, the warmth of his body enveloping you in its embrace and the world beyond his door, cold and distant. It was just the two of you, and for now, that was enough.

With a simple glance down at your lips, Vince drew you in. It wasn’t his touch, or his words, but his mere gaze drew your lips to his in a kiss you had been craving since your flight had landed. At first the kiss was soft and gentle, like his apology. But it quickly became laced with hunger, with the caress of his tongue against your lips, and you could not deny him—because denying him would also be denying yourself.

Vince picked you up with ease, his hand squeezing the soft flesh of the back of thighs as he moved blindly through his apartment. You didn’t know where he was taking you until you were laying flat against his mattress with his body climbing on top of you. Your legs parted, making room for his body against yours as he knelt there, stripping his plaid shirt from his body to begin the pile of clothes on the floor. Then he’s hovering over you, kissing your lips, and down. Down over the angle of your jaw earning a desperate pant from your lips.

His every kiss against your skin was like striking a match, and the breath that followed the oxygen to keep the fire burning. As he kissed lower, he peeled each article of clothing you wore from your body and let it join his plaid shirt on the floor. You were naked before you could even think to pull his loose white t-shirt from his shoulders. Your eyes flickered away from his face, admiring his body as he revealed it to you. Still strong, still toned, just a little more bruised and a little less rested than the last time he had you. You stroked over his chest with a featherlight touch of your fingers and you watched his face melt in relaxation. It eased Vince back from you, his hand falling to his belt.

The leather whipped from the restraints of Vince’s belt loops with a flicker of a sound, and with the simple motions of his thumb, his pants were slipping down his hips. You reached to where they rested with eager hands, gripping at the leather and pushed them down the strength of his thighs. The denim pooled there until he picked it free, his own eager hands pushing down his briefs next before he was between your thighs.

“Vince,” you breathed out his name, your heart racing against your chest as it heaved a desperate breath.

He echoed his name with your own, a single hand reaching up to push your hair from your face with the gentle caress of his hand. You nuzzled into it, as you felt the weight of his body so fully against your own. Then, your lips parted in a soft moan and left his skin marked with your favorite shade of red lipstick as he made you his own.

You had imagined the moment many times in your head.

Entering Climate Pledge Arena, as much more than a fan. You had pictured it differently each time. Sometimes you had a special jacket, custom made and embellished with the glimmer of gems or embroidery. Other times, you wore a Kraken jersey with DUNN sprawled across your back. But in every scenario, all knew who you were there to watch your boyfriend Vince Dunn—though the two of you had yet to use the label. And you’d finally get to meet the other wives and girlfriends of Vince’s teammates. The warm and fuzzy feeling of being welcomed into the tight-knit circle of wives and girlfriends was something you daydreamed about. You hoped for instant connections, for friendships that felt like sisterhood—but harsh realities quickly betrayed your imagination.

You didn’t wear a fancy new jacket.

There was no jersey for you to wear.

And while the arena was buzzing with excitement, the energy of the crowd was not enough to ease the anxiety that bubbled inside you as you reached your seat. Your seat was in the middle of the crowd, with no one expecting you or welcoming you among them, and it left your mouth tasting sour. You were just another fan in the stands.

Forcing a smile, you sat among them, your hands gripping the edge of your seat with a knuckle-white grasp. You watched as the teams took the ice, your eyes naturally drawn to Vince in his uniform. He skated with the same ease and confidence that had drawn you in that first night the two of you had met. He looked so focused, so in his element, and for a moment you forgot about the uneasiness deep in your stomach and felt proud. Proud to be there, supporting him, proud of who he was.

But not even the pride could keep the doubt from seeping in as you sat there alone in the crowd of strangers. You glanced around the seats in your section, your ice shifting from the left, to the right and to the left again as your breathing swallowed. All around you, you noticed clusters of women scattered throughout the stands. They were laughing, chatting with each other as they sipped their beer and wine. It was almost enough to make you smile until you saw DUNN written across one of their backs and the look on her face. She was looking at him like her seat wasn’t high above the ice. Like he could see the batting of her thick lashes and the coy smile on her lips as she ogled him. And she looked at him like that because nobody knew about you - because she thought that she might have a shot.

Sinking into your seat, you felt small, alone.

The feeling hung over you as the game unfolded in front of you, but the excitement you should have felt didn’t reach you. You focused on Vince, watching how effortlessly he moved on the ice. You clapped when he made a good play, and cheered when the Kraken scored, but the joy felt hollow. By the time the final buzzer rang, and the Kraken celebrated their victory down at ice level; you were unmoving in your seat, unsure how to feel.

The eruption of cheers and applause, the post game high, was lost on you as you stood in the crowd of thousands in a daze. You moved with the crowd as the arena emptied, your hand grasping your phone tight in your hand, waiting for a message from Vince to come. It took thirty minutes of waiting outside the front of the arena for a message to bring your phone to life. You were cold, one hand on your phone while the other clutched your coat tight around your neck to keep yourself from catching a chill. He told you where to meet him, and as you walked along the sidewalk, you had to keep telling yourself this was just one game. But the hollow feeling lingered until Vince pulled up in front of you in his car and got out with such an expression you would have thought he lost you.

“There you are,” he muttered as he got out of the car and wrapped his arms around you. And you fell into him. Your face buried into the strength of his chest and your arms wrapped around him—desperately, pathetically — trying to grasp onto the only thing that made you feel you belonged.

Back home in Toronto, things felt different. With each passing day, you were hearing from Vince less and less. You didn’t wake up each day with a sweet good morning message, and he was no longer the last person you spoke to before you went to bed at night. That was, if you heard from him at all. You tried to tell yourself that it was normal. That he was busy with hockey. His career had a demanding schedule, one that went beyond playing a game almost every other night. You understood that. So it was easy to listen to the excuses he made when he would finally text or call, his stories making you so sympathetic to why it was so hard for him to find the time to connect.

Each time you spoke, it filled you with the same fluttering feelings you had back in the beginnings of autumn. It was a warm feeling that blossomed through you on the coldest of winter days—one of hope of the days to come and fueled by the simple promise he made you: He would call you on your birthday.

Vince had told you he wished he could have been there in person, but his schedule didn’t allow it. You were forced to celebrate it apart, divided by both land and time, but the promise of his call left you floating high on excitement. You clung to the promise all day, watching your phone for any sign of him as you ran your early morning errands and got ready in the afternoon. But as the hours slipped by, the silence from him grew louder.

The sound track of your night was supposed to start with the pop of a bottle of champagne and followed the clamor of cutlery against plates as you and your family friends enjoyed a meal together at your favorite restaurant. Their laughter surrounded you, and yet, like the rest of the noise, it felt distant. Like a mere echo in the back of your mind that felt empty, free of thought, save for the one fact that left you heavy in your chair at the head of the table.

Vince still hadn’t called.

You had to focus on your breathing, forcing a steady breath when you wanted to do nothing more than sob, as you reached for your phone that rested face down on the table. The brightness was low, the subtle glow casting across your face as you checked your phone, hoping for a message, a missed call—anything.

But you found nothing.

Your father, seated beside you, caught your eye. He smiled softly, but it didn’t reach his eyes—he must have known something was wrong. He could see it in the way your mood shifted every time you looked down at your phone and found that Vince hadn’t even attempted to get hold of you.

He reached out, his warm hand resting over yours as it rested over your phone. You tried to force a smile, but as you met his gaze, it wavered. His hand squeezed yours gently, trying to offer the smallest comforts to the problem you had yet to tell him - and you didn’t want to tell him. Not when Vince had made such a good first impression when the two of them had met at the wedding months before. The conversation had been natural, and your father had laughed at every single one of his self-effacing jokes. But no one was laughing now.

On the verge of tears you pushed up from the table and let your hand slip away from the gentle hold of your fathers with every intent of running off to the bathroom to cry. But he followed in your wake, his strides on pace with yours as he followed you to the narrow hallway that divided the washrooms from the dining room. There you turned, falling back into his arms as your tears fell. You clutched to him, your fingers straining against his back as you sobbed. And he held you, one hand on your back, and the other on the back of your head, holding it carefully as you sobbed into his chest.

“He promised.” Your voice was strained, and you were sure you could hear his heart fall in his chest.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” your father’s words were soft as he murmured just low enough for you to hear, “I should’ve seen it. Should’ve known.”

You frowned, your eyes blinking back heavy tears as you tilted your head back to look up at your father. “What are you talking about?”

His head shook slowly, solemnly, his grip on you loosening slightly so he could look down at you. “I should have known that boy was no good for you. Only a fool would make you feel like this on your birthday.” His words were soft, but were heavy with regret.

Your throat tightened as you looked away. You hated how he was blaming himself. He didn’t know Vince like you did - or rather, like you thought you did. He didn’t see the way things had been in the beginning - how Vince made you feel like you were the only person in the world who mattered. Your father didn’t hear the promises that he made or the love you had felt. But what he did see were the broken promises and the heavy sorrow and how it consumed you.

But as you stood there in your father’s arms, you couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he was right.

Your body shook with a quake of another sob, your father’s arms constricting around you again as he whispered, “It’s supposed to be fun, turning twenty-one.”

At the end of the night, when your parents had gone home and your friends took your party to a bar, you found your refuge at home. Your apartment was quiet, too quiet, as you closed the door behind you and let the entirety of your weight fall back against it. It was dark. The only light filtering in was from a streetlight outside your living room window. It was almost comforting just to stand there, but being back home alone only gave way for the anxiety to grow. It nagged at you in the back of your mind and consumed you so fully it felt like a snake constricted around your chest.

Your dress felt too tight around your ribs, almost suffocating. In need of any relief, you reached back to pull at the zipper, your fingers slipping along the zipper and the fabric as you struggled. The more you tugged, the more the frustration built. You stumbled on your feet in the doorway, your teeth gritting as you fought back another wave of tears, until finally your heels caught the edge of the rug. With a cry, you dropped to your knees, feeling the cold floor sting as the force rubbed your skin raw. Your vision blurred with tears, your hands clutching at the dress, desperately trying to remove it from your body with such force the zipper broke. It seemed to peel away from your skin, and you pushed it off, panting, leaving yourself to sit naked on the floor consumed by your tears.

You choked back a sob, but it slipped out anyway, filling the silence and drawing the attention of your cat that had been sleeping in your reading chair nearby. The cat perked up with a pur and jumped down to the floor with a soft thud. The little patter of the cat’s feet almost made you smile, and feeling the cat’s soft fur against your leg helped you try to focus on literally anything but your anxiety.

But it could rid you of the loneliness and betrayal you felt deep in your chest. And you were practically reeling at the memories that flooded you. Your mind was an echo chamber of Vince, his perfect smile and his laugh that had always flooded you with a happiness you couldn’t quite explain. It was like being haunted by a ghost of him, one that was born in the death of the man you knew and the birth of the man he really was.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this, not on your birthday, not in this way. Not when you thought that maybe you and Vince would be forever.

Your lip quivered as your eyes fell on your purse. It was a small clutch, just large enough for your phone, debit card and a lipstick inside. You reached for it, snatching it up with trembling fingers before you worked on the fastener. It clicked open, your phone screen dark as it rested inside. Slowly, you slipped it out onto one hard and for a second you just stared at it, your thumb hovering over the lifeless screen. Then, with a single press of your thumb, the screen came to life. No notifications greeted you. No messages from Vince. So, you sent him some of your own.

You stared at the sent messages, your eyes burning with tears that you wiped away with the back of your hand before they could leave trails down your cheeks. A sob slipped out of swollen lips, harsh and aching, as you forced yourself to your feet and finally kicked off your heels. You walked to the bathroom down the hall, and without turning the lights on, prepared to go to sleep. You scrubbed at your face, wiping away what remained of your smeared makeup, each brush of your face cloth harsh like you were trying to erase the entire night from your skin. Then, you brushed your teeth, the mint-flavored toothpaste almost making you gag as you stood bent over the sink.

Finally, you crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to your chin, feeling the hollow ache in the depth of your chest. You pressed a hand there, as if it could somehow ease the weight of the day from your heart. The silence was heavy, broken only by the sound of your shallow breathing as you tried to force yourself to sleep. But sleep didn’t come, only the tears did. They trickled down your cheeks until you choked on them, feeling the hollow emptiness in the very depths of your being.

Then, in the dead of the night, your phone rang. If you had been asleep, you wouldn’t have heard it at all, beckoning to you from where you had left it on the living room floor. Yet, you didn’t move. You didn’t even open your eyes. You didn’t need to look at the screen to know it was him. Vince. His name pulsed in your mind as if it had its own heartbeat. A pulse that flooded an open wound and did nothing but bleed.

Suddenly, the ringing stopped, leaving a silence that settled like dust. A silence so pure you didn’t even breathe. The desperation for air burned in your chest, and only did you give yourself the relief when you heard the phone ring again. Again and again, like torture. You wanted to scream the very sound, leaving your chest so tight you thought you might have a heart attack - yet you lay there, unmoving.

You had been waiting all night for him to call, but now you only wanted silence. And when it came, when it stayed, exhaustion claimed you, lulling you into sleep and leaving the ache to linger as nothing but a thought as the peace of darkness consumed you.

Healing would come with time, was what you kept telling yourself every time you forced yourself to do anything. You had struggled to do even the littlest things at first. Brush your teeth. Make yourself a meal and eat it. Shower. Each small task had been one you struggled through with heavy exhaustion - and ask you branched back out into the world, a fake smile. But as each day passed, living became just a little easier. Your smile, a little more genuine, even if you still found yourself struggling to feel anything but sorrow below the surface.

The ache that would creep into the depth of your chest, or the nagging thoughts that snuck into the back of your mind, were forgotten when you were with friends. So you surrounded yourself with them whenever you could manage. Once, twice, sometimes three times a week, you found yourself in a crowded bar with your friends. Their voices and laughter swirled around you as you indulged in conversation and a bottle of wine. It was meant to be what it always was; a night to unwind. Somewhere you could go and leave everything else behind for a few hours. But when your phone buzzed on the table, and you couldn’t ignore its insistent, repetitive droning that called to you through the chaos of the bustling bar around you, you looked down and there it was. Vince’s name was on the screen.

It had been a month since the night he left you waiting, hoping for him to reach out with a birthday wish. A month of silence had followed since the message you had sent, ending whatever it was the two of you had shared.

Part of you wanted to ignore him, to let the phone ring and ring until he understood what it felt like to wait on someone who never showed. To be ignored by someone who never seemed to care. But you couldn’t deny that a part of you wanted closure.

Excusing yourself from the table, ignoring the looks your friends shot at you, you moved towards the bar’s restrooms. Leaning against the wall just outside, you crossed a single arm tightly across your chest and brought the other up to your ear as you accepted the call from Vince. You stood there, listening to the silence that hung on the line for a moment, stealing seconds from the conversation you were already wishing you hadn’t agreed to.

“Hello?” you whispered in fear that your voice would break if you had tried to be firm with him.

There was a pause. Then Vince spoke, “you picked up.”

You could almost hear the surprise in his voice. He sounded as though he hadn’t expected you to answer at all. And really, you shouldn’t have.

“What do you want, Vince?” You asked, your voice wavering as you shut your eyes tight. Just hearing his voice reignited all the feelings you had tried to cast aside. He made your heart race with all the same excitement as he had before, a high you would forever chase just for even a sliver of the feelings he had once given you. And maybe if it were another time, or another place, you would have let yourself fall back into him. To let his lies and betrayals fool you again. But you couldn’t, not while the wounds were still fresh.

“I miss you,” he said. His words were soft, almost pleading. And you almost scoffed as you gripped your ribcage just a little tighter. “I know I messed up,” he continued, “but I swear, I’m gonna change. Trust me.”

You let out a slow breath, your eyes cast out over the bar, staring back at the booth where all of your friends sat waiting, wondering where you had run off to. You focused on them, in a desperate attempt to ignore how the weight of his words were heavy on old wounds that were almost scars. Cutting them back open like a knife…but he would just leave you bleeding. Again. But you could still feel the weight of his words; Trust me. They echoed through you, but they felt hollow, disingenuous. You wanted to believe them, but you know you couldn’t. Not when they were leaving his lips.

Silence stretched between you, the kind that begged for a response, and you bit the inside or your cheek, trying to gather the courage to really end things. Your lips parted, a heavy breath near bringing you to a tremble before Vince’s words stole the air right from you.

“I still love you,” he spoke quickly.

The words cut through you, sharp and clear and desperate. He had never said those words before. The two of you had never put a label on what you had shared, and yet, the way he threw still in front of them stung. He said it as if you’d had something real, something that was worth keeping. And maybe, once upon a time, when the autumn leaves still hung in beautiful colors of red and gold before they fell into place like puzzle pieces on the ground, you might have called it love too. But now, as you stood there, alone, hiding away from your friends at the bar because you knew talking to him after all he would have put you through would upset them. You felt the truth settle over you.

Vince didn’t love you, he never did. Not really. Not in the way you had needed because during the short time you were together, he had always left you feeling like there should be more.

You gripped your phone tightly, letting the realization sink in. Every broken promise, every unanswered call, it brought you to this moment. And as each time Vince had let you down hung heavily over you, you found your voice, “we are never getting back together. Ever.”

The words felt final, grounding, like an anchor you could hold on to. You finally felt like you weren’t stuck in the same cycle of waiting for his text or call, the high of just getting to hear from him, followed by the lows of waiting for the next call. There would be no more uncertainty of never knowing where the two of you stood. What the two of you were. Now, you could walk away from Vince without looking back and wondering what if? Because the reality of it all was that Vince would never change.

There was a long pause, and on the other end of the call you could only hear his breath as he tried to find the right words for him to say in the space you had left for him. He was trying to think of the right words to reel you back in, to prove to you that things would be different. Until the next time he would miss your call, or break the promise that would leave you crying on the living room floor. But you listening to his empty promises, not this time.

“Goodbye, Vince.”

You hung up before he could say anything more.

You slipped your phone back into your pocket and let out a breath that could only be defined by relief. And as you walked back to your friends, something felt different. The weight you had been carrying had finally been lifted and, for the first time in a long time, you felt free of the burdens that came with loving Vince.

Your favorite downtown coffee show bustled with the sounds of clinking mugs and soft conversations, but you were lost in your own world, scrolling aimlessly through your phone. You sipped your latte, watching the steam rise in lazy spirals, casting a haze between your stare and the phone screen. The feed was the same as it always was, cat videos, the latest fashion trends and posts from your family and friends. Each one left you feeling warm as you were curled up in the seat, away from the harsh, cold Ontario winter that waited just outside for you on the coffee shop doorstep. But the warmth left you, if only for a moment, when a familiar name popped up on your feed. Vince.

You hadn’t made him much more than a passing thought since the night you ended things with him for good. And while the memory of him lingered, and was consuming on nights you lay alone with nothing more than your anxieties as you craved him, you had tried to rid your life of every bit of him. Yet, you’d forgotten to unfollow him on Instagram.

You took a long sip, the sweet latte not enough to rid your mouth of the bitterness on your tongue. It had been three months since that night you said your last goodbye. You should have just kept scrolling past and onto the next funny cat video that would fill you with laughter instead of dread—but against your better judgment, you let your curiosities win and you clicked to view his profile.

Vince had never posted all that often. You had noticed that since the moment you creeped his feed the night you first met him. His pictures were few and far in between. But there it was, something new - pictures from his vacation during the All-Star break. You chewed your lower lip as you scrolled through the carousel of pictures and your stomach clenched. There, in one photo, was Vince, smiling, with his arm slung around another woman. You couldn’t see her face as she looked away from the camera, but you could tell by the exposed skin of her body in nothing but an itty-bitty bikini that she was probably younger, vibrant and beautiful. The sight of them together hit you like a punch in the gut.

It shouldn’t have, but it did. Because it was you who ended things. Yet, you sat alone in the coffee shop still struggling with the memories of him while he was so quick to move on with someone new. It hurt, but it solidified what you knew all along. He didn’t love you, he never had.

Your chest tightened as you swiped through more pictures, your heart sinking deeper and deeper with each one. He never took pictures with you, not any he had shared on social media where anyone of his friends and fans could see. He had never made your relationship public beyond that one night in September when you had met his family. You had been his best kept secret that he hid away from the world, while your love for him had been at oath.

Seeing him with someone else left you feeling hollow. Sitting up straight in your seat, you told yourself that you let him go a long time ago. That the magic the two of you had found on those late summer nights faded and died with fall. That magic had been replaced with doubt and hurt. Hurt that you told yourself had healed, but it felt like a lie as you stared at the pictures of Vince happy with someone else.

“You’re okay,” you whispered to yourself in a stuttering breath. But you weren’t fine. Not at all.

Tears blurred your vision, and before you could stop it, a tear burned its way down your cheek. You wiped it away quickly, but it was too late to stop the ache from rising in your throat. The beginning of a sob rested at the back of your throat as you grabbed your bag and coat, and abandoned your half-empty cup of latte on the table. You disappeared into the bathroom, arching over the sink only to see the streaks of mascara down each of your cheeks.

In the reflection of the mirror, you dabbed at your tear-streaked face with a cheap tissue. It stuck to your skin, forcing you to pick little white tufts of cotton from your cheek as the door swung open. You jumped slightly, startled as you tried to turn away from the door so whoever it was wouldn’t see the distress in your eyes—but as your eyes flicked up to the mirror, the sight of someone familiar met you. Your friend, your best friend, the one who had introduced you to Vince. The two of you had drifted apart when you were spending so much time with him, and later, when the weight of losing him had made you withdraw from everyone. You had tried to reconnect with so many of your other friends since then, but you couldn’t with her. Not when she was still so closely connected with Vince.

Her face lit up when she saw you, and before you could fully find your composure, she was wrapping you in a warm hug. “It’s been too long,” she said into your hair as you did your best to choke back every ounce of feeling that wanted to consume you. Slowly, she took a step back to look at you. “I don’t think we’ve seen each other since the wedding! You were so smitten with Vince that I didn’t even get to say goodbye before we left for the honeymoon. What happened between you two, anyway?”

Her words stung like a fresh cut through the wounds you’d tried so hard to heal. You stood there a moment, feeling paralyzed, the tears welling up in your eyes again, but you forced a smile. It was the same practiced smile you had been wearing for months.

“It just didn’t pan out,” you lied. You would spare her all the sad details. Quickly, you glanced down at your phone as if you were checking the time. “I’m sorry. I have somewhere I need to be.”

Her smile faltered, but she nodded, sensing the awkwardness in the air. “Of course. Let’s catch up soon, though, okay?”

You nodded quickly before slipping past her, leaving the bathroom and uncomfortable conversation behind. You didn’t return to your table. Instead, you went straight out the front door of the coffee shop and were greeted by the cold winter air. You let out a long exhale as the itchiness in the air hit you. Your breath left you in a soft cloud, and snow fluttered gently as it fell in glittering flakes. There was a peace in the cold that left you pulling your coat tighter around you, but it didn’t ease the ache in your hearts as you walked along the narrow snowy city sidewalks alone. And you truly were surrounded by no one. The streets were empty, as strangers sought refuge from a growing storm in the homes, storefronts or restaurants nearby. It truly mirrored just as lonely as you felt inside.

You kept your head down, and your hand clutched around your bare neck as you walked home. Your steps slipped and stuttered right up to the doorstep of your apartment. It was your only moment of stability as your caretaker had cleared the cement and spread sand out over the street. The icy winds gave you one last embrace as you dug your keys from your purse and let yourself inside. You stomped your feet free of snow in the entryway before walking up multiple flights of stairs. When you reached your floor, you looked up and down the narrow apartment hallway, and to your door at the end. There, a large box rested on the floor. You weren’t expecting a package. You approached it slowly and dropped to your knees in front of it. It wasn’t outside the wrong suite; it was addressed to you. Then you looked at the return address. Seattle.

You were slow to pick it up, and even considered leaving it in the hallway, but ultimately your curiosity won. You carried it inside, your cat greeting you as you entered by rubbing against your legs, and you placed it down on the kitchen table. Then you reached down and petted your cat casually, but your eyes never once left the package.

You took off your coat, hanging it on a rack by the door, and you kicked off your boots and left them on a heap on your door mat before you returned to the table. You stepped in a cold puddle you had created; the water seeping into your socks as you pulled at the packing tape. It tore open with a satisfying sound, but it wasn't enough to ease the racing of your heart as the box opened and you faced everything Vince had felt the need to return to you. Carefully you removed each item—Things you had left behind in Vince’s apartment, thinking that one day you’d be back to retrieve them. A tube of red lipstick, one that you quickly learned was his favorite. A pair of socks that you couldn’t find in the rush to pack your bags before heading to the airport for your flight home. CDs that had found a home in his glove compartment during your late summer drives. Each item brought back a memory, pulling you deeper and deeper into the memories of your time together.

But something was missing. The scarf you had forgotten at his family’s house that first night you were left feeling that what the two of you shared was love. It wasn’t there.

Everything else was, though. Every little thing that tied you to him, neatly packed away and shipped back to you, like trash to be discarded. What forced you to remember the early days of your love—the days that were filled with laughter, and the nights where he made you his own—they were supposed to be the beginning of something real. They were memories that you once held so fondly in your heart, but they only brought you heartache now. And Vince? Him sending them back to you made you feel like he had never really felt anything at all.

You stood there, over the box, staring at it. It’s emptiness and how the timeline of your love was spread in the mess over the tabletop—you had it all, all but the one item that symbolized the beginning of it all. And suddenly, it was too much. Your hands trembled as you stepped back from the table.

You stumbled down the hall and fell into your bed. Curling up, you hugged your knees to your chest, a crumpled piece of paper laying there as your tears flowed freely. You sobbed into your pillow, trying so desperately to let the memories of Vince go. They hurt too much to keep, but a part of you knew they were too precious to let go. You remembered it all, every little detail, and it consumed you, leaving you shattered. You had given him so much, and in the end, you were left with nothing but the memories of a love that would never last.

It was all too much. It was all too real. And you couldn’t help but wonder: The love you shared, did it maim him too?

Vince pulled open his dresser drawer with one hand while he tugged at his loose shirt collar with the other. He rifled through it carelessly, disturbing every neatly folded tie, looking for just the right one to match his suit on game day. His fingers moved quickly, digging deeper, searching for a color he had only worn once or twice—there, deep beneath the silk, the cashmere and the cotton, his hand brushed against something soft. Something he hadn’t touched in months.

At the bottom of the drawer, hidden away from anyone who decided they could snoop through his drawers, was the scarf you had left behind at his brother’s house all those months ago. Vince stopped to stare at it first, the bright red scarf so vibrant against the blacks, blues and greens of his eyes. Then he reached out, letting his fingers curl around the familiar fabric as he drew it from the darkness of the drawer out into the light of his bedroom. He stroked it slowly, only looking away from it when there was a clamour in the next room.

Vince had almost forgotten he had a guest.

His new fling was getting ready for the game in the bathroom. She was probably making a mess of something, and he could hear her humming softly as she applied her makeup and did her hair. She wouldn’t be sitting with the other wives and girlfriends—just like you, she would sit alone. And she would be but a memory in a week, maybe two weeks, if he was feeling generous. Even with that in mind, he didn’t need her walking in on him now, as he thought of you.

Vince watched the half-open door of his bedroom as he gripped the scarf in his fist. He could hear her shuffling around, and the sound of her heels clicking against the floor. As she stood there, staring at the scarf, he remembered that night he met you at dinner. How you had worn such a shy smile, but spoke with such confidence. He remembered how your smile would grow as you tried not to laugh at his jokes, and how you would fix the scarf around your neck just right on the days there were still summer, but so close to fall. It had still smelt of you the day his sister-in-law had returned it to him during the break for the holidays.

He lifted it up to his face slowly, inhaling deeply. The scent of you had only begun to fade, the traces of you still lingering enough to make his chest tightened with a familiar ache.

A heavy sighed rocked his shoulders as his grip loosed on the scarf. He had left the fabric wrinkled, but he smoothed them away with a certain care. He held it in both hands, ready to tuck it back where it hid for so long he had forgotten it was there. But as he lowered his hand, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Something made him stop. The scarf. Your scarf. It paired with his game day suit perfectly. A black jacket and pants with a white button down top. It was the pop of color he needed.

Vince draped it around his shoulders, the wool settling around him like a ghost of your embrace. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he adjusted it just right, the scent of you right under his nose, reminding him of what it smelt like to have his face buried in your soft hair. He smoothed it down carefully before turning away from the mirror and looking out the bedroom door. There, a shadow stretched across the hallway - his fling was lingering, ready to leave and completely unaware of the significance of what he had decided to wear to the game that night.

Putting on a smile, he stepped out of the room, the scarf resting over his heart—a quiet reminder of the love that had been, and the love he had lost.

TAGLIST: @mp0625 , @starshine-hockey-girl , @wingedwheelprxncess , @kurlyteuvo , @couldawouldashoulda50

#vince dunn #vince dunn fanfic #seattle kraken #nhl fanfic #nhl rpf #nhl fanfiction #hockey rpf #hockey romance #the eras tour fic challenge #dividers by: @firefly-graphics

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swissboyhisch · 1 year ago

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Halloween Surprise

Pairing: Matthew Knies x Marner!Reader

Summary: The team's Halloween party seemed like the perfect time to reveal to everyone who you were dating.

Word Count: 2546

Warnings: Alcohol, blood, a little bit of 18+ content towards the end.

THE MASTERLIST JOIN THE TAGLIST HOCKEY DISCORD

Halloween. Your favourite holiday by far. Growing up, your parents decorated the house with tons of decorations and your mum always went all out with family costumes. When you moved to Toronto to live with your older brother and his girlfriend, you were always in charge of organising the Halloween parties or costumes.

And nothing changed. As soon as it was announced it was Mitch’s turn to host the team’s Halloween party, he came straight to you. It was your job to organise everything but luckily, since Mitch will be busy with the start of the hockey season, Steph is more than happy to help you. It would give her something to do. And it means the two of you can spend more time together.

First thing was to create a list of people who would get the invites. Then organise a time and place for the party. Mitch and Steph said they’re happy to have it at their place instead of hiring out a place. Due to game schedule conflict, the party was going to take place on the Friday before Halloween.

Once the who, what, when and where was decided, Steph and you designed the invites and sent those out as soon as possible. Next was the entertainment. You had a couple Halloween Playlists from previous parties you had hosted so you just said you would bring your audio system and set it up around the house and use Spotify. Food wise, Steph said that she was thinking the two of you make the food the couple days leading up to it. She loved to cook, and you loved to bake so it was the perfect pair. Drinks were just going to be bins with cans of alcohol and soft drink in them and pitchers of cocktails. Then it was just costumes for you guys and decorating the house and backyard.

“What are we going to dress as?” Asked Mitch as he joined the planning party of you and Steph on the couch.

You just smirk, “You two are going to be a ken and barbie variant. It fits so perfectly.”

Steph let out a squeal of excitement. It really was perfect for them. “Oh my god, yes!”

“And Auston is going to be Alan. A permanent third wheel.”

“What are you going to do?”

“It’s a surprise,” You retorted to your brother. As a fashion major, you had an endless number of options. But one in particular was the number one choice. It wasn’t hard but it was a fun one. “You’ll see at the party.”

Then it was onto planning the couple’s costumes. For Steph, you were thinking of a cute pink satin dress that stopped mid high. Low cut but not as low as you could go. A pair of cute white heels and white accessories. Her hair is in waves with pink makeup and hints of silver. A white clutch to top it off.

Mitch, luckily, will go with whatever you choose. Which is going to be matching pink pants, a white button down not fully buttoned and a pink satin scarf in the pocket. That will be made from the same fabric as the dress. His hair will be styled and maybe you can convince him to have a little makeup on.

Auston was a little harder, but he was going to be dressed in blue pants that are the same as Mitch’s and shirt striped like Alan’s sweater in the movie. A permanent third wheel who you question their involvement in a relationship.

You lived in an apartment in the city, close to where you work. Since Mitch and Steph got married, well a bit before that, you managed to find an apartment and skedaddle out of there. So, you found yourself the night before the party organising your bag full of your costume to take over to Mitch’s place early in the morning. It was late but it had to be done now and you had gone to the game against the Stars.

Your apartment's buzzer going off surprised you. No-one was expected. When you peaked at the camera footage, the familiar boy dressed in the same suit as earlier was standing there waving at the camera. You were quick to let him in and eagerly await his arrival.

“Hey,” Matt greeted as you let him into your apartment. Pressing a kiss to your lips. “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? What are you doing here at this time of night?”

He shrugged off his suit jacket and hung it up on your coat rack, “Was on my way back to John’s from the arena and thought I’d stop in.”

“And does John know where you are?” You question.

“Yes, I told him,” Matt whispers, his lips brushing against yours softly. His warm breath mixes with your own. “Don’t worry your pretty little head.”

You had to shower so despite Matt already showering at the arena he took up the opportunity to join in on your naked task. The two of you took a little longer than necessary but it was all in good fun. Now you were cuddled up in your bed with Coraline on the tv.

“Seriously?” Matt chuckles when he sees the movie title card.

You just shrugged innocently, “it’s a favourite at this time of year.”

“This time of year?” He laughs harder knowing the truth behind that statement. “You mean any time of year.”

The next morning you were up early regardless of Matt’s whining when your alarm went off. The brunette tried to keep you in bed a little longer, but you wanted to get ready and head over to Mitch’s. The boys had a morning skate so you knew Matt would have to get up anyway. No sympathy from you.

“I’ll see you tonight. You have your costume right?” You mumble.

Matt hums, pressing a reassuring kiss on your lips. “Yes, I have everything. I get dressed then just have to style my hair and splatter some blood from that bottle over my face and hands.”

“Perfect.” You pressed a kiss to his lips one final time and headed out the door. “Lock up on your way out!”

Steph and you had done most of the cooking and baking yesterday. The big decorations were already done as well, just the main decorations and little bits and pieces were to be put in place.

The drive to your brother’s went quicker than you expected. But it was welcomed as you and Mitch crossed paths; him heading to practice and you arriving. He gave you a quick hug before you retreated into the house where Steph was eagerly waiting.

“Let’s get this started,” She says excitedly, pressing play on her phone.

Halloween themed songs started playing through the music system you guys had set up the previous day. You two finished off the food first giving it time to rest and cool. Then onto decorations. Starting with the inside, you decorated the entryway, then lounge room and dining room before finishing with the backyard.

“I think we are finished,” Steph states happily, looking over the pair of you’s hard work.

With a glance at your phone, it was 3pm. Perfect time to slowly start to get ready. “I’m gonna go have a shower and start getting ready.”

“Good idea.”

You went straight to your old room that had an ensuite and started to lay out your outfit. A pair of black booty shorts, a black lace corset bra, a blood splattered white button down and a pair of fishnets. That was the basis of your costume. Then a mask that was the same as Matt’s, both lighting up blue.

First things first, shower and prep first before starting on your hair. Then onto make-up, pretty simple, before getting into your costume. The last touch was blood splattering over your make-up. When you finished getting ready, you went downstairs to make a cocktail for Steph and yourself.

“Oo, what’s on the menu?” Steph questions as she comes downstairs in her costume.

“You look so good!” Steph did a twirl for you. “Ah, I picked the perfect costume.”

At the mention of that, Mitch came down solidifying the choice. He was the perfect Ken. Complimenting Steph’s barbie. When he came into the kitchen, he looked you over. Looking at your costume. “What are you?”

“From the purge,” You answer. You poured two cocktails into nice glasses and slid it over to Steph. “Cheers to another successful Halloween.”

“Cheers.”

When you took your first sip, the doorbell rang. Mitch went to greet whichever teammate had arrived first. And knowing the team, it’s either Mitch’s boyfriend (Auston) or the captain and his wife.

“What’s up little Marns?” Auston greets as he presses a kiss to your cheek. “I like the costume.”

“Thanks Aus.”

The group all enjoyed the music that was playing and the alcohol while waiting for others. Soon Will and his girlfriend arrived dressed as Fred and Daphne from Scooby Doo. Penny joined the other two girls drinking cocktails while the boys sat around outside chatting.

“So, are you still talking to that guy?” Steph asks.

Penny immediately turns on you. “Guy? What guy?”

“Uh,” You stutter. Steph was the only person to know you were talking to a guy. But she didn’t know who he was. “Yeah, I’m still talking to the guy.”

“Who is he?”

You shrug and go to answer the door as an excuse to leave the conversation. The person knocked at the door again as you walked down the hallway.

“You will tell us sooner or later,” Steph calls from the kitchen.

The door opened to reveal Matthew, dressed exactly how you envisioned. God, he looked so good. Even with the blood splattered all over him. The brunette lifted his mask and smiled down at you. Well, more like smirked.

“Heya babe,” he muttered, making sure to peek over your shoulder before pressing a kiss to your lips.

“Hey, you look good!”

“So do you.”

You shut the door behind him and lead him through to the kitchen. As soon as Steph took in Matthew’s costume, she knew exactly who you were talking to. Her eyes lit up as she ran to hug the boy. It was the first team event for Steph to meet the rookie player.

“Hi, welcome to the team,” Steph rushes out excitedly. She looked over the pair of you and your matching costumes. “How are you liking Toronto?”

“I have a good guide,” He replies, sending a small smile to the girl beside him.

“Where’s the captain?” Mitch asks when he sees Knies.

You waited for your brother’s reaction but it seemed like it wasn’t clicking. Oh well, it will make sense at some point in his golden retriever brain.

Matt shrugs, “He and Aryne were waiting on the babysitter.”

“Ah, come join the boys out back,” Mitch suggests, already making his way outside again.

Steph lets out a chuckle, “We’ll see if it clicks for him at some point.”

Matt just shrugged again and kissed you once more and made his way to join his teammates outside on the patio. When the backdoor shut, Steph and Penny both turned and gave you a look.

“The rookie? Really?”

“He’s cute,” You argue.

The pair both agree with a laugh and start to ask you a billion questions. When did you meet him? Where? What was your first date? At the arena before a preseason game. Then he took you out for a late-night meal at a diner.

Soon the house was full of team members and staff dressed in every type of costume you could imagine. Funny, scary, awesome, iconic. You name it, someone is dressed in it. Everyone was mingling and snacking on all the things you and Steph had made during the week.

“Hey,” Matt greets as he comes up to you talking to Aryne.

Aryne smiled at the two of you dressed up together. “I love the costumes.”

“That was all her,” The brunette grinned. He pressed a kiss to your temple but soon was interrupted by a yell.

“What?!” You turn to where Mitch was standing with William and Auston. “No way.”

Steph was quick to drag Mitch inside, with the other two of the trio following suit. Luckily not many people had seen the scene created. Knowing your brother, if you and Matt delayed the conversation any longer, he’d come and drag you too in as well.

“Let’s get this over with,” You mutter, slipping your hand into Matt’s.

As soon as you stepped foot into the living room, Mitch only paid attention to the joint hands. “Oh no, no, no.” He speeds up to you two and separates you both. “Not for the life of me are you dating a hockey player.”

“Come on Mitch.”

He shook his head. “No. I told mum and dad I’d protect you when you moved out here with me.”

“Mitch, I’m not 18 anymore. I’m a big girl. I can date who I want without your permission.”

Knowing he wasn’t going to convince you, he turned on Matthew. He got up in the rookie’s face. “And you! I told you that my sister was off limits!”

Matt couldn’t get in a word before you stepped in and pushed your brother a step back. But he was quick to pull you into his side.

“Mitch,” Steph murmured.

“I’m serious about her,” Matt spoke up. “She’s perfect. Smart, beautiful, talented. She’s not your sister, she’s just her own, amazing person.”

You teared up. That last point he said was an insecurity you had shared with him. People only want to be with you because of your brother. “Matty.”

“She’s my person,” Matt stated. Making sure to look your brother in the eyes to convey how serious he was.

“Let them be Mitch,” Auston chuckles, “They like each other. If he hurts her we can beat him later.”

“Fine,” your brother huffed.

You skipped up to him and hugged him. “Thanks Mitchy. Love you!”

Without another word, you intertwined your fingers with Matt’s and dragged him to your old room.

“Door stays open!” Mitch screams when he realises where you were going.

You didn’t listen to your brother’s order though. Matt made sure to slam the door loud enough for your brother to hear it over the music. When the door was closed, Matt immediately pulled off your mask from the top of your head before kissing you hard.

“God you look so good,” He groaned “And your ass in those shorts.”

After making sure the door was locked, you pushed Matt onto the bed. First piece of clothing to come off was the button down. Revealing the lacy corset for all to see. For Matt to see.

“Damn baby.”

You giggle and dance along to the faint sound of ‘I Put A Spell On You’. Matt grabs your hips guiding you close and flipped the script, making you on the bed and leaned over you. His hand gripped onto your hip as he rubbed his hard dick against your pussy. You let out a quiet moan which only spurred the man on more.

“Yeah, I’m gonna make you scream,” He smirks.

Matthewkniews posted on Instagram!

Liked by mapleleafs, johntaveres and others

matthewknies: What a killer halloween 🔪 tagged: y/nmarner

user: Holyyyyy. This was not on my 2023 bingo card

mitchmarner: Still not over this

y/nmarner: did I ask for your opinion?

stephmarner: be nice you two

user: KNIES OMG

user: new kink unlocked Liked by y/nmarner

TAG LIST

@findapenny @mp0625 @hischierhaze @11zegras @lvrzegras @francesfarhadi @cixrosie @daisysthings

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glambyridhimathukral · 7 months ago

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herejusttosufferalong · 14 days ago

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Unpopular opinion but Nic’s makeup artist and hair need to go! They have no new ideas just the same old look. Her hair guy only does a blowout or a simple bun! Aimee also only dresses her in black now boring!

Luke’s pr team needs to go as well. Why pay a pr team to not help you at all after papgate. Fans would of advised him better!!!!!!

I have to disagree

But maybe I am just easy to please

I will say some of Nic’s WT outfits weren’t my cup of tea (Brazil and Toronto being the biggest offenders) but she looks great no matter what tbh

And well yeah, Luke has needed a better PR team for quite some time

#just my opinions btw #nicola coughlan #luke newton

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misshoneyimhome · 9 months ago

Note

Speaking of Italian flair, how would William react to seeing the reader wearing this outfit to one of his events. I can only imaging the thirsty comments on his feed https://www.instagram.com/wonder__jessy/?e=b7ed243f-bbad-4a92-ae30-1e0e25ba1243&g=5

Alrighty, so I wasn't entirely certain if this was intended for 「Dad!Willy x reader」 but since I’d written an Italian-inspired chapter, I thought it would be fitting to pair it with this 😉 Have we discussed how Lucas was created?

So, in my mind, I imagine that William and the reader get married somehwere between Eliot and Lucas, so in this part of the story, they'd be married.

Now, this dress speaks for itself, babe! The reader will undoubtedly turn heads and more in this outfit - and let's be honest, when she struts in looking like that, William will definitely be eager to resume the baby-making activities!

Warnings; well, baby-making activities; smut 18+; fingering, unprotected sex (obviously...), daddy!kink, mention of oral sex;

Word count; 3.3K

Credit

➼｡ﾟ

That's Amore I William Nylander

Amidst the whirlwind of emotions and adjustments that came with new parenthood, you found yourself navigating a path filled with both love and uncertainty. The journey following pregnancy had been turbulent, marked by a flurry of emotions and changes as you embraced your new role as a mother. In the midst of it all, your steadfast companion, William Nylander, stood by your side, offering unwavering support in the middle of the storm.

Recognising the need for a break and rejuvenation, William had arranged a surprise that would forever alter the course of your journey together. A trip to Florence, Italy—a city steeped in history, romance, and the promise of fresh beginnings. Just the two of you, embarking on a journey of rediscovery amidst the timeless beauty of the Italian landscape.

Under the Tuscan sun, you found solace and joy in each other's company once more. Away from the pressures of daily life, William's tender gestures and constant presence helped alleviate the burden of uncertainty, allowing you to embrace your new identity with confidence and grace.

And as you bid farewell to the enchanting country that had witnessed the rekindling of your love, you returned to Toronto, your hearts filled with newfound joy and a sense of belonging. Reuniting with your son Eliot, you realised that amidst life's chaos, your true home resided in each other's arms.

Now almost two years had passed since Eliot's birth, and life had settled into a comforting routine once more. You found yourself back at work, stronger and more resilient than ever. However, tonight was not just another ordinary evening—it was a special occasion, one that would add a new chapter to your love story.

As you prepared for the Leafs' charity event, excitement bubbled within you, mingled with a hint of nervous anticipation. Eliot was in the care of your parents for the evening, granting you and William a rare opportunity to enjoy a night out together.

Standing in the doorframe William's reaction spoke volumes, drowning out the clamour of the fans from last night's match.

The instant you completed the final touches to your hair, makeup, and outfit for the evening's event, his jaw fell open.

"Wow, älskling…" he murmured, utterly captivated as you stood before him, stealing his breath away. You slipped on your silky black gloves, the finishing flourish to your elegant ensemble.

You had opted for a very classic, Italian-inspired dress, as black as midnight, perfectly embracing your figure and accentuating every curve. The low heart neckline revealed your décolletage while maintaining a classy look with sleeves draped over your shoulders, revealing just enough skin to exude sensuality without being overly revealing. The final touch was a pair of black and red heels, adding height and enhancing a strong, feminine expression.

Tonight, you felt incredibly empowered.

And the sight of William's partially open mouth as he gazed at you through the mirror only fuelled the fire within you.

"You know, it's not very polite to stare and drool," you chuckled lightly as you admired your reflection, then met William's eyes in the mirror.

Shaking his head, he responded with a chuckle of his own. "Can't help it, baby, you look absolutely amazing," William grinned, taking a step closer, tenderly wrapping his arms around you, his head gently resting on your shoulder as he planted a tender kiss on your bare skin. "Min vracka kvinna."

You couldn’t help but smile at his heartfelt words.

Throughout the years you and William had been together, he consistently made you feel like the most special woman in the world. His openness and unabashed affection for you were truly wonderful. Even during your darkest moments of self-doubt, he never hesitated to remind you of your incredible worth. He would express not only your physical beauty and allure but also your strength and admirable qualities. He'd often spend hours extolling your virtues, emphasising what an exceptional mother you were to his son and insisting that you were out of his league and far too good for him.

Of course, you found such notions ridiculous. In your eyes, William was the one who was beyond compare. While you were indeed a strong and independent woman, capable of taking care of yourself and pursuing your ambitions, William always made you feel even more empowered.

His unwavering support, especially considering his demanding career, was truly remarkable. Despite the differences in your professional lives, he always found a way to be your pillar of strength during difficult times, just as you were for him.

Through every high and low in his hockey career, you stood by him as his steadfast supporter. Whether he needed a shoulder to lean on during tough times or a friend to celebrate with during triumphs, you were always there.

This mutual support and unwavering dedication had transformed your relationship from mere acquaintances to close friends, then to devoted and deeply connected lovers, and now to parents. With each passing day, your connection grew stronger and more profound. In simple terms, William was your soulmate.

And on a night like tonight, there was no doubt as you both entered the venue, dressed in coordinated Italian mafia-inspired style.

William looked dashing in his dark blue pinstriped suit, a look you always admired on him. His mane of hair was freshly washed and styled, elegantly tamed to match his rugged scruff, while his chain necklace hung perfectly, and a few masculine rings adorned his fingers along with his wedding ring.

Together, you emitted an aura of power and sophistication.

And as the MLSE charity event unfolded, you mingled with ease, catching up with acquaintances while enjoying the delightful champagne. The atmosphere sparkled with elegance and excitement, and you couldn't help but feel that your attire was perfectly suited for the occasion.

Standing in front of the cameras, a place you still felt somewhat unfamiliar with, William held you close. Yet to your comfort, his calm demeanour rubbed off on you as he wrapped his arm around your waist, drawing you nearer.

William couldn't help but notice that you looked like you stepped straight out of the 'House of Gucci' movie – your sparkling eyes and confident posture, exuding nothing but elegance. He had to steal a moment to admire your incredible style and the effortless grace with which you posed, almost like a professional model, causing a wide smile to spread across his face as he proudly displayed the woman by his side to the flashing lights.

And as you both walked away from the scene, blinking to readjust your vision, you couldn't help but remark, "Bloody hell, I'll never get used to those flashlights," with a light chuckle. William joined in your laughter, experiencing the same white spots in his vision.

"Well, you looked stunning, babe," he complimented as you made your way back to the group of players and their significant others. "And I'm sure those cameras felt the same way when you dazzled them."

Pausing for a moment, you glanced up at your husband, who wore a proud grin, clearly pleased with his smooth remark.

"Someone's quite the smooth talker tonight," you teased, raising an eyebrow playfully, sensing a mischievous air.

And as always, William simply chuckled and pulled you closer, his hands resting on your lower back, encouraging you to wrap yours around his neck.

"You make it so easy for me, baby..." he whispered flirtatiously. "The way you look so incredibly beautiful, this dress, these gloves... and your smile, älskling, it melts my heart every time."

You found yourself slightly taken aback by his sudden outpouring of words. Typically, your husband excelled in charming you through his actions rather than verbal expressions. His love language leaned heavily towards physical affection.

However, tonight was different. Words seemed to flow effortlessly from him. Throughout the event, he whispered sweet compliments in your ear, expressing how breathtakingly beautiful you looked and how proud he was to have you by his side. And each time, he left you speechless.

William was undoubtedly aware of his actions. Over the years, he had come to understand his natural charm and ability to sweep you off your feet with smiles and touches. Yet, it wasn't until after your trip to Italy that he realised the importance of articulating his thoughts. Since then, he had been practicing putting his deep emotions into meaningful words.

You felt a swell of emotions. Your husband had been incredibly sweet all night, showcasing his gentlemanly side in public. However, you knew just as well as anyone that behind that polished exterior, William possessed a mischievous and playful streak - both in public and in private. And as soon as you rode in the cab back home, his lips were on your neck, peppering it with butterfly kisses, his arm wrapped around you while his hand subtly explored your thigh, sliding just beneath the hem of your dress.

"Mmm… can't wait to get home and take this off you," he murmured seductively against your skin, sending a delicious shiver down your spine.

Your fingers played with his semi-long locks, tugging him closer as you closed your eyes softly, surrendering to his touch. "I thought you liked the dress," you teased playfully, prompting William to pull back slightly, and your eyes opened to meet his.

"Oh baby, I love this dress… but I like you naked more," he chuckled darkly before leaning in to capture your lips in a passionate kiss. Your hands glided smoothly to his neck, pulling him closer, signalling your mutual desire as the cab navigated through the late February night in Toronto.

The atmosphere in the backseat grew almost too steamy, but before long, you arrived at your apartment building. William paid the driver, bidding him goodnight, before escorting you inside, adjusting his crotch in his trousers along the way.

It was clear that your deep yearning for each other was palpable. With a child-free evening ahead and both of you exuding true high fashion and confidence, you swiftly found yourselves entwined in each other's embrace as soon as you entered your home. A trail of William's discarded clothes—shoes, blazer, shirt, and trousers—led to the large dining table in the open kitchen.

And as you reached the end of the long mahogany table, William spun you around with your back against his chest, his hands firmly gripping your hips as he pulled your hair to one side and kissed the crook of your neck.

Leaning on the table, supported by your silky-covered arms, you surrendered yourself to his magical touch, your mind blissfully consumed by his enchantment. William's mouth worked wonders, skilfully exploring every inch of your sensitive skin below and behind your ear, leaving you utterly weak for him.

As his hands roamed over the curves of your body, his fingertips eventually found the zipper on your back. With delicate precision, he dragged it down, gradually exposing more and more of your skin, his lips never leaving you, moving around to lavish equal attention to your other side.

And as the dress fell, revealing your naked breasts and black lacy knickers, he could feel himself growing firm and hard in his boxers.

Stepping out of the pooled fabric around your feet, you kicked it aside.

"Leave the gloves and heels on," William commanded roughly against your skin, his hands finding your breasts to offer a gentle massage as his mouth sought yours in fervent kisses.

Unable to form a coherent reply, you simply met him halfway in the heated moment, pushing your backside into his crotch, eliciting a whimper from you as you felt his hardness pressing against you.

Understanding your eager signal, William broke the kiss to remove his last piece of clothing, revealing his hard and proud shaft. His palms then caressed your buttocks as he muttered under his breath, "You're so sexy," while slowly sliding your underwear down.

You couldn't help but smile as your husband admired your body from behind you, but the desire for more of his touch was overwhelming. Stepping out of your knickers and spreading your legs a little further apart, you silently urged him on.

"So needy, baby," William huskily whispered, yet he didn't hesitate to comply. Letting his fingers slowly trace down between your cheeks, he found your heat, gently exploring your moist folds.

"Yes, Willy…" you gasped as he carefully stimulated your sensitive core. "Mmm… feels so good…"

A smirk played across William's lips as he observed your body yielding to his touch, your head tilting forward slightly, eyes shut tight. As he circled your clit, a moan slipped from your lips, your fingers lightly gripping the wood beneath you.

William knew every inch of your body intimately, knowing just how to stimulate each curve and corner to send you into ecstasy, and tonight he had every intention of doing just that. As his fingers danced over your nerves and soft moans grew louder, he sought your entrance and gently eased two digits inside.

"Oh yes!" you exclaimed, letting your head fall forward even more as William stretched your walls, pumping his fingers slowly, skilfully curving them to hit your sensitive spot. "Please, Willy," you pleaded, feeling a knot of pleasure forming in your lower stomach and your legs beginning to tremble.

"Mmm… That's it, baby… come for me, cum for daddy," he whispered, increasing the speed of his pumps, the wetness of your cunt sounding with each motion.

Your breaths became erratic as William continued to stimulate your core, bringing the orgasm closer and closer, your mind entering a euphoric state. Your fingers clenched the table, and your legs tightened as the climax approached. And with a few more pumps, you finally reached the peak, tossing your hair back and arching your back as waves of pleasure coursed through your body.

William smiled as he felt your walls clench around his fingers, your cunt pulsating with pleasure as he gently continued to stimulate you through the high. "Good girl," he praised softly before carefully withdrawing his fingers, causing juices to slowly trickle down your inner thighs.

After catching your breath once the orgasm had subsided, your anticipation for more still tingling, you watched as William gently stroked his throbbing member a few times. Using his arm to pull you back against him, he shared a sloppy kiss with you, filled with nothing but lust and desire. Amidst hungry moans and deep breaths, William's hands roamed all over your body, his throbbing cock ready for further pleasure. However, you halted him as he was about to proceed.

"Willy, we need a condom," you gasped between moans, but William simply brushed off your concern.

"Actually, älskling," he hummed against your skin, "I want to make another baby…"

Though a small part of you wanted to object, you found yourself mesmerised by his touch and kisses on your neck, the desire to bear his child again overwhelming you. Nodding in consent, you let him turn you around, sharing another passionate kiss as you sealed the deal for a new addition to the family.

The moment took a more romantic turn, yet William showed no hesitation as he lifted you onto the table, spreading your legs wide for him as he lined the tip of his cock with your entrance.

It was already dripping with pre-cum, as he gently pressed it into your tight hole, a feeling he’d been longing for a while. Not that you never had sex, but with a toddler and an NHL schedule, it wasn’t as often as it used to be. And when you had sex, he usually had to wear a condom or use his best pull out game as you weren’t on any birth control. But tonight, he could let loose.

Thrusting deeply into your warmth, your moans reverberated throughout the room in unison. Your hands instinctively found their place on the back of his neck, while he held onto your hips for support.

"Mmm... yeah, this is all mine," William moaned, his hips swaying gently as he withdrew slightly before sliding back in. And soon, he found the familiar rhythm that brought you both pleasure.

With each thrust, his hips slapped against yours, occasionally meeting your lips in fleeting moments amidst the symphony of moans. It was a passionate, intimate exchange, reflecting the depth of your connection. Locked in a gaze, your eyes conveyed everything before closing in anticipation of the impending climax.

"Oh yes, Willy... you feel so good," you moaned, your voice growing louder with each thrust. Sensing your heightened pleasure, William increased his pace, driving into you with more force, sending waves of ecstasy through your body. "Oh god!"

And as William felt his own release drawing near, he surrendered to the desire to bring you both to the peak of pleasure. His movements became more fervent, his grip on your hips tightening as he pressed his forehead against yours. "Fuck, babe... can't hold back... I need to... fill you up," he grunted deeply, lost in the throes of passion.

"Yes, Willy... I'm about to come too... fill me up," you moaned in response, and with just a few more thrusts, both of you released deep breaths and satisfied sounds as you reached climax together, your minds clouded, and your visions blurred from the ecstasy.

Basking in the warmth of your bodies, you remained connected for a few more moments, ensuring William's seed was securely planted.

Smiles adorned both your faces as you slowly disentangled, returning to reality, and relishing the intensity and beauty of the moment. Locking eyes once again, you shared a tender kiss, followed by a light chuckle.

"Can't believe we're going for baby number two," you smiled, still holding onto William's neck.

"I can," he chuckled softly. "Can't wait to see you pregnant again..."

"Easy there, tiger," you chuckled, gently stepping off the table. "I know last time happened quickly, but we might have to try several times before we succeed," you reasoned, aware that conception wasn't always as straightforward as hoped. You knew too many women who struggled to conceive despite trying tirelessly, while others seemed to fall pregnant just by looking at an erect penis.

Strolling around still sporting a grin, William gently enveloped you in his arms once more. "So, you're suggesting we might need to have sex over and over again just to ensure you actually get pregnant?" he chuckled deeply, exaggerating a mockingly puzzled expression with his playful jest.

Catching onto the banter, you chuckled in response. "Well, yes – I'm afraid we might have to repeat the process until we get it right, and perhaps even a little afterward, given that sex is beneficial during pregnancy."

"Oh, well in that case," William raised a mischievous eyebrow, "how about we hop in the shower, and I'll take special care of you before we continue with round two?"

You couldn't help but grin widely at his flirtatious remark, well aware of his proficiency with his mouth, and naturally, you couldn't refuse.

Thus, with a sensual and thoroughly enjoyable shower, you both cleaned up from the passionate sex before retiring to bed, too exhausted from the night's excitement to entertain the idea of a second round just yet. However, the following morning, before your parents returned with Eliot, William made love to you twice.

The first time was a gentle and unhurried encounter, as you both slowly awakened from your slumber, wrapped in each other's arms, delicately caressing one another, and exchanging passionate kisses.

The second round, however, occurred about an hour later, after you had enjoyed a delicious breakfast following your morning exercise, and William had seen the photos from the previous night's event.

You looked absolutely stunning in your attire, exuding strength and confidence, which ignited his desire to undress you once more and hold you close. His cock immediately twitched din his boxers as he studied the photos from the online article about the event, and thinking that everyone knew you were his, only fuelled his lust within. So, just a few minutes before your parents rang the doorbell, William opted for a quicker, more intense session, filled with passion and urgency.

#my asks #dad!willy #william nylander imagine #toronto maple leafs imagine #wn88 imagine #nhl hockey imagine

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cuttergauthier · 1 year ago

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New Leaf | Two

Au Summary: In which a hockey sister falls for her enemy who also happens to be her brother's new teammate. Yn Matthews and Matthew Knies never got along, what happens when Matthew becomes a Maple Leaf.

Matthew Knies x Matthews au

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN

Social Media | Real Life

National Hockey League | Toronto Maple Leaf

Word Count: 1.8k

Au's Masterlist

Warning: This Story will contain Mature Language, Alcohol consumption, Against, fluff, Time jumps

I woke up at 7 a.m. so I could take a shower and have time to get ready.

Tomorrow, Matthew is going to be making his NHL debut. I talked to his brother last night, he said he was going to be in town at around 8 a.m. He said he would take an uber to my apartment before going to see his brother. The boys have an early morning practice today with the rest of the day off.

I know sooner rather than later I have to tell my brother about the fact that I know Matthew’s family. I’m so excited yet nervous to see the Knies family in Toronto I can’t even let myself worry about my brother right now.

I went and took a shower, once I was done, I curled my hair and did some natural makeup. I decided to wear some black washed high waisted skinny jeans with a beige long sleeve scoop neck bodysuit. Once I was done getting ready it’s 8:15 a.m. i texted Phil to see if he was on his way.

Yn: have you guys landed yet?

Phil: Yes, i’m on my way to your place right now!

Yn: Perfect, i’m making myself some breakfast, do you want some?

Phil: Yes please, i’m starving!

Yn: You got it, see you soon!

I put my phone on the kitchen counter before making my way to the fridge. I opened the door and grabbed some eggs and an avocado. I made my way to the oven and started cooking the eggs. I put two pieces of toast in the toaster, one for me and one for Phil. Once they were ready I mashed the avocado and put it on the two pieces of the toast before putting the egg on top. As I was about to sit down to eat there was a knock on the door. I walked over and opened the door. Phil was standing there smiling.

“Hey Yn, I missed you” he said before wrapping me in a hug.

“I missed you too Phil, come in, I made avocado toast.” I said smiling.

“Yum.” he said as I closed the door and we made our way to the kitchen.

I put his plate on the table and he sat down.

“Do you want anything to drink?” i asked.

“Water please.” he said, i chuckled.

I went to the fridge and grabbed him a bottle of water.

“Thank you” he said when i give it to him.

“You’re welcome.”

We ate in silence, once we were done i put our empty plates in the sink and we both made our way to the living room and sat down on the couch.

“So I need to ask you something,” he said nervously.

I looked at him, raising my eyebrows.

“Oh no, is it bad?” i ask

“Depends how you look at it”

“What is it?”

“My parents are taking Matty out for dinner later on, they want you to join us, they miss you”

“Oh god” I groaned.

“Will you join us?”

“Yeah, but only because I miss your parents, if Matthew gets on my nerves I'm leaving.” I said seriously.

“Perfect and don’t worry he’ll be fine, especially since it’s with my parents” he said and i nodded.

“Does he know you’re here right now?” i ask.

“No, i didn’t tell him but i know he had practice this morning”

“True… what time are we going to dinner with your parents?”

“5:30, Then my parent’s want to explore Toronto with him and who better to show us around then you” he said smirking.

I rolled my eyes.

“Fine, I guess it can be that bad right?” i said

“Nope you’re going to have fun” he said, making me chuckle.

Phil left earlier to go to John Tavares’ house, that’s apparently where Matthew is staying, I told him I would meet them at the restaurant.

I am currently studying a little bit before I have to leave. My phone rang next to me, i looked to see that my brother texted me.

Auston: Are you busy later?

I stared at the text nervously, what do I tell him? I can’t exactly lie to him. But if he didn’t know about me knowing Matthew he’s going to now.

Yn: Going out to dinner! Why?

Auston: with who? And I wanted to see if you wanted to come over.

Yn: with a friend and his family, they want to explore Toronto after dinner, i thought i would since i’ve been living here for 2 years.

Auston: HIS?!?! Who is he? Is he not from Toronto? How do you know him? Please tell me it’s not a hockey player?

Yn: His name is Phil, HE is just a friend, no he’s not from here, yes he plays hockey but not in the NHL, you do know his brother thought.

Auston: How do you know this guy? And where does he play? Who’s his brother?

Yn: Stop being so overprotective, he’s from Arizona, he currently plays for a team in Slovakia.

Auston: Oh, so you went to high school with him? And you didn’t answer my question!

Yn: not exactly 5 years older than me, but he’s a good guy. We have a lot of the same friends back home, his brother is the same age as me. He and I have the same group of friends!

Auston: You still didn’t answer my question, who’s his brother?

Yn: He’s your new teammate, Knies.

Auston: YOU’RE FRIENDS WITH KNIES?!?!

Yn: Not exactly… he has all the same friends, but he and I aren’t exactly close, but yeah i guess.

Auston: Why the hell did you never tell me this before?

Yn: It’s not like it was a secret, I honestly thought you knew… he’s in some of my pictures on insta with our friends, i just never tagged him.

Auston: You are lucky that i love you… you still should have told me when he got drafted.

Yn: I know… i’m sorry.

Auston: he better not hurt you, or i’ll hurt him!

Yn: his brother and parents love me, they would put him in his place if he ever hurt me, you don’t have to worry!

After I answered him I saw it was now 4:30 p.m. so I put my stuff away and grabbed my purse and leather jacket since it’s still a little chilly outside and made my way to my car.

I didn’t want to be stuck in traffic so I made my way to the restaurant earlier.

I got stuck in a little bit of traffic so by the time I arrived at the restaurant it was 5:20 p.m. I’m 10 minutes early so I texted Phil to see if they are already here.

Yn: Are you guys here yet? I just parked.

Phil: Yes we just got here, just tell the waitress, my mom made a reservation it’s under knies.

Yn: Perfect on my way!

I got out of the car and made my way inside. The waitress looked at me and smiled.

“Hey, welcome to (Restaurant) do you have a reservation?” she asked nicely.

“Yes, it’s under Knies,” I said.

“Perfect, right this way” she said.

She led me to the table. When Michaela, Phil and Matthew’s mom saw me, she smile happily and got up to give me a hug.

“It’s so good to see you sweetheart, I missed you so much” she whispered in my ear.

“It’s so good to see you too, I missed you guys”

When she let me go, their dad wrapped me in a hug.

“I’m happy that you could join us” he said.

“Same here”

He let me go and we all sat down.

We ordered our food and talked.

“How’s university?” Michaela asked.

“It’s good, I only have one exam left and i’ll be done with my second year.” I said smiling.

“When is it?”

“Tomorrow morning” I said, her eyes wide.

“I hope we aren’t keeping you from studying,'' she said worriedly.

I chuckled. Matthew was staring at me.

“No, I've been studying non-stop. I need a break, so being here is perfect,"I said smiling.

“Good, you shouldn’t be overworking yourself”

“Matthew, are you excited for tomorrow?” I asked him, and he looked surprised that I actually talked to him.

“Yeah, but also nervous” He said

“You’ll be fine bro” Phil said, patting his back.

“The guys will have your back, you’ll be fine” I said, smiling softly. He gave me a smile and nodded.

Once we ate, we made our way into downtown Toronto, I showed them around. Once it was getting late, they made their way to their hotel. Matthew stopped me before I was able to leave.

I turned around and looked at him confused, he doesn’t like me so why would he want to be alone with me?

“Can we talk alone for a few minutes?” he asked.

I nodded slowly. We started walking on the sidewalk, he didn’t say anything.

“Are you going to say whatever you wanted to say?” I asked.

He sighed before his hand made its way to his hair.

“Just so you know, if you don’t feel the same way we can go back to hating each other” he said making me really confused, what the hell was he going to say?

I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

He took a deep breath before blurting out his feelings.

“I like you, like a lot… I just can’t keep hiding how I feel. I wanted to tell you last summer before I left for Minnesota but I never got the chance. I know this is probably the worst time to tell you since I’m about to be your brother’s teammate, but I really needed you to know.” He said.

I stared at him with wide eyes. My mouth kept opening and closing, I didn’t know what to say. I like him too but I just thought he hated me. Matt looked really nervous looking at me, he started shaking his head.

“Look, just forget I ever said anything, we can go back to hating each other… I’m going to go” he said and he turned around to walk away, I snapped out of it. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to me before smashing our lips together. Matt just stood there in shock before realizing what was happening before he started kissing me back.

Our lips moved in sync, Matt moved his hands on my waist and pulled me closer to him.

We pulled away breathing heavily, our foreheads touching, Matt smiled down at me.

“Does this mean you feel the same way?” he asked, smirking, I chuckled.

“Yes it does.” I replied smiling.

“Does this mean that I can take you out on a date after the game tomorrow night?” he asked

“I’d love that, but maybe we shouldn’t tell my brother right away since he doesn’t even know we know each other” I said and he nodded.

“Good idea,” he said.

We made plans for our date tomorrow before I made my way home.

That night I went to bed with the biggest smile on my face.

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equallyshaw · 1 year ago

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𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓲𝓷 𝓻𝓮𝓭 | 𝓶𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝔃𝓪𝓵 𝓪𝓾 ↠ love at first sight! ↠ au masterlist!

↠ warnings: none? ↠ word count: 2.3K +

when sydney told olivia that they'd be hosting the team's new years party that year, olivia was not too thrilled. she was looking rather forward to spending the night out on the town, but once sydney demanded her sister's presence that evening; she'd be getting it come hell or highwater. it was around 7 pm when she heard music beginning to play, throughout the house and sighed. she had just finished her makeup and hair for the evening, and quickly sent a few texts out to her best friends naomi and nastia, who were in california and chicago that evening. sydney propped open her door just a bit, "can you watch the girls for a few minutes?" and with that olivia turned around with a huge grin on her face with her hands open wide for her two nieces for them to run towards her. she picked both of them up and pretended to eat them, causing them to shriek loudly bringing a smile to sydney's face.

⋆｡ °✩

it was two hours later, and after many many rounds of playing barbies with the two girls- she was relieved by another wag for a bit to grab a drink. she sighed loudly and playfully, once she reached the kitchen counter where matt and sydney were talking with another player. "god! they are so mini you's." she teased while opening up a seltzer, to which matt laughed loudly. "they are a mini syd." he joked, causing sydney to slap his arm playfully. "you are off babysitting duty for the night, i promise." sydney mused passing a small plate snacks,f from the charcuterie board. "good. i could use the night off every once in awhile." she joked, causing the two parents to laugh and tease her relentlessly. "oh! you need a night off?" both sydney and matt joked, causing her to giggle. "why yes!" she hummed, before taking her plate and drink towards the living room. she quickly made her way over towards grace - anders lee's wife and holly, bo horvat's wife. "hey!" grace beemed, pulling the red head into a small hug. "hi holls!" grace said hugging holly as well, "what have i missed?" she grinned sipping some of her drink. "oh lets fill you in!" grace joked, and the three went into catching up mode.

this was the first time in a few years that olivia had made it home for the holidays, her father and mother had been visiting her for the past four plus years while she had been at school in los angeles. she hadn't come back for much of her breaks, besides the off-season, because she was a sucker for new england summers.

she was engrossed in a long conversation when mat had shown up at the party. he greeted some teammates, and their partners before he saw the infamous red head that was never to be found. since matt had been traded from toronto, he had yet to see olivia in the flesh.

oh, how he could not bare to look away.

⋆｡ °✩

it was around 11 when mat had finally worked up the courage to say hi and introduce himself. the two found themselves in the kitchen grabbing some refreshment replacements, and snacking on some more appetizers. "you're olivia right?" mat asked as the two hadn't said anything to each other for a few minutes. she looked up from her phone, and nodded. "yes. and you are?" she questioned looking at mat. she had never seen him before, and she could see the somewhat arrogance oozing off of him. he looked at her, taking in her blue eyes. god, mat knew he was officially gone - even if she hadn't spoken more than a few words to him.

"im mat." he said not moving from where he stood, a few feet away from her. she nodded giving him a small nod, "nice to meet you mat." she said respectfully. he nodded, continuing to look at her as he sipped his amber looking drink. "this is the first time I've see you before, what got you over to the east coast?" he said somewhat teasing, somewhat seriously. she sipped her drink before responding, "well, I've been in los angeles at ucla for the past four years. i graduated in 2022, but haven't had a chance to come back since the summertime. which meant you weren't here." she mirroring his tone. he tsked his tongue, "such a shame. I've heard a lot about you, and how fun you are." he said grinning. "oh really? i am just enough fun, thankyou." she hummed, "a respectable amount." she teased cocking her head to the side just a bit. "interesting. but seriously, syd and matt always said that you're welcome but that you never take up their offer?" he questioned, sipping more of his drink.

the fucking nerve of this dude, she thought.

"well, thats not really your business is it?" she questioned slyly. he chuckled as she sighed, knowing he was not giving up. "since my parents moved to california full time, i really don't have a huge reason to come back here. besides, long island is their home. not mine." she said truthfully, "besides, its not like i can leave los angeles whenever i feel like it. i have work there, that i have to tend to." she said shifting her feet. "oh really? what kind of work, anything interesting?" he questioned, actually interested. she nodded, "i have a boutique jewelry shop that i run with my mom. im actually here on business, we are interested in opening up another shop in the hamptons actually." she said feeling the shift in the conversation. the tense conversation turning to genuine. "oh really? that's actually really cool." he said and she nodded, "yep." she said a bit too short, than she had anticipated. "whats it called, like the name?" he questioned. she smiled, "it's called greenwich jewels." she said. "i think that's the first smile you've had since this conversation started." she rolled her eyes. "there you go, ruining the vibe." she said chuckling just a bit. "me?" he teased, "yes! just when i thought that you were actually being nice and interested, you go and ruin it with your demeanor and your sarcastic tone." she said shaking her head, and mat was eating this interaction all up.

when he didn't respond, and all but continued to stare at her, she scoffed. "you're unbearable, guess all the rumors i've heard have been true." she chastised, before turning to leave. "oh? you have heard of me, huh?" he questioned, trying to get her to not leave. she froze, turning towards him just a bit, "unfortunately." she grimaced before leaving the kitchen.

⋆｡ °✩

she was on facetime with kappy, around 11:50 while she was in the office on the first floor. she needed a few minutes by herself and then kappy called, and it was good timing. "yeah barzal is an animal, definitely a jerk." he said and that made olivia laughed loudly. "are you sure you didn't describe yourself?" she teased, and he flipped her off in the process. "but seriously, when are you coming to st louis red?" he questioned and she shrugged. "do i seriously have to wait until the off-season?" he questioned, and she shrugged again. "ill let you know." she said truthfully. he nodded, "but you're the CEO you make your own schedule i thought?" he said causing her to laugh loudly again. "alrighty kap, hush." she said rubbing her face softly, holding back a giggle. " ill call you in a few days?" she questioned and kappy nodded, "happy new years red." he smiled, to which she mirroed. "happy new years kappy." she hummed, before ending the facetime. she plopped her phone onto the white desk in front of her, as she stretched her body out. she was ready to go to bed, and knew she'd be taking the two little ones to bed shortly at 12; and give their parents some time without the little ones.

her head whipped to the door, as it squeked open. she rolled her eyes as she scowled. mat smirked, stepping into the room. "if you wanted privacy for our new years kiss, you should have just said so. i had to search the whole house like a sleuth." he said amused. she scoffed, turning back towards him. "what is your problem?" she demanded, as her phone began to go off. the both of them looked towards her phone that was still on the desk, and 'zeeeegrass' flashed on the screen. she gave mat a glare, as she picked up her phone. she swiped to accept, and saw the lovely dirty blonde fill her screen. "hi z." she said looking up at mat who only leaned against the door, still staring at her. "yo! when are you back home again?" he questioned and olivia tore her glare from mat to trevor. "seriously z? i've told you how many times?" she said a tad bit annoyed, "oh woah, who pissed you off?" he asked animated. she giggled, "you'd never guess." she said monotoned. trevor grinned, "let me guess, matty said some bad jokes." and that made olivia laughed. "no, but i wish it had been that." she said truthfully, "but ill be back on the 7th." she followed up. "cool cool well happy new years ginger, but i gotta go. jacks calling me." and she felt the blood drain from her face. "oh. nice. well happy new years z." she said, now desperately trying to get off the phone. "alsooooo, my new years resolution is to figure out what happened between the two of you in the hamptons, will i have that resolution granted?" he teased, and she shook her head no before hanging up. she stood up now, feeling somewhat nauseous, and wanted to desperately hide her face from the world.

"please let me go mat." she said looking at the ground, as mat had not moved from the door. she looked up at him now, and crossed her arms. "id like to leave, without making a scene." she said unenthused. he grinned, "now i gotta know...what did happen between the two of you, huh?" he teased taking his arm off the door, and took a step closer towards the redhead. she shook her head, "none of your business- again." she chastised. he chuckled a bit, "if you tell me, ill tell you a secret." he said enticingly but she gave him a disgusted look. "you're actually crazy, mat. wild." she said as she heard the group outside beginning to count down from 12. he stepped right in front of her, invading her space. she could feel the heat and arrogance radiating off of him, making her shiver with a chill. "mat.." she trailed off as he leaned in, pausing just before his lips would have met hers. he smirked, staring straight into her blue eyes.

she swallowed harshly, as she looked down at his lips. as soon as they heard 'one' from the other room, mat swiftly took hold of her by placing his hands on her lower back while simultaneously kissing her. her hands instinctively went to his face, to hold on to him in some way. his hand began to move down further before she realized that she had been kissing him back. she pulled back, not meeting his eye. without saying a word or looking at him, she moved past him and out of the room. as soon as she was halfway down the hallway, she placed a soft finger on her rosy lips. she cursed herself on how vulnerable she had been, and how much she liked the kiss. but she hated the guy. she quickly filtered herself into the living room seeing sydney and matt with the two girls, and olivia kneeled down to them to hug the two. "who's ready for bed?!" she said and the girls shook their heads, and jumped up and down. "i thought we said no sugar past 9:30?" she questioned looking up at sydney, and then the both of them looked at matt. he put his hands up in innocence, causing the two sisters to laugh. "you guys enjoy the rest of the evening, im gonna head up with these two." she said grabbing ahold of their hands, and the three of them headed upstairs. as she picked up the youngest one at the base of the stars, she saw mat coming back into the living room. the two froze momentarily before olivia broke eye contact, and headed upstairs.

while she headed upstairs, mat went to go say by the hostess'. "mat! happy new years, darling." sydney said pulling the younger hockey player in for a hug. she left an arm on his shoulder, as they turned towards matt. "thanks for the hospitality, but im gonna head out. a bit more tired than i had anticipated." he said and the couple nodded. "lets walk you out. but first, take some desserts!" sydney said pulling mat towards the kitchen, along with matt.

matt for the rest of the night, could not shake the red head and even acknowledged that he may have gone too far. he realized that that he might have been a jerk, at some points. though the girl would argue, it was the whole time. even as he drove towards his apartment where his ex was waiting for him, he couldn't shake the girl. he cursed himself, once he realized he wanted to see her again. even if in the capacity he did not totally want.

but he knew one thing, he was smitten.

back upstairs a little while later, as the two girls were tucked in and read to sleep; olivia headed towards her room that the two young ones had dubbed 'tie tie's room', because it was right across from theirs. she laid down on her back, looking up at the white ceiling that was straight out of the gilded age. her thoughts were running a mile a minute, she hated mat and wished she would have slapped him. slap that stupid but attractive smirk off of his face. no, she despised that arrogant and cunning canadian. she turned over on her stomach and screamed into the comforter. she needed to get back to california without seeing him, or else she might hurt his feelings.

no, she'd kill him.

hope you all enjoyed! please like and reblog if you did (:

tags: @toasttt11 @cillianthinker

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thefrontofmymind · 1 year ago

Text

ex!reader x matty healy ig blurb

FC: Heather Baron-Gracie

a/n: added on blurb

~~~

rass1975 via instagram stories:

yninstagram via instagram stories:

~~~

yninstagram we look kewl

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ynfan1 OMG YN AND MATTYYYYY

ynfriend sexy beasts xxx

>trumanblack thanks xxx

ynfan2 the goth council has come together to decide all our fates

bedforddanes pale bitches x

>yninstagram ill fuck u up

trumanblack im cool. yn did my makeup, its cool.

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1975fan1 i am frothing at the mouth rn

yninstagram fit

1975fan2 i so wish i was at this party it looks so cool

rass1975 Yeah yeah. You look cool get over it

yninstagram shut up i'm busy

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ynfan1 so prettyyyyy

ynfan2 I LOVE THIS

trumanblack fit

>yninstagram didn’t i just fucking tell you to shut up?

1975ynfan1 ok loving this tension,,,,

1975ynfan2 wait is that matty’s guitar???

>1975fan1 OMG I THINK YOURE RIGHT

nme Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Dirty Hit Records ushers in a new era, with the addition of YN on their roster. This news comes after apparent months of negotiation (and close friend of Matty Healy on her side!) New interview in our next issue!

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1975ynfan1 this has totally convinced me that theyre together why tf would they do a whole photoshoot together if they weren’t

ynfan1 am i the only one who doesn’t like the way they worded this? Like she’s such a good artist, the fact that she’s friends with Matty doesn’t mean anything! She got that record deal on her own merit

1975ynfan2 omg they both look so hot in this

1975fan1 goth parents

yninstagram throwback to when we were allowed outside

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ynfan1 where are you quarantining queen???

>yninstagram with a close friend babyyyy

ynfan2 so sad you had to postpone the tour :((( i was going to toronto

ynfan3 will the new album be postponed too??

>yninstagram hopefully not. Still set for later on in the year ❤️❤️

ynundates yn today performing at Reading Festival!!!

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ynfan1 ok so we haven’t seen her in TWO YEARS and she’s back and a platinum blonde????

ynfan2 newalbumsoonnewalbumsoonnewalbumsoon

>ynfan3 ikr SO PUMPED

ynfan4 did anyone catch a video of when she said something like ‘im in a different place now than when i wrote all these love songs’ and then i didnt hear the end of what she said???

>ynupdates its on our page! The full quote is “I’m in a very different place than when I wrote all of those love songs. Me and him aren’t together now so…Expect a breakup album soon!”

>ynfan5 omg poor yn :(( (though i wonder who she’s talking aboutttt)

yninstagram officially here to tell you that blondes don’t always have more fun. and i’m on tour in North America in three months get ready.

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ynfan1 AAHHH SEEING YOU IN NEW YORK

>yninstagram SEE U THERE BB

ynfan2 PLEASE come to asia!!

ynfan3 when is the album???

>yninstagram beginning of next year!!

ynfan4 yn looks so pretty with black OR blonde hair!!

yninstagram first show lets go

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ynfan1 the COOLEST fit

bedforddanes good luck mate.

>yninstagram thanks mate.

ynfan2 cant wait to see you in Milwaukee!!

1975ynfan1 does anyone else think its weird that yn and the 1975’s tours match up cities like 4 times???

>1975ynfan2 probably just a coincidence, there’s only so many cities in america

>1975ynfan1 idk its just yn and matty havent interacted in so long and it seems like theyve both gone through private breakups recently,,,,got me thinking

>ynfan3 maybe not the best to speculate on people’s private lives?? Lets just leave them to it?

yninstagram new single out now. Not Another Rockstar. its cool.

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ynfan1 omg wait the caption??? Is that a matty reference???

>ynfan2 idkkkk IM HERE FOR THE DRAMAAA

ynfan3 yn is straight up ethereal

charli_xcx so proud of youuuuu

>yninstagram Xxx

yninstagram london r u ready??

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ynfan1 so jealous im not there!!!

ynfan2 obsessed with this makeup!!

pollymoney looking lush!!

ynfan3 come to nz!

rollingstone “Growing into different people can hurt, but it’s always the way of life, we just have to move on” - YN talks touring post-covid and new album! Link in bio!

view all comments

yninstagram thank you for having me.

ynfan1 need to punch whoever she was talking about with the quote in the article ‘I was badly hurt by my ex, he’s said some horrid things about me when I thought our breakup was pretty amicable.’

ynfan2 i remember when yn was just starting out and now look at her!!

ynfan3 mother was mothering in this shoot

yninstagram what happens on tour, stays on tour. this includes going to bed at a reasonable hour and being on vocal rest for 20 hours of the day.

view all comments

ynfan1 saw you in Lisbon!! Best concert ive ever been to!!

ynfan2 omg obsessed with that top…

1975adam the joys of tour life hey?

>yninstagram dont i know it?

yninstagram new album, Nothing Matters, is out tomorrow. this is such a personal album for me, showing the deepest parts of myself.

To you (you know)

Even though we spent months tearing each other apart, and we’ve both said some questionable things in retaliation, you know I’ll always hold you in my heart. I was at my best with you and I hope one day we can reach a point when we can be friends. I miss you and all the funny things you tell me when you stoned off your nut and barely knew how to speak anymore.

Thank you, darling. For everything.

limited comments

charli_xcx beautiful album baby. top of 2023!

ynfriend love it!!

rass1975 well done mate. Its a good’un

trumanblack love it.

>yninstagram x

#matty healy x reader #matty healy blurb #matty healy imagine

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themultifandomgal · 5 months ago

Text

From 2010- Second Half Of Tour

Part 42

2014

1st August- Toronto

The boys and I sit at a table eating breakfast excited to get back on tour

“What did Liam say when you spoke?” Louis asks before tackling a slice of toast

“I haven’t actually spoken to him yet” I sigh playing around with my scrambled eggs

“What?” Harry chokes on his orange juice, some of it coming out of his nose. Reaching for a napkin to wipe his face he continues “first he forgets a date then he doesn’t even ring you t’say sorry”

“People forget H” I shrug

“Yeah but you messaged him and rang him and he still hasn’t spoken to you”

“It’s fine”

“No it’s not bloody fine YN. He’s a dick” Harry points his fork at me “he’s not right f’you and you know it” he then eats the pineapple he’s had pointed at me with an angry expression. We sit in silence for a little longer before I speak up again

“I have been writing lyrics, well sentences, down in a notebook. Emma suggested it when I told her I was struggling to talk during therapy sessions”

“Really? Wow. Do you want them to be on our next album?” Louis asks. I shake my head no

“I don’t think I’m ever going to release them. They’re to personal, but writing down how I feel is helping. Even if one moment I’m sad the next I’m angry. Maybe one day I’ll show you”

“Whenever your ready, no pressure” Liam says next to me with a smile. He places his hand on my arm and gives it a little squeeze

“Have any of you ever thought about going solo?” Zayn asks

“No. Don’t think I could do this without you boys by my side” I reply

“I have. Not for a while though” Niall says

“I have. I’ll be honest this isn’t what I was expecting” Zayn tells us. I nod my head understanding

“I’ve thought about it but I’m not sure I’m cut up for that stuff going solo and everything” Liam tells us all

“H?” I look over at him as he’s been sat quietly

“Yeah I have definitely thought about my future and the bands future. I’d like to think if we did ever decide to take a break then we’d always have something to come back to one day”

“I’d….” I’m cut off by my phone ringing. I take it out of my pocket and see Liams name across the screen “it’s Liam, I’m gonna head up to my room”

“Want me to bring anything up for you?” Harry asks

“I’ll have some fruit please. Thank you” I leave the table and answer the phone “hi”

“I’m sorry I haven’t phoned you back, I’ve been busy. Why were you texting me about missing a date? We never planned anything”

“Yeah we did Liam. I got dressed up, did my hair and makeup. I was excited” I use my key card to enter my room

“YN are you ok? Because that didn’t happen. Your not coming down with something are you?” Liam asks sounding concerned

“I’m fine. We had a date and you forgot about it”

“Your acting crazy. We never planned one. I was only ringing you to let you know I’ll come to see you on the 11th. I have to go, speak to you later. Love you”

“Love you too” I reply and end the phone call.

20th August

25th September- New Orleans

“Eeeeek!” I squeal running off the stage to Emma who’s also running towards me. I wrap her up in a massive hug “I missed you”

“I missed you to. I’ve been seeing videos all over Twitter and I swear I even know the dance moves by this point” I laugh at emma knowing she probably does know the dance moves, but on top of that she will 100% dance tonight in the pit “YN this is my girlfriend Olivia” Emma introduces me to a very beautiful girl with long flowing blonde hair and bright blue eyes. I put my hand out for her to shake

“Hi I’m YN it’s nice to meet you”

“You too” she shakes my hand smiling

“YN!” I hear Harry say into the microphone in his hand

“I’m coming!” I shout back “you going to stay while we rehearse?” I ask

“If that’s ok with you all?”

“Of course it is Em. I’m just going to get my mic and my in-ears then you’ll get a sneak peak into tonight’s show” I give Emma one last hug before running back onto stage

“So Emma can come and see you, but your own boyfriend can’t?” Harry mutters

“H don’t start” I warn him

“When will you see that you deserve better than him. Fuck YN you deserve the whole world and that’s not Liam. I’m taking 5” with that I watch Harry storm off the stage. I look over to Louis who gives me a small smile

“Give him a few minutes”

5th October- Miami Gardens

“Break a leg up there Pumpkin” my dad hugs me

“Thanks dad” I hug him back but end up holding him for a while which makes him realise somethings wrong

“What’s going on Pumpkin? Is it Liam?” I nod my head without saying anything “what will be will be”

“I know, just hurts. He’s a good guy dad I love him, but I think he’s going to break up with me”

“If he does….” Before my dad can say anything the door opens and there’s stood Liam with tulips

“Sorry I didn’t know anyone else would be in here”

“No it’s ok. I think you two need some time to talk. I love you Pumpkin, your going to be amazing as usual” dad places a kiss on my forehead then leaves my dressing room

“I’m sorry I missed so many shows and I’m sorry about my snappy texts. I’ve just been really stressed out with press releases. These are for you, the start of me making it up to you” Liam hands me the flowers

“Thank you” I place them down on my makeup table

“Can I have a kiss and cuddle?”

“I thought we were on a break?” I raise an eyebrow at him

“That was me being an idiot”

“Fine you can have a kiss on the cheek” I walk over to him and place a kiss on his left cheek

“After tonight I’m making it up to you. You’ll be my girl again, love you”

“I love you too that’s why it hurts me no much when you act like how you did”

“I know I know, sorry”

“5 minutes YN” Paul says knocking my open door

“Ok thank you. I’ll speak to you later”

“I’ll be the loudest one in there tonight”

“You better”

#6th one direction member #one direction x reader #sixth one direction member #one direction #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x you #harry styles x oc #harry styles fanfic rec #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles imagine #harry styles #harry styles x reader

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glambyridhimathukral · 7 months ago

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writersbarrierblock · 2 years ago

Text

You're So Good To Me

gif not mine

pairing: Envy Adams x Fem!Reader

warnings: smoking, drinking, someone giving envy basic human decency, slight smut mention near the end but we pull back bc i can't write smut for shit

word count: 4.1k (holy shit)

summary: you've been envy's personal assistant for a year and a half, and it's her last show on her solo tour. post-canon envy adams without the clash at demonhead, she catches up with the people in toronto. ramona and scott are still together, and young neil is now neil.

____________________________________________

It was kind of poetic how the last leg of the Envy Adams Tour ends in Toronto, where her solo career began.

She was tired, the travel and the work getting into her bones and seeping out her pores. She wanted to get the night done, sing her heart out, and then collapse in the bed of whatever five star hotel her manager picked for the night.

Envy was having a smoke at the alley beside the club. The cold of the Toronto air hitting her face, and she pulls her leather coat closed. She honestly didn’t know what to do now, she got her career to new heights, and made friends with everyone in her past as much as she could. There was no more anger in her, no more vendetta against anyone, and she didn’t know how to feel about all of it.

She’s had the time to reflect on her life in the quiet moments she had all year, in between times working and performing. All the things she’s done, and all the things that were done to her, it was all rough. Thinking about the past made her sigh so loud and get into the harshest headspaces.

She takes a drag out of her cigarette, the smoke filling her lungs before letting it out. The lights from the nearby shops and stores illuminated her in a soft light. She knew her manager was in there looking for her, probably stressed out of their mind, but she didn’t really care. She just wanted some peace before the adrenaline of being on stage hit her like a train, like it always did.

She felt slight droplets of rain fall on her, but she paid it no mind, still deep in thought. She takes another drag, until suddenly you burst out the side door. You were breathing heavily, her manager on your ass asking you to find the rockstar. You frantically looked everywhere, even embarrassingly walking in on someone in the bathroom thinking she was in one of the stalls.

You breathe out a sigh of relief, before grabbing an umbrella near the door and opening it. The rain was picking up now, and she just got done with hair and makeup. “Here,” you say quietly as you shield her from the rain. She sighs, still not looking at you. She figured you’d find her, but she didn’t wanna go in quite yet.

“Can’t they wait a little bit longer?” she requests in a small voice. The rumblings inside the club were muffled, but you knew they were only there for her. You give her a shrug, not wanting to speak in case she snapped out of whatever mood she was in that made her look so, … you couldn’t find the word. Meek? Small? None of the words matched what you were seeing. Envy was never those things, but here she was, seeming like she was contemplating the fate of the entire universe.

Being Envy’s personal assistant had its ups and downs. She was absolutely insufferable in some days, always wanting something done in the snap of her manicured fingers, and literally throwing everything she found insignificant and irrelevant out the window. She’d make you go through the entire city front and back just to get what she was particularly wanting.

On some days though, she was calm and quiet. Not wanting any disturbance, shushing any sound with a sharp look, and keeping by herself. She’d rarely call you in those days, only sending you a single-word text of what she needed, and threw you out the door once she got it.

But this, you haven’t really seen in the past tour run. She’s letting her tiredness show, her shoulders held not that high like most days, leaning against the wall of the alley like she might collapse in any moment, the cold of the night making her lip tremble slightly.

You realize you’ve been staring at your boss’ lips, and quickly look away. Heat reaches your face and the tips of your ears, and you wonder what the hell was that about. She finally turns to you, and you try not to trip over yourself. You could never get used to her looking at you, and if you told anyone no one would really blame you. It’s Envy Adams, but also she just looked at you like she knew everything about you already, like she had you all figured out from the moment her eyes landed on you.

You’ve had to memorize certain looks she’d give you if she wanted something, after a year or so working for her. You reach into your pocket and give her a compact mirror. She takes it from your hand, her fingers slightly brushing into yours, before checking her reflection to fix any damage the drizzle brought to her hair. She shrugs off rogue droplets on her coat, and nods to you, as you both head back inside, with you closing the umbrella and the door behind you.

Envy reaches backstage with you behind her, and already you could hear the crowd chanting her name. The manager appears in front of you, looking like they’re losing their hair with stress and worry. “Where the hell were you two? I’ve been looking everywhere-,”

Envy silences them with a look, getting ready with some sound guys giving her a mic and some makeup and hair assistants checking her over. You look on, seeing her face steel and eyes focus. “Alright, we’re ready!” One of the sound guys throws a thumbs up into the air, and Envy heads towards the stage.

“Hey!” You shout over the loud music, and she looks at you questioningly. You give her a smile. “Break a leg out there!” She gives you a look you can’t quite place, before nodding, getting back into focus. “Thanks,” she says.

_________________________________________

As the song ends, she thanks the crowd as they cheer and applaud. Envy is absolutely buzzing with energy. She had spotted Scott and the others tucked away near the bar, on their feet and cheering with the crowd, and she gives them a wave before exiting through the curtain.

You are immediately at her side, giving her a towel and a bottle of water. She dabs away some sweat and takes a sip as her manager approaches her. The crew are cheering, celebrating the end of the tour. Envy watches as they all shake hands and hug, and her manager tries to get her attention. You listen to the poor manager, noting an interview for a magazine in the oncoming days and put it on her schedule.

She gives you a look, and you lead her to a room backstage with a few couches scattered around. She sits with a sigh, taking another sip of her water before setting it down on a side table.

“Tell Julie and the others to come here,” she orders you. You give her a nod, before rushing out the room. You and Julie always butted heads, the other girl was adamant that Envy was her bestest friend from college and didn’t need an assistant when she had a friend like her. You just wanted to do your job, and didn’t really understand why the pony-tailed girl always did that thing with her mouth.

You get to the group near the bar, counting them in your head. Julie pops up to you, eyes wide. “Are we going backstage?” she asks you, excited. You nod, “Yup, and the others, too.”

Her face turns into a scowl, and turns to the group. “Okay, let’s ████ go, come on.”

Heads turn to look at you and Julie. A guy that you know as Scott smiles wide, and a girl with pink colored hair pats him in the shoulder. A guy with a button up pipes up as well, someone you remember as Stephen, and he chugs his beer before standing up from a stool. “Are there refreshments?” he asks. A younger guy appears behind him in a Zelda shirt nodding along, with a redhead in a tracksuit jacket flanking them. You wave them towards you, motioning them to follow along to the backstage area.

“Are you sure Knives couldn’t make it?” You hear from behind you. “Yeah, she said she kinda outgrew this type of sound.”

You arrive back to Envy with the group in tow, and she gets up to hug Julie and Scott. She nods to the others, and sits back down, and the others follow suit. You lean against the wall, trying to blend in and not be noticed. You notice the soft sounds of rock playing in the room’s speakers, and new drinks on the tables near the couches.

“You were really great up there,” the girl with the pink hair said, impressed. Envy waves her off. “You get used to it, Ramona. It honestly gets kinda old.” Scott laughs loudly, “Haha, old.” he repeats awkwardly.

Envy gives him a strange look, and looks at Ramona questioningly. She rolls her eyes, and leans forward, “You’re like the biggest ex he’s kinda friends with, so he’s being weird about it.” Envy lets out an ‘ahhh’ in understanding.

“So, that’s the end of the tour, right?” Stephen asks. The rockstar nods. “Oh, I heard you had that band open for you that one time. I forgot the name…” He trails off, taking a drink and sipping on it. Neil pipes up with the band’s name, and they both argue over what the band is actually called.

“I heard you’re getting a new contract with another record label. Is that true?” Julie starts to ask, and the room dissolves into their own discussions. You sigh, watching on, but mainly keeping your eyes on Envy. You figured if you were here for this weird reunion of her friends you might as well also be vigilant with your job.

She sneaks glances at you between talking with the others, and you jump every time thinking that she needs something. She doesn’t give you particular looks, it seems like her eyes just fall onto yours at every chance she gets. It makes your head spin.

She gives you a look this time, and this one means she wants a drink. Not the complementary ones they give to backstage, but her favorite one. You give her a nod and rush out back to the bar.

Stephen whistles at your speed, turning to Envy. “Hey, who was that? Like, a slave or something?” Envy chuckles and hums, “Personal assistant,” she explains. Julie rolls her eyes.

“Not even necessary if I’m being honest. You know you could ask me for anything, right Envy?” She leans towards the rockstar, but Envy just stares her down before Julie awkwardly retreats.

“Personal assistant. Not bad, not bad.” Stephen chimes. “Does she like, do everything for you?” Neil asks, timidly.

“I can do a lot of things myself, thanks. But my manager insisted.” Envy says, matter-of-factly. “So, what does she do exactly?” Kim asks from the corner of one of the couches.

“Anything I ask,” The blonde says with a smug smile. The boys mutter comments of “Cool” and “Hot” from their spots in the room. “I’m just really glad you’re back, and that we’re friends, even though we’re exes,” Scott begins, “We really got that closure in the last volume, but I’m just really happy that we’re actual friends now! How was the tour? How have you been?” His excitement is palpable, and Kim elbows him in the side for him to calm down.

“Well, the tour was great, everything is great,” Envy explains, before a look enters her face, “After the whole thing with…” She glances to Ramona, and the other girl nods, “I’ve just been calming down and focusing on myself.”

You arrive at the room, a drink and a bouquet of flowers in a vase in either hand. You approach the sitting Envy, handing her a drink with a coaster, and putting the vase on the table closest to her. “Last concert of the tour, I figured congratulations were in order.” You say in a low voice and she gives you a stunned look before nodding, and you return your spot against the wall.

Ramona sits up, leaning towards you. “Hey, you’re the personal assistant right?” You nod slowly, glancing at Envy to see if talking to them was okay. She doesn’t pay you any mind as she starts talking about shopping with Julie by her side. “How is she, as a boss?” Ramona asks lightly, joking with a smile. “I bet it’s a real delight.” Kim adds, sarcastically.

“It’s great, I mean…” Envy looks to you when she hears your voice, one eyebrow raised. “It’s an out-of-this-world experience, really.” You finish, retreating into yourself in shyness. Ramona eyes you, before turning to Scott once again. Envy stares at you before fiddling with the petals of the flowers you gave her, still surprised with how you knew they were her favorites.

You start to think to yourself as the others continue to hang out and talk. Did you like working for Envy? I mean, it’s hard on some days, but that’s any other job right? It’s a job with a rockstar, you reason, not really the most stable line of work if she decided to just one day quit making music, but you don’t see Envy doing that. She just started, no way she was gonna stop now. You’d be happy to be by her side through it all, you think, as you look at the blonde now.

Envy was laughing at something Julie had said, her earlier tired eyes now twinkling and her grin stretching to her whole face. You look at her seemingly soft lips again, her small nose, and the way her hair falls on her face before she quickly puts any out-of-place hair back in their place. Her fingers, always freshly manicured and painted red, grab the drink and you watch as her lips place themselves around the rim of the glass, slightly staining it red with her lipstick.

As you look rather longingly at your boss, Ramona watches you with a sly grin. She absolutely clocked you the moment you got back, and she mentally reminds herself to bring it up with Scott later. The group of friends order more drinks, everyone getting slightly rowdier.

Ramona is kissing Scott’s face everywhere but his lips, Neil and Stephen are having an arm wrestling match with Kim as a referee, and only Julie and Envy remain at their seats, talking like normal. You look on, yawning slightly as you look at the time. You hear the muffled sounds of the club music near the door, so you figured it couldn’t be that late.

“I wish Wallace was here, Wallace would have my back.”

“You’re such a big baby.”

“You twisted your wrist, that’s cheating!”

“You can’t prove anything.”

You watch on, chuckling lightly at the antics. You return your eyes to Envy, and her glassy eyes tell you that she’s tipsy. You get her another water, opening the cap before handing it to her. She gives you that small smile, and you give her one back.

As everyone prepares to leave, Envy gets pulled to the side by Ramona, wanting to talk with just her. She gives you a reassuring look, before going with the woman she’s gotten friendly with despite all their intertwined baggage.

“Y’know, you’ve changed a lot.” Ramona begins, and Envy crosses her arms in front of her. “I don’t know what you mean.”

The American rolls her eyes, “Oh cut the shit,” she says jokingly, and Envy lets out a chuckle. “It’s a good thing. You’re, more kind, in a way, lately.”

Envy lets out a sigh. “Yeah. I noticed,” she replies, not knowing what to say. “Something tells me you’re not used to that?” Ramona inquires.

“Not at all.”

Ramona glances at the group, at Scott, loudly complaining of his friends ganging up and mocking him, and she smiles. “You deserve good things, Envy,” she says softly.

“Don’t let yourself get in the way.” With that, Ramona takes her leave, joining the rest. Envy takes a breath, not knowing what to do, before going back to your side.

Envy says her goodbyes and gives you a look to follow her out. Surprisingly, the group also says their goodbyes to you, and you nod your head at them awkwardly in farewell. As you two leave, Scott leans towards his girlfriend. “Hey, what was that with Envy earlier?” he asks, his drunk brain confused. She kisses him on the cheek, “I’ll tell you later.”

You and Envy get to the limo out front, her bodyguards blocking the crowd on your way out. As you sit on the leather interior, Envy nods at the driver through the partition and it speeds off to the hotel. You sigh, fixing Envy’s schedule for the oncoming days. An interview, a photoshoot, all the usual stops for the end of the tour.

“You got the day off tomorrow, with nothing really happening. The photoshoot with that magazine is on the day after, the call time is at 10AM, and the radio is asking for an interview after that at around 4PM.” You begin to list off, and Envy rubs her temples and softly shushes you.

You quiet down immediately, afraid you stressed her out. You give her some pain medication from her bag for the headache, and she waves you off, not needing them. She sighs tiredly, and looks at you. You meet her eyes, apology written all over your face. She reaches out and caresses your cheek. Your eyes widened, not really anticipating that she was way more drunk than you thought.

“Let’s call it a night, yeah?” she murmurs, placing one index finger to your lips, “No work talk until tomorrow,” she slurs her words slightly. She pulls away, and promptly dozes off on her side of the limo. You blink, your jaw dropping and closing with no sound, but your mind is screaming. What the hell was that?

The limo arrives at the hotel, and you put Envy’s arm over your shoulders, supporting her on her way inside. The bodyguards block the view to anyone that might be near, but the area was surprisingly empty this time of night. You make her lean on the wall in the elevator, and press the button to her floor. You fish out the keys from her bag, and Envy just looks at you with a small smile again.

She tries to move closer to you but stumbles in the height of her boots, and you catch her in time. She leans over you, and the proximity allows you to smell the liquor in her breath. “How many did I have tonight, Y/N?” she asks, groggy as she readjusts her stance. You count in your head how many you handed her, ultimately concluding with four drinks. You start to tell her, but she leans a bit too close and you panic internally. “Hmm? Was it four? Because it felt like five,” she giggles, a finger twirling her long blonde hair.

“Yep, definitely feeling like five,” you mutter jokingly. The elevator dings to her floor, and you try to guide her to the door. You scan the key card at the door, and she giggles on the way inside. You place her on the bed as you turn on the dim lights. You help her with her high boots, taking them off gently one at a time. She complies for the most part, her eyes following your every move.

You pay it no mind, focusing on getting her ready for bed. If you looked back into her eyes, you knew you would freeze, stopping and staring like you always did. Now that you think about it, from her perspective it must look like you’re always a deer in headlights. You chuckle at the thought slightly, and she tilts her head in confusion. “What’s so funny?” You shake your head. “Nothing, nothing. Let me help you take your makeup off.”

You get the wipes from her luggage, and motion her to get closer to the edge of the bed. She pouts, and it’s the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen. “Hey,” she calls for your attention, and you look at her as she’s seemingly deep in thought. “How’d you know what my favorite flowers are?” You pause, before shrugging. “You mentioned it once, while you were talking with someone at the studio.” She hums, trying to remember the moment before shaking her head at you. “Unbelievable that you’d remember that,” she mutters.

She scoots closer, moves some hair away to clear her face, and leans back with her hands behind her supporting her weight. You tilt her head up so you can see, and you see a flicker of an emotion you can’t name come over her eyes before looking at you. You gently wipe away the makeup from her face, over her eyelids and cheeks. Your other hand still on her chin, you grab another wipe for her lipstick, smudging it off. Your eyes focus on the softness of them, their fullness, before you realize and look at her eyes in panic. Her eyes are half-lidded, and she bites her bottom lip. You don’t even notice how close you got now, just registering the proximity between you two. She sits up, bringing herself closer to you, and puts her hands on your waist.

You feel her pull, and you go from leaning over her to being on her lap. You let out a shaky breath, her lips so tantalizingly close. “This is, um…” you whisper, “E-Envy, I…” Your thighs are on either side of her hips, and the heat between you two makes you shake. The last sliver of your self-control is starting to wane. This is Envy Adams, this is your boss, you work for her, you’re always going to be beneath her.

Well, except now, she’s underneath you. She rolls her hips, slightly grinding at the spot between your thighs, and you can’t help the whimper that escapes your mouth. She smirks, gazing longing at your lips before looking into your eyes. “Kiss me,” she orders. And you don’t find it within yourself to not comply.

Her lips feel softer than they look, and you melt into a puddle in her hands. The way she kisses you makes your head dizzy, and you feel her nibble on your bottom lip. Your need for her grew, and the feeling of her lips and tongue on yours made you squeeze your thighs in a vain attempt to calm the throbbing from your center.

She chuckles against you, her kisses leading down to your neck. She sucks on your pulse point, bites, and licks it to soothe the sting. It leaves you a quivering, whimpering mess. You feel her smirk against your skin, and you wanna kiss it off her face.

“Sweet girl, so fucking sweet,” she whispers, “So, so fucking good to me.” Envy stops kissing your neck, tucking in her head underneath your chin, and you start to breathe to calm down. She has her ear on your heartbeat, and she can’t stop the tear from rolling down her cheek. “You’re, so good to me,” she whispers, and breaks into a sob.

You put your arms around her and hold her, whispering comforting reassurances. “Shh, you’re okay. You’re with me, I got you.” You say to her, and it makes her cry more.

She pulls away to look into your eyes, and you wipe the tears away. She doesn’t understand why you seemingly know what to say and what to do every time she turns to look at you, but you do.You treat her with so much care, so much consideration and gentleness that she hasn’t experienced in a long while. “I’ve been, thinking if I turned soft, like, I’ve lost the chip on my shoulder or something.”

“I knew this Envy stuff was a mask, but I guess I kind of lost myself in it for a while,” she admits, and you’ve never seen her so vulnerable like this. Envy was always a mystery to you, so tough and determined and focused. “You make me feel like my old self again. Being around you, you make me want to be myself.”

You give her a smile, and embrace her in your arms once more. “Oh Envy, …” you softly say, and she pulls away again. “Please,” she bites her lip, “Call me Nat.”

#envy adams x reader #envy adams imagines #scott pilgrim imagines #envy adams is gay

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