#sign me up for the next hockey tournament

[wildsaltair]

I don’t think any man has ever been as husband-shaped as John Biebe

[cuteandhughesy]

i couldn’t not request another one lol (if that’s okay!)

can i please request prompt 41. “you’re it for me.” with sidney crosby!

you are the absolute best 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

“The Other Woman” | Sidney Crosby

summary: you thought your boyfriend sidney wanted you to support him at the four nations face off tournament, so it comes as a shock when you tells you to stay home—only to find out the stomach churning truth. prompt no. 41 from 100 celly list: “you’re it for me.”

[word count] 2.3k

warnings: angst | cheating | break ups | the reader is the other woman

a/n: okay this got like really angsty! my bad. (unedited)

🎵 the other woman by lana del rey

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your screen is frozen—just like you. you stare and stare and stare. a single tear falls down your face, but you’re mostly too confused to cry—too angry. the phone dims, a tell tale sign that it’s about to turn off, but you don’t let it, thumbing at the screen until it lights up again, illuminating your shock ridden face.

you almost didn’t see the picture. it almost slipped by you. your relationship almost didn’t crumble right before your very eyes. your chest is tight. aching—the beautiful picture of all the wags starting back at you, clad in red pleather team canada jackets.

you were so close to remaining blissfully unaware—innocent and stupid. but you saw it—saw her. a stunning smile and light brown hair, a little older than you but still radiant…with the number 87 patched on her arm.

you had shakily opened the comments and there it was, ‘crosby’s wife looks amazing.’

wife.

you almost threw up. your skin prickled with guilt and embarrassment and so much frustration, not only with yourself but with your boyfriend.

you’ve never really been into hockey. you didn’t pay attention to sports in general—neither did your family. you were younger, only 23, and found interests in other things. a year ago when you met sidney you were instantly smitten. he was charming and unapologetically kind, mature and experienced.

you feel in love quickly—almost impossibly quick. but it didn’t matter, not to either of you. sidney and you were in your own bubble, spending time together privately and in secluded places. you knew he played hockey—even though you didn’t care about hockey, sidney crobsy’s name wasn’t unknown to you.

maybe you should’ve done more research on the man you’re dating—maybe this going on under your nose is your own fault. a simple google search and a little bit of digging you would’ve seen that your boyfriend has a wife.

you would’ve found that you’re the other woman.

you now know that’s the reason sidney didn’t want you at the four nations tournament. he brushed off your comments about supporting him easily, telling you to stay home and relax—you deserved some time to relax. fuck, he even gave you some money to pamper yourself while he was away.

but it was all an excuse.

an excuse for sidney’s wife to remain unaware of her unfaithful husband. an excuse for him to ruin not only your life, but hers.

and now here you are, waiting for him to come over like he told you he was going to do when the plane landed back in pittsburgh. you wonder what excuse sidney told his wife. getting coffees? kris needing help at his house? picking up dry cleaning?

you feel so sick.

it could 20 minutes more before the front door creaks open—it could also be 20 seconds—you’re not sure. time feels like a roller coaster right now. unexpected ups and downs, twists and turns making your stomach swoop.

you get up from your spot on the couch, phone still clutched tightly in your hand. sidney kicks his shoes off by the door—clearly planning to stay awhile. planning to pretend he doesn’t have a wife at home who loves him.

“hey baby,” his deep voice calls from the front door, keys hitting your small oak cabinet next to the shoe rack and large fake plant you’ve had since high school.

baby.

it’s like a slap to the face. did he think you’d never find out? or maybe he just thought you were too stupid and young to figure it out.

you don’t answer him—you can’t. no yet. the sight of your face has sidney faltering, lips twitching into a half frown as you stalk towards him. just before he has the chance to coddle you, you shove the phone in his face.

it takes a moment for the picture to register, but you wait and watch patiently. sidney’s eyes scan your phone, and then he sees her. his wife. his skin turns a shade whiter, face falling before his eyes hoof back to your face.

finally, you find your words—stricken and laced with anger and defeat. “you have a wife? a wife!”

“yes.” sidney doesn’t bother trying to deny it. what’s the point? the proof is there, staring at him. you scoff, pulling your phone away and place it down beside his keys.

“where you ever going to tell me?” you ask him, “is that why you didn't want me to come out to the tournament with you?” he doesn’t respond, and somehow that feels worse than anything he could’ve possibly chosen to say. the bridge of your nose begins to sting, a telltale sign that you’re going to cry. but you don’t want to cry. not yet. “god! here I was thinking that you were embarrassed of our age gap. but no, it's because your fucking wife was going.”

sidney sighs, running a large hand through his salt and pepper hair roughly—he’s frustrated. but not with you. sidney could never be angry with you. you’re too soft—too sweet. he’s only upset with himself. he sighs, y/n. please.”

“does she know?” you push, ignoring his desperate and soft plea. “does your wife now you've been fucking me?”

“no.”

you laugh in disbelief, covering your face with your palms as you feel the familiar hot sting of tears welling up in your eyes. “oh my god,” you whisper pathetically, “I feel sick.” you’ve never wanted to become this person—nobody in their right mind should want to be the other woman.

you’re a girls girl. always. and this feeling, right now, proves why. you’re so embarrassed for yourself—you should’ve been more careful, more diligent about your love life. you should’ve known.

the way your voice cracks has sidney breaking. he never wanted to hurt you, despite everything he’s put you through—even if you hadn’t realized. he frowns, stepping towards you like it’s second nature. sidney is desperate to touch you and console you and make everything better.

“I know,” he breathes, hands enclosing around your wrists, tugging your hands away from your tear stained face. “I messed up.”

you scoff, shrugging off his hold. “you did more then mess up, sidney,” you take a step back, an incredulous laugh leaving you. “you've ruined this. you've ruined my life and hers.”

he shakes his head, “don't say that.”

you sniffle, doing your best to keep ahold of your wave of new emotions. it’s not just about you…nor anymore. you feel for this woman, more than she’ll ever know. you shake your head at him, wiping your cheek with the back of your hand. you’re shaking.

“I don't even know what to say to you,” and it’s true. what do you say to the man you love—a man who just turned your world inside out and back again. sidney is looking at you like he’s hurt. and maybe he is hurting, but it’s at the cost of his own actions, so don’t feel bad.

even if the sight of his emotion struck face is killing you.

you turn away, walking into the small kitchen. you need to distract yourself in some way. allow yourself to have a moment to breathe. your hands are still trembling as you open the fridge, weakly grabbing a plastic water bottle. your bring it to your lips, sipping just enough to coat your dry mouth.

of course sidney followed you, looking at you desperately from the other side of the kitchen island—giving you the space you need. “say nothing,” he says, “just please hear me out.”

you cross your arms defensively after you put the water in between you on the island. the plastic crinkles and pops through the silent kitchen. you sigh with exhaustion, “what is there to hear you out on? i'm not going to be the other woman. I deserve more than that.”

“you do,” sidney exhales desperately, fingers digging into the edge of the counter top like he’s trying to physically hold himself back. give you that space. “of course you do.” there’s a pause then, and you watch as sidney contemplates what he wants to say next.

his eyes stay on you, analyzing you—your mind, heart and thoughts. you want to shrink away from his gaze. it’s too intense and to familiar.

because two weeks ago when he looked at you like this, it was different.

“i'll call it off with her if that's what you want,” sidney says after a beat, voice dropping. he’s firm, definitive.

your breath hitches, “of course I don't want that.” and you mean it. sidney’s not yours, even when you thought he was. and you’re certainly not his—you don’t get to discredit his life of his decisions.

and certainly not his marriage.

the sound of sidney’s palm coming down on the counter top makes you jump. his anger is surprising. he’s always showed you calmness—like he’s always got it all figured out. but this is different. sidney’s lost control. with you with your relationship and with his emotions.

it breaks you. as much as you don’t want to feel anything for him in this moment, seeing him so distraught is heartbreaking. because it’s not like you fell out of love with sidney crosby at the snap of your fingers—you fucking wish it was that easy. but it never is.

because he’s still sidney. he’s the man who held you on the couch after a bad day at work, and cooked you your favourite meal when you’d been to tired to get off the couch. the boyfriend who kissed you with such tenderness and fucked you with such passion. sidney, who in only a year, become your home…your safe place.

he curses, palm flattening as he attempts to recollect himself. sidney’s head falls for a moment, chest heaving with a million unshed emotions. it feels like forever until he looks at you again, eyes glossed over just enough to let you know what truly he’s feeling—frustration, heartbreak, guilt.

“then what?” he asks gently, “what do you want me to do?” you’ve begun crying again, hot tears streaming silently down your face. slowly, you shrug—a response. sidney can’t hold back any longer. he walks around the island, and when he wraps you in his arms, you let him.

it feels good, but not the same. you don’t hung him back, arms trapped between your chests while sidney’s muscled and strong forearms hold your shoulders. you sob pathetically, hiding your face in sidney’s hoodie.

the emotion is raw and painful. you don’t even know what to do with yourself. you want that comfort—need it—and you don’t have anybody in pittsburgh besides sidney. so for a moment you allow yourself to be coddled. you pretend that he’s not the man that hurt you.

you don’t know how to answer him. not right now.

“you're it for me,” sidney mumbles after a beat, lips pressing to the top of your head so softly and tender. “you're my life.” his arms tighten around you, desperately trying to keep you close—to make you hear him. really hear him.

“so is she,” you mumble watery, pushing off his chest. it’s not rough, but firm enough to let him know you need out.

sidney lets you go, but he doesn’t walk away. “no,” he shakes his head, “she's not.”

you swallow. you feel awful. “she's your wife.”

“and you’re the love of my life.”

silence envelopes the kitchen again as sidney’s words settle in your chest. although he may mean what he’s said, that doesn’t make the situation any better. you can’t be selfish with him—not when you’re the third party.

all you can think about right now is if you were his wife. if it was you he was unfaithful with, what would you want him to do. because that’s the answer you’ve been searching for.

“I want you to tell her,” you whisper. sidney’s face shifts like he doesn’t know how to react yet, but you don’t give him the opportunity to figure it out right now. “tell her and figure it out. if she wants a divorce then that's what you'll do. if she wants to work on your marriage, than that's what you'll do. you'll do whatever she wants, sidney, because that's what I want. and if you care about me at all, you'll do what l ask of you.”

a moment passes. sidney looks down at you softly, in thought. slowly he nods his head—that’s the best response he can give right now. but right now it’s enough for you, and finally—finally—feel like you can take a breath.

“i'm sorry.”

“because you were caught?” your response is petty and hurtful—you know that.

but sidney just blinks, “because I hurt you.”

his correction is so sidney. always caring and loving, never wanting you to feel less than. it’s not your fault, and he’s letting you know that without physically saying the words. he takes ahold of your face between his warm palm, thumbs stroking your cheekbones like he’s done so many times.

you wish you don’t love him—you wish you didn’t love the way he held you so perfectly. he knows your cues and what you need when you’re upset, and this right here is proof of that.

and that hurts more than anything.

“i'll tell her,” sidney breathes, “and if she wants to work on it...i'll stay with her. but if she doesn't want to work on it, and she wants a divorce, what does that mean? for us?”

a beat passes, “I don't know yet.”

[steddieas-shegoes]

enemies by day, sluts by night

for @steddiesportsau for prompt 'opponents to lovers'

rated e | 3,563 words | cw: hate sex, rough sex | tags: modern au, hockey au, enemies to lovers, friends with benefits, feelings realization, idiots in love, love confessions, top steve, bottom eddie, spit as lube, anal sex, getting together

©️©️©️©️©️©️©️©️©️©️©️©️©️

He’s so sick of fighting for things. He fought for spots on travel teams his entire childhood, always being told he was “the kid who scraped in” by parents and coaches alike. Then, it was a fight to graduate when he missed too much school for hockey tournaments and his grades slipped. He fought to stay with his uncle when his dad got out of prison. He fought a kid on his own team who found out he was gay and started spreading rumors.

He’s fought to be here, on this professional team, playing a sport he loves more than anything.

And he’s been fighting to prove himself all season to get to wear the C.

The last captain signed an AHL contract a few months ago and the spot’s been up for grabs since. Eddie’s been working his ass off to prove he can handle the responsibility.

But so has Steve.

In any other world, he’d probably be friends with Steve. They’d hang out, they’d be great linemates, they’d probably be in each others’ weddings or something.

But in this world, Steve is his competition almost as much as the teams they face. He’s been wearing an A for one full season already, is the favorite to get the C, and is overall disgustingly perfect in every way.

Eddie wants him so desperately.

He doesn’t care how it happens, he just knows it would be the fuck of the century.

****

“If you can’t focus, you’re benched, Harrington!” The coach yells after another turnover by Steve.

It’s the third one in the first period, and only one of many other mistakes he’s made. His head isn’t in it tonight and that’s been clear since puck drop. Eddie’s trying to play the part of center and left wing and it’s not working.

“Dude, what the hell is wrong?” Eddie asks him as he catches his breath. He’s pretty sure he’ll be back out there on the next shift to try to get rid of the two goal deficit they’re already facing, so he takes a few sips from his water bottle.

“Just distracted,” Steve says, and it feels like he’s showing his belly a bit, admitting a weakness that Eddie shouldn’t get to hear about. “Not my night.”

“Clearly,” Eddie huffs. He’s not sure if Steve heard, but he doesn’t really care too much if he did. “Get it together, man.”

Coach pats his back and he jumps over the boards to get back in it. They’ve got a lot of work to do to catch up now, and most of the blame can be put on Steve.

****

They only lose by one in the end, but Steve’s so mad at the end of the game, he doesn’t even give a speech like he usually does after a game.

He stews in it as he throws his gear off.

No one says anything.

Eddie isn’t scared to, though.

“Any reason you’re acting like a toddler who didn’t get their way?” Eddie asks him, and it’s louder than he actually means it to be. He didn’t necessarily want everyone involved in the conversation.

Steve freezes and glares at him. “Excuse me?”

“It’s just that throwing around your gear is a bit rude, right? The equipment manager doesn’t get paid enough to deal with your little tantrum.”

The room is so quiet, Eddie almost looks around to make sure they aren’t alone.

Steve’s entire body basically curls in on itself.

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right,” he says so quietly, Eddie’s not even sure he heard right.

Steve sits on the bench and unlaces his skates while everyone just looks between him and Eddie. Eddie’s not sure what to do right now. He didn’t expect this at all. He expected an argument or Steve storming out of the room. There was even a possibility that Steve would try to punch him.

But Steve’s sitting there silent, being extra careful with his gear now that he’s been called out. No one speaks.

Eddie sits and gets his own gear off just as quietly.

Everyone leaves one by one, but Steve stays.

When it’s just the two of them, he looks up.

“Sorry,” he says, and it seems like it pains him to do so. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.”

Steve runs his hand down his face, then through his hair, still sweaty and sticking to his skin. He sighs, so loud and long it seems like it could be a health risk.

“Everything I want is still so fuckin’ far away,” he says, sounds broken.

Eddie doesn’t want to have a heart to heart. He doesn’t want to do this whole comfort thing. They may be teammates, but there’s no way he can do this.

He gets up and steps closer to Steve, who looks up at him with tears in his eyes. It makes Eddie pause for a moment, and maybe he shouldn’t do this, but there’s something so beautiful about Steve like this.

He kisses Steve so hard he tastes blood.

Steve groans, sounds a bit like a feral animal as he pulls Eddie against him.

Hands are everywhere. Eddie doesn’t know who is pushing and who is pulling, or who is making that whimpering noise. Maybe they both are.

His dick is straining in his underwear, and he knows this isn’t the place to be doing this. It’s not really the time, either, but sometimes you do what you have to do.

“Wait,” Steve gasps as he forces space between them. His chest heaves as the sounds of their breathing echo in the empty locker room. “We can’t here. I’ve-”

“My place is only a couple miles away,” Eddie offers. “If you want.”

Steve doesn’t say anything, just throws his clothes on and tidies up the gear he’d previously thrown around. The equipment manager comes in after everyone’s gone to take care of it all, makes sure what needs to be cleaned gets brought to the rink laundry, and what needs to be organized for their next game gets brought to the right place. Eddie follows his lead, throwing on clothes and grabbing his keys from his stall.

They don’t say anything else until Eddie’s apartment door is unlocked and Steve is shoving him against the wall.

“One time, right?”

Eddie nods.

They don’t even make it to his bed.

Steve sucks his dick right there in the entrance to his apartment, opening him up with spit and fingers that know exactly what to do to make Eddie’s knees weak. He fucks him until he does actually almost fall, and he’s hopeful his neighbors aren’t home to hear the way he almost screams as he comes.

There’s something in Steve’s eyes when he guides him to the couch, something that looks like he cares, like this might be more than just a casual fuck to get their frustrations out. Eddie doesn’t comment on it.

Steve kisses his forehead, thanks him, and leaves.

Eddie falls asleep on the couch, thinking too hard about the way he wants Steve to fuck him again.

****

The next time is after a win where they each got a goal. They’re riled up and Steve fucks him in the backseat of his car in the parking lot. It’s stupid and probably not safe at all, but making it anywhere else would take too long.

Steve doesn’t say much while he fucks into him, hard but slow, hands squeezing his hips as he thrusts into him from behind. He’s loud in other ways: whimpering when Eddie clenches around him, groaning when he finishes.

They catch their breath, but then Steve’s gone with a quick thanks and goodbye.

Eddie doesn’t think about how much his chest aches on his drive home. It’s just the adrenaline crash.

****

The fifth time is when everything goes sour.

They’re called to the office and are told neither of them will have the C this season.

“It doesn’t make sense for the team to have one at this point. We’ll evaluate over the summer and choose before the beginning of next season.”

It leaves them both in a mood.

A mood they try to shake off with a quick fuck in the bathroom.

Eddie’s not hard, though, his mind racing as Steve’s fingers brush against his prostate. It feels good of course, but it’s just…his mind isn’t focused on this.

Steve turns him around, goes to touch his dick and freezes. He pulls his fingers out and looks at Eddie with concern.

“What’s wrong? Was I hurting you?” He asks and he sounds so sincere, so genuinely worried. It makes Eddie’s heart race.

“No. Sorry. You can keep going,” Eddie hates how his own voice sounds.

Steve shakes his head. “No, we shouldn’t be doing this. We’re both too upset. I’m sorry, Eddie.”

It breaks the last thread holding him together. Rejection sucks no matter what, but knowing that they both needed this and now Steve doesn’t even want to use him.

“No, look,” Eddie sounds pitiful. “We both need this. It’s fine. I’ll get there.”

Steve backs up, straightens his hair that’s barely even messy. Eddie didn’t get his hands in it for more than a few seconds before he was shoved into a stall.

“We shouldn’t be doing this at all. Using each other,” Steve sighs. ���It’s not good. We’re teammates. We can’t blur the lines.”

“The lines are already blurred!” Eddie panics. “It helps, right? Fucking me helps.”

Steve closes his eyes. “I can’t keep doing this to you or to me. It should’ve only been once. Maybe not even that.”

Why is his heart breaking? Steve was just a good fuck, they were only doing this because it was easy and a good release and-

“It was fun, but we can’t do this.”

And Eddie watches Steve walk out of the bathroom as if he isn’t taking a piece of Eddie with him.

****

They avoid each other as much as they can at practice, which is luckily pretty easy with the way they get split up for drills. Eddie has been their second line left wing for a few games to add some scoring depth so he doesn’t have to be on the ice with him during games either.

He pushes his feelings so far away, he actually manages to forget about them entirely for a bit.

Steve gets called up and Eddie moves back up to first line.

Everything’s fine.

****

Steve’s back in less than a week.

It’s not enough time for Eddie to feel better.

He doesn’t mean to, but he knows he’s being an asshole to him. It’s just that he’s hurt and he’s mad and he’s exhausted because he’s spent more time tossing and turning at night than sleeping.

Steve seems to brush it off when he snaps at him in the locker room. He ignores when Eddie rolls his eyes at him on the bench. He even makes a joke about how he shouldn’t have left for so long when Eddie shoves him out of his way in the tunnel.

But then Eddie makes a joke about being traded to a team where he doesn’t have to deal with a desperate guy trying to be captain and it hits its target.

Steve’s face falls, he bites his lip, and the room goes silent.

Surprisingly, Steve doesn’t say anything to him. He doesn’t say anything at all.

Eddie doesn’t react, but he’s a little surprised. He doesn’t get away with shit like this. He shouldn’t get away with shit like this.

The coach tells them all they played well, they’ll tighten up a few things in practice tomorrow. He says they’ve got one more win to clinch playoffs, and he feels confident they’ll get it Friday night.

Steve doesn’t do or say anything.

Eddie doesn’t either.

Everyone files out slowly, tension in the air too thick to breathe. He doesn’t blame them all for going. He wouldn’t even be surprised if they go straight to the coach and tell him to intervene.

Steve gets up and starts to leave the room.

Eddie cannot let him do that.

“Steve, wait.”

Steve pauses, but doesn’t turn around.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be acting this way. You can’t control feelings and it’s my own fault for thinking we had anything more than just a convenient and easy situation. Shouldn’t be letting it affect our time on the ice,” Eddie continues.

Steve finally turns.

“You’re right,” he says. It stings a little, but he deserves it. “That’s why I asked for a trade.”

Eddie’s heart sinks. “What?”

Steve laughs, unamused. “What? You’re shocked I don’t wanna keep hurting myself with you?”

“What do you mean?” Eddie feels like he’s going to be sick.

“I can’t love you like this. I’m leaving because space is all that’s gonna get me through it. They already might have somewhere for me,” Steve explains.

Eddie doesn’t understand what’s happening. He thought Steve hated him, or at least only tolerated him because he was his teammate. He figured the fucking was out of desperation, that’s why he never wanted to properly look at him.

“Where?”

“I don’t know yet. Meeting with them tomorrow.”

Eddie can’t lose Steve. He would give up the C this very second if it meant Steve would stay.

“You can’t go. Please don’t go.”

Steve swallows.

They’re so close now. Eddie doesn’t even know when they got so close. He doesn’t remember stepping closer, doesn’t think Steve did either given the words he’s been saying.

“I have to go, Eddie.”

“You’re gonna be the captain here. Everyone loves you,” Eddie knows he’s begging, sounding more ridiculous by the second. “If you go, you’ll have to start over. I can’t do this without you.”

“You can. I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t think you could,” Steve sounds so sure. “Things were better before we kissed.”

He didn’t think his heart could break more.

“You don’t mean that.”

“Before we kissed, I knew I could ignore the feelings I had for you. Now, I have to live with knowing I’ll never get over you,” Steve says. “You deserve to wear a C and now you can. You’ll forget all about me soon.”

Eddie kisses him. He doesn’t have words to say what he wants to, and he doesn’t think he’s brave enough anyways.

Steve kisses him back, his hands grabbing his hips, leaving bruises if he’s lucky. Eddie wants him right here, right now, wants to love him in the only way he knows how.

“Come back to me,” Eddie says against his lips. He means come back to mine, but he hopes the mix up isn’t heard. “Please.”

“One more time?” Steve asks.

Eddie nods. If he only gets one more time, it’s going to be in his bed while he’s looking at Steve’s face.

****

Steve’s been sucking his dick lazily for what feels like forever, using the spit and precum dripping down Eddie’s length to open him up. It’s so messy, and loud. God, he’s so loud when he moans and slurps up as much of the mess he can.

“Need you inside me, Steve, please,” Eddie begs, bucking his hips up for more. “Fuck me.”

But Steve doesn’t stop what he’s doing and Eddie’s fingers dig into his scalp as he whines through an orgasm that doesn’t quite come out of nowhere, but shocks him just the same. Steve groans as he swallows every drop, sucking changes to licking, the quick pace slows to something that makes Eddie shiver. The temperature of the room gets warmer and suddenly Steve looks up at him and grins.

“Still need me inside you?” His voice is rough.

“Always,” Eddie can’t quite catch his breath, but he spreads his legs further apart, and waits for Steve to get up, get closer. He needs him to fill every space before he’s gone. “Always need you.”

He wishes he could keep his mouth shut. He doesn’t wanna ruin this or make this more than what it is. He wants to enjoy what they’ve got in this moment.

Steve’s lips crash against his as he lines himself up and pushes into Eddie. He’s not as stretched as he thought, but he welcomes the sting. Any ache is a good ache if Steve’s the one causing it.

His dick twitches, tries to get hard faster than physically possible. It aches, too.

Everything about being fucked by Steve aches.

But there’s a tension there too, some string trying so hard to snap between them, and he isn’t sure if he’s gonna make it if it does. He hopes it holds, hopes that coming together like this mends it long enough for Eddie to find a way to keep him.

Steve’s found a slow rhythm, lips gently trailing kisses against his jaw and neck as he pumps in and out. It’s the first time there’s no rush between them. Eddie wants to live here.

“God, you feel so good,” Steve groans against his neck, sucking a bruise that Eddie wants to tattoo on his body. “Like you’re built just for me.”

“I was, I was,” Eddie gasps as Steve hits the right spot again and again, slow and steady. He’s never been fucked like this, like the finish line doesn’t matter. “Made for you, I swear.”

“Yeah, baby, you were,” Steve kisses the corner of his mouth as his hand drifts between them, grips Eddie’s hard cock. “Maybe you can fuck me after this. Think you can?”

Eddie nods but he doesn’t actually know. Coming a third time that quickly might be an impossible task, even for someone as desperate and horny as he is.

“I bet you can. You always like giving me what I want, huh?” Steve’s breath catches and his hips pause before he starts up again, faster, chasing his own release. “Fuck, I’m gonna come.”

Eddie wants it more than he wants his own release. He wants to feel Steve shaking apart above him, filling him up with warmth. He needs it.

He leans up and captures Steve in a kiss that breaks him apart and puts him back together, so world-ending that it almost feels like he’s entered a new galaxy. He doesn’t even know he’s coming until he feels Steve gasp against his mouth, and his stomach feels warm and wet.

Steve moans into his mouth, feeds his pleasure to Eddie as he comes inside him.

He doesn’t wanna come down from this high. He feels so good, and Steve feels so good inside him and against him, and he wants to live here in this moment forever. He has to tell him.

“I think I love you more than the idea of wearing a C,” he says. It sounds so fucking dumb after everything they just did, and everything they’ve been doing. “Please don’t go.”

Jesus, he sounds pitiful.

He is pitiful.

But Steve’s looking down at him in awe instead of pity, like he’s been waiting to hear him say that forever. He doesn’t know how they could go from barely speaking to whatever this is, whatever it may end up being, but he’s going to be a little braver than he has been.

“It might be too late,” he says, voice broken, but still hopeful. “I don’t know if they’ve already made a deal.”

“Tell them you can’t. Or I can retire and follow you,” Eddie hates that he sounds so desperate, but Steve’s smile is growing. “Or we both retire and give each other the D every night instead of caring about a C.”

Steve laughs so hard, his soft dick slips out of Eddie and his head falls to his shoulder. Eddie’s laughing, too, beaming with pride that he was able to get Steve to smile. Eddie wraps his arms around him, keeps him close.

“You make a pretty convincing argument,” Steve says when he stops laughing. He hasn’t moved from Eddie’s shoulder. “Not sure I’m ready to retire yet. Neither are you.”

“I could be.”

Steve lifts his head and smiles down at Eddie. “I don’t want you to be. We’ve only got a few years left anyway. We can make it work.”

“Make what work?” Eddie asks, shit-eating grin in place. He just wants to hear Steve say it.

“A relationship,” Steve rolls his eyes, but plays along. He’s a good sport. That’s why he’s probably gonna earn a C. “Or is teammates with benefits the furthest you’ll go?”

“I could be convinced to be your boyfriend,” Eddie nips at his bottom lip.

Steve raises a brow, nips Eddie’s lip in return.

“One condition,” he says, feels Steve’s cock hardening against his thigh. He wants him again, even if he doesn’t come, even if he can’t get hard again yet.

“Go on,” Steve nudges his jaw with his nose, licks a stripe down his neck. Eddie’s pulse races against his tongue.

“You promise to always fuck me a little bit like you hate me.”

Steve laughs again, shakes his head. “I can’t do that, Eddie.”

“Why not?” He pouts.

“Because I never hated you.”

Eddie pulls his face back up so he can kiss him, wet lips crushing together as desperately as they possibly can.

“Then always fuck me a little bit like you love me,” he whispers against his lips.

“I can definitely do that.”

[mr-cha-n]

The Pen Pal Project

Pairing: Choi Seungcheol x reader

Genres: Fluff, fluff, and more fluff

Warnings: Profanities, sappiness, cheating (third party), a tinsy hint of angst

Word Count: 10.2k

Summary: Over a decade of handwritten letters later, you can happily say that the Pen Pal Project was your greatest success.

Reaching up into the top shelf of the wardrobe, toppling onto your tiptoes in order to do so, your fingertips brush against a satin, bowed box. Pulling the box down to your chest, you perch at the edge of your large, periwinkle-sheeted bed, gingerly untangling the pretty blue ribbon and lifting the lid off of the top. Leafing your fingers through the stacks of paper inside, you feel a wave of nostalgia enrapturing your body. Your head rolls back, eyes falling shut as your mind is overtaken by memory.

"Honey, the guests will be here soon!" Your husband yells out from down the stairs.

"I'll just be a few minutes! Can you take the cake out, my love?" You call back, praying you have the time to reminisce before everyone arrives.

You gently pull out the first letter from the top of the stack.

April 5th 2007

Dear pen pal,

I am writing to you because my class has signed up for the Pen Pal Project this year. Because I don't know who you are or anything about you, I am going to answer some of the questions my teacher has given us, and hopefully you can answer them too in your reply!

1. What is your name?

My mom said that I shouldn't give out any personal information, so I can't actually answer this question. My friends all call me Dusty, so you can call me that too.

2. What hobbies do you enjoy?

I am really into skating, starcraft, hockey and rocks. Yesterday, me and my friends went out to the outskirts of the city to see if we could climb the big oak trees, and I found a piece of dolomite next to the river! I really want to find a meteorite but they're very rare so I think it'll take a lot of searching. I also play in my school's field hockey team - my mom wants me to stop playing because last week I cracked one of my teeth, but I think she's going to come around when she sees our tournament next weekend.

3. What do you want to do when you grow up?

My dad is a teacher and my mom is a nurse, so my parents want me to go to university and become a doctor or a professor, but I'd quite like to be an astronaut or Indiana Jones, whichever pays better.

4. What's one thing you want to know about your pen pal?

I want to know everything about you (more than one, sorry)! What's your school like? What year were you born in (mine is 1995)? What do you do for fun? Do you like dogs? Do you have a phone?

I'm not sure if I'll get a response to this letter, but if you do want to, I hope we can keep in touch for a long time :)

Yours truly, 

Dusty

May 21st 2007

Dear Dusty,

I'm really glad I got your letter. Some of my friends got letters that didn't even have a return address, but thankfully I get to write back to you and answer some of your questions. I was also born in 1995 so we are same-age friends. I'm finding this year in school a bit harder because of all the tests we are doing, but we just started doing football again in Physical Education so it's not too bad. Sports are my biggest hobby - I do football and basketball and I want to start wrestling this year. I mostly like to go and play with my friends at the park. I'm on some of the school teams, but my friends tell me I'm too competitive to play professionally.

I also really like gaming and reading. I finished the Protoss campaign over the winter break, but I've had to stop now that school has started again. My friends are all really excited about the announcement of Starcraft II, are you too? Will you keep going with the original or switch to the new one?

When I grow up, I either want to do sports or I'll study to work a good job in business or finance. Being an astronaut would be so cool! You'd definitely be able to find a meteorite then.

About your other questions, I don't have a phone yet but I do love dogs. When I'm older I want at least one dog, if not more. Do you have any pets?

I hope that we can keep writing to each other too - it's fun to have a secret friend.

From,

Cherry

January 4th 2011

Dear Cherry,

Sorry it's been a while - I've been really busy over the winter break, but I just had my tonsils removed so I have a bit of free time in recovery to write this letter. Before you ask, no - I didn't wake up during the surgery which I was a bit disappointed about, but I did manage to swallow enough blood to make me throw up after waking up so that was kinda crazy.

I can't believe that your friend did that! One time my friend Jiwoo got suspended for unscrewing all of the lightbulbs in the science classrooms, but that was because of a dare, not her own free will! I've never been suspended before, but I came close for tardiness last year. Have you ever been suspended?

I also appreciated your inquiry into the Heiran - Hyunki situation. I can't believe I forgot to update you in my last letter, and you'll be glad to receive it! Unbelievably, they got back together. I know it's what we feared would happen, but apparently Heiran has made some of her own mistakes in the relationship, so she's willing to overlook the whole thing. Absolutely crazy - I think that she's just scared to break up with him, which I suppose is a fair concern - just not for a 16-year-old. The whole situation really made me think about the purpose of relationships and love. All of my friends keep rushing into relationships this year, and I feel like I'm being left behind. I just don't care as much as they do, but they act like I'm some alien creature for not wanting to make out with someone in the school locker rooms. Perhaps this isn't something you can relate to, but it would be nice to know if you think I'm justified in my opinion or if there really is something wrong with me.

The thought of starting school again after the break is actually making me want to run away to the mountains. My sister is leaving for university and I don't want to go to school without her. Of course, I can't tell her that, but it's going to be really lonely walking in on my own. Plus, my parents' attention is firmly on me now, so I can't mess up in exams this year. The amount of pressure is going to make my head explode. How are you feeling about the year? I guess because you have the football season to look forward to your mind is probably focused on that?

I'm thinking about rejoining hockey this year. Even though it was too much last year, I did really miss it and I think I can better manage my time now that I don't have to be in the choir anymore. I think my mom might have a fit when I tell her, but the way you talked about sports really made me miss playing. Plus, apparently, I need an outlet for all these teenage hormonal emotions seeing as I'm not getting it on in the McDonald's parking lot.

Anyways, I need to get going now so I have time to blend some fruit up before lunchtime.

Yours truly,

Dusty

A chuckle leaves your lips as you read back over your letter. You'd been so worried about who was dating who and, more importantly, who you weren't dating. You were always so grateful for someone to discuss your fears with - your friends at the time certainly didn't understand. You'd had your first kiss a few weeks after you'd sent the letter. A party at a friend of a friend's house had devolved into typical teenage party games and you'd been pressured into kissing a boy whose name you couldn't remember. In fairness, you remembered that he was cute - curly dark hair and sharp cheekbones - but you'd made a joke about not being able to engage in tonsil tennis and he hadn't laughed so you'd known he wasn't the one.

June 27th 2011

Dear Dusty,

I finally asked out Myunghee and she said yes -

Nuh uh, skip that one.

October 23rd 2013

Dear Dusty,

All the kids in the year have planned a big Halloween party to celebrate our last your of high school. It's pretty exciting - apparently, they've bought some major decorations and they're going to set out the host's house to have scary surprises in all the rooms. I wouldn't be surprised if someone dresses up and decides to chase drunk kids around all night. It's a bittersweet feeling - our last Halloween party, but perhaps our best? Do you have any plans for Halloween and the holidays? I'm thinking of doing a Superman costume, but I'm wondering if that's a bit too obvious?

I put off writing about it first because I didn't want to open the letter with bad news, but I wanted to let you know that me and Myunghee broke up. Even though it's pretty sad, I've known it was coming for a while. If you remember my last letter, I told you about the fight that we had about next year, and I think that was really the beginning of the end. I was hoping that we could make it work a bit longer, but she said that we'd just be dragging out the inevitable and I guess she's right. I think I'm still a bit annoyed about the rollercoaster of the last month seeing if she's known the whole time that we should break up but I'll get over it. It's mostly just weird not having her around all the time. Everywhere feels a lot emptier now. I'm glad I can write to you about this - it's a bit awkward talking about it with my friends because they are also friends with her, but I can actually be honest with you. 

Anyway, I hope you are doing a bit better than me. Your date sounded pretty cool - I've always wanted to go on an ice-skating date but I'd be a bit scared of falling over and making a fool of myself so I admire your confidence. If you are still seeing him, I hope he's treating you well. Chocolates and flowers at least once a month - and you can tell him I said so if he asks. If you're not seeing him, I (pre-emptively) can't believe he did that to you! What a jerk...

Are you watching the AFC Champions League final? A few friends and I are going to go down to the bar to watch it together and pray for a good result - either way, it should be fun. I suppose your dad will have it on in the house, but I'll be shocked if you tell me you're going to watch it with him after last time. Best to avoid the flying wrath of a TV remote. There's something about dads and sports, isn't there? I wonder if I'll be like that when I'm an adult. I hope not, but I already get too into it so maybe it's inevitable.

Yours,

Cherry

That date had been a good one as far as you remember, but the memory has become blurry after all the times your husband has taken you ice-skating since. You'd dated that guy for a few more weeks after this, but he made a weird comment to one of his friends when he didn't think you could hear it so you knew he wasn't the one.

Finishing high school and moving on to university had been a formative time for you. You gained a sense of identity that you'd lost as a teenager, and reconnected with your younger self. A smile crinkles your lips as you think about that time. The stupid escapades of adults let loose on their own for the first time, the lifelong friends you'd made, and the wealth of knowledge you'd gained about yourself and about the world. Your husband never attended university so he never experienced any of that, but you suppose he did have his own life-changing revelations during this time.

February 8th 2015

Dear Cherry,

I'm in crisis and I need your advice! I haven't spoken to anyone else about this yet, but I have a feeling building in me that needs to be released and you always give me the best advice. I'm thinking about dropping out of my program. 

I know this sounds super rash and stupid, but I really hate it. I find it so dull and confusing, and everyone else is much better at it than I am. And, if I'm really being honest, I only chose medicine because my mother wanted me to. I would feel so stupid revealing that to anyone else, but I think you already knew that was the case. I'm struggling to keep going with it without the passion that other students seem to have, and when I hear about my friends' courses they sound so much more interesting.

If I actually go through with it, this may be the last letter I write to you. But, given that I survived my mother's wrath, a life studying literature or archaeology sounds so much more fulfilling to my brain even if not my pockets. What do you think about all of this? Is it worth following a passion that may lead to nothing or sticking it out with a stable, reliable path to future success without enjoyment?

As you know, I make very impulsive decisions, so I need your help in deciding whether or not this would be one of those.

Yours truly,

Dusty

P.S. I got asked to the dance by this really attractive guy who works at the coffee shop on campus so not everything is going wrong.

P.S.S. I found a rock which I thought was a meteorite but it was actually a magnetite - better luck next time!

You'd dropped out of your medicine major the moment you'd received the reply. Of course, your pen pal was a lot more supportive of your decision than your parents were but they got over it in time. Your fate had been decided the moment you'd stepped out of your first archaeology class - heart beaming and mind brimming with all of your plans for the future. Despite your parents' apprehensions, it had been the right decision. It didn't take long for your burning enthusiasm and insatiable appetite for learning to be picked up by your professors, and by your second year in the major you'd been invited on an exclusive trip one of your professors was going on with a handful of other students. 

It was around this time that you'd started wondering more about your pen pal. The flutters of your heart each time the small envelope appeared in your dorm pigeonhole had been drowned out by the rush of university life. Reflecting back, your obliviousness to your own emotions makes you shake your head in disbelief. But then, you'd met Daejung. He'd taken you out dancing, brought you flowers and laughed at your jokes, and you began to wonder if he was the one.

May 16th 2017

Dear Dusty,

Officially, you may know me better than anyone else. I know I already sent you a letter this month that you probably haven't even received, but I realised that it is the tenth anniversary since I received your first letter. Not to be soppy, but it truly means the world to me that we've been able to keep up this correspondence this whole time. 

As far as I'm aware, we won the Pen Pal Project. No one else I know stayed in touch with their childhood pen pal for nearly as long as we have, and I think that we deserve some kind of reward for it.

But, beyond any records we must have broken, I'm most grateful for the friendship we have developed. In any other circumstances, I would have said that it was impossible for people who have never met to be each other's closest confidants, but I can confidently say that there is nothing I wouldn't tell you. If it turns out you've been some 60-year-old man this whole time, consider me logged off from this life. 

My wish is that we can keep doing this for as long as we are able to hold pens in our hands, and even then I'd consider getting a scribe to write the letters for me.

As a gift, I feel that it's about time that I tell you my name - my real name. If you (and your mom) still don't feel comfortable sharing yours then Dusty is still perfectly fine for me, but the fundamental disconnect between telling a person your deepest secrets and not telling them your name has gotten too overwhelming for me, so it's time to rectify that.

Yours, 

Seungcheol

P.S. If you still want to call me Cherry that's also a-okay!

The first time Seungcheol revealed his name to you, you remember you'd dropped the letter in shock. As if knowing his name changed things, as if he didn't live a completely separate life from you already. It wasn't like knowing who he was would change anything about your life - you had no connection to him other than your letters - but the intimacy of his name had you staggering a few steps backwards, eye bulging from your head at the fallen letter. It seems rather overdramatic now, but in hindsight it always does.

This letter had been a bit of a turning point in your relationship, beyond the end of the nicknames you'd used for ten years. You'd always felt close enough to Seungcheol to pour your heart out to him in writing, but the closeness you felt was compounded in this letter. You wipe a few rogue tears from your eyes as you read back over it, moved by the raw declarations Seungcheol had been brave enough to express. If you really think about it, this letter was the first time you'd truly tried to picture what your pen pal looked like. Up until this point, you'd been enflamed by his words and unloaded all of your deepest thoughts to him in return, but this was the first time that you'd realised that your pen pal was a real man your age that you were already deeply connected to. The thought had been scandalous in your mind, and the shame that overwhelmed you when you'd met up with Daejung later that day made it hard to look him in the eye. Fantasising about a man you had never seen before had felt as bad as cheating, and the various forms of him that had appeared in your dreams for the rest of the week only compounded your guilt.

August 4th 2018

Dear Seungcheol,

Happy 24th Birthday! It's actually shocking to me to think that we're this old already, but I think mid-20s is a label that suits you well these days. Jokes aside, I hope you have a really lovely day doing whatever it is you have planned. I'll assume you're off bungee jumping with Jeonghan or on an all-inclusive golfing retreat until you tell me otherwise. In all cases, I hope that you are surrounded by friends and family to remind you how special you are.

Also, congratulations on your new job! I can't believe you didn't tell me that you were interviewing for it, but I suppose you didn't want to jinx anything by putting it into writing. I always thought that coaching would suit you - you could scare me into coming to practice any day! You should be really proud of yourself; I know that I am.

You'll never guess who got in contact with me this week! All out of nowhere, I got a message from Heiran of all people inviting me to her and Hyunki's wedding! I guess I was really wrong about that one... For their sake, I hope that their relationship is a bit better than it was in school. I was very surprised to be invited seeing as we haven't spoken in years, but I suppose it'll be nice to see everyone from school again. Perhaps I should tell Daejung that he can't come and you can be my plus one instead - I think you know the couple better than he does!

Another one of my friends just gave birth to a baby boy. All of this marrying and birth-giving is really screwing with my head. As far as I was aware, that's a thing that proper adults do and we're nowhere close to that yet. Even if I know that 24 is a very common age to be doing that stuff, it's still more than my brain can process. Once again, I am left behind as everyone else moves on to the next stage of life. I'm grateful, at least, that Daejung is pretty relaxed about all of that stuff. Hoping we can have a few more years before we start thinking about any of it - I still have so much travelling to do, things to see, and meals to eat before I flush all of my money down the toilet.

Jiwoo got really excited this week because she thought she saw Lee Byunghun walking past her work, so that made me feel a bit better about my life priorities.

Yours truly,

(Y/n)

P.S. I'm spending extra money to make sure this gets to you on time, so if it doesn't you cannot blame me.

P.P.S. My new address is - XXX

That year you and Daejung had finally moved in together. The apartment was small and in a less-than-nice area, but you'd been ecstatic at the chance to live with the man you loved. It had been a rough year before that - Daejung had missed out on a job offer for his dream role and you weren't able to go abroad on an excavation because he didn't want you to leave for months just as you were moving in together - but you'd seen the new apartment as symbolic of the new beginning you two would get together.

You'd also thought a lot about meeting up with Seungcheol that year. Looking back, it was crazy that you never did. Both of you expressed a will to do so, but something had always prevented you from actually doing it. You were completing your postgraduate degree part-time and working a service job that was supporting both you and Daejung at the start of the year, moving in together in the middle of the year, and Seungcheol had gotten busy with his new job in the latter half of the year. Even though you had never met up before, that you weren't able to that year was the first time it felt like a loss.

December 12th 2019

Dear (Y/n),

I've been thinking about you a lot recently. Writing to you has been the highlight of my month for a while now, and I'm so proud of you for everything you've achieved. It's amazing that you're already being asked to go on your first excursion as a proper expert, and I hope that Daejung comes around to the idea of you being away for so long. I'm sure that I'll miss your letters so I can imagine he's feeling much worse about it - but that shouldn't stop you from going. You might find an ancient vase and accidently release a curse upon the world, or discover a new dinosaur! Even if you go and are just digging up dirt with no results, I'll still be impressed.

One of the kids I mentor asked me if I knew what Starcraft was yesterday, and at that moment I really felt my age. I think it's led to some level of introspection I usually avoid, but one thing that has become clear to me is that I'm very grateful for this friendship. I hope that one day soon you can perhaps travel to Daegu and visit, or I can come see you in Seoul. Or perhaps it will take away the great fun of having a pen pal if we meet - you may be expecting someone completely opposite from me and seeing me may ruin the magic?

But the main reason I've been thinking about you is because I finally finished Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. You were very correct in your recommendation - I can't believe it took me so long to read it! Summary of thoughts: I'm raging and also apologising to my mother and grandmother every time I see them. You have to send me another recommendation now that I'm finished - maybe some sort of mystery or thriller if you know any?

Yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. I suppose I should send you a whip and brown fedora and then you can officially say you're Indiana Jones. 

January 7th 2021

Dear Seungcheol,

I'm glad you had fun on your trip! The picture you sent of the mountains was absolutely gorgeous and was a hilarious reminder that I have no idea what you look like. I keep saying I want to go to Japan but can hardly find the time, but after seeing the picture I really must go now.

I have some big news.

Daejung proposed and we're getting married!! 

I know it's a bit out of the blue - I was surprised too. He's been putting off any mention of marriage for the last few months so I assumed he just wasn't interested but I guess that was all a cover to stop me from suspecting the proposal. It happened a few days after I got back from Vienna. It was really sweet - he threw this big party with all of our close friends and family to celebrate the end of my project and proposed at the end of the night. I was pretty shocked which I suppose was the point, but I'm really just excited that we're taking that step together.

My main purpose for writing is that I wanted to invite you to the wedding. It's a big step, but it wouldn't feel right to get married without one of my oldest friends there. If you decide you don't want to and you want to keep our friendship strictly on paper then I'd totally understand. But if you do want to come, we'd love to have you with us. I'll cover any travel and hotel fees if it means I can have you here.

Your continued support via letter means the world to me. 

Yours truly, 

(Y/n)

The wedding. Oh, the wedding.

A few nights before your wedding Daejung had come to the hotel you'd been staying in that week to finalise all of the preparations and observe some old-fashioned pre-wedding rituals your mother insisted on as if you and Daejung hadn't lived together for years before that. He'd given you a marriage gift a bit early because you were supposed to go straight to your honeymoon in Japan on the day of the wedding. Your heart fluttered in excitement as you opened the box, electrified at the surprise of what your future-husband could have gotten you to symbolise your union together. The reality had been, you could now admit, disappointing. The necklace had been pretty, and certainly not cheap. A silver heart set with a gleaming diamond to match the ring that Daejung had picked out for you. You'd smiled, thanking him for the gift and tried to ignore the discontent brewing in your own heart.

The first time you saw Seungcheol was at your wedding reception. Because of his job and the distance, he hadn't been able to make your morning ceremony, but the fact that he even chose to come all that way meant a lot to you.

"Who's the hunk with the green scarf?" One of your bridesmaids, Jiwoo had asked, pointing out a man standing alone by one of the drinks tables. 

For a moment you didn't want to believe that it was him, but who else would be at your wedding that you didn't recognise? Tall and broad with fluffy hair and a handsome-beyond-belief face, Seungcheol had been a picture to witness. All dressed up in a suit, you thought he looked rather like a super spy or a CEO from one of those corny romance books. In any case, you were shocked to your core that that was the man you'd spilt your darkest secrets to for over a decade now.

"Oh, I think that might be Seungcheol," You breathed, voice wavering with uncertainty even though you were now certain it was him.

"Seungcheol - hmm, why does that name sound so familiar?" Your other bridesmaid, Mirae, pondered, her brow crinkled as she tried to identify the name in her memory.

"Oh my god, you invited your pen pal to your wedding?!" Jiwoo exclaimed, spinning on her heel to give you an incredulous look. 

"Of course I did, I've known him for almost as long as I've known you!" You stuttered, your head still trying to play catch-up after the dizzying appearance of said topic of conversation.

"Why didn't you tell me that your pen pal was so hot?" Mirae scoffed, mock fanning her face in a way that made you feel shamefully irritated.

"Surprisingly, he didn't mention it in his letters." You responded, offering her a deadpan look and an eyebrow raise. She shrugged, but you'd known that wouldn't be the end of that conversation.

About 15 minutes later, you'd finally managed to make your way over to Seungcheol's perch. It was hard to decipher if your delay was because of all of the people trying to talk to you at the same time (perks of it being your wedding) or because of the unexplained fear and anxiety that was bubbling inside you at the prospect of finally meeting him face-to-face. As you finally made eye-contact, and he'd flashed his teeth at you in an infectious grin, you'd felt all of that melt away from you.

"Hi," You greeted, not able to wipe your own smile from your face.

"Hi," He responded, a peace settling between the two of you. "You look really beautiful."

Your face was all ablush and you felt a sense of dread at what would happen if you started like this. Starting down at your dress, you were unable to look back up at him.

"Thank you, I had it specially made," You smiled, your eyes gleaming as he chuckled at your joke. "I really appreciate you coming all this way, it means so much to me that you're here. Please let me know if there's anything you need - have you eaten yet? I can get you some-"

"It's okay, I'm feeling great." His hand reached out to still your own, which you hadn't realised was nervously picking at at skin around your nails.

"I can't believe that this is how we're first meeting," You breathed, a sense of shyness overwhelming you at the feeling of his skin against yours.

"If you ask me, we've definitely met before. Just not physically." His words had your head spinning so much that you were struggling to remember that you were both at your wedding.

"Poetic," You agreed, trying to present at least outwardly calmer than you felt inside. 

"Oh! Before I forget, I got you this." Seungcheol extended a hand out with a small, wrapped box in his palm. "It wasn't on the registry, and really it's only for you so I thought I should give it to you personally instead of putting it on the gifts table."

"That's really generous of you, you didn't have to." You offered him a shy smile, taking the gift from him. The neatly wrapped box had been laced shut with a pretty blue ribbon, and you remember the thumping of your heart in your chest as you undid it. A small gasp involuntarily left your mouth, your hand moving to cover it in shock. 

"Important backstory - I found it a few years after you told me you were looking for it. I wanted to just send it to you then, but I thought that I should keep it for when we met. I never thought that it would take so long to do so, but I hung on to it just in case."

A small chunk of dark meteorite sat in the box in your hand. Looking up and down between Seungcheol and the rock, you felt your eyes well up with tears that you had to force back down to not ruin your wedding makeup.

"Oh wow," Your voice cracked, "Seungcheol, this is seriously so sweet. I'm shocked that you kept this for me."

You felt unable to tell him all of your emotions, hoping that the gratitude in your eyes was enough to express them all to him. The sweet, adoring expression on his face told you that he understood without you needing to say any more.

That, unfortunately, had been the highlight of your wedding.

Not an hour later, it had all gone to shit, starting with a well-intentioned comment from your best friend.

"The wedding is so gorgeous (Y/n), I'll have to take notes for my own." Jiwoo gushed, pointing at all the flowers that had now been revealed as people moved into the outside area of the venue.

"I know, Daejung did a really good job picking out this place." 

"I'm so happy for you two, especially after the whole Vienna situation."

A bolt of alarm rang through your bones as you a struck still by the comment. You didn't miss the panicked look Mirae sent Jiwoo, who looked equally as confused as you felt.

"What-" You tried to compose yourself amongst the rushes of fear that were threatening to render you completely useful. "What do you mean the Vienna situation?"

Jiwoo was now floundering, looking between you and Mirae with a gaping mouth.

"I just meant - I mean, nevermind - I thought... I thought you knew?" The last whispered part had your heart sinking to the bottom of your chest. Mirae was refusing to meet your gaze, and that was telling you all you needed to know.

"Did something happen when I was away?" You demanded, your voice slick with emotion.

"(Y/n)..." Mirae started, but the withering look you gave her immediately stopped her placating.

Four words later and your entire life had exploded. He cheated on you. Whilst you were away, no less. And then, as if it would magically make everything better, proposed instead of telling you.

The look on your then-husband's face when you stormed up to him demanding to know the truth was enough to convince you of the reality of your friend's words. You could now admit, amidst all of the hurt, anger and disgust you felt towards Daejung at that moment, your overriding emotion was utter panic at the thought of having to tell all of your guests that the wedding was to be stopped and annulled. A trivial emotion amongst the personal grief you were experiencing, but undoubtedly the cause of your greatest distress at the moment.

You didn't see Seungcheol as or after it all happened. Any pretence of calm instantly slipped the moment you began speaking to your family and friends - a speech which ended with you in floods of tears being escorted away from the hosts of shocked guests. It was only hours later that you realised that you hadn't said goodbye and, worse, that you'd invited him all of this way just to witness the shitshow that was your failed marriage. Too ashamed to burden him further, you chose not to write to him for months afterwards He gave you space too, and you weren't sure if you felt grateful for it or utterly alarmed that he may just never want to speak to you again.

May 6th 2021

Dear Seungcheol,

I'm deeply sorry for my complete silence, although I suppose I do not need to explain to you the reason for it. My hand has been itching to pick up my pen and write to you every month that goes by, but only now have I overcome my own shame and disgrace to do so. First of all, I have to sincerely apologise for making you waste your time coming to such an awful event. I can only hope that you managed to get a slice of cake before it all fell apart so that I could at least offer you the condolence of a delicious snack. I also must apologise for completely abandoning you during your trip to the city. I was really looking forward to showing you my favourite spots, and I let my own misery get in the way of being a good host.

I hope you are well. As I haven't heard from you in a little while, I don't know what's going on with you so I have little to comment on. But, at the very least, I wish for your good health and general happiness. If you are worried about me, you don't need to be. I have taken the last few months to put my life back together, and I feel like I'm making better progress these days - hence the letter writing. I'm thinking of getting a dog for companionship since I have vehemently sworn off men for the foreseeable future.

I also wanted you to know that I treasure your gift. As it turns out, meeting you and getting a meteorite was the best part of that night, if you'll believe it. I have it kept in a special box on my desk just to make sure that it's safe and that I'll never lose it. I wish I could have given you something in return. If we end up meeting again I'll have to start planning now to make sure my gift is just as good as yours was. Speaking of, you are welcome to come and stay with me any time you want, and we can rain-check that city tour. Alternatively, if you want to ignore this letter and never speak to me again, I'd also understand.

Yours truly,

(Y/n)

May 19th 2021

Dear (Y/n),

I'm so glad to have heard from you, and that you are doing okay. As much as I appreciate all of your apologies, none of them are necessary. If anything, I feel that I should be apologising to you for leaving you in the dark for just as long as you left me - you had a much better excuse too. Although I didn't want to overwhelm you with letters after such awful news, I realise now that leaving it so long was not the right course of action.

I think getting a dog is a fantastic idea. Company is something you'll never lack with a dog around, and I can agree that dogs are much better companions than men.

As for me, I am doing well too. It's mostly just been a cycle of work and sleep, so I haven't got much to report, but I'm hoping for a more eventful summer. Visiting the city would be a wonderful way to achieve this, so perhaps closer to the time I'll write again to arrange coming to stay with you. I would love to see you again soon. My only other news that I know you'd be interested in is that Jeonghan has seemingly met someone. He's keeping all of the details close to the chest, so I'll have to update you in the next letter when I know more, but it's an exciting revelation. He seems very happy, which is all I can hope for.

When I told you that I wouldn't stop writing to you until I could no longer hold a pen in my hand, I meant it. I hope that you will never again think that I wouldn't want to speak to you -it's the highlight of my day.

Yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. I'm sure you don't want to talk about the wedding, but just so you know - he was a fucking fool to let you go.

You remember the relief you'd felt at getting that letter. The uncertainty of whether or not Seungcheol still wanted to talk to you was enough to keep you on edge for the entire 13 days that it took for you to get his response. But, as always, your friend was reliably there for you.

The time you'd taken over those last new months, and the few months afterwards had been tumultuous, but cleansing. In your post-marriage clarity, you'd realised all of the opportunities you'd missed because of Daejung. Deciding that you wouldn't let him take anything else from you, you'd arranged to go on a long excursion you'd waved off for wedding planning when you'd first heard about it. Learning about the project from one of your old professors who'd transferred to Cairo University, you were offered a position on the ongoing expedition in Saqqara. Although Egyptology was not your speciality, your master's dissertation on the mummified scarab beetles found at Saqqara in 2018 and your tutor's reference got you onto a low-level position on the expedition.

Six months in Egypt had been exactly what you needed to move on from Daejung. At that time, your relationship with your closest friends was also on the rocks, and it was really only Seungcheol and your family that you missed during your time abroad.

December 23rd 2021

Dear Seungcheol,

I've finally got some time off over the holiday break, and I'm ready to give you the download of everything that's happening here in Saqqara! But, first, I'm going to have to beg you for the details of your double date with Jeonghan and Jooyeon. How was it!? Was Jooyeon's friend nice? Were there sparks? How many times did Jeonghan bring up embarrassing stories about you as a kid?

I hope it went well - you deserve all of the happiness in the world.

Now, onto the important stuff!

I'm not sure if you saw on the news, but we've made some pretty huge finds since I got here, Obviously, I can't give myself all the credit, but just being part of the team that made it happen is pretty incredible. We've found multiple tombs of dignitaries from the reign of Ramses II. I'm doing a bit of research on one of the tombs, belonging to a military leader called Hor Mohib, but I have to keep taking breaks every 20 minutes to pinch my arm and remind myself that this is reality.

My Arabic has gotten significantly better now - I was rather rusty when I first got here. I'm able to have reasonably complex conversations with the Egyptian members of the team and the locals helping out, and it's pretty cool for my nerd brain to be surrounded by a group of people equally as excited to be digging up ornamental graves as I am.

I'm really glad I came. It's hard to admit, even to you, but my life really fell apart after the wedding. Honestly, I didn't even know if I wanted to keep working in archaeology or if I wanted to jet off to Iceland and buy a farm. And the worst bit is that it's been so lonely since. Losing Daejung was one thing, but I haven't spoken to Jiwoo or Mirae since. I can't bear to look at them knowing that they hid that secret from me for so long. Maybe one day I'll be able to forgive them, but it certainly won't be now. Your letters have been my only sanctuary of human connection in these past few months, and that's something I'll have to add to my list of neverending gratitude I hold for you.

I realize now that I haven’t been very good at expressing how much your friendship means to me, how it's been my lifeline in this mess. Your letters are the only constant, the only thing that feels like home even when I am surrounded by ancient wonders and new colleagues.

And so, I have a confession. I want to see you again. I want to tell you all of this in person. I can't say what will come of it, but I know that after all of these years, after all the letters and confessions and secrets shared, we owe it to ourselves to meet in a way that isn't rushed or overshadowed by anything else.

Maybe we could meet halfway between Seoul and Daegu, or I could take the train down to visit you? I need to see you again, not as a guest at my ruined wedding, but as Seungcheol, the one person who’s known me at my best and worst, and still chooses to write back.

Let me know what you think.

Yours truly, 

(Y/n)

P.S. I've included a small rock I found on the dig - nothing special but it reminded me of our old conversations. I hope it makes you smile.

P.P.S. Please don't feel pressured to say yes, but know that I would really like to see you again.

You can't quite recall what possessed you to write such a bold letter. Perhaps it had been the desert sun, the thrill of discovering something new in something old at Saqqara, or simply your immense loneliness.

Days had turned into weeks as you anxiously waited for a response, checking your makeshift mailbox daily. Then one morning, there it was—a simple white envelope with Seungcheol’s familiar sloping handwriting.

January 17th 2022

My Dear (Y/n),

I've thought about meeting you countless times since our first encounter. After reading your words, I realise that I've been waiting for this just as much as you have. How's this - I'll take the first train up to Seoul when you're back and we can spend the day together. No distractions, no interruptions - just you and me, finally getting to know each other beyond the pages of our letters.

I'm looking forward to me, more than I can express. Until I see you again, take care, and know that I'm counting down the days.

All yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. the best bit about the date was spending time with Jeonghan. No more needs to be said.

You stare down at the letter, your heart pacing as fast as it had the first time you'd received it. Beautiful words from a beautiful man with a beautiful soul.

You'd gotten back to Seoul by the end of March 2022, and, as promised, Seungcheol came to visit you that first weekend in April. When he'd stepped off the train in the bustling station at the heart of the city, you were there to greet him. You'd spotted him standing there, taller even than you'd remembered, with that same easy smile that had always leapt off of the page.

The world around you had seemed to blur as you walked toward each other, nerves fluttering in your stomach but quickly dissolving as he pulled you into a gentle, lingering hug. The connection between you, once confined to words on paper, felt more real than ever.

You spent the day wandering through the city, visiting old bookstores, sipping coffee in quiet cafes, and talking as if no time had passed since that fateful wedding reception. Every shared laugh, every story swapped, deepened the bond you'd forged in ink.

June 14th 2022

Seungcheol,

It feels like only yesterday that we were wandering through Seoul together, but at the same time, it feels like a lifetime ago. I keep finding myself replaying that day in my mind - how easy it was to talk to you in person, as if we'd done it a hundred times before. It's strange, isn't it? How someone can feel so familiar, even when they're a whole new experience at the same time.

I've been thinking about our conversation in the bookstore. You said something about how some stories are better left unfinished, that sometimes the best part of a tale is imagining what could be. I can't stop thinking about that - about how some stories do need an ending, and how others are meant to keep going, even if we don’t know where they’ll lead.

There's something I've been meaning to tell you, but I haven't found the right words yet. I guess I'm still figuring it out myself. It's just that being around you feels different to how I expected. There's a comfort, yes, but also something more, something I can't quite define. It's like we're on the edge of something new, and it's exciting and a little terrifying at the same time. I'm not sure if you feel it too, but I hope you do.

Anyway, I don't want to get too ahead of myself as usual. I'm just really glad we've reconnected, and that we've managed to keep in touch after all these years. 

It means more to me than I can say. Let’s make sure our next meeting isn’t too far off—I’m already looking forward to it.

Until then, take care of yourself, and don’t work too hard. I’ll be watching the clock until I see you again.

Yours, 

(Y/n)

That day in April 2022 hadn't been the last time you saw Seungcheol. You'd made that mistake once in the past, and neither of you was willing to do so again. He continued to come to Seoul to see you, and you travelled down to Daegu to meet him and his friends. Your letters ceased for a while over this time due to the frequency you were seeing each other, but for the first time that didn't bother you.

You remember, with teary eyes, the day that you finally confessed your feelings.

It was 25th September 2022, after a whole summer spent together, and the air was tinged with the first hint of autumn's chill. THe leaves were just beginning to turn, painting the streets in warm hues of amber and crimson as you walked side by side in a quiet part in Seoul. The easy laughter and conversation that had marked your friendship over the years felt heavier that day, as it something unspoken was lingering in the crisp air between you.

You had spent countless days together that summer - visiting museums, trying new restaurants, even embarking on a spontaneous week trip to the coast. Each moment with Seunngchaeol had felt like a dream, a slow realisation that your heart was no longer just content with friendship. But with that realization came a fear you hadn't expected. What if this was enough for him? What if risking everything by confessing how you truly felt would unravel the beautiful bond you had spent so many years cultivating?

That evening, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, you found yourselves sitting on a bench overlooking a small pond. The water was still, reflecting the fiery colours of the sky, and for a long moment, neither of you spoke. Seungcheol had been quieter than usual that day, his expression pensive as if he, too, was wrestling with unspoken thoughts.

You felt your heart pound in your chest, each beat louder than the last as you tried to summon the courage to speak. The words were caught in your throat, but the fear of losing him if you didn’t say them was stronger. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, you turned to him, your voice trembling as you broke the silence.

"Seungcheol," you began, your hands nervously fidgeting in your lap. He turned to look at you, his eyes soft and attentive, encouraging you to continue. "There’s something I need to tell you… something I’ve been feeling for a while now."

His gaze didn’t waver, but you noticed the slight hitch in his breath, the way his fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the bench. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of you, everything else fading away as you gathered your thoughts.

"I—" You paused, trying to find the right words, but there were none that seemed adequate to express the depth of your feelings. "I think I’ve fallen in love with you."

The admission hung in the air between you, a fragile confession that you could no longer take back. For a moment, time seemed to stop, the world holding its breath as you waited for his response. You searched his face for any sign of what he might be thinking, every second feeling like an eternity.

Then, without a word, Seungcheol reached out, his hand gently cupping your cheek, his thumb brushing away the tear that had escaped down your cheek. There was a tenderness in his touch, a warmth that radiated through you, calming your racing heart.

"I’ve been waiting to hear those words," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Because I’ve been feeling the same way for a long time too."

His words washed over you, a wave of relief and joy so overwhelming that you felt your breath hitch. You had been so afraid, so uncertain, and now, with his quiet confession, all those fears melted away. He leaned in slowly, giving you time to pull back if you needed to, but you didn’t. You closed the distance between you, your lips meeting his in a gentle, tender kiss that felt like a promise—one of many yet to come.

Hearing the doorbell ring down below you, and the sound of your husband's voice calling out to say he'll get it, you rush forward to reach your favourite letter - just one more before you return to reality.

November 3rd 2023

My dearest (Y/n),

I'm so glad you're having such a good time in Rome - I'm rather jealous of all of your sightseeing and pasta-eating. Kkuma and I are holding the fort down at home, although I had to be scolded yesterday for breaking the toaster when I tried to make Kkuma some breakfast. I sent some more suncream over in the mail because I know you've already run out and forgotten to get some more - I'm not sure if this letter will reach you first, but if it does look out for the parcel.

Now, I'll admit, the main purpose of my letter is something a little different than simply catching up, as much as I love those letters too. I thought about doing this once you returned home, but you've already had one man declare his everlasting intentions to you after you returned from an excursion, so I thought it better to avoid rehashing those memories (we'll do this again when you're home, but I thought it might be fun to do it this way).

If you have the suncream box already, then you may have a sneaking suspicion of what I'm about to say.

I've loved you for as long as I've known you. As a twelve-year-old kid, I didn't know that was what it was, but the level of obsession I had with writing to you and receiving your replies was beyond any normal friendship. You were always so fascinatingly cool, out of reach, and genuinely yourself. Being in love with your pen pal isn't always an easy thing - the cold sweats I would wake up to after dreaming about meeting for the first time, the constant updates about a life that I wasn't a part of, the announcement of your engagement to another person. I tried to pretend it wasn't real for a long time, see other people, because of how silly I felt about being in love with someone I'd never met.

And then I saw you standing there, in that beautiful white gown with your hair up and that gorgeous smile on your face. Did you know that my hands were sweating when I gave you that gift? I don't think I've ever told you that before. I became certain then that I was completely screwed. Entirely head over heels.

I'll never be happy that that marriage didn't work out for you - all I've ever wanted is your happiness, be that with me or someone else. But I won't lie and say that nothing has made me happier than the consequences of it.

This past year has been the happiest time I've ever known. Every moment with you is filled with such joy, and every moment without I'm left with a record of memories to remind me of the time we've had together. When I look at you, I don't just see my past, but also my future. I see a lifetime of shared experiences, of laughter, or quiet moments that mean more than words ever could. I see us growing old together, supporting each other, and playing trash hockey on the wooden floor of our kitchen.

You are my best friend, my partner, the love of my life. And I want to spent every day making sure you know just how much you mean to me.

So, that being said, will you (Y/n) (Y/l/n), do me the honour of marrying me?

All yours,

Seungcheol

P.S. Please don't feel pressured to say yes, but know that I would really like it if you did.

You fiddle with the precious ring on your left hand, your fingers lingering over the smooth chunk of dark stone in the centre.

A gentle brush of a hand on your shoulders brings you back to the real world, tears now flaking on your cheeks as you sniffle at the words on the page.

"Are you okay, darling?" Seungcheol asks gently.

"Yes, sorry, I know the guests are here now - I just wanted to look at these," You reply, holding up the letters for your husband to see.

You watch his expression soften, a suggestion of moisture in the corner of his eyes as he looks over the written words.

Swooping down, he places a long, loving kiss on your forehead, letting your bodies rest together in harmony for a moment.

"I can't believe they still make me cry," You huff, letting out a soft laugh. "And I don't even think I can brush it off as hormones."

"Seeing that just looking at them has me tearing up, I don't think I can either." Seungcheol smiles, stroking the back of your hair affectionately.

"They're probably getting antsy downstairs, right?" You say, beginning to pile the letters back up into the box.

Standing up, you lean forward to press all of your passion and adoration onto your husband's lips. You can feel his intensity matching yours, his hands finding the side of your hips to keep you stable.

"They can wait," Seungcheol replies, his forehead leaning softly against your own. "They're not the ones who are pregnant after all."

You laugh, a sound filled with both joy and contentment, feeling the warmth of his love surrounding you. "I suppose you're right," you say, a smile spreading across your face. You take one last glance at the box of letters, a testament to the incredible journey you've both shared—one that began with innocent childhood exchanges and blossomed into a love story more profound than you could have ever imagined.

Hand in hand, you and Seungcheol make your way downstairs to greet your guests, the letters safely tucked away in their satin box. As you step into the room, you know that no matter what the future holds, you'll always have those words, those memories, and most importantly, each other.

[bluewxrld07]

Hurt My Feelings (Ethan Edwards)

Warning(s): mutual pining, angst, cheating, making out, groping/touching

Ethan Edwards x femalebff!reader (there's also a little bit of Luke Hughes x reader oops ;) )

Summary: Based off of Tate McRae's song Hurt My Feelings :)

She wears your number, but I've got what you like

She's got you right now, but I'm still on your mind

The rink was cold. It always was. No matter how many times she's sat in one, whether it was for a tournament or for just one game, she still was cold no matter what.

She was wearing her UMich gear; supporting a hockey sweatshirt in the the familiar navy blue with yellow lettering underneath her jacket, a pair of grey jogger sweats with their team logo, a UMich hat, and a pair of UMich mittens made by the famous Edwards mother herself. A gift from her two birthdays ago after learning y/n would be attending the same college with Ethan.

Y/n found her seat in the third row opposite from the benches, wrapping her blanket around her legs as she sat. Once she was situated, she looked around the arena, watching as people piled into their seats. Some making their way down to the glass to watch the boys warmups up close.

That's when her eyes stopped and did a double take, following back to the familiar head of platinum blonde hair standing right behind the glass, standing directly across the rink from where y/n was sitting. She wore the oh so familiar home jersey with the number 73 on her back, with leather skinny jeans.

Her makeup looking a tad too overdone, a large sign sitting front of her and her friends with a thirst quote written out on it in big letters. The chomping of the girl's gum also being very noticeable. Y/n fought the urge to roll her eyes as she watched Ethan's girlfriend rave with her friends, probably bragging and talking about the boy himself.

Ethan was not someone who enjoyed signs with messages such as the one written on his girlfriend's board. Course the signs were fine when it was younger kids coming to watch, but he always said it looked desperate.

When y/n and him would lay outside talking about life, he always stated that he would want his future girlfriend to be the one sitting in the stands with his family. Not the one behind the glass with a cliche sign. Sure he didn't mind it when it came to fans, but when it was his girlfriend, it was a different story.

He wanted to be able to come out for warmups, search for her and smile when he did. Be able to look up at her every so often in between drills, waving, making gestures, mouthing something out to her, anything like that.

Y/n was lost in her thoughts when Ethan's mom's voice rung out happily. "Ugh I'm so glad you made it before me! I thought I was gonna be too late and we wouldn't get our usual spots." she jokes, a large smile on her face as she sat next to the college girl pulling her in for a bear hug.

She supported a homemade sweatshirt customized with her son's number and name on the sides of the sleeves, mittens with 73 on both of them as well as a UMich tie blanket.

"You know me, I like to be early thanks to always having parents fashionably late to everything," y/n chuckles as they pulled away from one another.

Ethan's mom gave her a look, knowing exactly what she meant. "Oh sweetheart trust me I know. Why do you think I always tell your parents an earlier time nowadays? So then they're actually on time to things."

"Yeah no kidding. I'm always the one stressing."

As the pair talked, the seats and the edges around the glass began to fill with students and fans. Before they knew it the music started to blare out, cheers increasing as the teams came out for warmups.

Y/n clapped alongside the elder woman, the pair still conversing as they watched the boys skate around the ice.

Y/n's eyes fell to the familiar head of brown hair poking out of the helmet he wore, watching as he shot into the net a few times. Not6 long after did her eyes find his girlfriend once again, seeing the girl bouncing up and down like a toddler and banging on the glass eyeing Ethan as he skated around.

She watched as her and her friends banged on the glass and shook the sign made, trying to get him to notice it.

"She's absolutely embarrassing." y/n hears next to her, looking over to Ethan's mom, whom has a disgusted look on her face while staring at the platinum head of hair across the rink.

"Not a fan of her?" she asks, watching the woman shake her head immediately.

"I tried giving her a chance. I truly did. But she is just not anywhere near his type. Or even respectful for that matter," she admits while shaking her head, finding her song back on the ice. "She got drunk at dinner with us the first time we met her. The second time we met her she got into an argument with my husband." Shay says.

Y/n stays silent and just chuckles lightly, focusing back to the boys on the ice.

Ethan peers up at the stands, scanning them before his eyes find her own. He smiles largely with a goofy smile and nods his head up as if saying 'what up'. Y/n feels her face heat up, butterflies in her stomach.

She nods back at him with a humored smile playing on her lips. His gaze falling to his mom next to her blowing her a kiss. She smiles warmly at her son and sends a million kisses back and cheers for him, watching his focus go back to drills.

Y/n wanted to take that and rub it in his girlfriends face, whom was still desperately trying to get his attention. Yet she was better than that, so she just stayed content in her seat as she watched the boys.

After a while, it was nearing the end of their warmups as her and the older woman had small talk about how school has been. They kept their eyes on the team in front of them, soon seeing Ethan skate up towards the glass on their side of the rink, eyeing y/n whom looked at him with a questioning expression.

He points towards the tunnel where they came from as if saying to meet him over there, her nodding immediately as she unwrapped herself from her cocoon.

She tells the woman next to her she will be right back, the woman shooing her off with a knowing smile.

Y/n makes her way down the steps towards the tunnel, feeling a certain blonde's eyes on her, making her try to hide a humored grin on her face. Ethan skates over slowly and greets some of the younger kids waiting by the entrance for the players.

She leans over the railing with a small smile on her face, watching as he makes his way towards her removing his helmet to look at her clearly.

He reaches his hand up as she re moves her mitten and reaches her own hand down, doing their little handshake together.

"You cold over there Rudolph?" he jokes, earning and eyeball from her.

"Yeah yeah, haven't heard that one before." she scoffs and he laughs at her expression.

"You want to meet the guys and I for dinner afterwards? We might hit up Bell's Diner," he says, and she immediately feels her insides warm.

He's asking her to join him. Not the blonde who was insanely upset on the other side of the rink. Her.

"Yeah I might be up for it." she shrugs, earning a smack to her hand that still hung with his.

I should've known better, you should've known better than me

"Ow, okay, ow, Ethan! Stop that hurts!" Y/n cries out with a laugh, the boy now sitting on her as she was laying on the couch, video game controller in his hands.

"No you stay here." he laughs.

She squeaks out and tries poking at his sides to get him off of her, watching as he twitches from her hands. "Ethan I have class in like fifteen minutes! I swear if you don't get off of me, I'm-"

"What? You're in no place to call the shots, you can't move," he jokes out looking down at her in amusement. Her arms fall other sides, looking up at him with a scowl, then crosses her arms over he chest.

Ethan laughs down at her before unpausing his game, y/n's mouth dropping offendedly. She begins to huff and puff dramatically, her head turning away from him as her sighs get louder each time her ignores her.

Once she sees that her dramatic sighs are not doing the trick, she conjures up a devilish grin.

It's a few moments of silence, but then before Ethan knows it, the girl underneath him begins screaming. He immediately jumps up in surprise from the loud yell she conjures up, the girl now scrambling off the couch and up the stairs to get her bag for class.

She hears his footsteps coming up the staircase as well as the calls of her name with some empty joking threats such as ones like 'I'm gonna throw you into the pool' or her favorite, 'I will force you to play in my spot the next home game'.

She's zipping up her jacket and throwing her backpack over her shoulder by the time her reaches her, an amused smile on both their lips.

"Ethan, no." she giggles, watching him stalk closer to her. She puts her arms out to keep him away. Her breathing getting heavy in between laughs as he gets closer.

She finds herself backing into a wall, completely screwed now as he now stands directly in front of her. His hands find her waist while his eyes are piercing down into her own, a devilish smile on his lips.

The closeness between them made her insides churn with excitement and nervousness, unsure of what was next to come.

"I wanted to spend time with you," he drags out, she rolls her eyes. "I don't see you much anymore."

"I was here yesterday."

"Okay but still, You get so busy with classes this time of year, and I have Hockey. So I don't see you a ton." he says, leaning his forehead on her own, giving her waist a squeeze.

She swallows lightly, her breathing becoming heavy as her heart. pounds in her chest. "I miss you." he mutters, his eyes finding hers.

Her eyes look into his, their faces so close now. Her heart was yelling at her to close the distance, but her mind kept screaming back and chanting girlfriend girlfriend girlfriend.

She watched him close his eyes, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

Y/n closed her eyes tight, taking a deep breath before place a hand on his chest and lightly pushing him back. "I've gotta go Eddy." she sighs, and walks away from him.

Ethan stayed in his spot, her scent still there, captivating as ever. Once he hears the front door close, his head drops back as he lets out a groan and rubs his hand on his face.

"Fuck"

I'm tryna tell myself I'm gonna stay away from you

I should've known better, you've got a way that's gonna weigh-weigh on me

It was New Years Eve, and of course the Hockey team was throwing a big party. They threw one every year. Y/n always helped plan them, per Rutger and his girlfriends pleas.

This year made it harder for her to say yes. She's been avoiding Ethan as much as she can, ignoring his texts and calls. Trying to distance herself from the need she had for him inside. She thought she was doing what was best for the both of them. Their want and need for one another was climbing. So she put a stop to it. At least is trying to.

The Hockey house was definitely bumping, the time being eleven o'clock. So close to ball drop. Y/n accepted that she would either end up kissing some random guy at midnight, or better yet, nobody at all.

Each year, she wished for Ethan to be that one she kissed. To feel his lips on her own. Yet it always ended up being nobody.

Of course Ethan knew she never had a new years kiss, so he would place his lips on her cheek after midnight and claim that that could count as her new years kiss.

She doubted she would get that now. After she had been avoiding him like the plague, stating she was so busy with classes and homework. Or that she was too sick to answer the phone sometimes.

She knew Ethan would see right through her each time though. Even if he wouldn't admit it, he knew her well enough to know her tell when lying.

So now here she stood while So High by Doja Cat played, next to Rutger in a game of beer pong against a couple of the Football boys, in a dress that she felt was too short. But was complimenting her figure so good per Rutger's girlfriend.

She was tipsy, but not drunk. She really didn't feel like throwing up tonight, better yet not having to deal with being hungover the next morning. It was enough of a buzz that she was able to feel at ease, and let loose for the night.

Rutger pulled her in for a hug as they cheered, her sinking the Football guys' last cup watching as they chugged it down.

Y/n a sip of her own drink, Rutger saying he was going to take a break and dance with his girlfriend, Y/n nodding and shooing him away to go be with her.

The girl made her way through the crowd after she finished making another drink, the crowd dancing as if in slow motion with the colored lights flashing around.

As she took a sip of her drink, she stopped in her tracks seeing the familiar boy she had been avoiding.

He was dancing up against his girlfriend, the girl basically grinding all over him as he kissed her neck. One hand gripping the underside of her breast while the other stayed glued lowly on her hip.

Y/n rolled her eyes, feeling the bile in her throat as she looked around the room to find someone. She thought it would be better to try getting over Ethan, by getting under someone else.

The crowd cheered as Rude Boy by Rihanna began to blare through the speakers, her lips turning up into a smirk. Y/n downed the rest of her drink and set her cup down on a nearby table, her eyes finding a familiar pair of blonde, curly hair.

"Hughes," she calls over the music, his head snapping over and down to her with a smile. "What's goin on little y/n/n?" he says back.

He was leaning against a doorway while talking another buddy of his, she held her hands out for him. "Come dance with me Luke," she challenges, his eyes scanning her figure as he bit his lip. Luke hands his cup to his buddy, immediately sliding his hands into her own, watching her lips move and sing along to the lyrics of the song.

They found a spot in the crowd, her eyes still locked on his. Sure Luke was attractive, everything about him was. Which is why she didn't mind how it felt dancing up close with him.

His hands slid away from hers, the girl turning around so her back was up against his chest while his hands found home on her hips.

Her hands slid up over her stomach, to her waist, over her own breasts before finally reaching behind her and sliding them into Luke's hair. The pair swayed together to the music as she sang along to the lyrics, Luke's head falling to the crook between her neck and collarbone.

Luke was tall, only a had a couple inches on Ethan, but still pretty tall nonetheless. His head fell over her collarbone fully, his lips finding a spot right on the bone that made her sigh deeply and grip his hair tightly.

Her eyes began to search in the crowd for the familiar brunette, stopping when she found him with his girlfriend still in their same position.

His eyes, though, staring into her own. Y/n knew she had him in a trance now. Her lips still singing along to the lyrics.

But that's when something else snapped in her. Her eyes leaving Ethan's and looking back down to the boy who was breathing heavily into her neck.

"Lu," she breathes, the boy humming and squeezing her hips as an answer. "I need you to help me out." she admits and he nods, his eyes finding hers for a second. He watches her eye dart towards the brunette and his own girl, Luke's eyes slowly fading over to Ethan and the blonde.

Luke's chin sat softly on her shoulder as they still danced against one another. The boys stared back at one another, Ethan's eyes looking into his best friend's with warning, as if daring Luke to test him.

Luke was always one to help stir the pot if it needed to be. Especially when he knew how both y/n and Ethan felt about each other, but danced around it for many reasons.

So of course when Ethan gave him those eyes, Luke's mind was more than happy to push his best bud past his limits.

Y/n's stayed on Luke's side profile while he stared at Ethan with a smirk blooming onto his face. As they swayed, the bridge to the song came in and Luke's hands began to move. One hand slithered its way to y/n's throat and gripped lightly, causing her to sigh at his touch.

The other hand slithered up too, but stopping on her left breast, squeezing and toying with it over her dress. The feeling of Luke's hands in the right spots made y/n's head rolled back onto his shoulder as she let out a sigh mixed with a breathless moan.

She knew Luke was still staring back at Ethan, who still held eye contact with him as well, Ethan's nostrils flaring.

Luke's eyes broke their stare a moment later, finding home on the soft spot in the crook of her neck he found earlier. Ethan watched y/n's chest heaving up and down as his best friend touched her and kissed her like that.

"Shit, Lu," she sighs into Luke's ear. She could feel him poke her backside as they ground against one another. "Who knew you knew what you were doing." she chuckles breathlessly, earning a hum from the curly headed boy.

"Gotta do what I gotta do to pull his head out of his ass, huh?" he says back to her, his head lifting up to stare back at her.

His hand left her throat, and began to slide down her waist, her hips, to her thighs, his hand moving towards her inner thigh and sliding back up slowly.

Her breathing was starting to become messy as he got closer to where she was dying to be touched. Whether it was Luke or Ethan, in which she hoped Ethan would be the one to do it, but wasn't complaining when Luke knew how to push her own buttons.

Before Luke could finally reach where she desperately needed it, she was snagged from his arms and thrown over a shoulder.

She looked back up to see Luke standing there, tongue poking the inside of his cheek as he saluted to her. She smirked at him in amusement, knowing exactly whose shoulder she was over.

Y/n was taken up the staircase and into the familiar brunette's room, the door shutting and locking behind them.

Ethan set y/n down on her feet once they were in his room, the girl’s eyebrows scrunched up in a frown. That frown changed when she saw his facial expression. 

She couldn’t pinpoint all the emotions running through his mind, but the ones she could see were anger, sadness, annoyance. 

Lust. 

His anger was what she could see the most running through his eyes, arms crossed over his chest. “Did you need something?” She retorts, testing the waters that were already running high. Ethan scoffs down at her, his arms being thrown up in anger at her. “You’re fucking with me right?” He snaps, making her shake her head at his tone. 

“I’m not doing this,” she chuckles bitterly, trying to walk past him but he grabs her arm. “Of course you won’t. You haven’t wanted to in weeks! I don’t hear shit from you, and the next thing I know I'm watching both of my best friends all up on one another? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Y/n lets her tongue run over her teeth, not daring to make eye contact with him. She might’ve been buzzed, but she was not drunk. She was sober enough to be aware of her surroundings, but so aware of them that she was holding back her actions. Because liquid courage was surely a thing right now, and she could not hold back much longer. 

“Hello? You gonna answer me y/n/n?” He says in a short tone, making her snap out of her trance. 

She could hear Rutger’s voice downstairs saying fifteen seconds till midnight, y/n really wanting to get out of there before she couldn’t control herself anymore. 

All these feelings have been building up, her avoiding him not helping her case. Actually made it worse, because of the way her body and mind craved his presence and touch. 

“I can’t right now, Ethan.” She musters out, not making eye contact as she says it. Ethan frowns at her, confusion setting in. “Do what?” He asks. She shakes her head at him, the boy watching as she swallows hard, her chest heaving. 

“Ethan,” she says, her tone was one he had only a few times. It was a warning tone. She still wasn’t looking at him in the eyes. The sound of everyone downstairs counting down till midnight and the music blaring being heard. “You should really get down there,” she says and motions to the door. “Your girl will be wondering where you are at midnight.”  

Ethan storms up to her, annoyed that she won’t even acknowledge him or look at him. 

“Look at me,” he says, his tone stern as he grabs her jaw softly but enough to force her to look at him. Her eyes catch his, he sees that she’s got a certain emotion running through them. 

“What’s going on, y/n?” He mutters to her softly this time. "Why won't you talk to me? What did I do?" he pushes, watching as the gears turn in her mind.

He watches her lip quiver, soon biting it to hide the way it shook. It shouldn't have made him feel a way, but it did. He wanted to be the one biting that lip. Let alone taking away the pain he could see in her eyes.

Y/n rolls her eyes as the crowd yells out ‘one’ followed by a ‘happy new year’. She looks back at him, still staying silent. He says her name one last time sternly. 

“Y/n.” 

“Goddammit Eddy.” she snaps before her hand wraps around his neck, pulling him in for his lips to finally slam onto her own. 

He didn’t take any time to process what was going on, just instantly kissing her back with just as much passion as she did. His hand going to both sides of her head, their lips moving in sync. 

The way his lips felt on hers was nothing like she's ever imagined. They felt like they belonged on her own. What caught her off guard the most, was the fact that he didn't even hesitate to kiss her back.

That's when she realized he felt the same way she did. The attraction was there.

His tongue grazed hers, making his hand slide down and grip her backside. When her mouth opened in a gasp, he slid his tongue inside to let it massage hers.

Her soft moans were like music to his ears, his hands roaming anywhere and everywhere. He wanted to hear them over and over again. It was him making her make those noises. Not Luke. His lips left her own and trailed down her neck, stopping on the same spot that Luke's had once been on. Y/n didn't think it could feel any better, but Ethan made it feel insatiable.

Her hands ran through his hair as his hands roamed wherever they could reach, her gasps and breathless moans going into his broad shoulder. But as he kissed along her entire chest, her conscience came creeping in.

"Ethan," she sighs, the boy's hands raising the hem of her dress slightly, gripping her thighs trying to get her as close as he could in that moment. All that was on his mind was her. She tried his name once again, the brunette still not answering her as he searched for her lips to shush her.

"Ethan hold on," she says in between their kisses. He whimpers in her mouth, making her feel so incredibly weak. She wanted to cave so bad. Wanted to give him all of her. Let him have his way with her, and her with him.

But she couldn't. She couldn't do that.

"Your girlfriend, Eddy." she mutters as she pulls away, putting her hand on his chest. They're both breathless, Ethan going in one last time, teeth going down to drag out her bottom lip which earned a moan from her mouth.

He takes a moment with her, chests heaving against one another.

"You stay here," he whispers, his hands coming up to squeeze her waist.

She just hums with a slight nod. "I'll be back." he says, placing one last kiss on her lips, leaving her in the middle of his room in a disheveled state.

He didn't return that night.

She's where you're waking up, she's got you making up such pretty boy excuses

Oh but I know one thing, she can't stop it happening in my mind

It had been two weeks since the New Years incident. Two weeks since y/n and Ethan had shared that moment in his room. Two weeks since he left you there, only to not return.

He had been the one avoiding her now. But in this case, not under his own choices.

Every time y/n showed up to the Hockey house, she was there. Every time y/n went to a home game, she was sitting in your spot, going to see him at the tunnel instead of y/n.

When she'd text him to meet, he'd say the same things.

E :)

I can't today, I'm trying to focus. I've got a lot going on rn.

E :)

I wish I could, but I've got some stuff going on with the boys.

E :)

I would say yes, but the gf and I have plans tonight!

She knew it wasn't him making the choices, or sending those texts. He always dropped whatever he was doing to see y/n, to be with her.

The boys would've invited her to come with for one, and for two she had planned on seeing some of the guys that night. So y/n knew it was a lie from him.

The classes y/n had with Ethan and the boys was what made it more obvious. He always made up an excuse as to why his girlfriend needed him to sit with her. Or she would already be sitting in y/n's spot, so she'd find somewhere in the back to sit.

Y/n's heart began to ache. She knew deep down that it wouldn't have just happened so easily between them two, and that she couldn't stop him from making that choice. It just hurt because she should've composed herself better that night, then maybe they would've turned out being back to normal at this point.

Y/n sat in the library with Rutger's girlfriend, the pair doing homework in one of the study hall rooms. Y/n had been zoned out, her eyes locked on Ethan and his girlfriend, whom sat outside in the main study hall area talking all happily with one another.

It should be her he is sat with. Them two laughing at some stupid joke Ethan tried making about classes or the assignment at hand. It should've been her getting the quick kisses stolen in between work.

"You really need to get better at hiding your emotions, y/n/n," Rutger's girlfriend says.

Y/n snapping out of her trance and looking up at the girl whom had the whiteboard marker in one hand, the other on her hip with an unfazed look on her face.

"What emotion? I'm fine." Y/n says, her tone squeaky and uneven.

"Yeah and I'm a hockey wag," the blonde girl jokes, making y/n shrug.

"Technically speaking, you are. Unofficially," she pushes, nearly dodging the marker thrown her way.

"Not the point!" the girl laughs, y/n smiling at her comment.

She comes and sits next to y/n, sighing as she sees what her friend was witnessing. Then turns back to look at her a few moments later.

"What happened on New Years?" she asked, watching her friend pale and look at her lap.

"You cannot say a word," y/n says. "I won't-"

"Not even to Rutger."

"Damn that bad huh?"

Y/n nods. "We kind of sort of," she trails off. "madeoutinhisroomandIhadtobetheonetostopitfromgoingfurther"

The blonde looked at her like she had two heads. "I cannot decipher your fast speaking tone, so slow it down for me thank you."

Y/n sighs. "We made out in his room, and I was the one who had to try and stop it. Because if I didn't, we would've kept going." she admits, watching her friends eyes light up.

"I was wondering why he looked so dazed and why his lips were swollen when he came back." she says in a knowing manner.

"Seriously, you cannot say a word! He didn't even come back to me that night, so it means nothing." y/n says as she closes her books, packing up her stuff.

"Girl, he didn't come back because his girlfriend knew something was up."

"I kind of figured with how she's been about me lately."

"Yeah trust me, everyone has noticed." y/n threw the whiteboard marker back at her friend who laughed.

"Don't stress about it seriously. She is just jealous of what you guys have," she explains as they begin to leave the room. "I'm not one to be for cheating, trust me. But with how she treats all of us behind the scenes, I'd say your secret would be safe with me."

Y/n shook her head, her eyes finding Ethan once again. "Yeah well," He must've felt someone staring because his eyes look up from the platinum blonde girl next to him, smile dropping when he finds the familiar girl's stare.

"He can count his day because he's breaking my heart doing it." The two girls then walk away, Y/n's eyes leaving Ethan's.

His eyes following her still as she left the hall.

She's got you right now, but I'm still on your mind

[c-e-d-dreamer]

Top Shelf Love: Chapter 3

A/N: Happy Four Nations Championship!!!! Do you like how I timed this perfectly with puck drop? 😉 I've been absolutely loving watching this tournament and watching Team USA win for Johnny! And it has reinvigorated my motivation to write our beloved, Hockey Cassian. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter! It was both fun and challenging writing a hockey game from Nesta's perspective when she doesn't know the game lol. See the end chapter notes on AO3 for some fun hockey facts

Read on AO3 // Chapter Masterlist // Previous Part // Next Part

Cassian

Cassian smiles down at the yellow fabric in his hands, the strokes and loops of silver sharpie in the one and nine, the dark blue lettering declaring Velasquez. It’s perfect, exactly what he needs, and already, he starts to imagine the reaction it will garner. A thanks, of course. Maybe a smile or a laugh. Hopefully, another dinner.

But perhaps that’s getting ahead of himself.

With a decided nod, he tosses the jersey over his arm, finally slipping out of his truck. He’s never been more thankful to have the vehicle back in his possession. As nice as the rental car the team had provided him with once he arrived had been, there’s something comforting about sitting in this particular cab again. About the soft worn leather seats. About the distinct smell of hockey that never quite leaves the carpet of the truck floor. Hell, even the deep red stain from when Mor decided to open and then subsequently spilt wine is a comfort.

He still remembers when he first purchased the truck. It was his first major purchase after signing his first NHL contract. It had all been so surreal back then, being drafted, being signed, being on a proper NHL sheet of ice for the first time, and even now, Cassian can’t help but think back to when he was just a boy, and what that boy would think if he saw what they grew up and became.

Shaking his head of those thoughts, Cassian continues along the sidewalk until he reaches the storefront of Grumpy & Sunshine Books. When he peers through the front window, he spies Nesta standing just behind the counter. Much like the previous time he stepped inside the bookstore, Nesta has a book opened in front of her.

He's beginning to think it's a regular pose for her.

For a moment, all he can do is stare at her, at the way the lights of the bookstore dance off the golden brown strands of her hair, the soft sweater she’s wearing that’s just oversized enough that the wide collar exposes a sliver of collarbone and shoulder. She has her jaw cradled in the palm of her hand, clearly relaxed and at peace within the quiet of the bookstore. Unguarded in a way he's never seen. Even with the distance between them, Cassian can see the pretty pink that starts to spill across her cheeks, and he has to bite down a smirk as he finally strides inside.

“Did you get to the smutty part?” Cassian asks as he approaches the counter.

Nesta slams her book closed, raising her head to glare at him. “Is this going to become a regular occurrence with you?”

Cassian merely smiles in the face of her ire, holding up the jersey so that Nesta can see the back of it. “One jersey, signed by the entire Preds team. As promised.”

Nesta blinks a few times, but after a moment, she reaches forward, taking the jersey from his hands. “Thanks. I’ll be sure to pass this along to Gwyn.”

“And I also have these,” Cassian continues, reaching into his back pocket. “Three tickets to the Kraken’s home opener.”

Nesta doesn’t say anything, doesn’t move to take the tickets from his hand. Instead, she merely continues to watch him, eyes narrowing slightly. The reaction, the way those blue eyes flare, just has Cassian’s grin growing. It’s certainly a look he’s growing familiar with, one he’ll be adding to his ever growing mental catalog. He waves the tickets, hoping the gesture is enticing, but when that doesn’t work, he merely sets them down on the counter, sliding them over to her.

“You want me to go to a hockey game?” The way she drawls the question practically has Cassian's blood singing.

“How can I be expected to play my best if you’re not there to cheer me on?” Cassian offers, earning an eye roll and a scoff, exactly as he intended.

“Are you going to ask me to wear your away jersey and everything?” Nesta fires back, a smirk tugging up the corner of her lips.

The sight has Cassian’s heart kicking up with excitement, and he chuckles softly. “Been reading a lot of hockey romance novels recently, sweetheart?”

“You wish.”

Despite her words, the pink color that spills across her cheeks betrays her, gives her away. Gods, Cassian would give anything to draw out that pretty color elsewhere. Would give anything to trace that color with his fingers, his lips. Would give anything to see if the pale freckles brought out by that blush are echoed anywhere else across her skin.

“Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but you can’t wear my away jersey even if you want to.”

That gets her attention. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I don’t have my away jersey. In fact, I don’t have any of my equipment. It’s the team that makes sure the jerseys get washed, that makes sure all the gear stays cleaned, that our preferred sticks are ordered and stocked up. There’s a whole equipment team that’s hired and paid just to do that.”

“So, what?” Nesta asks dryly, crossing her arms. “All you do is just show up?”

“Pretty much. Show up, look pretty, play great hockey.”

Nesta snorts softly, barely more than a low, breathy sound, but Cassian still delights in it all the same. It’s so close to a laugh. Gods, he'd do unholy things to get a laugh out of her, a real laugh. Would it be light and melodic? Would it be low and refreshing? Would it start loud and taper off into little more than breathy giggles? Would her nose scrunch? Would crinkles pop beside her eyes? Would those eyes flare with the joy, the surprise at a laugh tearing out of her? Would the easy serenity remain on her expression when the laugh finally subsided, a soft smile and pink cheeks the footprints in the sand following the warm, gentle wave?

“Cassian.”

“What?” Cassian blinks, realizing belatedly that Nesta was speaking and he most definitely was not listening.

Nesta shakes her head and rolls her eyes again. “You’ve taken too many pucks to the head.”

“And you can watch me take some more to the head on Tuesday.”

“Switching tactics?”

At Cassian’s wide, winning grin, Nesta sighs softly, finally picking up the tickets. She reads them over, and for a moment, Cassian is entranced watching a little dip form between her eyebrows, watching her lips tug down in the barest hint of a frown. Would she ever let him slide his thumb against her skin, to smooth away those lines and those worries?

“If you’re worried about the seats not being together,” Cassian jumps in to assure her. “The team only gives each guy two tickets, so had to ask one of the other guys for the third, but Donny promised me the families have the whole row and they’re not really sticklers on who sits in which seat.”

“In row… S?” Nesta asks, holding up the tickets so Cassian can see the seat listed. “You want me to go to a game, but aren’t even going to get us first row?”

Cassian laughs easily at that. “I’m not a miracle worker, sweetheart. Do you have any idea how expensive seats along the glass are? It’s how the team gets a huge chunk of revenue each game.” Nesta hums at that, but doesn't say anything else.

At her continued silence, Cassian tries to keep his easy smile in place, refuses to let it slip or let his nerves truly show. "So, you'll be there?"

"We'll see," Nesta tells him, but she tucks the tickets away in between the pages of her books.

It feels like a win to Cassian, the same high as watching the puck sink into the netting, and he doesn't bother biting back the way his grin widens in response. But before he can say anything else, his phone starts to vibrate in his back pocket, the reminder he set for himself so he wouldn't be late. He quickly digs his phone out, silencing the alarm, and clears his throat, offering Nesta an apologetic wince.

"I have to get going, but… I'll see you around?"

Nesta merely waves her hand, opening back up her book and settling her cheek on her fist again as she returns to whatever whirlwind romance sweeps her away between the parchment and ink. Cassian knows a dismissal when he sees one. Even if he still desperately wants to know what's happening in her book, what has her so enraptured and desperate to return to the characters and story. He's quite confident he could listen for hours if she wanted to retell him the entire plot. He's quite confident that he'd give anything to know what her favorite romances are, what her favorite moments are, just so he can recreate them.

"Bye," Nesta snaps, her voice dry and annoyed.

Cassian clears his throat awkwardly again, realizing that he was definitely staring like an idiot. Again. With a nod, he finally moves toward the door of the bookshop, knowing that Coach will kill him if he's late for practice.

~ * * * ~

Cassian rolls his shoulders and neck, making his way down the hall and toward the training room. His hair is still wet from his shower, water droplets dripping from the strands and dampening the shoulders of his shirt, and he's definitely feeling the way he pushed himself during practice. But despite it all, there's still a lightness bubbling in his chest, and not just from his interaction with Nesta this morning. He feels like he's starting to mesh with the coaching staff, feels like he's really buying into the system they play here, feels like he can feel chemistry starting to build with the boys.

It's going to be a great season, a great year, he just knows it.

Awbrey is already sitting on one of the massage tables in the training room when Cassian steps inside, getting his shoulder wrapped in kinesiology tape, and Cassian offers him a nod as he walks past. He drops his bag in the corner and grabs a pair of compression boots, settling on one of the open massage tables. He gets to work sliding his feet in and securing the straps nice and tight.

"Need any help with that?" Cresseida asks, stepping over to Cassian with a raised eyebrow. She truly might be his favorite member of the training staff.

"I'm good," Cassian assures her, setting the boots to his desired level. He lets out a relieved sigh when the massage starts, already working through the knots and helping with the soreness. "Although, you could grab my phone from my bag for me. So I don't get bored."

"Exactly what I get paid for: doing menial tasks for hockey players."

"Aw, come on, Cress." Cassian puts on his best pout, gesturing with his arm to the now empty training room. "There's no one else here that needs attention."

Cresseida settles him with an unimpressed look that would definitely send him skittering away if he weren't currently pinned down by the compression boots. She narrows her eyes, the bright blue of them practically icing over, and Cassian offers her his most charming smile. It seems to do the trick, even as she sighs and rolls her eyes, but she steps over to where he dropped his bag.

He waits for her to grab his phone, already thinking about if it would be too much to text Nesta. He could keep it simple, casual, simply ask how her day is going. But a surprised laugh draws his attention, and when he snaps his head in the direction of the sound, Cresseida is holding up the book he'd purchased the first time he visited Nesta's bookstore, the one he simply shoved in the bag and then forgot about.

Viking Bride

"This is certainly not what I was expecting for your reading taste," Cresseida teases, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"What? Because I'm a professional athlete, I can't enjoy romance?"

"Where did you even get a book like this? No way they sell this at a mainstream bookstore."

"This bookstore called Grump & Sunshine Books actually. It's the best romance bookstore in the whole city."

Cresseida hums, flipping through the book. "And what do you think so far? How far have you read?"

"Oh, I don't…"

Cassian lets his words trail off, swallowing back down the admission that he had no intention of ever reading the book, that he only purchased it in an attempt to impress Nesta, a desperate plea to get her to talk to him. Because it gives him an idea, the perfect opening that he's been looking for.

"I haven't finished it yet," Cassian says instead, his grin growing. "But I'll let you know what I think."

~ * * * ~

Nesta

"Who knew there would be so many people," Nesta comments, keeping her eyes on the strands of copper hair leading the way in front of her through the sea of blue all around them.

"It is the home opener," Emerie reminds her, making a face when someone rushes past and knocks against her shoulder.

"This many people care about hockey?"

The dry remark earns Nesta a number of looks from the people around them, even more so when they take in her attire. At least her friends laugh easily, Gwyn turning back and looping her arm through Nesta's with a bright smile as they continue to walk.

"I told you, Nesta Archeron," Gwyn says. "You're going to have more fun than you think."

The benefit of having Gwyn is that she clearly knows where she's going and what she's doing. She leads Nesta and Emerie to the arena entrance and through security. Their tickets are scanned and then they're stepping fully inside. Nesta has to admit, it's impressive. It feels a bit larger than life, certainly spacious and modern. She takes in the large digital screen displays on the wall, the different food and drink options, what appears to be a team store called The Lair.

"Come on," Gwyn exclaims, leading the charge forward. "They let you go down to ice level for warmups."

There's already a number of fans and certainly plenty of children lining the first few rows of the arena, many with signs. Nesta even spots one little girl with a Kraken bobble hat and a sign declaring, Will trade a puck for a box of cookies!, in large looping letters. But despite all the people already there, Gwyn is able to weave and find a place for them right along the glass.

They have to wait longer than Nesta anticipated, especially when they haven't even gotten drinks yet, but eventually both teams skate onto the ice. It's like watching organized chaos, the way some of the players skate laps around their half of the ice, others taking shots at their own goalie, and others still doing what looks like tricks in their own little bubble, spinning around and moving their sticks back and forth quickly.

It's easy enough to spot Cassian. He's one of the few players not wearing a helmet, and Cassian's hair is unmistakable, hanging in loose curls down to his shoulders and the dark blue of his jersey. His smile is wide and bright, and Nesta watches as he skates a lap before throwing his body against his teammate's, shoving the teammate against the glass, with an easy laugh.

Cassian skates away from the teammate, skates right toward where Nesta and her friends are standing, and she wonders if he somehow spotted them, but instead he drops down to his knees against the ice. He does it with surprising ease, like the motion is nothing for him. Nesta can't look away as he leans forward, practically on all fours with his stick against the ice and his knees spread wide. It gives her a perfect view of his ass, even if it's covered in hockey gear.

Cassian slides his knees wider, spreading himself open wider still, and then he starts to move his hips. Forward and back. In small circles. His hips move, and Nesta's mouth goes dry. It's almost sensual, the way he works them, and it's definitely obscene. Cassian straightens back up onto his knees, stretching his arms and his stick behind his back, but the image of his moving hips is already seared in Nesta's mind, a teasing brand of what could be.

A cheer echoes from Nesta's left, jolting her back to the present, and when she looks over, she sees that little girl from earlier jumping up and down excitedly. A quick glance toward the ice reveals one of the Kraken players skating toward the bench, the bright green box of cookies cradled in his glove.

"Cute," Emerie murmurs, clearly noticing the same exchange.

Nesta decides to keep her focus firmly on any player other than Cassian after that as they continue to stand along the glass, watching as slowly but surely, the number of players begin to dwindle. Soon, a horn blares through the whole arena, the players still remaining on the ice heading off and the various fans around them starting to make their way back up the steps toward the concourse. Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn head up the stairs as well, deciding to find food and drinks before they find their seats.

Nesta has a can of beer in one hand and a pretzel in the other as she follows Emerie to the row of their seats. There's already a group of women and a few small children in their allotted row and the one behind. A pretty blonde woman sitting at the end jumps up with a smile, quickly turning to chastise the little boy beside her before turning her attention to Emerie.

"You must be Nesta. I'm Corra. Fionn told me to be on the look out for you."

"Oh, I'm not…" Emerie trails off, turning enough that she can point in Nesta's direction. "That's Nesta. I'm Emerie and this is Gwyn."

Nesta clocks the exact moment the woman notices what she's wearing, but she has to give Corra credit. Her smile only drops a centimeter before stretching wide again.

"Well, I've already asked Clare to switch seats, so you'll have three together."

They all murmur their thanks as they shuffle to the three open seats. Gwyn ends up beside a little girl—the sister to the little boy and Corra's other child it seems—and she wastes no time striking up a conversation with her. Nesta turns her own attention to the arena around them, the ice stretched out below them, even as she can feel the eyes of those around her practically burning a brand between her shoulder blades.

"Is it just me, or does it feel like high school?" Emerie murmurs from Nesta's other side. "Wish someone told us there's apparently a dress code."

Nesta hums her agreement, but she's saved from saying anything else when the lights in the arena go down. Cheers echo through the arena, melding with the music that starts to blare through the sound system. It's quite the display and entrance: the music, the light show displayed across the ice, the mini-movie spliced with hockey clips played on the large screens, even the tentacle lowered down onto the ice. But it feels like a bit much when they take the time to introduce every single player on the team, and Nesta doesn't bother holding back her eye roll when it's Cassian's turn.

But finally, after all the fanfare, the game starts, and Nesta tries her best to keep up. It's all so fast paced, the back and forth across the ice. She doesn't quite understand all the rules, but at one point, Gwyn starts screaming about something that happened, other fans seemingly just as upset.

It doesn't take long for the Kraken to score a goal, leaving the whole arena erupting in excitement, but it seems to take even less time for the other team to score too. By the time the horn is blaring to signal the end of the period, it's tied one to one.

Although there are no goals in the second period, the fast-pace continues. At one point, Cassian skates at one of the players of the other team, throwing his body against him and slamming the other player right into the boards. The two shove and grab at each other in the aftermath, and somewhere in the scuffle, Cassian loses his helmet. He tosses his head back when they separate, getting his hair out of his face, and Nesta wants to curse the Mother with how unfair it all is. How unfair such a display, such aggression, could somehow be so attractive.

By the third period, the energy in the arena has only built even higher. There's six minutes remaining on the clock when something happens, the whistle blowing and play stopping. Whatever it is, everyone around Nesta seems happy about it, cheering as one of the opposing team players skates toward the little hockey player time-out bench.

As play resumes, Cassian jumps over the boards and onto the ice. Nesta watches as one of his teammates passes him the puck, watches as he skates along the blue line painted across the ice with ease, feet criss-crossing over each other. She watches the way players seem to gather and shove in front of the net, watches the way Cassian pulls his stick back just to swing it back forward.

She can't believe he dared to take a shot through so many bodies.

She can't believe the horn sounds to indicate it's a goal.

Almost the entire arena jumps to their feet to cheer, Cassian and his teammates coming together on the ice to celebrate. They skate toward their bench, fist-bumping the teammates there, and then it's just a waiting game. Waiting for the final few minutes to tick down. Waiting for the final horn to sound, signaling the end of the game. Waiting for the team and all of the fans to celebrate the Kraken's victory.

The arena empties out surprisingly quickly once the game is over. Nesta herself is looking forward to getting out of the cold and back home to her warm bed, but it seems that Gwyn has completely enamored the little girl beside her, the little girl holding Gwyn's hand while she chatters away. The younger brother is fast asleep in his mother's lap, and Corra watches on with an expression that is both fond but unsurprised at her other child.

"Alright, don't tell anyone I'm doing this," Corra begins, standing up and adjusting the boy against her hip. "But come on."

Corra leads the way up the stairs and through the concourse toward an elevator. Nesta doesn't hear what she says to security, but they all clamber inside and are taken all the way down to the basement level. Down a hall and through a door finds them inside a large room. The walls are painted the dark blue of the team's colors, three televisions taking up space on two of them. There's sofas and armchairs along with tables and chairs arranged around most of the space, but what looks like a bar stretches across the back wall, and there appear to be children toys tucked away in the corner.

Nesta recognizes many of the women in the room from the seats around them during the game, all chatting and waiting around. It feels like they're standing around forever before the door opens again and the first Kraken player steps into the room. At least, it's like a domino effect after that, and one by one it seems various men step through the door to greet their other half. With each man that steps inside, Gwyn leans over to whisper who it is, and in some cases, statistics or facts about the player, much to Emerie's barely concealed entertainment.

"Nes!"

Nesta turns just in time to watch Cassian step inside the room. The black dress pants he's wearing are form fitting and practically hug the thick lines of muscle of his thighs. The matching jacket for his suit is slung casually over his arm, leaving him in just his black button down, and, of course, he has the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, has the first few buttons undone. It gives Nesta the perfect tease of the dark lines of ink hiding beneath the fabric, gives her the perfect view of the veins in his forearms.

His hair is wet and slightly tangled, but somehow the messy look only seems to work for him. A pinkness seems to cling beneath the brown of his cheeks, but whether it's from his post-game shower or the exertion on the ice, Nesta isn't sure. With his wide, easy smile and his bright hazel eyes as he walks directly toward her, he's everything that Nesta wants to hate.

At least she gets to watch in real time as Cassian's smile falters and slips away. Small consolations.

"Are you… are you wearing a Flames jersey? Where'd you even get one of those?"

"What?" Nesta drawls, crossing her arms across her chest and raising a daring eyebrow. "You don't like my hockey jersey?"

The left side of Cassian's lips tug up in a smirk. "I just think you'd look a lot better in blue."

Nesta rolls her eyes at that, but she's spared from saying anything else when Emerie loudly clears her throat, drawing Cassian's attention.

"Emerie. Good to see you again. And you must be Gwyn. Nice to finally meet you."

"Thanks for the tickets, and the jersey," Gwyn tells him. "It was a good game. That was a nice shot at the end."

Cassian shrugs. "I got lucky with Jordy getting the tip."

Gwyn and Cassian continue to talk about hockey and the game, and Nesta is more than happy to just stand there and listen. It gives her a reprieve to remind her traitorous heart to stop being so affected by that stupid smirk of his, by the way he seems intent on looking at her. It gives her a chance to remind herself that no matter how attractive he might look on the ice or after a hockey game, it doesn't change the fact that he'll never actually care about her.

—

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[starbabyg]

Coffee | Jack Hughes smut

Based on Coffee by Miguel

Warnings; smut, duh, but sweet and sensual-ish smut, funny yucky smut words that make me kinda cringe loll

Jack had always been an early bird. Waking up just when the early hour darkness turns into that ashy slate blue color. When the birds start to wake up and sing their way too early good morning chirps as they flock to warmer weather. It must’ve been embedded into him, all those times waking up at 5 in the morning for youth hockey tournaments. Getting shaken awake by Quinn to go for early morning runs. It's another one of those days. Stretching and yawning, he quietly gets out of bed trying not to wake you. Making way to the kitchen he fills a tea kettle with water before putting it on the stove. Usually, he gets ready to go on his own morning run, but today he felt like a homebody. Sitting down at the kitchen table, he mindlessly started to scroll through his phone, waiting for his best friend to wake up. Snapchat memories of the two of you pop up. A year ago, the both of you wearing Mickey Mouse ears as you smile from ear to ear next to Mater in Cars Land. The next one is a picture of you holding one of those comically large turkey legs, teeth bared as you prepared to bite a mouthful, making Jack softly snicker. Ohhh how he loved his silly girl. Reliving these sweet memories made him miss you, even if you were just in the other room. The boy was just oh so enamored with you. Overfilled with that immense love, he made his way back to the room.

Leaning against the doorframe, he soaked in the image of you peacefully sleeping. Hair splayed out against the pillows; arms wrapped around one. Somehow a soft smile sat on your lips. 'What could this perfect girl be smiling about in her sleep?' Suddenly you shifted, bare leg now exposed from under the blankets and an impeccable view of your boobs, the tank top you wore twisted and tightened just enough for your nipples to poke through. Jack bit his lip, you had to have done that on purpose. His sweet thoughts were now replaced with ones that were a bit dirtier. Bed dipping underneath his weight, he started to kiss up your leg. Starting with the tips of your flawlessly pedicured toes, up your silky-smooth shin, to the flesh of your thigh. It took everything in him not to just take a bite. He didn't want to scare his sleeping beauty awake.

Instead, he moved the blanket and positioned you in a way where he could slip off your shorts and panties. Taking one last moment to see you sleep so seamlessly, he laid a single finger on the pearl of your honeypot. Soft and slowly, he makes circles as he watches in admiration how fast your juices get to flowing. Looking up at your angelic face, he watches for signs of you waking up. Nope. None yet. Switching to now use his thumb on your clit, he starts to lick and leave kisses on the inside of your thigh. After an extra-long lick, he feels your skin twitch underneath his touch. Using that as motivation, Jack replaces his thumb with his mouth, fingers now creeping their way inside your folds. mmnph... Was that a little moan? Still attached to your core, the edges of Jack's lips perk up into a mischievous smirk. Picking up his pace, Jack started to sloppily lick and slurp, a little too hyped up from your response to his stimulus. Finally, your eyes started to flutter open. The dirty dream you thought you were having was not a dream. Still with sleepy eyes, you made out a blurry vision of Jack, hands gripping your thighs as he feasted on your slickness.

"Having a good breakfast there?" You hummed, still dozy.

"It is the most important meal of the day," he quipped back, leaving a kiss to your left thigh before going back to his task. Instinctively your hand made its way to his head, fingers weaving through his tufts of brunette silk.

"Mmmm, you know exactly what you're doing love," You praised him, back arching as you feel the pleasure spark its way through your body. You were definitely close to cumming, that familiar feeling building up inside. "Come up here and gimme a kiss, yeah?" Fuck the morning breath, you needed to feel Jack's lips on yours. With no hesitation he made his way to your pretty face, placing a peck on your nose.

"Don't gotta tell me twice to kiss you," dipping down, Jack deeply pressed his lips into you. Your hands make their way under his shirt, feeling up his V line to his chest. Out of breath, Jack breaks the kiss. "God, I love you so much y/n." Saying that wasn't even in with any sexual connotation, it was pure unrequited love.

"I love you, baby," pulling him by his collar into another round of deep sensual, breathtaking kisses. Still gripping his shirt, you wanted it out of the way. "I have to feel your skin on mine, like now." You told him, yanking at the hem of his shirt. Jack lifts himself up, pulling his tee off in one swift motion. Sitting up yourself, your arms cross to pull your tank top off. Now fully awake, you smile at the sight of Jack. Shirtless, hair disheveled in the best way, lips plump and glistening from making out just a little too hard. It was all too much, you shoved him so now he was flat on his butt, crawling onto his lap as your arms snaked around his neck. Jack's hands crept up your bare back, fingers gliding against the sleek skin, leaving shivers wherever he touched. Filled with so much love for the boy, you violently peppered kisses all over his face, a content smile forming on his face in the midst of the flurry. Although it was a cute and innocent act of love, you could feel the reaction it gave him, his clothed bulge now growing and pressing into your naked self. It was your turn to smirk, hand creeping down to pull his basketball shorts down a bit. Your hand wraps around the base, softly caressing it as you watched Jack's face.

"Fuuuuck y/n, keep doing that I'm gonna have to take you right now," he groaned through trapped breaths. Ohhh the way he was looking up at you, his jawline sharp and his eyes glistening with love. A true sight to see.

"Keep doing what?" You innocently asked as your grip on his erection tightened, your languid strokes picking up pace. Jack's grip on your waist tightened as a string of moans fell out of his pretty lips.

"Put it in please. I need to be inside you," he whimpered.

"You need to?"

"I need to," he nodded, bottom lip in a pout. Ohh how cute he was when he was sweet and submissive.

"Okay, just because you said please," you teased, lifting yourself up so he could fully take his shorts off. Still holding his dick, you hovered over it, taking your time. Jack looked up at you, brows coming together in a puppy dog face that was too cute to keep stalling. Swiftly you sank down onto him, walls tightening at the filling as you softly gasped.

"Oh my... Fuck," Jack groaned into your ear before he places a kiss there. Intertwined together, you both just relished in the feeling of being in oneness. How the skin to skin felt. To be this close to one another. Jack guided your hips as you rode him at a languorous pace. You felt yourself close to the edge, just as the sun started to rise and the hues of orange and yellow crept through the curtains.

"I got you feeling like that, huh?" You mischievously smirk, looking at how in awe he is of you. Jack begins to thrust up into you, meeting your hips halfway. Grip on your hips gets tighter as he guides you to match his now quickening pace. He can feel himself getting closer to the edge and he'd be damned if you didn't cum first.

"Uh huh, you just feel so good wrapped around me princess," his breaths are becoming ragged, his crystal blue eyes turning a slightly darker shade. Sweat dribbles down the front of your chest, dripping between your breasts. Jack doesn't think twice to swipe and lick it up, earning a pretty little moan from you. For some reason that just sets you off, feeling that oh so familiar knot forming inside of you.

"Jack, baby, I'm close," you whimper and whine as your eyes screw shut. The way he's thrusting up into you just hits all the right spots as you sit on his lap. Your arms wrap tighter around him, his face now flush against your breasts.

"I know baby, I know," Jack replies, his voice strained from his gruff moans. He knew you were coming undone from the way you tightened around him, it was your tell that you were close to finishing. One of his hands made its way to the small of your back, gliding up and down, sending a shiver down your spine. Kissing his way up your chest, his lips wrap around one of your nipples. Already so overstimulated, the minute his tongue swirls on the sensitive skin you're pushed over the edge. Somehow your grip on him gets even tighter as you squeal out, singing your song of pleasure right when the morning birds start to chirp.

"That's it, I'm cumming!" You managed to get out in between a string of pleasure-filled gibberish. Jack's eyes fluttered closed as he felt you pulse around him, letting out another guttural moan. he continues to thrust into you, riding out your orgasm with you.

"Oh, fuck," he groans, hugging you tightly, "you just feel so fucking good when you do that." The two of you pant, finally coming down from the high, still entangled with one another, your hands woven into Jack's hair, his hands resting on the top of your bottom. All you can do is pepper kisses into his now sweaty locks.

"You're so amazing, you know that?" You hum praise to him, softly brushing the back of his hair. He gave you one hell of a wakeup call and you hoped this would become a daily thing.

"You're the amazing one," Jack chuckles, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck, "I really love you so much." He just breaths in the sweet scent of you, his eyes closed in contentment.

"I love you so much more Jacky," kissing him one last time before you roll off of him with a satisfied sigh, stretching your sore body out. Jack looks at you, back to being your quirky self.

"Impossible," is all he can say as he looks at you with adoration. How someone can be so in love with another person, he never thought it could be possible. Yet here he is.

Suddenly a screech could be heard from the kitchen, making you shoot up from your spot, "What the hell was that??"

"Oh shit! The coffee!"

[alexbkrieger13]

https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/laura-stacey-details-journey-from-healthy-scratch-to-key-contributor-at-women-s-worlds-1.2285714

Stacey details journey from healthy scratch to key contributor at Women’s Worlds

Laura Stacey’s journey to being one of the premier power forwards in women’s hockey has been filled with epic highs and lows. 

The highs feature winning an Olympic gold medal in 2022, three World Championship titles and being one of the first three players signed by Montreal when the Professional Women’s Hockey League was founded in 2023.

The lows include breaking both her wrists at the same time in her final NCAA game at Dartmouth and the disappointment of not getting a lot of playing time for Team Canada earlier in her national team career. 

Now 30, Stacey has blossomed into a top player in the PWHL with the Victoire, seeing top-line minutes alongside teammate and wife Marie-Philip Poulin, with who she tied the knot in September of 2024. 

In her second PWHL season, Stacey had 10 goals and 20 points in 24 games before heading to her seventh Women’s World Championship in Czechia. She credits the maturation process for her current success as a player.  

“Honestly, a lot of people tell me I’m a completely different player and I do believe that to some extent, but I don’t think it has anything to do with skill,” Stacey told TSN. “Of course I worked on a lot of things, of course I’ve spent way more hours on the ice and have got to play with and against some amazing people that have pushed me, but I would say I’m more a different player just because I’ve matured. I’ve grown up.”

Team Canada forwards Blayre Turnbull and Emma Maltais both play for the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres and have been on the opposing side several times the past two years with the task of trying to stop Stacey.  

“It's a challenge,” said Turnbull. “She's relentless with her work ethic and her commitment to winning battles and to getting the puck to the net. So, as someone who often has to try to shut that down, it can be very challenging at times. She's someone, as everyone knows, if you watch a PWHL game that she's in, her speed is incredible. So, trying to match her speed and her work ethic is definitely a challenge, but I always find it really fun.”

“I think also her ability to take control of a game, take the puck from end to end and maintain possession of it, is a really big quality,” said Maltais. “She's scary whenever she has the puck.” 

PWHL: Victoire 4, Frost 1

00:02 / 01:21

PWHL: Victoire 4, Frost 1Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey each scored two goals to help the Victoire secure the first PWHL playoff spot this season after a victory over the Frost. Montreal moved into sole possession of first place in the standings after its first regulation win in its last six road games.

Despite making seven straight Worlds rosters and the past two Olympic teams, Stacey admits she still gets nervous when a new Canadian roster is about to drop.

Stacey’s first few experiences playing at the Women’s Worlds did not go how she wanted. She debuted in 2017 and did not register a point in five games as Canada went home with silver. In 2019, she had three points in seven games, but Canada had a program-low result of bronze.  

Fast forward to 2021 when Canada rose up to win gold at the Worlds for the first time since 2012, Stacey was in the stands as a healthy scratch and appeared in just one game the entire tournament.  

“Making the senior team is quite the jump,” said Stacey. “I think  when you’re a young kid you just think, ‘Okay I’m going to make the U18 team, I’m going to make the development team and then I’m going to make the senior team’ and I think there was quite a bit of a news flash to me when that linear progression got halted quite a few times and you don’t know what the difference is. You don’t know what that next step looks like, but you see other people making it.”

Canadian national team head coach Troy Ryan remember having a lot of frank conversations with Stacey about where she belonged on the team.

“I give her a lot of credit for actually just taking the time to meet with me, to share some of her thoughts,” said Ryan. “And I know she went through a hard journey herself in trying to navigate where she fits on the national-team level.  

“I don't think, me as a coach, but her as an athlete, if we ever get to the point where we are today right now in our coach-athlete relationship, if Laura doesn't take the time to have those tough conversations and try to get an idea where I may be thinking or where our staff may be thinking and where she believes she could be as an athlete.” 

Stacey says it started by focusing on being the best forechecker on the team with eyes on eventually being the best penalty killer. She had her best World Championship outing offensively last year, with two goals and three assists in seven games as Canada won gold.

Maltais, who was also on that gold-medal winning roster in 2024, counts Stacey as one of her best friends and has matching tattoos with her and forward Jill Saulnier after the trio played together at the 2022 Olympics. As one of the younger players who made the senior team for the first time in 2021, she says Stacey is a role model.  

“Laura is one of the more resilient people that I've met,” said Maltais. “I think her experience – she's really had to battle back to become who she wants to be. And I think that's what makes her such an inspiring role model for a lot of us. I think the way she carries herself on a daily basis, she's not arrogant. She doesn't expect anything to come to her. She just does it. And I think those years of adversity for her definitely shaped her into who she was.” 

Despite all the trials and tribulations, Stacey doesn't take her success for granted and is not content to rest on her laurels. 

“It definitely wasn’t a linear, easy path but I think all of us can kind of relate to that,” said Stacey. “There’s ups and downs, there’s broken bones, there’s heartache, there’s getting cut, there’s all of those in between. But I think once you have that spark, once you have that feeling of ‘Oh my gosh there’s so much possible here’ I think it just keeps driving you and pushing you forward.” 

[toasttt11]

empty netters

September 12, 2023

“All right we are joined here in Vegas with Hayden Blake, A gold U-17 medalist, a two time sliver medalist, leading the World Juniors with most goals and points ever in a tournament, First overall draft pick, Calder Trophy recipient, Ted Lindsay award recipient, King Clancy Memorial Trophy recipient, most recent Hart Trophy recipient and most recorded points by a player before they turned 20.” Dan Powers listed off a bunch of Hayden’s achievements as Chris was petting Archie.

Hayden had joined Empty Netters Podcast for an episode.

“Did that make you feel cool because i felt cool just hearing that!” Chris laughed looking at Hayden in question.

Hayden laughed softly and nodded, “It is pretty cool.” Hayden humbly agreed.

“And that’s not even everything i just picked some on them.” Dan commented, he had a lot of fun researching for this podcast episode.

“Well after all than welcome Hayden Blake to the Empty Netters podcast.” Dan welcomed her.

“Thanks for having me.” Hayden smiled back, she was asked to do a lot of media during her time in Vegas for the media tour but this podcast is one she was looking most forward too, “Was that hard to memorize?” Hayden asked cheekily but curious.

“Oh you have no idea.” Dan quickly nodded his head as he practiced so much making Chris laugh every time he saw Dan practicing.

“And we have a special guest as well Archie!” Chris piped up and the camera showed Archie just laying on chair next to Chris and Chris was just petting him, “Thank you for brining him.”

“Of course.” Hayden was honestly really happy that Chris asked about Archie so much when they were working out details for today’s podcast that she surprised him by bringing Archie to the podcast.

“Okay let’s talk about those achievements which don’t forget is barely even half of them and you are only twenty two.” Dan praised, Chris and Dan are both big fans of Hayden.

“Do you always kinda realize you have accomplished so much?” Chris asked her.

Hayden hummed, “Uh yes and no, obviously i think i remember at times the things i’ve accomplished. Um i’m pretty happy with my career is going so far but yeah there are times i definitely don’t remember the things i accomplished and honestly i forgot about most of them because at the end of the day i’m just focusing on what i love which is playing hockey and i think the accomplishment everyone wants is the stanley cup.”

Chris and Dan both nodded in understanding her reasoning.

“Let’s talk about the big thing that just came out, your contract.” Dan grinned looking excited.

Hayden made a small laugh nodding.

“You signed an eight year contract extension for seventy million dollars.” Dan told, “That’s an amazing contact and right now it’s one of the biggest contract for eight years right now.”

Hayden nodded in agreement.

“Was the contract something that took a while to figure out? Did you want more or?” Chris asked curiously.

The whole hockey world was worried for months now as Hayden’s contact ended last season and there was no talk about renewing and people were speculating trades and it was confusing why anyone would trade Hayden Blake.

“No no it wasn’t me wanting more or anything, the team knew that i want to stay and i know they want me to stay so truthfully i didn’t feel worried about signing a contact right away and before the off season was going to start we agreed we can talk about before the next season just make a deal with the contact than and that was good with what happened with the changes in management over the off season and the amount of changes in the roster. Signing the contact was simple as we agreed easily as i honestly couldn’t care less about the amount i’m getting i’m just playing because i love not for the money.” Hayden explained, she’s been told many time by the Oilers management team that she’s their easier player to deal with.

“Speaking on the changes on the roster how are you feeling about the team before camp?” Chris asked her, the Oilers had a busy off season.

Hayden hummed, “I think we have a pretty good team just looking at the roster um i mean you never know how it really will play out but i think if we play well and just click we could have a good team this season.”

“Speaking of team there are rumors of pranks in Edmonton.” Dan started making Hayden start grinning, “Oh i see that grin. So i’ve heard you and Ryan Mcleod are the pranksters in the room.”

Hayden chuckled but nodded her head, “Yeah Ry and I definitely cause some chaos.”

“Okay how did you start doing your pranks in the room?” Chris questioned.

“Well i use to pull some pranks back in the program and when i got to Edmonton i didn’t pull any in my rookie year and than Ryan joined the team and i had someone near my age and i invited him on one of my first pranks at the Oilers and we’ve just not stopped yet.” Hayden and Ryan and pulled way too many pranks by now.

“Which one was your favorite?” Dan grinned asking.

“Ooh uh probably the one we pulled for easter last year.” Hayden chuckled thinking about it, “It was the day before Easter and we got to the rink hours before anyone else would be there and we took everyone’s equipment and added little colored papers so everyone had one color on their equipment and we scattered everyone stuff across the whole arena and than a left bags on everyone’s stall and piece of paper of their color.” Hayden laughed as she explained making Chris and Dan both laugh incredibly hard hearing the prank.

“So we can assume you’re close with Ryan?” Chris asked once they stopped laughing. The Oiler social media is always posting Ryan and Hayden content. Those two are the youngest and the most willing to do media.

“Definitely he’s on my best friends. It helps that we are both the youngest on the team so there’s that connection. But yeah we became friends immediately after knowing each other and he stayed at my house for rest of the season when he joined.” Hayden smiled fondly as she talked, “Ry is definitely someone i hope i get to keep playing with for the rest of my career.”

“We hope so too, everyone especially us always loves Ryan and your content.” Dan told her honestly making her laugh.

“Speaking of friendships how is your relationship with Connor and Leon especially being part of the leadership of the team?” Dan asked the next question.

“They’ve become family to me, i wasn’t in the best place when i joined my rookie year and they helped a lot and really took me under their wings, even their families are both so kind to me. I am really grateful for everything Leon and Connor have done for me,” Hayden explained, “I think going into leadership it was simple because i still look up to them for answered and i think that’s good for the team to see too.”

“Was it odd being so much younger than the team and becoming an alternate especially being so young when you did?” Chris asked her.

“Oh extremely!” Hayden laughed honestly, “I didn’t even know what was happening i was in a zoom and they talked about the new alternate and i was so confused on why i was there.”

Dan and Chris started laughing with Hayden.

“You didn’t know when you were on the zoom?” Chris asked while laughing.

“No i had no clue and i was very lost.” Hayden’s words made them laugh even more.

“Ok ok.” Dan laughed catching his breath and looking down at the paper full of questions, “So obviously your father Harrison played with the Oilers for many year had an incredible career one of the best players ever in NHL history.”

Hayden hummed nodding softly, they had asked her if they could talk about her parents and she has barely talked about her parents to anyone since they died only a bit to family but she thought it was time.

“Growing up did you want to go to the Oilers too?”

“Yeah definitely, some of my first memories was watching my dad and since i was little i wanted to play for the Oilers.” Hayden answered.

“And you not only got drafted for the Oilers but the same pick as your dad.” Dan spoke and Hayden nodded, “That had to be a cool experience for you.”

“Uh yes and no, you know that was the day i dreamed of for years with my parents and ending up being drafted to the team i always wanted, it was more of a sad day because i obviously wished to have my parents there but i tried to enjoy it because they would want me too.” Hayden tried to explain.

Chris and Dan both nodded in understanding.

“Is it odd seeing so many memories and posters of your dad and his name being in the rafters?”

“Not really, uh at first it was odd being back at the edmonton arena without my Dad and it was like every corner was a reminder of him but eventually it became something i really love because i get to have those reminders of my dad and his name in rafters it feels like he’s there with me when i’m playing.” Hayden honestly answered.

“I’m sure you’ve seen some things about the similarities between your dad and you.” Chris asked and Hayden nodded, “Is that weird for you?”

Hayden has seen some of the thousands of videos of comparing her and her dad, they both play under the same number and she’s got similar moves as him and similar cellys.

“It was kinda surprising at first to see the similarities so easily but i do really enjoy it now because i didn’t even realize.” Hayden responded.

“Speaking on your parents we know you have lived in quite a few places and speak fondly about them, do you want to talk some about that?” Dan asked her

“Well i was born in San Diego.” Hayden nodded.

“How did they pick San diego?” Chris asked.

“My parents met for the first time when they were really young in a hockey combine in San Diego. They became really good friends and were childhood friends growing up and eventually they got together.” Hayden explained how her parents met.

“Now Harrison was born and grew up in Chicago right?” Dan asked.

“Mhm he grew up a blackhawk’s fan.” Hayden grinned humming, “And my Mom from Minnesota.” Hayden also knew her Mom would have loved that Matt was playing with the Wilds in Minnesota.

“And then Harrison at 18 went to Edmonton and Maddison moved to Toronto for school correct?” Dan asked her.

“Yes my mom got her degree in Toronto and then she moved to Edmonton and they got married the next year.” Hayden nodded, “The first off season of their marriage my Dad bought a house in San Diego and that became the off season house. It was that way when i was born and until he retired, we would spend the season in Edmonton and off season in San Diego.”

“So was Toronto your mom’s choice to live there after the retirement?” Chris asked a question.

“Kinda, my parents both knew that San Diego wasn’t a hockey city yet and my dad and mom still wanted to be apart of hockey for coaching and for when i grew up if i wanted to purse a career Toronto would be better.” Hayden knew her parents had feelings she would want to purse hockey.

“That’s an incredibly smart choice.” Dan nodded approvingly, right now there are so many current and future hockey players coming out of Toronto.

Hayden nodded in agreement.

“So then you met the Hughes family in Toronto right?” Chris asked because everyone knows Hayden and the Hughes are family.

“Yeah they moved right next door.” Hayden nodded.

“And then you guys just all became friends?”

“Yeah it was nice because when i was younger i didn’t really know anyone my age and then i met the Hughes and all three of them are near my age so it was nice.” Hayden explained.

“Do you remember meeting them?” Dan asked her.

“I do yeah.” Hayden smiled thinking about it, “Jack and I got along immediately after Jack asked if i liked hockey, Quinn was pretty quick as we just pulled him with us to go shoot pucks and Luke was immediately like my little shadow.”

“How did your parents kinda feel when they realize the four of you kinda became a package deal?”

“Oh they loved it, My parents only had just me for a while and than to have three boys they loved it. Quinn, Jack and Luke all become sons to my parents like my mom and dad adored them and would always talk about the boys as their sons.” Hayden softly told.

“My parents would always talk about their four kids to people and Ellen and Jim are the same, they treat me the same as they treat their sons.”

Dan and Chris both smiled at her words.

“Speaking of parents do you kinda realize how they have influenced not just your life but your hockey?”

“Definitely.” Hayden quickly nodded, “I think i learned a lot from my parents and they influence my life every day but i think people forget how much hockey i learned just from my mom.”

“Because she was an incredible hockey player too, a multiple women’s gold medalist.” Dan spoke.

“Exactly like a lot of people see my dad in my play style but i see as much of my mom too.” Hayden spoke, “But going on influencing me, i think with my parents no longer being i here i notice more how many things they have influenced for me and it’s something i really like seeing.”

Hayden smiled talking about her parents for the first time.

Dan and Chris headed to the next topic not wanting to ask her to many questions about her parents, “So NTDP, one of the biggest hockey programs current and some big names have came out of there, how did you pick going there?”

“Honestly i had a lot of offers but i saw how much Quinn really loved it at the program and when Jack got accepted too i knew that’s where i was going, I’m a family person so i knew i would play my best being with my family.” Hayden explained.

Chris nodded, “Would you recommend players going there?”

“Oh definitely like you said some great hockey players have come from there and i’m sure there is gonna be a lot more great hockey players from there soon.” Hayden answered, she is already amazed by the young talent there now.

“I really enjoyed my time there and i felt like i developed extremely well but i also made friendships there that will last a life time and i think that’s a good thing in this sport.”

“Your friendships from there are legendary.” Dan smiled making Hayden laugh, he would love to talk more about this but they have been talking for a while now, “Okay Chris you had a question?”

“Oh okay why the black and white tape on your stick?” Chris asked curiously as there is barely anyone who does that.

“My parents, my dad always used black and my mom always used white so when i started taping my stick they would try to convince me to use their tape so i just started using both and it just stuck.” Hayden simply explained.

“Alright we do this thing Pass, Shoot and Score, i think you know how it works?” Dan asked her making her nod.

“Okay Music, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and Noah Kahn.”

“Hmm, Pass Morgan Wallen.” Hayden immediately said making them both laugh.

“I have to say Taylor for Shoot because Cole would never let me hear the end of it if i said pass.” Hayden explained laughing.

“And of course Noah for score.” Hayden picked because Noah Kahn is her favorite artist.

“You know what valid.” Chris said laughing.

“Okay we have heard your a big water person so Lake, Beach and Pool?”

“Oh easily score for Lake,” Hayden grinned, “Uh Beach probably pass and Pool shoot.”

“Lake purely for wakeboarding?” Chris asked making Hayden grin and nod.

“This one is four so Bench, Pass, Shoot and Score, San Diego, Michigan, Edmonton and Toronto?”

“That’s hard.” Hayden pursed her lips thinking, “Uh probably Sam Diego bench.” Hayden has a hard time with Sam Diego after her parents died there.

“That is not what i was expecting.” Dan said shocked making Hayden laugh.

“Pass Toronto.” Hayden said easily.

“This is the tough one now.” Chris said seeing Hayden thinking.

“Edmonton shoot and Michigan score.” Hayden quickly said.

“Really?” Dan and Chris both looked shocked that wasn’t how they thought she was gonna pick.

“Michigan is more relaxing and with family.” Hayden explained making them nod.

“Ok last one, Quinn, Jack and Luke?” Dan asked with a mischievous smile.

Hayden just laughed shaking her head, “Are you trying to get me in trouble?”

“No i’m kidding you don’t have to answer that.” Dan told her.

“Well that is the end of this podcast, Hayden thank you for joining.” Chris kindly told her.

“Thanks for having me.” Hayden smiled.

[fishyy-fish]

Fish’s Guide to the Mikko Rantanen Saga (with notes and asides)

This summer, Rantanen was close to signing a $12M/year contract with the Avs BUT Leon Draisiatl signed a $14M/year extension with the Oilers. This is important because they both share the same agent, one Andy Scott of Octagon Athlete Repersentation (per PuckPedia). Also interesting to note that Scott also represents Thomas Harley and Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars (both recently signed to new contracts as of this off season and the trade deadline on Friday respectively) and Mackenzie Blackwood (traded to the Colorado Avalanche then signed to a 5 year deal at $5.25M/year shortly after).

Rantanen reportedly asked for $14M/year from the Avs, however the Avs have an internal policy that they will not pay a player more than Nathan MacKinnon (currently signed to a $12.6M/year contract for the next 6 years). This is a good decision to me, as much of their cap is tied up in Captain Gabe Landeskog who has been out on LTIR for the past three years yet is still trying to recover and join the team again, leaving the team with unknown cap space for future seasons despite the rising cap.

At some point, the Hurricanes reach out and ask Rantanen/his agent if they would be willing to sign a deal with them were he traded to the Canes. Rantanen and his agent say yes, likely intending to use that as a bargaining chip with the Avs, similar to what Elias Patterson previously did with the Canucks and the Hurricanes. They do not believe that the Avalanche would trade Rantanen, who was drafted by the team and helped lead them to a Stanley Cup. At this time, the Hurricanes are shopping Marty Nečas, and it is a rumor that they intend to deal him to the Canucks. The Avs have had their eye on Nečas (as they should, I miss that bottle blonde rockstar) and don’t want him to be traded to a contender, so they initiate trade talks with the Canes for Rantanen.

The blockbuster trade is announced on January 24th, while I am deep in a fever nap after traveling to New York to see the Canes play the NY Islanders and the NY Rangers. I do not believe it at first when I wake up to the news at 3am local time, believing it to be a wild fever dream, as I was still recovering from the flu and a day of cross country travel. It is still real at 5am when I wake up again. I am shocked and text my mother. The only Hurricanes player she knows is Bret Burns, affectionately called Greasy by my family.

After his trade to the Hurricanes, Rantanen speaks to the media about being blindsided by the trade. He also discusses his willingness to sign an extension with the Hurricanes on several occasions, but expresses that he needs time to adjust to his new reality. Fair enough. As more time goes on without any updates or news of progress on extension talks, the hockey world begins to rumble that a trade is eminent.

The Hurricanes are reported to have offered him $12.5M to $13M per year deals, however Rantanen expresses that he is not ready to sign and will not be until after the trade deadline. It is worthwhile to note that the Hurricanes were burned last offseason by Jake Guentzel (traded to them by the Pittsburgh Penguins) leaving the team due to a cap crunch.

It is also currently reported that Rantanen said he was not willing to re-sign with the Canes last week, after the 4 Nations Face Off tournament (of 4 Nations Jerking Off fame). This leaves the Carolina Hurricanes less than a week to find a team that Rantanen is willing to sign with, has a player/players that the Hurricanes are interested in, and would be able to come to terms with Rantanen and his agent.

During a practice, Rantanen refused to enter the locker room while member of the media are there. This adds fuel to reports of discontent and discord, though it could also have been attributed to constant talks of trade and performance. I can’t blame him, I’ve been known to start signing in ASL when I don’t want to interact with people in public.

Reports state that the Oilers and Leafs were among the interested teams who met those requirements, however the Oilers did not have any players, prospects, or draft picks that the Hurricanes were interested in, though they did come to an understanding with Rantanen about a potential contract higher than the contract he eventually signs; the Leafs’ Mitch Marner was not willing to waive his NMC, and the Hurricanes were not interested in the other players that the Leafs offered for a trade. Off hand, but Marner would be electric on the Hurricanes if he isn’t able to stay with the Leafs.

Trade rumors of Rantanen to the Stars start to circulate at approximately 1:00am (MST) on Friday, March 7th (the trade deadline), while I am puking my guts out in my bathroom. Again, I do not believe the notification but I am quickly distracted by another round of yakking out my guts. I am distracted and forlorn all day while at work. I am also still sick but covering shifts for a coworker who was on vacation. I cannot go home and cry in the shower, even though I want to.

Details of the trade are leaked throughout the day, however no official announcement comes until after the deadline due the the Stars insistence that Rantanen agree to the terms of a long term deal before the trade with the Hurricanes is finalized.

The Hurricanes receive inhousegrown rookie Logan Stankoven as well as a few draft picks for Rantanen. Stankoven had previously been assured that he was not on the trade table because Dallas Stars GM Jimothy Nill was not willing to trade his young core. He was developed by the Stars in their AHL affiliate before making a debut in the NHL last season and helping them in the playoffs before gaining a permanent spot on the NHL roster this season.

Due to the delay in the deal between Rantanen and the Stars, the Hurricanes are not able to make other trades they intended to make that day, as their available cap space was not free and the deal could have fallen through at the last moment.

While negotiating with the Stars on behalf of Rantanen, Andy Scott’s other client, Wyatt Johnston, to a 5 year deal at $8.4M/year. Johnston had reportedly turned down an 8 year deal at $8M/year earlier that week.

Rantanen agrees to an 8 year deal at $12M/year with the Stars, the exact offer he declined in Colorado. His new deal includes a no movement clause, commonly referred to as an NMC (reference above with Marner).

Many people have claimed that Rantanen chose Dallas due to Texas’ income tax free laws, however the income tax difference between $13M/year in Carolina and $12M/year in Texas is negligible.

While talking with TSN on Friday, Rantanen said “But yeah, just the fit in Dallas.” This hurts my feelings, part of me feels like he wasn’t able to give it an honest shot with the Hurricanes, but I understand what that was the case.

During his brief tenure with the Hurricanes, more vocal fans, pundits, and commentators noted Rantanen’s poor performance. Many attributed it to being shell shocked by the trade, however I personally feel that this trade was never a good idea in the first place. Rantanen’s offensive style was mismatched with the Hurricane’s more defensive style from the get go. I believe that the Hurricanes coach was more than willing to make adjustments had Rantanen re-signed with the team. Currently, Hurricanes fans are circulating that Rantanen was performing poorly on purpose, with theories ranging from low effort to intentional sabotage. That seems extreme and far fetched. His style of play was not a good match, the team was going through a time of sickness and struggle, and Rantanen himself was still reeling from being traded from the Avalanche.

My biggest takeaway from this situation has been that Rantanen’s agent is the biggest villain in this. It is my belief that he held out for more money, and that Rantanen was unaware that the Avalanche were willing to trade him to a team he had no desire to play on or sign with.

By the time the Hurricanes realized that no deal could be made, they had to move fast so that he could be traded before the deadline and recoup some of their losses.

Blame should not fall solely on Rantanen for this, I truely believe that he thought the Avalanche would be more willing to work with him rather than trading him. I understand and respect that he did not want to stay with the Hurricanes, however I do find his lack of open communication with team management about that fact disappointing, as it has set the team back for their playoffs run this year.

Hurricanes coach and players have commented that this situation was a distraction on the ice and in the locker room. It feels unfair that the whole team had to suffer about it, and that their performance suffered for it as well.

The biggest winner of the trade was Jack Roslovic, who got a shiny expensive Rolex for renting his number out for a few weeks.

The biggest looser of the trade was Logan Stankoven, who was traded from his team despite being told he would not be traded. I will treasure him, Dallas Stars fans.

On a personal note, as a fan of both teams, I find the happiness and sadness doubled. I am excited for Mikko to play with the Stars, but I am sad he would not sign with the Canes. I am excited that Stank will play with the Canes, but I am heartbroken that he was traded away from his Texas family. I can’t help but feel a bit bitter at the way this all played out. Mikko should still be on the Avs, and Stank should still be with the Stars. It feels wrong, somehow, that the trajectory of their lives and careers was permanently changed by one man’s bluff for more money. This whole situation has soured me a bit, I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch Canes or Stars hockey for a bit.

[sweetdispatch]

Time to move on - N. Hischier

When Two Sports Collide | previous chapter timeline: November 2022 - June 2023 summary: Nico is heartbroken after hearing Lisa' confession, Lisa is heartbroken of her situation in club but break between seasons will bring them closer than ever warning: mentions of injury, swear words note: fun fact, i was watching norway - switzerland game while editing this chapter haha

Nico tried to act like it didn’t bother him that Lisa doesn’t want him when in fact, he was hurting. He never asked her about this conversation she had with Lottie and decided to pretend that he never heard it. They spent a great weekend together but her words were still ringing in his ears. 

I don’t think I’m ready to be with him.

I don’t know if I want to.

When Lisa returned to Kristiansand, Nico was talking less with her. Every conversation with her was painful for him knowing that they can’t be together. Life went fast when the NHL returned. He was focused more on hockey than on her. Still, he was following the scores of her games to see how she and her team are doing but during the National Team, Nico was watching every game. He was proud of her and how far she went with her career. 

“I’m mad at you” Nico called her and that was the first he said to her.

“Wait, why?” Lisa was surprised.

“How could you beat my beautiful country?” Then she realized what he meant. Norway played against Switzerland that day and beat them 21:38. To make it funnier, Lisa got POTM in this game.

“What can I say? We’re just better” Lisa laughed.

“In your dreams” Nico replied.

“Remind me, who’s defending the title of European Champion” 

“Rude, also, how dare you to get the POTM award?” 

“You’re funny Nico” 

“I know” He chuckled. “I’m proud of you. You did great out there” He admitted.

“You watched?” 

“Yeah, I’m always watching your National Team games” 

“How cute…” Lisa sighed. “As much as I would like to talk with you, I’m tired and I really wish to be in my bed now”

“Understand it, good luck in next games” 

“Thank you and sorry for beating your country” She giggled and hung up. 

For the second time, Lisa won the European Championship. She and her team defended the title they won two years ago. It was an unbelievable experience and she was grateful to be part of this team. To her personal achievements, she could add another MVP award handed to her after the whole tournament.

lisa.pedersen

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lisa.pedersen Back to back champion! Grateful to be part of this amazing team❤️PS sorry Nico for the POTM🙄

charlotteolsen I couldn't be more proud of you!!!!!!

nicohischier You are forgiven, congratulation on another title to collection!

21 November 2022

Start of 2023 wasn't as successful for Lisa as she thought. In February she picked up an injury. Again, she tore her ACL, this time in right knee. She was truly heartbroken because she felt that she’s in the best shape ever. Now, she has to pause for at least 6 months and hope that she will still be fit to play. 

A month later, Vipers Kristiansand decided not to sign another contract with her. She spent 5 seasons here but now with all her achievements, she was too expensive for them. The club was struggling financially because the main sponsor backed off and they needed to drop some of the girls. Lisa was on top of her list because of her injury. She felt like it’s over.

“Lottie, I don’t think I’ll return to playing” Lisa cried, having all the pessimistic scenarios in her head.

“Calm down. You might not have a contract for next season but you’re Melissa Pedersen. European and World Champion. There’s gonna be a new club for you” 

“But I’m injured! Who would want to sign a broken player?” Lisa sobbed.

“Everyone who knows how good you are. Yes, you’re injured and? That doesn’t mean you will forget how to play and be a top player. Don’t panic, just wait. Trust me” Lottie cheered up her friend. 

Right after the conversation, Lottie called Nico to tell him about Lisa’ injury and contract situation. She stopped being active on social media and since Nico didn’t want to bother her knowing that there’s no future for them, he wasn’t talking that much to her as they used to. The minute he learned about her situation, he knew he had to talk with her. 

“Lisa, you got this. I know that you’ll return stronger. Remember the first injury? You debuted in the National Team and won the European Championship in the same year when it happened. Everything will be alright” Nico tried to talk her through her dark thoughts.

“Yeah but I had fucking contract and didn’t had to wonder if I will be have a team to play for” Lisa said with venom in voice.

“And now you’ll also have a team. There’s no way a great player like you would be jobless” He joked.

“Not funny” Lisa took a deep breath. “I wish they would have told me about the contract before my injury. Now I have to hope that someone would like to have me in the squad. The timing is also terrible because most clubs have players signed for next season”

“Stop worrying. Only idiots wouldn’t want to have you in the team when you’re free” 

“Maybe you’re right” 

“Of course I am. Now, focus on your rehabilitation. No matter how important playing is for you, your health should be a priority” 

“Thank you Nico, I don’t know what I would do without your words” Lisa said and made Nico smile. 

“Always here for you” Nico hung up and sighed. He was always for her but she only saw a friend in him. 

This conversation reunited Nico with Lisa. He realised how much he missed hearing her voice every day. On the other hand, Lisa was grateful for the support he had from him. She hadn't expected that knowing that he has different things to care for. This made her start feeling something for Nico. During her recovery, Lisa had plenty of time to think and she made up her mind that she wanted him but didn’t know if he wanted the same. 

In May, Vipers won the Norwegian Championship and a month later the Champions League. Lisa could call herself 4 times Norwegian Champion and 3 times Champions League winner but she never claimed the titles for season 2022/2023. She only played half of the season and didn’t help her team in winning the playoffs. She was happy for the girls but for her, it was wrong to accept the two gold medals. Just like that, she closed the chapter with Vipers Kristiansand.

lisa.pedersen

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lisa.pedersen I came to Kristiansand as a 18 years old girl with dreams and I'm leaving as a 22 years old woman with 4x Norwegian League and 3x Champions League titles. Vipers made me a better player and get me the chance to have my debut in senior playing. Thanks to them, I could represent Norway and win 2x EURO and become World Champion. I will hold dearly all the memories from the past 5 seasons. Thank you Kristiansand! Wish you all the best❤️

charlotteolsen Girl you made my cry with the caption😭

5 June 2023

Still Lisa didn’t know where she will play next season. She had a couple offerts on the table but hadn't made up her mind. Conversation with Nico showed her that her focus should be on health and not rushing things. Just like last year, she went to Switzerland to visit Lottie and spent time with her but this time, she was aware of the fact that Nico was coming to visit them. 

Thankfully, Lisa was almost done with her rehabilitation and could do most of the things. The trio had trips to the lake together where they have been sunbathing, swimming and doing picnics. Lottie saw the tension between Lisa and Nico and knew that they’re having a crush on each other. She decided to do something about it.

Step 3: Force them to have an honest conversation. 

She sat them together in the living room. Both of them were confused about what’s going on and looked at her like she’s mad.

“You two are gonna hate me but I don’t care” Lottie started. “You have feelings for each other and I’m tired of seeing you being all flirty and not doing anything about it so you’re gonna sit here and sort things out” She said and left them. They watched her walking to her bedroom and later at each other.

“Is it true?” Nico asked.

“I don’t know exactly what I’m feeling. I just know that you’re nice and talkative and give the best advice and I just appreciate having you in my life” He laughed. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because I have a hard time believing you” He shrugged.

“Why?” 

“I heard you saying to Lottie that you don’t know if you want to be with me” Lisa looked at him trying to remember when she said. Suddenly it hit her. She heard her conversation last year.

“That was a year ago! Things change and the same goes for feelings. I was fresh after the breakup and tried to heal from it. After your call when I got an injury and the fact that you cared, I’ve realised that I want to be with you” Before Nico had the chance to speak, Lisa interrupted him. “Why didn’t you say anything last year?” 

“And for what? To make a fool of myself? You said loud and clear that you’re not interest so I kept it quiet” 

“Do you still have feelings for me or have you moved on?” Lisa started playing with her fingers, scared of what she might hear.

“I still have them. I tried to move on but I couldn’t, especially when I heard from Lottie about your struggles” Nico grabbed her hand. “Do you think we have a chance to be… you know, together?”

“I don’t know” Lisa looked at him. “We’re living in different parts of the world. We might be great as friends and I don’t want to ruin it because I don’t know if we’re gonna be great as a couple” Lisa said honestly.

“Are you willing to take the risk and try?” Nico looked at her with hope.

“Only if you promise to stay friends when the relationship won’t work out” Lisa proposed.

“Deal” Nico smiled. “So, Melissa Pedersen, will you be my girlfriend?” 

“Nico Hischier, that will be my pleasure” Lisa laughed and he kissed her. 

Lottie heard your laughter and walked out of her bedroom to see Lisa and Nico cuddled on the couch.

“Your welcome” She said with sarcasm. Two of them thanked her and decided to watch a movie.

Maybe Lisa didn't have a clue where she’s gonna end up in the next season but at least she had a loving boyfriend by her side.

Can they make it work with her in Europe and him in the United States? 

next chapter

[wannabe-writer-elliot]

The Big Game - Captain Underpants Teen AU - Erica, Melvin, George, Harold - 14/7/24

Erica sat in one of the chairs outside the ice-rink, she had her water bottle in one hand, along with her gum guard and hockey stick in the other. This was her final game, if she won this, her team would win the whole tournament. She had played ice hockey for 5 years now, starting in middle school. Now, she's in high school, playing one of her biggest games. There were colleges scouting, so much pressure, andn3 of the people she actually managed to care about over the years were there.

The coach was giving a massive speech about girlhood, and how important this all was. Erica had heard it all before. She then saw her teammates get up and enter the ice rink... It was finally time, something she had waited and prepped for years. She took a final sip of water, put in her gum guard, and grabbed her hockey stick.

Erica got out onto the rink, going close to the centre, her usual place. She looked up to her right at the stands and saw the exact people she was looking for, Melvin, George and Harold. George and Harold were holding a massive “GO ERICA!” sign, nothing new for them... Melvin wasn’t exactly a big sports person, so it meant a lot to Erica that he came anyways.

Then the buzzer rang, just as quickly as she got onto the rink, she raced towards the hockey puck and hit it across the rink. She skated forward towards the goal and the hockey puck, being head-to-head with the “away” team. “ALYSSA! TO YOUR RIGHT!” Erica yelled, her hockey stick colliding with the puck, sending it flying over to a black-haired girl.

The girl quickly skated with it, eventually passing it back to Erica, raising her hockey stick, one quick swing... Then there was that beautiful buzzer. Erica always got the first point; it was her record. She looked up at the stands, seeing how George and Harold were practically yelling for her. And Melvin had some dumb invention that gave her two thumbs up, god, she loved those dumb inventions.

“ERICA!” A girl called out, Erica spun around and noticing the puck was flying towards her, before she could even react, another girl swept in. Next thing Erica knew, she was being smacked directly off her feet, slamming into the cold ice. Her whole body ached, especially her ankle.

“Whoops, didn’t see you there... Bitch.” The girl who smacked her down mumbled, walking over to the coach who was yelling. Erica tried to stand up, her ankle was making it extremely difficult though. Two girls held her up by her shoulders, helping her out of the rink. They dropped her off in front of the door.

“You can walk, right?” One of the girls asked, still holding her arm. Erica nodded, which sent the two girls away. She stumbled over to row E, going to some of the first seats. She looked up and noticed how George and Harold were half over their seats, yelling about how that girl should be disqualified. Fuck, even Melvin was pissed off at the girl. Erica sat in the seat next to Melvin, making him jump slightly. “Erica! Are you alright?” Melvin asked, checking her arms for bruises, or just any marks overall.

“Hey, I’m fine. I’ll probably just go back in a minute. Coach told those two girls to let me stay off and go to whoever was here to watch me for a few minutes.” Erica took off her hockey skates, taking out her gum guard before she spoke too.

“Woah Erica!” George turned around to his left and saw Erica, “That girl who knocked you over is so not cool.” Erica just nodded her head in agreement, then Harold spoke up, “Who even was she?”, she barely even recognized her. She went to a school not far away from here, she was pretty sure it might’ve been-

“Heather Windstock.” Erica clicked her fingers as she said the name, “We were in a competition and when I won, she got kicked out of the whole thing. Never able to compete again... Maybe she's trying to make it so I’ll never compete in what I love again.” That theory wasn’t too far-fetched, Heather was the stereotypical mean girl everyone hates.

“Woah, you have an enem-?” Before Harold could finish his sentence, Erica’s coach was stood at the rink door. “ERICA! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” She called out, Erica gave a nod and thumbs up in response. “GOOD, GET DOWN HERE! HEATHER GOT KICKED OFF THE COURT, SO ITS SAFE NOW!” Or was it?

Erica walked down the stairs, tying her skates back on before she got on the rink, she gave her friends a quick smile and wave before she went back on. Immediately, she ran for the puck, scoring practically 30 seconds after she got back into the rink. 2-1 HOME, the board read... Fuck, the other team scored whilst she was out.

The game continued, Erica scoring a few more points, she looked up at the left side of the stands and saw Heather literally throwing a hissy fit whilst her parents dragged her out. She felt a twinge of guilt, before shaking her head and remembering what Heather did, she didn’t deserve Erica’s sympathy.

The game eventually ended, 6-2 to home. All of Erica’s team mates were cheering and patting each other on the back. The away team seemed pretty upset, but were still being team players and shaking hands with the other team. Erica got past the last girl and walked off the rink.

“WOOOOOO! YOU WONN!!” A voice practically boomed, running up to Erica. George and Harold were now at either of her sides. They both kept congratulating her on her win, talking about how cool she was, and how she managed to score 4 out of those 6 points even after the hit. Melvin was behind Erica, waiting for the other two boys to leave before he tried to speak to Erica.

“Well done, Erica.” Melvin offered his hand for a handshake. She took his hand a shook it, smiling back at his somewhat nervous smile. The taller girl then pulled her hand away, wiping it on her hockey shirt.

“I’ll see you around, Melvin!” She yelled, whilst running off into the girls changing rooms. Melvin just stood, staring at where Erica was standing before. Before George and Harold ran up behind him, clammoring to the exit whilst also pushing Melvin with them...

Meanwhile in the locker rooms, Erica was being congratulated by all her team mates, compliments like - “THAT WAS AMAZING!” and “HOW YOU SCORED THE FIRST GOAL WAS SICK!” and lastly, “ALL OF THAT ON A HURT ANKLE! I applaud you girl.”

Erica just smiled and took all the compliments, she knew where she was welcome, and it was basically everywhere. Such a well-liked girl, loved by everyone. Perfect in every way, no wonder boys practically dropped to her feet like flies. Erica was perfect, and she knows damn well how awesome she really is.

[snugglebug-92]

The One Where Things Come Crashing Down

After dinner on Friday night it didn’t take long for Matthew to show up at your place.

“I told you to drop it Matthew,” you look at him, tears streaming down your face. Matthew had never seen you cry. In your entire year of friendship, he had never seen it happen once so for him to be the cause of it felt like a million knives stabbing him everywhere.

“I’m sorry I just thought you were scared or embarrassed of liking a freshman. I didn’t think it was anything more than that,” Matthew shifts from foot to foot unsure of what to do.

“The reason I transferred her was because of my ex. The situation was bad. Really bad to the point where I almost died. It started out good, everything was sunshine and rainbows but soon things went bad. He got abusive and I tried to leave but he would threaten me, and I just couldn’t leave.”

“I’m so sorry I didn't know.”

“I know. But that’s why I haven’t dated anyone in the past year or taken interest in any guys. I just wasn’t ready yet but then well you know where we are right now.”

“I’ll fix this.”

“It’s okay Matthew. I’ll talk to him.”

“How about I tell him my part of how you had no idea he was going to be there and then you tell him whatever else you want to. Deal?”

“Deal.” You and Matthew spend most of the weekend together and when Monday comes around you go and talk to Jimmy after practice. You had watched how he avoided Matthew most of practice and you knew it wasn’t a good sign but when you get the text from Knies says Jimmy told him that what happened was in the past you took it as a good sign. You went up to talk to Jimmy and were quickly brushed off as if you didn’t exist. You blink back the tears and smile at Matthew when he comes out of the locker room. He comes over and you tell him that everything is okay even though it isn't. The same thing continues for the next month. Every time you see Jimmy after practice or a game, he pretends you are invisible and it’s killing you. Eventually you have to enlist his roommate. As you knock on Jimmy’s door you hear shuffling.

“Did you forget your key again?” Jimmy asked before opening the door.

“Look I’m sorry about the date I-” you start but then Jimmy cuts you off.

“Save it. I get the guys pranking me but I didn’t think you would stoop that low,” he slams the door and you slide down the wall next to his door breaking down in sobs. You didn’t understand how this boy who was so sweet to everyone was breaking your heart like this and he didn’t even know how you felt about him. You don’t know how long you are like that but soon Matthew is coming and you have never been more grateful to see him in your life.

“What happened? I got a call you were here. I thought everything was back to normal and you guys were, okay?” Matthew looks at you. You shake your head and grab his hand to stand up.

“I lied because I didn’t want you to worry. But I came here and he thinks the whole thing was a prank. He hates me Matty,” you whisper as the tears start to pile up. You look at the light and quickly blink so you don’t start crying before Matthew wraps his arms around you.

“We’ll figure it out. Okay?”

“I don’t know what there is to figure out Matty. He hates me.”

“I’ll talk to him or I don’t know.”

“It’s useless. I’ll just figure something out. I’ll be okay.” You smile and Matthew knows it’s a load of crap but he drops it. The two of you walk to get ice cream before he has to leave for a date with Abby leaving you alone with your thoughts. You sit in your empty apartment and can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever forgive you. That’s when you get the email. One other secret you had been keeping is that you had applied to be a photographer for the world juniors hockey tournament. You know it was a bit of a stretch but you had always been into photography and you had done a lot of sports photography. This was the email saying the position was yours. You were officially team USA’s photographer. Your rather shitty day had gotten a lot better. 

That night you go to bed with a smile on your face. You were happy and things were starting to look up. The rest of your week went by rather fast and soon it was game day. You went to the boy's game and they won. You congratulated Matthew and Brock before smiling at Jimmy as you left. You had decided you didn’t care if he was going to be a dick to you. You could be the bigger person and just ignore it and be nice to him anyways. It didn’t matter anymore. You were done caring.

[grantmentis]

Some details on the Pwhpa collective bargaining agreement can be found here, the hockey news is not my favorite source but the athletic one is paywalled so I figured I’d just link this one for those who may not have access

Anyway some thoughts, but please note while I have tried to read every article I have not read the documents themselves

What I like:

- training camp stipends

-six contracts that have to be 80k or over

-28 players

-no more than nine players can make the league minimum 35k

-certain flexibility in the average salary based on player movement and trade

-stipends for housing / food / relocation / lease breaking (the two above point leads me to believe player movement by front offices will be way more common in this league than we’ve seen previously)

-increase in growth built in to not just salaries but also things like training camp stipends

What I don’t like:

-55k being the average salary requirement, if that is enforced, when you have roster requirements that is essentially a salary cap (assuming it’s strict enforcement) and not a particularly high one which. That SAID I do like the formatting of this instead of a standard salary cap as it prevents team from top loading salaries (especially with the minimum number of players that can make the minimum salary and a certain number that need to make 80k.) this is one of those things that would bother me less if it wasn’t an 8 year cba (I wish we had no salary cap or anything of the sort ideally but I do not expect it for new North American leagues)

-contracts not guaranteed/ can be terminated (want to see exact language before I fully comment on this tho, as I believe I heard there are restrictions on this so that one can’t just do it in retaliation or anything, but it still makes me nervous)

-increase in growth built in…both a positive and a negative to me, due to the term of the CBA.

-from what I’ve heard, no revenue split

What I’m curious to hear about further:

-facility requirements. This is why a lot of Pwhpa players left the phf, and also something a lot of phf players fought to improve the past few years which is why we saw some facility changes. It’s an important issue to a lot of players and I have to imagine it’s probably in the CBA but haven’t actually heard anyone talk about it. This is also interesting as the league has six months to figure out where they’re playing that’ll be massively important to it. We know Pwhpa players talked about scouting faculties a few weeks back as well

-salvian of the athletic reporter there was maternity leave, pregnancy benefits, nursing accommodations but haven’t seen anyone expand on that in an article

-we know trades, waivers, and draft are transactions included in the CBA but don’t know: if there are no trade / move clauses, if a player is drafted but chooses not to sign how long their rights are held for. I’m going under the assumption that there isn’t going to be much restricted free agents / it’s not an nhl or nwsl thing where when you’re drafted the team holds your rights for a billion years unless they trade or relinquish it, but in previous leagues whether that be phf or cwhl we’ve seen drafts be mostly ceremonial where the team who drafted you gets maybe two weeks of exclusive talks before you’re free to negotiate with anyone. Will we see something similar here - and will that change from the inaugural draft to next years draft where you’re likely going back to graduating ncaa players

-we heard relocation assistance/stipend is offered, does that come with visa assistance for international players?

-this isn’t necessarily a cba thing but also could be? So I’m going to put it here. There is undeniably a lot of national team players that will be in this league and taking up a high percentage of roster spots. Will the league stop during international tournaments as we’ve seen previously or will we get more what the nwsl is doing this year and allowing temporary contracts (maybe like the 10 day contracts mentioned)

[mitchbeck]

SWAMP RABBITS BRING BACK COYLE, GET POISSON

BCHL teammates reunited: Coyle back for second season, Poisson set to make professional debut By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced today that defenseman Max Coyle has re-signed with the team for the 2024-25 ECHL Season. Additionally, Ben Poisson signed his first professional contract with Greenville, seeking his professional debut. Coyle and Poisson join Austin Saint and Colton Young on the 2024-25 Swamp Rabbits roster, with Coyle serving as the lone defenseman announced. Coyle comes back for his second professional season with the Swamp Rabbits. The 6’1”, 195-pound blue-liner chipped in a pair of goals and 12 points in 54 regular season games and added three more Kelly Cup Playoff games to his ledger. Coyle notched his first professional point, an assist, in his Swamp Rabbits debut on November 1st at Atlanta. He rang his first professional goal off the crossbar and in to win in overtime against Florida on January 6th. “Coming in for my first pro season last year, Greenville always seemed like the right fit for me. It clearly met my expectations: our group was great and I was happy around the rink every day. That’s what brought me here in the first place and precisely what’s bringing me back,” Coyle said of his return to the Swamp Rabbits. “Last year, I experienced many highs and lows as a rookie, and had some great runs with great people throughout the season, one being Coach Mountain. We have insane respect for him as a coach and person, and I’m super happy to return and play for him. My ultimate goal is to play at the next level, whether this season or beyond. However, my expectation this season is to be the best player I can be on and off the ice. I’ve never been obsessed with stats, so consistency and being a 200-foot player every day is what I’m working on this year. Additionally, I want to contribute to a group that will grow throughout season so, when the time comes, we’re ready for playoffs in our pursuit of winning the Kelly Cup.” “Max grew tremendously over the course of last season, and I still believe he has great potential as a player. He possesses a solid and well-rounded skillset, and brings an edge to his game that makes him very difficult to play against,” Kyle Mountain, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations of the Swamp Rabbits, said of Coyle’s return. “Max dedicated so much time to developing last season, and those hours tend to pay off. Depth is critical in this league, so when players like Max buy into the process of getting better, it instills confidence in the organization that, when called upon, a guy like Max can step up and contribute. This season, he’ll be relied upon for his steady presence on the ice, but beyond that, he brings a great energy to our room. With a full year under his belt, I expect he'll put himself into a position to help this team in countless ways, both on and off the ice.” From Tillsonburg, Ontario, Coyle, 26, began his professional career with the Indy Fuel after the 2022-23 campaign, appearing in three games. Before becoming professional, he skated four seasons of NCAA college hockey, playing with the University of Alabama-Huntsville as a freshman and Bowling Green State University for his final three seasons. During his collegiate career, Coyle notched 21 points in 127 contests between the Chargers and Falcons. He preceded his college years, winning a BCHL championship with the Prince George Spruce Kings in 2019. Poisson joins the Swamp Rabbits seeking his professional hockey debut following the conclusion of his NCAA college career, which he spent with the University of Maine. The 6’1”, 195-pound forward tallied six goals and 15 points in 37 games in his fifth season and helped lead the Black Bears to their first NCAA Tournament in 12 years. “Looking at the structure and beliefs of this team, and speaking to players and coaches, this is an organization that has foundations for winning and developing players to be best they can be. It’s a program with great character, and I’m excited to be a part of it for my first professional season,” Poisson said of signing his first contract with Greenville. “I pride myself on doing the little things right. I play hard as a power forward, strong on the walls and in the tough-to-play areas of the ice. I do my best to play responsible defense just as much as I try to put the puck in the back of the net, overall contributing a full 200-foot game. My expectation for my first season is to adjust to the professional level and find my identity to build around for the betterment of the team. Having won a championship in junior, I can say without a doubt there’s no better feeling, so I want to help this team win a Kelly Cup title through fostering team chemistry and grinding for the crest on my chest and my teammates next to me. I look forward to meeting the fans and representing Greenville with the Swamp Rabbits.” “Ben’s character was one thing that immediately stood out to me in the recruiting process. He captained Prince George to a Fred Page Cup championship in the BCHL and was a two-year captain at the University of Maine. A makeup like that exemplifies what we’re continuing to build in Greenville, and I know he’ll contribute in a number of ways even as a first-year professional,” Mountain continued, elaborating on Poisson. “Ben plays a complete game, which will only serve to help him in his first professional season. He’s sound defensively, and really buys into that side of the puck. His wall play is very effective and is an aspect of his game that differentiates him from other professionals at this level. Ben also has size and plays into his big frame, which increases our physicality and provides him with an edge to create offense and produce. We look forward to growing his game at the professional level and developing him into a high-impact player.” A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Poisson, 24, enters the professional ranks with 31 goals, 41 assists, and 72 points in 155 NCAA games. Before college, he played parts of four seasons in the BCHL with the Prince George Spruce Kings, racking 114 points in 165 contests. He captained the Spruce Kings to the 2019 BCHL championship, with Coyle as his teammate, and was awarded the Bob Fenton Trophy in 2018 as the BCHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits … Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly, the Greenville Road Warriors and the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's LA Kings and the AHL's Ontario Reign. Greenville is an ECHL Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League member. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOWLINGS Read the full article

[casspurrjoybell-25]

Skating on Thin Ice - Chapter 42 - Part 1

*Warning - Adult Content*

Elijah Ellis

"Wake up, cuties," Alex's excited voice startled me awake on the bus.

Fox still slept with his head in my lap, laying down across the seats.

Soon after we got banished to our hotel rooms earlier in the day, the coaches announced we would be leaving but didn't tell us anything other than that.

It was quite late, almost eleven PM when we finally made it back to the school.

I could already see Dad's car waiting for Joshua and myself in the parking lot.

I placed my hand on Fox's cheek, moving it up to stroke his hair.

"Wake up," I said, gently tugging on his hair.

He groaned, squinting up at me.

Alex leaned over the seat, putting his face in front of Fox's.

Fox shoved his face away and sat up.

"That just ruined my night," Fox said, glaring over at Alex.

"You're so fucking rude, you know that?" Alex retorted with a matching glare.

I laughed at their banter, standing up and following them out of the bus.

We all gathered our things and Coach Silva told us we would have a team meeting when we got back to school.

"You should come over tomorrow before Ryan's New Year's Eve party, we can go together," Fox suggested as the team dispersed.

"If you're actually let out of your house."

"I don't know if my Dad will let me out of his sight," I admitted with a sigh.

Fox nodded, looking down at the ground as he adjusted his bag on his shoulder.

"Hopefully I'll see you," he said, looking up at me.

"I gotta go though. Ian's waiting for me."

"Yeah, my Dad's been staring at us since we got out of the bus," I told him, nodding toward the car where Dad sat with Joshua beside him.

Fox looked toward the car briefly then back at me.

He seemed to be contemplating something before he said one last goodbye and headed over to his car.

I sighed, wishing he would have kissed me but knowing he didn't because my Dad had been watching us.

My feet dragged on the pavement as I trudged over to the car, popping the trunk and throwing my bag inside before sliding into the back seat.

"Are you alright, Elijah?" Dad asked as I put my seatbelt on.

"I'm fine," I told him truthfully.

What happened at the tournament hadn't scarred me as bad as it could have.

It could have gone a lot worse.

I was still relieved that it was over but I knew I was lucky it hadn't been worse.

"We'll talk more in the morning," Dad said as he started out of the parking lot.

"All of us."

Joshua and I shared a look but didn't say anything.

Coach Silva must have called all the parents about what had gone on because Dad didn't seem surprised by the bruises on our faces.

*********

The next morning I woke up earlier than I anticipated.

Dad was already downstairs with Mandy, both of them turning to me when they heard my footsteps enter the kitchen.

Mandy instantly stood up and gave me a hug, kissing my cheek.

"I missed my boys," Mandy admitted with a smile as she pulled away.

"I'm sorry you guys couldn't finish the tournament."

I just shrugged.

It wasn't that I was worried about.

I was more worried about this affecting the rest of the season and our chances at college hockey.

I had already applied to plenty of schools near and far but I was still hoping to sign with a team, as were the rest of the guys I was sure.

"Is it alright if I go to Fox's later?" I asked, sitting down at the table with them.

I knew Dad would worry about me the whole time I was out but Mandy always had a way of calming him down.

If she was around, he would find it hard to say no to me.

It was mean but I wanted to see Fox.

"What will you guys be doing?" Dad asked.

Nothing I would want my father knowing about.

"Just hanging out at his house and then going to Ryan's later for New Year's eve," I replied, sharing a look with Mandy.

"Who's going to be at Ryan's?"

"Dan," Mandy interjected, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder.

"Just let him go. I doubt either of the boys want to be here for Ava's sleepover."

I silently thanked her with a look of gratitude as Dad let out a sigh and nodded.

"I know the fight at the game wasn't your fault," Dad started.

"But I worry about you. I don't want any of those stupid boys trying to do anything to you."

"It'll just be the team guys at Ryan's," I assured him.

"Joshua will be there."

I wasn't exactly sure who would be there considering Ryan was planning on throwing a party but Dad didn't need to know that.

"And Fox?" he asked and my eyes slightly widened.

"Yeah, we're going together," I said, my voice a little higher than I intended.

"I've always liked him," Dad said to me.

"He's a good friend to you."

Mandy hummed in agreement, taking a sip of her coffee.

I nodded.

"Yes he is."

Knowing my father and Mandy liked Fox filled me with relief.

When the time came to tell them about our relationship, at least I could be sure that they wouldn't hate him.

Ava came down the stairs a few minutes later, her hair up in a very messy ponytail with strands sticking out in every direction.

Her eyes were still slightly swollen with sleep as she sat down beside me and squinted at the bruise on my face.

"Did you at least get one good punch in?" she asked me, landing a solid punch on my shoulder.

"Ow," I complained, rubbing where she had hit me.

"Ava don't hit him," Mandy scolded while Dad laughed at us.

Ava scoffed and shook her head at me, uttering a quiet...

"Wimp."

"I did get a punch in," I told her with a grin.

"If it even matters."

She sent me a wicked smile.

"Hell yeah."

"So, who's coming to your sleepover tonight?" I asked her as Mandy stood from the table to get more coffee.

"My friends," Ava replied in an irritated tone as if I had made her state the obvious.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah but who?"

"Fawn, Kenzie, Breeanna Josie and Carrie," she listed.

"I only know Fawn."

"Obviously."