Can't Be Changed

“I just don’t understand all this fuckery.” Alisa mumbled for the millionth time. “Ow! Motherfucker! I would appreciate it if you would not pull all the fucking hair out of my damn head, woman!”

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t swear so much! There are innocent ears in the room!” Rosie Keith demanded giving Alisa’s hair another tug as she curled it to perfection.

“You’re two months pregnant, I don’t think the baby even has a brain yet.” Alisa rolled her eyes picking at her fresh coat of light pink nail polish. “Ow!”

“Don’t you dare insult my baby’s intelligence!”

“My god, I think I’m bleeding!” Alisa exclaimed rubbing her head.

“I’m almost done! It looks so cute!” Rosie smiled giving the curls another quick coat of hairspray.

“Everything okay in here?” Patrick asked sticking his head cautiously in the doorway of Alisa’s room.

“Well I’m almost bald, but otherwise, yeah everything is just fine.” Alisa remarked standing as Rosie announced that she was all set.

“I’ll be in the car.” Patrick smiled before quickly exiting.

“I still can’t believe this is happening.” Alisa sighed fixing her top in the mirror.

“Going to dinner with your parents?” Rosie asked sitting on Alisa’s bed.

“Again.” Alisa emphasized with a dramatic wave of the hand.

“Why is it so hard to for you to believe that your parents like Patrick?”

“Love. They love Patrick. They’ve already established Thanksgiving plans and we’re going to Bora Bora with them in a few months. Mind you this all happened without my consent, while they were gushing over Patrick.”

“You are some kind of messed up.” Rosie said rolling her eyes this time, “It took my parents a year to take my relationship with Duncan seriously. They would rather see me date an accountant or something, not a hockey player.”

“I’ve dated an accountant, and a lawyer, and a politician, but for some reason, they adore Patrick.” Alisa shook her head in disbelief and gave Rosie one last look. “While I’m gone, please don’t do the nasty in my apartment.”

“No promises.” Rosie winked as Alisa left to go meet Patrick at the car.

*

As the car pulled up to La Rue, Patrick and Alisa stepped out of the town car to be met by photographers.

“This is new.” Alisa smirked at Patrick who was bombarded with questions regarding the Stanley Cup win a few weeks prior.

“Patrick!” She heard and knew it immediately to be her mother’s voice. Upon seeing the hockey player, Alisa’s mother flocked to him, giving him a firm squeeze. “So glad to see you again!”

“You too Mrs. Beck.” Patrick smiled warmly and then greeted Alisa’s father with a handshake.
“Oh hello parents, nice to see you too.” Alisa said with sarcasm.

“Hi sweetheart, you look wonderful.” Alisa’s mother smiled giving her daughter a hug. “Come on, let’s go get our table.

Dinner passed quickly with jovial conversation, consisting mostly of Alisa’s parent’s asking Patrick questions and swooning over his every word. Alisa was astounded at how quickly her parents had taken to Patrick. She smiled slightly as he animatedly told them a story, his eyes bright and hands flying all over the place.

“…and then Alisa decided to get back at me by taking a teammate to her benefit, which really sucked…”

“You deserved it.” Alisa interjected with a bright smile.

“Yeah I guess.” Patrick shrugged, giving her a quick wink.

“I’m going to go check my lipstick, Alisa do you want to join me?” Mrs. Beck asked.

“Sure.” Alisa smiled, giving Patrick’s arm a squeeze before following her mother to the bathroom.

Alisa sighed as she inspected her curls, which still held their spirals perfectly. Pulling out her mascara from the clutch she brought, she gave her lashes another quick coat.

“So, how are things with Patrick?” Her mother asked washing her hands.

“Things are great. Mom, I don’t…why do you…how are you and dad so keen on Pat?”

Pausing her ministrations, Alisa’s mother looked up at her daughter with a knowing, motherly smile.

“Sweetheart, Patrick may not be the brightest bulb, or most intellectual individual, but honey I have never seen any man look at you the way he does. And your eyes! My god, the way your eyes shine when you’re with him.” Alisa’s mother smiled a soft sort of smile, that only a mother can. She tucked a stray curl that had fallen in front, behind her daughter’s ear. “Someday, you’re going to fall in love with him. And that’s the honest truth. If you’re not prepared for that, then you’ve got some thinking to do.”

Taken aback by her mother’s words Alisa took in an intake of breath. Fall in love? Alisa promised herself from the beginning that she would never fall in love with Patrick, and things were not about to change. What didn’t cross her mind, was how much things had already changed .

“But for your sake, I really do hope you stay with Patrick. That accountant you dated was so boring, and don’t get me started on the politician. You need some fun in your life. Not to mention, Patrick is a hottie.” Alisa’s mom giggled before exiting the bathroom. Dumbfounded at the conversation that had just transpired, Alisa’s mouth hung open for a few moments while he collected herself in the bathroom.
Upon finally rejoining the group at the table, Patrick asked, “Everything all right?”

“Perfect.” Alisa smiled ignoring the look her mother was sending her from across the table.
*

“What do you mean you’re not going?” Alisa groaned in frustration as her best friend in Chicago gave her the news, “I’m going to Ontario to have an engagement party with the family that wont make it to the wedding, I’m sorry! I wish I could go.”

“Angel, how am I supposed to do this alone? We were going to coordinate dresses and everything.”

“What are you, five? You’ll be fine, plus you’re not alone, you have Pat.”
“So I’m going to be awkwardly following Patrick around at this wedding that’ll be full of a bunch of hockey players and no one I know.”

“Gillian and Aimee will be there, so you’ll be fine.” Angel explained, “I have to go pack, so I’ll call you later rat.”

Sighing and tossing her phone to the side, Alisa cuddled herself into Patrick’s couch with her mug of tea. Moments later she heard the shower shut off, notifying her that Patrick would soon be stepping out and dripping all over his floor.

“It’s like 89 degrees outside, how the hell can you be drinking tea?” Patrick laughed, joining her on his couch. Alisa smiled at the water droplets cascading down his neck and ears.

“I’m cold.” She giggled tucking her toes under Patrick’s butt.

“Come here.” Patrick growled pulling her into him. Quickly leaving the cup on the adjacent coffee table, Alisa pounced into Patrick’s waiting arms. Their lips molding together perfectly as hands tugged at hair and their breathing sped up. Patrick groaned as Alisa bit his lip, pulling it into her mouth, her finger tugging at his short blond, and still wet strands of hair. Patrick’s hands slid into Alisa’s back pocket’s only to be interrupted by both their phones simultaneously ringing.

“Fuck.”

“Shit.”

Springing up from the couch, Alisa ran to her purse to answer her phone. Patrick pulled out his from his back pocket, “This better be fucking good, Bur. What the fuck no I don’t want to go swimming. Fuck you too, dude.”

“Hey Harvey, what’s wrong?” Alisa asked breathlessly. “All the files?” Alisa closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Alright, don’t go anywhere, I’ll be there in 10.”

“What’s wrong?” Patrick asked warily.

“All my files from the Kirkland merger are gone, and I need to go help Harvey find them.” Alisa sighed, “I’m sorry honey, I’ll try not to be out too late.” She added giving Patrick a kiss on the cheek before disappearing out the door. Patrick redialed Adam Burish’s number, placing the phone to his ear.

“Want to go get a drink instead?” Patrick asked. After receiving a confirmation from Adam, Patrick put on his shoes and disappeared into the night.

Notes