Tongue Tied

Erica, Alexa, and Kya waited for Nathan in confusion. He had asked them to meet him at the arena so they were left standing around like idiots. Nathan came running down the hall. He had just landed, coming back from Nashville. He held a finger up to the girls as he doubled over to get some oxygen into his lungs. The girls shook their heads.

"You'd think a hockey player could handle running better." Alexa stated.

Nathan glared up at her. "I need you to not talk." He hissed as he continued to pant.

"Why are we here? What do you want?" Erica growled.

"I need you to help me with Alex's birthday gift." He explained as he stood up straight.

"Which is?" Kya was intrigued.

"I want to take her for dinner since it's all I really can do, but I want it to be really fancy and special. But you're coming too, with the guys." He listed.

"What do you have in mind?" Erica quizzed.

"I know nothing about clothing and stuff but I'll give you full access to my cards to buy Alex a really nice dress and shoes and a spa day and a ring." He finished. "Well, I already picked out the dress and ring, I just need you to pick them up for me. And shoes."

"Woah, a ring?" Alexa yelped.

"Not that kind of ring. Just something to show her how much I love her." He sighed. "It has one of the things that like indent your skin with our number. I just need a new dress for our dinner tonight for her."

Kya nodded. "We can do that." She smiled.

"If our spa day is included." Erica added.

"Yeah, of course." He obliged.

"Then we have a deal." Alexa chimed.

Nathan exhaled. "Thank god. I've been so stressed out about this." He confessed. "I just want this birthday to be special for her."

"A nineteenth birthday is important to Canadians." Alexa stated.

He rolled his eyes. "She's a size eight in,"

"Dresses,"

"Shoes,"

"And rings."

He laughed. "Yeah. She's an eight."

"She's actually a hard ten." Erica argued.

"She's more than a ten." He corrected as he pulled out his wallet. "Please don't max me out but don't buy cheap shit either. Only the best for my girl."

"Why is Ryan nothing like you?" Alexa growled.

"I'm one of a kind." Nathan grinned as he handed over his credit card.

The three girls left early the next day. Nathan was forced to leave Alex alone since he had a morning skate. She woke up by herself. She wasn't too bothered by that. Her phone was loaded with birthday wishes from various social medias and contacting ways. She spotted a platter on her desk. She narrowed her eyes. There were flowers resting beside it. She picked them up and smiled. Nathan had grabbed her a bouquet of various coloured daisies. She loved daisies. She also saw a velvet box that she was scared to touch since it said 'DO NOT TOUCH'. There was a folded paper leaning on the covered platter. She picked it up.

This is the lamest thing I've done but that's okay. I guess you're 18 or something? Wait, 19? I haven't cared enough to pay attention.

She rolled her eyes.

I bet you rolled your eyes at that, but happy birthday, Al. I don't know how I went a season without you but I never want to again. You mean the world and more to me and I can't stand being away from you. I'm pissed that I'm not here right now saying this to you instead of writing it out. I love you more than anything else in this world. You are my world. I picked out the most colourful flowers I could find because you're so colourful yourself. (Also because you love daisies.) I'll pick you up for your birthday dinner after my practice around four thirty and then you're sleeping over after our night. I love you, happy birthday.P.S. You can open all your gifts now.

And that she did. She lifted the platter to see steaming pancakes. She thanked Nathan in a silent prayer. She didn't understand how they were still so hot but she was thankful. She went to dig in before she saw the velvet box in the corner of her eye. She set down her utensils and picked it up. She opened it slowly. There was a Parisi Lagoon Ring. Her jaw dropped. It was rose gold with a diamond. She slid it on her ring finger within a second. She smiled at it and then pulled it back off to look better. That's when she spotted the small '29' indented in her finger. She smiled.

After finishing her breakfast, she ran across the hall to show off her ring to the girls. She figured Erica was over there if she wasn't in their dorm. Alex had slept in pretty late. She knocked before opened the door. Alexa screamed before she slammed the door in Alex's face. Alex frowned. A few minutes later, Erica opened the door. She smiled at Alex before hugging her. Alex smiled and walked in. She sat down on the couch. Kya came walking out with gifts. Alex rolled her eyes.

"First off, one of these are from us, one is from Tyson, and one is from Gabe." Kya explained, setting them down on the bed beside her. "I'd be scared of Tyson and Gabe's."

"Guess what they are." Alexa said, sitting on the floor in front of Alex.

"Tyson's is probably a jersey of his and Gabe probably got me a plush doll of himself." Alex chuckled as she pulled Gabe's gift from the bag.

It was in a box. She sighed, ripping apart the box. There was another box. She growled. She knew exactly what was next. Three more boxes and she finally got to an envelope with a card in it on top of a wrapped object. The card had an apology for the thousands of boxes before he explained that his gift was the autographed picture of himself inside it. She realized it wasn't just that and checked into it. There was a framed photo of her, Matt, and Tyson. She smiled.

"I hate this kid but he's a gem." She stated, grabbing Tyson's gift.

She was almost right. It wasn't a jersey, it was a shirsey. She rolled her eyes, placing it with Gabe's card. She opened the girls' next. There were multiple things in it. First, a MacKinnon phone case, then a MacKinnon plush doll.

"I have the real MacKinnon to cuddle." Alex frowned.

"That's gross." Erica gagged.

"The doll is cuter." Alexa shrugged.

Alex shook her head. Some clothing was also a part of their gift, and a lot of other things that Alex really appreciated. She pulled out her phone, creating a group message with Matt, Ryan, Varly, and Jamie.

"What is that rock on your finger?" Kya gasped, grabbing Alex's hand.

"Oh my god, Nathan left it for me this morning." Alex gushed.

"No, we left it for him. Why didn't we look at it first?" Erica asked, mesmerized by it.

"I thought it was just gonna be a band." Alexa confessed.

"Speaking of bands," Alex smirked, setting her phone down and pulling the ring off. "It leaves a little twenty nine in my finger."

"Oh my god, that is precious." Erica cooed.

"He called it your number." Kya smiled.

"Huh?"

"He was telling us what it would indent and he was like 'our number' about you and him." She explained.

"My number that he stole." Alex corrected, picking her phone back up.

Alex Roy
Where are my gifts?

Varly
Will give on 32nd )))

DOUCHE
Who is this?

Alex Roy
Funny

Ry Da Guy
I only buy gifts for people I like

Alex Roy
I cannot believe you made your name "Ry Da Guy" and took a selfie of you duck lipping for your icon

Varly
I want a cool name

Alex Roy
I want a birthday present

The Great Ginner
What's it like to want?

Alex Roy
When do you people have access to change your names in my phone?

The Great Ginner
Your boyfriend works for us

Alex Roy
Ya ok. Dinner tonight?

DOUCHE
Wouldn't miss it

Alex Roy
Because me, right?

Varly
No
Food

Alex Roy
Never hated a group of people so much

The group chat was interrupted by a text from Nathan. Alex smiled and read it.

Babe ️
Did ya get my note? Happy birthday baby!

Alex Roy
Why are there 90 emojis in your name?

Babe ️
Love you too! See you tonight

Alex rolled her eyes. Time for a new passcode, clearly.

Notes