Caroline watched Dougie Hamilton disappear into Hadlee' s room with his gear bag. He was getting changed so they could watch Scandal. Hockey players are naked around people all the time. Why the hell was he changing behind closed doors? Dougie confused her at every turn. She stalked into her bedroom. She slipped out of her pants and replaced them with short black yoga shorts. She had a gold tank under his jersey. She hung his jersey up on the back of her door and flopped down on her bed. Caroline had found herself staring at the jersey a lot over the past few days. She texted Kayleigh.

Caroline: At the apartment with Dougie. He is serious about watching Scandal

Kayleigh: You love Scandal.

Caroline: Pizza and Netflix.

Kayleigh: that's a normal date Caro

Caroline: He's changing out of his suit right now.

Kayleigh: snuggling isn't really a business suit kinda thing

Caroline: He went to Hadlee's room. The only thing he took off in front of me was his coat.

Kayleigh: Maybe he's shy. Or scared you did double Blacker and Segs

Caroline: you called me a slut again

Kayleigh: if the strappy lingerie fits

Caroline: hate you!!!!!!!!

Kayleigh: good luck let me know if you make it past holding hands.

Caroline: Don't you have a 1st Star to bang

Kayleigh: maybe.

Caroline: holy hell we've corrupted you ;)

Caroline debated back and forth before heading to the bathroom and washing off all her makeup. She left the braid in her hair but gathered the loose part into a ponytail. She heard Dougie talking to someone. She heard a faint good game and then keep the change. Caroline ventured out into the kitchen. Dougie was digging around in the Cabinet looking for plates.

"By all means Hamilton make yourself at home." Caroline opened the cabinet that held the plates. He laughed and grabbed the paper plates. He knew she had trouble reaching things on the higher shelves. At 5'3 Caroline was the tallest of all 3 of the girls. He however was 6'5 and dwarfed the petite brunette. Caroline was bent over digging in the fridge. She came up with a few different varieties of beer and soda. "Beer or?"

Dougie took an Amstel Light out of her offering. Caroline put the drinks back except for a cherry coke. Dougie had noticed she favored things that were cherry flavored. She loved the chocolate cherry cupcakes made by Kayleigh. She had also stole the cherries out if everyone's drinks the night he had met her. She had even had cherry waffles at the diner. Dougie had noticed this among many of her little quirks. She carried her plate and drink into the living room. She sat in the floor between the couch and coffee table. Dougie folded his large body in the small space beside her. They ate pizza while watching the first episode of Scandal. She was explaining different things as they ate. They finished the first episode and cleared all the leftovers to the kitchen. She handed him a second beer. He stood against the door jam and watched as she tossed the trash and stowed the pizza in the fridge. Caroline was absolutely beautiful. Maybe even more so scrubbed clean of the makeup.

"What?" She inquired.

"You're beautiful" he stated matter of factly. Caroline just stared at him. She didn't know what to say. He laughed at her baffled expression. "I know I'm not the first guy to say that."

"No but you are the first guy to say it not in my bed." replied Caroline. She then looked away from him.

He crossed the kitchen. "That's bullshit, Caroline." He gathered her in his arms and hugged her close. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on chest. She finally relaxed. They walked into the living room. Dougie settled himself on the chaise side of the couch and stretched his legs out. Caroline grabbed the remote and settled in beside him but not touching him. She brought up the next episode. Before she could turn it on, he snaked an arm around her and hauled her up against him. Caroline looked up at him. He was surprised when she gave in and snuggled into him. She started the show. Dougie's arm settled around her.

During the fourth episode Caroline shivered. She got up from the couch and brought a quilt out of her room. She tossed it in his lap and resumed her seat up against him. Caroline pulled the blanket over both of them. "This okay?" she asked "I'm cold, but if I turn the air off Hadlee melts."

Dougie nodded and looked at the quilt. It was made of a bunch of different cheerleading and sorority shirts. It was a time capsule in quilt form. "I need to get a quilt made of all my hockey shirts. Where did you get this one?"

"I made it. Well 6 of them. The girls and one for Hadlee's brothers." She shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. "If you bring them down or have your family send them. I can make one for you, but you have to help." He laughed.

"I stabbed myself trying to sew on a button." replied Dougie "But I can get them down here. The family will be here opening night." Caroline laughed.

"You help with the lay out and the fabric colors. I'll do the dangerous part with scissors and needles." stated Caroline. She was looking up at him smiling. It was a genuine smile. Not the one she pastes on. She laid her head further over on his chest. She seemed content there in his arms. Dougie was absently rubbing his hand on her arm. She was trying to focus on the TV. But Dougie was so warm and she was so comfortable. It was a matter of minutes before she fell asleep.

Dougie glanced down at the end of the 4th episode and realized Caroline had fallen asleep. The cable box indicated it was after 2am. He wanted to be selfish and just stay still and let her sleep there all night. But he knew that they would have a long night later on. Hadlee's birthday concert then the party after. Dougie shook her a slightly and she snuggled closer into him. He carefully moved out from under her. Dougie picked her up blanket and all and carried her to her room. He laid her on her bed. He kissed her cheek and murmured good night. She stirred and grabbed his hand. "Stay" she said "I just want to snuggle." She was barely awake. "Please Doug. I hate being here all alone."

"I'm gonna check the door." he replied "I'll be right back." She nodded her head. Dougie threw the dead bolt and came back to Caroline. He tugged his sweatshirt off. He couldn't sleep in it would be too hot. He got into the bed. He was laying on his back beside a decidedly quiet Caroline.

"What part of snuggling is confusing, Hamilton?" He laughed. Dougie stretched out beside her and she rolled over and laid her head on his pec. She threw and arm and a leg over him.

"Comfy" he asked. Caroline didn't say anything. She was rubbing her hand from his chest to the waist of his shorts. Dougie squirmed. Caroline stroked her hand down his side slower. He squirmed again.

Caroline sat straight up in the bed "Oh my God, Dougie Hamilton you are ticklish." Caroline stroked a finger down his abs and he jumped. She settled back down beside of him. They were facing each other and she was giggling.

"You so cannot tell anyone Caroline. If the guys know they will mercilessly tease me and I really don't want to be tickled by 20 sweaty dudes." he stated. She continued to laugh and poke at him. Dougie kept squirming around on the bed. Before Caroline could promise not to tell anyone, he grabbed both of her hands and flipped her underneath him.

Dougie was straddling her hips holding both of her hands in one of his larger ones. Caroline was looking up at him laughing. Not exactly the reaction a guy wants when he is on top of a girl. "What about you Caroline?" he asked the fingers of his free hand dangerously close to tickling her "Are you ticklish?"

Caroline struggled in his grasp. "Nope, not at all" she lied. Dougie leaned close to her ear and whispered "I think you are lying, Caroline." Dougie released her hands and tickled her hips at the same damn time. Damn these hockey players and their quick reflexes. She tried to move but was trapped by 215lbs of Hamilton. She bucked her hips trying to dislodge him. Apparently, 100lbs and 14 inches really made a difference in wrestling.

"Truce" she cried "I swear not to tell anyone." He tickled her again "Not even Hadlee and Kayleigh." She was still laughing when flopped over on the bed. He had pulled her over with him and she was now sprawled on his chest. His very large muscular chest. When had Dougie gone and gotten all shredded up. Caroline was looking down at Dougie. She realized she had never really recognized how attractive he actually was. Caroline ran a hand up his jaw and into his hair. She managed to tilt his head towards her enough to kiss his lips. His hands came up and capture her face. He kissed her softly a few more times before dropping his head back to the pillow and looking at her. She looked disappointed when he stopped kissing her, but he wanted her to realize he wasn't going to fuck her and leave.

Caroline managed to move herself so she was laying between his bicep and his shoulder. She had her hand laying on his hipbone but wasn't moving it. Caroline kissed his collarbone. When she closed her eyes he could feel her eyelashes against his skin. He grabbed the quilt and drug it back up over their bodies. He was stroking her back underneath the blanket. Dougie laid quietly and listened as her breathing became slow and steady. He looked down at her splayed across his chest. He could understand guys looking at Caroline and telling her she was beautiful in bed but he couldn't understand guys not telling her when she was just roaming the streets. He could totally get used to have Caroline in his arms. His only concern was Tyler jerking her around when he was here. He would have to deal with that later because he quickly falling asleep.

Caroline woke with a start. She didn't remember drinking the night before so why the hell was she in bed with a guy. Yep, that was her first thought. Maybe Kayleigh was right. Caroline then remembered Dougie coming over to watch Scandal and them ending up in her bed sleeping. Just sleeping. Well a few pretty awesome kisses and she discovered they were both ticklish. Her bladder wasn't going to allow her to lounge in bed with Dougie. She attempted to move but was thwarted by the giant hockey player who had tangled his long legs and arms around her. Every time she managed to move one limb another would grab her. What the hell was he an octopus. Caroline finally gave in and shook Dougie gently. He didn't flinch. She shook him harder. And that was an epic fail.

Caroline managed to get close to his ear "Doug wake up" she said. He muttered something that vaguely sounded like don't wanna. "Then roll over" she instructed. That he managed to do. She jumped up and headed to the bathroom. Caroline finished up in the bathroom. She walked through her room and noticed the quilt being down around Dougie's waist. She tugged the quilt back up over him. Caroline grabbed her phone from the charger and headed into the kitchen. She grabbed a mug from the rack and lined it up with the Keurig. While her coffee brewed she grabbing things out of the fridge and pantry. She started the sausage links in a frying pan on the back of the stove. She heated the large two burner griddle pan. She was busy tossing chocolate chips in to the pancake batter. Caroline took the sausage out of the skillet and managed to finish cooking all the pancakes. She sat both plates of food on the table. She doled out silverware.

Caroline walked back into the bedroom and Dougie was face down in the center of her bed. He had kicked the quilt off. Caroline sat down on the edge of the bed. Caroline ran her hand into his mop of red hair. He turned his face towards her. He smiled at her but was squinting at her.

"Glad it's you" he said.

"Why is that?" asked Caroline

"Well my other option for someone would be Smitty" he replied " and not that I don't love Smitty but it would be crossing a line." Caroline laughed.

"No guy on guy action" she smirked "Out of bed. I made breakfast and I have to get things ready for Hadlee's birthday. She walked out of the room and heard her phone chime. She looked at the phone and saw a message from Kayleigh.

Kayleigh: What time are we getting ready today?
Caroline: We have to be a Kevan's by 4:00pm. Do you have her cake done?
Kayleigh: It was done yesterday and will be delivered to the venue by 10pm. All is set with food and drinks. She has no idea.
Caroline: I know if we pull this off I will be amazed.
Kayleigh: Brad says Kevan has plans to keep her busy all day.
Caroline: Capt. Cavemen usually keeps her busy. LOL.
Kayleigh: No Brad said he made some kind of reservations at a trampoline thingy. Apparently Hadlee mentioned she missed tumbling
Caroline: AWW good Caveman.

Caroline watched Dougie wander into the kitchen. Caroline walked over started him a cup of coffee in the Keurig. He was currently staring at it as if he could will it to drip faster.

Caroline: Dougie isn't a morning person.
Kayleigh: So he is still there
Caroline: Yes, we are sitting down to breakfast.
Kayleigh: Hey it's Brad. How's my boy?
Caroline: Staring at the coffee pot
Kayleigh: What did you do to him? Dougie is usually happy in the morning.
Caroline: We watched Scandal until 2am
Kayleigh: Haha no Scandal of your own.
Caroline: Give Kayleigh the phone
Kayleigh: He is manically laughing on the way to the shower. Eat then text me what you are wearing
Caroline: Hey what about you and the 1st star?
Kayleigh: I will tell you all while we are getting ready. Gotta go being carried to the shower

Dougie watched her text back and forth with someone. He wasn't sure who she was texting to but it made him edgy. He knew she and Tyler texted a lot. She started giggling at the phone. Dougie was leaned against the sink looking at her while downing a way to hot cup of coffee.

"Brad wants to know what I've done to you?" she stated. Dougie crossed the kitchen floor and sat at the table across from Caroline. "go ahead and eat."

Dougie loaded his plate "Ha that's funny" replied Dougie pouring syrup over his pancakes. "Brad usually doesn't move until after 11 if it's his choice. He hates getting up early. So by the time he sees me I've been up for a while."

"Well he is perked up this morning" she laughed as she fixed her plate. "He was dragging Kayleigh to the shower."

"That would make the morning better." he smirked "But so do chocolate chip pancakes. I however am going to make mom bring you real syrup."

"That is real syrup" she said motioning at the lady shaped bottle "You Canadian's are syrup snobs." Dougie was smirking at her as he forked up more pancakes.

"So what is the plan for today?" he asked. Caroline gave him a rundown of what all was taking place as she starting cleaning the kitchen. He loaded the dishwasher while she wiped everything down. Caroline liked having him there.

After they finished the kitchen she went into the living room and flopped down. He ventured into Hadlee's room and came back in with a t-shirt on. He had his bag over his shoulder. Dougie tossed the shoes he had in his hand in the floor. He sat down on the couch and slipped on his shoes. "I need to head to my place and get cleaned up." She nodded her head. "So I will meet you all at Millsy's." She nodded again. Dougie pulled Caroline up on her feet. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. He liked the feel of her wrapped around him. "So what should I wear to this thing tonight?" he asked. Caroline thought about it. "Um probably something you can dance in. Jeans and a button down. Boots if you have them."

"So going to look like a girl from a country music video?" asked Dougie

"It's possible." she laughed " I would expect tank tops, sparkles, boots and short shorts."

"Maybe I should stay and help pick your outfit" he replied. She laughed and smiled up at him. "Nope it's surprise." She was still looking up at him.

"Fine be that way" he leaned down and kissed her on the top of the head. Caroline grabbed him by the neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. She kissed his mouth quickly and let him go. Caroline told him good bye and shut the door behind him. Caroline was actually looking more forward to seeing Dougie than seeing Florida Georgia Line. That fact kind of worried Caroline. Little by little he was working his way into her heart.

Notes

Hey gang! Hope you enjoy it. By the way the chapter titles and story title credits all belong to the Rolling Stones.