“I'm telling you! He's the hottest guy that I've ever seen.”

“I dare you to tell me how hot my brother is one more time. I dare you. See what happens,” I joked, tossing a pillow in her direction with a laugh, hoping to finally shut the topic of her brother. Because, God, the whole trying to talk about how hot your new guy-thing wasn't supposed to be preceded by your best friend gushing about how hot your brother was.

“Sorry, okay! I can't help how smoking your brother is... but how about we switch topics: Patrick Kane. I can't believe you made out with that sexy mother fucker! Like, what the hell? Save some for everyone else!”

Hailey's gushing was excessive, yes, but at least now it was on the right topic. “Hey, I didn't steal him — he's not even mine! And if you implied that I also took my brother, then I think I'm gonna need a barf bag.” I was interrupted with a laugh and over-exaggeratingly awkward glance in the other direction, triggering a hand to slap against my forehead. “Uh, anyway... it was just once... okay, twice. And that's not it...”

“Oh, God, NO!”

I burst into a full out laugh attack, burying my face in the pillow I hadn't chucked, listening to her overdramatic moans of disappointment. “I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! He's just so... unf, and his eyes... his HANDS! His abs! And he's persistent; like, a total handful—”

“Probably in more ways than one, too...”

“Hailey!”

“I dare you to tell me it's not true!”

And that's about when she finally figured out how to shut me up.

I buried my face in my hands, sighing through the sounds of her light laughter, not even bothering to look up at whatever judgy look she was waiting to give me. “What am I going to do?”

“Hey, it's totally fine if it doesn't fit! I'm sure a lot of people struggle with that... mostly pornstars, but—”

"HAILEY!"

“Okay, okay... so you actually like this guy?”

A silence arose for a moment, my eyes gradually lifting to meet her's my elbow resting on my knee, my chin propped on my hand. Not that I wanted to admit it to the world, but, yeah. Patrick was... he was different. Not because he's great in bed or a hockey player — but because... “—— He listens to Taylor Swift.” I was silent for a moment, nodding at her goofy looking smirk. “He smiles at me when he thinks I'm not looking, even though I can still see him. He's always watching me. And he... he knows me. I don't know, he just... he says what I want to hear, does what I like... it's like he can read me. And he does this cute thing with his nose when he laughs... and the way his eyes light up when he talks about what he's passionate about!”

“Just answer my question, Nicholas Sparks!”

“Yes!” I was shocked at my own answer, my hands flying out beside me, apparently trying to get my point across. I paused for a moment, taking in my own revelation. “Yeah, I do... I really do like him. The way he makes me feel freaks me out, but I know it can't be wrong, even if it's not quite right.”

“Dude... you're screwed.”

“No, no I'm not! He's my brother's best friend, I shouldn't be going for him! I can contain myself! I'll go out with him on Friday, we'll talk, and I'll end it! I mean, what am I saying? I've met the guy, like, three times and most of that time we were locked up in some sort of small space!”

I could do it. I could definitely do it! I was going to do it.

---

...

“Shit.” It was mumbled, but I definitely heard it. She'd answered the door with a sort of rushed expression, leaving me with a goofy looking smirk as I looked at her, trying to suppress the awe that her dress inspired.

“Bad timing?” She shook her head rapidly, her eyes slowly reducing to their normal size, a soft smile gradually lifting onto her mouth although it was obviously forced. She seemed different —— not as light as the other times we'd been together. Maybe she was into the ‘my brother is somewhere here and we can't let him see us together’ thing. Or, maybe she just wasn't into the Patrick Kane thing. “You sure? I can come back later... or just not come back.”

“No!” her response was quick, broadening the smile rested upon my mouth. God, she was beautiful. “It's fine, let's go.” She assured me with a gentle smile as she brushed by me, leaving me to follow behind to my own car. I walked around, intending to open her door, but she'd done it on her own, getting in without a word. As I climbed in the other side, I looked over to see her cross armed, sitting silently without looking over at me.

---

Leave it to Patrick to, in the middle of a silent car ride, reach over onto the dashboard and change it to his CD, cranking the volume without cracking a smile. I finally broke and looked over, only to see him sitting sternly, his head bobbing to the tune of some Taylor Swift song.

“Fuck you.”

“What?” he asked, quickly glancing over at her with a guilty smirk, his weight shifting more to the centre so that their arms were touching on the centre console.

“Last time you put your Taylor Swift on, we made out. Stop.” I broke a smirk, chuckling along with him at my short-term attempt at being tense and withdrawn.

“So that's it? You're being emotionless because you're scared to fall for my irresistible ability to listen to T-Swizzle? Come on, Toews, I thought you were tougher than that!”

I'd hoped so, too.

---

...

The dinner was nice. Really nice. Sharpy had recommended it to him, assuring him that she would love it. And, judging from the copious amounts of brownie she was tossing back, it was evident she did. He watched with a faint awe, unaware that he was smirking as she devoured the dessert. “Good?”

She simply nodded, shoving the rest of it in her mouth, a look of guilt shadowed her expression as I remained across the table, my fork completely clean. I glanced over to greet the waitress with a smile, checking the bill before pulling cash out of my pocket and setting it inside, handing it back before Allison could retaliate.

“God, sorry I'm such an animal.”

We both laughed, shaking my head as I managed to insist it was alright. “Nah, it's fine — I have a game in a few days anyway, the brownie wouldn't have been a great idea.”

“And I have nothing! Another reason you should have stopped me two hundred calories ago!” She fought as we got up, noticing that this tie she let me lift the coat as she slipped into it, the two of them exiting out into the star-and-light lit road. My hand slipped around her waist instinctively, squeezing at her side teasingly for a moment before they started off in the direction of his car.

“I'm pretty sure you can afford it, babe — don't worry.” I pulled open the door of the car, waiting for her to climb in before shutting it behind her and starting off to my own side. As soon as I got in and looked over, she leaned closer into him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

“You definitely shouldn't have pulled the babe card on me,” she mumbled, a hand lifting to curl around my neck, lips slowly leaning in to meet my own. Just as that'd happened, a flashing light caught them from outside the vehicle, triggering instinct for me to shield her face, glancing over to see a few paparazzi crowded around my truck.

“Fuck.”

---

My lips were torn away from his much too quickly, but probably for the best, anyway. If this shit show wasn't a sign for me to back off, I didn't know what was. I pulled the hood of my coat over me as Patrick removed his arm to return to the steering wheel, shielding my face from the shots of the camera as he pulled them out, back on route to what she assumed would be her house.

“Holy shit, we're so screwed. He's gonna see — everyone's gonna see! They're gonna see and judge me and judge you and Jonny is gonna be sooooo mad and he's—”

I was cut off by Patrick's sharp turn around the corner, “Calm down, alright. They probably barely got a shot! And if they did... then, yeah, we're fucked. We'll figure it out. They were probably just some fans or something, anyway. I doubt they'll be anywhere.”

---

...

“Did you or did you not make out with my sister?!”

He had me cornered, basically, glaring me down as soon as I'd entered the changeroom with the magazine shoved in my face.

Patrick Kane Spotted With Mystery Blonde — Who Was The Lucky Girl?

“Are you... are you serious? Come on, she's not even that hot.” The rest of the changeroom burst into laughter, causing him to crack a mild smile as he met Sharpy's glance, clearing his throat before attempting to continue, “Dude, I don't even know your sister.”

“Really? Because that looks just like her... and she cancelled our plans last night. And I see the way everyone checks her out — which is disturbing, for the record!” He'd addressed the whole changeroom with that one, causing them all to fall silent.

“You think I can't get other girls? That was someone else, Alyssa, I think? I don't know, but it wasn't her, man. I swear.”

“Really? Then how about you invite her to the game tomorrow — I'll invite Allison and the guy she went out with, then.”

“Hey, if I can find her number, I'll bring her AND introduce her to Allison. Deal?”

“Great, we'll see tomorrow.”

And with that, he stormed left the changeroom with an evident suspicion, leaving Patrick sitting with his head in his hands, wondering where the hell he was gonna find someone like Allison.

Fuck.

Notes

sorry for the absence! i just wasn't feeling writing as much, but i'm back again.

thanks to everyone who commented on my stuff it means a lot —— it's stuff like that that makes me want to come back. i'm probably gonna start a new story since my other one didn't really get much notice: if you'd like me to work on the other one, though, let me know.

hope this was alright, and i hope to update again soon!