#cale makar x oc

[laurenairay]

you can’t blame a girl for trying - C. Makar

Summary: The night Luna met Cale, she thought her world was going to get turned upside down…so why are all of their dates such disasters? Also known as, the Cale Makar dating fail fic. 4 times a date with Cale failed, and 1 time a date went well.

Word Count: 9.8k words.

Warnings: some bad language, awkward situations, one bloody injury, anxiety, 4+1, fluff

A/N: this has been a work of love over the past few months, a WIP I kept going back and forth from, and I just want to say thanks to @wyattjohnston​ for all of the support and encouragement!

Title credit; Lasso by The Band Perry

also tagging @hockeylvr59​ @fallinallincurls​ @starshine-hockey-girl​

*

Friday night

When I first laid eyes on you, Well, the night just felt so odd, You looked at me and the stars lined up, So I thought I'd heard from God, And I gave him my best shot.

Friday nights were made for dancing, drinking, and letting go of the stresses of the week. At least, that’s what Luna believed. Going out with friends to blow off some steam felt so cathartic, and this evening was no different. She’d come out to one of her favourite bars in Downtown Denver with some friends from work, and she’d danced, sang, and gossiped her heart out, a few shots of vodka easing the way into the weekend. This was her comfort zone for sure, and she knew her confidence turned heads just as much as the loud conversation with her friends did.

A few cute guys had come over to their table, clearly intent on talking to a couple of her friends – which Luna was absolutely cheerleading because get it girls – and she took the time to escape to the bar herself, ready for another drink. It was only when the bartender had taken her order that she noticed a guy staring at her from down the bar. Huh. He was cute, that much was clear even if he wasn’t Hollywood Handsome, and the way his shoulders filled out his shirt definitely caught her eye. Well it couldn’t hurt to hold a conversation of her own while her friends were busy, no? Luna flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder, tilting her head invitingly, and the guy’s eyes widened slightly before he slowly made his away over. She couldn’t remember the last time a guy looked so nervous to talk to her, especially a guy this cute, and it only enthralled her more. When he finally reached her side, she forced down the butterflies stirring in her stomach at just how much bigger he was than her. Wow.

“Hi,” she murmured, looking up at him through her lashes.

“Hi…do you come here often?”

Oh wow.

Luna couldn’t stop her inelegant snort at his cheesy words, grinning slightly at the mortified blush that crept over the guy’s face. “How often has that line worked for you?”

“I’ve literally never used that line before in my life, I am so sorry,” he groaned.

Simply by the horrified look on his face and the stiff way he held himself, it let her know that he was telling her the entire truth. Poor lamb. Somehow it was endearing though.

“I’m Luna,” she mused, holding out her hand.

He quickly took it, shaking her hand gently, yet she could still sense the strength of his grip. Definitely something she appreciated in a man.

“I’m Cale,” he replied, more relieved than anything else, “Do you mind if we forget the last 30 seconds?”

“Oh I’m remembering this for years – you’re not getting out of that embarrassing line that easily,” she smirked.

The guy…Cale…groaned but seemed to laugh at himself anyway, shrugging his agreement. “That’s fair.”

Luna just smiled to herself, taking him in. She tried waving off Cale’s offer to buy her drink as the bartender finally appeared back in front of her, smiling her thanks as Cale just added it to his tab – who was this guy? – taking a sip of her vodka soda while her eyes not-so-subtly ran over the man next to her. Just as cute as she’d thought when she first spotted his eyes on hers, shoulders somehow even broader in the best way, and his blue eyes were both pretty and earnest. Not to mention tousled light brown hair that she just wanted to run her fingers through, and a perma-blush dusting across his cheeks? He’d definitely caught her attention looking this good, even if his clear awkwardness being in this environment caught her attention even more.

What was this guy’s deal?

“You really don’t come here often, do you?”

“I can’t say a bar of this…intensity is my usual forte, no. I’m just here with friends,” he admitted.

Honesty. She could appreciate that. And he was cute…

“So what would be your forte?” she asked smoothly, tilting her head ever-so-slightly again.

He immediately picked up on her change in tone, her lean towards flirting, and it was almost as if his whole demeanour changed; his shoulders broadened as he relaxed against the bar top, his nervousness eased out, and he smiled softly. She liked it.

“Somewhere a lot quieter. Can’t exactly talk to someone properly when I can’t hear them, hm? Can’t appreciate them like they deserve here,” he shrugged, although his eyes locked with hers, intense and intent.

Oh damn. How direct. How perfect.

“Somewhere quieter to appreciate someone? Like what?” she asked, smile curling at her lips, playing along with his flirting.

“A private intimate dinner. Maybe a little light music, just to set the mood. Candlelight, flowers, excellent wine,” he said with an effortless smile.

Oh he had game, finally.

“That sounds much more appealing than this place. I can see why it’s more your forte,” she said as neutrally as she could.

Nice and neutral, just to see what he would do next. Just to see if he would take the bait.

“Maybe I should take you some time then. Take the opportunity to get to know you properly,” he suggested, eyebrow raising in suggestion.

Oh wow. Hook, line, and sinker – she was intrigued.

“I could be up for that,” Luna replied simply, smiling innocently back, giving none of her racing thoughts away.

“Sounds like a date,” he grinned.

*

Thursday night

“So you’re really going out on a date with awkward bar guy?”

Luna glanced away from where she was putting on mascara in the mirror, frowning at her flatmate Elena standing in the doorway.

“Cale?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Weird name,” Elena snorted.

“Rude,” Luna shot back.

Elena just stuck her tongue out in retaliation, making Luna laugh. It wasn’t that Elena was acting strange or jealous – she was protective. The two girls had lived together since college, meeting freshman year and moving in with a group of friends in sophomore year. While everyone else had moved away or moved back home, they were the only two to stay in Denver and they knew each other well enough to not want to separate as well.

She and Elena were two peas in a pod, both outgoing and still loving the nightlife that their chosen city gave them, but still with that comforting balance of girls’ nights in; both sharing so much in common that Luna truly considered Elena to be her best friend. And to be honest, Luna couldn’t fault her friend for being overprotective; it wasn’t like her dating history was all that great, and it could never hurt to have a friend looking out for her. Especially when it came to meeting up with strangers.

“Look, he’s really cute and we’re meeting in a public place,” Luna pointed out, “And he was really dorky with his flirting. Even when he got a little smoother, that blush told me everything I need to know about how little he actually flirts around.”

Elena tilted her head in acknowledgement. “Not a fuckboy?” she asked.

“Not that I can tell. I’m pretty good at spotting a red flag like that,” Luna mused.

“And you normally run headfirst towards those red flags,” Elena teased.

Well that was unfairly true.

“Maybe meeting Cale is the break I’ve been looking for,” Luna said, shrugging.

“For your sake, Lu, I hope so,” Elena laughed.

In the week that had passed since she’d met Cale in the bar, having exchange numbers after talking over a couple of drinks, they’d texted here and there; mostly to confirm what day and time to meet for the dinner he’d romanticised about, but also tentatively getting to know each other. Luna hadn’t been lying when she said that she hadn’t spotted any signs of him being a fuckboy. He seemed sweet, and genuine, and even a little shy, which surprised her considering how attractive he was. Then again, it wasn’t like her to judge a book by its cover, so she was trying to keep an open mind about how such a hot broad-shouldered guy could be so modest.

To be honest, she was looking forward to finding out more in person this Thursday night.

Soon enough, she was happy enough with her appearance, smoothing her floaty silk dress over her curves – apparently their restaurant tonight had a dress code – and by the time she’d slipped into a cute pair of heels, her uber was outside.

“Have fun!” Elena grinned from where she was sat on their sofa, “Don’t forget – no glove, no love.”

“Oh my god, not on the first date,” Luna groaned, feeling her cheeks heat up at the ridiculous advice.

Elena just shrieked with laughter as Luna shut the door behind her, leaving her cheeks still burning as she headed towards the waiting uber. The drive to the restaurant was short, not giving her any time to get too nervous, even though she’d taken even precaution by not giving Cale her address and so on, and when the uber pulled to a stop, she smiled to herself as she noticed Cale already standing in the street.

But when she got out of the car, shutting the door behind her, she noticed that Cale looked frazzled, eyes a little wild, sending a pang of worry through her body. What the hell?

“Uh, hi?” she said, more than a little awkward as she waved hello.

“Hi!” he blurted out, although he didn’t look any less stressed.

“Is everything okay?” she frowned.

“The restaurant we were meant to go to, the one I’d made a booking with for tonight, is closed,” he huffed, running a hand through his hair.

“What?”

How had he been able to make a booking, if the place was closed?

Cale pointed just to the left of where they were standing, and it was only then that she noticed a couple of even-more-frazzled people standing out the front of a darkened restaurant, in the typical white shirts and black trousers of waiters, talking to people apologetically.

“What happened?” she frowned.

“A pipe burst,” he explained, making her groan in understanding, “It flooded the main dining area but also shorted out their booking system.”

“So they couldn’t contact anybody who had reservations for tonight,” she guessed.

“Exactly!” Cale nodded, before sighing, “I just wanted tonight to be perfect, to wine and dine you just as I said, and even that can’t go right.”

The poor guy looked miserable, genuinely upset as well as flustered at the thought of not taking her out on the date he’d promised her, and it made her heart ache a little. When was the last time she’d met such a sincere person?

“Hey, this isn’t your fault. And it’s definitely not their fault, so there’s nothing to blame here other than some shitty pipes?” Luna mused.

Cale huffed out a laugh, nodding his acknowledgement, making Luna smile as he smiled slightly too.

“Sorry for not texting you in time – I only got here a few minutes before you did, and I spent that time talking to the restaurant staff as they apologised,” he winced.

“No harm, no foul,” she laughed, shrugging, “Not all plans go smoothly.”

“Still…we can reschedule? I’ll find another restaurant for another time?” Cale offered.

“We can’t still go out tonight?” Luna asked, confused.

Unless he was trying to think of an excuse not to see her…

“I mean, I don’t think anywhere I wanted to take you will seat us tonight without a reservation,” he explained.

Oh.

Oh.

He really wanted to wine and dine her, didn’t he? Pull out all the stops, everything fancy?

“You know, I don’t need anything high-end to be on a date with you,” she pointed out, “I’d be happy somewhere really low-key.”

“Really? Even though we’re dressed up fancy?” Cale frowned.

Luna looked down at her silk dress and his nicely tailored charcoal grey suit, before shrugging. “So we may be the nicest dressed people in the next place, that doesn’t matter.”

Cale laughed softly, shaking his head fondly. “You might be the most chilled-out person I’ve ever met.”

“And you are adorably flustered over a restaurant reservation,” she teased, earning a fierce blush, “Come on, relax a little. It’ll be fun.”

“I promise I’ll make it up to you,” he insisted.

What a sweetheart. Still incredibly flustered, but sweet.

“Alright, it’s a deal,” she mused, earning a smile, “And I know just the place. Let me just text my flatmate about the change in plans.”

“Ah yeah, of course. Safety first!” he nodded seriously.

Could this guy be any more perfect? Really?

~

To: Elena

The restaurant has a burst pipe.

[image]

I’m going to take him to Tom’s diner down on Colfax.

~

To: Luna

Oh man, that sucks for the restaurant. But thanks for keeping me in the loop.

Hah oh wow, I bet he’ll love that place in his fancy suit.

~

To: Elena

How did you guess he was wearing a fancy suit?

~

To: Luna

I just got those vibes.

Fancy restaurant equals fancy suit.

But seriously, have fun!

And have a chocolate milkshake for me.

~

Luna smiled and tucked her phone back into her handbag, earning a smile from Cale.

“Is your flatmate okay with us changing location?” he asked.

His eyes were earnest, letting her know he wasn’t teasing in the slightest, allowing her to relax slightly. “Yeah, she’s glad I let her know. And she’ll be even happier that you understand that it’s important,” Luna nodded.

Cale just smiled a little wider, looking pleased with himself, making her laugh at his reaction.

“Ready to change things up?”

“I trust you. Can’t be worse than my attempt to take us out to dinner,” he winced.

“Alright, I’ll keep it a surprise then,” she grinned, “It’s not like you could’ve predicted a burst pipe.”

Cale just laughed, shrugging in an easy going way, Luna just smiling as she pulled her phone back out to pull up an uber request. Soon enough the two of them were on their way, and Cale’s eyes went wide when they eventually pulled to a stop.

“Oh man, you weren’t kidding about changing things up,” he said, smiling.

The smile let her know that he wasn’t put off by her casual choice, and she just waved goodbye to the uber driver as she stepped up next to him.

“I figured that a fancy place was off the cards tonight, so why not go for something comfy and casual,” she shrugged, “The food here is great and so are the vibes.”

“Can’t go wrong with that,” Cale grinned, opening the door to the diner for her.

Sure, they might’ve been the only people in the place in a fancy silk dress and effortlessly tailored suit, but that just made it more fun. Luna knew she looked good and she felt good in her dress, so what was wrong with that? It didn’t hurt that Cale looked amazing in his suit too, all the lines accentuating his incredible physique. And maybe tonight hadn’t gone as well as planned so far – but that wasn’t anything a chocolate milkshake couldn’t solve.

“So what’s good here?” Cale asked.

If he was put off by how sticky the table and menus are, he wasn’t showing it.

“Okay, get ready for the burger that will change your life.” Luna said, smiling.

*

Friday morning

To: Luna

Hey, are you free on Sunday?

~

To: Cale

For you Cale, absolutely.

What did you have in mind?

~

To: Luna

I thought it might be nice to visit Denver Botanic Gardens?

It’s meant to be really pretty there.

And I thought it might be good to try something different than dinner.

~

To: Cale

Dinner last week was great, even if not how you planned.

But a walk around the Gardens sounds good to me!

~

Sunday morning

Luna checked out her outfit one last time in the mirror before leaving to catch her bus to meet Cale. She’d decided on wearing a pretty blue sundress, dotted with tiny pale pink flowers – it had a mid-depth v-neck and cinched at her waist, more than enough to let her feel as feminine as she liked without feeling over the top. It wasn’t anything fancy, not like her silk dress from their first date last week, but it was still more than nice enough to show Cale that she’d made an effort.

Her dark brown hair was perfectly straightened, make-up simple but pretty, and her shoes were comfortable to walk around in – she was ready.

Elena wasn’t home right now to tease her or boost her confidence, either of which she could’ve used to distract her from the butterflies she felt in her stomach. All Luna could hope was that this would go smoother than their first date. All of their conversations over text had been so easy since the night of the restaurant fail three days ago, so she desperately wanted that to continue throughout their date today.

Different setting, different time of day, different vibe.

Positive thinking, right?

Thankfully her bus ride was fairly quiet, leaving her as relaxed as she possibly could be as she walked up to the entrance of the botanical gardens. Cale was waiting for her off to the side, and the wide smile he sent her when he spotted her walking towards him sent those butterflies going crazy again. Wow. He looked so good in his white polo shirt and jeans. How was it possible for anyone to make a polo-shirt look that good? His broad shoulders and defined chest filled it out so well, and it took all of her effort not to get caught staring at him.

“Hey, you look beautiful,” he said sweetly.

She laughed softly even as she felt her cheeks heat up with a blush. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

Cale just grinned. “Good to know. Shall we?”

Luna tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow as he offered it to her, trying to tamper down the giddy feeling rising in her chest. What a gentleman.

The next few hours were spent arm in arm, walking and talking, everything going to smoothly that it felt like she was floating through a dream. The botanic gardens were incredible, she had to give him extra points there for how pretty everything was, and she loved that she was experiencing it all with him. Strolling around the Monet Pond with Cale by her side? Win. Hushed conversation through the Shofu-en Japanese garden? Win. Everything from the orangery to the iris garden to the oak grove, they wandered through and around it all for hours and hours, just talking and laughing, enjoying each other’s company on this beautiful day.

The whole vibe was so incredibly different to their first date, completely different atmosphere, and she loved that she got to see this side of him too. His easy laugh, warm smile, and attentive listening was winning her over quicker than she ever thought possible, if she was being honest with herself, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this at ease with a guy this quickly. It was everything she’d been wanting for so long, and she almost felt like pinching herself to see if it was all real.

But all good things had to come to an end.

One moment sunlight was streaming down warming their skin, and the next dark cloud cover had rolled out over the blue sky, a gusting wind picking up. Before Luna could even voice her wonder to Cale, a deluge began, rain hammering down in a way that momentarily stunned them both, before they quickly ducked under a tree as refuge.

“What the hell,” Luna gasped, clutching her handbag to her chest, trying not to think about how her dress was sticking to her skin.

Cale still looked stunned, eyes wide as he watched the pouring rain in front of them, before he seemed to shake himself out of his stupor. “Let’s make a run for the gift shop?” he said, pointing to a building in the distance.

“Good idea!”

Luna found herself smiling as Cale took her hand, the two of them wasting no time in breaking into a light jog through the lilac garden, unable to talk as they went because of how heavily the rain was battering down. By the time they eventually reached the visitor center, far from the only people sheltering inside, Luna was completely drenched from head to toe, her dress soaked through and her hair a sopping mess.

Of all the things – a freak heavy rain shower. What were the chances?

Cale guided the two of them to the far side of the gift shop, an illusion of privacy, before stopping to stand in front of her.

“Are you okay?” Cale asked, pushing his dripping hair off his forehead.

She tried to ignore how disappointed she felt when he let her hand go.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine! Not what I expected to happen today, but fine,” she laughed, “Are you okay?”

“Other than another date going awry, sure,” he said, frowning slightly.

“Two dates in a row where original plans have gone wrong,” Luna mused.

“This has never happened to me before. I swear!” Cale groaned.

“Cale, relax – it’s not like you could control any of it? You literally couldn’t predict that pipe bursting in the restaurant, and you certainly can’t control the weather,” she teased.

“I know, I know,” he laughed, making her smile in return, “I just want something to run smoothly for once, to make a good impression with you, you know?”

Well that was sweet.

“You’ve already made a good impression, I promise. Dressing up all fancy to eat in a diner was a memorable first date,” Luna insisted, laughing softly, “And what we had of this second date was good too…up until we got soaked.”

He winced, nodding his head in acknowledgement. “Shall we do a rain check then? No pun intended.”

As much as she would’ve liked to have continued on with the date, like they had the first time that their original date plan had failed, this time she was soaked to the bone and so unbelievably uncomfortable. And she dreaded to think what her mascara looked like.

“Definitely reschedule. Maybe an indoor one next time just in case?” she mused.

“Yeah that sounds like a good idea,” he said, laughing again, although his cheeks flooded with a fierce blush, “Can I at least give you a ride home so you’re not sitting on the bus soaking wet?”

Oh what a sweetheart.

And absolutely what she needed.

“That would be great,” she nodded.

Elena was going to get a real laugh out of this date, that was for sure.

*

Thursday night

“I can’t say I was expecting you to suggest this for our third date.”

Cale just laughed, nodding his acknowledgement as she waved goodbye to her uber driver, moving to stand by his side.

“I know, it’s not my usual. But I heard good things about this place anyway? One of my neighbours goes out in this area a fair bit and this is one of the bars she always talks about in the elevator,” Cale explained.

He hadn’t waited to ask her out after their failed-date in the rainy botanic gardens – the moment that he pulled up outside her apartment building, he’d asked her to go out with him again, somewhere ‘indoors’ this time as she’d teased. After tentatively suggesting Thursday night then and there, Luna leaving him with a kiss on the cheek, he’d texted her the next morning with a plan, leaving the two of them to resume their easy conversation just like before.

As their date drew nearer that Thursday night, Luna had kept things casual with her outfit again, at Cale’s suggestion, wearing a pretty white blouse over her favourite black jeans, pairing it with a pair of pretty silver hoops, black leather jacket and her comfy black ankle boots. Simple but again it left her feeling confident, which shone through to add that little extra edge. While she had gotten herself ready for the evening, she’d drank a glass of wine with Elena, her flatmate sitting on the end of Luna’s bed to tease and support her, a much-needed girl’s time while she dressed and put on her make-up, so by the time her uber pulled up outside the bar that Cale had suggested, her butterflies were in full effect.

Despite the fact that their two dates so far had each failed to a certain degree, she was still excited to spend the time with him, desperately hoping that for this date things would just run smoothly. She deserved that much, right?

“Hey Cale!” she said with a big smile, as she walked up to where he was waiting for her.

“Hey Luna,” he replied sweetly.

As she leant up to kiss his cheek in greeting, just as she had on Sunday afternoon when he drove her home in the rain, his cheeks flushed a vivid red, only making her smile even wider. If that reaction was anything to go by, he was just as excited to see her as she was to see him, which could only be a good thing.

“It’s good to see you again. I haven’t been here before, but I know there’s definitely indoor seating,” he mused, a playful nod to their interrupted outing four days ago.

“So you haven’t been here yourself?” she teased.

Cale blushed slightly again but shook his head, making her laugh. She already knew he wasn’t a bar person – he’d admitted as much the first time they met. So why now?

“Why a bar tonight then?” she asked curiously, eyeing the expanse of outdoor bench seating and music drifting out from inside the building.

“It’s a pretty casual place, rather than the intensity of the bar we first met in?”

Well that answers that question.

“…and I know you feel comfortable in these situations so I thought I’d push the boat out since my last two attempts didn’t work out well?” he offered.

“That’s really sweet, Cale,” she said, smiling softly, “But I don’t want to be comfortable at your expense. If it gets too much at any point, let me know? I’d hate for you to feel completely out of sorts.”

“Deal,” he nodded, smiling in relief as the two of them finally made their way towards the entrance, “We can do easy low-key drinks, right?”

“Definitely,” Luna replied, laughing.

Cale just smiled a little wider, holding open the door of the bar for her. Immediately she was hit with the familiar scents and sounds and vibe of a well-loved local bar, and she quickly relaxed. He was right – this was definitely her preferred social scene, and the fact that he was willing to be here with her, trying out the bar that was new to both of them? That made her heart beat just that little bit further, she could admit that.

Somehow they managed to snag a table in the corner, leaving her with a view of the entire room and Cale with his back to everyone, both of them comfortable with the situation. It was far from the fanciest place – definitely far from the bar that they’d met in those couple of weeks ago – but it was busy and comforting and had a great vibe. Luna was honestly excited to see how this evening went, eager to see him in this kind of setting, and she loved that he was trying to do something she felt comfortable with. Hopefully it wouldn’t come at the cost of his own comfort, but time would only tell.

“What can I get you to drink?” he asked, resting his forearms on their small table.

Luna happily asked for a glass of wine, figuring it was probably safer to stick with what she’d already started drinking at home, and soon enough he returned from the bar. They eased into conversation as easily as they always did, talking about their week so far, stress from their workplaces, ridiculous stories about Elena and Luna’s work colleagues as well as Cale’s own colleagues. Speaking of colleagues…Cale also finally told her about his job. About the fact that he was a hockey player in the NHL. It blew her mind a little that he had even looked her way that first night in the bar, that he was still interested in little old her, but she could tell that as much as he was trying to downplay his career to her, he was so incredibly proud of everything he’d achieved. Which, yeah, maybe she should’ve recognised him or at least his name from the Cup Championship last year – but to be honest, she was a football fan (go Broncos!) and had never seen a hockey game in her life. For some reason, that admission eased out a line of tension in his shoulders that she hadn’t realised was there, easing her guilt a little for not knowing who he was. If Cale – Cale Makar – wanted to keep his career low-key with her for the moment, then she was absolutely happy to let him do that. It just showed her yet again how much of a genuinely low-maintenance chilled-out guy he was, and it only made her like him more.

One drink turned into two, Luna buying the second round seeing as he bought the first. As she sat back down at their table, she launched into the details of the trip she was planning in the summer to go back home to see her family, Cale admitting he would be doing the same for the first time in a while. Easy, breezy, fun conversation as always. People ebbed and flowed from the bar, filling up the room beside them, but it felt like they were in their own bubble, nothing mattering outside their little table. How did things feel so easy with him, after only a matter of weeks? It felt crazy, if she was being honest with herself, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to complain.

Halfway through the third round of drinks though – he bought this round, taking things in turn again – someone cleared their throat into a microphone, snapping Luna’s attention across the room. What the hell?

“Testing, testing, one, two, three.”

Oh no.

Everything had been going so well…

“Alright, welcome back to Thursday nights at Tavern on 26th! Who’s ready for karaoke?”

Karaoke.

Fuck.

Luna quickly looked over at Cale, who had gone white as a sheet and looked horrified.

“You didn’t know?” she asked, grimacing.

“Not a clue. I’ve never been here before!” he groaned, “And my neighbour has never said anything about karaoke!”

Luna couldn’t help but laugh, a little resigned already. “Well it is our luck, I suppose.”

“Maybe it won’t be so bad?” Cale offered.

“Up first, Miranda with Total Eclipse of the Heart!”

Maybe not.

As the wailing voice started out across the room, a pained look flashed across Cale’s face, making Luna laugh again. “Shall we get out of here?”

“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea,” Cale said, sighing softly, “Sorry.”

“Hey.”

Luna rested her hand lightly on his forearm, smiling softly as he looked down at her.

“Not your fault. You didn’t know,” she shrugged.

“I should’ve looked it up? Checked out the bar’s event page?”

“Who does that for a low-key bar, eh?” she mused. “Why don’t we just go for a walk?”

“So much for third time lucky,” he said dryly, grimacing as the chorus started.

Damn, this ‘Miranda’ was clearly heartbroken and at least one bottle of wine down. At least.

“Date’s not over yet,” she said simply, “Just because we don’t want to stay in this bar, doesn’t mean we can’t keep talking on a walk, right?”

“You are too forgiving,” he said, huffing out a laugh.

���There’s nothing to forgive,” she replied. “Now let’s get out of here before the key change.”

“Oh fuck yes,” he laughed.

He held a hand out to help her up from their table, Luna gladly taking it, smiling to herself as Cale didn’t let go. As he threaded their fingers together, she felt an unfamiliar blush settling dusting across her cheeks, Cale smiling down at her. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Another date plan fail.

Hopefully the walk would salvage what was left of it, the alcohol in her system making her not want to leave him just yet. But as he said, it was third time unlucky – was that a sign? What was the universe trying to tell her, in making the plans for their third date come to an abrupt fail? As much as his smile gave her butterflies, could she really ignore all of these signs?

For this evening, she absolutely could, she knew that much. Holding his hand while they walked out of the bar felt too good not to.

*

Friday morning

To: Luna

Hey, I’m sorry about last night.

Again.

Can I make it up to you?

~

To: Cale

No apologies! The bar was fun…before the terrible karaoke.

But I’d love to see you again?

~

To: Luna

Fourth time lucky, right?

How do you feel about going on a picnic on Sunday?

~

To: Cale

I can’t remember the last time I went on a picnic.

I’d love to.

~

To: Luna

Okay great!

Leave everything to me.

I’ll pick you up at midday?

~

To: Cale

Okay sure, sounds like a plan!

~

Sunday midday

For once, Luna was driving her old car to their date today – she rarely drove, usually preferring public transport, mainly due to the lack of decent public car parking available in downtown where she spent a lot of her time, but Cale had already promised her that the park he’d chosen had plenty of parking spaces, leaving her able to sing along to the radio as she drove, calming her nerves a bit.

Sure, she’d decided to wear a pretty green dress, floaty and low-cut but still cute, curling her hair to give herself that extra boost of confidence. Sure, Elena had let her borrow her comfy white sneakers, keeping the outfit casual. And sure, she’d even had the chance to facetime with Cale yesterday before his game in Minnesota, knowing they wouldn’t get a chance to speak before their date today. But it was Elena’s hesitant words that had left the usual butterflies feeling a little frantic.

A picnic in a park? The two of you are chancing the outdoors again with your luck?

Because Elena wasn’t wrong. Three dates they’d been on now, and not a single one had gone by without a fail. The pipe burst in the restaurant. The unexpected rainstorm in the botanic gardens. The sudden karaoke in the bar. She could only wonder what today would bring, even as much as Elena tried to hype her up with positive attitude.

As she pulled into the parking lot, spotting Cale easily with his cheery smile and wave, she tried to let all of the worries go. Cale wanted to be here on this date with her. He wanted to be with her, which should be enough in itself, right? Fourth time lucky, that’s what he joked. She could only hope he was right.

“Hey, glad you made it okay,” Cale said, smiling as she locked the car behind her.

“Old Betsy may be getting on in life but she still gets me around,” Luna laughed, shrugging.

“You named your car Old Betsy?” he teased.

Luna fought back the blush on her cheeks. “What, you haven’t named your car?”

“I can’t say that I have…”

From there, their conversation started up as naturally as always, Luna smiling as they walked through the park, glad that there wasn’t too much of a crowd yet, letting him lead her to a shaded area under a tree. Perfect.

“I packed a few things for us – I hope they’re all okay?”

As Cale spread out the blanket he’d had tucked under his arm, Luna opened up the picnic basket he’d been holding, eyes wide as she took in all the tubs inside.

Mini vegetable tarts. Chicken salad. Sliced strawberries and kiwis. Double chocolate brownies. Freshly squeezed orange juice from a deli. If she was being honest, Luna was a little blown away at the thought he’d put into this picnic basket, and she knew by the little smile on Cale’s face that he was pleased with himself – as he should be.

“This looks amazing, Cale. Wow,” she murmured, still a little stunned.

“I hope it tastes as good as it looks,” he mused.

Luna just laughed, shaking her head. If nothing else, the effort would win out over anything else – no-one had ever tried so hard to make sure she was happy. She sat down with her legs crossed, facing him as he pulled out the various tubs as well as cutlery, leaving the napkins in the basket for now, smiling at how happy he looked. He really was so cute, wasn’t he?

“Dig in, please!”

Well he didn’t have to tell her twice.

Between bites of food, talking about their last few days apart including the game that Cale scored the winning goal on, as well as people watching and cooing over cute dogs, the next couple of hours passed easily. Luna found herself basking in Cale’s happy smile, sweet and shy all at once, all of her earlier worries melting away. Here was an amazing guy, who’d planned an amazing date, and everything was perfect. The whole date was perfect, from the location to the relaxed atmosphere, and she couldn’t help the wide smile on her face. Finally. Finally.

Eventually, after they’d faux-battled with their forks for the last strawberry, Cale packed all of the tubs away in the basket, letting them both stretch out their legs across the blanket.

“I can’t believe how full I am,” Luna groaned.

“Me too,” Cale laughed, resting a hand on his stomach, “I may have overdone it with that last brownie.”

“So worth it though,” she grinned.

Cale just grinned back, nodding his agreement. A man who appreciated food – she could definitely appreciate that.

Luna tilted her head back for a brief moment, closing her eyes as she let the sun wash over her and sink into her skin, before she opened her eyes again. Out of the corner of her eye, a large black object flew across her vision, and just as she turned her head to see what it was, she saw it collide with Cale’s face with a crunch.

And then blood started pouring down his face.

Oh god, a drone. A drone had hit him smack in the face, and the crunch wasn’t just the plastic either. Fuck.

“Fuck,” Cale groaned, clutching at his face with wide eyes as he unknowingly echoed her thoughts.

What the hell?!

Without hesitating, Luna pulled out the bundle of napkins from the picnic basket, quickly passing them to him, and he wasted no time in pressing them to his nose with a wince. Oh shit. Oh shit, he was really injured, what the hell was this? Of all the things to happen, even with their track record, this was terrible. Fuck, poor Cale.

“Oh man I am so sorry, a dog ran into me and I lost control…”

The apologetic voice trailed off, just as the two of them looked up.

“Oh god no, I broke Cale Makar,” the man gasped.

Shit. A fan. Now she could see why Cale wanted to keep his career so low-key with her – attention like this really wasn’t what he enjoyed, not in this kind of setting. She could only hope this wouldn’t get plastered all over the internet; they’d spoken before on how much social media could drag people down, and that was the last thing she wanted for him, especially because they were on a date. But what could she do?

Cale winced, shaking his head. “Really, it’s fine. Doesn’t feel broken.”

Luna raised an eyebrow, not believing him in the slightest, but stayed quiet for Cale’s sake. If he wanted to make a fan feel better then that was his choice – and fair enough, the guy looked distraught – but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make sure he had it looked at properly.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?” she said lightly, smiling as genuinely as she could.

“Good idea,” Cale nodded, voice muffled through the tissues.

The guy apologised profusely again as they stood up, Cale just waving him off as Luna picked up the basket and blanket, and they started to walk back through the park towards the parking lot. She could see people stopping and staring at them, not just because of the blood staining his white t-shirt, each time Cale’s shoulders stiffening a little more, him looking more and more uncomfortable as they made their escape. Finally, when their path was a little clearer, almost at the exit, she took the chance to glance up at him, feeling a pang of sympathy at how miserable he looked as he held the bloody tissues to his nose.

“Hospital then?”

“No, definitely not,” he groaned, shaking his head, only making her frown.

Why was he being difficult?

“Cale, you really should have that looked at,” she said hesitantly.

“Oh, no, shit, yeah I will, you’re right about that. I just think maybe it might be better to go to the medical staff at the arena? I know there’s some of them working today, and it’ll avoid any fans taking photos.”

That made much more sense.

“Fair enough,” she mused, trying not to grimace at the fact he had to take publicity into account. “I’ll drive us, yeah? I guess you can send someone to pick up your car later?”

Cale just nodded, wincing again, making Luna grimace in sympathy. Thankfully she hadn’t parked too far away from where they’d walked in, and in no time at all, she was buckling her seatbelt, waiting for Cale to do the same before she started the engine of her old car.

“Do you want to call and give a heads up that you’re coming in? So that we’re not held up at the gate?” she suggested, pulling up directions on her own phone.

“Another good idea. You have a lot of those,” Cale nodded, “Shame that I don’t.”

What?

She frowned to herself before his words clicked in her head. Another date gone wrong.

“A picnic was a great idea, okay? Getting hit in the face by a drone wasn’t part of your plan at all and, again, nothing you could’ve predicted,” Luna said firmly.

The last thing she wanted was for him to blame himself. Again.

“I have the worst luck,” he laughed dryly.

Well, yes, it really did seem that way. But she wasn’t going to say that out loud.

“All the food was really nice?” she offered.

Cale laughed for real this time, sliding his phone back into his pocket now that his messages were sent. “Can’t go wrong with strawberries and kiwis together.”

“Right? Perfectly sweet,” she nodded.

“I might have to see if I can recreate those vegetable tarts myself too,” he added.

The hopeful look on his face, that she could see out of the corner of her eye, made her smile, relaxing into her seat as she navigated the street in front of her. This positive attitude was much more like it – and he wasn’t wrong about those tarts either.

“They were so good! You’ll have to let me know if you can find a matching recipe,” she grinned.

She quickly glanced at Cale, finding him grinning back at her, through the blood and tissues still covering his face. At least he didn’t look as miserable as he had done in the park – that was at least a silver lining on the epic fail this date turned into.

Fuck, what was their luck, seriously?

As she dropped him off at the arena gates, several members of training staff waiting their anxiously for him, it was all she could do to squeeze his hand goodbye as he promised to call her, a heavy ominous weight sitting in her stomach. Why did things always have to go so wrong around him?

*

Friday night

“Hey, how do I look?” Luna asked Elena, leaning in her doorway, “Is this date-night-at-home suitable?”

She was wearing a light-knit dress, long-sleeved with the skirt reaching just below her knee, clinging to her curves in the most comfortable flattering way possible. The soft grey material felt right for a meal indoors, her dark brown hair falling in gentle waves in a way that added to the whole vibe, and she could only hope Cale liked it too. She knew she looked good…but was it the right choice?

“Well, you look as hot as always…but really? You’re going on a fifth attempt at a date with Fail Makar?”

Fail Makar. Ouch.

Technically not wrong, but ouch.

This Friday was not Luna’s usual Friday night. Instead of her typical night out at a bar with friends, she was trying something new. Both her and Cale were – rather than going out, Cale was making them a home-cooked meal. After insisting that the trainers had cleared him from serious injury, going as far to promise that he was still okay to play in the two games over the days that followed, he’d asked her out on another date.

Luna had been hesitant, naturally. Not because she didn’t like him, not because she wasn’t attracted to him – both of those he pulled out of her in spades – but because of everything that had happened over their past four dates. She was only mildly superstitious in general, but even she couldn’t deny that there was some serious bad luck surrounding them so far. How bad was she going to let it get before it was irreparable?

But when he had suggested a date night in, him cooking for them, she hadn’t been able to say no. She was so desperate to make this work with him, the sweetest most genuine guy she’d ever met, that she knew she’d have to give him another chance to have a date run smoothly. That didn’t mean it was fun to hear from her friend.

“Don’t be mean,” she frowned.

“Don’t ignore the cosmos and karma and all that jazz,” Elena shot back, raising her eyebrows.

Luna sighed, but nodded. It wasn’t as if she’d been ignoring the signs herself.

“I’m giving it one more chance, or I really will have to accept that this is fate telling me that things with Cale really aren’t meant to be,” she admitted.

Elena’s expression shifted from judgemental to sympathetic. “Hey, I know you like this guy, okay? I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know. And I appreciate that. I just really want this to work out,” Luna sighed.

Cale had kept texting her while the team trainer took a look at his nose – it wasn’t broken, thankfully, but he did have a nasty bruise, which she’d been stupid enough to look through the speculation on the internet before Elena took her phone away to stop her looking at social media. She couldn’t help the guilt she felt for the extra attention on him, attention she knew he hated, even though she knew that she wasn’t directly responsible for the vivid bruising on his face. That didn’t mean it was easy to read all the stupid rumours sprouting out about what could’ve caused it, seeing as there was no evidence of him being hit in a game or practice.

But there wasn’t anything she could do about. All she could hope was that this attempt to get a date to go smoothly for once wouldn’t be their last one – she just didn’t know how much more she could take.

“Well if a stripped-back, low-key, homecooked meal doesn’t work then I don’t know what will,” Elena mused, “If you need an escape at any time, you just text or call me, okay?”

“I will,” she nodded, smiling. That was the friend she knew and loved. “But I have a good feeling about this date.”

“I can only hope you’re right, for your sake.”

Again, Luna had decided to drive for this date, mainly at Elena’s insistence to give herself an out if she needed it, but she only hoped that she didn’t need it. Maybe she’d make sure to only have one glass of wine, just in case.

By the time she’d arrived at the address Cale had given her, parking in the private apartment parking lot, she’d relaxed enough to feel a lot more positive about the evening ahead of her. Cale was a great guy. They would have a good night, she was sure of it. Why should she let the past four fails dictate how this night was going to go as well? As she walked up to his apartment, Cale having buzzed her in like he’d been waiting at the door, she steeled her nerves and untensed her shoulders. He was letting her see a side of him that no-one ever did outside of his team – and maybe not even all of them. Welcoming her into his home? That was special, and she was determined to embrace it.

“Hey,” she said, smiling as he opened the door.

“Hey!” he said happily, stepping aside to let her inside, “You look incredible.”

Flattery, as always. She couldn’t deny that she welcomed it though.

“Thanks! And thanks for inviting me over,” she said simply.

He shut the door behind her, helping her slip off her light jacket, and hung it up on the hooks next to their heads. It was a relief to see that the bruising on his face had almost completely faded, just as he said it had – even though he’d insisted it wasn’t as bad as it had first looked, seeing it for herself fizzled away the last of that guilt.

“It’s really good to see you. Thank you for giving me another chance,” Cale said softly, “I know things haven’t exactly gone how I’d hoped so far.”

“I can’t say that I’ve ever had so much bad luck either,” she mused.

She winced as Cale winced himself, biting her bottom lip lightly.

“I really don’t want to mess things up tonight,” he murmured.

Her heart panged a little at the nerves in his voice, hating that she was glad he felt as nervous as he did. It was a good sign that he cared so much, right?

“We can only see how the evening goes, right?” she said simply, smiling as reassuringly as she could, “I’m happy I’m here with you, if that counts for anything.”

As Cale smiled, she noticed how relieved he looked, making her smile in turn. “It definitely counts for a lot. Um, dinner is all ready, it’s just warming in the oven. And I’ve set up our date just through here.”

Cale guided her out of her entry hallway into the open-plan living room, dining room, kitchen, a gentle hand on her back, pausing in the doorway. Oh wow. As she took in the room with lips parted in surprise, her mind drifted back to the words he’d said to her the very first night they’d met.

~

“Somewhere quieter to appreciate someone? Like what?” she asked, smile curling at her lips, playing along with his flirting.

“A private intimate dinner. Maybe a little light music, just to set the mood. Candlelight, flowers, excellent wine.”

~

It was all here – candles lit around the room, beautiful yellow roses in a vase on the counter, soft music playing from the kitchen that drifted into the dining area. A private intimate dinner – complete with excellent wine, in the glasses he now held in his hands. She hadn’t even realised he’d left her side, too caught up with her memories.

“My god, Cale,” she murmured, “this is amazing.”

“Yeah?” he said shyly.

“Yeah, it is. Exactly how you described your forte location, when we first met,” she said, still in awe as he handed her a glass.

He huffed out a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I didn’t think you’d remember that.”

“Of course I do. It was one of the things that intrigued me most,” she admitted, making his blush softly, “And then I got to know you even more.”

Cale’s blush deepened but so did his smile.

“I hope I can keep getting to know you, Luna. I know our dates have failed pretty spectacularly so far, but I really like you. I’ve never met anyone as amazing as you before,” he said softly.

Her lips parted at his earnest words, Cale’s eyes watching her intensely, and it was all she could do to take a quick sip of wine. Damn, it really was excellent. He really liked her? Like, really really? Wow. Even after everything, he was happy to be so open with his thoughts and feelings?

“I really like you too. And I really want this to work,” she said seriously, “I just…hope tonight doesn’t have the same bad luck.”

“Me too. The flowers are for you, by the way, to take home with you. And I cooked one of my staple recipes which hasn’t gone wrong so far, and the candles haven’t burned down the apartment while I was getting ready, so it feels pretty good so far?” he said sheepishly.

She couldn’t help but laugh at his expression, forcing down her doubts, letting his increasingly-familiar comforting presence soothe her. So far so good, right? He had pulled out all the stops, recreated their attempted first date in a safe-space setting, and she could definitely appreciate that. The fact that he was letting her see this side of him too, this vulnerable intimate portion of his life? She’d be a fool not to embrace it.

“Shall we?” she said, tilting her head towards the kitchen.

“Absolutely,” Cale nodded.

While Cale pulled out the covered dishes from the oven and plated them all up, Luna sipped at her wine, watching him intently. He seemed so in his element, relaxed in a way she’d never seen him before, and she had to admit that she liked seeing him like this. Maybe this was what they’d been missing, that comforting edge. She could only hope.

“Okay, ready.”

Cale’s cheerful declaration broke her out of her gaze, and she immediately smiled at him.

“It smells amazing, Cale,” she said happily, letting him lead her into the dining area as he carried both plates while she held their drinks.

“Can’t go wrong with coq au vin!” he said simply, although his cheeks were dusted with a pleased blush, “And I made garlic mashed potatoes as well as roasted green beans to go with it.”

Wow.

Just wow.

“Incredible,” she murmured.

Cale just laughed softly, shaking his head as he sat down at the table.

“I like cooking, you know? It’s something that so different to everything else I do, gets me out of my head when I’m stressed with hockey,” he explained.

“I can definitely understand that. How long have you been cooking like this? Because this, and I can tell you this now with sincerity, isn’t just amateur,” Luna mused.

That blush of his really was something. But as he started talking about when he started cooking, mostly with his mom and family, their usual easy conversation started to flow, allowing Luna to sink into the relaxed atmosphere. She shared some of her own family cooking stories with him when he asked, the two of them continuing to talk as they ate, laughing and smiling the whole time, and to be honest Luna couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a date like this. With anyone. It was everything she’d dreamed of, everything she’d ever wanted from the food to the conversation to the vibe in general, and the more that she was consumed by it all, she forgot all about her worries that had built up over the past week.

How could she have doubts about him, when he made her feel so at ease?

After they’d finished eating, Luna helping Cale load the dishes into the dishwasher for later, they moved to the sofa with a glass of sparkling water each, Cale insisting on not drinking now that she’d stopped too. Honestly it felt like a dream. Where had this guy been all her life?

She lost track of time while they continued to talk and laugh on the sofa, the music still playing softly in the background like a damn movie, and before she knew it, the evening was drawing close to midnight, and she needed to get going before she gave into temptation and stayed overnight. That was far too soon for their tentative relationship, she knew that much.

“Did we just have a date that went smoothly?” Cale mused, as he helped her back into her jacket.

Luna laughed but nodded her head. “I think we did.”

Her grin matched his, and she didn’t care if she looked silly because she was just so damn happy. Finally, fucking finally, their date hadn’t failed. The universe had finally worked in her favour, giving her a perfect date with a perfect guy, and she knew that despite everything, the wait had been worth it.

“Call me when you get home? Just so I know you’re safe?” he asked softly.

Those wide earnest eyes were going to be her ruin, she could tell. Fuck it. Here goes nothing.

“Only if you kiss me goodnight before I leave,” Luna said hopefully, far braver than she felt.

Cale’s lips parted in surprise, only briefly, before that familiar sweet smile spread across his face with a blush to match. He didn’t reply to her, just stepping forward to lean down towards her, one hand rising to cup her face just as his lips touched hers. Luna couldn’t stop the soft sound that escaped her mouth at the gentle touch, hands clutching at his shirt as they kissed slowly, sweetly, sending tingles down her spine. Wow. So incredibly worth the wait. After what felt like hours but could only have been minutes, Cale slowed the kiss down to a few last gentle pecks, lifting his head away from her with a stunned smile.

“Best date ever,” he said happily.

She couldn’t agree more.

[reyzxzc]

home of cale and grayson

contains: fluff, cussing

summary: how a day with cale and grayson usually goes !!

————

october 21, 2022

it was around seven in the morning, cale was wide awake. unlike cale, grayson was sound asleep, his head buried into the pillow.

cale walked into the kitchen, grabbing out a pan and turning the stove on. cale usually makes the breakfast.

cale buttered the pan and cracked a few eggs, grayson usually eats less then cale in the mornings, he’s not a big breakfast person, unless it’s ellen’s waffles.

cale quickly scrambled the eggs, adding salt and pepper while they finished cooking, before he plating the eggs on two plates.

“gray, you up?” cale asked, as he heard a noise from the bedroom. grayson walked into the kitchen, leaning on the counter.

“i made you food.” cale placed a plate in front of him. “thank you..” grayson closed his eyes. cale kissed his head, grayson is not a morning person at all.

grayson slowly ate his eggs, he didn’t finish it. “rex.” grayson called for their dog. they have a dog and cat, rex and charlie.

rex came running and grayson placed the plate down. “you spoil them.” cale said, placing his clean plate in the sink.

“so do you.” grayson mumbled, leaning over the counter. cale rinsed his plate before picking up graysons.

cale rinsed graysons plate and sat it in the sink.

————

cale and grayson had just gotten back from practice, grayson slipped his shoes off. “i’m gonna shower.” grayson said. “okay.” cale gave him a kiss.

grayson took a quick shower. when he got out of the shower, nathan was sitting in his living room. “why are you here?” grayson asked, not knowing why nate was there.

“go change you wet rat.” nate said. grayson flipped him off and walked into his and cale’s room.

grayson got changed, and when he walked out of the room he was meet with charlie meowing. “hello.” grayson picked the cat up.

grayson walked over to the couch and sat with cale and nate. nate was one of the few people who knew the two were dating.

grayson petted the cat on his lap, listening to cale and nate talk about football. grayson yawned, as the cat curled up into his lap.

cale rubbed grayson thigh softly. “did you see that?” nate asked, completely ignoring what the two were doing.

cale nodded, his eyes focused on the tv. “it was awesome.” nate said, leaning back.

————

grayson had fallen asleep on the couch, charlie curled up in his lap. nate had left a few minutes ago and cale was just now cleaning up.

grayson was always a sleepy person, always falling asleep when he could, sometimes while cale was talking, he’d end up falling asleep.

cale was a big yapper, grayson always listened but sometimes he’d fall asleep.

cale picked the cat up gently. “you sleeping with gray? i think it’s time you get some food.” cale kissed charlie’s head and put some food in his bowl. for the second time today.

he did the same for rex. cale placed charlie down. “gray.” cale kissed his head, rubbing his shoulder.

grayson groaned. “hey, i’m gonna order some chinese.” cale said. grayson nodded, leaning into cale. “nate leave..?” grayson mumbled. “few minutes ago, you were snoring to loud he got annoyed.” cale joked.

“bully.” grayson sat up.

————

grayson and cale ate their food, with two animals staring at them. one was in graysons lap, it was charlie. he sat on his lap watching him eat.

grayson gave charlie a smooch on the head, petting rex on the head.

grayson moved charlie and throwing away his chinese food. cale threw his away and gave grayson kiss on the head.

“let’s go to bed.” cale said. grayson nodded, letting cale walk before. grayson cracked the door, in case charlie and rex wanted to go in and out.

grayson changed into sweatpants and laid down next to cale. “what do you wanna watch?” cale asked, leaning over into grayson.

“doesn’t matter.” grayson said, tracing a shape on cales shoulder. cale nodded, turning on a show they always watch.

the two finished their night and went to sleep. cale was practically on top of grayson.

[fallinallincurls]

tell me you want it a thousand miles away from the day that we started

i’m so excited to share this one! this is my fic for @antoineroussel‘s winter fic exchange 2k23 and it’s for @hockeylvr59 !! i hope you love this so much! it’s my first time really writing an oc and it was fun stepping out of my comfort zone to try something new. as always, shoutout to the very best @tonyspep​ who listened to me ramble about ideas and is just amazing.

summary: evelyn and cale were perfect, until their relationship couldn’t stand the distance of him moving to colorado. now, years later, cale runs into the girl who still holds his heart after she goes through a bad breakup and is hoping for a second chance. one that evelyn is more than happy to give him.

playlist- still by niall horan, love of my life by harry styles, always been you by shawn mendes, i’m in love with you by the 1975

hope you enjoy!! feedback is always appreciated! xx

word count: 5.6k

~~~~~

“No way in hell am I going skiing. What if I break my leg or something? Who’s going to explain that to Bedsy?”

“Nathan, there’s this thing called fun. You should try it sometime.” EJ chirps back, clapping a hand on Nate’s shoulder as the Canadian rolls his eyes.

“Just don’t break your leg, Nate. Simple as that. We’re doing this in the spirit of team bonding! It’s a team holiday trip.” Gabe says in response with a genuine smile on his perfect face.

“Yay! Team bonding!” Newy exclaims, a little over the top which makes several of them laugh including Cale.

“Can we get hot chocolate after?” JT chimes in, voice serious but hopeful like that’s the only thing that can convince him to get on the slope. 

“Sure. Hot chocolate after. Now let’s go!” 

Nate shuffles forward, grumbling to himself and the sight makes Cale chuckle. He’s not the biggest fan of skiing either, but he always enjoys any time he can spend with the guys. No matter what activity it includes.

This time, it just happens to be skiing at a resort in Vail. Gabe decided a team retreat would be a fun idea leading up to the holidays and you can’t say no to the captain.

So here Cale is, awkwardly standing in the lobby dressed in his ski gear and surrounded by his teammates who all have mixed reactions to what’s about to happen.

He’s just about to ask Nate if he even knows how to ski, because if not they might actually have to think up a reason to give Bedsy just in case, when a flash of bright red hair catches his eye near the entrance of the lodge. 

At first, Cale thinks it’s the resident ginger of the team. But JT is ahead of him, being jostled around by Newy and Bo, so it can’t be him. Why does he care anyway? 

But then, as he looks back to hopefully get another glimpse, he realizes why he cares. He realizes why the splash of red captured his attention in the first place. Because it was that exact red hair he used to see every day, run his fingers through and adored so much. Cale is frozen in place, gaze locked on the girl he still loves with his entire being. The one who got away.

Before he can think or see the confused look on Nate’s face, he’s leaving the group behind and trudging across the lobby towards the familiar red hair. He’s nervous, really nervous, but he hasn’t seen her in a few years now. And if he misses this opportunity, he wouldn’t ever forgive himself. 

“Evelyn.” Cale doesn’t even recognize his own voice. He gently taps her on the shoulder and all the wind is knocked out of his lungs. Maybe it’s the time apart or Cale’s simply forgotten how gorgeous she is, but when she looks at him, he swears she is the most beautiful person he’s ever seen.

“Cale?” She asks in shock, brows furrowing for a moment before a beaming smile blossoms across her lips. “Cale! Ohmygosh, how are you? It’s been so long.” Evelyn gives him a quick hug and suddenly, Cale is thinking about how he’s going to have to thank Landy for this silly idea.

“It’s nice to see you.” 

“You too! I didn’t know you skied. A new hobby?” Evelyn teases. It’s like nothing ever happened, no time has passed. But Cale knows that’s too good to be true. 

“No, no. A team bonding trip.” Cale explains, nodding towards the door where the team left moments ago. “I’m not very good anyway.” He can feel his cheeks heating up with blush, the familiar pink becoming apparent in mere seconds. 

“Oh, please. I’ve seen you skate and know you’ve got balance and coordination like no one else.” 

“Uh, well, thanks.” He murmurs shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. Cale knows the inevitable end of conversation is coming. Where she tells him how great it’s been to see him and she disappears from his life again. His mind is whirring to find something to say just to keep her talking, to keep her in front of him. 

He isn’t quick enough.

“It’s been nice seeing you, Cale. And I’d love to catch up more, but I have to go. Have fun on the slopes and tell everyone hi for me!” Evelyn says cheerfully, giving him the smile that he still loves before he gives his own goodbye and she’s gone.

“Dude, who’s the redhead?” Nate’s voice snaps Cale back to the present. Of course, Nate stayed behind and saw all of that. “And why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost? You’re not gonna get a girl looking that terrified.”

“Geez, thanks.” Cale mutters, turning to face Nate who’s wearing a look of concern mixed with curiosity.

“Who’s the redhead?” He asks again. Nate is nothing but relentless, Cale should know this by now, and he’s going to have to explain in order for the topic to be dropped.

“Her name is Evelyn. We dated for awhile back when I was at UMass and we tried to keep it going long distance when I came here, but it didn’t work out.”

“But you’re still in love with her.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

Damn it. Why couldn’t EJ have seen the whole interaction? He would’ve just teased Cale about having a thing for gingers. Or even Gabe who would’ve given him some kind of pep talk. But no, Nate had to be the witness and he’s so observant that nothing can be hidden from him.

“Yeah, I’m still in love with her.” Cale admits, voice full of defeat and longing.

“Then why didn’t you just make your move?” The question falls from Nate’s lips with a tone of incredulously and Cale sighs. There’s so much more than them just being exes.

“She just got out of a long term relationship. They were together for a year and half or something like that. Mom told me. I can’t just jump in there like she’s okay and the last thing I want is to be a rebound.” 

But Cale can’t help but wonder what exactly Evelyn is doing here. Last he heard, she had graduated from UMass and returned home to Calgary where she got her first big job and her own apartment. Plus, she had told Cale himself when they were trying to make long distance work that she couldn’t see herself living in Colorado. Yet she’s here.

Does she live here now? Or maybe she’s just visiting. That’s more realistic. But who would she be coming to see? She doesn’t know anyone in the entire state of Colorado besides him. At least that Cale knows of.

“Cale?” Nate’s voice is soft, but snaps the defenseman back to the present. 

“Huh?”  

“I think you should talk to her. You never know what could come of it. And you still love her! Doesn’t matter what happened in the past, I think she needs you more than you realize right now, especially coming out of a relationship like that.” 

“Thanks, Gabe.” Cale says pointedly, giving Nate a look that’s supposed to be mean but he doubts it comes across the way he intends. Nate’s smile gives that away. “When did you become so wise and captain-like?”

“Just-” Nate starts, putting a hand on Cale’s shoulder shaking his head at the chirps before continuing. “Think about it. Okay?”

That’s easy, but Cale doesn’t say that out loud. All he’s going to be doing until he sees her again is thinking. Thinking about her.

Cale gets answers to all but one question when he calls his mom the next day. He barely gets through saying hello before the news bursts out.

“Mom, you’ll never guess who I saw yesterday.” 

“Who?” Laura asks with curiosity.

“Evelyn. Eve, like my Eve.” The nickname rolls off his tongue naturally. Cale’s the only one who ever got to call her Eve and saying it now feels so right. Like there’s still a chance she could be his Eve again. Not Evelyn like she is for everyone else. Eve.

“Oh, honey. Did you really?” 

“Yeah, we’re on this mini team retreat right now, Gabe’s idea, and I saw her in the lobby before we went skiing.” He explains, taking a deep breath. “Did you know she would be in Colorado?”

It’s a loaded question, Cale knows that, but he has to know. He’s known Evelyn pretty much his whole life and even after they broke up, their families still stayed in touch. He just needed to know more about why he saw her in the last place he ever would’ve expected.

“Um, not exactly.” 

“Mom!”

“I didn’t know, Cale! Her mom said that after the breakup, Eve decided she needed a fresh start and left Calgary. That’s the last I heard. But apparently she landed in Colorado if you saw her.” 

Cale is silent for a moment, absorbing everything Laura just said. Nate’s words from the other day become clear again and he knows what he’s going to do next. 

“I know it might be out of nowhere, but I think she could use a friend, Cale. She’s taking this really hard and I can’t imagine how scary it might be also being somewhere completely new too. If you see her again, ask if she wants to get a coffee or something simple. You know how she loves the wintertime and that might be tainted now with everything going on.” Laura says softly and Cale knows she’s right. In fact, that’s almost exactly what he’s thinking. 

“Okay, you’re right. Thanks, Mom.” Cale replies before they exchange the usual love you’s and see you soon’s. He lets out a sigh of relief and leans back against the couch. It might not have been the answers he was looking for, but now he at least knows what he has to do. 

And if there’s any chance of getting back together, even just the tiniest little sliver of hope, Cale has to know. But first and foremost, he has to be the friend that Eve needs more than ever.

Not even a week into the new year, Cale finds himself back at the ski lodge where the team was during the holidays for Gabe’s grand idea. He has no idea if he’ll see Eve here again, like maybe the run-in was some twist of fate and only destined to happen once, but he has to try. As he’s running through all the options of what to say to her, Cale spots the familiar flash of red hair and his heart starts to race.

Now or never.

He walks up to the front desk in the lobby where Eve is talking to someone on the opposite side, her sweet smile on full display. Before Cale can even say anything, she senses someone next to her and turns to offer a kind look but then realizes who it is.

“Cale! How crazy is this?” Eve says, her voice full of happiness. She guides him away from the front desk, thanking the employee she was just talking to and that’s when Cale seemingly loses control of his tongue.

“Eve, hi. It’s really great to see you again.”

“You too. Do you come here often? I didn’t think you’d have a lot of time to take up skiing or anything else with how busy your schedule is with hockey.” She asks, her big brown eyes holding Cale’s gaze.

“I- uh, no, I don’t. I was hoping to see you again actually.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Cale starts, unsure of how to phrase what he wants to say, but Eve is looking at him so fondly and he can’t put a single thought together. “Look, I heard about what happened and I’m really sorry things ended that way. You don’t deserve that and even after all this time, I still care about you. A lot. Plus, you’re new to Colorado so I wanted to let you know I’m here for you and would be happy to show you my favorite places around here or maybe do some of the things we used to do together to cheer you up. It’s up to you.” He trails off, hoping she doesn’t notice how nervous he is. 

Eve doesn’t say anything for a moment and Cale worries he already messed this up. He’s ready to face the rejection and continue on with his life as if this never happened, until Eve’s smooth voice cuts through his thoughts. 

“You’re just as sweet as you were at UMass. Nothing’s changed.” She whispers, her cheeks becoming a deep color of pink. Cale swears he’s never seen anyone so adorable. Her beaming smile is directed at Cale for the first time in years and he doesn’t want that to change. “I would love that. Whether it’s seeing your favorite places or doing what used to be our favorite things. Sounds perfect to me.”

“Yeah?” Cale asks, trying to mask any shock in his voice. 

“Yeah. So when do we start?” 

“What about right now?” He giggles as Eve nods with excitement. It feels a lot like the old days when they would spend any possible moment together, laughing and sharing kisses without a care in the world. That kind of happiness is one Cale wants back and hopes Eve feels the same way too. 

“Okay, then let’s go, Makar. We’ve got quite a lot to catch up on.” 

And just like that a new routine is born. Every waking moment the two of them have is spent together. They start with seeing Cale’s favorite places around Denver, spanning between the variety of tourist attractions and the little hidden gems of the city. 

Slowly, but surely, Evelyn opens up about the breakup and it physically pains Cale to see her hurting over some stupid guy who just lost the best thing that would ever happen to him. He offers nothing but his support and kind words because despite the feelings he might have for her, he still cares about her more than anything.

An unspoken list of things they used to do together, especially during the winter time, is put together. Driving around to see the Christmas lights while drinking hot chocolate, making cinnamon rolls, playing crib, a spontaneous snowball fight and so much more. The more time spent together, the more it feels as if they’re back at UMass and completely in love.

Cale doesn’t push. If all he gets is Eve as a close friend, he’ll take it. She’s back in his life and he couldn’t ask for anything more. 

But with each passing day and activity done together, Eve remembers exactly why she fell in love with Cale in the first place. And it’s more obvious than ever that her feelings for him never fully disappeared. Her heart seems to be healing because of him and although she can’t admit she wants to give them another try just yet, there is something she’s ready for that Cale hasn’t mentioned once since they saw each other again at the lodge.

“Hey Cale?” She asks softly, looking up at him across the table. The cafe isn’t that busy during this time of day and Eve learned quickly this place has the best breakfast so this morning her and Cale decided to grab a bite before he had to go to morning skate. This used to be a regular occurrence for them back in college. Getting up early, sharing breakfast together while giggling over everything and then going their separate ways until Cale was back from practice. Eve starts to feel a weird sense of deja vu, but pushes through. 

“Hm?” Cale hums in response, taking a sip of his coffee before meeting her gaze. He looks so adorable in the early morning light that she can’t stand it. Cheeks rosy as always, wearing a warm knitted sweater and his hair is just the perfect kind of messy, sticking up in all different directions.

“How’s the team doing? Do you like playing here?” The questions tumble off her lips innocently, but shock Cale for a moment. 

“You- sorry, you want to talk about hockey?” Cale shakes his head in disbelief, blue eyes searching Eve’s face for any sign of worrying emotions.

In the last few weeks, there hasn’t been a single mention of the sport Cale plays despite the two of them planning around his practice, game and travel schedule. Eve hasn’t addressed it yet because in the end, hockey is what took him away from her, it’s what broke their relationship when it couldn’t have been better. But now, realizing she’s falling in love with him again, Eve knows talking about hockey isn’t going to ruin anything.

In fact, now, she can’t wait to hear about Cale’s career here in Colorado. 

“Yeah, I do. If this,” Eve gestures between the two of them, “is going to work, I can’t be scared of something that we had no control over in the past even if it’s the thing that separated us. Plus, it’s such a big part of your life so I want to know everything, Mr. Norris and Conn Smythe Trophy winner.” 

Cale laughs, that beautiful smile overtaking his face and pure joy radiating off of him. “Well someone has been keeping up, huh?” 

“Please, it’s hard not to when everyone back home couldn’t stop talking about you during the playoffs and then your day with the Cup…”

Without any hesitation, Cale jumps right into telling her about everything hockey related since he got to Denver. Joining the team during the playoffs, winning the Calder, all the fun and not so happy moments with the guys over the years, how he’s trained in the offseason and of course, the biggest moment of all, winning the Cup last season.

Cale’s in the middle of telling a funny story about Nate, one of thousands, when he catches a glimpse of the time on Eve’s phone. 9:15.

“Oh shit. Eve, I’ve got to go. Morning skate.” He says quickly, kissing her cheek and making sure the check is paid for. “I’m sorry, I totally lost track of time. You’ll hear the rest of the story later I promise.”

“It’s all good, Cale. Have fun at practice! I’ll see you later, okay?” Eve says, her voice soft and Cale feels his heart swell. “And thank you for telling me about hockey again. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished.”

“Anytime, Eve. And thank you.” With that, he offers her the kindest smile before heading out to the rink.

Cale is late. Well, not technically since morning skate doesn’t start until ten, but by his standards he’s late. He already missed the usual routine of getting ready with Nate and catching up with Devon. And the worse part is, he doesn’t have a single clue about how he’s going to explain this to the guys who will definitely be asking him what happened.

But Cale knows he isn’t good at lying and at the same time, there’s no way the team can know what he’s up to. Even if it’s making him way happier than usual.

Which of course, EJ notices right away as he’s hustling into the locker room.

“Look who decided to show up! Nice of you to join us, Caler.”

“Sorry,” Cale mumbles in response, heading right to his stall to get ready for practice. But he feels his cheeks heat up and knows it’s a dead giveaway.

“What took you so long? You’re usually here with this maniac way earlier than need be.” EJ pushes, gesturing to Nate for a moment before all his attention focuses on Cale. A beat of silence lasts too long and somehow EJ knows exactly what’s going on.

“It’s a girl, isn’t it?”

“EJ,” Nate warns, ready to step in since he knows Cale has been talking to Eve again, but everyone knows EJ is mostly all talk. The chances of him overstepping is slim to none. It’s just fun and games. Except Cale’s lack of response and rosier than usual cheeks say everything he doesn’t put into words.

“I just got coffee and breakfast with a friend. We’ve been catching up lately after not seeing each other for a while.” Not a lie. That’s partially true and he hopes it’s enough to convince the team to lose interest.

“With a girl!” EJ says with a laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. “They grow up so fast, don’t they?”

And just like that, everyone moves on. Almost everyone. While the rest of the team filters out of the locker room to hit the ice, Nate gently taps Cale with his stick and gives him that same knowing look that he did a few weeks ago.

“How’s it going? With… ya know?”

Cale kind of wishes the floor will swallow him, but he knows Nate is being nice. He’s just not used to talking about his love life with any of the guys because there hasn’t been much of a love life to talk about.

“Really well actually. Nothing’s happened and neither of us are pushing, but it’s been great just spending time together again. I miss that, you know? It’s great to have her back.” Cale explains, cheeks becoming pink with blush as he talks. Nate offers a genuine smile in response and bumps his shoulder.

“That’s good. You deserve her. So I’m rooting for you.”

“Thanks, Nate. Means a lot.” He shrugs softly, trying not to let his thoughts wander.

“Just an idea though, maybe see if she wants to come to a game. She might like seeing you play.” Nate says out of nowhere and Cale just nods, unable to think of a proper response. They walk out to the rink together and the moment Cale takes the ice, all his worries fall away.

But beneath it all, Cale can’t help but think about how Eve has just started asking about hockey again. And he’d be lying if the idea of her in his jersey, cheering him on in the stands and waiting to greet him afterwards didn’t make his heart race.

This is crazy and Evelyn knows it. She hasn’t seen Cale play since college when she would sit with her friends and the other girlfriends in a much smaller rink. He might not like her being at a game even if that sounds far fetched. Yet, here she is right against the glass on the Avs side of the ice at Ball Arena.

The sign she’s clutching in her hands is another reminder of how insane this whole idea is. Although it will help her blend in among the other fans who have brought their own homemade signs as well. But it’s too late to back out now, and if there’s one thing Eve is sure of, it’s how she feels about Cale.

So she waits at the glass in anticipation of seeing the team skate out for warmups. The same giddiness that used to run through her veins when she attended the games on campus returns and realizes she’s missed this feeling without even knowing it. Sure, she’s watched the Avs games at home from the comfort of her couch, but this is a whole different experience that she is happy to have back.

The only person that knows she’s here right now is Nate. He's the only one who knows more than he should about her and Cale, which she didn’t think was ideal until she came up with this bright idea. Nate only encouraged her and even helped organize all the details to ensure everything about the surprise goes according to plan.

That also means he’s the only one who won’t have an outrageous reaction to her sign.

Eve snaps out of her thoughts as the lights begin to come up, illuminating the ice in the usual brightness that she has grown accustomed to. Her eyes focus on the tunnel next to the bench while pressing the sign against the glass. She has no idea if Cale will even see it, but everything in her is hoping he does and if not, one of his teammates points it out to him. He’s followed in Nate’s footsteps of being zeroed in during warmups and the fan interaction falls to the wayside in terms of importance. 

Tonight will be different. 

The team skates out onto the ice and cheers erupt from the crowd. An instant smile spreads across Eve’s lips when the familiar number eight steps onto the rink, immediately skating around effortlessly. As the guys settle into their usual warm up routines, Eve keeps an eye on Cale as if she could look anywhere else. Nate skates by and taps his stick against the glass, a beaming grin of his on display.

“He’s going to flip out.” Nate says, shaking his head and tapping a fist bump against the glass. Eve does the same with a giggle before he skates off to continue with drills. 

It’s then when she spots JT and Mikko whispering to each other opposite of where she’s standing. Mikko’s got that mischievous look in his gaze as the ginger next to him can’t stop smiling. They’ve noticed the sign and Eve feels her nerves spike. It’s only a matter of time before they bring it to Cale’s attention.

“Hey, Caler! Why didn’t you tell us you finally invited your girl to a game?” JT calls out, giving Cale a playful bump to the shoulder.

“What?” Cale responds, looking up from his stick handling in confusion. “I didn’t invite anyone.”

“Well, that sure looks like Evelyn to me.” 

“JT, don’t be- ohmygod. It is Evelyn.”

As an unbelievable amount of shock rolls through him, Cale can’t help but beam in her direction. He would recognize her fiery hair color and beautiful smile anywhere. She’s here at one of his games. She’s really here. He’s been waiting to have this back for so long. His eyes never move away from her even if he can hear JT and Mikko chuckling nearby.

Despite the happiness coursing through his veins as he slowly skates over, he tries to take in every detail of this moment. Eve is wearing what she called her “lucky jersey” from Cale’s time at UMass. Seeing her in the familiar maroon and silver jersey with the number 16 on the sleeves and a simple A on the chest makes Cae’s heart soar. His last name is on the back of that jersey and even better, she’s kept it after all this time even if it’s been years since she saw him play in Massachusetts. Cale doesn’t even have enough time to process all this when he realizes what is written on the sign she’s pressing against the glass.

“Even in burgundy and blue, my heart still belongs to you #8!”

All the air in his lungs is stolen away and everything else seems to fall away except for Eve. Not only is she here at a game, but her sign holds the confession that Cale has been wondering about since they ran into each other again.

She still loves him. He doesn’t know if her feelings ever went away or she fell in love again, but Cale can’t believe this is happening. After all this time, her heart still belongs to him just like his belongs to her.

“Hi,” he murmurs, pressing his hand against the glass when he comes face to face with Eve. She waves in response and the smile he gets in return rivals the sun. He pulls a puck over and flips it up onto his stick before tossing it over the glass. The moment she catches it, looking up with the most hopeful expression on her face, Cale takes the leap of faith. “I love you so much.”

Evelyn doesn’t think she can smile any bigger and swears her heart might explode with pure joy. This beautiful, sweet, amazing boy just said the three words she’s been waiting to hear since the day things ended. Cale loves her. Nothing else in the world matters more than that.

“I love you too.”

Cale taps the glass a few more times before ever so slowly skating away. His cheeks are pink with blush and the smile on his lips won’t be going away anytime soon. Eve gives him a wave, holding the puck to her chest where her heart is racing. With his mind on his girl, Cale returns to the usual warmups and knows this game is a must win more than it was before.

Because of Eve.

The Avs win 4-1 and Eve doesn’t think she’s ever had this much fun before. All of Cale’s games at UMass were an experience, but that doesn’t even come close to how happy and excited she is when the buzzer sounds and the boys spill onto the ice for hugs and celebration.

Cale scored two goals and had a three point night which isn’t unusual for him, but he seemed to be playing on a whole other level. She is beyond proud of him for making it to the biggest stage in hockey and it’s no surprise that he’s thriving because he’s just that good.

“Evelyn, do you want to come with us to the tunnel? We wait for the guys down there after the game, if you want to see Cale.” Mel asks softly as the rest of the wives and girlfriends start filtering out of the suite.

“Oh, yeah, I’d love that. You’re sure it’s okay?” Eve responds, trying not to let any sign of nerves seep through her words.

“Of course it is. You’re part of the family now! We all see how that boy looks at you. It’s only a matter of time before he makes it official.” Mel chuckles sweetly, looping her arm through Eve’s to show her the way through the arena. Eve feels a tiny smile creep onto her lips after what her new friend just said, but the giddiness running through her about seeing Cale so soon takes precedence.

In no time, the small group is waiting outside the locker room and Eve can’t seem to stand still. Anxious thoughts run through her mind. How does she greet Cale after their mutual confessions during warmups? What if he didn’t mean it? Where do they go from here?

Before she can get lost in the whirlwind of anxiety and what if’s, the door to the locker room opens and the guys start to filter out. She says hi and congratulates each of them on the win, including Nate who tells her Cale will be out in a few before bumping her shoulder playfully and giving her a knowing look.

And just like Nate said, Cale is the next player to exit the locker room. His bright blue eyes are searching the area like he’s looking for someone specific. Then he sees her.

“Eve!” Cale calls out, hurrying over with open arms to scoop her up in the tightest embrace. She can’t help the giggles that escape when her feet leave the floor for a quick moment as Cale spins her around.

“Hey bubs, you played so well! I missed seeing you out there. And I already knew it, but you’re one hell of a player.” Eve says, cupping his rosy cheeks in her hands as they maintain eye contact. The close proximity is enough to make her dizzy, but the look on Cale’s face steals her breath away.

“Thank you. It was a big surprise seeing you out there, but I’m so happy you came.” 

“Me too.”

Everyone is probably watching the moment as it’s happening, but Cale doesn’t care. His girl is in his arms and there’s a tension in the air that he needs to get rid of which means he has to ask the thing he’s been wondering since he saw her during warmups with the sign that changed everything. 

“Also noticed your creative spark for making signs hasn’t disappeared either.” Cale hints, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

“It wasn’t my best work, but I couldn’t wait to tell you something so important.” Eve giggles, hands sliding up to lock behind Cale’s neck. “And it’s still true.”

“I know,” Cale mumbles under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear. “And I meant what I said. I love you more than anything, Evelyn. I never stopped. Not when I left for Colorado or when we decided to end things. Not even when I found out you had moved on. It’s always been you and I don’t plan on letting what we have slip away again.”

Tears begin to spring up as Eve listens to Cale speak and she can’t even begin to find words to properly express her emotions. Instead, she closes the space between them with a long awaited kiss that’s soft and gentle, but full of love. Cale pulls her impossibly closer and feels her smile against his lips. Time seems to stop and neither of them can believe how lucky they are.

“You’re it for me, Cale. I love you so much. Even if it’s a thousand miles away from where we started, I want this. I want you. There’s never been anything I’ve been more sure of in my life.” Eve says quietly, pressing her forehead against his for a brief moment before the team, who has been watching the whole moment, erupts in cheers. “Ohmygod.” She whispers, hiding her face in Cale’s chest.

“Finally!” EJ yells, shaking some of the guys in excitement.

“You might want to give Gabe a really big thank you for that stupid team bonding trip. None of this would’ve even happened if we weren’t dragged there.” Nate laughs, taking in both Cale and Eve who are glowing with nothing but pure happiness. 

And years down the line, if Gabe gets the first invite to their wedding at that very same ski lodge, no one has to know.

tagging some friends/mutuals who might be interested!

@tonyspep @starshine-hockey-girl @kailyn-writes @happer08 @rosesvioletshardy @sorryjustafangirl @laurenairay @miracleonice87 @hockeyunits @stroopwaffle8 @musiclove-12 @eightmakar @ilyasorokinn @barzysreputation @breezymichelle99 @comphyjost @comphy-and-cozy @jostystyles @ya-pucking-nerd @fallen-froots @beauvibaby @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69 @boqvistsbabe @antoineroussel @tpwkstiles @hockeylvr59 @2manytabsopen @senditcolton @equallyshaw @lam-ila @nateslehky​

[eightmakar]

calgary | c.m.

Pairing: Cale Makar x Original Character

Word Count: 10.9k

Warnings: cursing, a little making out

A/N: read accidental blessing (18+) before this if you want background on the established relationship

“Cale,” Charlie Evans said sternly to her boyfriend, “you’re really fucking lucky I love you.”

“I know I’m asking a lot. You can say no, that’s completely okay,” Cale Makar replied softly and apologetically.

Cale had asked Charlie to take his toddler, Willow, to Calgary for him. The Avalanche had a two-game away stint against the Flames, with a game on Christmas Eve and a game the day after Christmas. His parents wanted to see Willow, and he insisted they wanted to see Charlie too.

“Tell me again why she can’t go with you,” Charlie said, trying to think clearly.

“If we were going straight from Denver to Calgary, then yes, I’d bring her myself, but we aren’t. We’re going to Vancouver first, then to Calgary, then back home to Denver. I can pull some strings so you guys can fly back on the team plane with us.”

Charlie closed her eyes, fighting back tears. The idea of flying with Willow to Calgary without Cale was a frightening, stressful thought. She loved Willow with all her heart, but if something happened to her while they were traveling, she would never forgive herself. 

“Hey,” Cale whispered, taking Charlie’s face in his hands. She immediately looked away, the tears threatening to well up. “Hey, look at me.”

Charlie’s tearful eyes met Cale’s pale blue ones. “I’m scared,” she finally managed. “I don’t want something to happen to her.”

“I don’t either, which is why I asked you. I trust you with her like I trust my parents with her,” Cale muttered, stroking her cheekbones with his thumbs. “I know it’ll be stressful on you and I promise I’ll take you on a trip just me and you to make up for it.”

“You don’t have to bribe me,” Charlie giggled and brought her hands up to rest on top of Cale’s. “But I won’t say no to a trip just for us.”

Cale smiled softly. “I didn’t mean that as a bribe,” he chuckled, “but I guess it kind of is, eh?”

“It definitely is. But I’ll do it anyway, bribe or not,” Charlie said quietly. 

“I’ll also fly your parents out for New Year’s,” he insisted. “Since you’d be going to Calgary for Christmas instead.”

“What about Santa? For Willow?” Charlie furrowed her brow.

“I’ll take care of everything,” Cale said. “You just have to take her on the plane. My parents will probably do most of the caretaking when she’s there anyway, so you’ll really have minimal Willow duties during the actual trip. It’s just getting her there I need help with.”

“I’ll do it,” Charlie said softly. “I’ll take her. It’ll be fun, a little girl’s trip.”

Cale beamed and kissed her all over her face, sending Charlie into a fit of giggles. “Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”

“Oh no,” Charlie gasped.

Cale stopped dead in his tracks. “What?” he asked in a panic.

“I have to get your family Christmas gifts now, and how the fuck am I going to compete with your salary?”

The night before Cale left for Vancouver with the team, he was a mess.

Charlie walked in through the garage door after work and was surprised to see Willow, alone, sitting on the couch watching Doc McStuffins. She clutched the Baby Yoda plushie Charlie got her a few months ago when Willow began her Star Wars obsession. 

“Hey, Willow girl,” Charlie said, dropping her backpack next to the kitchen counter. She walked into the living room and plopped down on the couch next to the toddler. 

“Hi,” Willow replied, mesmerized with the television. 

“No Star Wars today?” Charlie leaned in and kissed Willow’s blonde head. 

“Daddy said no,” Willow said sadly. 

Charlie nodded, remembering Cale’s rule that Willow had to watch any Star Wars with him or Charlie. “Where is Daddy?” 

“My woom!” 

“I’m going to go see Daddy for a second, then I’ll come turn on Star Wars for you, how’s that?”

“Yes pwease!” 

Charlie smiled, kissed Willow’s head again, then pulled herself up off the couch and padded towards Willow’s room. The door was closed, so she gently knocked on it before opening it to reveal Cale sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a wide variety of Willow’s things and looking very overwhelmed. 

“Cale? Baby, are you okay?” Charlie hurried to sit down in front of him and gently pushed some of his hair back.

“No.” Cale’s voice cracked as he barely muttered the word, and Charlie’s heart broke. 

“Oh, Baby,” Charlie whispered. She pushed his hair out of the way again and gently held his face while he tried not to look her in the eyes. 

“I—,” he tried to say, but then tears spilled out of his eyes as he let out a quiet sob. He pulled his face out of Charlie’s hands and buried it in his own. 

“Sweetheart, oh, come here.” Charlie leaned up against Willow’s bed and tugged Cale’s large, shaking body into hers. He gave into her touch, collapsing into her and burying his face in her thighs, still crying. Charlie gently stroked his hair with one hand and rubbed his back with the other. 

Cale sobbed into her legs for a few moments, then turned his tear-stained red face up to hers. “I’m sorry,” he hiccuped. 

“No need to apologize,” Charlie mumbled. She used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe away some of the lingering tears from his face. “How many times have you come home to me crying over something? We all have to just have a good cry sometimes. Do you wanna talk about it?”

“I’m just having a breakdown over getting Willow packed up before I leave,” Cale said sadly, his voice wavering. 

“Honey,” Charlie whispered, “I can pack up her stuff. I know what she likes to have with her and her favorite outfits and all of that. I can help you, baby.”

“I know, I just don’t want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of you or anything,” Cale sighed. 

“I wouldn’t have said yes if I felt like that, Cale. I wouldn’t have moved in if I thought that, either.” Charlie gazed down at him in her lap.

“I just feel so guilty. She’s my responsibility, it’s my job to take care of her.”

“By letting me take her to Calgary, you are taking care of her. It’s not like you’re up and leaving her forever, you’re flying to Vancouver in the morning and the day after we’ll fly to Calgary. You’ve always taken the best care of her, Cale, and anyone can see that, including Willow. She wants to be exactly like you. Kids don’t do that if they don’t like the person,” Charlie said, awkwardly leaning down and kissing Cale’s nose.

“She wants to be like me?” Cale asked lovingly.

“Oh yeah, when I hang out with her she tells me how she wants to play for the Avalanche when she grows up. If I ask her any details, she says she wants to be number eight and wants to play defense. When I took her skating the other day, she tried to tell me her skates were too small and she needed new ones, specifically ‘Premes.’”

Cale chuckled. “She wants Supremes now?”

“Yep. She said she needed ‘Premes like Daddy.’ I told her she didn’t need new skates, and I even made sure the guys in the pro shop measured her feet just to check. But she’s now insisting she needs skates like you,” Charlie explained. “That kid adores you, Cale. And I promise I’ll keep her safe.”

Cale went silent for a little bit. “You’ll keep me updated, right? You’ll send me pictures and videos and stuff?” Cale finally sniffed. 

“Of course,” Charlie insisted. “When I ask her if she wants to take pictures for Daddy, she always says yes. She loves sending you pictures. I’ve been downloading shit like crazy for her to watch, amongst other things.” Cale beamed, and Charlie remembered, “Oh yeah, she also figured out how to call you. I’ll give her my phone and she immediately tries to call you or FaceTime you, especially if you’re on the road and she misses you.”

“Shit, that kid is smart,” Cale laughed.

“Of course she is, you’re her dad.” Charlie smiled down at Cale.

“Thank you,” he said softly, “for everything. You’re incredible.” He gently grabbed her hand and tugged it from his hair to his mouth, kissing the back of it softly.

“Daddy? Chawlie?” the couple heard from the hallway. Willow’s little bare feet patted the hardwood floor as she walked down the hall and pushed the door to her room open.

“Hi, baby girl,” Cale greeted her. He sat up and leaned against Willow’s bed next to Charlie.

Willow walked over and clambered into Cale’s lap. He wrapped his arms around her as she furrowed her tiny brow looking at his tear-stained face. “What wong, Daddy?” she asked, grabbing his face. 

“Nothing, sweetheart, Daddy was just a little sad,” he explained, turning his head into her small hand and kissing her palm. 

“Why sad?” She cocked her head as she examined Cale’s face.

“Because I have to leave you and Charlie tomorrow, and I’ll miss you.” Willow poked his face with her tiny toddler hands and he smiled.

“Oh,” she simply replied. 

Cale kissed his daughter’s forehead. “But Charlie is gonna take you to see Gamma and Gampa, and I’ll see you there.”

“Gamma Gampa!” Willow squealed with delight.

“And,” Charlie added, “Uncle TayTay.”

“UNCLE TAYTAY!” screeched Willow, making Cale laugh.

“Yeah, baby, Charlie’s gonna take you to see Gamma, Gampa, and TayTay. Daddy has to go play a game first, but then I’m going to come to Gamma and Gampa’s house too,” Cale said. Willow played with his cheeks while he spoke to her.

“Yeah, we’re gonna have the best time going to see Gamma and Gampa!” Charlie said excitedly. 

Willow wrapped her arms around Cale’s neck. “Daddy?” she whispered.

“Yeah, baby?” 

“Can I watch Staw Waws?”

“I’ll come turn it on for you, Will,” Charlie said. “Daddy’s gonna pack up some of your stuff for our trip!”

Willow reached out to Charlie, who stood up and took the toddler out of her dad’s arms. Wrapping her arms around Charlie’s neck, Willow smiled and cooed as Charlie walked out of the room and into the living room. They curled up on the couch together and Charlie turned on A New Hope, settling in to watch the movie.

Cale left the next morning, having packed up all of Willow’s things she’d need for the trip and leaving notes all over the house for extra things Charlie would need. He’d left notes for her before, when he left for trips, and Charlie was forgetful, so she actually appreciated the extra reminders. She did a load of laundry, and that was all she needed to do before she and Willow headed to Calgary.

Charlie’s alarm went off far too early. She wasn’t a morning person, but seeing Willow in the mornings helped. She crawled out of her and Cale’s enormous bed and padded down the hall to Willow’s room.

“Good morning, Willow girl!” Charlie sang as she walked into the room. 

Willow sat up in bed with a huge, toothy smile. “Goo mowning Chawlie!” she said. The toddler clambered out of bed and ran to hug her legs.

“Are you ready to go see Gamma and Gampa?” Charlie asked. 

“YEAH!” 

Charlie got Willow dressed first, helped her brush her teeth, and made her some oatmeal for breakfast. She left Willow in the kitchen to eat while she went and got dressed. She packed up her last toiletries and tucked them into her carry on bag. Charlie packed the car the night before so she’d only have to grab a few things. As Willow finished her oatmeal, Charlie scarfed down a bowl of cereal, then got their final bags loaded into the car, and they were off to the airport.

Charlie was only nervous about one part of the trip: security. She was terrified that she’d get separated from Willow somehow, a TSA agent would think she was kidnapping her, or any other variety of disasters. Cale had written a letter stating that Charlie had permission to travel with Willow, but she was still scared.

After checking their bags, Charlie picked up Willow and walked nervously to the TSA line. Cale insisted they get Pre-Check, so they waited in a very short line before the TSA agent called Charlie up.

“I need your license and her full name, please,” the agent said. 

Charlie handed her license over and replied, “Willow Grace Makar.”

The agent scanned Charlie’s license, then sent them on their way to Charlie’s surprise. She assumed the agent thought Charlie was Willow’s mom, which she didn’t mind. It made traveling much easier. 

The girls got through their security scans and once they had their shoes back on and their bags back, Charlie picked Willow up and helped her into the chest carrier they had. Charlie wasn’t taking any chances. She texted Cale that they were through security and that she’d call him when they got to their gate.

“Alright, Will, you ready?” Charlie asked.

“Yeah!” She replied. 

Charlie adjusted her backpack, grabbed her carry on, and headed towards her gate. She checked a few screens on her way just to make sure she had the number right, and they were at their gate within a few moments of walking. Charlie helped Willow out of the carrier and they settled into a couple seats in the corner.

“You wanna call Daddy?” Charlie asked, pulling out her phone and AirPods. 

“YEAH! Call Daddy!” Willow squealed. 

Charlie put one AirPod in her ear, then held the other one to Willow’s ear. She clicked Cale’s name and the phone began to ring.

Cale answered, his shining, smiling face on screen. “Hi!” he said excitedly. 

“Hi Daddy!” Willow shouted. She sat calmly in Charlie’s lap, giggling at Cale.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he said. “How are you?”

“Good! We goin to see Gamma and Gampa!”

“You are! They’re excited to see you. Are you excited to see them?” 

“Yeah! Daddy, I miss you.”

“I miss you too, sweetheart, but I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Daddy has to play tonight, but then I’m getting on a plane to come see you!” Cale explained. 

“Okay!”

“I love you, baby,” he told his daughter. “Can I talk to Charlie?”

“I wuv you too, Daddy!” Willow kissed her hand and threw the kiss to the camera, and Charlie put her other AirPod in her ear.

Cale sighed. “Hi, babe.”

“Hi,” Charlie sighed back. “We’re at our gate.”

“I figured,” Cale chuckled. “How’s it going? How’s she doing? How are you doing?”

“I’m good, we’re good. She’s been a champ, honestly. She’s excited to see your parents, so that helps.”

“She slept okay last night? You slept okay? I know you said you don’t sleep as well when I’m gone and frankly, I don’t either.” Cale smiled softly. 

“I didn’t sleep great, but she did. I’ll sleep tomorrow when you get to Calgary.”

“Well, about that…”

“Cale—.”

“I’m gonna come over tonight instead,” Cale said. “I can’t stand the thought of being in the same city as you and Willow and not being with you guys.”

Charlie’s heart swelled. “I would love that,” she said softly. “And so would she. We’ll see you tonight, babe.”

“Sounds good. I love you, Charlie.”

“Love you too.” Charlie smiled softly, then said, “Bye, Cale.”

“Bye, babe.” Cale hung up the FaceTime call and Charlie put her AirPods away.

“Chawlie,” Willow said when she saw her putting things away. “Can I have a snack?”

“Of course! What do you want? I brought all your favorites.”

“Goldfish?” 

“I gotcha, girlfriend.” Charlie began to dig around in her backpack for the cup of Goldfish she packed. She produced the cup and handed it to Willow, who immediately shoved her hand in the toddler-friendly spill-proof lid. Willow crunched away on her snack until it was time to board the plane. 

Charlie picked Willow up when the staff made the announcement about people with small children needing extra time to board. She scanned their tickets, then headed down the hall to the plane. 

“You excited?” Charlie asked, kissing Willow’s forehead.

“Yeah!” Willow squealed. She shook her hands around in excitement. 

“Alright,” Charlie chuckled. She ducked onto the plane and found their seats at the front of first class, which Cale had insisted on buying them. Charlie buckled Willow in and handed her iPad and headphones to her, settling in with her for the nonstop flight to Calgary.

“Ma’am,” a flight attendant said, shaking Charlie awake. “We’re landing soon.”

Charlie yawned, thanked the flight attendant, and turned to check on Willow. She was fast asleep, curled up in her chair. Charlie smiled softly, snapped a picture of Willow, then gently rubbed her back.

“Willow, baby,” Charlie whispered. Willow stirred a little, then sleepily opened her eyes. “We’re here!”

Willow blinked slowly and sat up. “We’re here?”

Charlie pushed some of her wild blonde hair out of her face. “Yeah, we’re here. Let’s go see Gamma and Gampa!”

Charlie gathered their stuff, then exited the plane clutching Willow’s tiny hand. They walked through the airport and left the terminal. Charlie saw Gary, Laura, and Taylor Makar waiting for them ahead. 

“Willow, who’s that?” Charlie asked. 

Willow squinted, then recognized her grandparents and uncle. “Uncle TayTay!” she squealed, letting go of Charlie’s hand and sprinting towards Taylor as fast as her tiny legs would take her.

“There’s my girl!” Taylor said. He scooped her up and kissed her rosy cheek as she cooed happily.

“Hi, sweetheart!” Laura said, rubbing Willow’s back while she nuzzled herself into Taylor. 

“Hi Gamma,” she giggled. “Hi Gampa!”

“Hey, sweet girl,” said Gary softly. 

“Charlie, honey, how are you?” Laura turned her attention to Charlie and pulled her in for a big hug. 

“I’m good,” Charlie replied. “Tired, but good.”

“We can’t thank you enough for bringing her up here, and we’re so glad you’re here, too!” Laura said as she rubbed Charlie’s arms. 

“I’m glad to be here, and I’m glad I could bring her.” Charlie smiled softly, then tugged her phone out of her pocket. She took a picture of Willow in Taylor’s arms and sent it to Cale to let him know they’d made it safely.

“Charlie!” Gary said, hugging her. “So good to see you!”

“Thanks, it’s good to be here. This is my first time in Calgary, so I’m excited!” 

“Gamma,” Willow said to Laura from Taylor’s arms, “where’s Daddy?”

“Daddy’s playing tonight, honey,” Laura replied. “But we can watch him on T.V.!” 

“Okay!” Willow giggled.

“How about you guys take Willow to the car and I’ll get your suitcases?” Gary offered, gesturing to the rest of the family.

“I’ll come with you,” Charlie said, “cause my bag is pretty heavy.”

“Will, we’re gonna go wait for Charlie and Gampa in the car, okay?” Taylor told the toddler. 

“Okay, Uncle TayTay!”

“We’ll see you in a bit,” Laura said. She squeezed Charlie’s hand lovingly, then she and Taylor headed to their car.

“Where's the baggage claim?” Charlie asked Gary, looking around for a sign.

“Oh, it’s this way.” Gary motioned for Charlie to follow him and began walking towards the baggage claim area. She followed him in sleepy silence, more than ready to get to the Makar’s home, curl up on the couch, and watch Cale’s game against Vancouver. She was relieved that the worst part of the trip was practically finished.

As Charlie and Gary arrived and stood together at the baggage claim carousel, Charlie checked her phone to see a text from Cale, to her surprise. His game was about to start, and although Vancouver was an hour behind Calgary, Cale usually didn’t check his phone close to game time.

Cale: Someone looks happy! Her favorite person!

Charlie: Wow, pregame phone time huh?

Cale: Being a worried dad will do that to you. Trip okay?

Charlie: Yep, everything went great! She was a champ on the plane. Took a nap the whole way. 

Charlie: [picture of Willow asleep on the plane]

Cale: 😍 she’s an Angel

Cale: See you tonight! Game time!

Charlie: Good luck, crush it! 😘

As the carousel started up and bags began circling around it, Gary asked Charlie, “What do your suitcases look like?”

“Mine is a huge blue one, it’s like, got a hard shell and one of Cale’s old Avs tags on it. Willow’s is purple, and it has unicorns and her initials on it. I’m pretty sure he put one of his tags on hers, too,” Charlie said, standing on her tiptoes and straining her neck to look for their bags.

“Oh, there’s Willow’s!” Gary exclaimed. He hurried forward, grabbed the small suitcase, and set it on the ground. He stayed there for a moment, waiting for Charlie’s large blue suitcase as it came around a few suitcases behind Willow’s. He grabbed it too and rolled them both back to Charlie. 

“Thank you,” Charlie said with a soft smile. “Want me to take one of them?”

“You take Willow’s,” Gary said. “I’ve got yours.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

Charlie’s heart swelled, like it did when Cale told she was part of their family. His parents had always loved her, always treated her like she was their child, too. Before the trip, Laura asked her what snacks she liked, what food her family ate for Christmas, if she had any family traditions she wanted to do with them. Charlie told her that her family always watched Die Hard, but she didn’t think that would be appropriate for Willow. Laura insisted they’d find a time to watch it while she was there. The Makars always went skating on a frozen lake nearby their home, so Charlie brought her and Willow’s skates with them. 

“Oh,” Gary said as they walked toward the exit, “they brought the car to us!”

Charlie smiled and walked over to the car door, opening it. Willow sat in her car seat behind the driver’s seat with a bag of Goldfish in her hands. 

“Where did you get more Goldfish, missy?” Charlie asked as she clambered into the car.

Willow grinned. “Gamma!”

“Ah, I see,” Charlie said with a nod. 

Willow grabbed a Goldfish and turned to look behind her at Taylor, who was sitting in the back seat. She offered the Goldfish to him. Taylor stared at her hand for a moment, then suddenly opened his mouth wide and gulped the cracker out of Willow’s hand with a loud snort. Willow cackled at him and he grinned back at her as he crunched on the Goldfish. She offered him another and he did the same thing, making her cackle even louder. 

The Goldfish chomping went on periodically throughout the car ride to the Makar’s home. Charlie admired the scenery, occasionally looking over at Willow and smiling. They arrived after a short time, and Charlie emerged from the car to stretch her legs. She walked around to the trunk and began unloading her and Willow’s stuff. 

“Hey, I’ve got it!” Gary said as he came around the car. “You go on inside. You look exhausted, and Cale won’t be here til late tonight.” He checked his watch, then continued. “It’s only one o’clock, so you can get a good few hours before dinner.”

Charlie wanted to cry. “Y’all are too kind, I swear.”

“You’re family,” Gary said simply. “Go inside, I’ll bring your stuff in.”

“Thank you,” Charlie whispered. She grabbed her backpack and walked into the house. 

Laura greeted her with a warm smile. “Going to bed?” 

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Go for it. Taylor’s got Willow, and we’ll be down here watching the game. You’ve had a long morning and you deserve some rest.” Laura stepped closer to Charlie and gently rubbed her arm. “You and Cale are in the guest room, it’s up the stairs, first door on the left. Willow’s gonna be in Cale’s old room, which is across the hall from you two. I’ll come get you for dinner.”

“Thank you.” Charlie hugged Laura, then trudged upstairs, crawled into bed, and fell deep asleep. 

“Charlie, honey,” Laura said softly, rubbing Charlie’s back over the comforter. “Dinner’s ready.”

Charlie opened her eyes and yawned. “Mmm, thank you,” she mumbled. “I’ll be down in a second.”

Laura patted her arm, then left her alone to get up. Charlie sat up and checked her phone. It was almost seven-thirty in the evening, and she had several text messages, a few from her mom, one from her sister, and a couple from Cale. She didn’t really read them; instead, she got out of bed, locked her phone, and shoved it in her pocket. She padded downstairs, smiling when she heard Willow’s giggles. Rounding the corner at the bottom of the stairs, Charlie stopped in her tracks when she saw Cale laying on the floor playing Barbies with Willow.

“Cale!” she exclaimed. “I thought you weren’t gonna be here til late!”

“Surprise!” Cale grinned up at her, then quickly got up. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly, kissing her forehead gently. “Hi, babe.”

Charlie gazed up at him. “Hi, my love.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. “I missed you.”

“I missed you more.” He kissed her again. 

“Daddy!” Willow fussed from the floor. 

“I’m being summoned,” he whispered. 

“You are,” Charlie giggled.

Cale released her and rejoined his daughter on the floor. Willow handed him a Sleeping Beauty Barbie that was dressed as a hockey player, babbling away in her Barbie world as she moved the dolls around. Charlie wasn’t sure what the story was this time, but she was sure she’d hear about it later.

Laura called them to the dinner table after a few moments of Barbie play. Cale scooped up Willow and took her to the table while Taylor helped Laura bring plates of food over. Cale immediately began cutting up Willow’s food into tiny pieces on her plate. 

“Wow,” Charlie said as she sat down across from Cale, next to Willow, who sat at the foot of the table. “I finally get to try the internationally known mayonnaise chicken!”

Everyone laughed as they took their seats at the table. They began eating, silverware occasionally scratching their plates and making something in Charlie’s neck feel strange. She dug into her mayonnaise chicken and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. 

The Makar family made small talk while they ate. Cale occasionally directed Willow to sit back down in her chair, to finish her broccoli, to ask her if she needed help. Charlie felt at peace with the Makars. She knew she was meant to be with them.

They finished dinner and Taylor and Cale cleared the table. Charlie tried to help with the dishes, but Laura shooed her away to go spend time with Cale and Willow, so she joined them on the couch, Willow curled up into Cale’s side. Charlie gazed at the two of them lovingly.

“Daddy?” Willow asked. “Can we watch Fwozen?”

“Of course, baby,” Cale said. “Taylor, do you have the remote?”

“Yeah, I gotcha, Will,” Taylor replied, picking up the remote. He quickly turned on the movie and they all settled in to watch. 

Willow fell asleep almost instantly, her soft snores barely audible over the movie. Cale gently picked her up and took her to her room to put her to bed. The moment they were out of sight, Taylor stopped the movie and turned on the end Penguins and Devils game.

“Ew,” Charlie said, “I hate the Pens.”

“How do you hate the Pens?” Taylor asked incredulously. “Sid the Kid’s a legend.”

“Yeah, a legend who I hate. And I hate the Devils except for Ryan Graves.” 

“That’s understandable, Gravy’s a great guy.”

“Oh, I only like him ‘cause he’s hot.”

“You only like who ‘cause he’s hot?” Cale reentered the room without Willow.

“Gravy,” Charlie said simply.

“Ah, I see.” Crossing in front of the TV, Cale laid down on the couch next to Charlie, resting his head in her lap. “Too bad he sucks at hockey.”

“His hockey abilities definitely don’t have anything to do with my attraction to him. Or the fact that he’s 6 foot 5. Or his hair. You should grow your hair out like Gravy, babe.” Charlie ran her fingers through Cale’s hair.

“I’d look so stupid!” Cale exclaimed with a laugh. 

“I’ve seen some photoshops on Twitter and you’d actually look amazing, thank you very much.”

“No, absolutely not.”

Charlie looked at Taylor. “Taylor, back me up here.”

“Will would love it,” Taylor contributed.

Charlie gasped. “Oh my god! Willow would love it!” 

“Oh god,” Cale shivered, “toddler fingers in long hair.”

“I don’t want to hear it! I do not wanna hear it, Cale Douglas Makar!” Charlie swatted at him teasingly. “Your daughter wants to play princesses and hair salon with me like, every day, dude.”

Laughing, Cale gazed up at her. “You know what you signed up for.”

“You got me there.” She continued to play with his hair, enjoying how soft it was.

Gary and Laura joined them after they finished the dishes, and they all watched hockey together until Cale began falling asleep in Charlie’s lap, much like his daughter.

“Cale,” Charlie whispered, gently cupping his face. “Cale, baby, let’s go to bed.”

He opened his eyes and breathed deeply in surprise. “I fell asleep?” he asked, confused.

“Yeah, you did. Let’s go to bed,” Charlie suggested again. 

“Mmkay.” Cale sleepily got up off the couch and hugged his parents. He fist-bumped Taylor, then followed Charlie to the guest room. 

Charlie and Cale quickly changed clothes, spent some time in the bathroom, and climbed into bed together. Charlie curled into Cale and laid her head on his bare chest. 

“I’m glad you’re here,” she muttered to him.

“I’m glad to be here with you,” he mumbled back. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

The couple fell into a soft, happy sleep in each other’s arms.

Charlie decided the moment she and the Makars left for Cale’s game that they needed to move to Denver. Having help for a gameday made everything about it easier. Laura got Willow up and dressed in her tiny number eight jersey, put her hair in pigtails with red and blue bows, and had her game bag all packed up before Charlie finished her breakfast, but the best part was that Willow didn’t ask Charlie where Cale was. Instead, she started asking Taylor or her grandparents, and they had much better answers for her than Charlie did. 

They drove quickly to the arena, and once they parked, Taylor carried Willow on his shoulders. She giggled and cackled the whole walk over to Will Call. He bounced Willow on his shoulders while Gary picked up their tickets, and Charlie took a short video of it for Cale. 

The Makars and Charlie entered the arena and found their seats easily. Taylor didn’t sit down, but headed straight for the glass so Willow could watch Cale during warmups. Charlie followed, excited to see how Charlie reacted with Taylor. 

After a few minutes, the Flames began coming out of their locker room, so Taylor held Willow up to stand on the boards. She squealed as the Avalanche took the ice in their white away jerseys. 

“There’s Daddy!” she yelled to Taylor, enthusiastically pointing at Cale. She began to wave, and Cale smiled and waved back, sending Willow into a fit of giggles. 

“Will, who’s that?” Charlie asked as André Burakovsky skated over to see her. He had a big, goofy grin on his face. 

“Burky!” Willow shrieked. “Hi Burky!”

Burky stood in front of her for a moment before he skated away to finish his warm up. As warm-ups began to wind down, Cale skated over a final time, a puck in hand. He tossed it over the glass for her, and Charlie retrieved it and handed it to her. She squealed and smiled at Cale as he blew her a kiss through the glass before he retreated to the locker room. 

Taylor, Willow, and Charlie returned to their seats. Willow immediately clambered into Gary’s lap. 

“Gampa, Daddy gave me a puck!” she said proudly, holding it out to him.

“He did!” Gary said. “How exciting!”

Willow babbled away at her grandfather and her uncle while they waited for the game to begin. Laura, who was sitting next to Charlie, leaned over to speak to her. 

“It’s so much easier when it’s not just you,” Laura said. 

“Oh god, it is,” Charlie sighed. “I don’t know how Cale did it alone for so long.”

“Cale’s determined,” laughed Laura.

“I’ve always wondered, how did you guys feel when he told you about Willow?” Charlie shifted in her seat to look at Laura.

Laura took a deep breath. “Well, we were surprised, to say the least. We thought of the two of them, Taylor was more likely to do something like that.” Charlie laughed as Laura continued. “But he knew it was his responsibility, so he asked for help.”

“He’s a good person,” agreed Charlie. “Maddeningly good.”

“I don’t think he’d have it any other way, though. He loves Willow more than anything.” Laura looked over at Willow, who was sitting in Taylor’s lap.

The game started, and Charlie had the time of her life. She loved taking Willow to Cale’s games, but she loved watching them alone even more. Cale played well and had assists on both the goals the Avs scored, but towards the end of the game, Matthew Tkachuk managed to get in his head and they nearly got into a fight. Gabe and Devon came in to defend Cale, but it sure was fun to watch. Charlie desperately wanted to see him get in a fight.

The game finished with the Avs beating the Flames, and Charlie and the Makars piled back into the car to head home. Willow fell asleep in her car seat, so the moment they got home, Gary and Laura took her upstairs to put her to bed, leaving Taylor and Charlie alone downstairs. 

“I’m pretty sure Mom told you this,” Taylor said as he turned on the television, “but you’re great with Will and she loves you to death.”

“I love her to death,” Charlie replied. “I never thought I’d feel like her mom, but I do all the time.”

“Would you adopt her? Like if you and Cale got married?” Taylor changed the channel to another hockey game. 

“Definitely. I don’t know how that would work, though,” admitted Charlie.

“It’d be pretty easy. Her birth mom signed away all her parental rights after she was born, so basically Cale gets to decide, but he’s already started looking into it.”

“Did you ever meet her?”

“Who? Birth Mom?”

“Yeah.”

Taylor shook his head. “Nah, she really wanted nothing to do with Will. She wanted to go to law school or something, and Cale offered to get married to her and move in and all that stuff, but she didn’t want that life. I think her parents had some weird thing and may have guilted her into having Will. I think they wanted to adopt her as their own? But Cale got precedence, and I think they realized she’d be fine with him.”

“I’ve always had so many questions about the whole thing, but never asked him,” Charlie said quietly. 

“Asked me what?” 

Charlie turned around to see Cale entering the house. She grinned at him as he walked into the living room, pausing by Charlie to kiss her. Taylor gagged, and Cale shoved him as he passed him on his way to plop down on the couch with Charlie. 

“Hi,” Charlie said, leaning into his body. 

“Hi. What have you never asked me?” Cale repeated. 

“About Willow and that whole thing and her birth mom.”

“Oh. I would’ve told you whatever you wanted to know.” Cale blinked sleepily at her. 

“I know you would’ve, it’s just a weird me thing.” Charlie strained her neck to kiss him again. “You played really well tonight.”

Cale laughed. “Til Tkachuk got in my head. That kid is a menace. Like someone else we know.” He dramatically looked at Taylor, who put his hands up. 

“Hey! I’m not that bad!” Taylor laughed. 

“Remind me to tell you some of his junior hockey stories,” Cale muttered.

“Quit the low talking romantic thing,” Taylor called them out. “You guys do it all the time. Some of us single people think it’s gross.”

“Do we?” Cale asked Charlie in the same low voice, just to piss off Taylor. 

“You’re such an ass!” laughed Taylor, throwing a pillow at him.

“Maybe you’d find someone if you didn’t spend all your time in sorority houses,” Cale chirped with a raised eyebrow. Charlie cackled, knowing exactly what Cale was referring to. 

“It was one time! No one would give me a ride home!”  

“You still slept in the sorority house, Taylor.”

“Because I was drunk, Cale.”

“But did you get laid that night?” Taylor made a face at Cale’s question, so Cale added, “Exactly. I win.”

“Whatever,” Taylor rolled his eyes and said. “We don’t talk about your sexcapades.”

“You do have actual living proof of yours,” Charlie added softly. 

Taylor threw his head back and laughed, Cale’s face going even brighter red. 

“Damn,” Cale chuckled. “That’s a low blow.”

“I’m right, though,” Charlie said. “Do I win now?”

Cale and Taylor laughed, then Taylor said, “You definitely win, Charlie.”

“Daddy!” Willow squealed far too early, jumping on the bed between Cale and Charlie. “Santa came!”

Charlie groaned and tugged the comforter over her head, but Cale sat up and pulled the squirming toddler into his lap. 

“He did?” Cale asked. His morning voice was low and gravelly and made Charlie want to jump his bones. 

“Yeah! Cmon!” 

Charlie felt Willow clamber off the bed, then heard her tiny footsteps as she ran to Taylor’s room, screaming his name. Cale rolled over and pulled the comforter over his head, too, so he could snuggle up to Charlie.

“Your kid is just like you,” Charlie teased. “Far too happy to wake up in the morning.”

Cale chuckled, “Can you blame her? Santa came.”

“I can and I will. My sister used to do the same thing when we were kids.”

Cale and Charlie had been up late with Laura, Gary, and Taylor finishing up Willow’s gifts. They’d all come in time, and Cale had most of them wrapped and shipped up to Calgary.

Charlie and the Makars all got up and made their way down to the Christmas tree to open gifts. Willow opened her stocking and screeched over the candy and stuffed animal, among her other small gifts. She sat in Cale’s lap and demanded he help her unwrap her presents. 

Charlie was impressed at the gifts Cale had picked out for Willow. She’d helped with some of them,  but some of the others she was very impressed by, like the giant, rideable Sven from Frozen and the tiny, Willow-sized purple lightsaber. 

Willow loved the hockey Barbie and new purple hockey gloves Charlie got her. Laura and Gary got her a couple play sets from some of her favorite shows, and Taylor got her a giant stuffed sloth. 

“How the fuck are we getting that back to Denver?” Charlie muttered to Cale about the sloth. 

Cale laughed. “I’ve got it taken care of.”

While Willow played with her new toys, the adults began opening presents. Charlie was nervous; she felt like her gifts for Gary, Laura, and Taylor were so lame compared to what Cale got them. How could she compete with $9 million a year?

It turned out very well. Charlie got Laura a couple cookbooks she’d been wanting, which she joyfully declared she would try that night, plus some picture frames she’d filled with her favorite pictures of Willow. She’d gotten Gary some new golf equipment with Avs covers, and he happily hugged her in thanks. Charlie got Taylor a PS5, shocking him. 

“How’d you find this?” Taylor asked incredulously. 

“Honestly? I’m just really lucky,” Charlie laughed. 

Cale got his parents a trip to Europe. Charlie gaped at him when they opened the envelope, and hissed in his ear, “Show off!”

He laughed, and replied, “Wait til you see what I got you.”

Charlie felt faint. She hated people spending  money on her, even Cale. 

Taylor got several games for his PlayStation from Cale, plus some stuff for his dorm room. Then, it was time for Charlie and Cale to open their gifts. 

“You first,” Cale insisted. 

Charlie made a face at him, but began opening the stack of gifts he placed in front of her. The box she opened had a Bauer label on it, and she knew immediately what Cale had gotten her. 

She opened the box to reveal brand new Bauer Supreme skates, the newest model of her current skates. They were already sharpened in preparation for their family skating later, and Cale had even partially laced them with the wax laces she preferred. 

“Your skates were falling apart,” he said, rubbing her back gently. “6.5, fit three, just like yours, just not falling apart. I hope they’re okay.”

“I love them.” Charlie kissed Cale’s cheek, then picked up the next box in front of her, and an envelope fell off the top. She picked it up and opened it to see plane tickets to Orlando. 

“You keep saying how much you wanna go back to Disney World,” Cale explained. “And Universal. We’re staying in the Grand Floridian. This isn’t the trip I offered you for bringing Willow, either, cause you get to pick that one. And Willow isn’t going with us to Disney.”

“Cale…”

“Keep going,” he encouraged. 

Charlie did. She opened the new Avalanche jersey she’d asked him for (a reverse retro with his name), and the final few computer parts she needed to finish building the PC she was working on. Finally, she opened a small, velvety box, her heart pounding even harder. Her face softened as she opened a small, beautiful locket, with the number 8 inscribed on the front. On the inside, one frame was a picture of Cale and Charlie, and the other a picture of Cale and Willow. 

“Cale, this is beautiful,” she mumbled, looking up at him. 

“I know you told me other people think lockets are stupid and cheesy, but you loved them,” he said a little shyly. 

“I do love it. Thank you.” She kissed him gently.

“Can I help you put it on?”

Charlie nodded, so Cale reached around her neck and fastened the locket behind her. He kissed the base of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine before she turned back to him with a grin. 

“Your turn,” she said evilly, knowing he hated gifts even more than she did. “Willow, come give Daddy his presents!”

“Okay!” Willow screeched and sprinted over, grabbing a small box and proudly handing it to her dad. 

“Can you help me open it?” Cale asked. Willow nodded and plopped down in Cale’s lap to open up his gift, her tiny hands clawing at the wrapping paper until they revealed the picture frame Willow had made for Cale. It was covered in purple marker and Avalanche stickers and Star Wars stickers, with a photo of Cale and Willow skating together. Willow had written “I Love Daddy” on the bottom, and Charlie had carefully written the date on the back. 

“Do you wike it?” Willow asked with wide eyes. 

“Oh, baby, I love it,” Cale choked, his eyes teary. He kissed her forehead, then said, “This is the best present I’ve ever gotten.”

Willow stood up in Cale’s lap and put her small hands on his rosy cheeks. She squished them together, giggled, and kissed him on the nose. “I wove you, Daddy!” she yelled, then sprinted away. 

“She wanted you to have a picture for your locker,” Charlie explained. 

“God,” Cale croaked and wiped his eyes. “I love that kid.”

“She loves you, too. Here, open this one. It’s from me and her.” Charlie blushed as she handed him the next box. 

Cale dug into the box and pulled out an Avs jersey. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion until he turned the jersey around to see the name “Willow” over the number eight on the back. 

“I figured she’d probably be like, a Mini Av or something,” Charlie explained quickly. “Or some team who uses the Avs logo or something and when you go to games, you get to be her dad.”

“Charlie,” whispered Cale, “thank you. This is perfect. I, I love it.” He leaned over and kissed her softly. 

“There’s more,” she mumbled back. 

Cale picked up another small box, tore the wrapping paper off it, and slid the top off. Inside was a silicone bracelet and a metal chain necklace with a “W” charm. He pulled out the silicone bracelet to see a small photo of Cale, Willow, and Charlie covered in resin built into it. The back of the “W” charm had Willow’s birthdate and initials carefully etched in. Cale took a deep breath and blinked away a few tears. 

“So you can play with her with you,” Charlie said. 

“And you,” Cale said with a soft smile.

“And me.” Charlie returned his smile, then leaned in and gently kissed him. 

“Daddy?” Willow asked as she clambered into his lap. 

“Hey, baby,” Cale greeted. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her face. 

“I wanna go skating!” 

Cale laughed, “Soon, honey, soon. Gamma and Gampa are gonna make us breakfast while you play with your toys!” 

“Pancakes?” Willow questioned hopefully. 

“Of course!” Gary told her loudly, walking into the living room and scooping Willow up. “Only the best pancakes for my favorite girl!” 

Willow ended up helping her grandparents cook breakfast while Cale, Taylor, and Charlie sat and small-talked. When breakfast was ready, they all ate quickly so they could go spend time on the ice together. 

“Chawlie?” Willow asked after breakfast, “Will you help me get dressed?”

Charlie smiled softly. “Of course, Will!” 

Charlie took Willow’s hand and went to her room. They dug through her suitcase, Willow picking out her favorite pants and her favorite sweatshirt, which was her bedazzled Avs sweatshirt complete with her last name and an eight. Charlie helped her get dressed, helped her get her shoes on, and tugged a beanie over her curls. 

“What’s this called, Willow?” Charlie asked, pointing to her hat. 

“A beanie!” Willow said proudly. 

Charlie grinned. “Good, let’s go tell Daddy!”

Charlie walked out and Willow went running out of the room, calling, “Daddy! Daddy!”

“Well don’t you look cozy,” Cale said and lifted her into his arms. 

“Will, what’s your hat called?” Charlie asked, her grin widening.

“A beanie!” Willow pointed to her hat and Cale laughed. 

“Are you trying to turn my kid into an American?” Cale asked with raised eyebrows, smirk on his face. 

“I hate to break it to you, my love, but she is American,” Charlie chirped. 

“Willow, baby, where are you from?” Cale asked her. 

“Cawgary!”

Cale’s smirk widened. “What country is Calgary in?”

“Canada, where Gamma and Gampa live!”

“Okay, okay,” Charlie rolled her eyes and said. “I get it, I can’t corrupt your kid.”

“In all honesty, you already have,” Cale laughed. “She said ‘y’all’ to me the other day. There’s only one person she knows that says that.”

 Shrugging, Charlie turned on her heel and said, “I don’t know anything about that. I’m gonna go get dressed.”

Cale said something, but Charlie didn’t hear him, so she continued down the hall to their room. She picked up her suitcase and plopped it on the bed to search for her warm clothes. Footsteps echoed from the hall as she found her sweatshirt from the hockey school she helped teach, the one she was wearing when she and Cale met for the first time. 

“Hi,” Cale said from behind her, closing the door then coming over to her to wrap his arms around her waist. 

Charlie turned her head in his arms and kissed him. “Hi.”

Suddenly, Cale flipped her around in his arms, shoved her suitcase back, and laid her down on the bed, gently laying himself over her body. His lips came to her neck, hot breath tickling her as he kissed her neck. Charlie greedily tangled her fingers in his hair, tugging on it to elicit a groan from him. His hands gripped her thighs and she wrapped her ankles around his back. 

“Cale,” Charlie breathed, “we can’t right now.”

“It’s okay, Taylor’s covering for us,” Cale breathed back. He dragged his lips to hers and fervently kissed her before mumbling against her lips, “He’s got Willow and Mom and Dad are cleaning up and stuff. We have time.”

Charlie tugged him towards her again. She traced her tongue across his lips, encouraging him to open his mouth and let her slip her tongue in. Charlie’s heart was pounding so loud and hard she thought Cale’s family could hear it in the other room. 

The door opened suddenly, a shout of “Shit!” coming from the hall. Willow’s shoes slapped the ground as she ran up to the bed, cocking her head at Cale and Charlie’s position. Before they could move, Taylor came racing in after Willow, then stopped dead in his tracks at the door and stared at them like Willow. 

“What are you doing, Daddy?” Willow asked curiously.

Cale hurriedly leapt off of Charlie, and Charlie immediately noticed how messed up his hair was, how ruffled his shirt was, how puffy and red his lips were. Charlie bit her lip and tried not to giggle as Cale tried to think about how to explain what they were doing.

“Oh, I was, uh, just, giving Charlie a hug,” Cale said quickly, leaning down and picking Willow up under her arms.

“Is she okay?” Willow’s face crunched in concern.

“Yeah, baby, don’t worry.” Cale tried to suppress a laugh. “Charlie’s fine.” Taylor looked apologetically at them and mouthed, “I’m so sorry,” but Cale just shrugged it off.

“Are we going skating?” Willow asked excitedly.

“We sure are! Charlie and I just need to change clothes and then we’re going. Sound good?”

“Yeah, Will, come wait with me, okay?” Taylor held his arms out to Willow, who leaned over to him. “I’m sorry again,” Taylor whispered as he took Willow out and closed the door behind him.

Cale and Charlie made eye contact, then burst out laughing. Cale helped Charlie up and kissed her forehead. 

“The joys of being a parent,” Cale chuckled.

The two of them quickly found their skating clothes, changed, and took their beanies and hockey gloves with them out to the living room. Cale had left his skates by the front door, so he went and grabbed them while Charlie retrieved her new skates. Gary and Laura had theirs, and Taylor clutched his and Willow’s skates. 

“Ready?” Gary asked. 

“Yep,” Cale replied, “let’s go!”

The Makars and Charlie piled into the car, Taylor sitting next to Willow in her carseat and Cale and Charlie in the far back. As they drove, Willow asked a question that made the whole car go silent.

“Daddy? Is Chawlie my mommy?”

They sat for a moment and Charlie stared at Cale, almost seeing the thoughts in his head. Would Willow think her mom hated her? Abandoned her? Would she understand? He didn’t have the answer, but surprisingly, Charlie did.

“I didn’t have you in my tummy, Willow,” Charlie began, “but I help take care of you and I love you like I did. Sometimes, you get to choose who your mommy is. So if you want me to be your mommy, I would love to be.”

Cale looked over at Charlie, tears streaming down his face. All he could do was grab her hand and kiss the back of it. 

“Yeah,” Willow said thoughtfully, “I want you to be my mommy.”

“Then I’m your mommy, Will.”

“Good. I love you, Chawlie.”

“Love you too, Willow Girl.”

Charlie looked over at Cale, who was a mess. He wiped his eyes, sniffing, and just smiled at Charlie. 

Willow heard him crying and turned around in her car seat. “What’s wrong, Daddy?” 

“Nothing, baby, I’m just happy. I’m so glad you love Charlie, too.”

“Oh. I do. Can I have a snack?”

The whole car laughed. Only a toddler would move on so quickly from such an emotional conversation. Laura dug in her purse and produced a bag of Goldfish, which she passed back to Willow, who took them and immediately began to chomp away. 

They arrived at the park a few moments later. When she got out of the car, Charlie was excited to see that the rink was built over a large frozen pond. 

Gary got Willow out of the car, then everyone grabbed their skates and headed over to the bunch of benches for people to put their belongings on, while Cale went to pay the entrance fees. A couple people began whispering and pointing at Cale, who patiently waited in line to pay. Charlie watched him take a selfie with the attendant, then a few kids surrounded him asking for autographs. 

“That’s gonna be you one day,” Charlie teased Taylor as she pulled off her boots. 

Taylor snorted. “Yeah, right, like I’m gonna do half the shit he’s done already.”

“If they make another deep playoff run, you could get called up this season.” Taylor was playing for the Colorado Eagles after leaving UMass, but had yet to break into the Avs lines. He’d been quite frustrated with himself over it, but Charlie privately thought it was good for him to get more AHL experience before moving up. Taylor was big and fast, but tried to be the hero too often, in Charlie’s opinion. 

“I could,” Taylor shrugged, “but I don’t know.”

“The Eagles have been good for you and you’ve been doing well with them,” Charlie encouraged. “I bet you can do it.”

Taylor smiled softly. “Thanks.”

Cale returned with wristbands for all of them. He handed them out, helped put them on, then sat down next to Willow to help her. 

“Will, do you want to put your skates on yourself or do you want me to help you?” he asked. 

“Help me, please,” Willow said sweetly, kicking her foot up on the bench next to him. 

Charlie tugged on her skate laces, making sure her skates were tight to her ankles. She tied them, then stood up to make sure they were tight enough. She was satisfied with the tie, so she sat back down and watched Cale tie Willow’s skates. 

Cale stuck his tongue out a tiny bit in concentration as he fiddled with the laces on his daughter’s tiny skates. Willow kept trying to move, so Cale had to chase her a little bit, but finally got them tied. She stood up and started towards the ice. 

“Willow Grace!” Cale called sternly. “Wait for us, please.”

Willow turned around and crossed her arms, a pout taking over her face. “I wanna skate,” she retorted. 

“I know you do, but you need to wait for me or one of us. It’s not safe for you to skate without an adult, right?” Cale explained. 

“Right,” Willow sighed grumpily. “I’m sowwy.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart, I just want to keep you safe.” Cale sat down to put his skates on, then patted the bench next to him. “Would you like to help me put my skates on?”

“I’m ready to hit the ice,” Taylor said as he stood up. “I’ll go ahead and take her out.”

“You sure?” Cale tugged his right skate on. 

“Yeah, I’m good.” Taylor turned to Willow and said, “Alright, Will, I’m gonna go skate with you, then Daddy and everyone will join us in a second, okay?”

“Okay!” Willow hurried to the rink door, Taylor taking large strides to keep the toddler in his view. He opened the door for her, then she disappeared behind the makeshift boards around the pond. 

“Oh, I don’t like that,” Cale mumbled and began tying his skates. 

“What?” Charlie asked, leaning on his shoulder. 

“That I can’t see her over the boards. I mean, obviously we can see Taylor, but I really don’t like that I can’t see her.”

“It’s okay,” Charlie comforted. She pushed a strand of his hair under his beanie he’d shoved on. “Look, your mom and dad are heading out there too.”

Cale and Charlie looked over to see Gary and Laura walking over to the door. Gary opened it for Laura, and once she stepped out onto the ice, he stepped out behind her and closed the door.

“How sickeningly cute,” Charlie laughed. 

“Funny, they’ve said the same thing about us.” Cale scrunched his nose at Charlie, and she kissed his cheek. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Charlie teased and pressed her nose into Cale’s cheek. 

Cale began to dig around in his pockets. “Wait, keep doing that,” he said as he produced his phone. Charlie kept her nose against his cheek as he held up his phone to take a selfie of them. At the same moment, Cale and Charlie watched Taylor’s huge figure fall and disappear below the boards, sending them into a fit of laughter, which Cale continued to snap photos of. Charlie kissed his cheek one more time, then stood up. 

“You know I could sit here and kiss you all day, but if you don’t get on the ice soon, I think your kid is gonna throw a tantrum,” Charlie said, offering her hands out to him. 

He grabbed them, stood up, and led Charlie over to the door. “You’re absolutely right.”

“Hey,” Charlie said as Cale opened the gate for her. “Please don’t show off.”

Cale chuckled, “I’m not the show off of the family, he’s over there.” He motioned to Taylor, who was crouched over skating with Willow. 

“You’re gonna stand there and tell me you don’t skate around and show off during warmups?” Charlie teased and stepped out on the ice. She pushed away from the boards and spun around, nearly falling until Cale leapt forward and caught her. 

“You okay?” he asked, face furrowed into concern. 

“Yeah,” Charlie said, “yeah, I’m good. The ice is weird.”

“It’s a lot different than skating at a rink.” Cale took Charlie’s hand, interlocking their fingers, and encouraged her to skate with him. It took a few strides, but Charlie got the feel of the ice fairly quickly, and before long, she was nearly matching strides with Cale. They caught up to Gary, Laura, Taylor, and Willow easily. 

“Daddy!” Willow cried, skating towards him. 

Cale leaned down and scooped her up. “Are you having fun, baby?” 

“Zoom me!” Willow giggled. 

“Zoom you? Already?” 

“Yeah!”

“Okay, hang on tight!” 

Cale clutched Willow close to his chest, then took off skating ahead of them. He carefully weaves between people, spinning on his skates occasionally, swooping and swerving to Willow’s delight. Charlie could hear her cackling across the pond. 

“I’ve never seen him do that with her before,” Laura said softly. 

“It’s a pretty new thing,” Charlie admitted. “She was having a meltdown on the ice one day during one of our classes, and she ended up just sitting on the ice crying. He came out onto the ice, picked her up, and skated her around like that and it just…worked.” 

They watched as Cale sprayed snow to a stop. He stood for a moment talking to Willow softly. Charlie’s heart warmed watching them, knowing how much they loved each other, feeling honored that they had let her into their little family. 

Cale skated Willow back over to the rest of the family and placed her back on the ice. She skated ahead of them, fell, then quickly got back up. Laura skated up to her and took her hand as they continued to skate.

“How long have y’all done this?” Charlie asked, taking Cale’s hand again. 

“Since Cale could stand up on skates,” Gary said with a happy sigh. “The first time we brought Taylor, I had to hold him the whole time, or he’d start screaming.”

“Ugh, drama queen,” Charlie scoffed sarcastically.

Cale grinned over at her. “Damn, I love you,” he shook his head and said. 

Charlie grinned back, and they settled into a comfortable rhythm. She adored skating with Cale, loved the feeling of the ice under her skates, hand in hand with the love of her life. They skated for a while longer, until Willow decided her feet hurt and wanted to be done, so they returned to the bench where their shoes were. 

“Hot chocolate, everyone?” Gary asked, quickly taking off his skates. 

“Yeah, that’d be great, Dad,” Cale said. 

“Alright, I’ll be right back!”

Willow furrowed her brow as Gary walked away. “Where’s Gampa going?” she asked. 

“To get you some hot chocolate,” Cale answered. “Foot up, please.”

Willow swung her foot up so Cale could untie her skate. Charlie, Taylor, and Laura all untied their skates in silence. They tugged their shoes back on, then Charlie offered to put Willow’s shoes on so Cale could untie his skates. 

“Special delivery!” Gary sang, holding a tray of six cups of hot chocolate. 

Willow squealed in delight and stood up on the bench. She held her hands out to her grandfather, but Cale turned around with wide eyes and one shoe on to stop her from taking a cup.

“Hey, Will, I’m going to help you, okay?” he said. 

“Why?” Willow fussed. “I wanna do it by myself!”

“No, it’s really hot, and I don’t want you to get burned.”

Willow crossed her arms and stomped her foot on the bench. “I’m a big girl!”

“You are a big girl,” Cale agreed, “but even big girls need help sometimes.”

“I can do it, Daddy!” 

“Willow…”

“I wanna do it!”

Cale sighed, “Willow, honey, please listen to me. Daddy’s going to help you because hot chocolate can burn you. Remember when we were making pancakes and you touched one while it was cooking? And how much that hurt? If we aren’t careful, that can happen with this drink, too.”

Willow plopped down on the table in defeat. “Okay, Daddy,” she said softly. 

“Here.” Cale picked up the cup of hot chocolate that Gary had placed on the table for her, held it up to her mouth, and tipped it back a little. Willow put her hands on it, too, but Cale was in control. She jumped a little, then swallowed her drink. 

“Ow!” she yelped.

“Are you okay?” Cale asked.

“That’s ouchie,” Willow said. 

“It is, that’s why I’m helping you with it.” Cale helped her take another sip.

The Makars and Charlie sat around Willow and drank their hot chocolate. Laura snapped a few photos, sending some to Charlie’s mom, and before long, they were all finished with their drinks. Willow began to rub her eyes, and the adults all knew it was nap time.

“Daddy,” she asked sleepily, “will you cawwy me?”

“Of course, baby.” Cale picked her up and she settled into his chest. Charlie bent down and grabbed Cale’s skates, and Taylor grabbed Willow’s before they headed back to the car. 

Taylor clambered in the back with Charlie as Cale snapped Willow into her carseat, so he could sit next to her on the short drive home. Cale reached an arm back behind him to hold Charlie’s hand, earning a gag from Taylor. Cale made a face back at him. 

“I can’t wait for Taylor to have a girlfriend so we can gag every time he looks at her,” Cale said to Charlie. 

“I pity her already,” Charlie replied, earning a shove from Taylor.

When they arrived back at the Makar’s, Cale carefully walked a sleeping Willow inside and to her room to finish her nap. The rest of the adults found their respective spots in the living room, and Gary turned on the T.V..

“Cale said your family always watches Die Hard on Christmas,” Gary said, searching for the movie and selecting it. 

“Oh, it’s okay, we don’t have to—.”

“You did our tradition with us, so we’re doing yours with you.” Gary flashed her a warm smile as Cale rejoined them in the living room. 

“Oh good, I was just going to suggest we turn the movie on,” Cale said and plopped onto the couch next to Charlie. He threw an arm around her and lightly tugged her into his body.

Charlie asked, “Have y’all seen it?”

“It’s been a while,” Cale admitted. “I think I watched it on a plane ride one time. But I’m excited to watch it with you.”

Charlie smiled as Cale leaned down and kissed her forehead. 

“Hey,” she whispered, making him lean down again. “Merry Christmas, Cale.”

“Merry Christmas, Charlie. Thank you for being here with us,” he whispered back. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

As Charlie snuggled closer to Cale, she was pretty sure she knew how much this meant to him.

some tags: @bitchinbarzal @jostyriggslover96 @fallinallincurls @taking-shots @burkymakar @hockeylvr59 @matbaerzal @capsvsducks @xsyntheticsensation

[equallyshaw]

Insta edit: the m series featuring cale makar.

Story Masterlist: 8 parts.

Can be read as a stand-alone, fyi: the main character has a physical disability so that is a huge factor in some of these posts.

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@elizajames has posted to private story: so incredibly proud of you my kale, you deserve this so much and am so grateful to be spending the day with you and your loved ones. Let’s go have some fun🍾🍾

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@calemakar has posted to private story: showing her around BC. 🤍

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@elizajames: NHLPA, Thankyou for this opportunity! My heart is so full, knowing that all my hard word and dedication has paid off. Never in a million years did I ever think I’d get to this point. S/out to the @/coloradoavalanhe for everything this past year and a half. To my crew, I wouldn’t have been able to navigate this world without you guys. (Also, Naz and Burky please come visit soon!) to Becca, my closest confidants, biggest cheerleader and sister, couldn’t have done it without you. To my partner, Thankyou for being with me this past year and a half, you have done so much more than you realize. Incredibly grateful for the love and kindness you show me each day. Finally, my fellow warriors and supporters who have become a community over these past few years- THANKYOU!!! We did it yall!!! We took a big step!

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@becaaaa: my sweet sweet honey, so glad I’ve been in this ride with you. Only up from here ! 🤍🤍

@becaaaa: also crying in the club

@nathanmackinnon: strongest person I know James, so deserved.

↳ @elizajames: Thankyou Nate, appreciate you so much (:

@gabriellandeskog: queen shit

@gabriellandeskog: !!!!! Nobody else deserved this— congrats !

↳ @elizajames: 🥺 Thankyou gabe! See you and Mel soon!

@ericsmith: go bestie go bestie go

↳ @elizajames: 🤪🤪 thanku for being the best date !

↳ @ericsmith: hahahaha c is quaking rn

@calemakar: congratulations, very deserved.

@elizajames: 🤍🤍

@/coloradoavalanche: we are so grateful for you and what you have done for our organization, this award was meant for you! Congratulations 🍾

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@calemakar: E, can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing how much I love you. ❤️ @elizajames

45k likes, 1.2k comments

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@gabriellandeskog: FINALLY

@gabriellandeskog: congrats you two!

@nathanmackinnon: congrats guys! Can’t wait to be the best man

↳ @taylormakar: get in line buddy

↳ @6erikjohnson: yeah get in line

↳ @gabriellandeskog: you are literally at the bottom of the list lol

@becaaaa: 🥹🥹 never forget my ability to make you incapable of playing hockey

↳ @calemakar: nope! Will never forget

@elizajames: can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together…just need a dog first

↳ @taylormakar: I vote for first !!!

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@elizajames: engaged to my best friend 🤍

899 likes, 124 comments

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1 year after wedding. Year, 2025

@calemakar: we have a new edition to the Makar coming in just a few months…couldn’t be more proud of you my love. Day after day you amaze me with your unwavering strength and faith in your body - despite any setbacks or pain. Our little one has no idea yet, just how incredibly lucky they are to have you as their mum. 🤍

Tag: Elizamakar

65k likes, 3.2k comments.

@becaaaa: hey it’s mom not ‘mum’

@calemakar: tell that to Nate

@nathanmackinnon: oh yeah, tried to explain for ten minutes and she said no. Our kids won’t be saying ‘Mum’

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@elizamakar: incredibly amazed everyday that this is real life. I always said that I would never have kids because I felt as though I couldn’t be a great mom physically, but emotionally I would be the best mom. And the only way I’d have kids, is if I found the right partner. Cale, I found that in you. Thankyou for allowing my secret dream to come true 🫶🏻

1.4k likes, 144 comments

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@becaaaa: oh Thankgod this secret is out. I thought I’d reveal it

@gabelandeskog: yeah, I’m shocked you kept it this long lol

@calemakar: anything for you 🤍

finally getting this out...this has been in my drafts for three months lol but hope you guys enjoyed :)

Tag: @fallinallincurls

[toasttt11]

mack

August 7, 2019

Sidney quietly opened Cameron’s bedroom door holding a plate with her favorite breakfast, banana bread and candles light for her thirteenth birthday.

Sidney sat on the age of the bed and smiled fondly seeing her hair all crazily spread out across her pillow and he gently brushed some back and off her face, “Cam Bug.” Sidney softly cooed to his most important person.

“Mmm.” Cameron grumbled naturally leaning into her father’s touch.

“Happy birthday.” Sidney softly spoke and Cameron bounced up looking wide awake and Sidney bittersweetly smiled at his now teenager.

“Make a wish.” Sidney told her rubbing her back gently as she closed her eyes and blew out her candles. Cameron smiled and immediately broke off a piece of the banana bread and stuffed it in her face.

“Thank you.” Cameron mumbled leaning her head on her dad’s shoulder as she continued to stuff her face.

Sidney just sat with her as she ate and stealing a few bites and once she was finished, “Why don’t we get dressed there is some surprises for you down stairs.”

Cameron nodded and got out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom and came out a few minutes later in a pair of white cargo bangs and a blue and white striped shirt and a brush in her hand. She walked over to her dad and handed him the brush and Sidney gently brushed through her hair and got all of the knots out.

Sidney spun her around and gently kissed her forehead, “Beautiful.” Sidney proudly smiled at his beautiful daughter and he stood up off her bed.

They walked down the stairs and into the living room seeing a lot of people in there.

“Aunty Tay!” Cameron gasped and all but ran over to her aunt who has been on a trip the last few weeks.

“There’s my favorite niece.” Taylor smiled hugging her favorite niece tightly and pressing multiple kissed to the top of her head.

“I’m your only niece Aunty Tay.” Cameron giggled shaking her head at her silly aunt.

“Oh there’s my granddaughter.” Troy grinned at his granddaughter as she walked over to his wife and him. He pulled her into a tight hug rocking her back and forth before reluctantly releasing her as he knew his wife wanted to hug her too.

“Happy Birthday Cammie.” Tina beamed as she pulled her granddaughter into a hug.

“Thanks Nana.” Cameron smiled at her before skipping over to her Anna and Geno and Baby Nikita.

“Hi Kiki.” Cameron softly cooed at her baby cousin and looked at Anna for permission to hold him, Anna smiled and handed her son into her niece’s arms.

“Happy birthday маленький пингвин.” Geno pressed a kiss on her head and has been calling her little penguin in Russian since she was born as well as teaching her Russian.

“Thank you.” Cameron beamed but kept her eyes on her baby cousin in her arms, she gently brought her finger to his face and his little hands wrapped around her finger and opened his eyes at her.

She reluctantly passed him back to Anna and Anna smiled and gently kissed her forehead.

“Uncle Flower!” Cameron cheered as she rushed over to hug her godfather. Marc chuckled and hugged his goddaughter back.

“Hi Stells!” Cameron beamed at her two year old cousin.

“Cam Cam!” Estelle smiled widely and toddled over to her and lifted her hands up to her older cousin. Cameron picked up her and spun her around making Estelle giggle before Cameron set her cousin on her hip and gently hugged her very pregnant godmother.

“Hi Aunty Vee.” Cameron gently kissed her aunts cheek and Veronique gently caressed her sweet goddaughter cheek.

Cameron walked a step forward and a tiny body ran into her legs she looked down seeing her four year old cousin staring at her with a beaming smile.

“Hi Xan.” Cameron smiled and picked him up to setting him on her other hip.

“Happy Birthday Cam Cam.” Alexander cheered pressing a sloppy kiss onto her cheek and Cameron smiled tickling him slighty as she brought her cousins over to Kris and Catherine.

“Hi Uncle Krisy and Aunty Cat.” Cameron greeted them with a smile as her hands were full of her cousin.

“Hi darling, happy birthday.” Catherine gently kissed her nieces cheek. Kris gently ruffled her hair and hugged her being mindful of the kids in her arms.

Cameron smiled and heard to the couch and gently dropped both of her baby cousins making them giggle.

Cameron walked to her Nate, “Natey!” Cameron grinned and Nate smiled picking her up off the floor and shaking her back and forth in the hug.

“Happy Birthday baby Crosby!!” Nate cheered as he shook her like crazy before setting her back down gently.

Cameron smiled as a lot of her closest family members all came out to see her for her birthday.

Sidney had snuck out of the living room when Cameron was greeting everyone and he came back in with a something behind his back.

“What’s that?” Cameron titled her head curiously seeing her dad hiding something behind his back.

“Your present. Close your eyes.” Sidney smiled and Cameron closed her eyes holding out her hands and Sidney set the pet carrier in her hands, “Okay open.” Sidney smiled. Taylor had her phone out to film Cameron’s reaction.

Cameron let out a loud gasp as she opened her eyes and saw a cat in the carrier, she quickly knelt down setting the carrier on the ground and opened it up and the tiny white fluffy kitten popped her head out staring at Cameron.

“Hi.” Cameron whispered giggling happily as she been wanting a cat for years but Sidney wanted her to be a bit older so Cameron could take care of it.

The kitten meowed and jumped right out and onto her lap cuddling up on her. Cameron’s smile was so wide as she gently began petting her kitten.

Sidney sat down next to his daughter and smiled seeing her so happy.

“Thank you Dad.” Cameron hugged him being careful of her cat.

“Of course Cam Bug, happy birthday.” Sidney proudly smiled and brushed her hair out of her face and kissed the side of her head.

“What are you going to name him?” Taylor asked curiously to her niece.

Cameron titled her head thoughtfully before a mischievous grin came to her face, “Mack! Mr. Mack.”

Sidney let out a groan of defeat and Nate let out a booming laugh hearing the name.

[offside-the-lines]

Only You Can Decide | Cale Makar

Summary: For her parents, Cassandra has always tried to be good— perfect, even. Just grin and bear it. That all comes crashing down because, at the end of the day, Cale is her fiancé— her partner— her future.

This was written for @wyattjohnston's Lowkey Lovefest 2k24. The prompt used: “Fine. Throw me to the wolves. See how that works for you.” Pairing: Cale Makar x Female!OC (Engaged) Word count: 3.4k ⚠️ Warnings: this is pretty angsty and features a lot of the OC's toxic parents and her struggle with them. It does have a happy ending though. The story is also slightly non-linear/features flashbacks. ⚠️ a/n: Thanks to Demi for also requesting such an interesting prompt. I would never have thought to pair the two and it was so fun to write. Thanks to @imperatorrrrr for always co-drifting the writing Jaeger with me (just a random Pacific Rim ref). Nobody show this to my therapist LOL she would be frantically taking notes. Requests (open) | Masterlist & Who I Write For | Join My Taglist

Cassandra sat in her childhood bedroom and stared at the blank white walls. Growing up, she never had any posters, or magazine cutouts, or pictures taped to the wall like the other kids. The walls remained always pristine. Plain. Perfectly presentable. She guessed it worked out now that her parents used the room as a guest bedroom.

There were obviously no tissues in here— she sure as hell wasn’t about to go find some— so she just wiped her tears on the sleeves of her sweater and tried not to wince at her makeup staining the beige cashmere. Fuck.

The thing is, she knew that this would happen. They had been fighting about it the entire drive over.

“Cale, we can’t just tell them. It’s my parents. You know what they’re like,” she huffed as he pulled into her parent’s driveway.

“I know Cass, and that in and of itself is already so fucked up. They shouldn’t get to talk to you like that. They definitely don’t get to talk to me like that,” he sighed.

“I don’t know what you want me to do.” Her cheeks were hot. She knew they needed to calm down before they went inside; otherwise, her parents would have a million questions about why they looked so flustered.

“Cassie, baby, we have to tell them. We can’t keep doing this,” he sighed.

“I know… I just have to make sure it’s the right moment, or it’ll be this whole thing. They’re just…” 

“And you have to set a boundary with them.” He reached across the center console and tried to take her hand.

She snatched her hand away, snapping, “I can’t do that. You know I can’t do that. Look, Cale, why can’t you just fucking grin and bear it like the rest of us? Aren’t you hockey players supposed to have thick skin or something? Why are you being such a fucking pussy?”

Cale leaned back and just stared at her for a long minute; the oppressive silence in the car was becoming unbearable. She could see the tick in his jaw that indicated he was holding himself back from retaliating. The mounting tension was broken when they heard the front door open, and her mother call out to them.

Cale took a deep breath. “Fine. Throw me to the wolves. See how that works out for you,” he mumbled before he opened the door and stepped out.

Cassandra felt a wave of nausea roll over her. She barely recognized that version of herself, the Cassandra that was bitter enough to say hurtful things on purpose. God, she thought she was better than this— better than them.

She knew in her gut that it was going to be bad because they started off-kilter, the unresolved disagreement hanging over them as they tried to play nice. Anxiety had twisted her body like a coil, winding her too tightly. She had naively hoped they would just get away with it.

Things were fine until the second course. At the end of the day, her parents were sharks, smelling a single drop of weakness from miles away.

Her father was the one to pop the bubble, not even looking up as he casually cut his steak, when he asked, “So, Cale, you’re not still doing that hockey thing, are you?”

She felt him freeze next to her as her own knuckles went white from her grip on her cutlery. He took a deep breath.

“Yes, sir, I am.” Cale’s voice was so calm and even. Too calm and even.

Her father hummed as he chewed, looking between them appraisingly. “That’s a shame,” he finally said, “Do you have a plan for finding a real job when you’re done with that nonsense, then, son?”

Cassandra looked down at her plate and swallowed hard. She could feel Cale’s gaze on her, but the searing heat of shame traveling up the back of her neck paralyzed her.

“No, sir. I am still pretty young for a hockey player. I hope to play for at least another 10 years,” he said. She could see in her peripheral vision that he had put his cutlery down and was clutching the napkin in his lap. 

This time, her mother spoke up, “Oh honey, that seems a little silly, wasting all your good years on nonsense like that. A nice young man like you would do so well in a respectable profession. Have you ever considered investment banking? I’m sure Cassandra’s brother would be happy to tell you more about it.”

“Darling,” her father cut in, chuckling lightly, “Wall Street is cutthroat. Only the best of the best make it there. I admit, I don’t know much about Cale here, but I’m sure there are more realistic aspirations for an athlete. I guess he could always work for Cassandra once she owns her own veterinary clinic, isn’t that right, kid?”

Cassandra could feel the tightness take over her throat; her hands were shaking so much her cutlery was clattering on the porcelain. She put them down and wiped her mouth with her napkin. 

“Cassandra, I expect you to respond when I speak to you,” her father’s voice boomed.

She forced herself to nod, her eyes darting around the table.

“Sweetheart, sit up,” her mother needled, “No one likes a girl who slouches.”

She felt her spine straighten stiffly without her meaning to. Cale shifted in his seat next to her, placing his napkin, which was clenched in his fist, on the table.

He clears his throat. “Actually, I have no interest in quitting hockey. I will never— With all due respect, Sir, Ma’am, you don’t seem particularly informed on the topic, so I ask that you please not make any comments about it. I am happy to talk about anything else.”

“Do not disrespect me in my house, son.” Her father slammed his own knife and fork onto the table; it made her jump, eyes remaining fixed on a breadcrumb on the tablecloth.

“I’m not going to apologize for making a reasonable request, sir. It seems my presence here isn’t wanted, so I’m going to have to excuse myself. Thank you for the meal, Mr and Mrs Wentworth,” Cale stated dispassionately. He stood up and tucked his chair in before pausing. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and quietly murmured, “Cassie, can I speak with you outside?”

Cassandra was standing up to follow Cale, who was already walking down the hallway when she heard her father command, “Sit down.”

Her body froze, halfway out of her seat. She watched as Cale kept walking; he didn’t turn to look back once. She tried to swallow down the mounting panic and willed herself not to cry, even as her vision blurred.

“I did not invest so much time and money into my daughter only for her to end up with some stupid, insolent, meathead athlete. Cassandra, I have had enough of this childish thing. Find someone more suitable,” he spat, “Now, you’re going to sit here and eat the food your mother made.”

She didn’t even realize she was crying until she felt the wet splash of tears on her hands clasped in her lap. She dug her nails into her palm and tried to focus on the sharp pain there instead.

“Cassandra,” her mother’s voice added softly, “I know you’re upset right now, but that’s temporary. Your father’s right; you should listen to him. We have lived long enough to know what’s best for you, and we’re just the only ones who love you enough to tell you the truth. You are wasting your time with that boy.”

She felt the words hit her like a slap in her face; it was enough to unfreeze her body and her voice. She sprung up, knocking over her chair. “Excuse me,” was all she said before running out of the room. She heard them yell after her, but she wasn’t listening.

When she threw the front door open, she saw Cale ducking into a car.

“Cale, wait!” she yelled, frantically running to him. 

He looked up, red-cheeked and teary; it had hurt that he looked surprised to see her.

“Cale, please— Please don’t go,” she cried, reaching out for his hand as soon as she was close enough.

He allowed her to pull him out of the car but only moved until he was standing in front of her. He reached up and cupped her cheek. She hated what she saw: Cale was teary and red. The rosy cheeks she loved so much meant something different at that moment.

“Please don’t go,” she whispered, biting her bottom lip hard enough to taste the metallic bloom of blood.

He sighed and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. 

“Cassie, I love you, I really do. But I—” His voice wavered. “I have heard a lot of shit on the ice, but I have never felt—” He paused and took a deep breath before continuing, “Look, you are welcome to stay. It’s your parents, I understand, but I just can’t be here anymore. I’m just heading home, okay?”

“I—” she interrupted before he shook his head once, curt and resigned.

“I promise I’ll be there when you are ready to head back. We can talk about this later, maybe once we’ve both had some time to cool off and think.”

“Think?” she felt sick, the blood draining from her face.

“Cassie, if I stay, we’re— I’m going to say something I’ll regret.” He looked down at her with his eyebrows scrunched and jaw clenched tight. “I left the keys in the car, but please don’t drive if you’re upset, okay?”

“Cale…” she started again, but her voice voice trailed off; she didn’t even know what she meant to say.

He leaned in and gave her a kiss on her forehead before stepping back into the waiting car. “I love you, Cass. I’ll see you at home,” he said before closing the car door.

“Please…” she whispered as she watched the car pull away from the curb.

She unclenched her hands and watched the color return; the crescents her nails left behind were dark and deep in the skin. She flipped her hands over, inspecting them.

Cassandra knew it was childish hiding from her parents in her room. But then again— wasn’t she always hiding herself from them?

She took the ring out of her pocket and put it on her left ring finger. As she looked at the sparkle, she felt a fresh wave of tears crash into her. Her chest felt cracked open; Cassandra was sure at that moment that having an eagle rip at her liver for the rest of eternity would hurt less. 

She sobbed into her hands until the tears stopped falling from her eyes, wrung dry. The longer she sat there, the more her sadness morphed into anger. 

What the fuck was she doing?

Maybe she hadn’t realized before that she was making a choice, but at that moment, it felt crystal clear that she had made the wrong one.

Why was she even there?

When she couldn’t come up with a good reason, she finally stood up and made her way back downstairs. Everything had come into focus, and she had never felt more sure of herself.

“My god, Cassandra, you look an absolute mess,” her mother chided immediately, “Those stains are never going to come out of the cashmere.”

She stood in the doorway of the formal dining room, and she laughed a loud, hollow sound.

“Yeah, no, I’m not doing this anymore,” Cassandra retorted flatly. For once, her voice did not wobble. 

Both of her parents made affronted sounds, leaping out of their chairs, but she continued speaking right over them.

“No! I’m done. I do not deserve to be treated like this. I don’t care how much you’ve ‘invested’ in me. You can find your return on investment elsewhere. I’m leaving.”

“Cassandra—” her mother wailed, clutching her hands to her chest.

“Over my dead body,” her father snarled, stomping over towards her.

She shook her head and turned to leave. Her father’s hand tightened around her arm, pulling her back. She snatched her arm away; her heart was thundering in her chest.

“Do not try to stop me from leaving, or I’ll scream. You don’t want everyone to hear, do you? Because I will cause a scene. You’ll be the talk of the neighborhood. Wouldn’t really be good for the family image, would it?” she spat.

She had taken a few steps toward the door before she turned back, her glaring eyes flicking between her parents. “For your information, Cale is a better person than either of you could ever hope to be. I’ve always let you treat me however you like. I don’t even care; I’m used to it at this point. But not Cale— He is absolutely incredible. Not just an incredible hockey player, but he is an incredible teammate, an incredible fiancé, and an incredible person—”

Her mother squawked.

“Yes, mother, I said fiancé. I plan on spending the rest of my life with him. So don’t call me again until you’re ready to treat him with the respect he deserves.”

Cassandra didn’t hear another word they said as she stormed out of the house, slamming the door as she left.

The drive home was excruciating. She sat in silence, her hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel; the only sounds were her heavy breaths and thundering heartbeat. 

Cale was sitting on the couch, a duffel bag next to him, when she burst through the front door. She didn’t bother to take off her shoes as she sprinted to him.

“Cale, what is this?” she said, horrified as she pointed to his bag.

“Cass, I just figured— If you want some space to think, I can go. I called Nate, and I can go stay with him for a couple of days.” He sounded just as raw as she felt.

Her head spun, and she suddenly felt like the air she was breathing was too thick, like she wasn’t getting any oxygen. She fell to her knees in front of him.

“No! No, don’t— No—” she pleaded frantically.

“Woah— Woah. Don’t—” His eyes widened, his arms reaching out to lift her onto the couch.

“Please don’t leave, Cale. Please— Please don’t— I just want to talk, okay? Please— Can you— Just hear me out,” The words rushed out of her in a jumbled mess, catching in her throat. 

“Okay,” he said, “Okay, I’ll stay. Just breathe for a second.”

She tried to take a deep breath, but the panic gripping her chest made it difficult. He took her hands, applying gentle pressure as he rubbed circles with his thumbs on the back of her hands. 

After a long silence— it could have been a minute or an hour— Cale was the first to speak.

“Are you ashamed of me? And my quote-unquote unrespectable profession?” Cale’s voice was quiet, tired.

“What? No!” she gasped, shaking her head violently, “Of course not.”

“Do you still want to marry me?”

“Yes!” she yelled. She caught herself and continued at a more normal volume, “Of course, I want to marry you. What are you— Cale—”

“Okay, that’s a good start,” Cale shot her a small strained smile, squeezing her hand three times: I. Love. You.— their silent message. 

“I’m sorry, Cale. Back at my— I should’ve— I’m sorry.” She paused and let out a shaking breath. “I love you. I choose you. And I will always choose you. I’m sorry that I haven’t been acting that way.”

“Cassie—”

“No. Please just let me get this out. I was planning this speech the entire drive home.”

He chuckled lightly, his smile more natural, “Okay. Go on.”

She nodded and took a deep breath. “After you left, I was just sitting there, hiding in that god-forsaken room I grew up in, and it just hit me: what the fuck was I doing.” She looked down at their joined hands and fidgeted with his fingers.

“Growing up— That room—” She paused, shaking her head. “My parents have always made me feel like I needed to be perfect in order to be loved. I had to be the perfect daughter, following the perfect plan they had mapped out for me. And fuck— I tried. I tried so hard to be that girl. To make them happy. To make them proud. And every time I thought I was getting close, they would just move the bar. It was never good enough. I was never good enough. And I was never going to be— I will never be good enough to deserve their love and—”

She wanted to dig her nails into her hands, but his fingers were in the way.

“Fuck, Cale. Sitting in that room, I realized that I didn’t even want it anymore. I don’t want or need their approval anymore. Because you— You taught me what it meant to be loved without expectation, without conditions. I can totally fuck this up like I did today, and you are always there, loving me and ready to figure it out together. As a team.”

She forced herself to look up at him. It was hard not to get lost in his blue eyes, always so warm, always so constant. She felt herself send him a small smile. 

“I never thought that I would get to have this. To be loved like this. Or maybe even deserve to be loved like this. So I just— I’m sorry, Cale, for not having your back and for not being a team.”

“What about your parents?” Cale asked quietly.

“My parents— They are my past, and you, Cale, are my future. And I am never going to forget that again. I’m sorry for all the shit they said to you and for all the shit I said to you. I promise that I will never throw you to the wolves like that again.”

Cassandra was panting, her breaths coming out in wet hiccups. Cale pulled her in and enveloped her in a tight hug.

“Wow, Cass, I’ll give it to you; that was quite a speech,” he mumbled into her hair. 

It startled a laugh out of her— although it came out as more of a choked sob.

“Maybe we should’ve recorded it so you could just play that for your vows when we get married,” he chuckled in return.

He leaned back and held her face in his hands. He brushed his callused thumbs over her tear-streaked face.

“For what it’s worth, you deserved better than how they treated you. You deserve— You have always deserved to be loved without condition and without expectation,” Cale whispered, his expression so earnest she could feel herself welling up with tears again, “I hope I can remind you of that every day for the rest of our lives. I can’t wait to build a future with you. I love you, Cassandra. So much.”

“Maybe we should just elope,” she mumbled, a wide smile finally settling on her face.

“Okay, maybe let’s talk about that another day when we are a little less wrung out emotionally,” he said as he leaned in to press a chaste kiss to her lips.

“Fine, I guess,” she groaned cheekily.

“Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to marry you. I just don’t want to make any rash decisions you’re going to regret,” he squeezed her cheeks together, smiling as her lips puckered.

“Shut up, Makar,” her words came out all mumbly, “Stop being so perfect. It’s so annoying.”

Cale’s laugh filled her body with warmth, seeping into every single corner, and loosening the iron grip anxiety and fear had on her chest. He kissed her cheek and stood up from the couch, holding his hand out to her.

“How about this? We run a hot bath, and then we can see if any reckless things come of that.”

“Are you propositioning me, Cale Makar?”

He shrugged, “Maybe? What if emotional intimacy turns me on?”

“Oh my god, you are such a weirdo,” she laughed, rolling her eyes while she let herself be pulled up from the couch.

“Your weirdo,” he smiled proudly, wrapping his arms around her from behind and gently nudging her to their bedroom.

She felt the corners of her mouth tick up automatically, “Yeah, you are.”

Requests (open) | Masterlist | Join My Taglist

[withwritersblock]

Say Isn't it Strange pt. 2

~Strange by Celeste~

Part 1

Author's Note: final part :) I love it when things don't have happy endings lol. Also, italics are flashbacks Warnings: Swearing, implied smut, bad boyfriend behavior, yelling Word Count: 3,934 Cale Makar x fm!reader

And strangers again?

February 28, 2023 

The air was thick with resentment. He stood still clenching his fists as he kept his gaze on the floor. Avoiding her gaze. She was crying so hard her eyes swelled. He was so frustrated with himself and the season, he didn’t see it. He couldn’t see what he was doing to her.

She took a sharp inhale before she walked out of the bedroom, they’d practically have shared the last few months. His season was littered with injury that himself and the medical staff were pushing him to get back on the ice. This time it took for the worst. Two concussions back-to-back because he went back too soon. 

“This is it?” he asked, his voice cracking. He followed her out of the room, his eyes tearing up. She shrugged her shoulders dramatically. 

“What do you want me to say?” she questioned, “I’m tired, I’m so tired.” she mumbled before she reached for her purse on the counter. 

“Baby-”

“Don’t,” she raised her hand up as she shot him a harsh look before she walked out of her own apartment. Leaving him alone. 

“Fuck,” he whispered as he stood still in the apartment, looking at every inch of the place. His eyes landed on the photo of himself with her at the Stanley Cup parade. 

Back to this room

Back to our roots

It was later in the day where the team were in the bar that Cale and Y/N spoke for the first time over a year ago. Except this time, he was on the opposite end of the bar from her. He was nursing the beer, taking the smallest sips known to man. He watched her smile despite the lack of joy behind it.

He did that.

He dropped his gaze towards the small bubbles in the drink as Devon slapped Cale’s back before he sat down beside him. “How’s your head?” he asked before taking a long sip of his soda. Cale shrugged. Devon nodded slightly as he looked at Cale for a while longer before looking towards Y/N across the bar. “What’s going on with you guys?”

“I think it’s done,” Cale said barely above a whisper.

“Seriously?” Devon asked, his eyes widening. Cale nodded slowly before leaning back in his chair. A huff of air left his lips as he looked across the bar to meet Y/N’s gaze. Her lips purse forward while blinking slowly before returning her gaze to OC sitting across from her.

“She’s flying out to see Josty next week,” Cale said before he brought the glass to his lips and took a long swig of the beer, drinking half of it.

“You guys broke up over that?”

“We’re not broken up,” Cale spoke fast as he met Devon’s eyes. He rolled his eyes before listening to Cale again, “They used to date, I just don’t like the idea,” he mumbled as he looked towards Y/N a wide grin to her lips. He sighed, “I also haven’t been a great boyfriend recently.” His gaze dropped once more.

What did we lose?

May 10, 2022

Cale smiled sleepily as he watched Y/N walk out of her bedroom in his practice hoodie and a pair of tiny shorts. She smiled towards him, cocking her head to the side. “How are you feeling?” she asked as she sauntered towards him. 

“Exhausted,” he rasped. She pouted as she sat beside him, resting her head onto his shoulder. He took a loose hold of her head as he planted a kiss to the top of her head. He ran his thumb along her cheek before she took a hold of his hand and kissed the back of it. 

“I’m glad you’re home,” she mumbled, turning her gaze to meet his eye. He smiled softly.

“Me too,” he said before he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She slowly started climbing onto his lap, she straddled his body. Cale’s hands quickly landed on her waist as he toyed with the ends of her hoodie.

“Are you too tired for this?” she asked as she pulled her lips from his watching him lean towards her. She smirked as her hands rested on the base of his neck. Playing with the small ends of his hair, it was longer than normal.

“I’m never too tired for this,” he said, a blush rising to his cheeks. She leaned down and kissed him softly as she arched her back into him. “Baby,” he mumbled. She hummed against his lips as her hand trailed from the base of his neck down his chest. Goosebumps rose on his skin at the nails delicately running along his chest. “I have a meeting in an hour,” he mumbled. 

She kissed him slowly, once more before she leaned away from him. Her lips still hovering over his lips for a moment. “I’ll make you some breakfast,” she said before she planted one more kiss on his lips before climbing off of his lap. He smiled softly as he watched her walk towards the kitchen. 

He stood up from the couch, “Thank you, Baby,” he mumbled before walking towards her bedroom. She smiled to herself as she pulled out the carton of eggs. 

What did we lose?

June 29, 2022

They sat in the bar sitting beside one another, her head resting on his shoulder. His hand ran up and down her inner thigh slowly. The boys have been drunk since the night they won the Cup. It was so relaxing to see them finally let loose after being held on tight leashes for the majority of the season.

Obviously, that didn't stop them from celebrating big wins. Hockey was finally off their mind and the fact that they were champions was on it. 

It was close to midnight at that point, they had a day of drinking ahead of them tomorrow as the parade was ahead. It didn’t stop the boys from wanting to do it well into the night. 

Cale, of course, was amongst them in the activities. He was so happy that Y/N was there to experience it all with him. He delicately pressed his lips to the top of her head, causing her to lift her gaze towards him. He smiled as he looked over her tired features. 

“You okay?” he asked, louder than he intended. She smiled and her eyes widened as she nodded. “You sure?”

She raised her hand and ran her thumb along his red cheek. Her hand rubbed against the small scruff of his beard was a different sensation than she was used to on his face. She liked it. “Yes, Pretty Boy,” she mumbled. He leaned his head into her hands, shutting his eyes. His head became slightly dead weight in her hands. 

“What about you, are you feeling okay?” she asked a small chuckle leaving her lips.

He lifted his head, eyes popping open. He blinked hard several times while nodding. “Yeah, ‘m good,” he replied as he kept making shaky eye contact. 

Y/N eyes widened as she nodded, trying to keep eye contact. “Yeah?”

He nodded again, “Yeah,” he mumbled before leaning down and pressing his lips against hers. She laughed and pulled away from him, keeping her hand on his cheek.

“What,” he whined as she pulled away.

“Cale baby,” she teased as she pulled away.

“Kiss me,” he begged as he reached his hand to delicately place his hand on her cheek. He pulled her towards him, she giggled as she delicately kissed him back.

“Cale,” she whispered against his lips, he hummed in response. “You’re drunk,”

“Have been for a few days, I think,” he mumbled before tilting his head back. She rolled her eyes playfully. 

“Do you want some water?” she asked as she delicately ran her from his cheek down his chest.

“I want-” he mumbled before tilting his head back, “Yeah, some water.” She smiled towards him before delicately patting his cheek.

“I’ll be right back,” she said before kissing his cheek and standing up from their booth they were sitting in alone. 

If I could

I’d pull your strings

For one more dance

September 1, 2022

She swayed her hips to the song playing in the background as she continued to mop the floor of her apartment. It was a slow country song she has never heard of before but it was easy and helped her maintain focus on cleaning.

The door to her apartment opened after a few knocks to reveal Cale walking inside with a bag of takeout Chinese food. She spun around to meet his gaze, he smiled widely as he shut the door. “You need to lock that,” he mumbled before he placed the brown bag on the counter. He dropped his keys beside the bag.

The song changed to a song they both knew very well from the several weddings they’ve attended together over the summer. All Your’n by Tyler Childers started playing. She smiled at the familiar song before meeting his gaze, she delicately placed the mop against the wall before she carefully made her way towards the kitchen counter.

Cale looked her body up and down, admiring the white tank top and black shorts covering her frame. Her usual cleaning outfit. He bit his bottom lip as he took a hold of her waist and pulled her towards him. 

“What are you doing?” she asked, laughing. Her arms landed on his chest as he slowly started to sway them together to the song playing. He held his hands loosely on her waist as he started pulling her backwards to the living room to give them more room. 

“Dancing,” he mumbled with a wide smile. He delicately took a hold of her arm, pulling her into a spin. She giggled as she found herself resting her hands on the base of his neck. He continued guiding her body to dance to the music, she slowly started enjoying it more as she kissed him as they continued to sway together.

“You hate dancing,” she said as she rested her head on his shoulder while they rocked to the new song playing in the background. 

“When other people can see me doing it,” he teased as he pressed his lips to the side of her head. 

She lifted her head, a fake gasp leaving her lips, “Do I not count as people?” she asked teasingly. He bit his lip as he lowered his grasp from the middle of her back to her lower back while guiding her backwards towards her bedroom.

“No you do not,” he mumbled before he leaned down and kissed her urgently. She smiled into the kiss as she took a hold of his cheeks as they stumbled down the small hallway. 

“The food-”

“Can wait,” he finished her sentence as he pushed the door open to her freshly cleaned room. He planted his lips on hers again as they soon collapsed on the mattress.

But I can’t

March 1, 2023

She sat on the couch with Josty on FaceTime on her laptop beside her as she was finishing making an assignment for her students. “Are you still thinking about coming to visit?” He asked, breaking the long-term silence. 

She lifted her gaze towards the small screen where Josty’s face was on FaceTime. She took a long breath as the memory of her and Cale’s argument yesterday. She hasn’t spoken to him since. 

“What’s this?” Cale asked as he walked past the kitchen counter where Y/N’s computer screen showed plane tickets. She lifted her gaze from the book she was reading before looking back down. 

“Flights to Buffalo,” she said nonchalantly. 

“Why?” Cale asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.  She tilted her gaze back towards him.

“To visit Tyson?” she said in a questioning tone. He pulled his lips together between his teeth while nodding. “I’ll probably won’t go until he has a long home game stretch, don’t want to stress him out,” she explained while standing up from her seat on the couch. Leaving her book overturned on the seat she was in.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were planning on doing this?” he asked, trailing her movements.

“I just did,” she said with a shrug. 

“I saw it on your computer, Y/N,” he countered while running his fingers through his hair. 

“Fine,” she mumbled while taking a deep breath. She looked in his eyes, the past few months really draining the light that was once in his eyes. “I didn’t know how you'd react. I was going to tell you after I bought them,” she said, shrugging. 

His eyes widened as his mouth fell open. His lips clamped shut as he ran his hand over his lips. “Afterwards? You were going to wait to tell me after you bought the plane tickets to visit your ex-boyfriend?” he asked, his tone filled with frustration.

“We never dated, Cale. You know that,” she said, pointing an accusing finger. 

He rolled his eyes, a huff of air leaving his chest. “I don’t like the idea,” he said, shaking his head.

“I haven’t seen him since July,” she crossed her arms over her chest.

“I don’t like the idea, Y/N,” he stated again, his voice raspy. 

“Why not? He’s my best friend, I am allowed to want to see him,” 

“I thought Sydney was your best friend,” he spat.

She pulled her head back as she furrowed her eyebrows harshly. Swallowing hard before she spoke, “She is but so is Tyson. Who do you think I hung out with when Syd was busy with JT? I don’t know why we’re arguing about this! You know how close Ty and I are, you knew that before we even got together!” 

“I didn’t know that you two had sex, Y/N. I didn’t know that you had feelings for him. You told me there was no chemistry! Those are very different things!” his voice started getting louder as he spoke. 

“Because we didn’t! We were better as friends! Why does that bother you?!” she walked towards him, reaching her hand over to touch his arm. He quickly pulled it away as he walked away from her.

“I don’t want my girlfriend staying with another guy for a week? What’s wrong with that?” he asked harshly.

“Josty isn’t another guy! He’s my-”

“Best friend, right,” he let out with a dry chuckle.

“Cale, come on,”

“No, you, come on! I don’t want you to sleep in the same bed as a guy who’s seen you naked! You know how weird that is to me?!” he was yelling now. She was sure her neighbors could hear him. 

Her eyes started filling with tears, she’s never heard Cale raise his voice like that. Not even if he was frustrated about something in a game. She took a deep breath, “Why don’t you trust me?” she asked quietly. 

He paused for a moment, watching her eyes tear up. He bit his bottom lip as he tilted his gaze upward. “I do, I do trust you, Y/N.”

“Clearly you don’t! Otherwise you wouldn’t doubt me! I would never cheat on you!” she shouted back through tears.

“I don’t trust him, alright?!” he shouted back, clenching his fist at his side. “He-he’s Josty, he could try something-”

“If you don’t trust him then you don’t trust me!” 

“I never said that-”

“It’s the truth! You can’t trust me to tell you that nothing will happen between us,” she said while wiping her eyes of the tears falling from her eyes. She walked away from him towards her bedroom.

“Where are you going?” he asked, following her. She spun around and stopped him in his tracks. She dropped her gaze towards her watch, Tyson was calling her. If she’d answer she knew it would strike up a bigger issue. “Y/N,”

“What!” she shouted back.

“You can’t go,” he stated simply. She clenched her jaw as she nodded her head slowly. 

“You don’t get to say that!” she shouted while shaking her head. “He’s had a god awful year, I haven’t been able to be there for him!” 

“Oh come on,” he said laughing dryly. 

“I’ve been busy making sure you don’t implode for a few bad games and your injuries. While he’s struggling on finding his footing in a new city, again!” He stayed quiet as he watched another tear fall on her cheek. “I am in love with you, Cale,” she let out while biting her lip. “But I love him too. He’s my best friend.”

He stood still, clenching his jaw repeatedly as he ran his fingers through his hair. He licked his lips before lifting his gaze to meet her eye. 

“You buy those tickets, it’s over,” he muttered, meeting her eye.

A sad smile formed to her quivering lips tilting her head to the side. “Cale I-” she paused, shaking her head as she looked deeply into his eyes, watching them tear up. The first time the whole conversation. He was standing close to her, all she wanted to do was reach over and curl up in his arms and forget about every bad thing that’s happened during their relationship. 

If none of that happened, it would still be perfect. Perfect. They used to be perfect. Everything used to be so damn perfect. 

“I think it’s already over,” she muttered as she rubbed her hand on the back of her neck. 

His eyes widened as he looked over her features for a moment before he tried to reach over and touch her. She deflected his touch and she began walking out of the room.

“This is it?” he asked, his voice cracking. He followed her out of the room, his eyes tearing up. She shrugged her shoulders dramatically. 

“What do you want me to say?” she questioned, “I’m tired, I’m so tired.” she mumbled before she reached for her purse on the counter. 

“Baby-”

“Don’t,” she raised her hand up as she shot him a harsh look before she walked out of her own apartment.

“Yeah, think so,” she mumbled to Tyson on FaceTime. Her eyes teared up as the memory flashed in her mind. 

“Caler coming with?” he asked, hopeful.

“No,” she cleared her throat as she clenched her jaw. “I think we broke up,” she mumbled, her lips quivering. His eyes widened, giving her his full attention.

“What do you mean you think?” he asked. 

“I don’t know,” she didn’t want to tell Tyson that the cherry on top to their failing relationship was the flight to Buffalo.

“No,” he let out, realizing the truth without her even saying it, “Was it me? He’s not a jealous guy. It can’t be because of how close we are, can it?” he asked. 

She licked her lips as she took a deep breath. “There were a lot of things Ty,” she let out. 

“Wait, you said you think you guys broke up?” he asked. She met his eyes on the screen as she felt her eyes tear up more. 

“He said if I bought the plane tickets it's over. I told him I’m pretty sure it was already over.” 

Tyson stared at her through the screen, watching her fight the tears filling her eyes. He’s watched her go through break ups, three to be exact. She’s never looked this distraught before, he hated that a friend he used to care a lot about did this to her.

“I’m in love with him, Ty. All I’ve wanted these last months was for him to get healthy and back to the Cale I fell for,” she explained. 

Say, isn’t it strange?

Isn’t it strange?

“Do you think it’s really over?” Tyson asked. She shrugged her shoulders. “Do you want to fix things?”

She wanted to, of course she did. Sometimes things aren’t worth fighting for. All she’s done these past few months have been fighting to feel loved. It didn’t need this much effort over the summer. It was easy, she craved the ache in her chest she got when he kissed her. Or the smile that would form to her lips when he looked into her eyes. The feeling of her lips against his, she missed kissing him.

“I’ve spent so long trying, I’m tired of trying, Ty,” she explained, smiling sadly towards him. He returned the sad smile. 

“Maybe you do need a break? A little break from your life? Stay with me for a few weeks,” he offered. “You could love New York,”

“I’ll think about it,” she forced a smile as she looked towards her lap.

A knock hit her door pulling her from her conversation with Tyson. “I’ve gotta go,” she muttered before ending the FaceTime call. She shut her computer and walked across her apartment to the door. She looked through the peephole to see Cale standing wearing his long grey jacket. His hair dishelved. 

A sob stuck in her throat at the sight of him. She reluctantly pulled the door open. He lifted his gaze to meet her eye. His eyes were baggy, his cheeks pale with his nose red from the chilly air from the Denver air. His hands were deep in his pockets as he looked into her eyes. She watched as tears filled his own. 

“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice scratchy as if he hasn’t spoken much today. It was seven at night. She stepped to the side letting him walk inside of the apartment. She shut the door behind him, leaning against it.

You look at me

I look at you

With nothing to say?

There were too many words to say, that needed to be said that it was impossible to let it out. Cale’s lips quivered as he tried to formulate words. She watched him squirm in place.

The air was tense as it was mixed with anger and love and resentment; it was hard to breathe. It was hard to look at one another without wanting to scream or kiss or both. It was impossible to decipher how they were feeling. 

They had no idea who the other person was anymore.

“I’m sorry,” he clammered out after several minutes of silence. She nodded her head slightly as she walked towards him. She scanned his features as she took a sharp intake of breath. Her trembling lips pressed together as she slowly reached her arms around his neck.

Pulling him towards her, he loosely wrapped his arms around her waist. He knew that she couldn’t forgive him, but feeling her against his chest was everything he needed and more. The vanilla scent to her shampoo engulfed his nose. He slowly ran his hand up and down her back as he let a tear fall onto his cheek. 

“I love you, Caler,” she mumbled into his ear. He squinted his eyes harshly.

“You were everything to me, you know that?” he mumbled as she finally pulled away, leaving her hands on his neck. She nodded. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t better,” he let out with a sad smile to his lips. 

“I’m sorry too,” she mumbled again before placing a kiss to his cheek and slipping away from his grip. Slipping away from him for the rest of his life. She walked away from him again, towards her bedroom leaving him stranded in her living room.

Isn’t it strange?

How people can change

From strangers to friends

Friends into lovers

And strangers again?

[bagopucks]

Out Of Place - Marner

Trigger Warning(s): talk of suicide, smoking, underage drinking, angst, bullying, fighting, heartbreak, manipulation, loss, and action.

Pairing: Mitch Marner x Fem!Gretzky!Oc

Official name: Maeve Gretzky, credits to

@jorjie-nhl for the name!

Summary: He was supposed to graduate a football player, but the plan changed, and now he’s a struggling athlete on a hockey team that can’t stand him. Back at square one for the first time in six years. Lost, but eventually found.

She’s a stable athlete who has a full ride to a D1 college. She has friends and he isn’t one of them. That is, until she shoulders how much of a pain he is, and decides to help teach him to play. Then all of a sudden, he doesn’t seem so bad. Satisfied, but inevitably yearning.

—————————————

“You all keep cryin about how he’s a football player! I don’t give a shit! I’m over it! He plays hockey now. He is your brother now!”

“Why’d you quit?”

“I couldn’t do it any more. My mom pulled me out.”

“I heard he made that kid kill himself…”

“Mitch. He wants you back.”

“What? No.”

“He said he won’t let it go until you talk.”

“Let’s go for a run!”

“A run, Marner? In the woods? With my good shoes on?”

“What? Afraid you can’t keep up, Gretz?”

“He’ll learn.”

“Oh dude.. look at this kid. You new here or what? You can’t skate with the peewee team.”

“Oh boy.. after the wipeout he just took, these kids might skate circles around him.”

—————————————Cast

Freshman are irrelevant to this story.

The Team

Sophmores

Jack Hughes

Akira Schmid, JV goalie

Trevor Zegras

Cole Caufield

Jamie Drysdale

Brady Tkachuk

Juniors

Mitch Marner

Matthew Tkachuk

Nico Hischier

Cale Makar

Jeremy Swayman, third string goalie

Quinn Hughes

Seniors

Leon Draisaitl

Connor McDavid, alternate

Andrei Vasilevskiy, second string goalie

David Pastrnak

Kasperi Kapanen

Matt Murray, vet goalie

Jacob Trouba, captain

Nathan MacKinnon, alternate

Hampus Lindholm

Matt Dumba

Darnell Nurse

The Coaching Staff

Wayne Gretzky, head coach

Mike Sullivan, assistant coach

Lindy Ruff, shift/power play coach

Pekka Rinne, goalie coach

The Supporting Cast

Auston Matthews, junior!football QB

Jordan Binnington, suspended junior goalie

Various other NHL players

Mario Lemieux, president of the hockey club

Gary Bettman, school sports director

Two comedic peewee coaches

Along with a few more surprises

[snugglyducklingbrewhouse]

snugglyducklingbrewhouse’s birthday bingo celebration!

In honor of my birthday in June, I decided to host a bingo event again.

The old event cannot be found due to me literally deleting my old blog and starting from scratch.

For those you who do remember last year’s event, I basically took the same board and changed a few things.

Rules:

You do not need to get a perfect bingo (5 squares in a row, column, or diagonal)

You can choose any 5 squares you want

Bonus challenges: totally optional but you can also choose one of the following special types of bingo (I do not expect anyone to do any of these): four corners, inner box (around free space), outer box (top and bottom rows plus both the far left and far right columns), any box of 4 (2x2 box anywhere on the board), X (both diagonals), and + (center column and center row)

Obviously the squares you choose will drive the story, but I am pretty open to genres, including smut (I am turning 27)

I prefer reader inserts now a days but if you are an oc person, I will gladly accept oc fics. I want to be inclusive in terms of types of writing. Obviously not in terms of players since there are just some players I refuse to read for.

No word count minimum (or maximum) but preferably longer than a blurb especially if you fit 4+ squares in one story

Deadline

June 30th

My actual birthday is June 17th, but I want to give enough time for anyone that wants to write

I will accept early entries. If you are choosing to do one of the harder challenges, you have until July 31st because I know those are hard and most don’t make sense with the board

Players

I am not as open minded as last year, but some players have been added

Obviously, I can’t control who you choose to write since I know not everyone writes for all of these players, and I am totally okay with that

Absolutely no Seattle kraken players unless as a side character and not as a current or former love interest. Those are my babies and I do not read (or write) for them anymore

If none of these players spark your fancy, then feel free to shoot an ask asking about a specific player I haven’t mentioned. I am still open minded but I still have my limitations

Listed in no particular order (because I am chaos):

Nico Hischier

Dawson Mercer

John Marino

Matthew “ratthew” Tkachuk

Quinn Hughes

Elias Pettersson

Cale Makar

Nathan MacKinnon

Sebastian Aho (canes)

And there’s more I’m probably forgetting so feel free to send an ask about a specific player not on this list

Final notes

Have fun with this!

This is meant to be fun, not stressful

If this is too much for you, you do not need to participate as a writer. Feel free to join me as a reader

Again, both reader insert and oc fics will be accepted

My ask box is open for questions about anything related to this (this is partly because Taylor has so much music and I might love her music but that doesn’t mean I absolutely adore each and every song)

Have fun!

No pressure tags: @cellythefloshie @swissboyhisch @mp0625 @puckmaidens @this-is-ally-and-im-confused and obviously anyone who wants to participate or spread the word

[nhl-stories]

To celebrate Pride Month I wanted to compiled a list of fics featuring queer characters. Because if this sport won't be as accepting as we want it to be we'll make it queerer ourselves

This is very much a non-exhaustive list and if you have a fic to add to the list please send my way!

• Serotonin - Cale Makar x Non-binary OC

• Them - Jakob Chychrun x Non-Binary OC

• Gotta Trust How You Feel Inside - Jeff Skinner x Non-Binary OC

• Hydrangeas Where Your Face Should Be - Dougie Hamilton x Trans OC

• You Stupid Bitch - Leon Draisaitl x Pansexual OC

• Fool's Holiday - Dougie Hamilton x Bisexual OC

• Until the Light Shines Through - Quinn Hughes x Bisexual OC

• Matthew Tkachuk x Bisexual Female Reader

• Think I Could Love You- Zach Aston-Reese x Asexual OC

Fics that feature queer side characters (because otherwise this list might be wayyy too short):

* Capricious- Brandon Tanev feat Drag queen gay couple

[matthewkniesys]

how they meet - cale makar

                     ✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧lucky number 8 au✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧      

a/n: This short fic is apart of the lucky number 8 au with cale makar. It’s the story of how Cale and Addison meet. There isn’t any romance in it yet because when they meet they are purely platonic friends!! The link for the au navigation is just above this authors note! Hope everyone enjoys this🫶             

pairing: cale makar x oc!addison blakely

warnings: some cursing, partying and a shitty boyfriend (not cale)

Before uni Addison never thought parties were her scene but when she got here she realised how wrong she was. She loves getting together with her friends and getting dressed up. She loves the atmosphere and being around all the people. She even met her current boyfriend, Connor, at a party.  

The one thing she hated though, was seeing people who looked like they weren’t having a good time at these parties. When people were just standing to the side she couldn’t resist the urge to reach out to them and invite them to join in. And that is exactly how she met Cale.

On this particular Friday night she was at a frat party with her boyfriend and 2 best friends. She offered to go get drinks for everyone and when she got in the kitchen she found a guy hanging out there all by himself. In typical very extroverted, Addison fashion she walks right over to him and introduces herself.

“Hi, I’m Addison. I’ve never seen you around. What’s your name?”

The boy tentatively lifts his gaze from his cup to around Addison’s collarbones. At first shes a little creeped out but then after a second she realises he’s actually looking at her necklace. It’s weird nobody really ever notices the simple silver chain with the number 8 pendant. He looks at her for a moment, then quietly he says, “Hi. I’m Cale.”

“ Is it Cale as in the vegetable?”

“Well yeah I guess, except it’s a C instead of a K.”

“I haven’t seen you anywhere. What’s your major?”

“Sports management,” Is all Cale says.

“Sounds fun. I know a lot of athletes pick that. Are you on any sports teams?”

“Hockey. I play for the hockey team.”

“Cool. I’m really looking forward to going to my first hockey game when the season starts. I don’t really understand anything about the game, though.”

“It’s not all the complicated. I can explain it to you right now.” Addison knows she should probably get back to her friends but the way Cale’s face lights up when he starts talking about hockey makes her want listen to him spew random facts about it all night long. 

He starts explaining and Addison starts really getting into it. Plus it seems as though Cale can make her laugh without even trying. All thoughts of the drinks and returning to her friends are long gone.

“My friend, Avery, her childhood best friend plays on the hockey team. His name is Alex.” Addison says. 

“Yeah, me and Alex are really good friends. He’s actually my roommate.”

“From the few times I’ve met him he seems really chill. And now that I think about it Avery may have mentioned you a few times.”

“He is. He’s a good guy. Is this leading to you asking me to set you up on a date with him?” Cale asks, questioningly.

“Oh gosh no. I actually have a boyfriend.”

“Oh,” Is all Cale says and Addison thinks she’s sees his face fall for the briefest second but then it’s back to smiling Cale. She must have just imagined it.

"Speaking of my boyfriend there he is right now," Addison is looking past Cale and when Cale looks over his shoulder he finds a very tall frat boy looking insanely pissed off.

"Y/n, did you forget about us? Who is this guy, anyways?" Addison's face falls when she hears the accusing tone in Connor's voice."

Addison huffs out a sigh. "Connor, stop looking at my like I'm fucking cheating on you. I came to the kitchen to get drinks but then I saw him," Addison points at Cale, "and he was alone so I wanted to make sure he was good but then we started talking about random shit and I got distracted. Get over yourself, I'm allowed to talk to other guys if I want too, so just chill out."

"You literally said you'd be back in 5 minutes and it's 2 fucking hours later. Of course my mind went to the thought that you'd be cheating."

"I feel like I've never given you a reason not to trust me so yeah I feel like your mind shouldn't automatically go to I'm cheating on you."

"Okay, okay whatever Addison. I'm sorry, can we just go now?" Addison glances over to where Cale has been silently been watching this exchange with a frown on his face.

"Yeah, I'm ready to go, but just drop me off at my place tonight." Addison can tell Connor wants to argue, probably make another shitty stab at her about cheating, but he's able to hold himself back and for that she's grateful.

"I'm just gonna go to the bathroom so go grab your coat." Connor walks off to the washroom leaving Addison and Cale in the kitchen.

"Addison, I don't want to overstep since I just met you but you know that isn't healthy, right? Like it's not okay for him to say shit like that." Cale looks at Addison with sad eyes.

And Addison did know that but when Connor was there for her he made her feel so happy. She refuses to let him make her feel bad about herself because she knows her self worth but he's her first boyfriend and she isn't sure what to do. He's comfortable and Addison knows she can fall back on him and she's scared of losing that predictability.

"I appreciate your concern but I'm gonna head out now."

He looks at you for a moment then says, "Here, at least let me give you my number. Text me if you ever need to talk. I usually don't do this but I also don't usually talk to strangers in the middle of some kitchen at a party so..."

She smiles at him, pulling out her phone to put in his number. Little did Addison know that Cale would become the most important person in her life. The one that would always be there for her. The one who shares the same lucky number as her. The one that would be her forever and always.

thanks for reading 🫶

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[reyzxzc]

Grayson x Cale

5’11” x 6’5”

night owl x morning person

cook x cook

grumpy x sunshine

always warm x always cold

photographer bf x can’t take photos bf

calm x anxious

older x younger

summer lover x spring lover

physical touch x gift giving

went to college x didn’t go

hockey player x hockey player

[fallinallincurls]

I Know Something Now That I Didn’t Before

coming in at the last minute, but this fic is finally here!! thank you to @antoineroussel for hosting the summer fic exchange once again, it’s always so much fun to be a part of. this is for @hockeylvr59​! the entire idea was amazing to bring to life and i hope you love it! the title comes from taylor swift’s “everything has changed” which also fits the vibe of this fic perfectly

warnings: brief mentions of childbirth and blood, side character death. if i missed anything else, please let me know!

hope you enjoy!! feedback is always appreciated! xx

word count: 7.4k

~~~~~

Out of all the titles and accomplishments that can be attached to Cale Makar’s name, being a father is the one he is most proud of. But it’s days like today that he’s unfortunately reminded of how life doesn’t always go to plan no matter who you are.

His daughter is starting preschool today. Cale’s little baby girl has grown so much over the years, but this big moment in their lives is proof that time is moving too quickly. And on top of those emotions, she’s starting school without her mom here. A reminder that Cale wishes he could change with every single passing day.

He’s currently standing at the stove making Maisy’s favorite breakfast, chocolate chip and sprinkle pancakes, when all the memories rush back unwelcome on what’s meant to be a happy morning for the father and daughter.

Cale never expected this to be his life at 23. But after being asked to join the Avalanche in the middle of their 2019 playoff run, he left behind his college years and became a professional athlete in the blink of an eye. It just so happened the Avs were playing the Flames which meant Cale was heading home in an odd way. And somehow, in all the craziness of that time in his life, he reconnected with Beatrice.

Beatrice who he went to high school with and remained one of his best friends when hockey started taking over his life. Beatrice who was so happy to see him back in Calgary even if only for a short period of time. Beatrice who made the first move when the Avs got eliminated and made the two of them official.

Everything had been a whirlwind to Cale, but reconnecting with Bea was incredible. For the entirety of the offseason, their relationship was happy and full of love. It was all he could ever ask for. But as the next season approached and Cale received word that he would be returning to the team permanently, things began to shift.

The time for training, meetings, moving from one country to another permanently, and all the other requirements of playing in the NHL started to take a toll on them. Cale couldn’t stop the inevitable, so before he flew to Denver for training camp, he gently suggested that they break up and remain friends. Because after all this time, he didn’t want her to disappear from his life.

And life went on. The season started and Cale was off to a phenomenal start as a rookie which continued to stun anyone watching him play. Bea reached out frequently enough whether with a simple text or phone call. Life was good.

Then, Beatrice called that November. 

The words she said all made perfect sense, but Cale couldn’t comprehend anything. Pregnant, it’s his, what are they going to do, unexpected. The world came to a screeching halt all at once. And from that moment on, his life was changed forever. 

He was going to be a dad.

Despite the fact that he and Beatrice broke up, Cale insisted on being there for her during the entire pregnancy because that’s what good friends do when they’re expecting together. He wanted to help with anything he possibly could so he did. Doctor appointments, shopping for the necessities, taking care of Bea when he wasn’t on the road. It wasn’t easy to balance both his rookie season and the preparation of having a baby, but Cale found himself getting more and more excited with each passing day.

The day his little girl arrived in the world was full of more emotions than Cale thought possible. Bea’s labor was seemingly going well, not too long and not that painful, and he was there for every step of the way. Cale was in awe more than anything of Bea and the fact that their baby girl was finally here, but before either of them could soak in the moment, chaos broke out.

The next thing Cale remembers is the nurse telling him she has to push through the afterbirth. They were both terrified, but his heart dropped the second the machines started beeping and Bea began to lose consciousness. He was immediately rushed out of the room so the doctors could help, but when the nurse approached him again with a look of despair, all he heard were the words complications with delivery and severe blood loss. Bea unfortunately didn’t make it. She was gone. There was hardly any time to process the devastating news before the nurse asked if he would finally like to meet his baby. His little girl.

With tears in his eyes, Cale nodded and followed the nurse back to the nursery. The moment she was placed in Cale’s arms, he felt his heart burst and tears roll down his cheeks. Everything he will ever do will be for her, he swears right then and there.

“Do you have a name for her?” The nurse asked quietly, not following the question with a further explanation. It dawns on him then that this decision, and everything else going forward, will be completely up to him. He’s on his own.

“Maisy. Maisy Beatrice Makar.” Cale replied, trying to keep his emotions in check. The baby girl, Maisy, wrapped one of her tiny hands around Cale’s pointer finger as if in approval of her carefully selected name. Maisy was the one both Cale and Bea had picked out in advance, but there was no doubt about making his daughter’s middle name the one that belonged to her mom. It had to be.

From then on, it’s been Cale and Maisy against the world. Of course, they both miss Bea in different ways that almost no one understands, but Cale couldn’t be anymore grateful for the help he’s received over the last four years from friends, family and teammates. They say it takes a village and Cale is the first to second that statement.

Now, he’s just won the Stanley Cup, his lifelong dream, along with the Norris and Conn Smythe. Celebrating and making the most of riding out the high this huge victory provided has been nothing short of incredible. The happiness he’s felt since the Avs became champs is like nothing else in the entire world. And through the entire season, from start to finish, Maisy has been there. The win meant just as much to her as it did for him.

Except Cale thinks that her first day at preschool might be even more exciting considering how she hasn’t stopped talking about it practically all summer.

“Daddy! I lost my shoes!” Maisy’s voice breaks Cale out of his trance where he’s reliving the good and painful memories. No matter how badly he wishes that Beatrice was here to see Maisy on such an important day, she isn’t, and he’s going to make sure his little girl knows her mom would be insanely proud of her like always.

With a glance over his shoulder, he spots Maisy’s favorite pair of sparkly Converse by the door. “By the door, sweetie!” He calls back, plating the pancakes before turning around towards the kitchen island. His eyes find the flash of blonde hair passing through the room in mere seconds as Maisy runs to get her shoes. 

Before he knows it, Maisy is crawling up onto a stool at the counter and giving Cale her biggest smile. Even after all this time, Cale’s overwhelmed with emotions looking at his daughter. She’s beautiful. Identical clear blue eyes like his which shine beneath her pink framed glasses, curly blonde hair that just reaches her shoulders now, a sweet smile that reminds him so much of Beatrice’s. He adores her and can’t believe how much she’s already grown.

“Chocolate chip and sprinkle pancakes! My favorite!” Maisy exclaims when she sees the full plate at her seat. “Will you help me put my shoes on and do my hair after we eat?” She asks adorably, attention never faltering from her father.

“Absolutely I can do that. Are you sure you want to wear your jersey to the first day of preschool though?” Cale smiles as he sits next to her and they start eating breakfast together. He couldn’t miss the signature burgundy and blue that adorned the top half of her body when she came down the stairs moments ago. Maisy cherishes her Stanley Cup playoffs Makar jersey over all her others now and it seems to be her outfit choice to start school.

“Mhm! I love my jersey and it’ll be like having you at school with me in a funny way.” Maisy replies with a definitive nod. Cale can’t argue with her and as long as she’s happy, he’s happy so he just smiles while love rushes through him.

Maisy pushes her breakfast plate away from her only a few minutes later, stating that she’s full and needs help with finishing getting ready. Cale kneels down to tie her shoes before getting to work on her hair. Of course, she picked out a matching bow to go with her jersey and Cale can’t help but chuckle as he tries to wrangle in her unruly curls.

It’s only when Maisy is distractedly humming to herself while her dad puts the bow in her hair that Cale spills the big surprise.

“Maisy?” He asks, earning a soft response from the little girl. “I know you’re really excited for your first day of preschool and so am I. And even though Mommy isn’t here today, she left me something a long time ago to give you. Is that okay?”

“From Mommy?” Maisy’s voice is so quiet that Cale’s heart almost breaks. It’s not like they don’t talk about Beatrice, it’s just hard for both of them for different reasons. Maisy never got the chance to know her. She doesn’t have any memories, only the stories that Cale has told her while he feels the direct pain of the loss for both him and their daughter. Cale nods, tying her bow in place before facing her. “Can we open it together before we go to school?”

“That sounds like a great plan. Stay right here, okay?” 

When Cale returns only a few minutes later with a small box in hand, Maisy’s head tilts in curiosity, but she waits until her father speaks again. 

“When you were in Mommy’s tummy, she decided to write you a letter for the first day of school for each year. Because today is the first day of preschool, we can open the first letter.” Cale explains softly, kissing the top of her head as he picks up a pink envelope in the front of the box and lets Maisy open it.

“Dear Maisy,” She starts reading with a smile until her brows furrow in confusion and she looks back up at Cale. “Read for me, please?” 

“Dear Maisy, it’s your first day of preschool! I’m so proud of you. I hope you have your favorite outfit picked out and all the best snacks in your lunchbox. This is a really big moment! I can’t believe you’ve grown so much and I just know you’re the most resilient, funny and bright little girl in the entire world. Daddy and I are so lucky to have you. Go make some friends, have fun and I’m wishing you the best first day ever! Love, Mommy.” Cale reads Beatrice’s handwritten words from the small card. 

He doesn’t notice the tears in his own eyes until he’s wiping away Maisy’s and pulling her in for a hug. A comfortable silence settles around them for a moment, but it isn’t long before Maisy’s voice fills the air once more.

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I know Mommy is with me right here,” She puts a little hand over her heart, “and that makes today even more special. I think I’m ready to go to school now.” Maisy tucks the paper in the envelope again before tugging on Cale’s hand. She puts the letter in the safest place within her backpack to have with her throughout the day and the two of them finish up their morning routine. The heavy emotions subside only to be replaced with happiness that Cale feels with each passing second.

It is Maisy’s first day of school after all. 

~~~~~

That cannot be her. 

The last time Cale saw Maia, they were sitting next to each other in their sophomore statistics class at UMass the day before he left for Colorado. He hasn’t seen her since. Through Instagram, he knows that she graduated summa cum laude last year and got her dream teaching job for the following fall. But other than that, she has been someone stuck in his past that he wishes he had more time with before his college career got cut short because of hockey. 

Except at this very moment, she’s standing right in front of him and his daughter at her new preschool welcoming each of the children that will presumably be her students.

Ohmygod.

Gabe, ever observant, notices the longing and surprised look on his teammate’s face and elbows Cale just enough to grab his attention again. Maisy’s arms are wrapped around one of Cale’s legs as she takes in the scene around her. It’s easy to tell that she’s nervous, scared and shy all at once, her earlier excitement seemingly having disappeared for the moment. Linnea, on the other hand, is happily bouncing next to Gabe and Cale feels grateful for the millionth time that Maisy won’t be alone today because she has such a good friend in his captain’s daughter.

“Who is she?” Gabe asks, not dancing around the subject at all. Cale tries to suppress the urge to roll his eyes as he drops a hand to Maisy’s head knowing the simple touch will keep her calm until he can talk to her.

“Who?” Cale decides to play dumb, hoping to get Gabe off the topic but it doesn’t work. He gets a level stare instead. “Maia. We went to UMass together and I had the biggest crush on her. We shared a lot of classes and hung out a lot because of that, but I never acted on anything since I wasn’t sure if she felt the same way. I haven’t seen her since I left to join the team.” He admits, awaiting some kind of reaction to the shortened story he just recounted.

“Well, judging by the look on your face you wish you did something about it then. Universe works in funny ways, Cale. Give it some time. You know she’s here now and considering she’s your daughter’s preschool teacher, I’m sure there won’t be a shortage of opportunities to talk to her.”

“I don’t even know if she remembers me, Gabe.”

With one glance back towards the woman standing near the school’s entrance, Gabe catches her eyes flickering over to where the two hockey players are standing. It’s almost impossible to miss the split second change of emotions on display across her facial features when she looks at Cale. 

“I highly doubt that.” Gabe responds, patting Cale on the shoulder and offering a genuine smile before kneeling down to talk to Linnea. 

“Daddy?” Maisy speaks up softly, tugging at his hand and looking up at him with her big blue eyes. Cale’s heart just about melts at the sight. 

“How are you feeling, Maise?” Cale asks, putting himself on the little girl’s level. She offers him a shy smile and then hugs her father tightly for a moment. He holds her close, letting her revel in the comfort of the embrace until she’s ready to say anything more.

“I’m scared. There’s a lot of kids and I only know Lala.” Maisy admits with a small waver in her voice giving away her emotions.

“There are a lot of kids here, but you’ll have Linnea to play with and I know you’ll make so many new friends. I saw a girl with an Avalanche keychain on her backpack over there and a boy who had the same coloring book you love at home.” “Really?” Maisy says with that familiar gleam of hope. Cale only nods in response, kissing her forehead which earns him a tiny giggle. A sound he’ll never get tired of hearing. 

“Really. You’ll have so much fun today and I can’t wait to hear all about it.”  That seems to ease some of Maisy’s anxiety about such a big change, but he knows another question is going to follow behind so he patiently waits.

“Will we have snacktime? You packed my Teddy Grahams right?” Before Cale can answer that, yes there will be snacktime and of course he packed her Teddy Grahams, a soft female voice cuts in surprising both of the Makars.

“Snacktime is right after coloring so you’ll be able to eat your Teddy Grahams. What kind is your favorite?” 

“The honey ones!” Maisy perks right up, turning right back into the happy and adorable girl that Cale knows so well. She leans right into Cale who keeps her close, but everything seems to disappear the moment he looks up at who is currently talking to his daughter.

Maia.

“Me too! Those are the best.” Maisy giggles at that, filling the air with joy just from the simple sound. And if Cale wasn’t so focused on the woman crouching down in front of them, he would’ve chuckled along too. Instead his heart is racing and he can’t form one coherent thought because after all this time, she’s right here again. The one who got away. 

Her wavy hair is a little longer and darker than it was in college and her eyes are still so bright. Cale can’t help but notice how her curves have filled out since the last time he saw her and the pretty clementine print dress she’s wearing highlights that, taking his breath away. He’s in awe of how beautiful she is like he always has been.

“I’m Ms. Webber, your preschool teacher. What’s your name?”

“Maisy!” 

“It’s so nice to meet you, Maisy. I love your name.” Maia responds, smiling fondly at the little girl who is already melting her heart. 

“Thank you. It was picked out special for me.” She says, voice quiet with shyness but Cale can tell she’s slowly warming up to the idea of school once again. “This is Daddy! He plays hockey here. Did you know that?” Maisy continues, squeezing Cale’s arm and that’s when Maia’s gaze falls to the little girl’s father.

It is him.

Cale Makar.

When Maia received her class list at the beginning of the summer, she picked out the last name within seconds. Makar is pretty much a household name in Denver now so it wasn’t easy to overlook, but more importantly, it still belonged to the man who has held her heart since the day they first met. She tried to not get her hopes up because how could he have a daughter entering preschool at this very moment in time? Yet, here he is with that exact little girl who’s name was on her roster and looks just like her father. Not to mention, she’s full of sunshine.

“I had no idea. That’s so cool! This must be his jersey then, huh?” Maia asks, keeping the conversation going with Maisy but her eyes drift to Cale and it feels as if her heart stops right then and there. He looks almost exactly as she remembers him, maybe a little more muscular and older, but other than that he looks like the Cale she knew in college. Glasses and all. She can’t believe it.

“Well, that’s his name and number, but this is my jersey.” Maisy exclaims with a laugh and the way Cale looks at his daughter is the purest form of love that Maia has ever seen. Before anything else could be said, the school bell rings and the kids begin departing from their parents. Maia politely excuses herself to join her colleagues for the day as Maisy collapses into Cale’s arms for one last hug.

“Have a great first day, Maise. You’ll have lots of fun. I love you so much.” Cale murmurs into her blonde hair, trying to hold back the surge of emotions that have arisen in the moment. 

“I love you too. I’ll have lots of fun so I can tell you about it later. Bye, Daddy!” Maisy leans up to kiss his cheek and Cale can’t help but hold onto her for just a moment longer.

There’s an unfamiliar pressure evident in Maia��s chest as she watches the father and daughter hold each other in the tightest hug before Maisy falls into step with a girl she must be friends with and together they walk backwards, Maisy waving to Cale the whole way to the door.

It’s going to be an interesting school year.

~~~~~

“Alright, Maisy. Are you getting your usual pizza today or something different?” Cale asks, looking down at his daughter who is holding his hand and bouncing with excitement. The father daughter pizza dates on Friday nights have become a staple in the Makar household and even if Cale’s on the road, they make time for this exact tradition no matter what. 

“Mmm, my usual!” Maisy pipes up in response with a bright smile.

“Okay, go get your favorite seat and I’ll order.” Maisy nods quickly and skips off to the table they always sit at whenever they come to Proto’s Pizza. This particular pizza place is not only Maisy’s favorite, but it was also Beatrice’s whenever she used to come see Cale in Denver. It’s one way that her mom’s memory is kept alive through a simple act even if the cute restaurant has a new meaning to both of them now too.

Cale watches to make sure Maisy settles at the table with her coloring book before stepping up to the counter to order. Two Hawaiian slices for him and two plain for Maisy. The exchange with the cashier is almost exactly the same since he’s a regular here now, but as he moves towards the pick up area, Cale’s eyes spot the familiar brunette waves of not only his daughter’s preschool teacher but the girl he still carries an immense amount of love for.

Maia. 

He hasn’t really seen her since Maisy’s first day of school almost two months ago. Of course she’s there at drop off and pick up, but it’s nothing more than about five minutes and Cale doesn’t know how to start a conversation that isn’t awkward because of all the time they’ve missed. But he wants her back in his life and so far, just Maisy’s teacher isn’t enough.

She’s reading something on her phone when Cale sidles up next to her. With one glance back to make sure Maisy is okay, which she is, he takes a moment to admire how pretty Maia looks in jeans that hug her curves and how she looks more relaxed than she is at school everyday. 

And then he takes that leap of faith. 

“Are you still ordering your half veggie half meat lovers pizza?” The question leaves Cale’s lips, a teasing tone evident in every word he says. Maia’s head snaps up at the sound of his voice, a look of utter disbelief on display across her face.

“Still a better choice than your beloved Hawaiian, Makar.” Maia fires back with that playfulness she always had around him. In that split second, their eyes lock, every memory from college comes rushing back and she suddenly finds herself nervous more than anything. Maia’s heart is racing with anticipation and she knows things have changed since the two of them were themselves, but she can’t stop the sense of familiarity that surrounds her as the conversation unfolds. They’ve had the same argument a million times so it’s easy to slip back into even if their lives are not the same. “Sorry, I mean, it’s still a great choice, but-”

“Not your favorite, I know.” Cale finishes, offering a kind smile to help ease the obvious tension she’s feeling. “It wasn’t then and I can’t imagine that’s changed over the years.” He teases, feeling a tug on his heart when thinking about what they shared at UMass.

“I’m more surprised you remember my go-to order honestly.” 

“How could I forget? Every study date, late night snack and pizza craving you ever had was always half veggie half meat lovers. I’ll remember that order forever.” Cale admits with a chuckle, warming Maia’s heart in mere seconds. It almost feels as if no time has passed at all and they’re still those two kids just trying to get their degrees while figuring out life along the way. 

Except, they aren’t and time has passed. A reminder that strikes Maia as the comfortable silence settles between them.

“Where’s your little one?” 

“Oh,” Cale starts, momentarily forgetting that they’re currently in Proto's, not the dining hall on campus. “Maisy’s at our usual table coloring until our order is ready.” Maia looks towards where he tilts his head, spotting the curly blonde hair that belongs to one of her favorite students.

“She’s just like you. You know that?” Maia asks, surprising even herself at letting the observation slip past her lips. But it’s the truth. Everyday at preschool, she sees more and more of her father in Maisy and the emotions she thought were long gone have risen to the surface over the last two months. 

“That’s what people tell me.” Cale replies, cheeks flushing pink as he scratches the back of his neck. He looks absolutely adorable and Maia can’t help but grin at the sight of him.

“She’s really lucky to have you. And we have plenty to catch up on already, but I would love to hear the story about how she got here.” Maia says softly, gaze flickering back to Maisy who is lost in her own world while coloring away.

Before Cale can do anything else but nod in response, both of their orders are ready. Maia steps forward to grab her pizza box, sparks flying when she brushes past Cale. Almost repeating her actions, he finally finds his voice again. 

“Keep that catching up date in mind. There’s more to cover than you think.” 

“Okay, Makar. We’ll do that soon. Until then, I’ll see you at school with Maisy. Enjoy your Hawaiian pizza, weirdo.”

“Make sure you eat the veggie slices first, Webber.” And just like that, with a small wave and a smile that could rival the sun, Maia heads toward the door. Cale snaps out of his little trance in seconds, bringing the pizza back to the table where his too curious daughter is waiting with lots of questions.

“You and Ms. Webber are friends?” Maisy says immediately as Cale sits down across from her and she forgets about the coloring book she was just working on. Her voice is full of what sounds like hope mixed with peaked interest. 

“She’s actually an old friend of mine from college. We used to do almost everything together before I left to play hockey here.” Cale explains with a grin, his heart swelling like it always does at the thought or mention of Maia. The girl he loved then and never thought he’d have another chance with. “And then we went to your first day of preschool and I found out she’s your teacher!” 

“Oh!” The little girl exclaims as she digs into her pizza. Cale chuckles at her reaction, but it isn’t long before Maisy keeps up her questioning. “Were you best friends? What did you do together?”

The innocent words hang in the hang for a moment. Despite their time being cut short due to Cale’s call up to the NHL, there are countless memories to recall of everything he did with Maia. So without any hesitation, Cale tells his daughter almost everything. About how they met, the way they became instant friends, how when they hung out time felt as if it didn’t exist, the late nights after his games, studying together in the back of the library. There’s so much history and although none of the almost’s slip through his story, the almost kiss, the almost confession of feelings, the almost being something more, Cale longs to change that now.

“I’m going to tell Ms. Webber tomorrow that she knows a famous hockey player. And my daddy!” Maisy exclaims after listening intently. Her blue eyes are alight with joy, a sight that makes her father smile like nothing else. 

“You do that, Maise.” As the two go back to chatting about much simpler things, Cale’s mind wanders through every possibility. He would be stupid to not give them another shot, but he has no idea if those lingering feelings still exist for Maia or if they even existed in the first place. 

That, Cale decides, is step one.

And he knows just the person to ask for advice on how to win a woman’s heart.

~~~~~

Gabe, unfortunately, beats him to the punch. 

It’s a chilly November morning and as Linnea and Maisy reach for each other’s hands to walk into the preschool building together after saying goodbye to their fathers, Gabe voices the question that makes Cale freeze.

“So when are you gonna make a move, Caler?” Gabe teases, lightly elbowing his teammate and Cale’s cheeks become rosier by the second. 

“I-uh, was actually going to ask you about that.” 

“Me? Not EJ or even Devon? It’s an honor.”

“Shut up. EJ would make the whole thing a spectacle and Devon would probably be shocked that I even know how to talk to girls. You’re my best bet. And it’s not a big deal.” Cale replies, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets and tries to ignore how embarrassing this is. He’s 23 years old and is asking for advice on how to get the girl. 

He’s won the Stanley Cup and is one of the most distinguished hockey players in the league this early in his career. But talking to one person who’s held his heart for years? That’s impossible.

“Okay, well what are you thinking?” Gabe prompts, eyes remaining on the girls as they say hi to their teacher before disappearing into the building. 

“I don’t even know if she was into me back in college, Gabe. Like I can’t make a move thinking she feels the same way when it’s been years since we last saw each other and I wasn’t sure of her feelings then.” 

“You have to figure out where you stand then.” Cale’s brows furrow in confusion, but his captain continues speaking. “By the way things seem between the two of you, she definitely feels the same way. But I think she’s unsure more than ever. You do have a kid in her preschool class and she might think someone else is in your life.”

“There isn’t.” “Maia doesn’t know that. Does she?” Cale shook his head, the realization dawning on him right then. Since Maisy’s first day of school, there’s been that distance between them. The flirting and comfortableness has returned in their brief exchanges, but not like it used to be. And maybe it’s because Maia thinks Cale’s committed to Maisy’s mom since she doesn’t know the whole story.

“I have to fill her in.” 

“Exactly. And I’m sure once everything is clear, you’ll both be able to admit how you feel to each other. Finally.” Gabe says with a reassuring nod, a smile creeping back onto his face. “You’re growing up so fast. Cale Makar is going to get the girl!”

“Shush! Don’t jinx anything. Nothing’s guaranteed so don’t get your hopes up. I just have to find a moment where I can tell her everything.” Cale settes, brain already racing to find a solution to that problem.

The answer comes not even days later when Maisy hands him a paper about parent teacher conferences. The meeting is used to discuss the progress of each child in class with their parents or guardians. Cale selects a time and date for the following week before making sure to tuck the paper into Maisy’s backpack so she can hand it in the next day.

And even as Maisy rambles on excitedly that night about how she met a friend who loves horses just like Uncle EJ, Cale is stuck on the fact that he’s going to have a designated time alone with just Maia. This is what he needs to finally move their relationship out of the friendzone after all this time.

But this is Maisy’s teacher he’s talking about. Maia isn’t just someone he knows and loves anymore. She’s important to his daughter too now for other reasons. He can’t overlook or forget that. And that means if this doesn’t go as planned, the hurt and awkwardness will be felt by more than just the two of them.

By time the day of the meeting rolls around, Cale is trying to desperately focus on how this is supposed to be about Maisy. The little girl who already owns his heart. It’s constant reminders of how although this is the perfect opportunity, he won’t get distracted by what’s actually at hand: his daughter’s wellbeing. 

After dropping Maisy off to spend the afternoon with Nate, who was more than happy to spend time with the much cuter Makar as he says, Cale drove over to the school. The trip seems quicker than usual because before he knows it, Maia is welcoming him into the little classroom that’s colorfully decorated.

“Hi Cale.” Maia greets, her soft smile lighting up her face and Cale feels his heart swell with adoration. “Thank you so much for coming in today.”

“Hi,” Cale murmurs with a nod of acknowledgement, suddenly becoming the shy person he usually is when meeting others for the first time. “Your classroom is really cute. Decorate it yourself?” 

“I did! It’s my second year teaching so I figured out what worked best last year and made this little space my dream classroom.” Cale’s gaze moves around the room, taking in every little detail about where his little girl spends part of her days now. He sees Maia’s desk in one corner, neatly organized, hand paintings from the class taped up on one wall, different signs hanging around with numbers, colors and letters on them and the small library of books nestled in the reading corner. A slow smile blossoms across his lips, making butterflies erupt in Maia’s stomach. 

“I love it.” Cale says simply. And he does. The whole classroom is exactly as he imagined it would’ve looked when she talked about in college.

“Thank you.” Maia replies, tucking a piece of hair behind her hair. “Let’s sit and get started.” Cale follows her to a little table on the other side of the room and takes a seat in a tiny chair made for preschoolers. He hardly fits in it, knees bending at an awkward angle, and Maia can’t help but giggle at him. Despite everything they’ve missed over the last few years, he’s still the boy she’s in love with.

“So first off, everything I have to say about Maisy today is good. She’s a wonderful student and an even more amazing little girl to her classmates in every situation. It’s clear you’ve done an excellent job raising her.” Maia begins, her warm smile and kind words melting Cale’s heart in an instant. He still isn’t used to accepting compliments about how good of a father he is even if it’s true. He just wants to be enough for Maisy. As long as she’s happy, he did his job right.

“Thank you so much.”

“Oh, of course! There’s plenty more praise for Maisy coming throughout this meeting.” She laughs, the beautiful sound bringing a sense of happiness to Cale that he hasn’t experienced in quite some time. And he can tell Maia feels it too. “Maisy is also ahead of her classmates in several areas of her education. She’s got her ABC’s down and can write her name, her basic math skills are off the charts and she has a pretty good grasp on recognizing words which is great for how young she is.” 

“Oh, really? That’s good to hear. I was worried we hadn’t done enough at home to prepare her.” Cale admits with relief, fumbling with his fingers under the table as a small distraction. 

“Absolutely no worries there. Maisy is right on track for kindergarten and doing so well with things like reading and writing already at her age. We love seeing her here everyday. You and your partner should be so proud. You’ve raised a beautiful and incredible daughter.” 

This is his chance. Tell her the truth.

“I- uh, it’s actually just me and Maisy. But I appreciate that. It means a lot.” 

“Oh, I apologize-” 

“You can stop me if this is an inappropriate time to tell you this, but-”

Both of them stop speaking, not wanting to talk over the other. Blush spreads across Cale’s cheeks as Maia’s beautiful eyes drop down in that way which quietly shows she’s nervous. 

“Go ahead.” She almost whispers. “I know we’re here to talk about Maisy and we pretty much covered everything I had planned, but there seems to be a lot of other things we both have to say.” 

With one deep breath and a racing heart, Cale jumps into his well thought out explanation. He tells Maia about everything that’s happened since he left UMass. Meeting Bea, the tragedy of losing her but gaining his daughter at the same time, taking care of Maisy since then while still playing for the Avs. Every word comes out in a rush, but she listens to every single bit and her gaze begins to fill with hope.

“I just wanted to make it clear that there isn’t anyone else in my life. You’ve been in the dark this whole time and that didn’t feel right.” Cale concludes, feeling the weight of his confession in the air. But the reaction he gets erases every worry present in his mind.

“Cale,” Maia chuckles, her expression soft with joy. “I was honestly so shocked to see you on the first day of school even if Maisy’s name on my classlist gave it away a little bit. But I can’t help and think that us being right here, together, means something more. We never gave ourselves a real chance back in college, but now might be the time. My feelings haven’t changed,”

“Mine either.” Cale interrupts politely, voice quiet but full of emotions.

“So do you want to give this thing another go? For real this time?” The question falls off of Maia’s pink lips, but he can see she’s still unsure if this is real. He’s wondering the same thing. They’ve waited so long for each other and now here’s the opportunity they’ve been waiting for.

“For real this time.” 

~~~~~

“Family, friends and community members, I welcome you to this year’s preschool graduation.” Principal Andrews announces with a bright smile while standing at the podium that’s in front of the small crowd. “These children are on their way to kindergarten in the fall and this ceremony is to recognize the achievement they have all reached during their time in preschool.”

“Crazy you’re going to have a kindergartener soon, huh?” Maia teases, bumping her knee against Cale’s. Her fingers are intertwined with his, their hands resting in his lap.

“Don’t remind me.” He rolls his blue eyes and laughs in response.

It’s been six months since the two of them admitted their feelings to each other and started dating. Despite the fact that the Avs didn’t win the Cup this season, much to Cale and his teammates’ dismay, their relationship has only grown stronger and more incredible. Maisy couldn’t have been more thrilled even if she tried when they told her, the joy of her father finally having someone and that someone being the teacher she adores was the best news. Maia fits right into their lives like she’s always belonged there, something that makes Cale’s heart all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

Now, it’s graduation day for the preschoolers and Cale couldn’t be happier sitting with the girl he’s always loved waiting for his daughter’s name to be announced. He presses a quick kiss to Maia’s temple before they both turn their attention back to the ceremony.

“These fifteen young, bright children have grown in so many ways over the course of this past school year. And now, many would say, they’re ready for the big leagues also known as kindergarten.” The crowd laughs along to the joke, hundreds of emotions being felt at the same time. “The teachers and myself have all cherished the time we had together with these little ones so this is just as special for us as it is for you. Without a further ado, we’ll now be presenting the students with their preschool diploma.”

All the little kids stood up in front of their chairs, the biggest smiles plastered onto each of their faces. Cale spots Maisy easily. Her curly blonde hair is pinned back on the sides and her pink glasses aren’t hard to find in a small group. She picked out her favorite dress, a sparkly blue one, just for today’s event. Watching her shuffle forward on the stage, beautiful and happy, makes Cale think about how much she’s grown up. Time has passed too quickly for his liking and seeing his little girl up there now, moving onto another monumental time in her life, strikes his heart like never before.

The sadness doesn’t stick around for long though as Maisy steps up and Principal Andrews says her name out loud.

“Maisy Beatrice Makar.”

Tears spring into Cale’s eyes while he and Maia stand to clap and cheer. Maisy walks with joy in her step across the stage, accepting a tiny diploma and waving out to Cale right afterwards. With a watery smile and his usual rosy cheeks, he waves back to her. And when Maia leans into his side as silent support, the whole moment couldn’t be any more perfect than it is.

“She did it.” Cale whispers in awe and Maia giggles softly next to him.

“She did. But it’s only preschool. You have at least three more graduations to get through.”

It’s then that the entire class stands in front of the crowd with their diplomas and the principal declares them all preschool graduates. Everyone erupts in cheers, pictures being taken from all angles and Cale is pretty sure the grin on his face will be stuck there for days. 

“Before we conclude our ceremony, it’s part of our school’s tradition to invite parents or guardians on stage for pictures and to represent who will be offering support to the students as they continue on with their education. So, those special individuals, please make your way to the front.” 

“Ready?” The question is a mumble, but Maia hears it. She nods, grabbing Cale’s hand again. Both of their hearts are beating so fast that it’s a surprise no one around hears. Together, they walk towards the stage to join Maisy who is clueless to the moment that’s about to unfold. 

“Daddy!” Maisy calls when she sees Cale come up the stairs. Her excitement is incredibly infectious, something that Maia adores about her too. “And Maia? You both came up?” She asks, obvious confusion crossing over her facial features.

“Of course. Maia is part of our family, isn’t she? We always say so.” 

“She is! Principal Andrews said parents so I only thought you would come up, Daddy, but it’s way better with Maia here too. We’re a family.” Maisy says gently, warmth in each word as she processes what this means.

“We’re a family, Maise.” Maia repeats back before kissing the top of the little girl’s head and earning a giggle. Cale watches on as pure love makes his heart swell. This is all he’s wanted for so long. The girl of his dreams and his daughter. Life couldn’t be any better. 

And later, when they’re settled at their usual table at Proto’s for Maisy’s celebratory dinner and Maia hands over her gift which of course is a copy of “Maisy Goes To School”, her personal favorite of all the Maisy Mouse books and fitting for the occasion, Cale is hit with a realization. 

No matter what happens in his life going forward, he knows something now that he didn’t before. As long as he has these two, Maia and Maisy, everything will always be okay. And that is all he will ever need.

tagging some friends/mutuals who might be interested! @tonyspep​ @starshine-hockey-girl​ @kailyn-writes​ @rosesvioletshardy​ @sorryjustafangirl​ @laurenairay​ @miracleonice87​ @hockeyunits​ @stroopwaffle8​ @musiclove-12​ @eightmakar​ @ilyasorokinn​ @barzysreputation​ @broadstflyers​ @breezymichelle99​ @comphyjost​ @ya-pucking-nerd​ @jostystyles​ @ch-ristiane​ @beauvibaby​ @sourjoonie​ @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69​ @itrocksmysocks​ @tysonjost-taylorsversion​ @boqvistsbabe​ @happer08​ @antoineroussel​ @tpwkstiles​ @hockeylvr59​ @2manytabsopen​ @senditcolton​ @equallyshaw​

[equallyshaw]

My Masterlist of everything I have written or am currently writing. all my works so far :)

Wattpad Link to my profile and stories.

Series:

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ - Qᴜɪɴɴ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ: ᴘᴛ 1, ᴘᴀʀᴛ 2,

ᴘᴀʀᴛ 3, ɪɴꜱᴛᴀ ᴇᴅɪᴛ. Spotify playlist.

↓

ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇꜱꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴ ʙᴏʏ - Qᴜɪɴɴ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ.

ꜱɴɪᴘᴘᴇᴛ.

ɪ, ɪɪ, ɪɪɪ ,IIII, epilogue

.↓

ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴍɪꜱꜱ ꜱᴛᴀʀʟᴇᴛ ꜰᴛ. ᴍᴀt Barzal

.↓

ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ: ᴄᴀʟᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴀʀ: ᴘᴛ 1, ᴘᴛ 2, ᴘᴛ 3,

ᴘᴛ 4, ᴘᴛ5, ᴘᴛ 6, ᴘᴛ 7, ᴇᴘɪʟᴏɢᴜᴇ. Masterlist.

↓

ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ: ᴊᴀᴍɪᴇ ᴅʀʏꜱᴅᴀʟᴇ.

ᴘᴛ 1, ᴘᴛ 2, ᴘᴛ 3, ᴇᴘɪʟᴏɢᴜᴇ.

↓

Ｉｍａｇｉｎｅｓ：

ᴍᴀᴛᴛʜᴇᴡ ᴛᴋᴀᴄʜᴜᴋ: ɴᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ꜱᴀᴄʀɪꜰɪᴄᴇꜱ

ᴄᴀʟᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴀʀ: ʟɪɢʜᴛꜱ ᴏᴜᴛ.

ᴛʀᴇᴠᴏʀ ᴢᴇɢʀᴀꜱ: ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴍᴇ.

Qᴜɪɴɴ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ: ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ?

ᴇᴛʜᴀɴ ᴇᴅᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ - ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ꜰᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇ.

ꜱɪᴅɴᴇʏ ᴄʀᴏꜱʙʏ: ᴛʀɪᴀʟꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀɪʙᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ.

ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ : ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ. ᴘᴛ 2.

ᴄᴀʟᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴀʀ: ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ʙʟᴜᴇꜱ.

ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ɪɴ ʜᴀᴡᴀɪɪ: ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ

Love knows not bounds: Nathan mackinnon.

Something borrowed: Nathan macinnon.

Blue moon: mat barzal.

It’s your day, my love: nico hischier.

Everything I need right here: Matthew Tkachuk.

Presidents daughter: Jack hughes

King of my heart: Colton Dach.

Come back to me: Matthew Knies.

↓

ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇQᴜᴀʟʟʏꜱʜᴀᴡ:

1. ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴡ ᴛʏꜱᴏɴ ᴊᴏꜱᴛ

2. ʙᴀʙʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴡ ᴍᴀᴛ ʙᴀʀᴢᴀʟ

3. ᴀʟʟ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴡ ɴɪᴄᴏ ʜɪꜱᴄʜɪᴇʀ

4. ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴏᴡɴ ᴡ Qᴜɪɴɴ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ

5. ᴀᴜʟᴅ ʟᴀɴɢ ꜱʏɴᴇ ᴡ ᴅʏʟᴀɴ ʟᴀʀᴋɪɴ

6. ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴡ ᴋᴇɴᴛ ᴊᴏʜɴꜱᴏɴ

7. ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴡ ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ

ꜰɪɴᴀʟᴇ: ᴄᴀʟɪꜰᴏʀɴɪᴀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴡ ᴊᴀᴍɪᴇ ᴅʀʏꜱᴅᴀʟᴇ

“𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫" 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭:

List of players and songs:

↓

Social media edits:

Quinn Hughes x oc Zegras

Nathan mackinnon x oc actress

Jack Hughes x oc

Mason Mctavish x oc Bedard

Jack Hughes x youtuber

Ethan edwards x oc

Auston matthews x oc

Cale Makar x reader

Qᴜɪɴɴ ʜᴜɢʜᴇꜱ x ꜰᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙʟᴜe

May Barzal x oc

William Nylander x oc

Auston Matthews x oc

Quinn hughes x oc

Matthew Tkachuk x oc

Forever a leaf x oc dubas

Papas day x n hischier

•

[laurenairay]

You Say I Am Loved - C. Makar

Summary: 4 times Cale Makar comforted Katerina Stewart and 1 time Katerina Stewart comforted him.

Word Count: 5.7k

Warnings: hurt/comfort, anxiety, fluff, established relationship

A/N: thanks @antoineroussel​ for asking me to fill in as a pinch-hitter for the summer fic exchange! This story was written for @blueskrugs​ – I hope you enjoy this Cait! I haven’t written for Cale before so this was a great challenge for me (and I really enjoyed the hurt/comfort element!).

Also, big thanks to @tippedbykreider and @danglesnipecelly for their encouragement - you guys are the mvps 💖 inspired by the song You Say by Lauren Daigle.

*

Katerina Stewart didn’t believe in coincidences. Everything happened for a reason; every missed bus, every rainy day, every conversation with a stranger – they all meant something. By embracing the random chances in life, she knew that she’d never miss out on something she would later regret. Perhaps that was the art student in her, seeing the positive in a world that would love nothing more than to stomp out her hope, but she didn’t care. Kat saw the world from a glass half full perspective, and she wouldn’t change that for anything.

So she walked home instead of waiting for the next bus, seeing the world in real-time speed that would otherwise have sped by. She danced in the rain and smiled as it soaked her clothing to the bone, knowing her painting supplies were tucked away safely in her waterproof rucksack. And she spoke to every stranger who spoke to her – the little old lady in the grocery store, the newlywed couple in the dog park with the cutest Pomeranian…and Cale Makar in the coffee shop.

Cale Makar, with his shy smile and his earnest everything and his complete inability to speak to her the first three times he saw her, apparently.

That had been a shock, to say the least. Sure, she hadn’t approached him, but that was because she had recognised him from posters around the city, and she didn’t think it was actually her he was looking at. Kat prided herself on being an approachable friendly person (see: little old lady in the grocery store and the couple in the dog park), but even her warm smile and open nature hadn’t been enough to override Cale’s shyness. But it only took that one chance from Cale, that opening line of “they’re really rushed off their feet in here today, aren’t they?”, to start a conversation that just kept on rolling, leading to them sitting down at a vacant table together. By the end of the hour in the coffee shop, Kat had given him her number with strict instructions to actually message her.

And he had.

A couple of days went by with them messaging constantly, whenever they each had a spare moment (and sometimes even when the moment wasn’t spare, much to the delight of EJ and to Cale’s despair when the team caught him), until Cale had asked if she was free on Friday night. Without hesitating, Kat had said yes. Embrace all the random chances, right?

Along came Friday night and Kat was excited. Actually, that was an understatement. This guy, this incredibly sweet and seemingly genuine guy, made her feel giddy and gave her butterflies, and even just thinking about him put a smile on her face. Already he affected her like this, before their first date – and she couldn’t wait to see how the night went. And what was the date? Well, Cale has suggested they go to the local outdoor ice rink. It was December, all the pretty lights were out in preparation for Christmas, and it was an easy distance for them to get to – what wasn’t to like? She had wanted to tease him for playing to his strengths, but the hopeful tone in his voice when he’d called her to ask had stopped her – he really was so adorable. And besides, she had the cutest winter outfit with coordinating hat, gloves and scarf that would be perfect to wear (and the light blue colours made her dark hair pop), so why not just roll with it?

Welcome the unknown. And she’d never known any guy like Cale before.

Cale picked her up from her campus apartment, immediately complimenting her outfit (she knew it was a winner!), making her glad that she’d put so much effort into looking good. Looking good for him? No, looking good for herself. Not that Cale couldn’t appreciate it…

And by the sideways glances he kept giving her as they drove, he definitely did appreciate it.

It had been years since Kat had ice skated, but after Cale helped her choose the right skates and even helped her lace them up properly – the sight of him on his knees in front of her was one that wouldn’t leave her mind for a while – the two of them headed onto the ice. As expected, she was a little rusty. But there was no way she was going to give up this early. The air was crisp, the fairy lights were twinkling, and she had the cutest guy next to her – this was heaven.

“I can, um…would you like to hold onto my arm?” Cale offered.

It was the light blush on his cheeks that made her smile. “I’d like that,” she nodded.

Biting her bottom lip, she looped her hand through his extended arm, clutching at his bicep as they started to move again. Much easier. Cale smiled down at her as they slowly skated side by side, Kat holding onto Cale like a lifeline, making her smile back up at him. Never had things felt so easy with anyone else. Never.

“You’re an artist, right?” he asked, glancing down at her.

Kat clutched at his arm a little tighter, making sure she was as secure as she could be before she focused on talking to him. He deserved her full attention.

“An art student, yeah,” she nodded, swallowing a little heavier than she intended.

When people asked her what she did, saying ‘art student’ tended to go one of two ways. One option was that people seemed impressed at the creativity. But the other, the more common option, was that people frowned as if to say really?

She really hoped Cale wasn’t one of those people.

“You must be really talented to pursue a degree in it!” he said sweetly.

Oh wow. She felt her cheeks heating up, her olive skin doing nothing to hide the blush that flooded her cheeks. She hadn’t been expecting that.

“I do okay,” she eventually shrugged, cheeks still warm.

“Are you really going to be modest with me?” he teased.

Oh two could play at that game.

“How could I not be, when I’m next to the guy who was called up from college to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs?” she teased back.

Now it was Cale’s turn to blush. Hah. Good.

“I think I’d rather talk about you,” he said softly.

It was his gentle sincere eyes that made Kat’s breath hitch in her throat, her head nodding in agreement before she could stop herself.

“Um, sure. What do you want to know?” she asked, a little stunned.

For the rest of their 45-minute skating session, their conversation didn’t stop. Back and forth they talked and asked questions, learning more about each other that their texting hadn’t covered. To be honest, Kat was a little astounded when it came for them to leave the ice – time had flown by, without her even noticing. When was the last time conversation had been so effortless like this on a date? Or ever, with anyone?

But when she sat down to unlace her skates, she found that her fingers were too numb to untangle the knot. Okay so maybe her cute new gloves weren’t as warm as they could be.

“Everything okay?” Cale asked, frowning as he noticed her not moving.

“Uh, my hands are too cold to untie my skates?” she offered, wincing at how silly it sounded.

Cale’s frown slipped to an expression of alarm and he quickly knelt down in front of her (again, whew).

"Here, give me your hands,” he murmured.

Kat wordlessly did as he asked, gasping softly as he cupped her frozen fingers between his hands and blew against the useless wool. His breath filled the material covering her hands, warming her instantly, and she bit her bottom lip as he blew again. No-one had ever comforted her like this, ever. No-one had even offered. So for Cale to just do it instinctively on their first date? Wow.

“Hopefully that takes the edge off?” Cale said, looking up at her with wide eyes.

Kat wiggled her fingers, smiling at the lack-of-pain in the movement. “Much better, thank you,”

Cale just grinned – before reaching for her laces. She was too surprised to refuse, sitting still in shock as he carefully unlaced and loosened her boots, until he winked up at her when he finished. Oh that boy knew exactly what he was doing. How smooth.

Somehow, Kat didn’t find herself minding all that much.

“Last person with their shoes on buys the hot chocolate?” Cale suggested playfully.

Kat looked down at his skates, which were still tightly laced, before laughing. “Oh you’re on,”

Naturally Cale lost. And yet Kat was charmed, her hand having found its way to curl over his bicep once more, despite not needing the assistance at all. Cale didn’t seem to mind, funny enough, smiling shyly down at her after he ordered a hot chocolate for them both. Kat huffed out a laugh, her breath curling into mist in the cold air, but smiled back up at him, sweetly, effortlessly.

What an incredible date. What an incredible guy.

“I think this is the start of something beautiful,” Kat said softly.

The pink flush of Cale’s cheeks only made Kat smile wider. “I really hope so,”

*

Kat and Cale’s relationship only flourished from there. One date turned to two to three to ten to six months down the line in a relationship that was only going from strength to strength. He built her up and supported her just as much as she did to him, him attending as many art shows and exhibitions as he could while she went to every home game as well as some official Avs events as his girlfriend – it was a partnership of equals, something that Kat had only ever hoped for. And Cale was more than she could ever have dreamed.

For Cale, Kat was a breath of fresh air. Her positivity was so refreshing in a world that could be so stressful and bleak, and her go-with-the-flow nature helped him appreciate the smaller things in life. It was so easy to get caught up in his head sometimes, with the pressure he put himself under, as well as the pressure with hockey and the team in general, but Kat was always there with a sweet smile and warm words to bring him out of that fog.

She was always there, by his side, ready to cheer him on, just like he did with her. So when Kat didn’t answer his texts or calls for three days straight, Cale got worried fast. Both of them had been busy lately – Cale was out of the playoffs now, and Kat had been to all of his home games in this first round, even though it was coming to the end of her degree. He’d done his best to encourage her with her portfolio creation and selection on the days he’d been home, and he thought she’d appreciated it – so after the locker cleanout days and team admin things he needed to sort out, he’d given her some space (and taken some for himself, to be honest), always sending her texts to check in.

But he hadn’t received anything in return. And three days was more than long enough. So on the evening of that third day, he drove over to her campus apartment to see if she was there. He didn’t know what he’d do if she wasn’t there. It was all he could do to channel a bit of that positive hope she always tried to instill in him.

“Oh thank fuck,”

Cale blinked in surprise at the greeting from Kat’s flatmate Sarah, earning a wincing smile back. Oh thank fuck. Was that a good thing?

“Is Kat home?” he asked hopefully.

“Yeah, she’s in her room. Full on zombie mode. I don’t think I’ve seen her leave in literally three days,”

Three days. Shit.

“Has she eaten?” he frowned.

“Not that I can tell, sorry man. Feel free to come in, I need to grab some groceries anyway,” Sarah shrugged.

Zombie mode. Hasn’t left her room. Hasn’t eaten.

Where was the cheerful positive girl he’d come to know? Damn it, he should’ve come sooner, he shouldn’t have given her the ‘space’ he thought she’d want. Damn it. He didn’t even register the front door closing behind Sarah as he walked towards Kat’s room, knocking twice on the door before opening it.

“Cale?”

He looked at Kat and tried not to let his jaw drop in surprise. She was sitting at her desk, clear of sketchpads for once, but hunched over a laptop that he rarely saw her use, her legs pulled up tight to her chest. Her dark hair, usually so glossy (thanks to an expensive conditioner she tried to ration) and tumbling down her back was thrown up into a greasy bun. Her eyes were clearly straining at her laptop, her lips her chewed and chapped, and she looked exhausted. Sarah was right. This was full on zombie mode.

“Hey Kat. It’s been a few days,” he said, hesitating a little before perching on the end of her bed.

Kat winced, tongue darting out to wet her dry lips.

“Has it really?” she grimaced, “I guess I lost track of time,”

Cale stayed silent as she fished in the pocket of her (his) hoodie, locating her phone – which was dead. She winced again.

“Damn it,” she groaned.

Well at least that explained why she hadn’t responded.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, reaching out a hand towards her.

Kat bit her bottom lip but took his hand anyway, uncurling her feet from her desk chair to sit down next to him on her bed instead. If it had really been three days…she could only guess what she looked like. And she would put money on none of the other Avs partners ever looking like this. Great. Great job Kat.

“I’ve been better. Just got this final assignment to finish, that’s all,” she shrugged.

One final essay, explaining the themes of her essay and why she chose all her pieces and just everything she hated about being in college. Essays!

Cale let out a breath of relief – was that all that the problem was?

Kat watched him let out a breath of relief and frowned – what did he have to be relieved about?

“I thought you weren’t talking to me for a bad reason,” he admitted.

It was all she could do not to let her jaw drop.

“You think this isn’t bad? You think this isn’t serious?” she said incredulously.

“I didn’t mean that, you know that. I just…I haven’t heard from you. I was really worried,” he said, trying to reassure her,

“This is it, Cale. It’s the final of everything I’ve worked on for the last four years,” Kat shot back, “I have to put all my focus on it,”

Cale just smiled, trying to diffuse her mild temper, and squeezed her shoulder. Her passion was one of the things he loved most about her – even when it translated to this intensity. She just loved so much, especially her art.

“You’ve already finished your portfolio – all of those incredible drawings and paintings, they’re all done. It’s just this one last thing,” he soothed.

“This last thing is a ridiculous essay and I am not a writer. I am an artist. My art speaks for itself,” she groaned.

“I know. You know. We all know. But you’ve just got to do this one last thing for the stuffy dinosaur administration who couldn’t understand art if a child explained it,”

She couldn’t help but laugh, her frustration melting away at his words.

“You have been listening to my wine rants,” Kat giggled, unable to keep her bad mood up.

He cares. He really cares.

“I always listen,” he mused, “Even when you and the other halves are slurring and stumbling as bad as Josty on rum,”

The cheek! Accurate, but still!

“Lies! Slander! I won’t stand for it!” she said dramatically.

Cale just laughed, rolling his eyes fondly (there was his girl), before leaning forward to press a kiss to the side of her head. Kat immediately frowned, pouting up at him until he laughed again, leaning down to kiss her lips this time, earning a soft happy sigh from his girlfriend.

“That’s better,” she said, smiling up at him once he’d pulled away.

Cale smiled back, but not as fully as he usually would. All he could focus on were the bags under Kat’s eyes, the tension in and around her eyes too, and he hated how pale and tired she looked. What he hated even more was that she wasn’t going to do anything about herself. So it was up to him.

“Time for a break,” he announced.

“What? No! I still have so much to do,” she insisted.

“Kat, sweetheart, when was the last time you ate a full meal? Or even slept more than just passing out at your desk for an hour?” Cale frowned.

She opened and closed her mouth, unable to give an answer that didn’t sound awful. Because the truth was that she didn’t know when she last did either of those. Her wince told Cale all he needed to know.

“This isn’t healthy for you. Going over the same thing, over and over again, it’s only going to mess with your head. And you need food and sleep to fuel your brain to write in the first place. How about we drive back to mine, I’ll make you a light dinner, and you can take a break while you eat it?”

“Cale, I don’t know…”

“I wasn’t finished,” he teased.

She huffed a laugh, nudging him with her knee, earning a nudge back.

“Why don’t we read it together when you’ve finished eating? That way you can get an outside perspective, and you can go through your line of thinking?”

Kat bit her bottom lip in hesitation. Cale…reading her essay? She wanted to shudder at the thought. Like she said, there was a reason she was an artist and not a writer. But he did have a point about the outside perspective. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad? He wouldn’t be rude about it after all…

“I just want to help you, Kat. That’s all,” he said softly, drawing her back out of her head.

“I know you do babe. And I appreciate it, I really do,” Kat said, smiling tiredly.

Cale stayed silent, raising an eyebrow, making Kat laugh softly. He always could read her so well. So, she nodded, admitting defeat.

“You can feed me. And read my essay,” she sighed.

Cale just grinned at her, darting forward for another quick kiss. “You won’t regret this, I promise,”

His earnest nature, as always, melted her heart just that little bit more.

“Embrace the chances, right? I trust you,” she said, huffing out a breath, “Pinky promise,”

“Pinky promise. I just want to look after you, in the ways that you’ll let me. If I can give you a bit of comfort with some food and a hug, then I’m going to,” he beamed at her.

To be honest, with him that would be all she needed. He always knew how to make things better.

*

Summer passed in a happy daze. Now that she was no longer a student, Kat had the whole summer free before she needed to be back in Denver. Cale had insisted that she take the time off to relax before looking for jobs – and with her agreeing to move in with him when they went back to Denver together, she knew she was lucky to have that security. So after moving her belongings from her campus apartment to Cale’s apartment, she flew back to New York to spend some time with her family. She’d seen her parents at her graduation, them having met Cale in person then too. Her mom adored him, obviously – and her dad, surprisingly, was won over immediately. Not that it was possible to dislike Cale, but as his only child and daughter, her boyfriends through high school (and the one guy she dated in college freshman year) had faced a much sterner treatment.

But not Cale. Never Cale.

So back to Queens she went, celebrating her graduation with her parents and aunts and uncles and cousins and childhood friends, having planned two weeks at home by herself before Cale joined her for a few days. They then had planned to spend another few days with her family before heading to Rome for a week, their first holiday away together (and Kat was unbearably excited), before heading up to see Cale’s family for a week. After that, they would head back to Denver together, to start the next chapter in their relationship.

That was the plan anyway.

And that was exactly how their summer went. Kat kept up with her sketching all the way throughout, inspired by the sights and the surroundings and the people around her, and she bolstered her resumé by submitting freelance to various magazines as well as creating an online profile for her portfolio, keeping her digital skills sharp on the many journeys she travelled.

Somehow it paid off. Kat kept up the freelance work while applying for jobs – as her professors and tutors had suggested – and while she got a fair few rejections for all kinds of reasons, after two months she got that lucky break. A graphic design company, specialising in the realism designs that she herself preferred, took a chance on her portfolio, inviting her to an interview for an entry level position – and she got the job.

Embrace the chances.

They had taken a chance on her, and she had taken a chance on them – now, it was time for her to start her first day. Kat couldn’t remember the last time she was this nervous. Her usual positivity was in short supply. Her glass half full nature was teetering. Her cheerful seize the day mentality was shaky at best.

But what was the best thing about living with her boyfriend? He was there by her side, ready to be her rock.

“Are you ready?” he asked, smiling.

“As I’ll ever be,” she nodded, trying to smile back.

Cale grinned at her attempts to keep her confidence up. He’d never met anyone like her, that was for sure.

"Remember to breathe," he teased.

Kat took a dramatic deep breath in and then out, making Cale laugh, and she couldn’t help but laugh herself.

Maybe that was his intention all along.

They were standing by the front door, Kat dressed in a new outfit that Cale insisted she let Mel Landeskog take her shopping for. To get her in the right mindset, he explained. Well, it had kind of worked, until it was time for her to pick up her bag and head out of the apartment. But Cale had been waiting for her, ready to give her that goodbye good luck kiss, and now it seemed, a confidence boost.

He smiled sweetly at her, taking both her hands in his, making her look up at him. “I believe in you, okay? You’re going to be amazing,”

Kat felt her cheeks heat up in a blush and she shook her head, earning a tsk from Cale.

“I’m just a junior associate. Not even a designer yet,”

“It’s a foot in the door. They hired you because of your portfolio – clearly they saw potential in you. This is the first step of many and you’re going to show them just how incredible and talented you are,” he said firmly.

She bit her bottom lip, looking up at him shyly. “You really do believe that, don’t you?”

Cale beamed and nodded, that genuine sincerity shining through as always.

“I believe it and I know it. You’re special, Kat. It’s time for you to show the world. Pinky promise,” he said softly.

Kat huffed out a laugh but squeezed his hands, still feeling a little dazed. How did he always know what to say? Even after all this time, how was he so wonderful?

“Pinky promise. You always know how to make me feel better,” she murmured.

“You deserve it. You deserve to be happy, to feel confident, to be secure, everything. All the time. If I can do that for you, then it makes me the happiest and luckiest guy in the world,”

Kat’s heart sped up just that little bit more. “You wonderful ridiculous man,”

“Your wonderful ridiculous man,” he grinned.

She just laughed. That he was.

*

“Kat, sweetheart, you’re burning up,”

Kat groaned and swatted at the hand that Cale placed on her forehead, trying to ignore her boyfriend as she pushed herself upright. Woah, dizzy. No, that was temporary, she was fine.

“Now is not the time for your stubbornness,” he mused.

“Now is the time for me to get up and go to work,” she grumbled, trying to hide her grimace at the feeling of the sweat at her hairline.

She had gone to bed feeling fine, that much she knew. And this definitely wasn’t fine. This was…ugh, this was awful. Her body ached, her head was groggy and she’d already sneezed three time in the last 15 minutes. Great. Just great. She didn’t have time to be ill!

But Cale’s gentle hand on her shoulder kept her from getting out of bed, and she just sighed as he crawled over to sit beside her.

“It’s a nasty flu sweetheart, you should be resting,” Cale said softly, eyebrows pinched together in concern.

“But it’s January!” she huffed, “I never get the flu past Christmas! I’ll be fine,”

Cale just laughed, shaking his head. “Guess you hit the jackpot this time. And no, you won’t be fine, you need to rest,”

Kat just pouted, eyes wide, making Cale laugh again.

“Don’t you pull that face at me,” he warned playfully, “you shouldn’t go to work and that’s final,”

“I’ve only been working there a couple of months, Cale. I haven’t even passed my probation yet. I can’t just take a day off!”

“Firstly, you told me last week that the flu has been going around your office, so this isn’t unexpected. And secondly, you absolutely can take a sick day. It’s a Friday and you haven’t got any deadlines for today or Monday – you can take one day off to let your body rest,” he insisted.

Damn it. She hated when he was right.

“I hate when you’re right,” she sighed.

Cale just pressed a kiss to her hair to hide his grin. “I know,”

She huffed out a laugh, ignoring the way it scratched her throat.

“Do think you can make it to the sofa?” he asked.

Kat bit her bottom lip, considering his question properly like she knew he wanted her too. Her head was foggy, but she wasn’t dizzy. Her legs were shaky, but her knees weren’t weak. Her runny nose and sore throat would be the same no matter where she was in the apartment. Yeah, she could make it to the sofa.

“Yeah, sofa sounds good,” she nodded.

Cale smiled and helped her stand up slowly, waiting until she was steady to release his hold on her.

“I’ll change the sheets and then come join you, okay?”

“I don’t want you to get sick though,” she frowned.

He just laughed. “This came on overnight for you, and we’ve been sharing a bed since I got back from the roadtrip three days ago. If I’m going to get it, then it’s already started,” he shrugged.

Kat grimaced. Disrupting Cale’s games, his chance to get on the ice, was the last thing she wanted. How could she not have planned better for this? As if he was reading her mind, Cale cupped her face with a hand, sending her a reassuring smile.

“None of that. No feeling guilty. I could just have easily caught a cold from one of the guys. Some of their kids picked up the flu in school this week,” Cale said firmly.

Kat sniffed but nodded, trying to push the negative thoughts away. That would do neither of them any good. “Are you sure you want to risk it?” she said softly.

“In sickness and in health, right?”

“Oh my god Cale, we’ve been together for just over a year,” she gasped, giggling.

What a thought though.

Cale just grinned. “Got your mind off things though, right?”

Kat just rolled her eyes playfully, sniffing again.

“Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I don’t know why I put up with you,” she teased.

Cale laughed, tugging her against his body, making her shiver (in a good way, for the first time since she woke up). “Oh I can think of a few reasons. But for now, how about because I’m going to change the bedsheets while you walk yourself to the sofa, and then I’m going to join you with fresh orange juice and more medicine?” he offered.

Kat groaned, thunking her head against his collarbone. “You are a dream, Cale Makar. People as good as you don’t exist in real life,”

Cale just grinned, pressing a kiss to her forehead before stepping backwards. “Sofa, now. Go get comfy. Call your boss,”

She smiled at him, as sweetly and as genuinely as she could. Some day she would figure out what good thing she did in a past life to deserve this man.

“I’ll be waiting,”

“I’ll be quick,”

*

Playoffs were different this year. Firstly, last year Kat had been in her final year of college, struggling through her own pressure, whereas this year she experienced everything with The Avs full-on. Secondly, the team had made it to the second round, meaning the intensity ramped up to another level. Cale had been looking more and more exhausted as each game went on – now she understood why he was so upset with her lack of sleep last year, she got it – and there was only so much she could do to make him feel better. It was all she could do to be there if he needed her, offering that silent support, being that rock for him like he always was for her. As much as she wanted to do more, there just wasn’t more she could do.

She did her best to boost him with positivity, to hype him up before games, and for the most part it worked. He left their apartment with a smile, albeit a tired one, and always gave her a hug and a kiss whenever he saw her and left her.

It was enough and it was everything. Until it wasn’t.

The Avs battled until Game 6, hard fought and worn to the bone, but again it wasn’t enough. Kat could feel the devastation all the way from the family box, clutching at Cale’s mom’s hand for a lifeline, tears springing to her eyes. All of this intense pressure, these injuries, these sacrifices, without the ultimate prize to show that everything was worth it.

Playoffs were different this year. But she was still Kat and he was still Cale, and together they would work out a way to make it through. Somehow. Embrace the unknown, right?

Eventually, everyone trickled out of the arena. It was a blessing that they were playing at home, so they didn’t have the long journey back. Cale’s dad had offered to drive, so Kat had stayed with Cale in the back seat, Cale clinging to her hand with no intention of letting go. Not that Kat minded in the slightest. She didn’t want him to let go either. It was all too soon before Cale’s parents dropped them off, returning to their hotel and leaving Cale and Kat by themselves. They stayed silent, barely moving away any distance from each other as they shuffled through the apartment to their bedroom, Cale kicking the door shut behind them, shutting out the rest of the world.

Eventually when they had both fully stripped off and crawled into bed, Cale let out a weary sigh.

“I really thought this was our year,” he said quietly.

Quietly, as in trying to hold back tears. Quietly, as in devastating Kat all over again.

“You fought so hard,” she whispered back.

“Just not hard enough,” he muttered.

“Hey, no, you pushed yourself to your limit. No-one can ask more than that,” she insisted.

Cale laughed bitterly. “I bet the media and the fans and management have something different to say,”

Kat scowled, a rare expression on her face, and looked at him head-on, making Cale pay attention. “Anyone that tries to say different doesn’t know their shit. You worked your ass off, played to the bone, fought tooth and nail to get this far. How many of you played through injuries, hm? How many injuries did you yourself play through?”

Cale winced, trying not to think about the twinge in his shoulder or the dark bruising on his ribs, both of which had needed rest for some time now. Kat sighed, running a hand through her hair, before cupping his face with her hand.

“I love you Cale. You were amazing. Are amazing. I couldn’t have asked for more from you and I am sure as hell not disappointed in you,” Kat said firmly.

“You’re not?”

It was the hesitation in his voice that broke her heart a little.

“Not even a little bit. I’m so proud of you,” she murmured.

Cale let out a shaky breath, moving to bury his face against her bare shoulder, allowing her to run her fingers up and down his bare back.

“Hey, what can I do?” she asked softly.

“Just hold me for a while. Please,” Cale said quietly.

“Of course, anything you need. Pinky promise,” she replied.

Katerina Stewart didn’t believe in coincidences. Everything happened for a reason – every choice she made, every direction she had gone in, had led her to this moment. It had led her to Cale Makar. And there was nowhere else she would rather be.