no going back | nathan mackinnon

0.7

The sunlight poured in through the front facing windows of the small market, golden rays lit up the store- A faint hue of yellow and gold brushed against the various shelves and produce stands, colours of red and green were contrasted by the cardboard boxes lined along the wall.

Hobbling along the aisles, Y/N took a broom to the floor, sweeping and getting the store ready for opening. They usually had a steady customer basis throughout the day, the rush was around dinner time so they could pretty much relax until then. There were a few pick-up orders that were scheduled for the day, but other than that it would be pretty slow.

Y/N often found that she enjoyed the beginning of the day the most, it was always quiet in the store and when she worked alone, she had time to get her thoughts in order, just taking care of the score and planning out what she had to do for the day.

It was a rare instance in which she felt completely at peace, as she dragged the broom's bristles across the floors, she swept the dirt into the middle of the floor. It was 7am which meant they were officially open, although she didn't expect any customers for another hour or so. A soft hum slipped past her lips, the tune to some pop song she had heard on the radio a few days ago.

If there was one thing that she would be looking forward to, it was that Nathan was scheduled to start that day. He was going to come in around 7:30, so she was just getting a few things ready for him.

It had been three weeks since they played hockey in her driveway, ever since then they had been inseparable. Whenever Y/N had to work, Nathan would pop in and say 'hello' or bring her lunch. He was helping her days go by faster and for that she was grateful.

They had taken a few trips to the beach over the last few weeks, wasting the hours by swimming in the ice cold ocean- becoming covered in sea spray and dawned in sand or mud. The thing about Nova Scotia was that the beaches were beautiful but Freezing cold. The blue water was a navy shade, nowhere near close to the turquoise depths of the south. The sand was dark brown, often replaced by tiny pebbles- there was no such thing as soft white sand in Canada's coastal province, but Y/N wouldn't trade it for the world.

The ringing of a bell brought Y/N out of her thoughts, the front door opened slowly and as the brass bell above let out it's ring of entrance, Y/N grinned. Peeking around the corner of the large white painted door was Nathan, his familiar head of dirty blonde hair styled back to the best of his abilities.

"Hey- I thought I would come in early. I brought timmies." He told his friend, holding up a brown paper bag and a tray filled with two cups of coffee. One was kept in a burgundy cup, and the other a clear plastic. Iced coffee especially made for Y/N.

Setting her broom down, the girl leaned it against the counter and walked towards him. "Thank you- I wrote down a list of what needs to get done today." she told him, giving him a short side hug as she reached out for her coffee.

She took everything behind the counter and showed him what needed to be done. "I've got the register covered and I just swept, so basically I just need you to pack up the boxes for these different orders, and then do some unpacking of the stock in the back." everything in the back storage room was labeled so he wouldn't have too much trouble with it.

"Sounds good... So I can just go start?" he asked, leaning against the wall as he sipped his coffee.

Y/N smirked. "Not just yet." she backed up and bent over, reaching under the counter- after rummaging around for a moment, she pulled out a red apron that matched her own. "You have to wear this first." she passed it to him. On the top corner there was a name tag that read 'the dogg'

Immediately Nathan blushed a bright red. "You're not seriously gonna make me wear that are you?" he reached out and took the apron from her, his hands grasping the material. He let his fingers dance across the fabric, feeling the intertwined strands of dyed cotton.

Chuckling softly, Y/N shook her head. "You don't have to wear the name tag, but you should wear the apron- don't want you getting your clothes dirty." she told him. The name tag was only filled out using a dry eraser pen, so if he really wanted to change it- he could with no issues.

Y/N didn't usually wear a name tag considering the people that came in were usually regulars or locals of their small community, everyone knew her and her parents.

After finishing up their coffees and Y/N showed him the ropes, Nathan was sent on his way- ready to help out where he was needed. He packed the grocery boxes with every specific order, making sure that it was neat and tidy.

When the customers came in, he helped pack their groceries and carry them out to the car. In all honesty, it wasn't hard work- and for a few hours, Nathan was able to see what life would have been like if he wasn't a star athlete. In all honesty, it wasn't too bad, but that didn't mean that he was going to trade one for another.

It just gave him an inclination that if he were to ever quit or get seriously injured and god forbid never be able to play again, he could make it doing something 'normal' and not in the limelight of sports.

"Nate? Do you have the order for Mrs. Adams ready?" Y/N called out from the front, she had been in high spirits all day- having Nathan around was a very good moral booster, especially when she didn't have to do as much work. He was eager to please but he also enjoyed working, so it was good for both of them.

Not to mention the day was filled with lots of laughter and shenanigans.

"Yeah- Just a second." Nathan called out, he grabbed the box from the shelf, it was packed with various types of produce and meat as well as some dry and canned foods. Walking around the corner, Nathan made his way from the back to the front- part of him wanting to try and step in every square tile on the floor like he did when he was a kid.

Mrs. Adams stood at the counter, her wallet in hand. She was an older woman, nearing her late sixties. "How's retirement treating you Mrs.Adams?" Nathan smiled, remembering how the lady used to babysit him when he was younger.

The woman chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling, her face was covered in wrinkles but her youth was still evident through her mannerisms. "How many times do I have to tell you, It's Joyce- but anyways, Its exciting- I don't have to do a single thing unless i want to." she reached out and pinched his cheek while looking at Y/N.

"I really did miss seeing you two together- It's nice to see that you two made it work." She hummed, paying for the order in cash.

Immediately Y/N stiffened. "Oh- no, were not together like that..." she chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. She gave back the right amount of change and motioned for Nate to help her with the box.

Joyce pouted. "That's a shame- he's a good boy sweetheart... keep it in mind." She winked, heading out the door with Nathan following behind her to carry the groceries to her car.

For a few minutes, Y/N leaned against the counter, watching as Nathan made conversation with Joyce and helped her put the groceries into her backseat. The woman's words rang around in her head, Nathan really was a good guy, he was handsome, kindhearted, funny, and there was no one on earth that Y/N trusted as much as she trusted Nathan.

Biting her lip, a giddy smile stretched across her lips, she didn't know when or if she was going to tell him how she felt, but from that moment, Y/N knew that she wanted to be with Nathan- even if it was just to see where things went.

She loved him.