Breaking The Habit - Elias Pettersson [Vancouver Canucks]

Chapter 3: The Catalyst

"Over there?" I asked Ashley, pointing towards the table full of gifts waiting to unload their gift.

Ashley nodded and the second I laid the gift down on the table she was behind me with a glass of wine.

"Oh, thank you" I smiled at her. "Happy engagement party day"

"You came alone?" She asked, looking around.

"Uh yeah, of course" I breathed a laugh. "Who would I even bring?" Ashley nodded her head with an odd look on her face. "What's going on?" I asked her suspiciously.

"Ok, don't freak out" she started slowly.

"Why would I freak out?" I breathed a laugh before the panic set in. "Why would I freak out Ashley? What did you do?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time" she tried to convince me, and maybe herself a little bit.

"What. Did. You. Do?" I spoke slowly and with warning.

"Remember when you went to the bathroom after breakfast the other day?"

"Yeah?" I was getting confused.

"You may or may not have left your phone on the table..."

"Ashley..."

"And I may or may not have taken a number out of it..."

"I swear if-"

"I invited him here. I'm so sorry, I thought it would be nice for you to have a date and you said he was sweet and adorable and just because he plays hoc-"

"Stop talking, what did you do? Oh man, I'm a complete loser. I am a total loser. My friend has to...you know what? I'm not letting this get to me, tonight is about you and your fiancée so this is fine. This is fine" I repeated trying to convince myself while chugging the rest of my wine.

"I really hope that's true because...he's here" she turned me around, taking the glass out of my hand.

Damn, he did not have to look as good as he did. His suit fit perfectly and I couldn't help but curse the fact one more time that he was an NHL player.

"Ash-" I started before she cut me off.

"I'll get you more wine just...please be nice. He was excited and he seems so nice" she explained sympathetically.

"Of course I'll be nice. He's great he just-"

"Plays hockey" she lightly laughed, turning her attention to behind me. "I'm so glad you could make it, I'm Ashley" she shook Elias' hand.

"Elias. Thank you for the invite, you girls need a drink?" He asked sincerely after shaking her hand.

"I was actually just about to get Y/N some more wine" Ashley explained.

"I'm good Ash but thanks" I gave a warm smile as she moved to walk away.

"Enjoy yourselves, I'll be around" she smiled walking away.

"Thanks for coming" I stuttered out.

"You had no idea I was coming did you?" He chuckled, running a hand through his hair.

"Not one, I'm so sorry" I sympathized.

"It's ok, I kind of thought that's what was going on" he shrugged slightly.

"Then what made you come?" I asked seriously. He looked in thought before shaking his head. "No seriously, why would you come if you had an idea of the situation?"

"I guess...I guess I was just excited to get to see you again" he averted his gaze from me nervously. "I didn't like the idea of you being without a date. I had to at least try"

"You did?" I asked with wide eyes.

"I'm heading out, make sure they get this for me?" He handed me a gift beautifully wrapped.

"You're leaving?" I asked, confused looking up from the gift.

"I know you're probably uncomfortable and that's the last thing I want" he squeezed my elbow slightly with a small smile. "Have fun tonight" he leaned forward, speaking lowly in my ear. "You still look amazing in that dress by the way"

With that he turned and started to walk towards the door. I thought for a quick second before putting the gift on the table quickly and half jogged to catch up with him.

"Elias, wait" I stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Ok yeah I didn't know you were coming and I wouldn't have invited you myself but you went through all this effort I just...stay, please? You could be my non date date tonight" I giggled softly.

"You sure about that?" He asked seriously.

"I'm sure" I gave a soft smile. "Thank you"

We found where we were supposed to be sitting and took our seats as more people started filling the room.

"You lied to me, you know?" He spoke quietly leaning over to me once we were settled.

"How do you figure that?" I asked, confused.

"You're definitely taking attention away from the bride" he looked in the direction of people who were staring at us and talking in hushed voices.

"I think that might be you stealing that attention away there buddy" I laughed moving to pour myself a glass of water while Ashley made her way over to us.

"You guys ok over here?" She asked cautiously.

"We're fine, Elias is my non date tonight" I smiled over at him. "And we'll discuss this little scheme of yours later" I shot Ashley a look.

"But you guys are good? Like you're not about to kill each other right?" She looked at us seriously.

"Of course not" I breathed a laugh.

"Never" Elias added with a chuckle.

"Well good because there's a lot of people here wondering how and why Elias is here and I think some of them are eager to meet him so just a heads up" she grinned before walking away.

"She's infuriating" I laughed with a shake of my head as Elias shifted nervously in his seat as he kept glancing at the group who were staring. "Go" I gave a small laugh.

"Excuse me?" He looked at me confused.

"Go" I motioned with my head to the group consisting mainly of girls. "Go talk to the pretty girls"

"Why would I do that?" He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Because they're gorgeous and they would probably practically fall at your feet" I shrugged.

"But I'm your date" he was still confused.

"Non date" I corrected quickly.

"Still. I'm here for you, not them" he laid an arm on the chair behind me.

"It's really fine" I explained.

"I'm not leaving the most beautiful girl in the whole room tonight unless you tell me to go home" he spoke lowly before leaning over and whispering in my ear. "Even if she doesn't even want to be friends with me"

His low voice in my ear gave me the chills no matter how hard I tried to fight it. Watching him awkwardly return to his prior position while shifting nervously to play with the utensils on the table only made my unwanted fondness grow. My voice barely got out over a whisper when I finally tried to speak.

"Maybe we can make friends work"