Social Media is FAKE • Q. Hughes

•E I G H T E E N•

QUINN's POV
I ran my hand over Nolee's hair, smoothing out her bed head. We have morning skate in two hours, which means I have to get up right now if I want to have time to get coffee and flowers for Nolee.

I sighed and pulled myself up and out of bed. I smiled while I washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then I changed and walked out into the kitchen. Petey was sitting at the island, drinking coffee and watching TikTok.

"Fun night last night?" Petey smirked at me.

"Shut up." I blushed, sliding on my sneakers. "Want anything from the caf?"

"I'm good." He said, raising his glass. I nodded then turned to the door. I made the short walk to the small cafe down the street from our apartment building, basking in the quiet. I'm a quiet guy, I enjoy and value my down time, so I'm more than happy to make the trip alone. Elias is nice to live with because he's also quiet. I grew up in a loud, busy house, hence why I don't live with Brock or Nils. You should see their apartment. I'm pretty sure Brock's mom still cleans it whenever she visits and thats the only time those surfaces touch cleaning products. Call me what you want, but I like a clean, quiet house.

A bell dinging above my head alerted me to my arrival at the cafe. I walked up to the register, seeing my favorite barista Ash.

"Usual?" They asked me.

"Just mine, but add a large caramel coffee with cream and extra caramel." I smiled at them, pulling out a twenty.

"Elias changing it up?" Ash asked me.

"No, he would never like that." I smiled, making small talk as they sorted out my change.

"Right. He likes his black." They said, handing me my change. "That'll be out in a minute."

"Thanks!" I smiled, shoving all my change in the tip jar. I waited a few minutes until the coffees came out. I grabbed both of them, placing them in a drink tray. I exited the cafe and looked both ways before cutting across the quiet street. I showed up to the tiny flower shop, smiling at the old couple who own the store.

"Hey Quinn!" Mr. Ronsin said, sending me a wave.

"Good morning." I smiled, approaching the counter.

"So she came back?" Mrs. Ronsin asked me.

"Yes. She's here for our next few games." I answered her.

"Well give me a few minutes to put something special together for her." She smiled, heading over to her work bench.

"That was a great game last night." Mr. Ronsin said, making small talk.

"Thank you. You know you're always welcome to come to a game if you let me know." I told him.

"You know I'm still saving it for that rainy day." He smiled at me.

I laughed, reaching forward to look at a flower charm.

"You think you could teach me how to score that goal?" He asked me.

"Of course. For safety reasons I'd need you to stretch first." I smirked at him.

"You know I led Saint Cloud State in scoring as a defenseman for three years before she swept me off my feet." He smiled, pointing a bony finger at his wife.

"Well I heard you started a dynasty over there." I smiled, recalling the story he tells me every time.

"You know I could've probably been drafted if I didn't get sent off to war." He said, his eyes going glassy. Mrs. Ronsin told me he's had a hard time coping with the effects of the Vietnam war, leaving when he was only twenty. They relocated to Canada after and started their life here, never looking back.

"Well I'm truly grateful for your service." I told him.

"Oh you're not telling the poor boy horror stories are you?" Mrs. Ronsin said, returning to us.

"Just talking hockey." I smiled. "How much?"

"Oh no charge today, just promise you'll keep this girl around, you keep us in business." She winked.

"Ok." I smiled. "She's not going anywhere."

Mrs. Ronsin smiled at me as I shoved a twenty in the tip jar. "Treat her to an ice cream on me then."

"Oh I will son." Mr. Ronsin smiled, waving as I exited the store.

I have an hour until I need to leave for practice so I double timed it, making my way back down the street. I rounded the corner, and decided the elevator would take too long, so I climbed the stairs.

I opened my apartment and found Petey and Nolee watching YouTube in the living room.

"Good morning." I said, placing a kiss on top of her head and handing her flowers and her coffee.

"Thank you!" She said, whipping her head around to look at me.

"Of course." I said, joining her on the couch. I watched as she admired the flowers, looking at all the different kinds of flowers Mrs. Ronsin included.

"Where do you even get these everyday?" She asked me.

"There's a small flower shop across from the cafe. I met the couple who owns it and I really like them, so I buy you flowers from them. Since it makes you so happy and I love to see you smile." I said, looking into her eyes.

"Gross Huggy, get a room." Elias smiled while rolling his eyes behind his glasses.

"Oh you're just depressed." I chuckled, referencing how Brock said he was breaking up with Elias after the game yesterday for reasons unknown.

"At least I was in a relationship." He deadpanned.

"Yeah for three periods." I laughed.

"I'm sorry, what?" Nolee asked, looking between us.

"Yesterday before we went on the ice Brock was tying his skate, kneeling in front of Petey." I started.

"And I asked Brock if he was proposing and he said yes." Petey explained.

"So for the rest of the game they were together." I told Nolee.

"But then he broke up with me because I threw the duck tape too hard at him." Elias shrugged.

"And now he's in a nasty mood." I smiled.

"Whatever you were jealous." Petey said, standing up.

"Now you're jealous." I teased, joining him.

I turned around to talk to Nolee. "We have practice today, but after we can nap and do whatever you want."

"But mostly nap." She smiled at me.

"Yes." I smiled down at her. Slowly I leaned down to capture her lips in mine, not wanting to overstep. Once I was close enough to feel her breath on me she sat up, closing the distance between us. I kissed her gently savoring the moment. I ruefully pulled away. "I'll see you soon."