Je T'aime | D. Mercer

CH 1

"As you know, we are going to have a new player joining us. She was traded from the Montréal Canadiens earlier this year. She's a defenseman and the hope is to have her playing with us in the next week." Lindy Ruff, the head coach of the New Jersey Devils, finished his after-film speech. The team sitting before him whispered about the girl, did she only speak French? She did play for Montréal. Dawson Mercer looked to his friend Luke Hughes.

"Do you think she's good?" Dawson asked. Luke shrugged.

"I've never heard of her before. Lindy didn't even give us her name." Luke said with a monotone voice. Dawson sighed at the mystery and excitement of the girl overtook his tiredness.

...

As Dawson drove home, he thought about what the girl could be like. He settled on googling her when he pulled into the apartment complex parking lot.

Liliane Auclair is a 20-year-old defenseman for the New Jersey Devils. She was drafted into the National Hockey League as the 52nd overall pick in the 2021 draft.

Dawson hummed at the knowledge. She was drafted the same year as Luke.

Liliane Auclair is 5'10 and 175lbs. She has medium-length, dark brown hair. She was born and raised in Montréal, making her an early prospect for the team. She played her first game with Montréal on December 17th, 2021. She scored her first National Hockey League goal in the same game.

Dawson's phone died. He huffed as he shut off his car and unbuckled his seatbelt. He hopped out of the car and started his way inside, shoving his dead phone into his back pocket.

...

Dawson woke up early for morning practice the next day. He quickly ate breakfast and got ready, with the thought that he could meet Liliane before everyone else.

Saying Dawson was excited was an understatement. He was practically bouncing off of the walls as he walked into the Prudential Center.

When Dawson walked into the locker room Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier were already there with Liliane. They were standing around her "locker". The number 52 is next to her name on the plaque. It was next to Dawson's.

He walked over as calmly as he could when Nico spotted him. Nico smiled at his player and he smiled back. Liliane noticed her captain's gaze and followed it to Dawson.

Something in her shifted when she met eyes with Dawson. It was like meeting your soulmate for the first time, but it could be that. It was his eyes. The way they sparkled when he looked at her drew her to him. His hair seemed effortlessly perfect, it was messy and yet it looked good.

"Bonjour." Liliane said as Dawson placed a few things in his locker next to her.

"Hey." Dawsons said back. He smiled at the girl, hoping she'd return it. She did as she turned back to Jack and Nico.

They didn't talk the rest of the time until practice started. Everyone loaded out onto the ice, Liliane being in the back of the group. Dawson picked up on her unknowing state and he walked over to her before going out into the ice.

"You can stick with me for practice, you know, to get the hang of how we do things." Dawson said nervously. Liliane smiled gratefully as Dawson led her to the group of boys. They all stood before Lindy walked out to stand before the ice. Everyone took a kneel, Dawson next to Liliane.

"Morning practice has officially begun and we have a new skater. If you'd like to introduce yourself." Lindy said, nodding towards Liliane. Liliane stands up so everyone can see her.

"I'm Liliane Auclair. I was traded from the Canadiens De Montréal and I'm a defenceman." Liliane finishes and Lindy begins to speak again.

"Thank you. Now everyone, start pre-practice. Hischier, you're leading." Lindy says as he stands behind the waist-high wall that's guarding the bench. Everyone stands up and begins to skate their first of two laps.

"C'mon, Auclair, we've gotta get skating." Dawson says with a smile as he takes off with Liliane at his side.

...

Dawson and Liliane were both undressing after practice, hoping to make their way home before someone needed something from them. Liliane looks over at Dawson. He only had his NJD compression t-shirt on with his sweatpants that he wore to practice.

Holy shit. How could someone be so cute, but yet so hot at the same time? Dawson's head flipped at the call of his name.

"Hey, Daws." Luke Hughes, another defenceman, called out. Dawson nodded his head at his friend.

"Can I come over? Jack's watching film with Nico all night, which I do not want to be there for." Luke said with a laugh. It's like watching film meant something else to them, but no, they just watched on the TV, and it was always so loud.

"Yeah, sure." Liliane was listening to their short conversation, wishing she was comfortable with others on the team to speak up and talk to them.

"Do you want to come with us?" Dawson asks. Liliane doesn't respond as she thought he wasn't talking to her.

"Liliane?" Dawson asks again, snapping her out of her trance. She looks back up at him with wide eyes.

"What?" She whispers. Dawson asks his question again with hopeful eyes. Liliane smiles at the invite and nods.

"I'll come. Merci." Liliane says, leaving the younger boy confused. Dawson laughs at the lack of knowledge in his friend.

"Merci means Thank you, Luke." Dawson says with a 'duh' tone and a very bad French accent. Liliane giggles at his pronunciation and Luke nods out of embarrassment. Dawson turns back around to finish packing up a few things.

"Can you send me your adresse?" Liliane asks, accidentally using French instead of English mid-sentence. She notices what was said and she shakes her head back and forth.

"I'm sorry, I meant address." Liliane blushes. Dawson smiles a toothy grin, and Liliane notices his missing tooth.

"Yeah, here." Dawson opens his phone and sends his address to Liliane through the team group chat, which she was added to by Nico earlier this morning.

"Merci." She repeats to Dawson. He just smiles.