the death of a bachelor// Tyler Seguin//

chapter four

Tyler:

I nudged my knee against hers. she moved slightly but kept her position. she slept soundly on my shoulder as the plane went into decent.

"Hey, we're here," I whispered before lightly kissing her temple.

she leaned up and pushed her fingers through her hair. I knew she was exhausted by looking at her. she hasn't slept since they called her with the news. I'd been on the couch of her apartment for the last two nights. She lived in shock so I took care of all of the arrangements to get us here.

We finally went into decent and once the plane landed we were on our way to her house within thirty minutes.

"so where are you from again?" I asked.

"Harris County. about an hour and a half south of here." she smiled.

I googled the name and found that it was
close to a bigger city where the funeral would be held.

"they have a hockey team, you know?" she explained to me, "wanna catch the game tonight?"

"thought you didn't grow up around hockey," I laughed.

she rolled her eyes and told me how she didn't go to games as a kid but was willing to go for me.

we got to her house around three and cars were lined up and down the street.

"big family?" I asked grabbing her hand in mine.

she nodded yes and led me into the large house. voices filled the rooms, and small gasps joined in as I followed her throughout the rooms and to the kitchen where her mom was sitting, sipping a glass of red wine.

"Harley!" her mom exclaimed as she got up and flung her arms around the two of us, "and you must be Tyler. it's so nice to meet you. please call me Alice!"

"hi. it's nice to meet you too," I smiled. Harley stepped closer to me and my arm snaked around her waist. I pulled her tightly and pressed my lips to the top of her head.

"Harles do you want to go introduced Tyler to the rest of the family?" she asked.

"I was thinking the same thing. also uh mom we were planning on the hockey game tonight. is that okay?" she asked.

"yeah that should be okay, everyone is getting here tomorrow." She smiled and before we walked to the other room her mom added, "Did you know Tanner plays for them now?"

Harley looked down at her feet. She responded with a vague answer and I couldnt help but wonder who Tanner was.

Harley:

I grabbed a hoodie from the closet then bounced downstairs to meet Tyler. he leaned up against the counter in black gym shorts, a long sleeve black Dallas shirt and of course his hat.

"you ready?" I asked.

he looked up and smiled once his eyes caught me.

"as I'll ever be," he replied before lightly kissing the top of my head. our fingers intertwined as we walked outside into the breezy November night.

we both climbed into the car and set off for the rink. thankfully he was good with directions from other people so he drove on my moms strict instructions while I sat in the passengers seat going back and forth from picking songs to lazily tracing circles on the palm of his hand.

despite the game beginning at 7:30 we arrived at 6:45. I tightly embraced Ty's body as he stood in line for will call with a group of other people. I buried my face in his back praying not to be recognized but with no such luck.

Tanner's dad caught a glimpse of me and rushed over to say hello.

"Mr. Markov," I was careful to watch my tone. I hadn't seen him since I graduated.

"Harley! how are you my dear?" he asked happily. his Russian accent was thick just like Tanner's. both born just outside of Moscow but Tanner's mother born and raised here.

"I'm good. I didn't really think you'd be here. you guys are usually in Russia this time of year. but I guess with Tanner playing..."

he smiled and nodded but quickly his face went blank and Tyler walked up behind me and making an effort to seem as if I was his.

"Mr. M, this is Tyler...my boyfriend," the pause was audible and unappreciated by Tyler.

"Hi," Ty spoke up in a cheery voice, "I'm Tyler Seguin. it's nice to meet you!"

they carried on a conversation for a few moments before Ty and I decided to make our way to our seats.

we walked in silence, until he broke it

"so who's tanner?"

"my ex boyfriend. I dated him until I graduated then had the choice of him and Russia or college in Texas. I chose college. his parents never really forgave me for it."

"again. thought you didn't watch hockey," he pointed out

"It's a complicated story," I explained.

we sat down in our seats and instantly, out of habit, my eyes locked into tanner. he looked good. strong. his stick handling skills had improved tremendously and he was with out a doubt a lot faster.

his eyes met mine and a motioned for me to come to the glass. I followed his instruction and met him down there just before he flipped a puck over the glass and winked at me. I rolled my eyes and walked back up to Tyler who was green with jealousy.

"calm down. it's over," I whispered in his ear just as the players made their way off the ice, "just watch the game and breathe, Ty."

he nodded and occupied himself elsewhere. he had no right to be jealous, after all this wasn't real.