"There she is." Matt smirked as I walked into the locker room.
I raised a brow, then pulled out an earphone.
"Here I am?" I said quizzically.
"So, I looked you up. Turns out you're pretty hot." He winked.
"Uh, thanks?"
"You were the youngest Avs girl, ran away from home." He started. "Got anything you wanted by batting your baby blues, and got into SI."
By now the whole group was staring at me.
"What do you want to know Duchene?"
"Why Colorado?"
"Cause I was hoping, for a minute if I got a clean slate, started over someone would want me again."
"Why would someone like you want a clean slate?" He challenged.
Gabe POV
The words hung in the air and Raiyne's eyes pleaded for help, I knew she didn't want to talk about it. I also knew that she didn't want the whole team to know either.
"Matt, knock it off." I said quickly, his eyes snapping to me.
"I'm just curious." He defended.
"That's personal, if she wanted the whole damn team to know Raiyne would have told everyone." I replied.
Raiyne tossed a 'thank you' glance my way and ducked her head, escaping from the room. The door clicking shut behind her.
"I -" Matt started.
"No, get ready for practise." I cut him off, walking out the door as well.
She was already halfway towards the exit, head bent down and shoulders shaking. I jogged to keep up, and she spun slightly to see who was coming.
"I'm fine." She mumbled, before I could get close enough to see her completely.
"I know you're not." I told her.
"Gabe, does it matter? Thanks for standing up for me, but don't you have a team to be thinking about?" Raiyne asked shakily.
"That really doesn't matter right now." I replied, stepping closer.
"Yeah it does, I'm just another girl." Raiyne mumbled.
"Fortunately you're not just another girl Raiyne." I laughed.
Her eyebrows creased, and then she backed up.
"I kinda like you. No not kinda, I do like you." I blurted, her mouth dropped.
"Where you only there physically last night?" She asked astonished.
"Raiyne, I like you for you. I don't care who hurt you, I won't hurt you." I told her.
"Gabe please don't say that." She said, turning and jogging away.
--
I smashed Matt into the boards, and he fell sitting and looking up at me surprised.
"What the fuck man?" He asked.
"That's because you're an ass to her." I told him, skating away.
"Since when do you give a shit about her?" He asked.
"Since I went out with her last night and found out why she's like that." I spit out.
"Bullshit, you know she won't go for a dick like you." He retorted.
"Like your any better." I replied harshly.
Raiyne POV
Gabe Landeskog
-Locker room, 10 minutes?
I rolled my eyes and got out of the my car, making my way back into the arena my skates in my hand.
I pushed through the locker room door, the TV playing along with music and I moved with it easily, someone grabbed me and spun me, pulling my hips to theirs as I moved mine, the song ending.
"That was fun." Matt said in my ear.
"Ew, I hoped it was someone else." I said, pushing him away.
He pressed me to the wall, his body extremely close to mine.
"Raiyne, why are you here?" He asked.
"To skate dipshit." I replied, pushing his shoulders.
He pressed harder, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Get off of me Duchene."
"Make me."
I brought my knee up, then twisted his arm, catching him off guard and pinning him to the ground.
"Stay the fuck away from me."
"Raiyne what the hell are you doing!" Carmin exclaimed.
"He started it Car." I replied, grabbing my skates.
She rolled her eyes and lifted him, pushing him to the other side of the room.
"Stop being an ass." She aimed at him.
"I'm leaving, tell Gabe I left if you see him." I mumbled, escaping for the door for the second time that day.
--
The door opened, then closed and heavy footsteps sounded in the hall walking towards the living room.
"Carmin could you be any heavier on your feet?" I groaned, rolling on the couch. "You're not Carmin."
"Nope, but she did tell me your favourite ice cream." Gabe smiled, holding out a spoon.
I patted the couch and sat up, the cover slipping to my waist as I took the container.
"What happened?" Gabe asked.
"Matt was an ass, so I pinned him to the ground." I replied, eating a spoonful.
He nodded, then took the spoon and did the same and I raised my eyebrows.
"This is my favourite too." He laughed.
I nodded, taking the spoon back and stabbing the ice cream.
"I think I'm gonna move again." I said.
"Why?"
"Because it's happening again." I replied, handing him the container.
"But, I want you here."
"No one else does." I said.
"But I'm the only one that matters." He winked.
"Get over yourself Landeskog." I laughed.
His arms wrapped my waist and pulled me back onto the couch, sitting me on his lap.
"I bet I could convince you to stay." He teased.
"Naw, I'm pretty stubborn." I countered.
He laughed, then kept an arm around me as he reached for the remote.
"Well I'm not letting you go until you say you're staying." He said, his accent causing shivers.
"Then I guess we will be here for awhile."
"I don't mind." He whispered, lips brushing my temple.
