Reflection (Artemi Panarin)

Pants

First lesson: the first step to getting better is admitting there is a problem.

-Taylor's POV-

I woke up tangled with Artemi. His mouth slightly gaped open and a little bit of drool dripping out. I giggle at the sight and slid out of his grip.

I went to my kitchen and got started on cutting up fruits and whipping up some pancake batter. I had my music on low, humming to whatever Pandora played for me. Still in Arts t shirt and underwear I started to clean up the mess I made and Artemi emerges from my room.

"Morning sleepy head" I say trying to ignore that fact that his body looked like it was sculpted by the hands of God. Who even am I anymore?

"Morning beautiful" he mumbles kissing me on my temple. I smiled to myself and finished up the last of the pancakes.

"How did you sleep" Art asks sitting at the island.

"Actually, that we the best sleep I've had in years" I reply flipping a pancake. He smiles and nods his head, looking pretty proud of himself. A few minutes pass and I finally finish cooking.

There was a knock on the door and Art jumps off the stool to get it. Soon silence was filled with loud boys filling my apartment. My loud boys. About 10 of them file in and I'm suddenly thankful I made a bunch of food.

"Wait, did you guys fuck" Jonny asks pointing to Art's shirt I was wearing.

"Good morning to you too, Jonny. I'm great thanks for asking" I say sarcastically trying to grab all the Gatorade and water out of my fridge. I close the door then become swallowed in a hug.

"I'm sorry. Good morning? How are you? Did you guys fuck" Jonny asks. I calmly walk out of his grasp and to the island to pass out the drinks and return to punch him in the arm.

"Damn Taylor you weightlift" he screeches looking at his arm.

"No we did not fuck and no I do not weight lift" I say grabbing him a ice pack and wrapping it to his arm.

"It'll probably bruise but nothing you can't handle".

The other boys laugh and Artemi quickly hugs me from behind. Ever since the boys got here he never seemed to leave my side. Suddenly my phone vibrates from the island.

Pat: You're aware you're not wearing pants right?

Well shit. I look down then up at Artemi and he nods at the text.

"Okay you guys eat up and I'm going to get something from my room" I explain, Art never leaving my side. I quickly pull on pants and return to the kitchen to see the food was pretty much gone.

"Starbucks" I ask Artemi and he laughs in agreement.

After our pit stop we all head to practice and I retreat to my office. The Halloween party would be a week from today and after practice I was going to announce to the team what was happening and invite them if they wanted. I decide to shoot a text to Paul to see if Lucy could come.

Me: Hey Paul! Thanks for all the updates and I'm happy to hear Lucy was able to come home! I was wondering if you and your family would like to join some of the Blackhawks for a Halloween party?
Paul: Hi Taylor! We would be honored to join you and the guys on Halloween!

Me: Awesome! Can't wait! I'll send you all the information asap.

We text back and fourth for a while and eventually I head to the locker room. They should be done with practice by now. I entered the room with my eyes covered, "is everyone decent" I yelled and a chorus of "yeahs" sounds. After everyone was settled down I began my speech.

"A week from today we are holding a Halloween party here for underprivileged kids. We're expecting 80-100 kids and there will be food, candy, and fruit punch. Costumes are mandatory, you can also bring family and loved ones. We wanted to give a chance for these kids to do something they wouldn't usually do, so it will mean a lot to them if you guys came" I finished. I wanted Lucy's presence to be a surprise for Artemi. He and her have gotten so close over the few weeks they've known each other, he adores her. Almost everyone, if not everyone, agreed to be there and they seemed pretty excited.

"Oh and Pat... You're coming dressed as Elsa" I say casually. You would have thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head.

"No fucking way" he shakes his head.

"You owe me, plus it's for the kids. If you don't I will be very upset with you" I say crossing my arms over my chest and trying to make my best angry face. Yeah, I don't think that was successful.

"You're so cute when you're mad" Patrick coos pinching my cheek.

"I'm serious Patrick. You have to be there and fully dressed" I retort and he finally gives in. "L

"Fine, only if Jonny goes as a Minion" he tries.

Jonny spits Gatorade across the room and falls into a choking fit. "No.. Just because you're in the doghouse doesn't mean I'm going to suffer too" he says between coughs.

As they bicker I walk over to Artemis locker and sit down. After talking to Artem about his kids for a while Artemi comes and sits in my lap. I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his back.

"I'm taking you out today" he announces kissing the top of my head.

"Are you now" I laugh.

"Yes, because you're a great person and you deserve great things" he claims.

I continue to hold onto Artemi and didn't plan on letting go any time soon. "You guys are disgusting" Pat comments from his locker on the other side of us. I slip him the finger earning a chuckle from a few of the boys. Patrick puts his hand over his heart and fakes being hurt.

"Wow Taylor. That wasn't very kind" he pouts. Artemi gets up to pick up his bags and I rise to open my arms. Patrick finds his way into them and I give him a good squeeze. I feel Patrick being pulled off of me and before I could protest I was being thrown on someone's shoulder. Once I was done screaming I realized it was just Artemi. He headed out the door and to his car where he finally sets me down.

"And where are going, exactly" I ask climbing into his car.

"We... Are going on a adventure"