the death of a bachelor// Tyler Seguin//

chapter 15

I unpacked the last of my clothes then walked over to the closet and began to look for something to wear tonight. I'd just left Atlanta but was driving back up with Tanner, Ella, and Carter to see G-Eazy at one of the amphitheaters.

I grabbed a pair of ripped jeans from the shelf and paired them with a black tank top and a leather jacket. we left around 6, all piling into Ella's Tahoe and set off for the city. I sat in the back seat with Tanner nervously next to me. his foot tapped and his eyes were jolting over to me constantly.

finally, we got there but instead of the concert Tanner pulled me aside and asked me something, "can we get out of here?"

"Tanner are you joking I've waited months for this!"

"and I'll buy you tickets to his Dallas show. I just need to take you somewhere. somewhere we can talk. please..."

I sighed and grabbed the car keys from Ella then we headed off. Tanner drove us through Atlanta for about thirty minutes before we pulled into a parking lot. he grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway of the building we were in until a cold front hit my face and we were standing on the bench of a hockey rink.

"why are we here?" I asked.

"this is where we first met. a couple of young teenagers. I was fresh from Russia. spoke little English but I knew the moment i saw you standing in the bleachers over there i wanted to marry you. I loved how you smiled and you were reading a hockey or dummy's book. I remember being so nervous walking over to you but I as ecstatic when you agreed to let me buy you a burger. so we went up to the restaurant upstairs ate and watched the rest of the tournament.

I never thought I'd see you after that but as fate would have it you say next to me in homeroom the first day of freshman year. you bounced into Mrs. Clarke's room with your hair in a braid and a black Pink Floyd shirt and high tops. and damn the smile you got when you saw me. so a month later I made you mine. and I kept you for four years but then I made a mistake and I lost you. I let you leave. I thought that you would come back and it would be fine, that we would be fine. but it wasn't. it's almost five years later and well here we are. I'm looking at you thinking about how I wanted to be married by this time. how I wanted to have a kid with you by this time. a little girl named Ella with my eyes and your smile.

so let's make up for lost time. me and you. right now. I took a job coaching up here. you can move here. and I'll buy you whatever house you want. and after a month or two we'll start our family. just pick me Harley because I'm ready to be what you need rather than what I wanted to be."

I wiped a tear from my eye and caresses his jaw. "Tanner... I can't. I'm sorry to even have to tell you this but I can't. not that I don't want to but can't."

"why?" he asked softly.

I began to explain to him exactly why. his face dropped and his eyes began to water. we hugged for a long time, hoping it would somehow make my situation less upsetting.

"what are you going to do, Har?" he asked.

I shrugged and sat down on the bench. he sat next to me and rubbed his hand up and down my back. "well if you want me to be I'm here. my offer still stands. it always will."

"can we just skate for a little while?"

he nodded and put his skates on then helped me with mine. we spent hours skating around the rink while music played through the speakers. I still wasn't sure what I would do but for now I had him next to me.

our drive home was a quiet one and he didn't drop me off at my house until around 2 or 3. I snuck in and up the stairs to see someone sleeping in my bed. I flipped on the light and Tyler shot up like a rocket.

"ty?" I asked.

"hey uh surprise," Tyler chuckled.

"why are you here?" I asked.

"Merry Christmas Harley," he said then pulled a gift out from under the bed side table. it was wrapped neatly with a bow on top.

I pulled apart the wrapping paper to see a box. I opened the box and a green jersey was sitting in there with the words marry me written across the name plate. a diamond ring was taped to the 91 and I could tell he was on pins and needles as he asked.

"well? will you marry me Harley?"