I grabbed the phone and pressed answer, my throat dry as I spoke, "Hey dad, sup?"
I could hear his easy chuckle on the other end, then his voice fill the line, "Hey superstar, how've you been darlin'?"
I sighed and then laughed, feeling relieved as I let out the breath I hadn't noticed I'd been holding.
"Not much dad, but I have some news I bet you're gonna be excited about."
More laughter, "What's the news Raiyne?"
"I'm an Avalanche."
There was muffled noises, then a crash and then a lot of yelling. I pulled the phone away from my ear and Carmin started to laugh.
"MY LITTLE GIRL IS AN AVALANCHE! MARY-ANNE I TOLD YOU! Carmin I know you are there, has Raiyne fed you to the wolves yet?" Dad teased.
"Depends, if the wolves are the whole Avalanche team than yes. But I can take most of em." Carmin laughed.
"No boys girls. Don't make me send Aaron out to Colorado."
"No don't!" We yelled, and I almost dropped my phone.
"Tell me when you play Ray I'll be there, love you, and I'm proud of you. I really am kid."
"Thanks dad. Love you too." I croaked.
"Ok, who is Marry- Anne and who is Aaron?" Tyson asked.
"My mom-" I started.
"And her gorgeous fucking brother." Carmin groaned, tossing herself onto her back so she was across my lap. "Those eyes and the muscles, and the smile. Holy shit."
"Are you almost done yet?"
"Ray you don't understand, he's like perfect."
"It's really creepy how many girls freak out over him." I shuddered.
"The only downfall is he is extremely protective. Like he'd burn down the house if he know she was staying here." Carmin mumbled.
I laughed and reached for my phone that once again rang, putting it on speaker.
"So little sis, when were you gonna tell me you're in the NHL. Do you know how dangerous that is?" Aaron said from the other end.
"Don't get your boxers in a twist, Aaron I'm playing one of my favourite sports and getting paid for it. Calm down."
"Raiyne it's two hundred plus pound guys raming you into the boards!"
"I'm not worried about it." I mumbled.
"I am, and if you get hurt-"
"I'm not gonna get hurt. I survived around you and your friends didn't I?"
I heard him sigh and then a mumble, "Whatever but if anyone hurts my baby sister I'll kill em."
"Slow down bud, I can handle myself."
"That's what I'm scared of."
Then the line went dead.
"Shit Car, what do I do?" I mumbled, grabbing a laptop that sat open on the table.
"Exactly what you're gonna do." She laughed.
--
"Everyone has a shirt on right?" I half growled.
"Yes, calm down." Gabe laughed.
"Why does my own family make me want to throw up?" I mumbled.
Carmin laughed and flung her hair over her shoulder, then shifted her shirt, zipped up her sweater, unzipped her sweater, fixed her jeans and fluffed her hair.
"You've known him for 18 years, if you keep doing all that," I started, waving my hands "I'm gonna kill you."
She gave me a shaky smile and I took off her sweater, tossed it across the banister and stepped back. I ripped the bottom half of her shirt, messed her hair up a different way and fixed the smudged make up.
"Voila, perfect as always." I laughed.
"My shirt." She whined.
"Looks better than it did." I teased, jumping away from her hit.
There was a knock on the door and I shot everyone a 'don't fuck around' face before pulling open the door.
Gabe POV
Raiyne pulled open the door, two guys and a petite lady stood on the other side.
"Raiyne, honey you look great!" The lady smiled. "Working out more aren't you? You know, with that body you're working on you could do pageants. Hun you'd do really well."
I suppressed laughter at Raiyne's eye roll and scanned the two guys. The younger was identical to the dad, both had broad frames and assessing blue eyes. The younger had messy hair, worked out and was sizing the rest of us up. The dad was doing the same until Raiyne snapped them out of it.
"Dad!" She smiled, tossing her arms around his shoulders.
"Superstar, how's my favourite defence man?" He smiled.
"What am I, chop liver?" The younger taunted.
"You've been here ten seconds and you're already being an ass." Raiyne teased.
"You gonna introduce us?"
Raiyne glared and crossed her arms, "Maybe."
He glared back and the lady stepped in between them, "Now Raiyne introduce us before I do it for you."
"Mom, meet the team. Gabe, Matt, Nathan, Jamie, Ryan, Paul, Max, Tyson, and the other Ryan. Team, meet my mom Mary-Anne, brother Aaron and my dad Sam." Raiyne nodded and pointed.
"Honey are you sure you should be living here?" Her mom asked.
"Don't worry Mrs Spears, we'll take care of her." I smiled, stepping slightly out of the group.
"And you are?" Her dad asked.
"Gabriel Landeskog, captain." Raiyne said, angling herself between her father and the group.
He glanced down on her, adjusted his collar and tilted his chin up.
"Nothing is gonna happen here sir, we promise." Matt added, stepping up as well.
"And you are?" Aaron scoffed, raising a brow.
"Knock it off Aaron." Raiyne warned.
"Who am I?" Matt laughed.
"Matt." Raiyne stated, cutting her glare towards him.
She stepped back towards Matt, shoving him back lightly shaking her head and pointing at her brother.
"There is enough testosterone in this house already, and you will not lay one hand on any of there guys because I give them all full permission to kick your ass if I don't first." Raiyne explained, than smiled sweetly.
"Raiyne!" Her mom scolded.
"Wanna go skating?" Raiyne asked, changing the topic quickly.
Carmin stepped in and pulled lightly on her mom's hand, "Come on."
"Hey Carmin." Aaron smirked, "Isn't that mine?"
Carmin glanced down at her shirt and Raiyne stepped in, "She borrowed it from me."
"Wouldn't fit you anyways." Carmin shrugged, finger waving and leaving the house.
"What have you gotten yourself into darlin'?" Sam laughed.
"More trouble than necessary." Raiyne laughed, pushing the two men out the door.
She sank down it and stretched her legs infront of her, "Duchene I will kick your fucking ass if you don't keep your huge mouth shut. Play nice, because I won't."
"He's-"
"I know he can be an ass. Ignore him." She snapped.
I reached out to pull her up and she leaned into me as she stood, "I'm gonna die." She mumbled, the door opening and she jumped away from me.
"Come on Raiyne." Aaron smirked.
"Yeah I'm coming." She replied, grabbing her keys and shooting another look at us as she leaned in the doorway.
"We'll play nice." I sighed.
"You're the best." She smiled, then closed the door.
"The most fantastic." I mumbled.
Raiyne POV
I showed my parents the seats, excused myself and then jogged to the tunnel just in time to catch all the guys making their way through.
"Hey captain!" I half yelled, catching Gabe's attention.
"Raiyne." He smiled.
I tugged on the front of his jersey and smoothed it over his shoulder pads before smacking his chest, "Go out there and kick butt."
Gabe's easy laugh echoed off the walls and he lifted me onto his skates, "I wish you were out there with me."
"I will be soon, now win." I smiled.
"Only for you." He smirked.
I pressed my lips to his, then pulled back reluctantly.
"I believe in you captain." I smirked, stepping back and pointing at him. "I'll be cheering for you."
