thin ice // mitch marner

CHAPTER 31

I awoke to the loud knocking of the door. I groaned loudly, not wanting to leave my bed. I could see that Anna's bed was made, meaning the only way to stop the banging was if I opened the door myself.

I dragged myself out of bed, rubbing my forehead and opening the door slowly. Auston's face made my eyes widen as I stepped back nervously.

"It's so late! I thought you'd be in class, I was hoping maybe Anna would be here." He says, walking in and taking a seat on my bed.

"Fuck." I groaned, rubbing my head. "I missed class." After the words came out, I realized I should've kept them in, after seeing Auston's face.

"Why? Didn't you set an alarm?" He asks.

"I slept through it." I mumbled. "I feel like shit, I'm hungover."

"Yeah, I know." He says, not meeting my face.

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you here? Don't you have a game today?"

"Yes, I have a game, that you're coming to, so hurry up and get ready." He says. "And Marner forgot his sweater here." Auston paused, his eyes moving down to my torso. "The one that you're wearing..." He trails off, his eyebrows furrowing.

I cross my arms over my chest nervously, mentally cursing. "Oh, I am?" I say awkwardly.

"Uh, yeah..." He says, shifting his gaze from the words Maple Leafs Hockey across my chest to the number 16 under my shoulder.

"Why didn't he come get it?" I ask, trying to piece together everything. If Mitch saw me last night, and saw me put this on, he knew I'd be wearing it when I woke up. Did he send Auston here in hopes that he'd see me wearing his sweater? Is this all part of his "subtle" plan to tell Auston about our relationship, sending Auston little hints like this?

"He asked me to come, he's getting ready." Auston said. Of course. "Why are you wearing his sweater?"

I try to look unphased. "I was cold, and he left it here." I mumble, turning on the coffee machine to make myself a cup.

"Don't you have tons of other sweaters?" Auston asks. I swear to god...

"Your point?" I snap, turning around to look at him.

"What's going on with you two?" Auston's eyes bore into mine and I have to turn around to keep myself from cracking.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I try to say the words confidently, but they come out in a wave.

"What? You like him?"

"Auston!" I say, turning around. My face was definitely red like a tomato. "Remind me why you're here."

The coffee's ready, so I take out a plastic cup and pour the espresso with some milk. "We have a game soon."

"Are you gonna drive me?" I ask. He looked pretty comfortable sitting on the bed.

"Sure, not like I have somewhere to be in—" He glances at his phone. "Fourteen minutes."

"I'll be quick!" I call, disappearing into the closet.

——

My arms were crossed as I spotted Mitch walking towards me.