Off Ice.

Chapter Nineteen.

Finn

Avery is tucked under my arm as we walk up the pathway up to Seb's house, her arm wrapped around my waist while mine is over her shoulder. This isn't a huge party, but it's also not small. It's mainly our team but everyone brings a couple of people so that adds the unfamiliar faces. But there's always an unspoken agreement to these parties where none of us would bring someone who would act like a dumbass because they're with some Sharks, so they tend to go smoothly for the most part.

Jack and Kristen are a little a head of us as they walk in together, since Jack drove. He really doesn't really get tempted to drink anymore, and whenever he does he tells me and I make sure to leave with him, but there's a bigger sense of stability when he's in charge of driving people he cares about.

"You alright?" I ask Aves quietly, running my hand along her arm as I do. She looks up at me with a small smile, nodding as her bright brown eyes shine against the porch lights, "Yeah, I'm good."

"Good," I smile, leaning down and pressing a kiss to the top of her head while Jack knocks on the door. A few moments later the door is being swung open and an already pretty inebriated Sebastien is standing there with his arms thrown out, "Mes amies! Bonsoir!" My friends! Good evening!

"Bonsoir!" Jack greets him, clamping his hand on his shoulder when Seb steps aside to let us in. Seb greets Kristen and the two of them walk in before he turns to us. I give him a grin as I laugh out a greeting, "Bonsoir, mon ami."

"Mon amour," he corrects, which just makes me laugh more. My love.

"Aves, this is Sebastien. Seb, this my girl, Avery," I introduce them, smiling down at Avery while I do. He kind of looks surprised and I notice that her cheeks turn pink again when they shake hands before Seb suddenly brings her knuckle to his lips, "Vous êtes une très belle femme." You are a very beautiful woman.

"Aye, apporte-le," I narrow my eyes at him, giving him a warning glare. Avery looks up at me with confused eyes. "Pas avec elle." Aye, bring it in. Not with her.

"Well, alright," he smirks, giving me an approving nod. Seb wouldn't do anything and I know that he just pulled that because he was testing me. He always gives me lip about not being with anyone so I think he was just trying to see if there's something more to this than just a fling.

If only he knew that my world revolves around the girl standing in front of him.

"Well, come in!" he exclaims, stepping to the side and gesturing for us to walk past him. I put my hand on her lower back and lead her in front of me. Seb puts his hand on my arm when I get inside, "C'est elle à qui Jack dit que tu es accro?" Is she the one who Jack says you're hung up on?

Jack, you fucking loud mouth.

"Tais-toi, eh?" I grumble, walking past him and slipping my hand in Avery's while I hear him howl out a laugh from behind me. Shut up, eh?

"You know, I think I'm going to have to learn French now," Aves says, leaning into my side and she looks up at me. Her eyes are so light and full of pure joy and it warms my heart. She looks happy. I only ever just want her to be happy.

I start walking us to the bar he has, running my thumb over the back of her hand, "Nah, I like having that over you."

"I'm clueless when you speak it, though," she argues. I keep her hand locked in mine while I bend down behind the bar and open one of the fridges. He has literally every kind of drink imaginable and I spot her favorite kind of cider so I grab it, along with a beer for myself.