Number Eleven

Chapter 18.

Oakley POV

"This f*****g sucks," I grumble, watching as the buzzer sounds signaling the third consecutive Saint's loss. It has been two weeks since I suffered my injuries and I already want to yank all my hair out.

"I know but it's only for another two and a half weeks and then you can start practicing with the team again. Try and think positive." I hear Ava reassure me from her seat in between Morgan and I.

As much as I try and remind myself she's just trying to help, her overbearing need to always see the cup half full is driving me crazy.

"Don't you think I've been trying that? Do you ever quit with the optimistic s**t? It's getting on my nerves," I unintentionally snap at her, my words spilling out before I have a chance to reel them back in. Her hurt expression is like a whip to the back and I want to take my words back as soon as they slip out.

"Hey, ass hat. Knock it off. Maybe if you weren't such a f*****g baby she wouldn't have to console you all the damn time," Morgan seethes before grabbing Ava's hand and yanking her up and out of her seat. "We're going home. Find your own ride home."

Before I get a word in Morgan has already dragged Ava out of our row of seats and into the sea of people who just like them, want to get out of here as fast as possible.

"f**k!" I drag my only good hand down my face before scratching at the beard that's starting to cover my jaw. I had wanted to shave it off when it first started to morph from just stubble into a full-on beard, but Ava had insisted that she liked it, so I kept it.

It's no secret I've been letting my temper show more often than I should, specifically towards the one person I never wanted to see it. It kills me to know she's upset with me especially with how understanding she's been about this whole thing.

Morgan was right, I am being a huge f*****g baby.

Dragging my ass out of my seat once the arena has cleared out a bit, I decide to head to the parking lot and wait for Matt to come out. I had come with Ava and Morgan since I can't safely drive with my one arm currently in a sling, but since they are no longer here, I have to hope Matthew will give me a ride to their apartment so I can apologize.

"You're lucky you're my bro. Morgan is going to kick my ass when she finds out I gave her enemy a ride," Matthew states as he starts up his F-150 ten minutes later.

"Thanks again, dude. I really appreciate it."

"Don't mention it. But a word of advice man, knock it off. Every girl has her limit and if I know anything, it's that you don't ever want to reach it."

It's not like I don't already know this, but I appreciate it nonetheless. I simply nod my head and listen to the music that's softly playing from the speaker system for the fifteen minutes it takes to reach the girls' apartment.

 Ava POV

"That boy needs a good ass whooping for talking to his girlfriend like that. I would have done it myself but there far were too many witnesses," Morgan shouts while waving her arms around dramatically as we sit on the couch in our living room. An episode of some home improvement show is playing on the TV in but neither of us are paying it any attention.

"It's so frustrating. I've been as understanding as I can possibly be! I don't know what more he wants from me." Huffing, I throw my head back against the armrest.

It's true, I've been listening to him complain about not playing because I understand where he's coming from. Hockey is literally his life and I know he's struggling. But I'm also not an emotional punching bag.

"I'm going to kick his ass the next time I see hi-" She's cut off by a knock on the front door.

"Perfect! Speak of the devil and he shall appear," she yells excitedly after looking out the peephole in the door. I jump up from my spot on the couch and grab her shoulders before she can open the door.

"Your room Morgan. Go to your room. I can take care of this," I say softly as I try and shove her off towards her bedroom.

After a few seconds of fighting, she huffs and crosses her arms. "Fine, I'll go. Just shout if you need me. I have my own boyfriend to yell at right now." She's gone in the blink of an eye, but not before I catch a glimpse of her pulling out her phone and putting it up to her ear.

Uh oh.

I calmly walk to the door and pull it open to reveal a very sullen looking Oakley. His mouth is set in a frown and his eyes hold enough regret to make me want to run and jump into his arms while covering his face in gentle kisses. But I don't. 

"Before you say anything, I just wanted to start off by giving you these." He pulls out a bouquet of white roses from behind his back and holds them out to me, his nerves written clearly across his undeniably handsome features. 

I can't fight off the small smile that spreads across my lips when I realize he remembered my favorite flowers from our night beside the river. 

"You remembered. Thank you."

My thanks must help relieve some of his nerves as his lips turn up slightly and a slight pink flushes over his cheeks.

"The main reason I'm here is to apologize. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that earlier and I definitely shouldn't have been so hard on you these past couple weeks. I like you so much and I don't want to do anything to damage that." His lip is tugged in between his teeth as he waits anxiously for my answer.

"It's okay. I just want to help is all, I don't mean to overstep."

"You're my girlfriend. It's impossible for you to overstep." My mouth drops open. 

Girlfriend? Since when?

"I am? Since when?" I ask incredulously.

His good arm reaches behind him to scratch the back of his neck. "Uh since now?"

Laughing, close the space between us. "Is this your way of asking me to be your girlfriend Oakley?"

He visibly gulps, his adams apple bobbing up and down. Our eyes meet and I watch as his light up.

"If I was, would you say yes?"

"Why don't you find out?" I tease while grabbing his hand from behind his neck and lacing our fingers together.

I watch with amusement as he nervously grins. "Octavia Layton, please do me the great honor of being my girlfriend."

"Of course you goof."

                                                                                        ~~~

"I have a question," Oakley murmurs lowly as we lay together in my bed while my TV lights up with some horror movie.

I look up and meet his eyes from my position on his chest. "I might have an answer."

His fingers prove as a serious distraction as they run through the length of my hair, sending shivers down my spine.

"Wanna come to thanksgiving dinner on Sunday?" I suck in a breath.

My parents are having our thanksgiving on Friday, which gives me no reason not to go to his. Don't get me wrong, I adore his family, but going to family dinners is a huge step. One that I was contemplating asking him about myself, but I, on the other hand, was going to chicken out since I didn't know how he felt about it. Guess now I do.

"I'd love to. Would you want to come to mine too? If not it's totally okay! It's this Friday."

"Yeah?" A dimple worthy grin spreads across his lips and my heart warms. His eyes fill with an emotion I can't put my finger on and I suddenly start to wonder what is running through his head.

"And of course I want to. I can't wait to meet the people who helped mold you into the amazing woman lying beside me right now." 

The sincerity in his voice makes my heart feel like it's going to bust right through my chest and I love everything about the feeling. I've never met somebody who makes me feel the way Oakley does and it terrifies me to think of never feeling this way again.

"Okay. Perfect," I softly mutter while lying my head back down on his chest and reaching my hand up to draw circles on the hard muscles resting there.

"It will just be ma and Gracie, and then my buddy Andre from my old hockey team, Gracie's boyfriend Jacob, and I'm thinking of asking Tyler as well. He mentioned something about not having thanksgiving dinner a couple of days ago and my ma loves feeding hungry boys. I think it'll be nice."

Once again my heart swells to twice its size at how much he cares for everyone around him. I have to agree with him as well, Tyler could definitely use some Anne Hutton love.

"I think that's a great idea. Gracie's boyfriend is gonna be jealous though, your sister practically idolizes Tyler," I giggle as his body freezes up.

"On second thought..." he trails off and I swat at his chest before he bursts out laughing.

"Who am I going to be meeting?" he asks. 

"My mom and dad, my brother Ben, and his girlfriend Sydney."

I smile to myself as I think about finally seeing them all again. Although we still live in the same city I don't see them as much as I would want to. I envy Oakley and his family for that. Even though they live four hours away they still manage to see each other every few weeks.

My brother Ben is off in Ontario for college and only comes home on the holidays while my parents both work crazy busy jobs, leaving not a whole lot of family time.

Oh well, It makes the time you do have together that much more special I suppose.

"Well, I can't wait baby."

Me either.