The Hockey Lie

Chapter 20

TY

December 20

"Hey, boyfriend," I answered my phone when I saw Easton's name pop up.

"Hello, girlfriend. Wanna come over? My parents aren't home," he joked.

I rolled my eyes. "You're such a dweeb."

"I know, but at least I'm your dweeb," Easton said cheekily. "Seriously, though, do you want to come over? I'm finally not busy for once. I was thinking we could have a movie marathon."

"That sounds perfect," I replied. "I'll head over in a few minutes."

"Sounds good. Love you."

"Love you, too," I replied before hanging up.

I groaned as I rolled myself out of bed. I had been pretty lazy for the first few days of Christmas break. It was probably a good thing that I was going to finally get out of the house, even though I was only leaving to go be lazy elsewhere.

I quickly changed out of my pajamas into a pair of running leggings and a t-shirt. I threw on my running shoes and called out to my parents that I was leaving before heading out the door.

I jumped into my truck, and about fifteen minutes later, I arrived at Easton's apartment building. When I reached Easton's apartment, I just walked in.

"Easton?" I called.

"I'm in the bathroom," he called back. "I'll be out in a little while."

While I waited for Easton to get out of the bathroom, I decided to help myself to some breakfast since I hadn't eaten. I found some leftover waffles in the fridge, along with some strawberries, whipped cream, and syrup. I was contently eating two waffles when Easton came into the kitchen.

"Hey, those are my waffles!" Easton protested.

"Well, they're mine now!" I said, my mouth full of waffle.

"Suter was over yesterday, and he made those. You know he makes the best waffles, and now I'm all out!"

"Get over it, you baby. You're the one that told me to come over before I had breakfast," I pointed out.

"I hate it when you're right," Easton pouted.

"I'm always right," I said pointedly.

"No you're not," Easton argued.

"Name one time when I wasn't right."

Easton paused for a moment. "Uh, I can't think of one right now, but I know there's been at least one time!"

"Sure, sure," I laughed. "So what movies were you thinking we should watch?"

"I was thinking about a Mighty Ducks marathon. I love those movies," he said.

"Those are my favorite too!" I said excitedly. "I used to watch them all the time when I was a kid. I was obsessed."

"I was too, believe me," laughed Easton. "So I'm guessing you're okay with the Mighty Ducks marathon then?"

"Yeah, let's watch them. You go put the first one in while I finish my waffles."

"So demanding," Easton said jokingly under his breath.

"Just put the movie in," I huffed.

"Sheesh, someone's in a mood."

"Yeah, well someone made me get out of bed," I shot back. "Plus, I didn't get to eat breakfast before I left home and then got yelled at for eating some of Suter's world-famous waffles."

"Okay, I guess I'd be cranky, too," laughed Easton.

A few minutes later, I finished my waffles and headed into the living room. Easton was already laying on the couch, so I joined him. After I had snuggled close to him, he threw a fleece blanket over us.

"This is the perfect way to spend a Sunday," I smiled.

"Yeah, it's nice to get away from hockey and everything once in a while. Did you hear Yeo got fired?" Easton asked.

"Yeah, I heard. It's too bad."

"We just haven't been performing up to our potential lately. I guess it was just time for a change," Easton shrugged. "Yeo'll be fine too. Now he has more time to go to his kids' stuff and everything."

"It'll probably be nice for him to be able to spend more time with his family now," I agreed. "Hopefully you guys can bounce back and get your performance back up to potential."

"I hope so, too, otherwise we'll be out of the playoffs," Easton sighed.

"You guys will be fine. The team has plenty of talent. I'm sure you'll make it," I assured him.

"You know, I'm really going to miss him. We kind-of had a love-hate relationship, but I really did like the guy. He really helped me improve last year, too. I hope he can find success somewhere else," Easton said.

"Me too," I agreed. "He seemed like a nice guy."

"He was... When I wasn't acting like an arrogant asshole," Easton said flatly.

"You are something else," I said, shaking my head.

A few hours later, we'd finished the first movie in the Mighty Ducks trilogy. "I'm hungry again," I said.

"Well, it is noon," Easton pointed out. "Want to order a pizza?"

"That sounds great right now," I replied.

"Pepperoni, right?"

"You know me too well."

While Easton ordered the pizza, I put the second Mighty Ducks movie, D2, in the DVD player. When Easton returned, I was already laying down on the couch. I assumed he was going to slide behind me, but instead, he flopped right on top of me.

"Ouch, Easton, get off! You weigh as much as an elephant," I complained under his weight.

"I do not weigh as much as an elephant!" Easton protested. "Just for saying that, I'm going to get revenge." My boyfriend then proceeded to start tickling me while I was still underneath him and unable to move.

"Easton stop!" I screamed, laughing. "Stop, I can't breathe!"

"That's what you get for calling me fat!" Easton shouted, not letting up.

"I. Didn't. Call. You. Fat," I said in between breaths. "I only said you weigh as much as an elephant."

"Same thing," Easton shrugged.

"Easton Michael West. Stop tickling me right now or I will kill you," I threatened.

"Ooo, bringing out the middle name," Easton said, finally ceasing to tickle me. At that point in time, tears were streaming from my face, I had been laughing so hard.

"Well, it got you to stop," I huffed.

"Actually, my middle name is North," Easton stated.

"Ha, ha, very funny," I scoffed.

"Just kidding, it's actually South," Easton smirked.

"Quit that," I said.

"Quit what?" Easton asked, continuing to smirk.

"Quit smirking like that," I said, avoiding eye contact.

"Huh, I never thought I'd say this, but you've officially been seduced by my irresistibly gorgeous smirk."

"Have not," I denied.

"Have too. My smirk has finally gotten the best of you. This has been my plan all along."

"Oh really?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Really. You think my smirk is sexy, don't you?"

I didn't reply and refused to look at his face.

"Come on, Ty, just admit it. You love it when I smirk. You live to see this smirk on my face," Easton exaggerated.

"Now you're just over exaggerating everything," I scoffed. "And you're crushing my ribs with your elephant weight."

"Just say you can't resist my smirk and I'll get off," he offered.

"No, I'm not going to say something that's not true," I replied.

"But it is true."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Ty, don't lie to me."

"Fine. I'll say it, but only because you're crushing my lungs," I sighed. "I can't resist your smirk."

"Ha! I knew you'd say it," Easton said, still not getting off of me.

"I only said it so you'd get off, not because it's true!" I exclaimed. "Not to mention the fact that you still haven't gotten off of me."

"But now you're saying you didn't mean it, so it doesn't count. You have to say it and mean it, and then I'll get off," Easton negotiated.

"You're such a drama queen," I huffed. Then I looked Easton straight in his ocean blue eyes. "I can't resist your stupid, obnoxious smirk. It's extremely attractive."

"I knew you'd admit it eventually," he smirked, probably just to annoy me, before sliding behind me once again on the couch.

"You're a jerk," I muttered.

"I know, but according to you I'm a hot jerk."

"I'm amazed that your head still fits in the apartment right now," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, you love me," Easton mumbled, nuzzling his head into the crook of my neck. "I love you."

"Good, because that's the only thing keeping your face looking pretty right now," I said threateningly.

"Aww, you wouldn't hurt my pretty face, would you?" he pouted.

"I would," I said flatly.

"You're cute when you're irritated," Easton smiled.

"Hmm," I harrumphed, shoving my face in a pillow.

"Sorry, I wasn't politically correct when I said that. I meant you're beautiful when you're irritated," Easton said charmingly.

I looked up at him, "I'm still annoyed with you." Before I could shove my face back into the pillow, he put one hand at the back of my neck and kissed me full on the lips with that stupid smirk of his.

A few minutes later, we heard the door open, so Easton and I both sat up.

"Oh hey, Charlie," greeted Easton coolly as Coyle walked into the apartment.

"Oh, uh, sorry, guys, I didn't mean to interrupt," Charlie said quickly, face turning red. "I'll talk to you later, Easton."

"Hey, Charlie, wait!" Easton called, but Charlie was already gone.

Easton and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Poor, Charlie, he walked in on us making out," I laughed. "Do you think you should go after him?"

"Nah, I'll call him later tonight. It'll be fine. He's probably really embarrassed now," he speculated.

"He probably thought we were close to having s*x," I said.

"Probably," Easton shrugged. "Oh well, it's just Charlie. He'll live."

"I would hope so," I laughed.

"Remind me again, where were we? Oh wait, I remember," he smiled coyly before placing his lips on mine once again.

A few minutes later, D2 was over, and I pulled back from Easton, wiping my lip off. "You kind-of slobber when you're excited," I teased.

"Oops, my bad," Easton said sheepishly. "I'll go put in D3."

"Sounds good to me," I replied. "I'll go grab some snacks."

"No, not my precious snacks! I need those!" Easton jokingly protested.

"You're an NHL player, you can afford to buy more," I countered.

"Okay, you do have a point there," he laughed.

I headed to the kitchen and pulled out a bag of chips and some M&Ms. I brought both back to the living room, and then I headed to Easton's room. I opened the door and let Gretzky out.

"Hey, girl, wanna watch a hockey movie? Yeah?" I said to the Pomeranian.

"Oh, you let Gretzky out," Easton commented as his dog and I returned to the living room.

"Yup, because she's way cuter than you," I replied.

"Yeah, sure, I bet you made out with her for a solid half hour then, too," Easton scoffed.

"That was not a half hour," I argued.

"Oh yes it was. Look at the time," Easton said pointing at the clock on the wall.

"Wow. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun," I joked.

"I love you."

"You said that already today," I teased.

"I could say it again if you want me to."

"Go for it."

"I still love you," he said.

"Good, because I still love you, too," I replied, walking over to him and kissing him lightly on the lips.

"Hockey movies and a hockey babe. I don't think life can get any better than this," Easton smiled.

"Yeah, I wish this day could last forever," I agreed, laying back down on the couch.

"I wish. Then we could watch all six Star Wars movies!" Easton said excitedly.

"You're still a dweeb," I rolled my eyes.

"You're still beautiful," Easton smiled cheekily.

"Ha, that's not going to work this time. You already made me miss the end of my favorite movie in the trilogy because of your stupid, irresistible smirk," I stated.

"Dang it. How about afterwards?" he asked hopefully.

"Fine, afterwards. Hopefully one of your teammates won't walk in on us again."

"I wouldn't count on it... You never know who might show up around here," Easton shrugged. I rolled my eyes and snuggled closer to Easton as the final Mighty Ducks movie started playing.

"Let's just pray that it's not Koivu who shows up next," I joked.

"Oh heck no, don't even say that," Easton groaned as I laughed.

"Imagine what he'd have to say. He'd probably scold you for sitting on your butt all day long on your day off."

"He probably would. That guy still doesn't like me, and it's been over a year!" Easton exclaimed.

"Oh, calm down and just watch the movie," I said, and surprisingly, Easton calmed down and settled in to watch the movie, arm wrapped tightly around my waist.