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@senditcolton
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did you see ross colton went to nashville?!
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So Tragic and Rare
"No One is as Lucky as Us" (pt. 27 | Finale)
a/n: this got mildly kinkier than i originally intended (which i can credit halsey's new song for) but if you want the development of Keely and Andrei's relationship without the smut just skip to the divider in the middle of the fic (look for the stars!)
word count: 7.1k warnings: smut! spitting, oral (m receiving), fingering (f receiving), unprotected penetrative sex, insight into the dynamic that Keely and Andrei share. tooth-rotting fluffiness at the end. previous part 🧡 next part masterlist
The sound of his car keys bouncing off the entrance table and clattering onto the wooden floor echoes in Andrei’s ears. He should probably pick those up, put them in their place so he isn’t searching the next time he wants to drive his Lambo.
But the feeling of Keely’s lips pressing against his, her arms still tossed over his shoulders as she walks backward, dragging him deeper into the house takes up his entire attention, helpless to do anything else but reattach his hands to her hips.
“Congratulations, mo cuishle,” comes her delicate whisper against his lips.
Andrei can’t stop the smile from twisting onto his face – although, if he was being honest, he can’t remember his grin ever dissipating in the previous hours.
Stanley. Fucking. Cup. Champions.
From a pair of skates being latched onto his feet before he was three, years of hard work and dedication, relocating to the States, sacrificing so much, climbing that mountain six times previously only to never reach the top… he was finally here. He did it. He was a Stanley Cup Champion.
He had the team. He had the trophy. And he had the girl.
Without hesitation, Andrei kisses Keely deeply, tasting the lingering beer on her tongue. She no doubt tastes the same thing as her hands run through his champagne-soaked hair.
They were both tipsy – high off alcohol and emotions. A familiar feeling to them, having found themselves in a similar situation back in February, when Keely came home with three golden gramophone trophies in her arms. But even in their somewhat inebriated state, they manage to blindly stumble their way into the bedroom, lips constantly chasing each other; exactly like they did a few months ago.
In the end, it’s Keely who pulls away first, those bright eyes staring up at him and Andrei can feel his heart swell at the sight of those blue irises sparkling with such love and admiration. Her hands come up to cup his face, her thumbs brushing over his grown-out facial hair as she caresses his cheekbones.
“I’m so proud of you,” she murmurs into the low lamplight of the room – an echo of what she had told him on the ice immediately after the win and throughout the celebration that went from the rink to various downtown bars.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He means it: in all his years of playing in the NHL, in all the failed playoff runs, there had been one thing missing.
And that was Keely Halloran.
Andrei watches as a soft laugh falls from her, her head shaking in teasing disbelief although the smile on her face grows in response to his words. The sight of it, of her being so happy and content in his arms has his spirit soaring, the disbelief that this moment was really happening still lingering in the back of his mind. A small part of him worries that he could wake up the next day only to discover that this entire thing – the Cup and her – was a fever dream. But that doubt is silenced by Keely’s whispered words.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
It’s inevitable, the meeting of their mouths, bodies pressed against each other. Andrei kisses Keely like she was the clear mountain air that was there to meet him at the end of an uphill battle – which, in a way, she was. She makes him feel invincible, unstoppable. He feels like a champion. In every sense of the word.
That feeling only increases as Keely’s hands slide down his body, her palm pressing against the semi-hard bulge in his slacks. Andrei’s mouth opens in a soft moan, eyes fluttering close as Keely gently squeezes him. His brown irises meet her, a wicked smirk now painted on her face, those enchanting eyes now dangerously hooded. A soft choked chuckle falls from Andrei as his own hands dip to grip her ass through her pleated skirt.
“You want this Stanley Cup dick, malyshka?” he questions, his voice heavy and dripping with desire. He can see Keely’s tongue dance over her lips and she takes a hold of one of his wrists, guiding his hand to dip between her thighs. Another groan falls from Andrei as he feels her own arousal soaking through not only the underwear covering her heat, but as well as those black patterned tights that highlight the sultry length of her legs.
“What do you think?” she teases with a smirk. That smirk is quickly transformed into a wide-mouth gasp as Andrei moves his fingers up to press against her clit.
“Yeah, she wants it,” he mutters, his head dipping down to press his forehead against hers. Keely catches her bottom lip in between her teeth as she glances up at him and Andrei doesn’t even resist the temptation of kissing her again, mouths crashing against each other.
It’s painstaking for him to tear his hand away from her heat, lifting to grasp the hem of her red sweater. Keely allows him to step away from her completely as he lifts the soft material over her head, her textured blonde hair flowing out over her now bare shoulders. Andrei’s eyes trail down to her breasts, perfectly supported in that black bra that always drives him insane, her bejeweled tattoo dripping out from underneath the lace, creating one of the most arousing images.
“Like what you see?”
Keely’s teasing voice snaps Andrei out of whatever partial trance he was in and he can’t even begin to tell her that he thought she was work of art he could spend his entire life admiring before her elegant hands lift to trace the edges of her lingerie. All grasp of words fails Andrei and all he can do is nod his head, causing a soft laugh to fall from Keely’s lips. She teasingly guides the straps off her shoulders before her hands return to trace over her collarbones and down her sternum. Hands brush against her chest, lifting and gently squeezing her flesh before her touch trails around her ribcage. The clasp on her back is quickly undone and another moan falls from Andrei as the lace falls from Keely, her bare tits now exposed to his gaze.
“Fucking perfect,” he mutters, his hands reaching out to cup her breasts, thumbs teasing the already pebbled nipples. A mixture of a giggle and moan fall from Keely’s mouth as she steps forward, her hands returning to his hips and mouth coming to press kisses against his neck. He can feel her deft fingers make quick work of the button and zipper on his slacks before she is pulling the waistband down, the material pooling around his ankles.
“I think you’ll like this view even better,” she whispers against his jawline.
Andrei can feel her body start to slide away, moving downwards and he can’t stop the muttered curses that fall from him as she sinks, her knees digging in the carpet in front of him.
The way her blue eyes stare up at him is more intoxicating that any of the alcohol he had previously consumed and that sheer need is only heightened when Keely leans forward, running her tongue along his length still confined in his boxers. A sharp curse rumbles from Andrei’s lips at the sensation of her hot mouth against him but not quite on him completely.
“Kisa, please, don’t tease me.”
He can hear another quiet laugh escape Keely as she pulls her mouth away, eyes reconnecting with his as her hands trail up his muscular thighs.
“No? That’s exactly what you did to me after the Grammys.”
A thrum of heat runs through Andrei’s body as the images from February appear in his mind – images of Keely sprawled out on the hotel bed, one hand twisting in the pristine white bedsheets as the other tangled in his hair, his head buried between her thighs, his tongue and fingers teasing and worshipping her like a Grammy-winning artist deserved to be. Keely laughs again, as if she can see the X-rated clips running through his head.
“It’s only fair I get to tease you too,” she quips, hand brushing against his erection through the fabric, causing his dick to twitch in absolute want.
She’s enjoying this. She always enjoys having him dissolve into a whimpering mess for her. It would almost seem unfair except for the fact that the roles often flipped, with Keely being the one begging for him.
But tonight, it was her who was calling the shots. The only thing Andrei can do is clench his hand by his side as he watches Keely’s fingers dance over the cotton of his boxers before twisting into the elastic waistband. A mixture of a sigh and a moan falls from Andrei’s mouth when she finally tugs the material down his muscular thighs, his erection springing free. As if to drive him even crazier, Andrei watches as Keely’s sinful tongue flicks out to wet her lips as she takes in the sight of his dick standing proudly at attention.
“Kisa,” he whines, not caring how desperate his tone is. He doesn’t need to pretend like he doesn’t ache for her, nor would he ever want to. He just needs her.
A smile tugs at the corner of her lips, her head moving forward before her tongue darts out to flick at the tip of him, collecting the leaking beads of precum. The barely-there sensation of her tongue on him causes a quick jumble of Russian curses and English pleas to fall from his lips.
“I like you desperate. My Stanely Cup Champion begging for me.”
Her words ignite a fire inside of him, his hand reaching out to brush against her temple before tangling in her hair.
“Aren’t you gonna reward me like one?” he asks, the tone of his voice shifting to take on a more dominant edge. Keely grins before replying.
“Turnabouts fair play,” she pushes back, clearly still referencing the fact that Andrei took his sweet time winding her up before finally burying his tongue in her cunt. Andrei lets his hand tighten in her hair, a sharp gasp from her mouth as he tugs her head back to look up at him.
“I also seem to remember making you cum so hard your thighs couldn’t stop shaking.”
“Is that what you want me to do to you?” she asks, a tease still painting every syllable.
The hand of Andrei’s that wasn’t already tangled in her hair slides against her jaw, his calloused thumb coming to run across her bottom lip, smearing the barely-there remnants of her red lipstick from earlier that night before hooking over her pout, guiding her mouth open. She obediently complies, her tongue coming to stretch out. A dark chuckle falls from Andrei before he leans down, lips pursing before he lets a thick string of saliva fall onto her waiting tongue. He can hear Keely’s moan sound out at the sensation of his spit sliding down into her throat, those cerulean irises surely reflecting the intense desire in his own eyes.
“I just want your mouth on me,” Andrei says, the sentence half-demand, half-plea.
He isn’t sure whether it’s his actions or his words or a combination of the two that causes Keely to nod her head. Andrei lifts himself back up to his full height, his cock still standing straight up and bobbing against the fabric of his black t-shirt.
There is no more hesitation, no more teasing from Keely as she leans forward, pressing a kiss against the strong muscle of his thigh before lifting to mouth his balls. His hand stays tangled in her hair when her exquisite tongue glides along the length of him, tracing one of his veins up towards his tip before her mouth finally closes around him.
“Fuck, sweetheart, malyshka you’re so – so” Andrei chokes out, the words not easily coming to his mind as Keely begins to move against him.
His stuttered moans and half-finished praise only seem to encourage Keely more, her tongue tracing every inch of his skin. The whines that fall from Andrei are eager, the weight of him sliding within her mouth only drawing more moans and whimpers from him. It is impossible to stop the pulse of his hips, aiding in her ministrations, his cock sliding deeper into her throat with each bob of her head. It takes everything in him to not just take control and fuck her face the way he wants – even though if he asked, he’s sure she would let him. But he wanted to let Keely take him the way she wanted, reward and worship him the way she saw fit.
Keely slows the rhythm of her head, withdrawing before she teases the sensitive skin on the underside where his tip meets his shaft. A loud curse echoes around the room as Andrei’s head falls back, chest heaving as she takes him apart. Her mouth was talented, a fact that most people knew considering she was a decorated recording artist. But Andrei was the only one that got to experience the other talents that her tongue and throat possessed.
It's hot, almost obscene in fact, the way the warm cavern of Keely’s mouth descends again, enveloping him. Andrei’s body jolts with a gasp as she slips further down, taking him into her soft throat with a sigh until her nose is almost touching the delicate taut skin of his lower stomach. Andrei looks down and locks his gaze with hers – this fucking goddess staring up at him, those beautiful blue eyes brimming with tears, the porcelain skin of her face marred with smeared lipstick and spit. He can feel her tongue press against him, another delectable sensation that causes his hand to tighten in her hair. Andrei swears he can see the sparkle of mischief in her eyes before she takes a deep breath and swallows around his cock. The constriction of her throat around him is what sends him over the edge, twitching in her mouth as his orgasm wracks through his body. The sound of his own moaned growl mixes beautiful with Keely’s own muffled whimper – a pornographic harmony.
It takes all of Andrei’s strength to pull himself away from her, a whine falling from Keely at the sudden emptiness. His eyes, now probably two shades darker than normal, stare down at his beautiful girlfriend looking even more tempting, with her swollen spit-slick lips and wet eyes. His hand instinctively falls from her hair to trace down her jawline, Keely practically preening under his gentle touch.
“So fucking pretty,” he murmurs. “My beautiful girl.”
Andrei doesn’t waste any time lifting Keely back to her feet, crashing his mouth against hers once more. Keely moans into the kiss, a sound that Andrei gladly swallows as her pushes her back until her legs hit the edge of the mattress. With all the ceremony that his desperation allows, he presses Keely’s body backward until she is falling against the grey sheets. He stands over her, taking in the sight of her topless with that fucking pleated skirt now rumpled around her hips, those sexy black leather knee-high boots and tights still confining her gorgeous legs.
“How’d I get so lucky?” he murmurs, mostly to himself but in the quiet of the room, Keely hears his words, a smile spreading on her face.
“You talking about me or the Stanley Cup?” she jokes.
“You,” Andrei replies, the sharp sincerity on the single-syllable word. He can see Keely’s head slightly cock, her brows furrowing. He silences her confusion by leaning his body over hers, encasing her in his arms, hands tangling in her hair. “I can get another Stanley Cup. I could never get another you.”
There is no stopping the swell of his heart when he sees Keely’s eyes soften at his words, their cerulean depths sparkling with such tenderness. He wasn’t lying when he said it – there was no other woman like Keely. No one else could challenge, encourage, excite, and love him the way she did. He sees her head lift and he gladly accepts her quiet request, pressing his lips against hers.
The kiss was worlds different than the others they had shared earlier that day. Instead of frenetic and passionate, this one was tender, loving. It felt as if their souls were melding together as their tongues intertwined. Keely’s arms lift to wrap around his shoulders, keeping him close to her as his own hands move from her hair to trace down her body, running over her bare skin then fabric before connecting with the leather of her boots.
Somewhat reluctantly, Andrei lifts himself upright to stand over her body once more, hand still wrapped around her leg that he raises to rest against his shoulder, the stiletto heel slightly digging into the muscle of his chest through his t-shirt.
Keely can’t help but smirk as Andrei presses hot open-mouthed kisses against the leather, his fingers deftly undoing the zipper before sliding the boot off of her, before repeating the process on the other side.
“You know, I’m supposed to be the one worshipping you,” Keely teases as he drops the other boot unceremoniously on the ground. “You’re a champion after all.”
“Maybe this is what I want,” Andrei replies, his own voice returning to that deep sultry tone as his hands run up her legs, dipping beneath the hem of her skirt. “Want to see you underneath me, begging me to fuck that perfect cunt of yours.”
His vulgar words, so contrasting to the statement made only a few short moments ago, make Keely let out a huff of surprised laughter – laughter that turns into a gentle moan when Andrei hooks his fingers beneath the elastic band of her tights, pulling the sheer material down her legs along with the scrap of lace that covered her core. Andrei’s large hands return almost instantly to her legs, pulling them open to reveal her now bare pussy, glistening with arousal in the low lamplight of the bedroom.
“Everything you wanted, baby?” Keely’s voice sounds out, his eyes jumping up to meet the mischievous look in hers. He watches with baited breath as her own hands caress the curves of her body, stopping briefly to play with her breasts before dipping underneath her skirt, fingers sliding over her soaked folds. “Desperate enough?”
“I don’t know. Are you?” he asks, his head cocking to the side as the dynamic shifts again. Keely nods her head almost frantically, her fingers still slowly stroking her core. “Then show me. Show me how much you want this Stanley Cup dick inside you.”
The challenge, the demand is abundantly clear and Keely wastes no time in complying, her middle finger dipping between her folds, plunging into her wet heat. The hitch her breath pricks Andrei’s ears as he towers over her, watching as she slowly pumps her hand before slipping another slender digit into her pussy. It’s arousing – the sight of her spread out on the bed, hand between her thighs, fingers becoming slick with her essence.
“How does it feel, malyshka?” Andrei questions, his hands still possessively in place on her knees. “I can see how soaked you are. Gonna come from just your fingers?”
“You want me to?”
“Yeah. Get that perfect cunt ready to take me, sweetheart.”
His gentle encouragement is all Keely needs, her rhythm increasing as her hips cant up to press against the heel of her palm, clit catching the skin there. Andrei just continues to watch her before removing his hands from her body. A whine emanates from Keely’s lips at the loss of his touch but she is quickly satiated by the sight of him pulling off his t-shirt, exposing his entire body to her. Like always, his confidence surges as her hungry eyes rake over his warm skin and taut muscles as one of his hands returns to her thigh. The other hand reaches down to wrap around his cock, the length semi-hard again. He slowly strokes himself, a sharp grunt escaping his own chest as his gaze stays locked on Keely’s body. He can see Keely’s eyes follow the line of his arm, the sight of him towering over her with his dick in his hand surely as erotic to her as the sight of her beneath him with her fingers buried in her cunt was to him.
“You want it, kisa?” he questions, slowly stroking himself in time with her own hand. Keely’s only response is a nod of her head, her hips still chasing the sensation of her palm, her moans slowly increasing in pitch. Andrei’s only response is a soft chuckle, the hand on her thigh slowly dancing up her body, grazing over her soft stomach before cupping her breasts, thumb deftly playing with her nipples.
“Then come for me. Show me how much you want me.”
Andrei’s gentle demand is all it takes for Keely’s body to still, her back arching to meet his touch as a loud moan falls from her lips, head thrown back, the gold of her hair creating a halo in contrast with the darkness of his sheets. A gentle groan falls from Andrei, his hand around his cock slowing as he watches her body writhe as she rides out the aftershocks of her orgasm.
He lets her recover, the rise and fall of her chest slowing. Those blue eyes flutter open to meet him, a fucked-out smile tugging at the corner of her lips. The movement of her hand causes Andrei’s gaze to flick down, watching as she removes her fingers from her core, the skin soaked with her release. As if she knew the power she had over him, Andrei’s eyes stay glued to her center as her fingers glide against her folds before spreading, putting her cunt on full display for him, her arousal creating a lewd webbing between the digits.
The noise that falls from Andrei is more of a growl than anything else, his own desire ratcheting up to the umpteenth degree. His hand falls from his body, catching Keely’s wrist and lifting her fingers to his lips. All while keeping his gaze attached to hers, he wraps his mouth around the digits, a moan rumbling through him at the taste of her hitting his tongue. A similar moan falls from Keely, her eyes heavy with lust as she watches him clean her skin.
“Always taste so fucking good,” Andrei murmurs, tongue stretching out to lick one final stripe against her fingers before dropping her hand. “Taste even better when you’re this needy.”
“Only for you,” she replies, the sincerity of her words cutting through even the haze of absolute desperation oozing from both of them.
“Damn right, baby,” he says, his hand returning to his cock, stroking it slowly. “Want me to fuck that pretty cunt now?”
“Yes, Andrei. Please. Need to know what it’s like to be fucked by a champion.”
The combination of her pleading coupled with her praise – a reminder of his accomplishments – is the last encouragement that Andrei needs to climb over her body and fully position himself between her legs. He catches her lips in a gentle kiss, pouring all his love and admiration into it, a sharp contrast with the thick hot tension in the air.
“я тебя люблю” he whispers against her lips.
The words ‘I love you’ seem too little for the true depth of his feelings but they are all he can give. And she accepts them with as much excitement and joy as he accepted the Stanley Cup, kissing him again.
“Is tú mo ghrá,” she replies in her own native tongue. And based on the way her electric blue irises stare into his dark chocolate ones, the way her voice wraps around the words so tenderly that he can tell she means it as much as he does.
He kisses her again, arms bracketing her head as he rolls his hips against hers. He swallows the whimpers that fall from her mouth as his cock slides over her soaked folds, the friction pleasurable but not quite enough for either of them. Andrei’s mouth slides away from hers, pressing hot kisses against her jawline and down her neck, relishing in the way he can feel her pulse jump beneath his lips.
The sweetest moan echoes right into his ear as he presses himself into Keely’s heat, her hands scrambling against his back and tangling into his hair. He responds in kind, his own moan vibrating against the delicate skin of her neck as he sinks further into her, slow and steady, relishing every inch of her wrapping around every inch of him until their hips are flush together.
The two of them stay there for a moment, basking in the sensation of being so intimately connected, Andrei’s lips peppering kisses against Keely’s throat. A quiet moan of ‘move’ falls from his beautiful girlfriend’s mouth and like always, he is helpless to refuse her.
Andrei starts to gently rock his hips, barely withdrawing himself from her before pressing back in, the whimpers of his name and sighed praise escaping Keely’s chest a gentle encouragement. He doesn’t lift his body upright, choosing instead to keep the heat of their bodies trapped between them, his chest sliding against hers with every thrust. Keely responds in kind, her arms staying wrapped around his torso, holding him in place against her.
“You’re so perfect,” he whispers against her skin, one hand removing itself from the bed to run down her body, hooking underneath her thigh before tossing the limb over his waist.
“Fuck, Andrei” Keely moans, the new position allowing him to press deeper inside of her, hitting that spot that always had her begging for him.
“Yeah, malyshka? You like being fucked by a Stanely Cup champion?”
Her response is a jumble of moans as she hooks her other leg around his body, silently agreeing with him while simultaneously pleading for more. Andrei would never deny her and slowly increases his rhythm until he is practically pounding into her, loving the sensation of her walls fluttering around him, her nails digging into the muscular skin of his back as she clings to him.
“God, I fuckin’ love you. Like you were made for me, always feel so good,” he mutters against her skin. “Such a perfect cunt, all mine.”
Andrei’s possessive declaration, coupled with the stroke of his cock within her causes Keely to come undone, body becoming rigid as she clenches around him. He fights off her death grip on his shoulders, lifting his body enough to see her, to watch her body tremble against the sheets as her pornographic moans fill the air.
A jumble of her name and various Russian curses fall from his mouth, his continuing thrusts causing her wet heat to flutter around him as he fucks her through her orgasm. He would never tire of this: of the feelings, of the sight, of the sounds that he elicits from her as he brings her to her peak. His famous rockstar, his beautiful girlfriend, his perfect slut. His. All his.
Andrei’s own pace starts to falter, the steady rhythm now a series of sloppy uneven thrusts as he chases his own orgasm. He lets out a whimper of his own, the sound causing Keely’s eyes to open and gaze up at him. A blissful smile appears on her face, a hand lifting to cup his jaw. It is a gentle press of her hand, a sharp contrast to the desperation of his own movements, that causes Andrei’s head to dip down, forehead pressing against hers.
“Please, mo cuishle,” she whispers against his lips. “I want to feel you.”
That gentle request is all Andrei needs. His orgasm hits him, starting deep within his abdomen, bursting through with a loud groan as he meets his end. His moans are quickly muffled by Keely’s own lips pressing against his, swallowing every noise and even reciprocating with sounds of her own as his cock twitches, his release spilling within her.
With his energy spent, Andrei practically collapses on top of Keely, cognizant enough to not completely crush her with his weight. He can hear a soft chuckle escape her as he nestles his head into the juncture of her neck, chest heaving in a deep sigh. Keely lets him lay there, her hands moving to trace gentle lines up the curve of his spine.
When both of their breathing rightens, Andrei pulls himself upright, lifting himself from the bed before extending a hand to Keely. She gladly takes it – like she always did – and he helps haul her to her feet before guiding her into the adjoining bathroom. Once the sweat, slick, and champagne is cleaned from their skin and their scattered clothes placed in the hamper, the two of them sink back onto the mattress.
There is no hesitation in the way that Andrei’s arms reach out to Keely, wrapping her in his embrace. Keely’s head finds its place against his shoulder as his hands draw absentminded patterns into her bare skin. Sighs fall from them both as they lay there in silence, collecting the memories of the night to keep safe in their minds. Andrei can feel Keely’s head adjust against him and his gaze darts down to meet hers.
“I’m so happy for you, Andrei. You deserve all of this.”
Andrei can feel his heart soften at the sight of her smiling up at him, secure in his arms. All of the hard-work of the past season, all of the bullshit the media said about him, all of the struggles he went through to win the Stanely Cup… in this moment, it felt like it was all worth it.
But at the same time, Andrei knew he would give up everything if he was promised a lifetime with her next to him.
It was a thought that had run through his mind multiple times since he first met her at Scotiabank Arena up in Toronto. Previously, it was coupled with a concern, a fear of how easily he was willing to throw away his life to spend forever by her side. But now… he wasn’t scared. He loved her. He would do anything to be with her and if that meant hanging up his skates tomorrow, he would do it gladly.
“None of it would’ve mattered if I didn’t have you,” he murmurs, his brown eyes matching the sincerity in hers. He can see her brow furrow slightly, a light scoff falling from her lips.
“Bullshit.”
“I’m being serious. You are the greatest prize I’ve ever received. Not even a Stanely Cup could beat that.”
“Bold words for a hockey player,” Keely teases but even through the quip, Andrei can see the tenderness that his words brought forth sparkling in her eyes. “They might crucify you for saying such blasphemy.”
“You’re worth it.”
The soft grey dawn light breaks through the curtain, causing Andrei’s body to stir. Even the exertion and alcohol of last night could not halt his internal clock, his eyelids fluttering open, staring at the white ceiling above him. He can feel a slight pounding in his head, a slight ache in his muscles and he groans as he stretches his body underneath the sheets.
Initially, the early morning would be good for him – a time to take a breath, pause, and prepare for the day ahead. But this morning, it felt unnecessary. He had already reached the top of the mountain, had hoisted that silver chalice over his head, kissed the engraved metal – metal that would soon hold his name. What else was there to prepare for?
The question is answered by another body in the bed next to him moving as well, a soft sigh sounding out, and Andrei’s gaze turns to the woman next to him, a smile appearing on his lips. His eyes rove over Keely’s soft features, so perfectly at peace in the early morning, the sunlight filtering in through the windows alighting her dark blonde hair, transforming it to gold. No matter how many times he woke up with her by her side, the sight of her next to him made something in his heart swell. It could easily be chalked up to the fact that she was a celebrity, known to so many people through speakers and screens whereas he was able to see her like this. But it was more than that.
She was a star, in every sense of the word. Bright, dazzling, sparkling and he was helpless in the gravity of her, destined to orbit her forever. Which he would gladly do. Which he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
Carefully, as to not disturb her, Andrei slides out of bed, the disappearance of his weight only causing Keely’s body to roll over, her back now to him. His bare feet pad over the carpet as he slips into the walk-in closet. Reaching the set of drawers beneath the shelves that displayed his shows, Andrei pulls open the one containing his socks, digging his way through the myriad pairs before his fingers connect to the soft velvet he was looking for. He lifts out the small ring box from the depths of the drawer, flipping open the lid, ignoring the small tremor in his hands as he does. The ring inside was delicate, a single solitaire round diamond against a gold band. But it felt heavy in his grasp, weighted with the everlasting promise that it symbolized.
Andrei closes the ring box, tucking it behind his back before returning to the bedroom, his eyes finding the shape of Keely still nestled underneath his sheets. He walks over to her, kneeling next to the bed as his free hand reaches out to brush the strands of hair away from her face. His gentle touch rouses her from her slumber, her eyelids fluttering open before those electric blue irises find him.
“Morning solnyshko,” he murmurs, his gentle words earning a sleepy smile.
“Morning.”
Andrei can see Keely’s eyes dart over to window, watching as her eyebrows furrow as she takes in the breaking dawn.
“Why are you up so early? Aren’t you supposed to be hungover or something?” she grumbles, gaze returning him.
“Probably.”
“Well, I think I might be. So, why am I up so early?”
“I promise it’s for a good reason,” he replies, the sincerity in his voice clearly catching her attention. She lifts her body upright, propping herself up on an elbow as she tosses her hair back.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Andrei says, taking a deep breath. “I wanted to ask you a question.”
Keely gives him a small nod, a silent encouragement for him to continue. Another deep breath rattles through him before he speaks again.
“Keely, you are genuinely the most amazing woman that I have ever met. I know you might hear that a lot from so many different people, but I promise, it’s because it’s true. You are insanely talented and driven. I have never met someone with as much spark and passion as you. Not only that, but everything you do reflects who you truly are. You are so unapologetically yourself and I know how hard you worked to get there; how much you had to go through to be that way. And it inspires me. God, you inspire me so much. You make me want to be a greater athlete but more than that, you make me want to be a better man.”
“Andrei,” Keely sniffles, the tears welling in her eyes at his gentle words.
“I love you. More than anything. I told you last night that all my accomplishments meant nothing if I didn’t have you by my side. And it’s true. Because you make my life brighter. You create magic and excitement and joy everywhere you go and…” Andrei pauses, revealing the ring box from behind his back. “I want that with you for the rest of my life.”
His fingers open the lid, revealing the sparkling diamond. Andrei can hear the breath catch in Keely’s throat, her hand lifting to cover her mouth, those beautiful blue eyes jumping between him and the ring in his hand.
“Keely Niamh Halloran, will you grant me the honor of being a devoted husband to you and marry me?”
The most that Keely can manage is a soft ‘yes’, the tears of happiness now streaming down her face as she nods her head frantically. Here she was, a Grammy-awarded songwriter, reduced to a mess of happiness and overflowing emotions. Because of Andrei.
He shares her wide smile, gently plucking the ring out of the cushioned box before sliding it onto her hand, the jewel sparkling in the sunlight, before his eyes jump to her other hand.
“Wait, there’s another ring we’ve gotta move,” he whispers, grabbing her right hand and sliding off her Claddagh ring. He flips the piece of jewelry around so the heart was facing him before sliding onto her left hand as well – another symbol of their commitment, one that was so intrinsic to her.
“You remembered,” Keely sniffles, watching him intently as his thumb runs over the two rings.
“Nothing about you is easy to forget,” he replies, an echo of words exchanged during their first date and their reconnection that last summer. Keely lets out a choked laugh, the happy tears still causing the words and sounds to not come easily. However, they don’t stop her from throwing her arms around Andrei, which he welcomes, never tiring of the feeling of her body against his, her warmth kept safe in his arms.
“I love you,” she murmurs into his neck as he presses soft kisses into her golden locks. “Is tú mo ghrá, mo fhíorghra.”
Andrei pulls her back, only to look in those enchanting blue eyes, taking a moment to memorize the pure happiness etched on her features.
“я тебя люблю, Звездочка моя,” he replies, the words holding even more meaning when said in his native tongue.
Andrei’s hand moves to cup the back of her head, pulling her into him so he can press his lips against hers. Keely’s own hand finds his jaw, returning the kiss with as much intensity as he, pouring herself – her light, her joy – into him. They part only when they both get their fill, lips swollen and chests heaving.
A comfortable silence falls between them as Andrei returns to the bed, pulling Keely into his side once again, her left hand finding a resting place on his chest.
“I hate to spoil the moment with logistics,” Keely speaks, breaking the stillness. “But we do need to figure out how and when we’re going to announce this.”
Andrei hums in agreement, that part of their lives now as natural to him as the blue sky. His hand gently traces over Keely’s curves as they both contemplate their options. The most obvious choice would be to continue what they have been doing; just living their lives like there wasn’t a giant spotlight on the two of them and announce it like they would’ve if they were normal people and let the world talk around them. But at the same time, Andrei didn’t want the world to know just yet. He wanted to keep this moment, this knowledge, this happiness between the two of them and the important people in their lives. Start slow. Tell family, tell friends, tell agents and publicists and then tell the world.
“What about after the ring ceremony?” he suggests, the day popping into his mind. A distant date but one not too far in the future. He glances down at Keely, eyes locking with hers as she looks up at him.
“The beginning of next season? That’s when it usually is, right?”
“Yeah, sometime in October.”
Keely turns her face away from him, clearly chewing the idea over in her head. It is a brief moment before she turns back to him with a smile on her face.
“Think we can keep a secret that long?” she teases with a laugh.
“We’ve done it before,” Andrei replies, referencing the three summer months they spent together, travelling the world without the tabloids getting wind of it until an unplanned pap shot outside her Boston brownstone.
“True enough,” Keely laughs, clearly thinking of the same sparkling summer Andrei was. “But this time, let’s make sure we’re the ones to announce it.”
“I think we can handle that. Besides, I’ve just won a Cup, you’re going on tour. They’ll have plenty to write about to keep themselves occupied.”
Keely lets out another soft laugh, her hand still perched on the muscle of his chest. She sighs, turning her head to snuggling herself deeper against his shoulder, the light in the bedroom growing brighter. Here, in the morning sunlight with Keely in his arms, an engagement ring on her finger, and a Stanley Cup to his name, Andrei Svechnikov had never felt happier.
“I can’t believe this,” Keely murmurs to him, her eyes glued to her hand now ladened with two rings – one old and one new. “Was this your plan all along? Propose after winning the Stanley Cup?”
“I mean… yeah,” Andrei bashfully admits, a giggle coming from Keely.
“What would’ve happened if you didn’t win?”
“Probably would’ve waited a few weeks. Proposed to you during the off-season on vacation or something like that. Might’ve been a little grander. But… I think like this better.”
It felt like an odd thing to say. A part of him knew Keely deserved dozens of flowers and candles and beautiful view around them, while she stands in a gorgeous dress as Andrei drops to one knee. That would be what people expected. But this… this felt like them. Keely laying in his bed, her hair a slight mess with one of his t-shirts thrown over her frame. Andrei kneeling next to the mattress with only a pair of sweatpants on. The two of them alone in their own private world, sharing this moment alone together… that was their life, their love. That was who they were. Through all the noise and the chaos that their careers brought into their lives, they were able to find moments of peace. Just like this one.
“This was perfect,” Keely replies, intrinsically understanding what he was trying to say and agreeing with him. “I’m glad you won,” she whispers into the soft dawn.
Andrei smiles before leaning down to press a soft kiss on the crown of her crown of her head.
“In more ways than one, solnyshko,” he murmurs into her hair. “In more ways than one.”
Translations from the internet Russian malyshka - baby girl kisa - sweetheart/darling solnyshko - little sun/sunshine я тебя люблю - I love you Звездочка моя - my star Irish mo cuishle - my pulse/my darling is tú mo ghrá - I love you mo fhíorghra - my true love
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So Tragic and Rare
April - May (pt. 26)
previous part 🧡 next part masterlist
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keelyhalloran OFFICIAL TRACKLIST. ONE WEEK LEFT.
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canes posted on instagram Raleigh, North Carolina
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canes To the best fans in hockey. See you all in the playoffs.
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keelyhalloran posted on instagram
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keelyhalloran OUT NOW
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alilalexis Tweet April 18th WATCH ME BLEED OUT ON A SCREEN?? - reply by klobitchar Keely def wasn't ready to stop yelling at the media - reply to klobitchar from justkeelingtime well, considering the amount of attention/backlash she and Andrei got when their relationship was leaked... it's understandable.
alienbby Tweet April 18th
"Goodness Gracious" be like...
winterdisaster Tweet April 18th S.T.A.R. = So Tragic And Rare?!?!?!? GENUIS!!!!
kellymattison7 Tweet April 18th The way the front half of this album is all struggle and anger but then it ends with love and acceptance joy... I'm legit sobbbing rn.
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keelyhalloran ...forever wasn't for me 'til I met you...
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US Weekly Article
EVERY GAME DAY OUTFIT KEELY HALLORAN HAS WORN WHILE SUPPORTING ANDREI SVECHNIKOV
The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins and the Carolina Hurricanes will be taking on the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, North Carolina tomorrow night. But before then, let's take a look at the outfits that Keely Halloran has worn during the games she's attended in support of her boyfriend, star forward Andri Svechnikov. Halloran has only attended six games this season but one must remember, there are 82 games in an NHL season and Halloran herself has a busy demanding schedule. But whenever she's shown up, she's shown out!
Which outfit is your favorite?
All Bundled Up (top left)
A Beauty in Louis (top middle)
Chic and Casual (top right)
Cute and Cozy (bottom left)
Pretty in Chanel (bottom middle)
NY Snow Queen (bottom right)
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canes Hell belongs to us. Canes advance to round two!!
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keellyhalloran posts on instagram
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keelyhalloran everybody knows my name. cameras flashing in my face. Excited to announce my upcoming tour: Keely Halloran | Star Stuck Tour. The first leg will be in arenas throughout the United States, with international dates to be announced soon.
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canes We end it tonight
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TMZ Alert
KEELY HALLORAN ARRIVES AT LENOVO CENTER FOR STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 7
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dailykeelyupdates5 in which Keely is all of us watching this game
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dumban0n seriously!! i'm honestly thinking of turning off the game because i can barely handle this!
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@ Keely Halloran and Andrei Svechnikov postgame is everything!!
Transcript: Come here. I can’t believe you. I’ve never been so proud in my life. How did you do that? Thank you for coming, baby. Oh, I cannot believe that. Thank you. I can’t believe you. Thank you for the support. How did you do that? Thank you for coming. (laughter) You’re the best, baby. The absolute best. Was it incredible? It was unbelievable. One of the craziest things I’ve ever experienced. Oh my god, this is so insane. This is not a real-life situation. I’m in shock. Stanley Cup champions baby. This is so cool. I’m so proud of you, I can’t stand it. I love you so much. Look what you did. Look what you did!
a/n: whew!! a lot to get through in this one (tumblr was once again fighting me about the number of pictures) but hey! Keely released her new album and Andrei is a Stanley Cup Champion!! can't wait to share their celebration with you... in fic form! coming later this week!
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hiatus
Yep, you read that right.
I will be going on a little break (probably for the entire summer and maybe into next hockey season - depending on... well a lot of things).
Hockey just... isn't feeling the best for me personally at the moment.
Still love the sport but it's getting a little harder to love.
(Which feels weird to say because I've always known what the culture around this game was but it's just hitting harder right now [and I'm sure anyone can take an educated guess as to why]).
I'll still be around Tumblr so you can absolutely still shoot me asks/messages. My queue will be running until it's empty.
But a break is what I think I need. Love you all so, so much.
end of season media ... 04.05.2026
I'll try for all of my life - W. Nylander
This is my entry for the summer fic exchange 2k25, run by the wonderful @wyattjohnston ❤️
I received @wildrangers as a giftee – this one was a lot of fun to write, and I included as many of your preferences as possible! The OC I created, Ebba, is a love letter from me to Sheli McCoy aka Sabre on Gladiators (UK). Also, use creative imagination in the sense that this is set in Sweden, both characters are Swedish, so they would be solely talking to each other in Swedish.
Summary: All too often, life sends the right person at the wrong time; this was the case for Ebba and William Nylander. But with a surprise reunion after 10 years, can they find a second chance at love?
Word count: 4.9k
Warnings: light angst, fluff, some bad language, exes to lovers, rekindled romance.
Title from Potion by Djo.
~
“It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson
~
June 2025
The 2024/25 season had been hard for Modo Hockey, and the drawn-out fight had ended with relegation for the team. While the players had gone their separate ways a few months ago, licking their wounds before starting the fight all over again in September, Ebba and her colleagues had spent months in meetings, making plans and deciding on strategy to hopefully take them back to the SHL at the end of the following year. Having worked for Modo since 2021, after interning at the club since 2014 throughout her two degrees, she’d seen the highs of qualifying into the SHL and now the lows of relegation, and it was heartbreaking. Still, with her physio work primarily focussing on performance enhancement and injury prevention, she had a firm role to play in keeping the players at their best, so she poured herself into the team reviews and strategic planning, thriving in the stressful environment.
It wasn’t until the June, three months after Modo were relegated, that she let herself take vacation, kicking off her month-long break with a girls night out at a local bar, soaking up the joyful energy of her friends all around her. Lystus, Livi, and Jodi were all as fitness-focused as her, although their gym time was for fun and body shaping rather than for work, and at the age of 29 she could happily say she was proud of her muscled arms, thick thighs, and lightly-toned abs. Ebba worked hard for her physique, to give her best performance and strength at work, and if she still looked damn good in a glamorous dress alongside her athletic gear, then all the better.
Tonight was a mildly-glam night, a plain black bodycon dress that emphasised her broad shoulders, tight biceps, and the curve of her ass, and she’d left her golden curls tumbling down her back. The music thrumming through the bar only added to the good vibes, and Ebba knew tonight was going to be a good one. She could feel it in her bones.
“Alright ladies, time for shots!”
Lystus’s war cry earned cheers from Ebba, Livi, and Jodi, and Ebba went up with her friend to the bar to help carry drinks bar to their little table. While the bar was fairly full, it wasn’t a crowded crush thankfully, so they reached the bartop quickly enough.
“A couple of tequila shots each?” Lystus grinned.
“Tequila is no-one’s friend,” Ebba grimaced.
Lystus just cackled in glee. “I’ll add a round of vodka lemonade each too then.”
Brutal. At least she had no plans for tomorrow.
As Lystus ordered though, Ebba could feel eyes burning into her, like a shiver down her spine, but just as she resolved to start looking for whoever was looking at her, a large body slipped in next to her at the bar.
“You can add those drinks to my tab.”
That voice.
It couldn’t be.
Ebba quickly looked up at the man next to her, her breath hitching in her throat as her body froze.
“William?”
“Hey Ebba. It’s been a while.”
It’s been a while. It had been 10 and a half years since they broke up, so yeah, she would count that as a while.
She could feel Lystus lean towards her. “Are we accepting your ex buying us drinks?”
Ebba winced slightly at the quiet murmur, all her friends having been there when the relationship ended, but she nodded, William’s hopeful smile melting into a soft one at whatever was showing on her face. She could only imagine.
“Thanks for the drinks, Nylander. I’ll take them back to the table. Don’t be a dick.”
William laughed at Lystus’s blunt words, Ebba blushing lightly.
“She hasn’t changed much, has she?” he mused.
“Not even a little bit,” Ebba said, huffing out a laugh.
William just grinned, leaning against the bar top properly. Ebba took the brief moment to run her eyes over him, taking in his appearance. She’d been barely 19 when she last saw him, and now, with his thick beard and thick torso, this William was a man rather than the boy she’d known.
“So…what are you doing back in Örnsköldsvik?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
He smiled fondly. “I’m doing a promo thing for a week, filming part of a docuseries where players go back to the clubs they were playing for when they go drafted. I know it’s not the best time for Modo, but I’m glad I came back here. I haven’t…I haven’t been back since I left.”
Well she knew that much, seeing as she hadn’t left Örnsköldsvik herself since she moved to the town for university.
“I only came out for a drink or two with the filming crew as it’s my first night here. But the moment I saw you across the bar, I had to come over,” he explained.
“William…”
He just shrugged, still smiling. Even after all these years, he still knew how to make her heart race. It wasn’t fair – and yet she absolutely wasn’t complaining.
“I know you’re out with your friends, so I won’t keep you. But can I take you out for breakfast? I’d love to catch up with you properly where Lystus, Livi, and Jodi aren’t giving me the stink eye for taking up girl time.”
Ebba turned her head to look at her friends, who were indeed all frowning at them across the room. She raised an eyebrow to warn them, but just received innocent smiles in return.
“I would apologise for them but I have absolutely no control,” Ebba mused.
“It’s okay. I can imagine they’re…protective,” William mused.
And for good reason. Still…fuck it.
“Yeah, we can do breakfast. Meet me at Lundbergs Bröd?”
The smile that spread over his face made her traitorous heart skip a beat.
“Perfect, shall we say 9am? I know it’s early but…”
“Filming. I get it. 9am is fine with me,” Ebba said, shrugging.
“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow then. Enjoy your girls night,” he grinned.
Ebba just nodded before walking back over to her friends.
“You guys are the worst,” she said, unimpressed.
“And yet that didn’t put him off his flirting,” Livi teased, tossing her ice blonde hair over her shoulder.
Ebba glanced over her shoulder just once, smiling softly as she saw William still standing at the bar, even more so as he waved at her. She laughed and waved back, turning back to her friends.
“What?”
“Just be careful, okay?” Jodi said hesitantly.
As much as she wanted to snap at her friends for being overprotective, she knew it was with good reason.
“It’s just breakfast, okay? He wants to catch up…and I want that too,” Ebba admitted.
Because as much as her heart ached whenever she thought about him, the thought of letting him slip through her fingers without talking to him properly hurt even more.
“Well fuck it, it’s definitely tequila time,” Lystus groaned.
~
January 2015
Ebba’s hands were shaking as she tried to unlock the front door, key slipping a few times, breath hitching in her throat as she finally swung the door open. It wasn’t until she shut the door behind her that the tears stinging her eyes finally poured down her cheeks, and it wasn’t until a loud sob tore from her throat that she heard foosteps.
“Ebba?”
She just sank to the floor, back leaning against the front door, unable to control the sobs spilling from her lips at all now, and in moments she saw her dormmate Livi’s feet.
“Oh baby, what happened?”
“It’s…it’s over. We’re over.”
“What?” Livi gasped.
“William’s going to the NHL and I…I’m staying here. We’re over,” Ebba choked out.
“Fuck. Fuck. I’m calling the girls.”
~
June 2025
Ebba strode into Lundbergs Bröd the next morning with butterflies swirling in her stomach. In truth she had no idea what to expect from William, even if he’d been the one to beg her to meet him to catch up. After a decade, what did they even have to say to each other that wasn’t just dredging up the past?
The moment that she spotted him across the room though, all doubts were swept out of her mind. William was relaxed in a comfy chair, linen shirt a couple of buttons undone, with his beard and hair full and glossy. It almost wasn’t fair how good he looked. The beard suited him so well, as did the summer glow to his skin. Damn it.
“Good morning Ebba, thanks for coming. You look amazing,” William grinned.
He stood up to hug her in greeting, Ebba sighing quietly as the warmth of his hands sank into her skin. She was glad she’d decided to wear a floaty little summer dress with an open back, the touch of his palm on her bare skin more than welcome. But she couldn’t get ahead of herself. For all she knew, he was just being polite, using this breakfast as a chance for closure. It wasn’t like he would actually still be as attracted to her as she was to him after 10 years.
“It’s good to see you,” she said, smiling as the broke away.
“Yeah?”
Ebba just rolled her eyes fondly, sitting down and picking up the menu. She hadn’t had a chance to come to this café for months, and certainly not for breakfast, so she was excited to try the food as much as she was excited to spend time with William.
After they’d both ordered, she settled back in her chair.
“I’ll admit, I never stopped following you on Instagram. I’ve sort of kept up with your life that way,” Ebba said, blushing slightly.
“Oh thank fuck, I wasn’t sure how to admit I’d done the same with you,” William laughed.
Ebba couldn’t help but laugh in response, a little relief spreading through her. It wasn’t weird then, that was good.
“You’ve done so well with everything, William. It’s been amazing to see you grow,” she said.
He smiled shyly in thanks.
“What about you with your two degrees, huh? Bachelors and Masters in Physiotherapy? That’s incredible,” William grinned.
Ebba bit her bottom lip in hesitation briefly, before clearing her throat.
“You know, both of my dissertations were inspired by some of our first conversations?”
His lips parted in surprise. “You’re kidding me.”
“I’m really not,” she mused, “For my Bachelor’s degree, it was ‘hip and groin pain in elite hockey players’, and for my Masters, it was ‘isokinetic leg muscle performance in relation to muscle structure and training’. Admittedly, the Bachelor’s dissertation used data from the internship where I worked with Victor Olofsson within Modo in 2015, but still…you gave me the passion for working within ice hockey. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
She tried not to giggle at the face he pulled when she said Victor’s name, but his disgruntled expression melted to one of awe with her last words.
“I wish I could’ve done more to help. I’m so proud of you, for all you’ve achieved. You’re incredible, Ebba,” William said softly, eyes full of warmth.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said, shaking her head with a smile.
He grimaced slightly, intriguing her. “Feels like I could’ve achieved more by now.”
Ah, the elusive Stanley Cup. Hm. “Maybe, but you’re an elite athlete at the prime of your game, beloved by the sport and still loving it yourself. That’s something to be proud of too,” she pointed out.
He looks stunned for a second before smiling shyly. “You always know what to say. You always did.”
~
2013
“Alright rookie, be nice to my rookie. Ebba, if he gives you any trouble, I’ll be next door.”
William’s indignant squawk made her laugh, and she shook her head as her boss left her alone in the physio room with her first ever assignment. William Nylander, newest rookie of Modo Hockey and her first test in her first year at university. Bring it on.
“Hi, I’m Ebba. First year student at Umea, physiotherapy,” she said cheerfully, reaching out her hand.
“I’m William. It’s my first year with Modo Hockey. I’m a forward, right wing? Not sure if that matters,” he said, wincing.
She just laughed, nodding. “Oh it totally does. At least according to my brief training so far. Different muscle group focuses, likely different injuries and so on. I’m interested in performance enhancement and injury prevention, so even though I’m a rookie too, I hope you’ll give me a chance.”
He looked a little stunned before he grinned.
“If nothing else, that sold me. You know exactly what to say. I’ll absolutely give you a chance - rookies have to stick together, right?”
Ebba grinned back. “I’ll technically only be here once a month over the next three years so you’ll have the actual physiotherapists treating you during the season, but I’m looking forward to working with you.”
She talked him through the process of physique mapping, establishing a baseline for monitoring and enhancement, and after half an hour of establishing the layout of his thighs, hips, torso, and shoulders, Ebba had more than enough data to get her started that her boss would be happy with too.
“I’m going to be really forward right now, probably crossing boundaries, but would you like to go out for dinner with me?”
Ebba’s breath hitched in her throat at his bold words, taking a few moments to process her thoughts.
“As a date?” she clarified.
“Yeah,” he winced, “Feel free to kick my ass though.”
At least he was aware of himself.
“I would have to declare it to my boss. And thankfully there are cameras in here for security so he can check for himself that there’s been nothing untoward…”
William blushed fiercely, making her giggle, an unfamiliar heat spreading in her chest.
“But yeah, you can take me out for dinner, William.”
~
June 2025
The moment that William got to his hotel after filming for the day, he flopped face first on the bed with a groan.
Ebba.
He’d spent less than 12 hours back in her company after over a decade apart, and he was already head over heels again. He knew that asking her out for breakfast was dangerous, proven when his heart started racing the moment he saw her enter Lundbergs Bröd. Ebba was the one that got away, the woman he’d never truly gotten out of his mind or his heart, and she’d only grown even more beautiful over the years which he hadn’t thought possible. Sure, he’d seen her gym journey as well as her work journey on social media, but it was so different seeing that combination of bicep, ass, and winning smile in person.
In short, he was fucked. And not in a fun way.
And as if the universe wanted to mock him more, his phone started buzzing. Alex. A facetime request from the brother he’d told everything to 10 years ago. Fuck it.
“Hey.”
“Well don’t you look like shit.”
“Charming, thanks,” William said dryly.
“I thought going back to Modo was meant to be a fun filming thing?”
“It was. It is. I just…I ran into Ebba,” he admitted.
“Ohhhh that’s what that face is. You’re still in love with her.”
And if that didn’t hit the nail on the head, what would?
“I saw her in a bar last night, immediately went up to say hi. Bought her and her friends some drinks, and because there was a spark of something in her face that told me she didn’t hate me, I asked her out for breakfast. And fuck, we had the most amazing time this morning. I don’t even understand it. I’ve never been able to talk so easily and so comfortably with anyone like this, and then there’s Ebba looking even more gorgeous than insta shows, with her amazing smile and incredible body. Like…her muscles? Insane. Those biceps? Fuck,” William sighed.
“Oh so you’re gone gone already then. Head over heels all over again."
“I’m so gone,” William groaned.
He knew Alex would understand.
“Maybe it’s fate.”
“What?”
“The first time you go back to Örnsköldsvik, to Modo, since you left Ebba, and you run into her on your first night? It’s a sign, no?”
“You think so?” William asked, a little hesitant.
“I think you need to listen to your heart, to your gut, and to me. Take a chance. Seize the moment. Like, fuck, ask her on a date and see what happens, you know? You’ve always been in love with her so why would you let this moment slip by?”
He didn’t say it often enough but he really did love his brother.
“I’ll do it. I’ll ask her out. Carpe diem and all that shit,” William said, a little breathless.
“Atta boy. Text me when you’ve done it so I know you haven’t chickened out.”
“Love you too, asshole,” William grumbled.
Alex just cackled, saying goodbye before the call ended, William’s phone screen going blank. Could he really do it? Could he really ask Ebba out on a date, after all these years? Did she even want that from him? What if she only went to breakfast with him for closure?
Take a chance. Seize the moment.
Fuck it, Alex was right. What did he have to lose if he took a little courage? He opened up the messages on his phone, finally having gotten her number when they were at breakfast, and took a deep breath.
To: Ebba Hey, I had the best time this morning. This is a long shot, but would you like get to dinner with me tomorrow? As a date?
William groaned as it delivered, tossing his phone to the side so he wouldn’t check it every 30 seconds for a response. Even if she didn’t want to, he knew Ebba wouldn’t be cruel in letting him down. He’d done it though. He’d taken a chance. He could only hope the universe wouldn’t be cruel this time round.
In less than 5 minutes, his phone buzzed. Ebba.
From: Ebba I’d love to go for dinner with you. As a date x
Oh fuck. It worked.
~
June 2025
This is a long shot, but would you like get to dinner with me tomorrow? As a date?
When Ebba had seen those words on her phone, her heart had skipped a beat. William asked her out, just a bluntly and openly as he did back in 2013. It didn’t make sense at first, that he would want that with her, but she’d been over at Jodi’s for dinner when the text had come through and with her friend’s support she’d realised that it wasn’t a cosmic joke after all.
And even after she’d texted back immediately, talking through the pros and cons with her friends (who Jodi had called immediately to come over), she’d realised that this was a good thing, taking a chance with William after all this time. Even Lystus was on board with William shooting his shot like that – she approved of the lack of dancing around, the lack of bullshit.
So the next night, after a few hours at the gym with her girls, they all piled back into Ebba’s apartment to be her cheerleading squad, exactly what she needed while she got ready. She’d asked William today what to wear, dresscode-wise, and all he said was ‘dress fancy’ – so she’d put on her favourite cream silk dress, the top half having a corset integrated for structure, and she loved the way it hugged her body and yet still flowed like water. Paired with a soft glam makeup, bouncy curls, a lightweight green jacket and strappy heels, she was ready for whatever William threw her way.
“Okay, I think I’m ready,” Ebba said, doing a twirl as she walked into the living room.
Lystus, Livi, and Jodi all wolf-whistled and applauded, making her laugh. Yeah, this was exactly the support she needed.
“Damn girl, you look good. William’s going to lose his mind,” Jodi smirked.
“You think so?” she said.
“I know so,” Jodie nodded.
“You don’t think it’s too much?” Ebba asked, a smidgen of doubt creeping into her voice.
“Absolutely not. He asked you out, and told you to dress fancy. You want to wow him right, make him realise what he’s been missing?” Livi said with a sharp grin.
Lystus howled with laughter at whatever was showing on Ebba’s face, Jodi cackling along with her.
“It’s just a dinner,” Ebba said, shaking her head.
“Absolutely not. William’s back in your life after 10 years – this is a sign from the universe,” Jodi said firmly.
“Take a chance. Seize the moment,” Lystus added.
“Who knows where this will take you?” Livi said, rounding out the group advice.
Ebba just groaned, tugging them all into a group hug, only breaking away when the doorbell rang.
“He’s here, battle stations ladies!” Lystus cheered.
“Oh my god, don’t be embarrassing,” Ebba pleaded, striding to the door.
William stood waiting in a lilac linen suit, a colour she never expected on him and yet suited him to a tee. Of course it did.
“Wow, you look…wow,” he murmured.
Ebba laughed softly, blushing as her friends cheered. William huffed out a laugh as he heard them, but moved his arm from behind his back, producing a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
“For me?” she asked, a little stunned.
William just nodded, smiling shyly as he handed them over. She inhaled the floral scent, closing her eyes briefly at the sweetness, smiling back at him.
“I love them, thank you,” she said, heart swelling at the romantic gesture, “I’ll just put them in some water?”
“I’ll put them in water, and you can head off to dinner with Prince Charming,” Lystus mused, appearing behind her with her green jacket in hand.
William just blushed at the nickname, Ebba pursing her lips as Lystus’s wink, exchanging the flowers for the jacket anyway.
“Bring her home in one piece, Nylander!”
“Don’t think we won’t hunt you down!”
Ebba groaned, grabbing her keys. “Let’s go, before they make us take prom photos.”
“Oh fuck why didn’t we think of that?”
“Go go go,” Ebba urged, looping her arm through William’s.
He just cackled, waving over his shoulder to her friends as they walked down the corridor, down the elevator, and to where he’d parked his car.
“So, where are you taking me?” she asked as he started to drive.
William seemed to hesitate for a second, before he smiled warmly at her. “I reserved a table for us at Il Romanos.”
Il Romanos. The restaurant where they’d had their first date back in 2013. Fuck.
“Is that okay?” he asked.
The nerves in his voice somehow settled hers. He’d really put thought and effort into this, hadn’t he?
“Yeah, I haven’t been there in years. Sounds great,” she nodded, smiling back at him.
Her words seemed to sink into him, and after that, she didn’t see any more of that hesitation. Not when they arrived at the restaurant and he pulled out her chair for her. Not when they were ordering and he offered to share a couple of starters with her when she couldn’t decide what she wanted. Not when the conversation flowed just like it had at breakfast, but with a much more charged intensity. The date was perfect. He was perfect. Was she dreaming?
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
Ebba groaned and rested her hand on her full stomach, William just laughing as he shook his head.
“I think we’re good to just finish our drinks for now,” he mused.
As the waiter walked away with a smile, Ebba stuck her tongue out at him, William grinning in response. His grin softened after a moment, a thoughtful look passing over his face.
“Something on your mind?” she prompted.
“Maybe,” he admitted.
Ebba waited in silence, sipping her water while she waited for him to order his thoughts.
“I’m so glad you said yes to going on a date with me tonight. I wanted to take you somewhere really fancy at first, to show you how different I am. To show you I’m not that same guy that you knew when we were teenagers. But then I knew that bringing you back here to Il Romanos was the only thing that made sense. This place was the beginning of the best relationship of my life, and I can’t help but to think that seeing you again now means something. Please tell me I’m not crazy?” William said softly.
~
2013
William opened up the door of Il Romanos, letting her out before him, the two of them immediately soaked by the rain. Ebba shrieked with laughter as William slipped his arms around her waist and spun her around in a circle, batting as his chest lightly until he steadied her once more.
“My hair is ruined,” she groaned, tilting her head back regardless.
“You look beautiful,” William said softly.
Ebba gasped at the sincerity of his words, blue eyes locking with his blue eyes, heat rushing to her cheeks as he smiled softly.
“Can I kiss you?” he murmured.
She found herself nodding without hesitation, eyes drifting shut as he leant forward and connected their lips gently, clutching at his rain-soaked shirt as one of his hand rose to cup her face. They kissed over and over and over again, sweet and soft and innocent, but the way he made her feel was more than any kiss ever had before.
It was only when the horn of a passing car sounded that they broke apart, both laughing softly, giddily, William resting his forehead against hers before stepping minutely apart.
“You drive me crazy, Ebba.”
~
June 2025
“We were just kids, William. Kids with big dreams, and we fell so in love, so quickly,” Ebba murmured.
“I’ve never fallen for anyone like I fell for you, Ebba.”
She shook her head to interrupt him. “How could we make this work? We were right to focus on our careers – look how far we’ve come? I don’t think I could survive that heartbreak again.”
William looked stunned. "Heartbreak?"
“William…”
“You were so calm and composed when we broke up,” he said, confused.
“Because I didn’t want to fall apart in public! You were my first serious boyfriend, William, of course I was devastated!” Ebba groaned softly.
The look on his face was almost as devastated as she felt back then.
“I’m…sorry. I’m so sorry,” he said, voice thick with emotion.
Ebba smiled sadly and shook her head. “It was 10 years ago – I got over it.”
“Did you get over me?”
What the actual hell.
He grimaced at her expression. “That didn’t come out how I meant it.”
Ebba let out a shaky breath, trying to compose herself as she set her drink on the table.
“Then what did you mean?”
“Do I still have a chance? Is there any way you would take a chance on us again? Being around you these last couple of days…it’s been everything I didn’t know I was missing.”
“William…”
But he shook his head, interrupting. “I’d fly you out to Toronto. I’d fly back here. We could take trips together, go to Alaska like you always talked about.”
How did he remember that?
“Technology is so much better, we could facetime all the time. I know it would be hard, but I know it would be so worth it. We would be worth it – we could be so good if we tried,” William said softly, more serious than she’d ever seen him.
He thought they were worth fighting for. That meant more than she could put into words.
“You really mean that?” Ebba said, unable to keep the hope out of her voice.
“Yeah, I do. The universe brought us back together for a reason, sötnos.”
Her breath hitched in her throat at the familiar endearment that no-one had called her other than him.
“Let’s spend the day together, sötnos.”
“Hey, sötnos, mamma wants to say hi on facetime.”
“Sötnos, you look beautiful.”
“Oh, sötnos, thanks for planning our Halloween costumes!”
“Ebba, sötnos, I love you.”
“Maybe we’re finally in the right place at the right time,” Ebba murmured.
William’s smile let her know she’d made the right decision in following her heart. “I have to go to Cannes for another promo thing, but I was planning on going back to Stockholm to see my family after – I could come here instead?”
Ebba bit her bottom lip for a moment, before deciding to be brave. “Or I could come up to Stockholm? I know how important family time is to you.”
He looked stunned before he smiled so wide it made her heart ache.
“You really mean that?” he asked hopefully.
“Yeah, I mean it, William. I’m a big believer in fate, and I think we were brought back together now for a reason. I want to give us a try,” Ebba nodded.
“Mamma’s going to be thrilled.”
Ebba couldn’t stop the laughter that spilled from her lips, partly incredulous.
“Well as long as your mamma will be happy,” she teased.
William blushed slightly but reached out his hand, threading their fingers together.
“Thank you for giving me a chance. I’ll try for all of my life to be the man you need me to be,” he said softly.
“You don’t have to be anyone or anything other than yourself. That’s all I want.”
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026: Round 3, Game 3 Carolina Hurricanes @ Montreal Canadiens | May 25, 2026
rpf aside I am really looking forward to watching those two men make out crazy style on tv again next year
Minnesota Wild @ Colorado Avalanche ⤷ May 13, 2026 | Second Round Game 5
here we go again
not now kitten, mommy needs to get up off her ass and overcome her fear of writing poorly because it's better than not writing at all.
a writer’s struggle
The Deal by Ella Kennedy, Chapter 19
I'm gonna go check on my WIP. just in case it wrote itself while I was gone. You never know.
[26.05.09] vs. carolina hurricanes (playoffs, round 2 game 4)
let's lay down here
