summerboy ā nathan mackinnon
summary: your dad is getting married in lake como, the place youāve dreamed of getting married since you were a teenager. a hotel mistake forced you to share a room with nathan mackinnon, your childhood crush.
note: this was supposed to be really short, but Nate won my heart. šš here are some songs to listen to while you read this ( sarĆ perchĆ© ti amo, ricchi e poveri ; summerboy, lady gaga ; teenage fever, drake ; butterflies, brent faiyaz ; kiss of like, sade ; other side, brent faiyaz ; yebbaās heartbreak, drake )
your dad is getting married again, and his wife wanted a big wedding, excessively big. a huge reception, an enormous guest list, and the partyā¦ there was no way to explain it, it was out of this world. on top of that, they were getting married in lake como, italy. your dream city.
you discovered it in a school book. you knew you wanted to get married there someday. you even had someone in mind but he was only a product of your imagination, someone you had idealized in your head. he had no real face then. just broad shoulders and hands that reached for yours like they already knew you, even though you didnāt know him.
now, you were sitting on one of the small elegant sofas in the reception area of the villa in italy that your father had rented to accommodate all the guests. from where you sat, you could watch people constantly coming in and out of the villa.
you let out a sigh because you still didnāt have a room. you had asked three times at reception. you said your name, spelled out your last name, even showed the invitation email, but the receptionist told you there was no one registered under that name. you sank a little deeper into the sofa when a familiar male voice sounded behind you.
you rolled your eyes at the nickname and turned your head. nathan was there, sunglasses hanging from the collar of his shirt and a small lopsided smile that only appeared when he was amused.
āhey, nateā you said.
āgive me some space,ā he said, moving your leg with his knee.
you pulled your legs together and sat up straight, making space for him on the sofa you barely fit on alone. his huge body took up whatever space was left, disappearing into it, his long legs spreading out for obvious reasons.
āyou ready, wife?ā he asked.
his hand went to the front pocket of his pants and he pulled out the room key, holding it out for you to take. you turned the small wooden piece over to look at the decoration. āmr. & mrs. mackinnonā. you frowned, looking at him.
āsince when do you have a wife?ā you asked, dropping the key onto his lap.
āsinceā¦ today,ā he replied, shrugging.
āwhere is she?ā you turned your head toward reception, where there was a bunch of women with suitcases.
āin front of me,ā he answered calmly.
your head turned slowly back to him, who had a light smile on his face and was looking at you.
āwhat?!ā your voice came out louder than normal, and some people nearby turned at the sound. āthatās impossible. why would i share a room with you?ā
āi asked for mrs. mackinnonās name and they gave me yours,ā he explained what had happened a few moments earlier. āi donāt know any other person with your name, bambi.ā
āstop it,ā you cut him off. āiām going to tell them to fix this.ā
you placed your left hand on the armrest and the other on nateās huge thigh to push yourself up, but his voice stopped you.
ācalm down. itās not that bad,ā he said, grabbing the key from his lap. āis your boyfriend from the playoffs here?ā
he was referring to the man you invited to the last colorado avalanche playoff game, the one who got to meet the team in person thanks to you, where nate asked questions just to make things awkward for both of you.
āheās not my boyfriend,ā you said reluctantly. āwe donāt talk anymore.ā
āthen weāre okay,ā he said, shrugging.
you looked at him in disbelief. nate always did that, he said absurd things with an infuriating calm, as if everyone else in the world was overreacting. though maybe thatās why you became friends so quickly. you met him when you were eighteen and your dad had just become the coach of the colorado avalanche. at first you only went to a few summer practices because your father hated leaving you home alone. nathan barely spoke to you, heād nod at you and go back to training like he was preparing for war instead of a hockey game.
but one day he found you sitting alone in the stands at the practice facility, trying to finish an assignment while waiting for your dad. he dropped down next to you completely sweaty, breathing heavily after training, and snatched the book from your hands.
āthis is boring,ā he said after reading two lines.
āgive it back.ā you pulled it out of his hands.
āyou actually understand this?ā
he looked at you for a second, genuinely impressed. then he smiled a little. āsmart girl.ā
and that was it. after that, he started talking to you more and more. at first it was just small conversations while you waited for practice to end. then he started sending you ridiculous videos at two in the morning. youād tease him about his obsessive hockey addiction, heād make fun of your one direction playlists, and without you noticing, nathan became a constant part of your life.
you liked him from the start. it was impossible not to. not when he always found a way to sit closer to you during team gatherings. not when he looked directly at you while talking even when there were twenty other people around.
but you stopped thinking about him like that the day he introduced you to one of his girlfriends. you remember perfectly how she clung to his arm during a team dinner while nathan introduced her with that relaxed smile he reserved for press and cameras. it didnāt bother you that he had girlfriends, because you knew nathan was never going to fall in love with you. so you buried that little illusion where no one could see it. and it worked. wellā¦ mostly.
ācan we go to our room and rest, my lovely wife?ā he poked your ribs.
you rolled your eyes, lightly hitting his thigh with your fist. a soft laugh from him reached your ears. he stood up from the sofa and extended a hand toward you.
you lifted your gaze to his face, the sunlight hitting him directly, lighting up his blond hair and shrinking his pupils into two tiny ink-like specks lost in the blue of his eyes.
you placed your hand over his, and he helped you up with barely any effort. his hand settled on your lower back, letting you pass in front of him. a shiver ran down your spine, leaving your whole body covered in goosebumps.
you were about to grab your suitcase, but his large hand appeared in the way, lifting it up along with his. he tilted his head for you to keep walking.
āi can take my own suitcase, nate,ā you said, trying to reach for it, but he moved it to the other side.
āand let me be a bad husband? absolutely not,ā he said, shaking his head.
you walked toward the room door. the villa had an open ceiling design, you could see the clear sky above, the sun lighting up the place with that warm italian glow. once in front of the door, you waited for nate to take out the key, but his hands were full, your suitcase and his in one hand, and another carry-on in the other.
āthe key is in my right pocket,ā he said, turning toward you and pulling you closer.
one of your hands opened the bag while the other reached into the large pocket of nateās pants for the key. you grabbed it and unlocked the door, going in first and holding it open so he could come in with the luggage.
once the door was closed, you walked down the small hallway of the room. to your right was the bathroom. you continued until you reached the only bed. yes, a single bed.
āyou gotta be kidding,ā you sighed.
āseems nice,ā nate said, opening the windows that revealed a view of the italian sea. ācome take a look!ā
you walked to his side and went silent. the sea sparkled under the sunlight, reflecting flashes of gold across the water. a small smile formed on your face at the sight in front of you.
āitās so beautiful,ā you said, turning your head toward nate.
āyeah, itās so beautiful,ā he nodded, looking at you.
you turned your gaze back to the sea. you couldnāt wait to get married here. you just had to find the man you had always imagined. you kept wondering who it could be. so many people you had met, and it was none of them.
nate stepped away from your side. you turned your head toward him as he dropped onto the bed, stretching his body out, arms above his head and legs extended. his shirt lifted slightly, revealing the lower part of his abdomen, where the waistband of his underwear peeked out.
your eyes returned to the shimmering sea. your heartbeat quickened, and you closed your eyes, trying to calm yourself. you couldnāt think like that about him. you had already moved past your imaginary phase of being in a relationship with him. even he remembers it. whenever your dad invited the team over to your house, you would show up a little more put together, wearing makeup on an otherwise normal day.
āsoā¦ about the bed,ā you said, stepping away from the window.
āwhat about it?ā nate asked, placing his arms behind his head.
you let out a nervous, poorly hidden laugh.
āyou donāt want me in your bed?ā he asked.
āitās not that. i mean, we barely know each other to sleep in one bed,ā you tried to justify the unjustifiable.
āweāre not gonna sleep naked, bambi,ā he turned his head to look at you. āweāre gonna have clothes.ā
āi know!ā you raised your voice, placing your hands on your hips. ābut itās weird.ā
āuntil you make it,ā he said. āstop thinking. cāmon. lay next to me.ā
you hesitated. you could just say no and walk out of the room, that easy, but your feet moved before you could stop them, and you slowly lay down, not too close to him. you didnāt want to move and make it weird.
āonly four days,ā he mentioned his stay. āwe can make it.ā
āyeah. i think,ā you said under your breath.
āwhat are you going to do at night?ā he asked, turning his head toward you.
āthe final wedding rehearsal,ā you answered with a groan. āmy dad wants me to walk in with himā¦ though i wish it were the other way around.ā
āyou want to marry raven?ā he asked teasingly.
nate let out a laugh. then he sat up, his weight shifting the bed so much your legs slid slightly to the side, and he placed a hand on your knee.
āyou have to be happy for your dad,ā he said, tapping his fingers lightly against your knee. āor at least try.ā
āyou want to come to the rehearsal?ā you asked, sitting up next to him.
āto do what?ā his blue eyes met yours.
āto be a guest, duh,ā you said like it was obvious.
āokay. i will be the drunk uncle.ā
that made you laugh. nate smiled when he heard it, his small smile that barely lifted one corner of his lips but always made your chest feel oddly tight.
you rolled your eyes, though the smile stayed on your face. the silence that followed wasnāt uncomfortable. outside, small waves gently hit the private docks of the villa, and in the distance you could hear italian music coming from a restaurant near the lake. through the window, lake como looked like a postcard, small cream-colored houses climbing green mountains, boats cutting through the bright water, and lights beginning to turn on as evening settled in.
āyou know,ā nate said after a few seconds, āwhen your dad told me the wedding was here, i thought you were gonna lose your mind.ā
you let out a soft laugh. āi almost did.ā
āyou talked about this place for years.ā
you turned your head slightly toward him. āyou remember that?ā
nate frowned a little, as if the question was ridiculous. āof course i do.ā
you felt something tighten in your ribs. because nate always remembered things he shouldnāt. small details that were easy to forget. like the exact way you took your coffee, your first dogās name, the time you cried when zayn malik left one direction and he teased you about it for weeks.
and maybe thatās why you could never fully get him out of your head. because nate had a way of making you feel important without even realizing it.
the night had arrived, carrying a warmth you could feel under your skin. it was strange, like dĆ©jĆ vu, like you had been here before, even though you had never traveled to italy. maybe it was because you had spent years imagining this place. imagining yourself walking down the aisle toward the man you would eventually marry someday.
a voice saying your name pulled you out of your thoughts. you turned quickly toward the sound, your eyes widening in surprise as you recognized the face in front of you.
ānick?ā you let out a small, incredulous laugh. āwhat are you doing here?ā
the excitement in your voice was impossible to hide. nick smiled just like he used to when you were kids, though now he looked much taller and older than the boy you had been in love with at thirteen.
āi got invited, well, raven invited me,ā he shrugged, wrapping you in a hug. āitās been years since iāve seen you.ā
nateās voice came from behind you. you turned without fully stepping away from nick.
āgreatā¦ um, nick, this is nate,ā you introduced him to your neighbor. ānate, this is nick.ā
nate nodded, and nick extended a hand, which nate took out of politeness, and to avoid being rude in front of you.
āare you her boyfriend?ā nick asked, tightening his grip on nateās hand.
āno,ā you answered faster than you meant to. āheās my friend. my dadās favorite player to bother.ā
nate turned his sharp blue eyes toward you without letting go of nickās hand, noticing the involuntary smile that had appeared on your face while talking to nick.
āactually, iām her husband this week,ā nate said, releasing the manās hand.
ānathan!ā you hit his chest with your hand. ādonāt say that,ā you scolded him. āitās a misunderstanding with the hotel. they put us in the same room.ā
āwell, i hope you donāt mind if i steal your wife for one night,ā nick joked, turning toward you. āare you free?ā
āi have my dadās last wedding rehearsal,ā you said, playing with your fingers. ābut you can come. i donāt think heāll mind.ā
āyes, that would be great!ā nick smiled immediately.
āhave you seen raven?ā your dad appeared behind you all.
āprobably regretting the wedding already,ā you joked.
āmaybe,ā he said, laughing. āletās go outside while we wait for her.ā
you walked out into the garden where your dadās ceremony would take place. white chairs rested on the grass under the glow of hanging string lights. nate stayed by your side, as did nick, you were trapped between them, unable to look at one without turning your back on the other.
ācome here, honey,ā your dad called you over.
the moment you stepped away, nate took a seat in the back row. he pulled out his phone as if he didnāt care about anything happening around him, though you knew that act too well. nate always pretended indifference when something actually bothered him.
āthis is what weāre going to do one day for you. for your special day,ā your dad switched places with you, glancing back and noticing nate sitting on his phone and nick taking in the place. āhey kid!ā
āyeah?ā nick was the only one who answered.
āstand in front of the altar.ā
ādad!ā you muttered, gripping his arm.
āitās just an example, iām not asking you to marry nick, honey,ā your dad said quietly. āyouāll find someone special eventually.ā
you nodded, though you werenāt sure you believed it.
from the back row, nate put his phone away and paid attention just as you started walking with your dad. he noticed the two of you murmuring like accomplices until you reached the altar, where he left you with nick.
you took nickās cold hands and lifted your gaze to his face, where a small smile made you look down, suddenly flustered. you looked up again but this time your eyes drifted to the blue ones watching you from the last row.
nate lifted a thumb with a small approving smile, as if agreeing with the scene. then, seconds later, he turned the thumb down with a disgusted expression, making you cover your laugh with both hands.
āokay, now hold hands properly,ā your dad instructed, and you both obeyed. āactuallyā¦ no, switch places. bride goes on this side.ā
you switched with nick and now stood on the left side, closer to the seats where nate had been sitting in the back row. you took nickās hand again and began walking down the few steps from the altar.
āthis feels like a movie,ā nick said. āthe perfect placeā¦ and the perfect wife.ā
your gaze stayed locked with nateās, who didnāt look away from you even for a second. his eyes followed every step you took with a calmness that made the night feel like it belonged to them. something tight formed in your chest.
you reached the end when one of the doors opened and raven stepped out.
āi lost the whole wedding,ā she joked, closing the door behind her.
āit would be another, donāt worry,ā you played along.
ālike father, like daughter,ā raven laughed, her laugh pulling one out of you too.
she walked past you toward your dad, who welcomed her with open arms. you slowly let go of nickās hand.
āwhat a great experience it was to marry you but i have to go now,ā he said, pointing toward the door.
ādonāt worry, see you at the wedding,ā you said with a small squeeze of his arm. ābye!ā
you walked toward the seats in front of nate, leaving him a view of your exposed back, your hair swaying slightly in the soft wind that had taken over the night.
āhe really likes you, bambi,ā you felt nateās deep voice right behind your ear. too close.
āhe looked pretty excited that you were the bride,ā he kept teasing. ālike it was gonna happen one day.ā
āmaybe it could be real someday,ā you said, turning your face slightly. āhe could be the husband iām looking for.ā
āheās not your type, bambi,ā nate let out a soft laugh through his nose and slowly shook his head.
āstop calling me that!ā you muttered, turning your body away from the seat. āyou think you know my type? whoās my type then?ā
he looked at you with that calm expression, like the answer was right on the tip of his tongue but he couldnāt say it.
ādumb dudes,ā he replied. ālike the guy in the playoffs. he looked more excited to meet cale than to actually be there with you.ā
āyeah, definitely dumb dudes,ā you said, turning your back to him again.
the words stayed with you longer than they should have.
you knew nate was joking, half mocking your terrible history with men, but it still landed somewhere sensitive. because maybe he was right. maybe all the guys you had dated really were dumb dudes, and maybe everyone could see it except you.
you hated that a careless sentence from him could do that.
you crossed your arms over your chest and stared forward, refusing to turn around. behind you, there was movement, the scrape of a chair, footsteps on the grass. nateās body appeared in your view as he settled into the seat beside you.
you didnāt look at him. your face stayed forward, jaw tight, eyes fixed on anything ahead. for a moment, he didnāt speak either. his shoulder brushed yours, close enough that you could feel the heat radiating off him despite the cool night air.
āyou mad?ā he asked after a while.
he leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs out until your knees touched his. he let out a calm sigh through his nose. āthatās dramatic.ā
you could see your dad hugging raven near the altar, distant cars near the villa, soft music drifting through the garden but your whole body was still too aware of nate sitting next to you. taking up space like always. acting like he hadnāt just said something that had slipped under your skin.
āi was joking,ā he said, his voice lower now.
āgood for you,ā you replied sharply.
he turned slightly toward you, trying to catch your eyes, but you refused.
āyou know i was joking.ā
āthen find someone else to entertain.ā
you felt the side of his hand nudge your elbow. you pulled your arm away immediately.
āyouāre really doing this?ā
āyouāve ignored me for less.ā
āthat should tell you something.ā
that made him go quiet immediately.
for a few moments, there was only the sound of wind moving through the trees and quiet voices near the altar. the air had turned colder, but nateās arm was still pressed against yours, warm and heavy.
āi didnāt mean to upset you.ā
ātoo late,ā you said, your throat tightening, which only made you more annoyed.
nate shifted in his seat, leaning slightly closer until his knee pressed more firmly against yours.
you didnāt. you werenāt going to give him the satisfaction.
ālook at me,ā he repeated, softer this time. more patient.
and somehow that made it harder not to. you turned your head just enough to meet his eyes. nate was still facing you, one arm draped over the back of the chair, his jaw tight in that unreadable way he got when he was deciding whether to push or back off. it was the same look he had on the ice when he wanted the puck and nothing else mattered.
ārelax, please,ā he murmured.
his long fingers brushed your arm. it felt strange, because this version of nate, him being careful and trying to fix things, felt too different from the one you remembered. your mind drifted to a memory before you could stop it.
your dad had invited some of the team, and the place was loud with laughter, some hockey talk, chairs scraping against the floor. nate was sitting on the counter, leaning against it like he owned the room, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, eating strawberries straight from the container.
you had spent almost an hour upstairs getting ready. curling your hair for the third time because you didnāt like how it fell over your shoulders. changing outfits until you found a top that looked casual even though it clearly wasnāt. putting on makeup with shaky hands because you were eighteen and nathan mackinnon was downstairs in your kitchen. back then, you still thought those kinds of things mattered.
when you finally walked into the kitchen carrying a tray of drinks, the conversation slowed for half a second. just long enough for it to be noticed.
nateās eyes landed on you. they traveled over your hair, your makeup, your clothes and then he smiled.
āwell, look at this,ā he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. ādidnāt know it was picture day.ā
a couple of guys laughed immediately. your grip tightened on the tray. you tried to keep walking like it didnāt affect you, but nate wasnāt done.
āwho are you trying to impress?ā he asked, picking a bottle off the tray. ābecause itās definitely not working on these guys.ā
more laughter. louder this time.
your face burned so badly you thought you might cry right there in front of all of them.
āitās called looking nice,ā you said quickly. āyou should try it sometime.ā
nate just shrugged, opening the bottle.
ārelax, it was a joke,ā he said, already bored with it.
you slammed the tray down too hard, ran upstairs, shut your bedroom door, and sat on the floor waiting. waiting for footsteps. waiting for a knock. waiting for him to come up and say he didnāt mean it. that the guys were idiots. that he was an idiot. anything.
but it never happened. an hour later, you looked out the window and nate was still outside in the garden with your dad, talking about a game like nothing had happened at all.
back then, he never cared enough to explain himself. if he hurt your feelings, he moved on before the moment could even finish, he was already somewhere else.
now he was sitting beside you in italy, refusing to move on.
ārelax, it was a joke,ā he repeated softly. ābad timing maybe, but still a joke.ā
before you could answer, ravenās voice carried through the garden.
āsweetheart, i need you over here.ā
you looked away from nate and turned toward raven, who was standing near the altar with a bouquet in her hands, motioning for you to come closer.
you stood up from your chair, smoothing down your dress. but before you could take another step, warm fingers closed around your wrist. you froze.
when you looked down, nateās hand was wrapped around you, still sitting, his eyes lifted to yours. the overhead lights reflected softly in his blue gaze.
āiām sorry,ā he said.
something in his expression had shifted. like he hated that you thought badly of him, even if he hated even more having to say it out loud. you looked from his hand on your wrist back to his eyes.
he loosened his grip slightly, but he didnāt let go.
you pulled your wrist free without a word.
you walked toward the altar, still feeling the warmth of nateās hand lingering on your skin. the same warmth you used to imagine in your own wedding daydreams. a warmth you hadnāt felt in nickās cold hands when you held his.
you could feel nateās gaze on your back, but you ignored it and kept walking until you reached raven, who showed you where to stand.
from his seat, he could see your expression clearly. your face was calm, but your eyes werenāt. there was something there, something he recognized too well now. he hadnāt always noticed it, but two years ago he started paying attention without really knowing why. the way your posture changed when something bothered you. the way you walked away without looking back, like you just did.
he followed you with his eyes until you took your place, as if his body couldnāt decide to stop watching you even when his mind told him to.
you could feel your face warming under the sunlight that hit your skin. you opened your eyes with some difficulty and stared at the wooden ceiling above you. you had ignored nate throughout the rehearsal, it hadnāt seemed strange to anyone else because you and nate werenāt exactly close in their eyes. still, now he was lying right next to you in the same bed.
you turned your head slightly to the left, and nate was still asleep, lying face down with his right arm tucked under the pillow. the blanket sat low on his waist, leaving his back exposed under the morning light.
sunlight poured through the open windows, falling directly onto him, tracing the soft lines of his back and making his hair look even more golden. for a moment, you just watched in silence.
and then something uncomfortable tightened in your chest, because you had already imagined this before. you had spent years being in love with nate, so you had imagined what he would look like sleeping next to you. what it would be like to be part of his life after telling everyone you were together. until that idea disappeared the day he introduced you to his first girlfriend.
your gaze slowly traced the line of his back as the sunlight shifted across his skin. there was something strangely intimate about seeing him like this, sleeping, still, without the intensity he always carried awake. without that version of nate who always seemed like he was competing against the world.
he looked like someone you could wake up with a kiss on the lips and it wouldnāt feel strange. the thought hit you so hard you looked away immediately, annoyed at yourself.
you shifted carefully so you wouldnāt wake him, but the mattress dipped slightly under your weight.
nate let out a low sound, almost a sleepy grunt, and turned his face slightly into the pillow. his eyes were still closed when he spoke, his voice rough from sleep.
āwhy are you staring at me?ā
your heart jumped so stupidly it made you angry.
āi wasnāt staring at you,ā you lied quickly.
a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, still with his eyes closed.
you rolled your eyes, even though he couldnāt see it.
āyou were literally asleep.ā
he slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight. it took a moment for his pupils to adjust before he found you still lying beside him. and for the first time since last nightās argument, neither of you looked upset.
āyou still mad at me?ā he asked, his voice rough.
you looked at him for a few more seconds. the golden light kept falling over his hair, over his back, over that sleepy expression you almost never saw on him. and honestly, you didnāt have enough energy left to stay mad anymore.
āiām not mad anymore,ā you admitted quietly.
āso,ā he said. āweāre okay?ā
the question sounded casual, but there was something careful in it. like he actually wanted to know the answer. nate wasnāt good at apologizing. everyone knew that. he was too blunt, too proud sometimes, too used to moving forward instead of sitting in uncomfortable feelings.
but with you, he tried last night. multiple times. he tried to make you understand he didnāt mean to make you feel bad, and that mattered more than you wanted to admit.
āyeah,ā you answered finally. āweāre okay.ā
nate looked at you for a few seconds, and a small smile appeared on his lips, softer than the teasing ones he usually gave you.
then he got out of bed and walked toward the window, where sunlight traced his back and bare shoulders. he leaned his forearms against the balcony railing, the morning breeze moving through his messy hair while the lake stretched endlessly behind him.
you watched him for half a second too long before forcing yourself to look away and get out of bed. the floor felt cold under your feet as you walked toward your suitcase.
āwhatās the plan today?ā nate asked from outside.
you crouched beside your luggage, pretending to look for something just to avoid looking at him again.
ābreakfast with my dad and raven,ā you answered. āmy dad said youāre invited too. unless youāre too busy touring with cale.ā
nate let out a quiet scoff from the balcony.
āfirst of all, cale would absolutely wake up at six in the morning to go look at rocks or whatever tourists do here.ā
a smile tugged at your lips as you kept pretending to reorganize clothes that were already folded.
āand second?ā you asked.
āiām offended you think iād miss free breakfast.ā
you let out a soft laugh. behind you, you heard his footsteps crossing the room slowly. the mattress shifted slightly as he sat on the edge of the bed.
ātell your dad iāll go,ā he said. āgotta maintain my reputation as his favorite player.ā
āyou mean his most tolerated player.ā
nate placed a dramatic hand over his chest. āthatās hurtful.ā
you finally looked at him over your shoulder. his hair was still messy from sleep. he looked too comfortable here. too natural in your space. your eyes lingered for a dangerous second before you looked away again.
unfortunately, nate noticed everything. a slow smile appeared on his face.
āthere you go again.ā
āoh my god,ā you muttered immediately, grabbing the first thing from your suitcase just to have something to hold. āyouāre ridiculously obsessed with yourself.ā
āno, bambi,ā he said, leaning back on his hands. āi just know when someoneās looking at me like that.ā
you hated that nickname or at least thatās what you tried to say every time nate used it. you hated it because it made you feel like a kid again, but also because no one else could call you that. only him.
it had started as a joke years ago, when you fell while trying to skate in front of the entire team during a charity event. nate had laughed so hard your dad had to tell him to calm down, then heād walked over to help you up and said you looked like a baby deer learning how to walk like bambi.
and it just stuck. all the other players eventually stopped using it. you tried to ignore it, but nate never did. and the worst part was that it sounded different when it came from him, like something closer, something that belonged only to him.
half an hour later, you were walking together through the small stone paths of the villa toward the restaurant where your dad had organized a family breakfast. the morning air was still cool, and the lake shimmered brightly under the sun. tourists walked near the water with cameras in hand while small cafƩs were starting to fill up.
nate walked beside you wearing sunglasses and a simple white shirt with a few buttons undone that, unfairly, still made him look ridiculously attractive. you hated that too.
āstop sighing,ā he commented without even looking at you.
before he could answer, your dadās voice came from a nearby terrace.
you looked up toward the restaurant. the tables were set outside, covered with white tablecloths and small flowers in the center. raven was sitting next to your dad with a cup of coffee in her hands. your dad smiled the moment he saw nate walking up with you.
āmackinnon,ā he greeted, lifting a hand. āi knew free food would bring you here.ā
nate placed a hand over his chest, pretending to be offended. ācoach, i came here because i enjoy company.ā
āthatās the biggest lie youāve ever told me.ā
you let out a small laugh as you took your seat next to raven. nate settled beside you almost automatically, like it was the most natural thing in the world. and maybe thatās why your dad raised an eyebrow. he noticed how nate pulled your chair slightly forward before sitting down. how he took the menu and handed it to you first without even thinking. those small, automatic gestures that felt too domestic for two people who ābarely knew each other.ā
āyou two look well rested,ā raven commented, smiling over her coffee cup.
ābest sleep of my life,ā nate replied, taking a sip of coffee like nothing was wrong.
you slowly turned your head toward him with a look of horror. your dad let out a loud laugh from across the table, and nate smiled behind his cup because he knew exactly what he was doing.
āyouāre unbelievable,ā you muttered under your breath, not looking at him directly.
āwhat? i slept great,ā he said, shrugging.
āyou snore,ā you lied.
āthatās actually offensive.ā
ācoach,ā nate turned to your dad with complete seriousness. āyour daughter is spreading misinformation about me.ā
your dad laughed again while raven gently shook her head.
āyou two sound married already,ā she commented casually.
the silence that followed lasted only a second, but it was enough to feel strange, because nate didnāt respond. you glanced at him, expecting a quick joke, some arrogant comeback, or one of those teasing smiles he always used to escape uncomfortable momentsābut for just a moment, he stayed quiet, leaning back in his chair with his arm draped over yours, staring out at the lake like the thought didnāt bother him as much as it should have.
āgod help us all if that ever happens,ā you said quickly before the silence could grow.
āsee?ā he pointed at raven. āsheās the mean one.ā
a waiter appeared at the table to take orders, and the conversation shifted into coffee choices and wedding talk. still, you were too aware of nate sitting next to you. of his leg brushing yours under the table. like he was used to sharing your space.
after breakfast, raven insisted on walking through the small markets near the lake before heading back to the villa. your dad agreed immediately because, according to him, āthis is what rich italian vacations are supposed to look like.ā
so you ended up walking behind them through the cobblestone streets of lake como while small shops filled with flowers and painted ceramics appeared on both sides. the lake shimmered behind the old buildings, and the air smelled like fresh coffee.
āyou know,ā your dad commented as raven stopped in front of a shop full of candles, āif hockey stops working out, mackinnon could definitely scam rich women in italy.ā
nate let out a laugh. āgood to know you believe in my future, coach.ā
āyou already look like a divorced millionaire,ā you added.
āwell, iām not divorced,ā he turned slightly toward you, though you couldnāt see his blue eyes behind his sunglasses. āiām actually your millionaire husband.ā
āyou wish,ā you rolled your eyes.
āoh my god, look!ā raven let out an excited sound ahead.
you looked up and found a small photobooth placed next to an ice cream shop. it was decorated with white flowers and beige curtains, probably set up for tourists and couples. a small sign read: lake como memories.
āweāre taking pictures,ā raven announced immediately.
she practically dragged your dad inside the tiny booth while you and nate stayed outside, looking at the printed tourist photos stuck to the exterior. through the curtain, you could hear their laughter and your dad complaining that āthe stool was too small.ā
nate let out a small laugh beside you.
āthatās gonna be us in thirty years,ā he said calmly.
you slowly turned toward him. āexcuse me?ā
āold and embarrassing.ā
āyou skipped a few important steps there.ā
ādid i?ā he asked distractedly, still looking at the photos.
you stared at him a second too long before looking away again. the photobooth curtain finally opened and raven stepped out first, holding the printed pictures in her hands.
āyour turn!ā she said excitedly.
āyes!ā raven gently pushed you forward. āgo make memories.ā
nate opened the curtain for you to step in first. the booth was much smaller than it looked from outside.
āthereās literally no space.ā
āwhat did you expect?ā nate stepped in behind you and closed the curtain. āan apartment?ā
the tiny bench barely looked designed for one person. nate sat first for obvious reasons, his long legs took up almost all the space.
āyou can sit,ā he said, looking at you.
āwhere exactly, genius?ā
nate gave his leg a small tap.
āthe camera is literally counting down,ā he pointed upward. sure enough, a small light had started blinking. āunless you wanna stand awkwardly in the corner.ā
you let out a nervous sigh before carefully sitting down on one of his legs. too close. nateās arm moved instinctively around your waist to keep you from slipping off, and you immediately felt the warmth of his hand through the thin fabric of your dress.
your back pressed against his chest. you felt small on his lap. you could feel his breath near your neck, the heat of his body seeping through your clothes, the brush of his knee against the outside of your thigh, even the subtle movement of his chest when he let out a low laugh at how stiff you were.
āyou look terrified,ā he murmured near your ear.
ābecause youāre crushing me.ā
nate only smiled slightly and rested his cheek against yours just as the first flash lit up the booth. on instinct, you placed a hand on his cheek, pulling him closer to your face as you pretended to scream for the photo, and the second flash went off immediately. you let out a small laugh, and the final countdown began.
āyou knowā¦ā his hand tightened gently at your waist, his blue eyes dropping briefly to your lips before meeting yours again. āyou fit here pretty well, bambi.ā
you were still too aware of his hand firm around your waist. how close his face was to yours. the accidental brush of his nose near your cheek.
your breath came out uneven, and you hated that he probably noticed. nate had been noticing everything about you lately. his eyes dipped toward your mouth again, and for a second, you genuinely thought he might kiss you right there.
the air inside the booth felt too hot all of a sudden. too small. and you were just trying to remember how to breathe normally while nate looked at you like that. like you were something he wanted to touch even when you were already right there on him.
you didnāt know what to do. didnāt know what to say. for the first time, he had actually left you speechless.
and that confused you more than anything.
nate wasnāt like this with you. he never made jokes like that. not about being married. he wouldāve made a joke, sure, but he wouldāve shut it down, fixed the misunderstanding immediately.
the machine let out a mechanical sound as it printed the photos, and the moment snapped apart.
you rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the heat rising to your cheeks. āsaved by technology.ā
nate let out a low laugh as he slowly removed his hand from your waist. āyouāre dramatic.ā
āand yet,ā he tilted his head slightly, looking at you, āyou looked pretty comfortable sitting on me.ā
you pushed the curtain open and stepped out before he could say anything else.
the fresh air outside hit your warm face immediately. your dad and raven were waiting for you, eating half-melted ice cream. raven took the two photo strips from your hand, her face lighting up the moment she started looking at them.
ālooks like youāre on your honeymoon!ā she said excitedly, showing them to your dad.
āoh please, donāt say that, honey,ā your dad said, taking one of the strips. ātheyāre not each otherās type.ā
you and nate both turned your heads toward him at the same time. āwhat?ā
ācome on,ā your dad pointed at nate with the photo strip still in his hand. ānate likes blondes,ā then he pointed at you. āand you donāt like hockey players.ā
āthat is not true,ā you protested.
nate was behind you, completely quiet.
āthe last time you dated a hockey player you said you would never date one again,ā your dad reminded you, thinking back to when you came home crying that night.
ābecause hockey players are insane.ā
āexactly,ā your dad said, satisfied.
āactually coach,ā nate said, stepping up beside you, āi donāt really have a type.ā
āno?ā your dad raised an eyebrow.
āno,ā nate kept his eyes on you while he spoke, like everything else around him had disappeared. āi just like girls who are funny,ā
your breath caught slightly.
āpretty,ā he continued calmly. āsmart, a little mean to meā¦ā
āoh my goodness,ā you muttered immediately.
your dad laughed, assuming nate was just joking again.
āand obsessed with me,ā he finished with a small crooked smile.
that broke the tension instantly.
āokay, there he is,ā you said, pushing his arm while raven started laughing. āi was worried for a second.ā
nate let out a low laugh as you hit him again, but even as you all started walking, his eyes stayed on you like part of him had said more than he meant to.
when you got back to the villa, the sun was still high over the lake and the place felt much more alive than in the morning. guests wandered through the gardens with glasses in hand, conversations mixing across tables, soft music threading through the trees.
raven and your dad disappeared almost as soon as they walked in because someone needed help with something related to the tables, you werenāt even sure what anymore.
you and nate walked slowly along one of the stone paths in the garden. around you were rose bushes, small unlit lights hanging from the trees, and empty tables waiting for the next nightās celebration.
nate broke the silence first.
āyouāve been smiling all day.ā
you tilted your head slightly toward him. āwhat?ā
āyou,ā he gestured vaguely at your face. āyouāve been smiling since we got here.ā
you frowned a little confused. āthatās a weird thing to notice.ā
āi notice everything about you.ā
it came out too fast. too natural. nate seemed to realize it a second later because he cleared his throat and looked down at the path.
your heart gave an uncomfortable little jump.
you kept walking until you reached a small bench under a weeping willow facing the lake. you sat down first, letting out a tired sigh. nate took off his sunglasses and hooked them onto his shirt before sitting beside you.
both of you stared out at the lake, lit by the sun. your hands rested in your lap, while his were placed on the bench beside him.
the silence between you wasnāt uncomfortable. it was the kind of soft silence that seemed to belong to the place itself, like the lake, the wind, and the willow leaves were all holding stillness with you.
the treeās shade covered you almost completely, letting only small rays of sunlight slip through the branches. the lake shimmered in the distance, like nothing else existed outside that moment.
āi can understand why you want to marry here,ā he said, looking out at the view.
āwhy?ā you asked, turning your head toward him.
āi mean, look at this!ā he extended his hand toward the lake. āeverything is so beautiful. thatās probably why raven stole your idea.ā
āshe didnāt steal it,ā you shrugged. āitās trendy.ā
āi remember when you told me italy was your dream city,ā he said.
āoh my god, we were nineteen!ā you let out a laugh.
āyou talked about it for likeā¦ two hours.ā
you shook your head, embarrassed. āthatās embarrassing.ā
the word caught you off guard.
āyou had this whole thing about flowers,ā he continued, still looking ahead. āpink ones.ā
āhydrangeas,ā you corrected automatically.
āyeah, those,ā he pointed slightly. āand you said you wanted jewelry that matched them.ā
you turned to look at his face, not expecting him to remember.
āyou showed me this bracelet once,ā he said more quietly now. ātiny little thing with pink details on it. it had these pale pink stones. you said it looked soft enough to wear with flowers.ā
you stared at him, completely surprised.
āhow do you even remember that?ā you asked softly. āi mentioned it once.ā
nate held your gaze for a second longer.
ābecause it was important to you, bambi.ā
the nickname came out differently this time. lower. like all the years you spent trying to bury and move past your feelings for him had suddenly surfaced again in your mind.
nate lowered his gaze right after saying it, like heād felt the shift in the way he spoke to you too.
his fingers tapped against the bench before sliding slowly into his pocket. for the first time since youād known him, nate looked nervous. his hand stayed there for a few seconds, like he was deciding whether to go through with it or not.
he let out a small breath and pulled out a silver bracelet, covered in tiny pink stones that caught the light as the sun filtered through the trees. it was delicate and thin, elegant in a soft way, like it had been made to stay close to skin.
āyou remembered,ā you murmured.
your eyes dropped to the bracelet, then lifted back to him. there was something in his expression that didnāt fully settle, like the memory of something so small had left him too exposed.
āyou said you wanted something that matched the flowers,ā he explained quietly. āfor your wedding.ā
the words hung between you.
you looked at him for a second without speaking, because it wasnāt just the gift. it was that nate had held onto it long enough to actually go and buy it.
he looked down at the bracelet in his hand, like he was suddenly worried it was too much.
āif itās too much, i canāā
āno,ā you cut him off immediately. āitās perfect, nate.ā
something soft shifted in his face.
nate opened the bracelet carefully, holding it with hands that looked almost too big and clumsy for something so delicate. he placed it around your wrist and closed it gently.
and suddenly it was there, resting against your skin, the tiny pink stones catching light every time the sun slipped through the leaves.
āit looks good on you,ā he said finally.
your throat tightened, and before you could think too much about it, you leaned into him.
nate barely had time to react before you wrapped your arms around his shoulders. his responded instantly, arms closing around your back with a steady strength that made you feel completely held.
he pulled you closer with care, like the hug was something heād wanted to do for a while but hadnāt known how to start.
you pulled back just enough to look at him, still smiling.
ānow,ā you said softly, a light happiness in your voice, āi just have to find my husband.ā
nate let out a short laugh through his nose, but you didnāt move away right away. and neither did he.
his arms were still around you, warm and heavy around your waist, like in the photobooth. you could feel the slow rhythm of his breathing against you.
āyouāre gonna find him,ā he murmured.
something in the way he said it made you look up at him. there was something strange in his expression now, calm on the surface, but too full underneath. like he was trying to sound casual while something else tightened in his chest.
āyeah?ā you asked softly.
he nodded slightly. āyeah.ā his hand drifted up your back once before settling again at your waist. āyouāll probably meet some ridiculously nice and polite guy. not a hockey player.ā
that made you laugh a little.
āwhat if he is a hockey player?ā
āabsolutely not. terrible species.ā
you rolled your eyes, smiling.
āyou are literally one.ā
āexactly. i know what iām talking about.ā
but he still didnāt let go. you were still too close. and nate was looking at you in that way youād been struggling to ignore lately like he was trying to convince himself of something while still holding you there.
the wind moved through the willow branches around you, isolating you even more from everything else. from outside, no one could really see you here.
it was just the two of you.
āyou know whatās funny?ā he said suddenly.
āi think your husband is gonna be really annoying.ā a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes stayed serious.
you let out a soft laugh. āwhy?ā
ābecause heās gonna spend the rest of his life trying to deserve you.ā
your breath caught slightly.
you pulled back just enough to sit straighter on the bench, your eyes dropping to the bracelet on your wrist. for some reason, his words pressed against your chest in a way you couldnāt easily shake.
āthat was a very intense thing to say for someone who calls me bambi,ā you tried lightly.
nate let out a small breath of a laugh, grateful for the easier exit.
āyeah,ā he murmured, still looking out at the lake. āprobably.ā
you watched him for a moment longer. sunlight hit his profile, softening the tension in his face but not fully erasing it. and for the first time in a long time, nate looked like someone who didnāt quite know what to do with what he was feeling.
then he stood up, extending a hand toward you without fully looking at you.
ācāmon, wife,ā he said, his voice much gentler now. āwe should go back before your dad thinks i kidnapped you.ā
you let out a small laugh as you took his hand and pulled yourself up.
you walked out from under the willow tree and dropped his hand the moment you saw caleās wife waving at you from the table. you lifted your arm to wave back and walked toward her.
āthere she is,ā cale said as soon as he saw you.
āmackinnonās wife,ā manson added.
laughter broke out around the table. nate smiled at the joke.
āfinally someone respects my marriage,ā he bumped fists with his teammate. āmy wife doesnāt take it seriously.ā
āshe should! we saw you guys making out there!ā manson pointed toward the willow tree.
āwe werenāt making out!ā you said through your teeth.
āthatās exactly what two people who make out would say,ā manson replied.
āthank you,ā nate added, pointing at him. āsomeone gets it.ā
you hit his arm lightly while everyone kept teasing.
āhey.ā a voice came from behind you. you turned. nick was standing there with a calm smile. āsorry,ā he said, glancing at the group. āam i interrupting?ā
āunfortunately, no,ā nate answered immediately.
nick let out a small laugh. āi was actually looking for her.ā
you felt several eyes shift toward you.
he put both hands in his pockets.
āi found a little garden near the back of the villa. thereās a fountain and everything. thought you might want to see it.ā
āsure,ā your smile appeared before you could stop it. āsee you guys later.ā
ādonāt stay out too late,ā cale called after you.
āuse protection,ā mason added from the other end of the table.
laughter exploded again as you walked away with nick. nate only smiled out of obligation.
because the moment you started walking down the stone path, something in him stopped finding the situation funny. he watched as nick said something and you laughed.
his neck stayed turned, following your figure until you disappeared from sight. he didnāt hear half of what continued at the table.
cale watched the direction youād gone, then looked at nate, who was still staring after you.
ācan i tell you something without you getting defensive?ā
nate let out a short laugh through his nose. āno.ā
āyou know whatās frustrating?ā cale continued. āitās that every time you get close, you find a reason not to do it. first it was because she was too young. then it was because her dad is our coach. then it was because she was dating somebody.ā
nate let out a humorless laugh.
āyou make it sound pathetic.ā
ābecause it is, man.ā cale leaned forward slightly. āunder the willow tree wouldāve been a pretty good time to tell her.ā
āi canāt.ā the answer came instantly. nate looked at him. āi canāt ruin what we have.ā
āand what exactly is that?ā
nate went quiet. he didnāt even know what to call it. something safe, something theyād built over years without ever naming it properly.
āyou donāt even know what to call it,ā cale said.
āi wonāt. you spent ten years acting like you had all the time in the worldā¦ you donāt.ā cale rested his forearms on the table. ābecause somebody else noticed her too.ā
nick led you down one of the farther paths of the villa, where the sound of the guests barely reached through the trees. the so-called garden turned out exactly like he described it, a small stone fountain surrounded by white flowers and neatly trimmed bushes.
āthis is actually really pretty,ā you said, looking around.
āi knew youād like it.ā
a small smile formed on your face as you stepped closer to the fountain.
āyouāre very proud of yourself right now.ā
you let out a soft laugh. the silence that followed was easy. nick rested a hand on the edge of the stone fountain while watching you.
āitās weird seeing you again.ā
āyou look exactly the same.ā
āthatās impossible.ā
āno, seriously,ā he smiled. āyou still make the same face when youāre about to argue with someone.ā
you rolled your eyes at him.
you laughed. nick looked down for a second before meeting your eyes again.
āi had a crush on you for years, you know.ā
the confession caught you off guard, even though part of you had always suspected it back when you were younger.
āitās okay,ā he shrugged. āi think everybody knew except you.ā
an awkward smile formed on your lips. your mind started running through a dozen different scenarios of what you were supposed to say next.
āto be fair, i was pretty oblivious.ā
you both let out a small laugh. nick stepped a little closer, but not enough to make you uncomfortable. not yet. your childhood crush on him had faded the moment you met nate and never really came back. not even now.
āwhen raven invited me here i was hoping iād get to see you.ā
a small knot formed in your stomach.
āno pressure,ā he added quickly. āi just wanted you to know.ā
āthank you,ā you said softly, offering him a gentle smile.
for a moment, he didnāt say anything. the fountain kept running behind you. then nick stepped forward again and before you fully processed it, he tilted his head slightly. his lips brushed yours for only a second.
you pulled back immediately.
he froze. āoh, iām so sorry.ā
you shook your head quickly. āitās okay.ā
āno, i shouldnāt have done that,ā he said, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed. āi thought maybeā¦ā
ānoā¦ā you lowered your voice gently. āi meanā¦ youāre great, nick.ā
the small smile he gave you this time was full of resignation.
you looked away toward the fountain because you didnāt know how to explain it, that the problem wasnāt him. that he was probably one of the best people you had ever known, and still something was missing.
ābut justā¦ not like that.ā
silence settled between you again.
and for the first time since youād walked into the garden, your mind drifted back to blue eyes, a voice calling you bambi, and a bracelet carefully closed around your wrist.
and that was enough for you to understand why youād stepped back.
you didnāt manage to sleep properly. you couldnāt. your mind kept replaying everything with nate, how long he held you in that hug, how easily you sat on his lap, how he actually apologized for something he said, and how he remembered things about you in such specific detail. you were teenagers when half of those memories even happened.
you turned your head slightly, and there he was. his bare, muscular back facing you. he slept with that quiet confidence of someone who had no problem being shirtless around you, if it were up to him, heād probably sleep in just boxers, but he still wasnāt entirely sure how youād react.
you let out a soft sigh and closed your eyes, replaying everything again. and when you opened them again, it was already the wedding day.
everything had moved too fast after that. the villa turned into elegant chaos from early morning, raven rushing from one place to another with someone chasing her just to fix her dress while your dad pretended not to be nervous.
you barely saw nate during the day. there were brief glances in the villa hallways, nothing more. no conversation, no teasing, no jokes from him.
the ceremony felt like a dream. the sky over lake como turned orange while soft lights wrapped around the garden and the lake shimmered behind the altar. you heard raven crying before you even saw your dad do the same. you laughed during the vows, teared up thinking about your mom, and then everything ended too quickly.
and before you knew it, it was fully night.
the reception was still alive behind you but you needed silence. so you walked away from the noise. the garden was much quieter now. the dark lake stretched behind the altar, reflecting small flickers of light across the water.
you sat in one of the last rows, slipping your heels off under the chair with a tired sigh. your feet were killing you from walking all day and dancing through every song.
for a moment, you just stayed there, staring at the place where your dad had gotten married. it still felt strange to think about it. you never imagined seeing him remarry. it was a weird feeling, but not something you could hate, he deserved to fall in love again.
āi guess the party is over for the mackinnons,ā nateās deep voice came from behind you before you even saw him.
you turned slightly. he was walking between the chairs with his hands in his pockets, suit jacket gone, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. he looked less put together now, but still just as attractive. maybe even more.
āyou found me anyway.ā
āyeah,ā he stopped at your row. āstarting to think you do it on purpose.ā
you raised an eyebrow. āmaybe i just wanted five minutes without hearing ABBA.ā
that made a soft smile slip onto your face. nate looked around for a second before sitting down in the chair next to yours, his long legs immediately bumping into the row in front.
āthese chairs are tiny,ā he murmured, adjusting himself.
āthat sounds like a you problem.ā
āmy wife should be more supportive.ā
you rolled your eyes automatically, but the smile stayed.
āyouāre still using that joke?ā
ājoke?ā nate turned his head slightly toward you, pretending to be surprised. āthe hotel room says otherwise.ā
you let out a small laugh through your nose. the wind gently moved the flowers near the altar while the two of you looked ahead for a moment. the reception music still echoed in the distance, now softened by how far away it was.
āstill think itās messed up they sat us separately,ā he commented.
āiām serious,ā he said, gesturing vaguely toward the party. āwhat kind of wedding separates a married couple?ā
āwe are not married.ā
āthen explain the honeymoon suite, bambi.ā
you didnāt have an answer, so you just looked at him with a smile. the warm hanging lights lit his face softly, making him look like heād been pulled straight out of a rom-com.
āyou know,ā he said casually, placing one of his hands on your legs, āyour dad almost gave me a heart attack during the rehearsal.ā
your eyes dropped to his hand resting on your legs.
ābecause i had to watch another dude stand at the altar with my wife,ā he replied immediately.
you turned your head toward him, amused. āyouāre so dramatic.ā
āyou literally gave me a thumbs down from the last row like you were an emperor from gladiator 2.ā
āhe looked nervous,ā nate shrugged slightly, āhe wouldāve died if he lived in that time.ā
you shook your head, smiling, placing your hand with the bracelet over his. nate immediately followed the movement. something soft shifted in his expression, like relief, before he looked back toward the empty altar.
ācāmon,ā he said suddenly, standing up.
you frowned slightly. āwhat?ā
āletās try something.ā
you looked at him suspiciously as he extended a hand toward you.
that only made you more skeptical. still, you took his hand. nate pulled you up easily and started walking with you between the empty rows. the hanging lights barely illuminated the garden now, and the dark lake shimmered behind the altar.
āokay,ā you said through a soft laugh. āwhat are we doing?ā
nate didnāt answer right away. he just led you to the start of the aisle where you had walked with your dad hours earlier. then he slowly let go of your hand.
you were still confused. āwhy?ā
ābecause weāre recreating the rehearsal.ā
you let out an immediate, disbelieving laugh. āabsolutely not.ā
āabsolutely yes,ā nate said, walking backward slowly. ānick did a terrible job. we need a better version.ā
he then turned and walked alone toward the altar. you watched him move under the soft garden lights, tall, composed, even just in a white shirt. his steps barely echoed against the wooden platform until he finally stopped at the top.
and then he stood still, with his back to you. the white flowers around him seemed to match him somehow, reflecting that quiet calm he always carried with you when he teased you.
nate turned slowly to face you. thatās when the air got stuck in your lungs. he was just looking at you. waiting.
and your mind betrayed you immediately, pulling you back to that younger version of yourself, the one who used to imagine this place from an old school book. you had pictured your wedding in lake como before youād even known italy existed. there had always been a man in that dream, but he never had a face. just a blurry idea. a silhouette without a name holding your hand while the lake shimmered behind you.
and now, with every step you took toward the altar, that image started to shift.
the silhouette came into focus. broad shoulders becoming real. blond hair first. then blue eyes. then that crooked nose you could recognize anywhere. then the small, tilted smile.
it always ended up being nathan.
your breathing turned uneven as you walked slowly toward him between the empty rows of white chairs, and nate never looked away. not once. like he was seeing something he couldnāt quite explain either.
your steps slowed near the altar. the music from the reception barely reached you now. there was only the soft glow of the lights, the dark lake moving behind him, and his steady gaze making you feel too seen.
when you finally stepped onto the platform, nate let out a small breath through his nose, almost nervous.
āokay,ā he murmured, glancing down for a second. āthis part is harder than i thought.ā
that made you laugh softly. āwhat? no speech prepared?ā
āi usually perform better under pressure.ā
nate looked back up at you, and something shifted.
the teasing smile faded, leaving something quieter. more serious. softer. and when he took your hands, warmth spread through you instantly. different from anything youād felt before. different from nick. with nate it wasnāt just touch, it was familiarity. like he already knew exactly how to hold you.
āi, nathan mackinnonā¦ā he started, and both of you let out a small laugh at how serious it sounded. but he didnāt let go of your hands. āpromise to always let you steal the blankets even when you pretend youāre not cold, and i promise to remember every tiny thing you say.ā
you werenāt even sure if he was joking, because he had never stolen your blankets but he did remember everything.
āyou knowā¦ā he continued slowly, āi always thought whoever married you was gonna be really lucky. and not because youāre perfect.ā his thumbs brushed over your hands, over the bracelet he had given you. āyouāre actually kinda mean to me sometimes.ā
that made you laugh through the emotion already building in your throat, but nate kept going before the moment could break.
āIāve spent years trying to act like i was just your friend or your dadās annoying player, while i was actually mourning every second you werenāt mine.ā
his grip tightened slightly. his blue eyes were devastatingly focused on you.
āIām not a polite man, and iām definitely not a ānice guyā. but i notice everything. i notice how you change when youāre mad, and i notice how you look at this lake like itās the first thing in the world that ever made complete sense to you.ā
the air changed instantly.
your breathing turned uneven, because nate had always been big but never like this. never like something that could undo you just by being near.
and suddenly you understood why your heart had never been calm around him.
it wasnāt just attraction. it was this. the way he looked at you like you were something fragile and important. the way he always found you in crowds. the way he made you feel seen even when you tried not to be.
āI think iāve been loving you for longer than i realized,ā he exhaled quietly.
your chest tightened painfully.
āmaybe since that first practice,ā he continued, a faint, almost sad smile on his face. āor maybe since you started looking at me like i was more than just some hockey player your dad dragged home.ā
his hands shifted, holding yours more firmly.
ābut i know for sure that somewhere along the way, you stopped feeling temporary to me,ā he admitted. āyou started feeling like home.ā
your eyes stung immediately.
nate noticed right away. he let out a small, breathless laugh like he couldnāt believe he was actually saying all of this out loud.
āI donāt know when it happened,ā he said softly, ābut one day i realized every version of my future somehow had you in it.ā
his eyes stayed locked on yours.
āevery city i went, every summer i spentā¦ i just wanted you there with me, bambi.ā
you stayed looking at him for a second longer than you could stand, and then, when you finally found your voice, it came out quieter than you expected.
āi hate that nickname.ā
the small crease between nateās eyebrows appeared immediately.
you nodded slowly, still looking at him. āiāve always hated it,ā a nervous laugh slipped out of you, āand the worst part is that every time you said itā¦ i still wanted you to say it again.ā
nateās expression softened.
ābecause i was in love with you.ā
silence fell between you both, so complete you could hear the lake water gently hitting the shore behind the altar.
nate stopped breathing. literally. his blue eyes stayed locked on you, slightly widened in shock, like he had never expected those words to come out of your mouth, even though a part of him probably wished they were in present tense.
you let out a small, broken laugh from nerves and turned your head slightly toward the empty rows of chairs.
āsorry, dad,ā you murmured, looking at an empty seat like he was sitting there. āi know you said not to fall in love with one of the team, but i tried really hard not to,ā you looked back at nate. āespecially after you started bringing girlfriends around.ā
your eyes dropped to his hands.
āi used to picture this placeā¦ this whole stupid perfect wedding in my head when i was younger. and i used to imagine a man standing here waiting for me, but he never had a face. justā¦ broad shoulders, hands i could trust,ā you continued softly. āsomeone who looked at me like i was something worth waiting for.ā
you swallowed hard. your throat was burning now, your voice starting to tremble at the edges.
āand for a long time i thought that was just a fantasy. something i made up because it was easier than wanting something real.ā
you lifted your gaze back to him, that familiar knot tightening in your chest.
ābut then you kept showing up at my house. like it was the most normal thing in the world. like you were always supposed to be there, annoying me, teasing me, making me roll my eyes at you.ā
a small smile flickered on nateās face, like he was trying to hide it, lowering his gaze for a second.
āyou were there when my parents fought downstairs and i didnāt want to come out of my room,ā you continued with a soft, breathy laugh. āyou were there eating everything in our kitchen after practice. and you were there making fun of my terrible boyfriends.ā
that got a bigger smile out of him. he looked up again.
āthey were terrible,ā he said, turning his head toward the empty chairs. ācale can confirm that.ā he pointed at a seat like it meant something, making you laugh through your tears.
āand the worst part isā¦ā your voice dropped again. āi stopped comparing people to the man i imagined a long time ago.ā
nateās brows pulled in slightly, fully focused now.
ābecause i started comparing them to youā¦ā
you lifted your eyes. his were already on you.
nate froze for a second. he thought about every moment youād spent together and the way you looked at him, and something in his mind clicked like you had always looked at him as if he already belonged to you, but you never dared to claim him. It had always been you.
ābambiā¦ā he murmured near your lips, almost like a soft warning.
his fingers on your cheek barely moved, and in that smallest gesture there was already a decision that had been made a long time ago.
āi think caleās is gonna be really annoying about this,ā he said, letting out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
āabout what?ā you blinked, confused by the sudden shift.
nate looked at you like the answer was obvious.
there was no time for you to process it.
nate pulled you toward him with a calm but final decision, like no other version of the story was possible anymore. his hand on your cheek tightened slightly, his thumb brushing your skin.
his lips found yours with an almost tentative softness, like he was testing the edge of something too important to ruin. for a second, the kiss was barely a touch and then it changed.
it wasnāt sudden, but more like his expression finally caught up with what his heart had already decided. the kiss deepened, firmer, and yet still gentle, like every movement was carefully measured just to bring you closer.
his hand on your back pulled you in further, closing the space that had already stopped existing. it felt like the world had gone completely silent. like it was something that had been waiting far too long to finally become real.
when you pulled apart, it was only enough to breathe. your fingers were still gripping his shirt, and his arms were still holding you close.
you left a quick kiss on his lips.
maybe Italy had always been your dream wedding place, but now you understood it was never about the place, it was about the person who made you feel like you didnāt need to run away from anything.
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