Hailey and Matthew's families grew up together through hockey tournaments and lake house trips . From a young age Matthew was always very attached to the younger Hughes girl even giving her the nickname solely for him little mouse and her to him Mat...
"You are the best thing that's ever been mine." — Taylor Swift, "Mine"
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Im currently in Michigan for two days , to check up on the progress of my new bakery , to see my parents ! Oh and watch matty play the Detroit red wings . I'm meet up with charlotte by baggage claim at the airport . She's picking me up and driving us straight to the bakery .
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We quickly walk back to her car and start making our way to the bakery . " so John Henry and the designer both agree we're expected to have an opening date of mid February " " wow that's sooner than I thought , hows the hiring process been." I ask excited for the bakery to open up soon .
" great most of the baking and decorating crew have accepted positions and will give there previous jobs two week notice when he have a definite opening date . So we'll need to start payroll two weeks early . ". " no problem , just handle it , like I said just run the bakery as you know best ."
" how are things with matt?" I smile thinking over the last almost two months of matty and I " so good , I'm just so happy girl , he's my person." " ah I'm so happy for you , your practicality radiating happiness. Maybe it will rubbed off on me and I find my own man." We both dissolve into giggles .
Arriving at the bakery I'm blown away by the progress, the pictures and videos didn't do it justice . Part of me still can't believe I'm opening a second bakery , let alone that my first was a success enough to open a second location . I still remember the night before I opened the bakery in Miami , siting upstairs in which is now my office but at the time my studio apartment.
I had a major panic attack, I feared I would fail , I had never run a bakery in my life let alone own one . Somehow in the middle of my panic attack I was able to call Quinn , within minutes he had me not just calmed down but confident in myself .
Quinn always had a way with motivating people and being a calm voice of reason . It's why I always knew he'd make a great captain if he'd just believe in himself. I was right too , he's killing it as captain this season . Quinn spent the rest of that night talking to me on FaceTime about everything and nothing at the same time .
Of course my brothers wanted to be there for my grand opening but all of them had games . My parents did come and I was so happy. I also sorta felt like I disappointed my parents when I chose not to play hockey like everyone else in the family . I love hockey just not enough to play it professionally.
I know that now the feeling of disappointment was all in my head , my parents love me and support me but my own teenage insecurities ate me alive for so long . The first time I actually believed my parents when they told me they were proud of me was when I opened the bakery. I've worked hard to manage my insecurities and anxiety. Having Matt in my life again has helped so much , he's constantly reassuring me and making me feel comfortable .
" wow this place looks great ! " I say side hugging Charlotte . Char and I head to the book store next door and discuss all the business stuff that we needed and I also had to sign so much paperwork . Afterwards we said goodbye and I caught an Uber to my parents house .
" I'm here!" As soon as I yell those words I'm slammed into a tight hug " I missed you , honey" dad says and releases me from the hug. " how was the bakery , I drove passed the other day and it looks great so far ." I smile up at hearing the excitement in dads voice. " it's coming along great , we'll be open in mid February I believe."
" that's so great sweetie " Mom says pulling me into a hug once we reach the kitchen . " so are you both excited for your trip ." My brothers and I surprised our parents with a two week cruise in the Mediterranean, for Christmas . My brothers decided not to travel back to Michigan for Christmas and I'm heading to St. Louis to spend Christmas with the Tkachuks this year.
" oh so excited , we haven't really been on a vacation together alone since well probably our honeymoon." Mom says as she continues making dinner . " I'm excited to see Europe for the first time ." Dad says after her , I loved when jack and I took out trip two years ago . We spent three weeks traveling around Europe during the summer.
It was a great twin bonding trip , Jack I always said we'd take more trips together but last summer I was so busy with the bakery and only was able to leave Miami for four weeks . All of which I spent in Michigan with all our friends and family .
It's the next night , I'm in Detroit with mom and dad . We're here to watch the panthers game and afterwards we're gonna grab a quick dinner with Matty before his teams flies to St Louis . Matt and the panthers will be in St Louis for three days . Sadly I can't come with , I have a huge order at the bakery I need to finish .
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" Matt's on fire tonight , two goals and an assist , and theres still fourteen minutes left in the game." Dad says watching the panthers shut out the red wings . Before I can saying anything in reply carter shoots the puck in the back on the net off an impressive pass from Matty's .
I jump up cheering , instantly getting booed by our section I give the middle finger before I'm yanked down by mom . Oh I may also be a little bit drunk . I really don't get drunk that much without my friends around but I bumped into a friend from high school during the first intermission and we may have taken a few shots .
I'm not like sloppy drunk , just give a middle finger to an opposing teams home crowd drunk . " Jesus , you're gonna get killed." Dad says laughing and mom glared at him . " sorry " dad says still laughing which makes me laugh . I'm having such a great time with my parents . I may have also gotten dad a wee bit drunk too .
During the second intermission I met up with that friend from high school again and started taking more shots. Dad ran into me on his way back from the bathroom and my friend and i convinced him to take shots with us. Whoops , my moms so over us right now .
An hour later the four of us are across the street at a nice burger place grabbing dinner . Dad and I are almost completely sober now with food in our systems . " that was a great game Matt , you've been having a better season than last year ." Matt nods before jumping into a long conversation about hockey with mom and dad . I just sit and listen to him talk. I love him so much .
