"Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. " ( James Baldwin)
Matthew Tkachuk POV
I woke up confused at where I am and the slight weight on my chest . I look down and see my little mouse laying on me asleep and the events of last night come back to me. I guess we must of fell sleep on the couch last night .
Looking down at Hailey as she sleeps reminds me of when we were younger . When I was younger our families and friends use to chirp me endlessly about how soft I was around her . They all would say I'm not like this with Taryn my little sister and well yeah I've never looked at Hailey as my sister . She's always been My little Mouse.
A little while later after I spent most of that time watching her sleep and not in a creepy way , she woke up and we decided to go to lunch but first she need to shower and change , so she left me to look around her apartment. I walked over to the shelf seeing a bunch of different framed photos.
One of the photos was of her and her twin Jack at the draft . She had one of her and Quinn that looks like it was taken in downtown Vancouver. Another one was her and Luke after he made his NHL debut.
There was some when the Hughes were kids some with our mutual friends and even one of me and her on the day we got married when we were kids . That memory is one of my favorites , she was so sassy that day .
When we were up in the tree house having a slice of cake by our selves after the ceremony, everyone else was down below dancing or eating cake . While up in that tree house Hailey and I made a pact to get married for real when we were thirty .
I never really looked at Hailey that way when we were younger probably mostly due to our age difference I always just had her in a box that was unattainable , but when I thought of my future I always pictured my little mouse , most of the time subconsciously.
Sitting in the apartment of the 22 year old Hailey. It feels like theirs a crack in that box I made . Who knows the way I'm feeling right now will probably go away in a few weeks of her being back in my life .
After breakfast little mouse dropped me off at my house . I tried to get her to come in but apparently she had an appointment. So she promised she'll come back for dinner . I walk up the few steps to my front door and instantly remember my family's inside and I didn't come home last night .
Please don't let this be awkward . Knowing Brady he'll make it awkward. I shake my head and enter the front door I don't even make it a full step inside before Brady's yelling " look the whores home " . I hear a slapping sound and Brady winning. My dad probably slapped the back of his head .
" really with us all here ?" My dad says unimpressed. "leave him alone Keith he's an adult I just how you were safe and smart . " my mom says before I can reply. " I was married with a kid and half at his age " " shush " my mom reply's putting her hand over dads mouth . I shake my head and make it into the kitchen where they're all hanging out .
" I'm not doing a walk of shame " " of course you aren't " Brady say sarcastically. " I went to the club last night had like three drinks before running into Hailey ". " Bieber " Brady stupidly responds I roll my eyes at him " Hughes " my mom gasps .
" Hailey's here ?" " yes , we went back to her apartment last night to catch and fell asleep talking on the couch . She moved here a little over a year ago to open her own bakery " " oh im so happy for her , we have to go see the bakery " mom says gushing about Hailey .
"She's coming over for dinner tonight ". " I'm so excited I have seen Hailey in like two years ." Taryn says excitedly. " have you ever met her , Em " Taryn asks my sister in law . " yeah Brady and I ran into her at the all star game in Vegas two years ago . She and I hung out most of the time . "
" I didn't know she was living in Miami , isn't is crazy you both ended up here around the same time ." Taryn says as she walks over to the fridge to grab a water . " it is , I still can't believe I didn't recognize her last night . I went up to her and introduced myself ".
They all laughed at me before dad Brady and I decided to go play golf , while mom Taryn and Emma went shopping and to get their nails done . I headed up stairs to my room to shower and change .
On the car ride over to the golf course Brady decided to be a little shit . " so we gonna do you and Hailey wedding day pt 2 " " shut up " " oh come on you really gonna tell me there's not a little part of you that wants to marry her for real" " shut up" " I've seen her insta lately she definitely got hot. " dad slaps the back of Brady's head for that comment " shut up " dad and I say at the same time.
" I mean you definitely think so too , you did go over to hit on her last night ." This time I'm the one to hit Brady . " shut the fuck up why are you so annoying. I turn to dad " is it not to late to leave him at a fire station " dad sighs before saying " unfortunately " .
Golf was good , dad won which is annoying . Right now where headed to lunch at this new sushi place one of my teammates recommended. I sat across from dad and Brady . The restaurant is on the water so we sat at an outdoor table .
A few hours later dad and I are hanging out on the couch mom is starting to cook a few things and Hailey should be here soon . Brady and Emma are sitting on the dock in my backyard . Taryn is up stairs in one of the guest rooms FaceTiming one of her best friends .
" I know Brady was chirping you earlier but is any of what her said ring true at all ." Dad asks as I sip my beer " it's different we're not kids anymore and part of that is our age difference doesn't really matter now but whatever I'm feeling today is probably gonna go away in a couple weeks when I get use to having her back in my life again ."
" look don't close yourself off to anything you never know what could happen in a few weeks time . You too have always had a special bond . I mean I did give her your hand in marriage and she did promise to keep you forever ." Dad says the last part laughing .
Shaking my head at him the doorbell goes off . I get up to get it and suddenly feel a little nervous. Mostly excited but mixed in with some nerves . I just hope I don't end up getting chirped mercifully all night . When I open the door Hailey is standing there looking beautiful . " I brought your favorite , a Boston crème cake " "This is why you're my favorite person " she giggled at me and hugged me as she walked inside .
" Hailey !" Taryn runs down the stairs and hugging Hailey I grab the cake from her and bring it into the kitchen . I put the cake in the fridge I walk back towards Hailey and see my mom hugging her .
" it's so good to see you sweetheart you look beautiful. " mom says releasing Hailey from the hug .
" I've missed you all so much " hail says back to both Taryn and mom . Dad walks in from the back door when I got up from the couch he went outside to turn the grill on .
" little Hailey Hughes I was going to say not so little anymore but it seems you have quite grown since I last saw you " dad chirps Hailey . " we'll you definitely have more wrinkles , is that from Brady or Matty." Dad laughs and pulls her in for a hug . " it's good to see ya hun ."
Brady and Emma come walking through the door at the same time as dad and Haileys hug ends . " little Hughes !" " jeez Brady do you ever talk at a normal volume " she says as she hugs bray " hi 'Em it's good to see you ".
Em replies to Hailey as they hug " you too your dress is so pretty ." " thanks I love your sandals ." Brady interrupts them before they could say another word " ok enough compliments , I'm starving " . Hailey just laughed at him " you haven't changed since we were kids bray" .