Part Thirteen
Title: You Are My Signal Fire (Part 13)
Characters: Andrew Raycroft / Ian White
Word Count: 2368
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t own these players, nor do I know their sexual preferences. The whole thing is a work of my imagination. The title is part of the lyrics from snow patrol’s song ‘Signal Fire’.
|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8 || Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 ||
A couple weeks went by bringing us into May and Ian finished up with the Marlies. I went to all his games, cheering him on from the sidelines. But as much as I loved watching him play, I loved having him at home all the time even more. He’d hardly spent a night at his apartment before spending about 4 at mine.
I woke up feeling for the warm body that was usually beside me, to find nothing but cold sheets. My sleepy eyes fluttered open to see that Ian had left, I was disappointed…it was my birthday today and I as hoping for a little birthday morning lovemaking. I sighed sitting up; as the sleepiness faded away I noticed there was a note on Ian’s pillow. I grinned pulling the note over to me, it read something likes this,
“Hey sexy…sorry I had to leave so early. Family thing, last minute. I’ll be back at 5 and I want you to be ready to go out. Wear some nice clothes, the kind that I’ll be hard pressed to leave on you. See you soon…Love Ian XOXO”
My grin widened even more, it was already 2 in the afternoon. I don’t think I’ve ever slept in that long, then again we had quite the workout last night. I jumped in the shower and took my time, letting the warm water wash away my troubles, which were few and far between now that I had Ian.
I shook my head, still grinning, my thoughts were like those of a giddy little school girl. It was always Ian this or, we did that, or me and Ian are going to…there was no I anymore cause he was always here. I surprised even myself, for someone who was as big of a commitmentphobe as myself, I certainly adapted to the couples lifestyle quickly. Ian had made it a pretty easy adjustment though.
I shaved off the two-day scruff that had been building on my jaw line as I hadn’t left the apartment. I got ready in a new navy dress shirt that I had bought but never had the occasion to wear. I decided to not wear a tie, but maybe a jacket to dress it up a little. I waited on the couch watching ESPN classic, some old habs-leafs game. My stomach writhed in a nervous sort of way, I had no idea what was going on, but knowing Ian he had something planned.
I let my head lay back against the couch and I drifted into a half-awake daze as I watched my flat screen, my eyes flicked over to the clock 5:10…hmm he was late. Ian was never late. Then 5:30. The writhing in my stomach decreased and was replaced with a sinking sensation. 6 o clock rolled around and just went right on by. I sighed, was I being stood up? Revenge for leaving him hanging a month ago?
At quarter past 6 I heard a key in the lock and the door burst open, Ian running through the door, “Fuck! We’re so late. Turn off the TV! Let’s go!”
I looked up over my shoulder and the couch. He was dressed up too in his finest suit, opting for a tie and no jacket. I smiled a gentle smile at him, he looked so good. He’d gotten a haircut and shaved off his goatee, the smoothness of his face making him look a lot younger. He motioned for me to get up as he half-jogged to the couch, “C’mon, we gotta go! Baby I’m sorry I’m so late, traffic was insane.”
He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips, before grabbing my hands and pulling me off the couch, turning off the TV and guiding me out the door. He seemed flustered, but I guess as we waited in the elevator I still looked disappointed because he walked over to me.
“I’m sorry, you know I’m never late unless there’s something I can’t avoid. Please don’t be mad. There was an accident on Spadina causing all kinds of problems, I tried to detour but it seems half the people in the city had the same idea as I did and so all the back roads were all clogged up.” He looked genuinely frustrated, so I pulled him into a kiss to shut him up. His tense body almost instantly relaxing as his shoulders sloped downwards and he leaned into me.
As our lips parted I whispered, “I wasn’t disappointed that you were late so much as that kiss you gave me on the couch.”
He smiled sheepishly, “Sorry, it’s just I wanted today to be perfect and it’s not really working out that way. I guess I’m a little nervous that’s all.”
“You? Nervous?” Ding. The elevator opened into the parking garage. “I thought you were Mr. Confident about everything.” I gave him a look, “What exactly are you planning?”
“You’ll have to wait and find out.”
We got into his car and took off into the city, I let my hand rest on his as we zoomed through the streets, content in my surroundings. We pulled into one of the many little parking lots nestled in the downtown area and we walked the rest of the way. As we turned the corner, Ian led me into a small Italian restaurant. It was really nice, the lights were low, there were candles on all the tables and there was soft music in the background.
I smiled at Ian, and he blushed and looked away, I never knew he was such a romantic at heart. We walked up to the host’s station, and this cheesy looking Italian man in a suit with greased back hair smiled a little too widely at us, “Ciao gentleman, do you have a reservation?”
Ian stepped forward, “Yes, under White, for 6 o’ clock. We’re late.”
“Ah yes, Mr. White. Right this way gentleman. Some of your party is already here.”
We followed him to the back corner of the restaurant where there was a small booth, I could see that two people were already sitting there in our dark corner and I wondered who it could be. As we approached, Kyle’s smiling face turned around and he jumped up, embracing me in a big bear hug. “Happy Birthday Andy! Why are you guys so late? We’ve been eating bread for half an hour…did you pull over for a quickie?”
I winked at him, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I pulled Matt into a hug as well, smiling cheerfully at my friends.
We sat down in the booth, and the server came by and poured us all some Perrier water, “Can I start you gentleman with a drink?” she smiled brightly at me, and Ian discreetly nudged me in the ribs as he laughed quietly with Matt and Kyle. I smiled back at her not wanting to be rude, even though she was pretty she was missing something kind of essential to the people I dated.
“If you ask what’s on tap, I’ll strangle you.” Ian threatened jokingly.
I laughed, “Is everyone good with red wine?”
They nodded, “Okay, we’ll have a bottle of the Malbec,” she looked at me expectantly and I realized there was more than one, “from the Bordeaux region.”
She smiled her flirtatious smile at me again, batting her eyelashes, “Excellent choice. I’ll be right back with that.” Her faded Italian accent made her seem very elegant, even distinguished. As she walked away towards the bar I noticed the businessman at the table next to us look up her skirt.
“Well this is certainly a surprise.” I let my hand rest on Ian’s knee, squeezing it gently.
He smiled back, “Well…that was the idea.”
“Aww…aren’t they cute?” Matty teased.
“Yeah, lover boy over here phones us up and told us to get our butts down here and to dress up and to be on our best behaviour or he’d kick our asses.” Kyle had a big smirk on his face as he turned to Matt, “Oh but wait…didn’t he say something else?”
“Yeah, I seem to remember him threatening us with our lives that we better be on time. See, that’s just weird.”
“Mmhmm, I mean weren’t you guys late?”
Ian glowered across the table, “Traffic was horrible…couldn’t be helped.”
“I think just for that you should do two shots of jägr…”
“No! No Jägermeister, tonight’s not about getting drunk!” He sank back into the bench cushion as if it would hide him from them. “Tonight’s about Andy.”
“It can be about me…and getting you drunk.” I squeezed his knee again, rubbing his leg under the table, “Drunk Ian can be fun.”
He frowned, “That wasn’t the point.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “Oh lighten up Ian, it’s very nice and I appreciate it…a lot!” I looked around to see everyone interested in their own conversations before I leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips, but quick enough that it wouldn’t be noticed.
“Awwwwww.” Kyle and Matt teased, saying it at the same time.
Ian flushed the same shade as the red bench we were sitting on and I kicked Kyle under the table. He winced, “We’re just kidding. Besides it’s nice to have someone else to go out with. Why couldn’t you guys have gotten together at the beginning of the season so we could have been doing this all year.”
Matt nodded, “I’m glad you guys worked things out.”
Ian nodded his agreement, looking me over with hungry eyes. I felt my stomach do a back flip as I smiled back at him, I still got those new relationship feelings every once and awhile.
The server reappeared with our wine, pouring a little in my glass first so I could taste it. I sipped it, savouring the mellow taste of the French grapes. “Mmm, very good.” She flashed that smile at me again, and poured us all a glass. We ordered our food and she left.
Ian frowned at the waitress behind her back, “I wish she’d stop making eyes at you.”
I laughed at him, elbowing him gently in the arm, “Jealous?”
“Yeah. A little.”
“Oh come on, you know she’s not my type.”
“Yeah get used to it Ian. If I got upset every time some chick made googly eyes at Matt here, I’d get in too many fights to count.”
“Same here, god knows every girl in Toronto is in love with Kyle.” He grinned, pulling him into a hug, “But he’s mine. The fan girls can’t have him.”
The evening went on with much drinking, laughing and eating. We went through about 3 bottles of wine during dinner. We decided to have some Kahlua with our coffees as we waited for dessert.
My cheeks were flushed as my blood-alcohol level increased, I looked across the table at Kyle and Matt before waving my finger in Ian’s face, “If you sing Happy Birthday…it’ll be the last thing you ever do. I’m too old for that.”
Ian rolled his eyes, “You’re 27. You’re not exactly over-the-hill.” They all laughed at me, “Though you’re still the oldest one here...”
I slouched in my seat, “Easy for you guys to say…you’re all in the prime of your game…23…wish I was 23 again.”
“I’m going to be 24 in 11 days if it makes you feel any better…then we’re only 3 years apart.” Kyle offered.
The waitress walked out from the back with a big chocolate torte, candles and a sparkler on top, I looked at the cake with dread as she opened her mouth to sing.
“Oh no…”
Kyle and Matt grinned wickedly as they sang at the top of their lungs, Ian joining in, the waitress was singing too but she was drowned out by the boys, “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy BIRTHDAY dear ANDY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOUUUUU!”
“And many more…..” Kyle added.
The waitress leaned into me as she set the cake down in front of me, her leaning down made it easy for me to look down her shirt. I glanced with a moment of weakness before I sighed and blew out the candles. Kyle gave me a look, “Must be the alcohol.”
“Pardon?” the girl asked, straightening up.
“Uh…nothing. Can we have some more plates here?”
“Oh yes, of course. Right away!” she ran off to the kitchen.
Ian gave me a look too and I shrugged, “I was just looking…didn’t do anything for me anyways.”
“I should hope not.” I grabbed his hand reassuringly and squeezed it gently, rubbing the top of his hand with my thumb.
She came back and cut the cake for us, dishing out a slice for each of us, Ian glaring at her like she was a home wrecker the whole time. I couldn’t help but smiling, it was nice to know that he was defensive about me on and off the ice.
When the cheque came there was a struggle, Matt and Kyle offered to pick up the tab, but Ian was insistent that this was his thing for me and that he wanted to pay. I noticed it was quite expensive and when I reached for my wallet he knocked my hand away, “I may not have a million dollar salary, but I can handle this.”
“I know you can. Thanks Ian,” I ran my hand down his arm lovingly.
“All right. Let’s get out of here before they start up with the PDAs.” Matt pushed Kyle out of the bench so he could get up.
As we got up the waitress waved goodbye, continuing to eye me in an enticing manner, “Thank you very much. Have a good night guys!”
“We will…” Ian said pushing me out of the restaurant before she could get another chance to try and use her feminine wiles.
We stood outside deciding what to do next, “Well I am still entirely too sober. How’s about we go bar hopping. It’s only 10.” Matt suggested.
“Sure, we’ll be the best looking guys in there.” I laughed, we were a little overdressed for a bar, but no matter.
Characters: Andrew Raycroft / Ian White
Word Count: 2368
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t own these players, nor do I know their sexual preferences. The whole thing is a work of my imagination. The title is part of the lyrics from snow patrol’s song ‘Signal Fire’.
|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8 || Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 ||
A couple weeks went by bringing us into May and Ian finished up with the Marlies. I went to all his games, cheering him on from the sidelines. But as much as I loved watching him play, I loved having him at home all the time even more. He’d hardly spent a night at his apartment before spending about 4 at mine.
I woke up feeling for the warm body that was usually beside me, to find nothing but cold sheets. My sleepy eyes fluttered open to see that Ian had left, I was disappointed…it was my birthday today and I as hoping for a little birthday morning lovemaking. I sighed sitting up; as the sleepiness faded away I noticed there was a note on Ian’s pillow. I grinned pulling the note over to me, it read something likes this,
“Hey sexy…sorry I had to leave so early. Family thing, last minute. I’ll be back at 5 and I want you to be ready to go out. Wear some nice clothes, the kind that I’ll be hard pressed to leave on you. See you soon…Love Ian XOXO”
My grin widened even more, it was already 2 in the afternoon. I don’t think I’ve ever slept in that long, then again we had quite the workout last night. I jumped in the shower and took my time, letting the warm water wash away my troubles, which were few and far between now that I had Ian.
I shook my head, still grinning, my thoughts were like those of a giddy little school girl. It was always Ian this or, we did that, or me and Ian are going to…there was no I anymore cause he was always here. I surprised even myself, for someone who was as big of a commitmentphobe as myself, I certainly adapted to the couples lifestyle quickly. Ian had made it a pretty easy adjustment though.
I shaved off the two-day scruff that had been building on my jaw line as I hadn’t left the apartment. I got ready in a new navy dress shirt that I had bought but never had the occasion to wear. I decided to not wear a tie, but maybe a jacket to dress it up a little. I waited on the couch watching ESPN classic, some old habs-leafs game. My stomach writhed in a nervous sort of way, I had no idea what was going on, but knowing Ian he had something planned.
I let my head lay back against the couch and I drifted into a half-awake daze as I watched my flat screen, my eyes flicked over to the clock 5:10…hmm he was late. Ian was never late. Then 5:30. The writhing in my stomach decreased and was replaced with a sinking sensation. 6 o clock rolled around and just went right on by. I sighed, was I being stood up? Revenge for leaving him hanging a month ago?
At quarter past 6 I heard a key in the lock and the door burst open, Ian running through the door, “Fuck! We’re so late. Turn off the TV! Let’s go!”
I looked up over my shoulder and the couch. He was dressed up too in his finest suit, opting for a tie and no jacket. I smiled a gentle smile at him, he looked so good. He’d gotten a haircut and shaved off his goatee, the smoothness of his face making him look a lot younger. He motioned for me to get up as he half-jogged to the couch, “C’mon, we gotta go! Baby I’m sorry I’m so late, traffic was insane.”
He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips, before grabbing my hands and pulling me off the couch, turning off the TV and guiding me out the door. He seemed flustered, but I guess as we waited in the elevator I still looked disappointed because he walked over to me.
“I’m sorry, you know I’m never late unless there’s something I can’t avoid. Please don’t be mad. There was an accident on Spadina causing all kinds of problems, I tried to detour but it seems half the people in the city had the same idea as I did and so all the back roads were all clogged up.” He looked genuinely frustrated, so I pulled him into a kiss to shut him up. His tense body almost instantly relaxing as his shoulders sloped downwards and he leaned into me.
As our lips parted I whispered, “I wasn’t disappointed that you were late so much as that kiss you gave me on the couch.”
He smiled sheepishly, “Sorry, it’s just I wanted today to be perfect and it’s not really working out that way. I guess I’m a little nervous that’s all.”
“You? Nervous?” Ding. The elevator opened into the parking garage. “I thought you were Mr. Confident about everything.” I gave him a look, “What exactly are you planning?”
“You’ll have to wait and find out.”
We got into his car and took off into the city, I let my hand rest on his as we zoomed through the streets, content in my surroundings. We pulled into one of the many little parking lots nestled in the downtown area and we walked the rest of the way. As we turned the corner, Ian led me into a small Italian restaurant. It was really nice, the lights were low, there were candles on all the tables and there was soft music in the background.
I smiled at Ian, and he blushed and looked away, I never knew he was such a romantic at heart. We walked up to the host’s station, and this cheesy looking Italian man in a suit with greased back hair smiled a little too widely at us, “Ciao gentleman, do you have a reservation?”
Ian stepped forward, “Yes, under White, for 6 o’ clock. We’re late.”
“Ah yes, Mr. White. Right this way gentleman. Some of your party is already here.”
We followed him to the back corner of the restaurant where there was a small booth, I could see that two people were already sitting there in our dark corner and I wondered who it could be. As we approached, Kyle’s smiling face turned around and he jumped up, embracing me in a big bear hug. “Happy Birthday Andy! Why are you guys so late? We’ve been eating bread for half an hour…did you pull over for a quickie?”
I winked at him, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I pulled Matt into a hug as well, smiling cheerfully at my friends.
We sat down in the booth, and the server came by and poured us all some Perrier water, “Can I start you gentleman with a drink?” she smiled brightly at me, and Ian discreetly nudged me in the ribs as he laughed quietly with Matt and Kyle. I smiled back at her not wanting to be rude, even though she was pretty she was missing something kind of essential to the people I dated.
“If you ask what’s on tap, I’ll strangle you.” Ian threatened jokingly.
I laughed, “Is everyone good with red wine?”
They nodded, “Okay, we’ll have a bottle of the Malbec,” she looked at me expectantly and I realized there was more than one, “from the Bordeaux region.”
She smiled her flirtatious smile at me again, batting her eyelashes, “Excellent choice. I’ll be right back with that.” Her faded Italian accent made her seem very elegant, even distinguished. As she walked away towards the bar I noticed the businessman at the table next to us look up her skirt.
“Well this is certainly a surprise.” I let my hand rest on Ian’s knee, squeezing it gently.
He smiled back, “Well…that was the idea.”
“Aww…aren’t they cute?” Matty teased.
“Yeah, lover boy over here phones us up and told us to get our butts down here and to dress up and to be on our best behaviour or he’d kick our asses.” Kyle had a big smirk on his face as he turned to Matt, “Oh but wait…didn’t he say something else?”
“Yeah, I seem to remember him threatening us with our lives that we better be on time. See, that’s just weird.”
“Mmhmm, I mean weren’t you guys late?”
Ian glowered across the table, “Traffic was horrible…couldn’t be helped.”
“I think just for that you should do two shots of jägr…”
“No! No Jägermeister, tonight’s not about getting drunk!” He sank back into the bench cushion as if it would hide him from them. “Tonight’s about Andy.”
“It can be about me…and getting you drunk.” I squeezed his knee again, rubbing his leg under the table, “Drunk Ian can be fun.”
He frowned, “That wasn’t the point.”
I rolled my eyes at him, “Oh lighten up Ian, it’s very nice and I appreciate it…a lot!” I looked around to see everyone interested in their own conversations before I leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips, but quick enough that it wouldn’t be noticed.
“Awwwwww.” Kyle and Matt teased, saying it at the same time.
Ian flushed the same shade as the red bench we were sitting on and I kicked Kyle under the table. He winced, “We’re just kidding. Besides it’s nice to have someone else to go out with. Why couldn’t you guys have gotten together at the beginning of the season so we could have been doing this all year.”
Matt nodded, “I’m glad you guys worked things out.”
Ian nodded his agreement, looking me over with hungry eyes. I felt my stomach do a back flip as I smiled back at him, I still got those new relationship feelings every once and awhile.
The server reappeared with our wine, pouring a little in my glass first so I could taste it. I sipped it, savouring the mellow taste of the French grapes. “Mmm, very good.” She flashed that smile at me again, and poured us all a glass. We ordered our food and she left.
Ian frowned at the waitress behind her back, “I wish she’d stop making eyes at you.”
I laughed at him, elbowing him gently in the arm, “Jealous?”
“Yeah. A little.”
“Oh come on, you know she’s not my type.”
“Yeah get used to it Ian. If I got upset every time some chick made googly eyes at Matt here, I’d get in too many fights to count.”
“Same here, god knows every girl in Toronto is in love with Kyle.” He grinned, pulling him into a hug, “But he’s mine. The fan girls can’t have him.”
The evening went on with much drinking, laughing and eating. We went through about 3 bottles of wine during dinner. We decided to have some Kahlua with our coffees as we waited for dessert.
My cheeks were flushed as my blood-alcohol level increased, I looked across the table at Kyle and Matt before waving my finger in Ian’s face, “If you sing Happy Birthday…it’ll be the last thing you ever do. I’m too old for that.”
Ian rolled his eyes, “You’re 27. You’re not exactly over-the-hill.” They all laughed at me, “Though you’re still the oldest one here...”
I slouched in my seat, “Easy for you guys to say…you’re all in the prime of your game…23…wish I was 23 again.”
“I’m going to be 24 in 11 days if it makes you feel any better…then we’re only 3 years apart.” Kyle offered.
The waitress walked out from the back with a big chocolate torte, candles and a sparkler on top, I looked at the cake with dread as she opened her mouth to sing.
“Oh no…”
Kyle and Matt grinned wickedly as they sang at the top of their lungs, Ian joining in, the waitress was singing too but she was drowned out by the boys, “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy BIRTHDAY dear ANDY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOUUUUU!”
“And many more…..” Kyle added.
The waitress leaned into me as she set the cake down in front of me, her leaning down made it easy for me to look down her shirt. I glanced with a moment of weakness before I sighed and blew out the candles. Kyle gave me a look, “Must be the alcohol.”
“Pardon?” the girl asked, straightening up.
“Uh…nothing. Can we have some more plates here?”
“Oh yes, of course. Right away!” she ran off to the kitchen.
Ian gave me a look too and I shrugged, “I was just looking…didn’t do anything for me anyways.”
“I should hope not.” I grabbed his hand reassuringly and squeezed it gently, rubbing the top of his hand with my thumb.
She came back and cut the cake for us, dishing out a slice for each of us, Ian glaring at her like she was a home wrecker the whole time. I couldn’t help but smiling, it was nice to know that he was defensive about me on and off the ice.
When the cheque came there was a struggle, Matt and Kyle offered to pick up the tab, but Ian was insistent that this was his thing for me and that he wanted to pay. I noticed it was quite expensive and when I reached for my wallet he knocked my hand away, “I may not have a million dollar salary, but I can handle this.”
“I know you can. Thanks Ian,” I ran my hand down his arm lovingly.
“All right. Let’s get out of here before they start up with the PDAs.” Matt pushed Kyle out of the bench so he could get up.
As we got up the waitress waved goodbye, continuing to eye me in an enticing manner, “Thank you very much. Have a good night guys!”
“We will…” Ian said pushing me out of the restaurant before she could get another chance to try and use her feminine wiles.
We stood outside deciding what to do next, “Well I am still entirely too sober. How’s about we go bar hopping. It’s only 10.” Matt suggested.
“Sure, we’ll be the best looking guys in there.” I laughed, we were a little overdressed for a bar, but no matter.