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Allie sat in the library at the university, trying her best to study for her midterm the next morning, but all she could think about was the night before. She let out a groan as the scene filled her mind again, earning a few odd glances in her direction. She rested her head on her forearms, and took a deep breath. 

You did the right thing, she told herself. But had she?

***

Allie avoided the rink as much as she could. She stayed home to watch games, and busied herself  attempting to study. 

It was four days after the rejection, and the team was going on a four game road trip. Tyler hadn't contacted her, and she had mixed feelings about the fact. She had said no to his offer... What else had she expected him to do? 

She heard her uncle calling her for dinner. She pushed herself up off her bed and made her way to the kitchen, where there was a heaping plate of pasta waiting for her. She had just sat down when the doorbell rang. 

"Could you get that?" Allie looked up at her uncle. He was beaming, and she narrowed her eyes. "I invited a guest," he explained innocently, giving her a wink. 

Oh no. 

Allie stood up slowly and when she turned away from her aunt and uncle, she winced. Really, uncle Patrice? Really?

She took a deep breath and hurried towards the door. She cringed before opening it meekly. 

Tyler lifted his hand in a half-hearted greeting. Allie squeaked out a "hi" before moving aside and letting him in. 

He turned to her. "Your uncle invited me."

Allie sighed. "I know."

"I couldn't just say no."

Allie nodded. "I know."

***

Dinner had been awkward, to say the least. Allie had tried not to make it obvious - she wasn't going to give her uncle a reason to dislike his own teammate. It was Allie's problem.

She now stood in the kitchen, washing dishes. Her aunt, uncle, and Tyler were in the living room, watching tv. She was concentrating on scrubbing a plate clean when she heard her uncle speak. "Tyler, why don't you see if Allie needs help?"

Allie inwardly groaned. She heard Tyler try to politely refuse, but her uncle persisted. She sighed as she heard the footsteps turn the corner. Tyler approached her, and she spoke without looking at him. 

"Sorry. He's relentless."

"He thinks we're a thing," Tyler said. He paused before muttering spitefully, "Which we clearly are not."

The tone in his voice stirred something in Allie. She dropped the plate in the sink. She tried to keep her composure as she spoke, turning towards him. "I didn't say I didn't want to date you, Tyler," she said, trying to keep her voice even. "I said it was a bad idea." She raised her eyebrows before sighing and turning back to the dishes. "I know you're used to being the free, single, ladies man or whatever," she continued. "But I won't be the girl on the side." Pause. She glanced at him. "I hope you understand that," she added quietly, all the frustration draining from her voice. She just didn't have the energy to be upset anymore.

Tyler was quiet for a moment before he replied. Allie could tell he was trying not to be frustrated. "I do understand that. But I'm trying."

Allie sighed, closing her eyes. The silence was deafening. She swore silently before speaking. "Okay," she said, letting out an exasperated breath. "Look. Go on the road trip. Don't think about me," she instructed. "Let me think about this for a few days while you're away." 

She could tell Tyler was surprised. She didn't even have to look at him to know that. She watched him nod out of the corner of her eye. 

"Okay."

***

Four days of internal debate later, and Allie was about ready to tear her hair out. But in the end, she came to a conclusion, and she hoped it was for the best. 

She was going to give him another chance. 

Just don't get too invested too fast,she told herself. Just in case. She knew she wanted this to work. She really hoped it would.

***

Allie heard the doorbell ring, and then her aunts footsteps rushing to the door. She didn't hear anything else for a few moments.

Then a knock came on Allie's door, and she took a deep breath. 

"Come in."

The door clicked open and she looked over. She watched as Tyler closed the door behind him before his eyes met hers. Allie swallowed, her heart beginning to beat faster. She patted the bed beside her.

He held her gaze as he walked towards her. He lay down on the bed next to her, and their eyes broke apart as they both turned to face the ceiling. It was silent, and Allie knew she had to speak. 

"Tyler?"

"Hm."

Allie took a deep breath, and said quietly, "I'll give it a shot." She felt his eyes on her face, and she slowly turned to meet his gaze. His eyes were wide, and there was a small, surprised smile on his lips.

"Yeah?"

Allie nodded, and let out a sigh before smiling back. Tyler turned his body towards hers, and she followed.

After a moment of silent gazing, Tyler's hand lifted to gently brush Allie's hair away from her neck. She involuntarily shivered at his touch, her heart racing. He stared at her with the same tiny smile on the corners of his lips, and she couldn't help but wonder if he knew exactly the effect he had on her. He let his hand fall back onto her pillow, stretching it out so that it nearly reached her opposite shoulder. She slowly rested her cheek on his arm, trying to slow her heart rate down. The two stared at one another for a moment before her eyes wandered to the tattoo on his left arm. The lower half of the tattoo was visible, the rest being covered by Tyler's white t-shirt. 

She leaned forward. She gently pushed the rest of his shirt sleeve up, so she could see the top half of the tattoo. She had seen it before, of course, but not this close. She felt Tyler's eyes on her face as her fingers gently ran along his arm, tracing the letters etched into his skin with black ink. He flinched slightly at the first touch, but Allie felt his muscles relax under her fingers. Her eyes wandered over his arms, and she was suddenly overcome with the realization of just how strong his arms were. Powerful and big, as his job required. Used for force and vigorous daily activity. She was experiencing the smallest taste of what it felt like to be in Tyler's arms, and she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be completely encompassed by them. Her stomach buzzed at the thought.

She felt Tyler's eyes still on her, and she looked up. 

"You have pretty eyes." Tyler's voice came out in a slight mumble, but it was clear what he had said. In time with the statement, her eyes widened. As one corner of his lip turned up more than the other at her reaction, she was sure her heart could have failed. She was about to protest. She didn't want any games... She thought he had known that. But as his eyes watched her own, she knew he was being nothing but honest. 

Allie licked her lips. They had become uncannily dry due to the fact that she was hardly breathing, swallowing, or moving at all. She caught Tyler's eyes flying down to watch as she did so, and within seconds she was on her back. Tyler was leaning over her, and his left arm was slung across her middle. The weight of his arm on her stomach sent her into a whole new flurry of butterflies. He had himself propped up on his right elbow, and his entire body was turned to her. His stomach pressed into her side, and she could feel every inch of it. Her entire body had warmed, and she felt his own body heat seeping through her shirt. 

His brown eyes searched hers. Allie's heart was ready to pound out of her chest, but all she could do was lie still as Tyler's eyes found her lips again. In turn, her own gaze fell to his lips, before quickly retracing their steps back up to his eyes.

"Allie," Tyler said quietly. She waited for him to continue, but all he did was bring himself even closer. All she could hear was both of them breathing. He finally spoke, saying, "If you don't let me kiss you right now..." He didn't finish his sentence. His tone was a mix of hopeful and desperate, as if the world would end if he didn't kiss her. The thought made her stomach flip. She bit her lip.

There was no going back now.

Well technically, there had been no going back since the first time he had kissed her. She had tried to retrace her steps, told herself not to take that road again. Yet here she was, on the same path - and she knew she couldn't turn back this time. She didn't want to. 

"Please do." 

Tyler's expression completely changed. He broke out into a smile and so did she. His lips met hers in an instant, and her stomach fluttered again as she felt him smiling against her lips.