eighteen.

Magnus Paajarvi was always the runt in the pack. His older brother, Bjorn, started to play hockey, so naturally as little brothers do, Magnus followed. He was immediately told he was too small, but the stubborn person inside of him wouldn't take no for an answer. Magnus knew he loved skating fast, and therefore spent hours out on the local pond, sharpening his skills until he was a faster skater than the rest. The puck handling, and the ease of his play-making mind seemed to show up later.

Behind all of this was his mother.

Hockey moms are among the most passionate sports fans, and arguably the loudest and most annoying. But Mrs. Paajarvi-Svensson was quiet, good natured, and above all things, proud. She kept her son honest and encouraged him to play a clean game. When Magnus' father would urge him to check the opposing team harder, his mother would tell him softly, "Do it, but only if you truly believe they deserve it." That was something that always went through his mind.

Now, only a few months after her passing, Magnus was wondering what she'd say now. He wished so badly to have her around, he needed her advice. Somehow he'd gotten himself tangled in a web with Mandy, Taylor and now Jordan. Everything was a mess.

Magnus had tried to talk to his dad on the phone earlier that day, but it was too hard. He couldn't handle the sadness in his father's voice, and after some forced small-talk, he wished him well and hung up. Svensson was completely heartbroken.

As was Magnus, but nobody knew about it. And that was how he intended to keep it. The last thing he wanted was to be a burden for the team. Although he was pretty sure that sleeping with Mandy hadn't helped anything.

Not that he'd ever have the chance again, he thought miserably.

Practice ended. The team signed autographs while still in their sweaty gear. After signing for everyone who wanted him, Magnus exited through the back door, leaving the adoring fans to Taylor and Jordan, the obvious favourites. It didn't bother him that much, in fact he was happy to escape the lime light for a little while.

"Magnus!"

He turned around to see Mandy chasing after him into the parking lot. Instantly he felt his cheeks flush pink. Of course.

"Hey," she said, her eyes wide with concern, "Look, I just wanted to say sorry about all the things Taylor-"

"It's fine," Magnus replied, "Really. I don't care."

"I'm going to make him apologize to you," Mandy insisted, "What he said was out of-"

"It doesn't matter," Magnus told her, "I mean it. I just want to forget everything."

"Everything?" Mandy asked.

"I was a one night stand, was I not?"

Mandy sighed, "...yeah, I guess you were."

"Exactly. I want to just move on here, our first game is tomorrow, and I want to be ready. Have to clear my head. I'll see you tomorrow."

Mandy watched him drive away, and her heart sank. She shouldn't have said that.

--

Roxy waited in the chilly October air, her shoulders hunched in her dark purple hoody. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her, and her heart skipped a beat. Turning around, she saw Lander, giving her that trademark smirk.

"Well hi," Roxy said with a genuine smile, "You look nice."

Lander shrugged, tucking in his scarf, "Same to you." He offered his arm, "Walk with me?"

Roxy eagerly took it, "Yes."

It wasn't that cold outside, but cold enough. Roxy felt herself walking close to him, enjoying the warmth he offered, and not just in a literal sense. Lander was different from other guys.

"So, you're from Sweden..."

"Timra. Eastern Sweden. Hockey town."

"Sounds about right," Roxy said with a tiny smile, "You've been playing since you could walk, I'm guessing."

"Of course! Listening to ABBA and eating meatballs the whole time, too," Lander replied, "My life story is pretty boring, actually. Played hockey until I was good enough to play for the Elite League, drafted, here I am."

"I somehow believe there's more to it than that."

Lander shrugged, "Not much. Never really had a girlfriend."

"I highly doubt that!"

"I had girls, yeah," Lander said, "But...not quite the steady type."

"Now you have Petra."

Lander grimaced, "Don't remind me."

Roxy smirked, "Your own fault, man."

Lander sighed, "She used to be pretty cool, until we started practicing...and until you and Mandy entered the picture."

Roxanne bit her lip, "I'm sorry, if I-"

"Trust me, doomed from the start, and besides...you girls made things more interesting."

"By interesting you mean having the opportunity to look down my shirt while I filled your Gatorade bottles."

"Hey, I never did that."

"Sure you did. I caught you. Which was why I always wore my cutest bras."

"I noticed, trust me on that."

"Perv."

"Hey, not cool. You did it on purpose!"

Roxy smiled, "It's easy to talk to you. I like that."

Lander gently let his arm wrap around her shoulder, "There's more where that came from."

Leaves were starting to fall, September was in the air. It was beautiful in Alberta at this time of year. Roxanne felt safe and calm next to Lander, and without the constant fear of Petra looming in on them, it was almost normal. The sun was setting and the stars were starting to come out.

"God I love the stars," Lander said, looking up at the sky, "At least, in Edmonton I do. Much more different here."

A lightbulb suddenly went on in Roxy's head. She tugged Lander's arm, "I have an idea. Can we go to my place?"

Lander blinked at her, "You mean...but we've only been talking for-"

"Not THAT," she rolled her eyes, "Seriously. Let's get a cab and go."

Once they reached her apartment, Roxy insisted Lander help to haul the mattress from her room.

"What are we doing?"

"Just trust me," Roxy told him excitedly as they dragged it into the hallway, "Ok, to the elevator..."

Together, they brought the mattress, along with a few blankets, to the rooftop of the building. Lander watched as Roxy's tiny body pulled the mattress directly to the middle of the roof, spreading out the blankets. She then gestured for him to follow.

Lander sat down next to her and she pushed him down until he laid on his back, then she laid next to him, "Look at the sky."

His eyes widened in amazement. The stars were more evident here than anywhere he'd ever seen. The moon was bright, the stars were brighter, and they danced overhead like a giant evening show, meant only for the two of them to see.

"When I was little, I used to count the constellations I could find," Roxanne said dreamily, "Did you?"

"Never," Lander admitted, "Teach me?"

She shyly reached for his hand and he laced it with hers, "Well, that's the big dipper..."

--

Mandy wiped the sweat from her brow, receiving a pat on the back from Taylor.

"Muscles, eh?" he joked, snagging a towel from her cart, "No way you put the glove dryer away all by yourself."

"Sure did," Mandy beamed, "Stop underestimating me."

Taylor smirked, "I rarely do. You just outdo yourself. That's all." He stretched, the fabric of his underarmor shirt lifting and revealing a bit of his tanned abs, "Looks like we're the last ones here."

Mandy crossed her arms, "Mmhmm..."

"I just gotta take a shower," Taylor said, "Then we can go home. Might as well go together, right?"

"So...you're saying I have to wait out here....while you take a shower?" Mandy asked him.

"Unless you wanna shower with me." Taylor said bluntly. Not that he expected her to. She'd only just forgiven him a few hours earlier, after all.

Mandy now stood dangerously close to him, "I like that idea, it's been awhile since we...you know..." She tugged at the shirt fervently. It was a pain to see him clothed.

"You know how many dudes have showered there? Lots," Taylor warned her. Mandy lifted his shirt over his head. Hello, chiseled abs and muscular hockey player arms.

"Your point? Because we're wasting time here," Mandy said, her eyes giving off a mischievous glint as she felt him over. Taylor had to smile then.

"Hopefully I can find the way to turn them on," he said moments later, flicking on every switch possible, then hearing the water running, "Perfect."

Sex in the team showers seemed like a crazy, dangerous thing to do, and that was exactly why it excited Mandy. Something new, like a fresh flavor to a drink she'd been indulging in for years. It was hard for her to resist Taylor, despite how he'd been and the way he'd treated everyone earlier. Mandy's body needed his, badly, and she couldn't say no.

Taylor was also having difficulty thinking straight. He heard her call out that she was ready, and the second he entered the steamy hot room, he was instantly turned on. Warm, hot water rolling down her body, tracing along her curves- mostly on that fantastic ass -made him feel like he was going to burst.

Mandy went for the gold right away- receiving a longing moan from Taylor.

"You like that, don't you?" she asked him teasingly, getting a good grip and working it up and down, "Do you want me to play with you a little?"

Taylor's eyes screamed with desire, "Oh fuck...please..."

Mandy pushed him up against the wall, "Let me show you how much better I am at this than she is. As soon as I'm done with you...you won't even remember your own name."

Taylor closed his eyes and heaved a sigh as Mandy brought him into her mouth. Petra who? This girl was unreal. Her tongue teased him like crazy; he kept trying to push his hips forward, but no, SHE was in control. It started to get to a point where the pleasure was almost painful. Finally, after a wonderfully agonizing five or six minutes, her beautiful eyes looked up at him.

"You want to get inside me, Taylor Hall?"

"Please," he whimpered, "I'm so close already..."

Mandy stood up and looked him in the eye, dead serious, "Then don't just stand there. Fuck me."

Permission granted, Taylor lifted Mandy up so her hands could hold onto one of the bars while her legs wrapped around his waist. He didn't hesitate and started to thrust hard, all the while she kept telling him to go faster and faster. It was rampant and wild, the two of them being drenched in water and dominating sex.

"Is that all you've got?" Mandy demanded, her legs still locked around him.

Taylor pressed his forehead against hers, growling, "How bad do you want it, then?"

"I want Taylor fucking Hall, not a wuss like Magnus," Mandy said with a smirk, not caring that she'd insulted him, "Give it to me or get out."

Taylor plunged back into her. If she wanted him, she was getting him. He pumped himself in and out as fast and deep as he could, and much to Mandy's surprise, he WAS living up to her expectations, maybe even beyond it. Taylor had to smirk, hearing that familiar sound from her as she started ride her wave.

"Taylor, oh my god," she gripped onto the bar with white knuckles, "Keep going, please!"

In that half second before he also began to go over the edge, Taylor remembered- he wasn't wearing a condom. Mandy purposely tightened herself inside so he'd experience an even better climax and it was almost too much for Taylor. In a frenzy of pleasure he tried to pull himself out in time, spurts shooting onto the floor and washing away down the drain, gone.

After they dried themselves off and starting to get dressed, Mandy admired him.

"WELL, that definitely was great make-up sex."

But Taylor wasn't thinking the same.

"Tay?"

"I don't know if I pulled out in time," he said, pulling his t-shirt on, "I mean, I think I did..."

Mandy swallowed, "Oh...well..."

"You on anything?"

"No, I'm not," Mandy said slowly, "Never have been." She shook it off, "But come on, the one time I don't use a condom won't do anything right? I mean, the odds are against me...I hope."