Nineteen

   “So, what's the deal with Autumn?” Nicky asked as they pulled on to the highway.

   “What do you mean?” Jacob replied, his eyebrows raised.

   “Well, I talked to you a few months ago and you didn't have a girlfriend then. What happened?” Jacob bit his lip. Did he tell him the whole truth or just parts of it?

   “Well, it's just what usually happens when you meet someone you like, isn't it? You start dating them and then you fall in love.”

   “So you're in love, are you?” Nicky teased. “So soon?” Jacob smacked his hand.

   “You know what I mean.” He smirked. “I think I am in love with her, though.” He sighed, leaning his elbow against the door. “She's everything I want, Nick.” Nicklas hit the breaks to stop at a roundabout and looked over at Jacob.

   “Really?” He started driving again. “Well, that's awesome.” He smiled. “I'm happy for you, man.”

   “I don't know if she feels the same though...” Jacob looked out his window.

   “Why would she move with you to D.C if she didn't feel the same?” Nicky frowned. Jacob started to blush. “What?”

   “Uh... I'd think...” He paused. “Nothing, yeah, you're probably right.”

   “Jacob, I've known you my entire life, ever since we played on the streets together as kids. I can tell when you're lying. What's up?” Jacob sighed.

   “Fine,” He said. “I think she only moved with me so that we can take care of the baby together.”

   “Woah, wait, what?” Nicky's eyes sprung open and he had to work hard to keep his eyes on the road.

   “Uh... Our relationship is kind of different from others.” Jacob said. “We went on a date, got drunk, slept together and she got pregnant.” He swallowed.

   “Oh, man.” Nicky sighed. “So what, she's just here because of that?”

   “That's what I don't know!” Jacob exclaimed. They had now pulled up by Kettler Iceplex, but none of them moved. “I think she likes me, but she's probably not feeling the way I feel.”

   “I'm sorry, man,” Nicky said and looked at his watch. “We'd better get inside. I don't think Boudreau will be happy if you're late your first day.”

   “What's he like anyways?” Jacob said. “The coach?”

   “He's great, always pushes us to do our best.” Nicky smiled. “Now come on!”

Jacob ended up fitting in real well with the team, and after practice was over, he was chatting with Semyon as if they had known each other all their lives. Nicky had to break through twice to make Jacob realize that practice was over and they should get back home.

   “So, what did you think?” Nicky asked when they had put their bags in the backseat.

   “Everything's great,” Jacob smiled. “I really liked playing with Marcus again!”

   “Oh, right. You played world juniors together, didn't you?”

   “Yeah, we always shared a room.” Jacob smiled, reminiscing older times. “I hope Nathalie and Autumn are getting along.” He then said, looking at Nicky.

   “I think they are, actually,” Nicky smiled. “Nathalie's always making new friends, she can always find something to like about another person.”

   “Good,” Jacob leaned back in his seat. “She's been very lonely when I've been away, and I hate leaving her...”

   “Don't worry about it! There's lots of players' wives and girlfriends in town when we're away.”

   “Autumn's not that type, though. She doesn't like to be around too many people.”

   “Well, maybe the two of them can hang out, then?” Nicky smiled as they parked by Jacob's apartment building. Jacob swallowed when they climbed the stairs. He knew how Autumn could react to new people.

He opened the door and the two stepped inside.

   “We're baaack!” Jacob said as he took off his shoes and peeked around a corner. Nicky passed him and saw Nathalie and Autumn curled up in front of the TV, Ben & Jerry's in their hands.

   “Hey, are you really supposed to eat that?” Was the first thing Nicky said when he saw Nathalie.

   “What?” She said, lowering the carton.
   “Ice cream?” Nicky raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were serious about your handball career.” He shrugged.

   “Give her a break!” Autumn defended Nathalie. “I practically made her buy it.” She stuffed another spoonful in her mouth and swallowed it. Jacob smirked behind Nicky and could finally relax. They seemed to be friends already.

   “He's right, though.” Nathalie put the carton down on the table and laid her hands on her stomach. Autumn gasped.

   “Pick it up again!” She said. “He's not the boss of you, is he?” Nathalie met Nicky's gaze and he gave her the usual 'are you serious' look.

   “Come on, Nick,” She said and looked from him to the carton. “It's not like I'm stuffing myself.” Nicky sighed.

   “Fine,” He said. “But you know what you have to do to get rid of that later.” He turned to Autumn. “I'm not really a jerk. We're just sports nuts and she's always complaining about not improving her handball skills.” Autumn nodded.

   “Right, she told me that she plays. But you've got to be able to relax once in a while, though?”

   “Oh, god,” Nicky said. “This is making me look like a total ass, doesn't it?” Jacob had already passed him and sat down in one of the sofas.

   “It kind of does.” Jacob smirked.

   “Thing is,” Nicky sat down next to Nathalie. “Nathalie's always telling me to remind her about not eating too much stuff that's bad for her.” Nathalie nodded and put the carton down again.

   “He's right. I have to go for a looong run after this one.” She sighed and looked at Nicky. “And I think our gym is going to be used tonight.”

   “So what were you watching?” Jacob looked at the credits rolling by the screen. He couldn't make out which movie had been played.

   “Mamma Mia,” Autumn said. “I've seen it like four times and I never get sick of it. It's so gooood.”

   “And Swedish,” Nicky said. “Bitches love us!” He grinned and Nathalie smacked his hand.

   “What's this language?” She asked with a smile.

   “I honestly don't know. I caught it from somewhere and I thought it was funny.”

   “It's true though.” Autumn said, finishing her Ben & Jerry. “You guys are awesome.”

   “You have to say that, because we're three against one here.” Nathalie laughed. Autumn looked at the three of them.

   “Oh, crap, I didn't even realize.” She gasped. “Oh no, I'm surrounded by Swedes!”

   “Deal with it!” Jacob smiled, turned to the TV and started humming along with one of the songs.

   “You know this one?” Autumn said, raising her eyebrows.

   “Autumn, I'm Swedish,” Jacob said. “Of course I know it.”

   “Hey, I'm Swedish too,” Nicky said. “And I don't know it!”

   “This isn't your kind of music, honey.” Nathalie patted Nicky's leg, now that he had sat down next to her. “Want some?” She took up her Cookie Dough carton and let him look at it.

   “No, thanks,” He smiled. “I'm fine.”

   “Your loss!” Nathalie dug down the spoon and started eating again. “Don't judge me...” She said with her mouth full and looked over at the TV just as the Swedish flag appeared.

   “So much Swedish stuff in this movie.” Autumn shook her head. “WHY!”

   “Because ABBA are Swedish?” Jacob said, coking an eyebrow. “Seriously, I thought you were smarter than that.” He grinned as Autumn stuck out her tongue.

   “Shut up.” She said and hummed along to one of the songs. “This one is actually pretty good.”

   “Yeah,” Nathalie said. “ABBA were great.” She sighed and leaned against Nicky. Suddenly, she felt very tired and before she knew it, she was asleep.