5.

It's Saturday morning and I'm sweating buckets for trying to run five miles on the treadmill. Damn! I used to run five miles before back in college but when I stopped from working out I barely can't reach two miles.

I stopped from working out when I got my job since using the treadmill from the nearest gym on my old apartment costs five dollars. I'd rather spend that on clothes from thriftshops I can just go run on the streets anyway.

But I got lazy, so now that the Lee's have their own mini gym on the third floor of their house I didn't waste time but to take advantage out of it and get back on the grind.

"I didn't know you workout on mornings." Tori said walking in as I lowered the pace.

"It's the weekend so I do the morning ones." I replied wiping the sweat on my forehead with the face towel I took with me. "What's up?"

"I'm hitting the grocery today. You need something?"

"Actually, can I come?" I replied and decided to finally stop when I reach three miles, which is a good progress. "I need to grab some toiletries and I run out of tea bags already."

"Already? You have way too many supplies of tea that can last for many years when I rummage into your cupboards last week." She said chuckling.

I'm a tea person. It helps me calm every morning and it also gives me good night sleep.

I smiled, thinking that I indeed have a huge supply of tea bags on the cupboards but when I encouraged Mat to drink tea instead of coffee. He ended up loving it and drinks four cups of tea a day.

"Well, blame Mat! He's a teabag hoarder. I am actually starting to regret why I encouraged him to drink tea instead of coffee."

Tori giggled. "It's really nice to see you guys are getting along."

Yeah, she's right. I didn't expected it either, I thought having him as a roommate was a complete disaster filled with awkwardness but it wasn't.

Well, except for the occasional admiration but other than that Mat is growing on me.

After we shared a funny conversation last week in the kitchen about his date, everything kinda felt normal after that. I'm not gonna lie I was completely surprised when he told me that the girl he was with on the restaurant that night wasn't his date and definitely not his type either.

Well, technically. He surprises me everyday actually. I can't even believe he's a really open guy, not all men does that because usually they are pretty reserved.

But not Mat.

"Well, we're roommates. So we have to be." I kid. "Anyway, can I take a shower first right before heading out?"

"Sure. I'll wait on the living room. Be quick!" Tori said and both of us left the mini gym and head to our separate ways.

Few minutes later, I went downstairs and head to the living room where Tori is waiting just in time Anders and Mat arrived coming from an early practice.

"Where are you guys going?" Ander asked his wife kissing her on the cheeks.

"Grocery." Tori answered. "How's practice?"

"The usual." Anders replied. "Anyway, the team is having dinner tonight for the opening of the game season this Tuesday. You two should get ready."

"Two?" I inserted. "Who said I'm coming?"

"Me." Mat speaks out on a very serious tone looking at me, those piercing hazel nut eyes makes me weak everytime he does that and I don't like the sudden butterflies flying on my stomach to be honest.

I snorted, ignoring the strange feeling. "Why?"

"Because he desperately needs a date." Ander answered for him grinning.

"What about Pauline? She's surely up for that." I challenged.

He sighed. "That's kind of the point. Derick said he'll invite Pauline and I said that I already have another person invited."

Ouch!

"I definitely need someone to cover that up for me, so I need your help to be my date." He added.

Double ouch!

I'm disappointed and hurt hearing those words. I thought he wants me to be his date, because he wants me to be his date. But it all turns out, he just need someone to cover up his alibi just to avoid another person.

See, this is the reason why people should never assume. Disappointments will bite you in the ass!

God. Why am I even hoping that Mat is interested on me?

I mentally slap myself. It doesn't mean that we are getting along already means he likes me.

Damn Jade! Stop being so difficult.

I was silent, trying to mentally remind myself to never ever lose my cool and act like I am not disappointed.

"I don't-- I mean, I'm not sure I can keep up with tha--" I said stuttering unable to speak a word since aside from my disappointments I don't think I am cool enough being surrounded with hockey players and all that.

"Don't worry. I'm there. We'll stick together." Tori assured me as he held my forearms. "You'll be fine." She added giggling.

"It's not that bad anyway. It's just dinner." Anders reassured me more.

"Just dinner, right." I repeated in sarcastic tone but holy hell I'm anxious now. I've never been into those things myself, I have mild social anxiety so thinking that I'll get surrounded with NHL people is absolutely disturbing.

"I'm there anyway. I won't abandon you, don't worry." Mat said touching my shoulders which sends another shock of anxiety on my system.

But somehow it made me calm seeing his reassuring face. Gosh! I'm about to have a panic attack now.

-

I'm calmer now, or maybe the six mugs of tea that I consumed in the past hours while I was getting ready did.

I'm on my seventh mug now, sipping on it at the mini living room while waiting for Mat to get ready. As he emerges out of his room I choked, he looks so gorgeous on that navy blue suit. Damned if I didn't felt my stomach turned upside down, I can't believe he is my date.

Stop being so giddy Jade, you're just an alibi to get rid of Pauline.

I remind myself.

"You okay?" He asked beaming into me because holy mother of Moses! I'm coughing. Stupid tea--no, stupid me!

"Yeah I'm fine." I responded trying to stop from coughing looking away from him or else I'd feel even more distracted.

"Seriously Jade, calm yourself." He said. "We're just having dinner. There's no such thing as red carpet, cameras or whatsoever. We'll just go sit there, eat, listen to few speeches, mingle with people on the organization and then leave."

Right, sounds way too easy. But I know it won't be once I get there!

Gosh! What if I make a fool out of myself in front of his colleagues? I actually have that kind of habit, and I absolutely despised it.

To be honest, the reason why I'm very anxious right now is because of him bringing me as a date.

I know, I am not the first girl he brought to these kind of events. As Pauline strikes into my head, that's the kind of girls he brought to dates with him and not me. Anyway, why did I signed up for this?

"What if I make a fool out of myself?" I finally sounded looking at my now leaking palms.

He laughed. "No you won't."

I looked up on him. "How sure are you?"

"I just knew." He said making an adjustments on his tux.

"Wow! Thank you. That was actually helpful in calming me down Barzy!" I said sarcastically.

"Did you just call me Barzy?" He asked grinning on me.

"No. Did I?"

He laughed this time. "You're really fund of making fun out of me, don't you?"

"I'm not making fun out of you!" I barked, but it was actually true. I always make fun of him, I even bully him sometimes especially when I caught him one time watching The Bachelorette in the small living room in here.

"Yes you are!" He barked back. "Anyway, can you help me with my tie?"

He then walked towards me, I obligingly helped him tie it but I'm way too distracted on the fact that we're standing so close together. Me, feeling his heavy breathe on my forehead as my arm touches his chest looking on his throat. I can't even think straight anymore.

Then realization hit me. "Oh shit." I cursed.

"What?" He asked in a throaty voice.

"I don't know how to tie this." I confessed.

He looked at me dumbfounded and within one blink he's holding his stomach laughing so hard.

"Oh my god! You're hilarious!" He commented between laughs which made me giggle too because damn! I just realized how stupid I was.

"What? Am I required to know how to tie this?" I said looking at the black tie on my hands. "Do I look like a person who wears suit and tie every now and then for me to know how to use this?"

He's still laughing though.

"No. I just find it really funny that you forgot you don't know how to tie that." He said trying himself to recover from laughing at me.

I rolled my eyes because I am starting to feel embarrassed. Shit! I am so stupid!

"You know what, just ditch the tie." I said throwing the tie on the couch. "That doesn't make me feel good anymore, remind me to burn that later."

Mat laughs again.

"Laugh it up Barzy! Your day will come." I announced which sends another wave of laughter from him again.

It was embarrassing, honestly. But that helped me calm and forgot the nerves I have been carrying in the past hours this time.

Hoping everything goes smooth once we get to the venue later.

But Mat is still laughing at me though so I grab the nearest pillow on the couch and threw it on him.

-

My hands are shaking when Mat pulled over his car in front of the hotel. I took a deep breath right before looking at him.

"You'll be fine." He said reaching for my hands and squeezed it right before he gets out of the car.

Despite of my nerves I forced myself to get out of the car just in time Mat was running on the other side to open the door for me but he's already too late.

"You're spoiling the moment!" He commented grinning at me.

"Shut it, Mat! My hands are working fine you don't have to open it for me." I said.

As we walked heading inside the hotel, he reached for my hands and he laced it together.

He sighed. "You're shaking." He said in a low tone I almost didn't hear.

"I know." I said and squeezed his hands.

I don't know but the heat of Mats touch makes me calm yet I can't ignore the sweet sensation of him holding me.

We enter a massive door that leads to the conference hall, and I couldn't help but fidget when a flash of camera welcomed us on the door way.

"Oh!" I said completely surprised. I heard Mat giggling next to me.

He let go of my hands and put it on my hips pulling me towards him. "Smile." He commands.

"What?"

"You don't want to look bad on pictures, aren't you?" He said looking at me grinning and I laugh on that looking straight to his eyes. Just in time the photographer clicks several times to catch the moment.

The photographer and Mat exchanged nods right before we continue walking heading to the table where we saw Tori and Ander waving at us.

"You said no cameras." I discreetly scolded him.

"Yeah, but I didn't say there are no photographers." He said smiling sheepishly as he rubs his thumb on my back sending a jolt of electricity on my spine.

"It's the same thing." I rebutted.

"Whatever. It's already done, babe." He said.

I'll be damned if I say that didn't made my knees weak when he called me babe.

Fuck! Why does he have to do this?