5// backyard-igans

"I got up twenty minutes late, and now I'm rushing like a menstrating bitch to a bathroom to get ready," I said on my bluetooth to Jamila as I scrambled around my room to find converse to wear. "You should really by a watch, it could come in handy for you," Jamila told me. "Shut up," I told her with an eye roll. "What's on your schedule for today?" "Getting an incoming high school freshman into shape for baseball season, followed by high school football player who was kicked off his team for being a washed up alcoholic, OH! And I got roped in to teaching a swimming class to people Hales' age," she told me. I chuckled. "You sound so excited about it all," I commented "Oh, I'm fucking bursting," she told me with her casual tone of sarcasm. "You should bring Hales over here before you three leave soon." "Can't. she's coming with us," I told her. "Apparently, there's a lot of kids on the Hawks team and Derick's hoping she'll make more friends." '"Damn it, I don't wanna go to work today," Jamila told me. "I wanna sit on my couch, eat my food, drink and binge on Grey's Anatomy," "No one watches Grey's ever since April and Jackson fucking ran off together," I told her bitterly. "I don't know where the fuck you get your information from but that's extremely wrong," she told me. "Whatever," I told her; now's not the time to get into the discussion of my Grey's Anatomy boycott. "I gotta get ready, Derick will freak if we show up late." "Oh no, a bunch of hockey heads will eat all the meat without you, how ever will you survive?" "Shit, you really aren't in the mood for today..." "It's a damn Saturday and I have to go to work, of course I'm not in the mood." I chuckled again, "You'll survive," I told her before I hung up. We had a Team Barbecue to attend at the Coach's house, as a way for the players and their families to bond together for the upcoming season. I was expecting to stay home with Haley today, but Derick told me he wanted us to come as well. Now, I'm hauling ass trying to get ready to leave on time. I got Kristen helping Haley so we don't have another outfit disaster like on the first day of school again, and Derick's doing whatever Derick's do. I settled on wearing a black tank top with jean shorts and black converse. As I put on my sunglasses, the door shot open with Haley running in. "You're going slow!" she told me dramatically, wearing jeans shorts as well along with sandals and a Disney Princesses t-shirt. "Watch you attitude," I warned her. "But it's true!" she told me, "Uncle Derick keeps saying it!" I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Come on, let's go so he stops talking," I told her as we walked out and downstairs where we saw Kristen sitting down while on her phone and Derick pacing around the living room. "We're ready!" Haley shouted with a smile. "Bout time," Derick mumbled while giving me a dirty look; I rolled my eyes as we walked out of the house and into the SUV, making our way to the Coaches house. xxxxxxxx

I don't think I've ever felt this uncomfortable in my life.

Everyone here was a big part of the team in some way, and I felt like a big elephant in the room as I didn't know anyone and I was the only sister-in-law around. I found myself sitting down at a picnic table by myself, sending texts to Jamila that got no response due to her schedule, but it was better than looking like I had nothing to do. Haley was making friends though, so that's all that matters.

As I was trying my best to ignore everything, someone decided to stop by and take a seat next to my picnic table.

"Haven't I seen you lurking around before?" a familiar face asked me.

"Yeah, I just got a job with the organization recently," I told him, "and I'm pretty sure I've seen you around..."

"Patrick Kane," he told me with a smile, "if that rings any bell."

"Oh, Kat Stevens, if that rings any of your bells," I told him. We both laughed for a minute.

"So, are you a girlfriend or fiancee?" he asked me.

"Neither," I replied, "I'm a sister in law."

"Really? For who?"

"Derick Brassard."

"Brassy? Lucky girl," he told me. "He seems pretty cool.

I shrugged. "He's decent, I guess..."

Patrick laughed. "Well, If you're gonna be here, you should do some bonding with the team family."

"I'm the only sister-in-law here, I got nothing in common with anyone else here,"  I told him.

He was silent for a moment, then pointed across the yard to two women. "Over there is my girlfriend Leslie with Jonathan Toews' girlfriend Ashley. Go talk to them, you'll love them."

I sighed, "you're pretty pushy, man."

"Nothing wrong with pushing," he said with a smile.

I rolled my eyes, getting off of the picnic table and heading over to the other girls, who immediately took notice to me.

"Hey, are you a new wife or girlfriend?" the one with long, brunette hair asked me.

"Um....I'm new, but that's about it," I told them.

"Huh?" the one with blonde hair in a bob asked.

"Sister-in-law of one of the new players," I explained, "Kat Stevens."

"Leslie Nelman, I'm Patrick Kane's girlfriend," the blonde told me.

"And I'm Ashley Taylor, Jonathan Toews' girlfriend," the brunette told me.

"Nice, so how long have you been dating them?" I asked them.

"We met at a bar almost two years ago after the lockout ended," Ashley explained. "I work as a bartender."

"And we met after he won his second Stanley Cup on vacation in Mexico," Leslie told me.

"Nice."

"So, who's your family?"

I went over and pointed at Derick and Kristen, who were making their way around the yard meeting with people. "Derick, he just got traded from New York."

"Oh yeah, he does pretty good at practices," Ashley commented.

"So, what about you? What do you do for a living?" Leslie asked me.

"I actually just got a job with the organization, I'm with public relations and marketing," I explained.

"Awesome!" Ashley said with a smile, "the girlfriends and wives actually do a lot with them because of charities and stuff, looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other!"

"That's cool!" I said with a smile aswell. "Uh...I'm gonna head back now, but it was cool meeting you!"

"Yeah, see you later!" Ashley told me; Leslie kept quiet as I made my back to the picnic table where Patrick was at with a smirk.

"See? Socializing isn't too bad," he told me.

"Fuck off," I told him with an eye roll.

"You're welcome," he laughed.

I was about to give him a retort, but Haley came running up so my attention went to her.

"Can I get ice cream?" she asked me, "everyone else is."

"Did you finish all of your lunch?"

"Yes!"

"Even the veggies?"

Haley stayed quiet, then looked down to her feet, causing me to sigh. "Hales, you know the rules."

"But mom!"

"No buts, you know the rules, you have to eat everything for dessert."

"Whoa," Patrick stepped in, catching both of our attention, "today's a special day, why not bend the rules for one day?"

"Yeah, mommy," Haley said with complete sass, even putting her hands on her hips, "It's a special day."

"You need to watch yourself," I warned her.

"Come on, mommy!" she started begging, "I always eat my veggies every night, this is my first time not!"

"Come on, cut her some slack," Patrick told me with a smile.

I thought about it for a moment, then sighed. "You can get one bowl, but that's it until dinner tonight."

Haley grew a big smile on her face. "Thank you so much!!!!" She ran over and hugged me quick, before looking back at Patrick. "Thank you for helping me."

"No problem, kiddo," he smiled at her, "us blonde haired-blue eyed kids gotta stick together."

"I've never met anyone else with blonde hair and blue eyes before!" Haley told him excitedly.

"Really?" Patrick asked her, shocked. "What about your-"

I quickly started shaking my head. I knew exactly what he was going to say: "what about your dad?" We're having a good day, and I don't want to get into the topic of him. Luckily, Patrick caught on and didn't finish his sentence, but just smiled at her.

"Blonde hair and blue eyes are supposed to be rare, so I guess we're lucky to have met," he told her instead. Haley smiled really big, before running off to get ice cream.

"Thank you so much," I told him.

"No problem," he said, "I'm not positive what's going on, but whatever it is, I'll respect it and mind my own business.

I was about to say something, when I heard a faint "Patrick!" being shouted across the yard. We both turned to our left and saw Leslie calling him over.

"I think that may be my cue to go," he told me. "but I'll see you around the United Center."

"Yeah, totally," I agreed.

We smiled and waved at each other as he left, and Kristen came to replace him with two red cups in hand which were filled with I presume would be alcohol. I gave her a weird look.

"Derick's driving back home," she told me.

"Thank God," I said as I grabbed the cup and took a sip.

"So, you and Hales are bonding with Patrick Kane?" she asked me.

"Yeah," I told her, "he's pretty cool, and Haley's so fascinated that he looks like her."

"Really?" she asked me with a smirk. "Maybe that's your baby daddy."

I rolled my eyes, "shut the fuck up, don't even joke about that.

Kristen cocked her head, "you never know, little sis."

She then walked away from me. I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head; she was being crazy. I didn't meet Patrick until last month, there's no way. Haley's dad is probably roaming around taking advantage of other girls. But it's not Patrick, he isn't that type of guy.