NHL Imagines

Zach Parise

So there was a kid on the treadmill next to me with a Parise shirt on when I wrote this.

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She don't love you she's just lonely the speakers sang as Zach cooked dinner for the two of you, she wasn't the once upon a time. She used to dance when the band played.

You set the table and set out a beer for the each of you. The song playing made your heart hurt. It was true, you were thinking of leaving him because you thought he was perfect when you met. Not just because of the whole Captain of the United States Olympic team or his nice salary.

No, it was because he shared the same love for Minnesota as you did.

You met in June. Your family had just bought a cabin and you noticed the man next door. By luck, he noticed you too.

You spent most of your nights sitting out on the dock, feet in the water. A few times you watched the sun come up.

You fell in love with him. Or at least you thought you did. You've never been good at realizing whether or not the guy was going to stick around enough to say those three little words.

Then you realized you weren't going to stick around to hear Zach say it and that terrified you. You had no idea why, but you didn't want to hurt him. You didn't love him, you were just lonely.

Zach placed the steaks on the table and the two of you started to eat.

Leaving him has been on your mind all day. You knew that he could sense your distance, but wouldn't address the situation.

You helped him with the dishes and when the two of you went to the living room, you stopped short of the couch.

"Aren't you going to sit down?" He looked up at you and asked.

"Zach, we need to talk." Your voice was shaky and your palms were clammy.

He sighed. He had to know what was coming, all the signs were there.

"I think we should break up. I-" The tears started falling down your face and you started to get choked up. "I'm sorry but I just. I don't think I can be in a relationship right now."

"Can't we work this out? I don't want you to leave." He got up and grabbed your hands. You could already see the pain fill his eyes as you let go.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go Zach."

With that, you grabbed your coat and keys before driving away from his house. You figured it was best to leave now than to make him fall even harder.