Two and a half years ago, I gave a friend and colleague a ride home from work, or well, I was going to. It had been a rough day and our plan was to get home and watch Casablanca, but something felt off as I exited the parking lot, and I parked the car outside the office building to discover a flat tire.

My friend was uncertain what to do, but I was adamant to handle it myself; the first time I'd ever gotten a flat tire (also with another girl) I'd felt so helpless, had gotten so many offers to help from condescending douchebags who told us to our faces that we needed help cause we couldn't do it on our own and, well, they were right, I didn't remember what to do - well, that wasn't going to happen again, I told myself. It really wasn't difficult, and I memorized the sequence, I knew how to use the tools, it would be no problem.

Except, you know, maybe if I'd practiced changing tires once a month I'd actually remember the whole sequence of events, but who the hell remembers the nuances when you only get a flat tire once every few years? Not me. I remembered enough, but car safety isn't something I want to just wing it with. But here we were, flat tire outside the office, so I started working. One or two guys probably stopped to ask if we needed help, but I could see how that would end and wow did I not want to see them take over and then pat themselves on the back for rescuing a bunch of girls. But then another guy showed up and asked if we needed any help, and he just gave off this kind of sweet, earnest vibe, like he wasn't coming in to take over but just to offer help if he could, and he seemed unassuming enough that I accepted. I asked him if he remembered at what point should I loosen the nuts or remove the hubcaps and if the order mattered, and he said he thought it should go like this, and he ended up sticking around, helping but never pushing. When we were done, I sent him and my friend of to wash their hands - she showed him where the office washroom was, and I say "sent" because while I can't say I deliberately orchestrated anything, I also wasn't completely blind to the potential there - although my friend apparently was, which is why she was completely surprised when he asked for her phone number.

Fast forward to last night's wedding, which was lovely. They say you need three couples to get into heaven, right? I'm definitely taking credit for that one, so I guess two more to go.

*

Catching up on a few recs, all hockey RPF:

Day 6 rec:
Strung Out on Heaven's High (hitting an all-time low) by jezziejay (Explicit, 29,422 words, Kane/Toews)
Additional Tags: Reporter AU
Summary: When Patrick Kane gets a summer internship at the Chicago Tribune, he's determined not to screw up another career. But instead of covering fashion shows for animals or becoming an agony uncle, he finds himself charged with writing an expose of the Blackhawks' new captain.

I spent, like way too much time reading this at work yesterday, but I just couldn't stop. It is SO FUCKING CUTE, there are stories where you're just kind of... helpless in the face of them. An AU where following an early injury, Kaner's career takes a turn and instead of becoming an NHL player, he becomes a beat reporter following the Blackhawks in Chicago. jezziejay writes not only some of the best dialogue and banter around, but also these fast paced, incredibly engrossing stories that are so, so hard to put down. This wasn't part of the harlequin challenge but reads as the best kind of harlequin. Super recommended.

Day 7 rec:
This Heart Is Not For Wasting by fourfreedoms (Explicit, 16,006 words, Kane/Toews)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - College/University, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, NHL random ensemble, First Time, bros in love, Rimming
Summary:A college AU.

the4freedoms is one of my favorite authors in this fandom, so in general I rec her entire body of work, and while I'm not sure this is my favorite - it's so hard to choose - I love it a lot. It's a story about college friends becoming lovers, and about final year and graduation, this excited but melancholy sense of knowing you're at an end of this chapter and not really knowing what comes next or who will be there with you. And the sex is incredibly hot, which you can take for granted for anything she writes. Ah, and Yale folks - you'll probably enjoy the details :-)

Day 8 rec:
Vows Made Through The Storm by fourfreedoms (Explicit, 7028 words, Kane/Toews)
Warnings: Rape/Non-Con
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - High Fantasy, Dubious Consent, Public Sex, Forced Orgasm, Non-Consensual, Sexual Slavery
Summary: There is nothing that Jonathan would not do to protect his people.

Another fic by the4freedoms, and this one completely different; it is everything the tags say basically, and while not entirely similar, in my mind I call this fic the Captive Prince AU, and am dearly hoping that more is written in this universe in the future.