#troubs

              You decided to take a walk through the park instead.

              The crisp air against your face was refreshing and you were able to clear your mind.

              Until you were knocked down.

              "Oh my god! Donnie no!" You laughed as a dog stood on your chest, licking your face. Your hands rubbed up and down his body as his dad ran up to you. "Donnie! Quit being rude!" He pulled his dog off of you. "Are you ok?"

              "I'm fine" you said, sitting up. You reached out and continued rubbing the dog. "Is your name Donnie? What a good boy!"

              "Don't encourage him" his owner laughed.

              "Sorry, but he's just too cute!"

              "But apparently a menace to unsuspecting pretty women taking walks in the park." You laughed. He held his hand out to you and you took it, allowing him to help you up.

              "It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention."

              "Nah. It was all this guy's fault. He knows better." The dog looked up at the handsome stranger and tipped his head to the side. "Don't give me that look. You know what you did." The dog sat down, his tongue lolling out. "Well" the owner looked back up at you. "Can I at least buy you coffee to make up for the fact that my dog is rude?"

              "I don't know" you teased. "I don't generally get coffee with strangers."

              "Oh well let me introduce myself so we're no longer strangers." He held his hand out. "Jacob. Jacob Trouba and this is my dog, Donnie." You shook his hand.

              "Nice to meet you Jacob. I'm (Y/N)."

              "So now we're not strangers" he said grinning. "How about-" he broke off as Donnie ran off.

              "Maybe you should invest in a leash" you said giggling. Jacob groaned and pulled the leash out of his back pocket.

              But unlike last time, Donnie came running back with a ball in his mouth.

              "Do you want to play? You do!" you cooed bending down and grabbing the ball before tossing it.

              "So now he wants to play and not attack people" Jacob muttered. You laughed and threw the ball for Donnie a few times before the puppy got bored and just wanted loving.

              "Such a good boy! Aren't you? Yes you are!" Donnie rolled on to his back as you scratched his belly.

              "So, (Y/N)" Jacob said, making you look up at him. "Coffee? I promise Donnie will still let you pet him." You laughed and stood up, wiping your hands on your pants.

              "I guess I could go for coffee."

              "Great! Because I'm exhausted and I need a pick me up" Jacob laughed. He bent down and grabbed the ball from Donnie and put it in his pocket, snapping the leash on the dog's collar. He stood upright and held his arm out for you. You set your hand in the crook of his elbow and he tucked it close to his body, Donnie leading you both down the path. "So I'm obviously here to be a good dog dad and give him room to play, but what brings you to the park on a cold Winnipeg day?"

              "Clearing my head" you said. "School is stressful."

              "That it is" he agreed.

              "You go to Manitoba too?"

              "Noooo" he laughed. "I went to University of Michigan."

              "Michigan?" you asked. "How'd you end up in Winnipeg then?"

              "Hockey" he answered simply. You nodded your head. Then froze.

              Hockey. Trouba.

              "Holy shit" you blurted. "You're Jacob Trouba!"

              "Yesssssss" he drawled out, frowning at you. "Are you ok?"

              "No! You're THE Jacob Trouba! D man for the Jets! Number 8!"

              "That's me" he agreed.

              "You're like... famous!" Jacob shrugged, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

              "I'm just a guy with a dog who tackled a pretty girl in the park. Sometimes I play hockey."

              "Well" you said. "I should have asked for more than coffee" you said with a wink. Jacob laughed.

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