Page 91 of The Publicity Stunt

"We'll work with Oliver to see what kind of offer we can put together. I know Louis wants to keep you, and with how you kept your head and played tonight, he knows you're one who can help bring a team to the Cup. It won't be as high as I'd originally planned when I knew you wanted out of Canada, but I'm sure we can figure something out."

Oliver rolls his eyes. "We'll figure something out. I think that publicity stunt issue actually makes him a hotter option because everyone knows his name. Would you rather put a no name on your team for more money, or would you rather have Kace Lyons on your line up and guarantee media coverage? He's a household name, regardless of how it came about. That's a man you should put on your roster."

"We'll talk," Mario says. "I have to go celebrate with the team. We're one team away from being champs, you know."

"Good luck," Kace says, suddenly unsure if he wants to play for someone like that.

Oliver walks with Mario, and Kace turns around to see his father standing in the hallway. "That was a hell of a game, son."

"Dad?"

"I'm so proud of you."

"We lost."

Shaking his head, Victor smiles and hugs him. "You played like a winner. There's nothing else you could have done out there. I'm so proud."

As much as his father's pride makes him happy, his heart races. No... it's not possible. Is it? "Dad, how'd you get here?"

Chapter Thirty

Bri

When Victor left her rental house, Bri spent hours staring at the necklace Kace bought for her. The color was pretty damn close to her eye color, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from it. No matter who he is or what he makes, no man spends that amount of money on a woman he doesn't consider to be serious. Not one with morals, anyway, and Kace Lyons is a man with morals.

She replayed everything in her mind. How he showed up with his team to help clean up in her hometown. How he stood up to her brother when he threatened to hit her. Then he shows up at the funeral and skips a playoff game to be there for her. And he knew she needed time to process her grief, and he gave her space to do it. Part of her wishes he'd pursued her and provided her comfort in a different form, but she would've regretted it. It would've only been a temporary fix.

The last game of the semi-finals was scheduled in Canada, and Bri knew she needed to be there. So did Victor. She planned it all, telling his father she didn't want Kace knowing she was there because she didn't want to be a distraction. She wanted to see him work towards his dream, and he'd agreed. They decided to both surprise him after the game.

They spent the game in the box, but both stayed in the back and out of view, watching most of the game on the screens instead of on the plexiglass. Kace played his heart out, and he came so close to making it to the finals. So close, but so far. It breaks her heart for him because he's wanted this since he was a kid.

Now, she stands in the hallway behind Victor and out of view of Kace. They watched two men talking to Kace, and Victor told her the one in the suit who looked like a car salesman was his agent, and the other was the General Manager of the Twisters. The latter looked like a man who retired to Florida, not the manager of a Texas NHL team, with his Hawaiian shirt and khaki pants. She knows Kace wants to be closer to home, and it didn't get lost on her how close her new home is to the city.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Bri mutters. "He might not even want you anymore. It's been a long while."

"Dad, how’d you get here?" Kace asks his father.

Bri takes a deep breath. It's time to face the music. Victor points over his shoulder as she comes into view, and Kace's jaw drops.

"Oh, Bri brought me. On her plane. It's such a nice plane."

Kace stares, frozen in shock, and the butterflies kick up in her stomach. She opted to wear black jeans and a black sweater rather than his jersey. With the uncertainty of everything surrounding them, it didn't feel right to wear it tonight.

"Kace?" Victor says. "Don't you want to say, I don't know... something? Anything? Then again, talking seems to get you in trouble, so maybe you should just stand there gaping at her."

"You... you're here."

Bri smiles shyly. "I'm here."

"Why?"

Her heart drops to her stomach. Does he not want her here? Maybe he decided after the funeral it wasn't what he wanted, and he meant he'd always be here for her as a friend. Just a friend. It would make sense that he didn't reach out afterwards, then. It wasn't because he was giving her space to grieve, he was setting boundaries.

"Kace!" Victor scolds.

"I guess this wasn't a good idea," she says, forcing her fake smile, and turns to leave.

Hold it together, Bri. Make it to the car, and then you can lose it.

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