Page 22 of Blindside Love

Yep!

Iwent to the gym first thing this morning to get a quick workout in and try to kill some of my nerves. To say I’m a little stressed about going to Trevor’s game tonight would be an understatement. I spent a solid hour running before lifting weights in hopes of exhausting my brain.

It didn’t help.

Something about him inviting me to his game made me feel all giddy. It felt nice to look forward to something again, even if he only invited me to be friendly. I don’t expect a man like him to be interested in someone like me. He probably dates supermodels and those Instagram fitness girls who always get the poses just right.

After Tom, I truly thought I would never enjoy a male presence again. Like, ever. I was going dick-free in 2023. But there’s something about Trevor that’s just so different. He’s so kind, genuine, and so freakishly hot that it’s hard not to stare sometimes. I had to stop myself from reaching out to touch his biceps the other morning when I ran into him at the gym. Just to see if they were real, of course. I blame his shirt, practically painted onto his body, his muscles were just front and center.

They were so big, and when he flexed, I wanted to run my tongue along the veins.

This morning there was a knock at my door and when I opened, there was a black box with green bow outside the door.

Trevor’s gift was so sweet and thoughtful, but it made me substantially more nervous about going tonight. Attached to the box was a card that I’m doing everything in my power not to let get to my head.

Kitten,

You asked what you should wear to the game tonight. I vote for my jersey. I’d love to see you in the stands with my name on your back. ;)

Hope you and Natalie enjoy it.

-Trevor

It’s the ‘my name on your back’ with the damn winky face that has me spiraling down a rabbit hole in my mind as I walk up to the front of the arena looking for Natalie. She waves at me from the line. Thankfully, it didn’t take us long to get inside, and once Natalie changed, we went to grab drinks.

I’ve been to hockey games before, but it didn’t feel like this. The energy tonight is exciting. I was actually at a Cyclones game earlier this year with Tom, he said it was date night. Looking back, I realize he spent all night meeting with board members that were there, so I’m pretty sure I was only there as a prop.

Maybe it’s the fact that I have better company tonight or that I’m here to see Trevor, but either way, I’m already enjoying this game more than any previous one. It definitely helps that he got us glass seats, which are a million times better than the stuffy suite I’m usually in.

Down here, it’s electric. Between the action happening just a few feet in front of you to being surrounded by excited fans and the beers everyone’s drinking, it’s getting a little rowdy out here.

I fucking love it.

There’s a guy next to me who cheers loudly while giving everyone in the row a high five anytime something happens. He’s a whole vibe, and I’m here for it.

The game has been nonstop back and forth, but it’s flown by. Watching the guys battle it out on the ice, flying on those tiny little blades and trusting that they aren’t going to impale themselves in the process, is impressive. They give off this power and excitement that kept Natalie and me on our feet for most of the game.

It’s been brutal the entire night. The other team came out swinging, but the guys fought back on the ice, both with and without gloves. Both goalies have had to make an impressive number of saves, but somehow, both teams managed to score twice.

“Okay, why have we never been to one of these before? This is so much fun!” Natalie shouts in my ear as she holds her beer in one hand and nachos in the other.

“I don’t know. I went with Tom a few times, but it was never like this—it was always so stuffy and boring. This is so much fun. Hell, I can’t believe there’s only two minutes left.” I smile for the first time in a while. I like this feeling. The feeling of being able to do something I want and enjoy my time out with a friend without worrying about who I was pissing off at home just for having a life.

“We have to come to more. This is so much fun. Addison would love this,” Natalie says, her drunk rambling beginning. “She’d have so much fun watching, but also all of the food. She loves this type of food.”

“She really would love this…” I start but lose my train of thought when I watch Trevor break away with the puck, flying down the ice and leaving everyone behind.

It’s just him and the goalie.

Fuck, I feel like I can’t breathe. We’re all holding our breath as we wait to see what happens.

In mere seconds, Trevor has gone from center ice, handling the puck like it’s an extension of his body, making quick work heading straight towards the goal. In a quick move I wasn’t expecting, he skates to the left of the goal, appearing to hold onto the puck. Instead, he fakes it, skating to the right of the goal as he passes the puck behind his back, sliding it right into the goal a second before the buzzer signals the end of the game.

I can’t keep my eyes off Trevor as he smiles wide, skating to a stop in front of us. The whole team is practically on top of him, celebrating the win, but his eyes stay on me the entire time. I can see the pure joy on his face. As he stares at me, his smile grows even larger, then he winks, and turns to his team.

Happiness looks good on him.

“Girl, that man looks like he wants to eat you alive,” Natalie tries to whisper in my ear, but her voice is far too loud.

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