Page 114 of Trouble

Seems irrational to be filled with such an inexorable sense of pride. I’m not the one playing.

But my chest is tight and my cheeks are aching as I take them in. Fuck. Yeah, it feels a hell of a lot like pride.

“Yeah, I think it is.”

Gavin sidles up to me, tablet in hand, asking for an opinion on a play. I let my focus drift back up to the stands one more time. And when Declan smirks at me, I know that I’ll like whatever the man has planned.

Groveling.

Is that a kink? Because if so, it’s one of mine.

I slap my goalie’s back. “Guess our practice wasn’t too rough on ya, huh?”

The game was a shutout. Three to nothing.

He laughs. “Heard Mel is here. That the reason for the big-ass smile?”

Aiden and War are standing at their lockers, each working on their ties before they head out for postgame interviews.

I shake my head and keep my mouth shut. They know why, but I’m not ready for the rest of the team to be privy to the details. Until Declan is on board with it, I’ll keep them to myself.

Doesn’t stop me from wanting to tell them that my boyfriend and girlfriend are here, though. Doesn’t stop me from hoping it’s true.

But that’s ridiculous, right?

Me? The permanent bachelor, dating not one, but two people. Declan Everhart and Melina Rodriguez. It’s too fucking good to be true.

And yet when we walk out of the tunnel after interviews are over, they’re both waiting for me. Lennox is there too. When she sees Aiden, she takes off and jumps into his arms.

Mel is worrying her lip, shifting from foot to foot as I make my way over. Declan is, unsurprisingly, wearing an expression I can’t read. It’s one I’ve never seen before. He doesn’t look angry, but his mouth is turned down. He tracks my every move, my every breath, his look growing more intense the closer I get. Until I’m right there, a step away from them, and Mel is launching herself into my arms and squeezing me tight.

“I missed you,” she breathes.

Fuck, she feels good. I wrap my arm around her, burying my nose in her neck and inhaling.

Declan is still silent, still wearing that unreadable expression.

“I heard there’d be groveling.” I pull Mel into my side and meet Declan’s brown eyes.

He rears back in surprise and coughs out a laugh. “You want me to grovel here?”Swallowing audibly, he scans the space where my coworkers and hockey players and their spouses and children, some of whom are part of his extended family, are mingling.

Mel digs her fingers into my hip and squeezes. “Don’t teasehim. He’s got a plan.”

I drag my attention back to her. Fuck, she’s pretty.

Her green eyes swim with delight. “It’s a really good plan,” she adds.

Declan clears his throat, garnering our attention. “I could grovel here.” He rolls his shoulders back and moves closer, like he’s working up the courage to do whatever he was going to do in private, right here, right now.

I hold my breath and then let it out in one big whoosh.

Before either of us can speak, Gavin appears with his daughter in his arms and his wife by his side. “Great game tonight, Fitz.” He nods. “Dec, Mel, glad you could make it.” He holds out his hand to Declan. “You coming to Beckett’s tomorrow for Christmas Eve?”

With a nod, Dec shakes his hand. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Great.” Gavin hikes Vivi up a little higher. “Have a good holiday, Fitz. See you next week.”

Millie gives Mel a quick hug, and then the little family is gone.

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