Page 132 of The Stud

“Thank you.”

For the next forty-five minutes, I’m moving around nonstop with Khurana not far behind. Grabbing fun footage of the dancers laughing together as well as the Slayers bonding is PR gold that Hot Rocket – er –the ownerhas been thrilled to see mixed into the feeds, claiming we currently not only haveone of the highest followings in the league but have some of the highest video viewings by fans along with the most positive player reportings.

Which is a good fucking feeling.

Reminds me I really am good at what I do.

And why I don’t want to give it up…even if I can’t fight the feeling that I’m going to have to.

Due to having to work the room, I miss when the Froskys arrive with Becks; however, the second I see Tanner’s blonde hair, I dart that direction, insisting Khurana go the opposite way because I’ll be documenting on my work phone.

My appearance at his table that has a glittery poster – glitter that was a bitch to get out of Bear’s fur might I add – of his name and number on the wall behind it as well as a snowman tablecloth and rubber ducky snowman occurs just in time to capture the genuine excitement over seeing his parents waiting.

“No bloody way!” Tanner practically shouts, purple suit frame bouncing in place. “You two came?!” Disbelief further soars through his expression as they laugh and hug. “How did I not know?!” He squeezes his father a bit tighter than his dad. “How did you manage to keep this from me?!”

“They had help,” Becks informs on a greetings fist bump from where he’s still sitting.

“You knew?!” Tanner continues to loudly exclaim. “You bloody knew?!”

He nods again prior to proclaiming, “Your Slayer really came through on this one.”

It takes every ounce of energy he can conjure to not glance in my direction where I’m filming.

“She arrangedallof this,” Becks continues to explain knowing damn well I can’t. “That ugly poster…”

I cleverly flash him my middle finger.

“All the snowman décor…”

Just got it during Christmas.

“Texting your ‘rents.”

“She was so thoughtful,” Trent sweetly states, melting my frame. “She actually inspired me to bring you this.” He extends the tiny, winged hussar figurine to his son who instantly accepts. “She expressed how it is your ritual to have one in your pocket prior to the game.”

My better half enthusiastically nods, slides the new one into his other pocket, and reveals the one he’s currently toting around. “Tonight is King Arthur pulling Excalibur from the stone.”

“I got you that one upon your pro contract signing.”

“A reminder that I was destined for greatness.”

“You haveachievedgreatness, Tanner.”

Both blue eyed blondes exchange warm, heartfelt smiles that threaten to turn me into a literal puddle of gross, girlish mush.

“Your Slayer certainly thinks so,” informs Carson during their reseating behind the table. “Gotta admit. Chick’s sweet but more importantlyhilarious.” He chuckles to himself while folding his hands in his lap. “The…specificshape of some of these cookies was absolutely intentional.”

Maybe…

I mean…it wasn’t notnotintentional.

He needed to have at leastonedickish shaped.

“I um…” Tanner doesn’t battle his smirk, “I can see that.”

“She also went out of her way to bake youthreetypes of cookies,” Becks precedes to be my spokesperson.

Yet again he strains for our gazes not to meet. “Any particular reason?”

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