Page 110 of Trade Deadline

He’s been surprising me constantly. He shows his love through selfless actions, heartfelt gestures and sweet words. He makes me take back my words that hockey players don’t equal Prince Charming, because I think my Prince Charming may just be a hockey player.

“So, what do you say? Want to host some hockey players trying to decorate some cakes?” Colleen asks with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“Count us in; where do we sign?” my brother smiles.

And I instantly feel some of the stress and worry easing off his shoulders.

* * *

Later that evening,Jacob and I are making lists of everything for the team event. We agreed to host it in three days, as the team has a game tomorrow night, and it’ll give us time to complete the custom orders and notify customers we’ll be closed for the day.

“Do you think this will be enough?” I ask, holding up the list of ingredients we’ll need to pick up from the wholesaler.

“We could add a little extra because we’ll always use it anyway…” Jacob taps the end of his pen against his chin. “Let’s add one more of everything.”

I nod, tweaking the quantities on the notepad.

“This was really kind of him,” Jacob announces.

I look over to where he’s sitting on the couch, curled up under a blanket.

“Blaine,” he clarifies. “I’ll admit I doubted him in the beginning. I questioned his motives, whether he was genuine or just saw you as a conquest, but he’s proved me wrong.”

Even though he’s never said that out loud, I often wondered what Jacob really thought of Blaine. So it pleases me to no end that he’s finally seeing Blaine for who he is, not just the hockey player who found himself on the gossip blogs too often.

They’re the two most important people in my life, and it means the world to me that Jacob likes him.

I smile. “He’s an amazing guy.”

Jacob nods in agreement. “He is. He didn’t have to do this, but it’s another way of showing you he cares. Sometimes when there’s a money difference, the richer of the two can be inconsiderate of the other, but Blaine isn’t like that.”

I think back to our first date, and he’s right. Blaine could’ve easily brushed me aside after my momentary freak out, but he didn’t. He ensured I was comfortable, reassured me, and apologized for not thinking about my circumstances.

It takes a lot for someone to hold their hand up like that, and he’s been incredible since. I’ve never felt inadequate.

“I’m glad you’ve found someone who is worthy of you, Alex.” My brother smiles, then hides a yawn behind his hand. “I’m gonna get into bed, I’m exhausted.”

I say goodnight, then tidy up the living room and kitchen before heading to my own room.

Blaine had a game tonight against Calgary, but I had to pass on the tickets so we could get ahead on custom orders. Whenever I can’t make it to games, he’ll FaceTime me when he gets back to his apartment, so knowing he’ll call any minute now, I head to my room and change out of my clothes. I pull on a pair of plaid pajama pants and slip under the covers.

Idly tossing the warm-up puck from that first game in the air, I scroll through social media, avoiding the “Requests” on my Instagram, and stop when I come across a post from the Chicago Thunder. The graphic shows Thomas Tait has been traded to Ottawa.

TRADE NEWS: Chicago Thunder acquires Caleb Blomqvist from Ottawa for Thomas Tait. #ThunderHockey

I feelawful for feeling relieved it’s not Blaine, but reality settles in. It could be Blaine, given that he doesn’t currently have a no-trade clause in his contract. The team might be presented with an offer they can’t refuse, and Blaine will have to pack up his life within hours and move on to another team.

Will he want me to follow him if he’s traded?

There’s an ache in my chest at the thought of going with him and leaving my brother. I can’t leave him; we’re the only family we have.

But Blaine…

I love him, and the thought of not being with him makes me nauseous.

There’s no point in getting worried over something that may not happen. Blaine’s still in Chicago, and he’s playing the best hockey of his life, so I can only hope it’s enough for Thunder management.

My phone vibrates in my hand, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. Placing the puck back on my bedside table, I smile at Blaine’s name lighting up the screen.

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