Page 122 of Trade Deadline

“Blaine.” Fat tears roll down his cheeks, and his smile makes me feel like the luckiest man on the planet. “You are everything to me.”

“I adore every little thing about you, and I am so in love with you it hurts to be five feet away. You are the sun to my moon, the light to my darkness, and the love of my life.”

Thirty-Eight

Alex

“I’m really nervous,”I admit, twisting my hands in my lap.

Blaine casts a quick glance at me before focusing back on the road, his brows furrowing. “Why?”

“To meet Hayden. What if he doesn’t like me?” I internally roll my eyes at myself.

How old am I? I’m acting like I’m five, not weeks away from twenty-five.

But it does worry me.

This is the guy who tries to keep Blaine’s image all sunshine and roses, and while past Blaine made that a difficult task, future Blaine’s image includes me, and I’d hate to cause any problems.

Blaine chuckles, reaching over and placing his hand on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Of course he’s gonna like you, and if he doesn't, I’ll fight him.”

I scoff. “No, you won’t. He’s your agent, who’s just got you an eight-year extension with a no-trade clause. If you fight him, he might take it back.”

He gives a hum of contemplation. “Okay, maybe you have a point, but I could glare at him really evilly until he likes you.”

I shake my head and laugh.

After Blaine got off the phone with Hayden last night, he slept better than he has in weeks. The pressure from the trade deadline was finally lifted, allowing him to completely relax.

Me, on the other hand?

I’m still a bag of nerves because I’m about to meet an important person in Blaine’s life.

Blaine flashes his badge at security, then parks his car outside the players’ entrance at Thunder arena. He’s signing his contract first and doing some press before we take Hayden for lunch.

We were supposed to meet him here, but his flight from California is delayed.

“Is anyone else going to be here?” I ask, hoping I’ll know someone while I wait for Blaine to do his professional hockey player duties.

“Yeah, El and Zach should be here, maybe Ethan,” he replies, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together.

He leads me through the security doors with another flash of his badge, and then we walk down the hallway, which is lined with photos of players from across the decades. Images of players lifting the Stanley Cup, team photos, and framed jerseys cover the walls. I stop when I spot one of a young, fresh-faced Blaine grinning from ear to ear with the Stanley Cup in front of him.

“Look at you!” I grin, tracing his smile with my finger. “You look so young.”

“I was twenty-one then.” He stands behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. “Fresh out of college and living my ultimate dream. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d win the Cup in my rookie year, let alone win it twice.”

I look up at him. “I never doubted you for a second, neither did my grandpa. He knew you were something special.”

Blaine dips his head, trying to hide the proud smile on his face. Whenever I mention my grandpa and how much he adored him, he goes all bashful and shy.

I lean up, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, then squeeze his hand. “Come on, we don’t want you to be late to sign your contract.”

When we arrive outside the conference room, the Thunder’s GM and Coach Harris are waiting, and Blaine gives me a quick kiss.

“Have a look around, you won’t get lost, and I’ll find you when I’m done.”

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