Page 76 of Defensive Zone

“Come on then, spit it out.”

“Okay, okay. So, Denver is keeping you through to the end of your contract,” Hayden announces.

I hold my breath as his words confirm what I have been expecting. Since there was no news for Palmer or me, I’m not surprised that the whole trade rumor mill was just that. A rumor.

I glance over to Zach and catch him looking at me with a small smile.

We’ve got this,his eyes tell me. And I believe him.

It might be the hardest, longest five months of our lives, but we can do this. We’ve come a long way in the last few months, and once we get past this time apart, we will have the rest of our lives together.

“Okay.” I nod slowly, drawing on the table with my finger. “And?”

“They’re also offering a two-year extension.”

I immediately shake my head. “I don’t want it.”

If Hayden’s surprised by my quick rejection, he doesn’t show it. “Okay… So, do you have a plan of what you’ll do once your contract expires?”

“Well, kinda. Like I said before, if Chicago sends me an offer, I’ll take it, but if I don’t hear from them, then I’ll be retiring.”

“Retiring?” He gapes at me, and I can’t help but laugh.

“With what happened with the concussion and the development in our relationship, I don’t believe I’ll be able to play at my highest standard if I’m away from Zach. I know it’ll come as a shock to some people, especially since I’m going to be turning thirty next week and there’s still a few years left in me, but my heart is here in Chicago, and I can’t ignore that.”

“Are you sure about this?” Zach asks, but I know it isn’t from insecurity. I know he will support me in whatever decision I make.

“I haven’t been surer of anything in my life,” I echo the words I said to him after our first kiss.

Hayden whistles under his breath and raises his glass. “You guys, I can’t tell you how long I’ve been championing you two getting together, and I can’t deny, I fucking love it.”

We both lift our glasses and clink them against Hayden’s.

“I’ll let Denver know your decision, then once the season’s ended, I’ll work on Chicago.”

Under the table, Zach places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, and when I turn to face him, his eyes are filled with pride. I know Zach had his doubts at the beginning, and they were completely valid. If I were in his shoes, I would most likely feel the same, but I would give up everything for Zach Reid. That includes a decade’s worth of hard work to get me to where I am today in the NFL.

He’s fucking worth it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Zach

“Are you sure you don’t mind hosting?” I ask Peyton as I carry a trash bag full of helium-filled balloons into the living room.

His living room currently looks like a party store has thrown up all over it. It’s filled wall to ceiling with colorful balloons and streamers, and I know this isn’t the last of it. He’s taken the role of party planner very seriously, and I’m starting to wonder if he’s gone slightly overboard.

“Of course I don’t mind, dude. I have this huge house for just me and the dog. It’ll be nice to have some liveliness going on between these walls that doesn’t include me having a nap in my armchair while watching Family Feud with a packet of Oreos.” He grins.

I laugh. “You’re really leaning into that lonely old man vibe, huh?”

Peyton separated from his wife before the holidays and has since been adjusting to the single life. I think he’s lonely in thisbig house by himself, and that’s why he’s always offering to host whatever get-together we plan.

“You know it! But a little less of theold, Reid, I’m only thirty-one,” he teases, and playfully slaps my shoulder before motioning to the front door with his head. “I think there’s two more sacks of balloons left to bring in, then we’ve got to put the banners up. Oh, and I think Ethan and Jacob are due any minute with the cakes.”

I nod and get to work with the rest of the decorations.

When I mentioned to the boys the other day that I wanted to do something for Carter’s thirtieth birthday, Peyton immediately offered his house for the party. It just so happens that Alex’s birthday is the day after Carter’s, so we decided to do a joint birthday celebration. And with the postseason now well underway, we’re having a very civilized party starting at 3 p.m. so us Thunder boys can be in bed by nine.

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