Page 122 of Playboy

Feeling suffocated by the damn pillow, and still so damn confused, I push myself up. “Why wouldn’t we stay in Boston?”

“Um—” The line goes silent for a beat too long. “What?”

“You said you want us to stay in Boston.” My voice sounds funny. Distant. And my heart thuds in my ears. “Why wouldn’t we stay in Boston?”

“Because Daniel has an offer from Vegas. Since he’s a restricted agent, the Bolts would need to match it if they want to keep him. Hasn’t Daniel talked to you about any of this?”

My heart flops to the floor as my world crashes around me. I shake my head, but the words don’t come out.

“Fuck,” she hisses, the sound making the line between us crackle. “I shouldn’t have—he should have—fuck.”

I nod. All of those things are true. “Does he want the trade?” I ask. My voice is so quiet I’m surprised she can hear me.

“I don’t know,” Millie says softly. “He didn’t talk to me about it. Gavin told me. I guess he wanted to prepare me if—” She sighs.

He wanted to prepare his wife in case her twin brother chose to move across the country. Because that’s what partners do. They watch out for one another. They communicate.

I blink back tears. Why didn’t Daniel say anything? Does he think I won’t support him? Does he…

“It was hard on him, you know, when Gavin moved Noah into his spot with War and Aiden,” Millie says, breaking me from my spiral.

Swallowing thickly, I nod again. That makes sense. But I didn’t know how hard it was on him. Truly. He rarely talks about hockey when we’re together. He’s always talking about topics that matter to me. The baby, my books, his obsession with me.

And I never asked. God. I never ask. “You think he brought me here to see if I’d like it?”

“I think Daniel wants you with him, no matter where he is,” she says. “And I’m sure he has a good reason for not telling you about the possible trade.”

Once again, I nod, but I say nothing.

Daniel loves me.

He isn’t planning on going anywhere without us.

So I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I’ll trust that whatever his plan is, he’ll clue me in when he’s ready, and then we’ll figure it out together.

FORTY-ONE

DANIEL

“And this is the practice facility.”

Holy shit. The place is incredible. Everything I’ve seen this afternoon has been. Just like Camden said it was.

“Since we’re playing you tomorrow,” Coach Bexley says, “I’m going to have to end our tour here.”

With a smile, I hold out my hand. “I really appreciate you showing me around.”

“Was my pleasure. Think about what I said.” With that, he’s gone.

I slip my hands into my pockets and take another minute to survey the space. It’s been a wild few days. Hell, it’s been a wild year.

Sometimes when I think back even to last fall, I swear I must be remembering someone else’s life. I was still part of the dream team, still on the first line with War and Aiden, but even then, something was missing. My life had no depth. No meaning.

Hannah provided all that by just existing.

And then she went and made me a dad.

Hockey is no longer my sole focus. Even still, it means a hell of a lot to me. Without it, I wouldn’t recognize myself.

---