Page 122 of Grumpy Darling

“But what about Ryker? Your letter of intent...”

I knew the answer to her question. I think we both did. But that didn’t make it any easier to say aloud.

If I revealed the true extent of my injury, the Raiders could revoke my scholarship offer. But even if I kept it under wraps, Coach Mercer would surely notice as soon as I arrived at Ryker. I’d get slaughtered playing against college guys on an injured knee, and I’d probably get kicked off the team anyway. I couldn’t avoid reality anymore.

“Once they learn just how bad my knee is, there might not be a letter to sign,” I admitted. “But I’m done trying to avoid the inevitable, and I can’t keep playing this way.”

“Gray . . .” she murmured.

“It’s okay. I know the risks. Besides, if college hockey doesn’t work out, I can always open a crappy bakery with my girlfriend instead.”

Paige didn’t laugh at my joke. Instead, she shook her head, fire blazing in her eyes. “You can’t give up,” she said. “I won’t let you. This is your dream. They’re not going to rip up your scholarship just because of a little injury.”

“It’s not just a little injury though. I’m damaged goods.”

“You’re not damaged. You’re just recovering.” She was becoming more animated as she spoke, waving one hand in front of her while the other still gripped mine tightly. “I was there when the coach from Ryker first reached out to you and Reed. Do you remember what he said?

“What?”

“That he’d just witnessed the best talent he’d seen in years.”

“He was talking about Reed.”

“No, he was talking about both of you.” Her voice was firm, almost as if she was angry with me for thinking otherwise. “You always act like you’re not as good as Reed. But you’re just as talented as him, if not better. The only difference between the two of you is Reed believes in himself. You can’t give up.”

“I’m just trying to be realistic.”

“To hell with realistic,” she replied. “Don’t stop chasing your dreams until your legs fail, your arms give in, and you can’t even drag yourself toward them anymore.”

Paige’s unwavering confidence in me made me fall for her just a little more. I knew how serious our conversation was, but it was hard not to smile at her when she was looking at me like I was some fallen superhero about to rise from defeat and fight back to win the final battle.

“Okay, Pidge.” I nodded slowly. “Even if you’re right, that doesn’t change the fact it’s time for me to come clean and deal with the consequences. Sometimes, you’ve got to take a leap of faith. Look what happened the last time I did that.”

I sat up straighter in my bed and took hold of her other hand, pulling her closer.

“For years I hid how I truly felt about you because I was terrified of what might happen to our friendship if you found out. Now, the only thing I regret is not telling you sooner.”

“You were worth the wait,” she whispered.

“So were you,” I whispered back and bowed my head against hers. “I need to let this secret go too, or I’m certain I’ll regret it.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you. I’ll always support you. And if things don’t work out, we’ll figure out the next step together. If that’s opening a terrible bakery, we’ll do whatever it takes to make it a success. Even if I have to burn a million muffins until I figure out how to make something edible. It’ll all work out; I know it.”

As I looked up at Paige, I was almost overwhelmed by how lucky I was to have her by my side. Revealing the truth to my coaches wasn’t nearly as daunting when I knew we’d be facing the fallout together.

“I’m so in love with you, Paige Price.”

“And I’m so in love with you, Grayson Darling.”

She leaned down and pressed her lips to mine. Her kiss was gentle, nervous, like she was afraid if she pressed too hard, she could injure me further.

I might have been in a hospital bed, but my lips certainly weren’t broken. I pulled Paige close and wrapped my arms around her, pressing her against me as I deepened the kiss. Electricity swirled through every cell in my body, and the connection between us felt like a wildfire as it spread across my skin—fast, hot, and completely untamable. I kept waiting for the alarm at my bedside to start ringing because my heart rate was skyrocketing.

I would have happily continued the kiss forever, but we were interrupted by the sounds of whoops and whistles coming from the door. Paige blushed as she pulled away and turned to look.

“I tried to stop them—” The nurse’s voice was drowned out by the noise of the entire Devils hockey team barging into the room, yelling and cheering.

“He looks okay to me.”

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