Page 104 of Delay of Game
While Cassie and Lena talked Kit into an emerald-green, A-line gown encrusted with crystals on the top with a price tag that shocked us both into silence, I fell in love with a satin dress with a plunging neckline, no back, and a high slit. And apparently, Rob loved it too because he hadn’t stopped touching me since I put it on or whispering about how badly he wanted to take it off.
I reached behind me, intertwining our fingers and shooting him a grin. “Later,” I mouthed.
“Fine.” He pulled me closer, untangling our fingers and wrapping his arm around my waist.
“How late do you think we’ll be up?” Mila asked as the elevator reached us with a ding.
“An hour?” Rob guessed as I said, “Past midnight. Gloria is going to take you and Kalani up to a hotel room for a sleepover so we can stay out.”
Mila frowned, but didn’t argue. “Where is Gigi, anyway?”
Rob ushered us into the elevator and pushed the button for the fourth floor. “She’ll join us for the ceremony. She’s on a date.”
I leaned my head against his chest, listening to his pounding heart. “Take a breath.”
He inhaled slowly and then exhaled, closing his eyes. “I”m fine.”
I shrugged. “It’s a big deal. It’s okay to be a little nervous.”
“Last one, best one, Daddy!” Mila exclaimed as the elevator doors opened.
Photographer flashes blinded us as a woman dressed in black wearing a Breaker’s badge and a headset intercepted us from the photographers. “This way to the red carpet. Stop on the four dots on the floor for pictures. If we can get just Mr. Grant on the fourth dot, that’d be great.”
Rob tensed. I rubbed his back. “We can handle that. Four stops, Rob only on the fourth.”
Mila quivered with excitement, pulling us onto the carpet. The flashes only intensified as a rush of reporters called our names. Rob’s hands were clammy on my back, jaw set in a straight line even as Mila beamed bright enough for all of us.
“Let’s try a few of them with you smiling,” I teased, brushing my lips over his cheek and getting at least a faint impression of a smile out of him.
“I hate this so much,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Last time, best time,” I repeated Mila’s mantra through the last season. Last time playing a pre-season game. Last home game. Last championship. Last Super Bowl. Last Norwalk Breakers event.
He nodded. “Better enjoy it then, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
Mila and I stood by while Rob posed for the cameras. The reporters eagerly shouted out questions. What do you plan to do next? Will you be wearing a New England jersey next season? Did the Breakers cut you? Is this a retirement or a transfer?
He ignored them all until the woman with the headset told him he could move on.
For the ring ceremony, the team had rented out an opera house in Norwalk’s historic city center. A pair of men in tuxedos opened up the doors to the ballroom. We entered through the top of the grand staircase, looking down at the festivities.
Mila sucked in a breath, releasing it with a sigh. “It’s like a fairytale.”
I followed her gaze, similarly awestruck. A peacock-colored carpet ushered us down the stairs and under an imposing crystal chandelier into the ballroom, decorated not only with polished wooden floors, high ceilings, and ornate gilding on the walls, but peacock and silver streamers, flowers, and decorations on every table and in every open space.
“It’s like prom,” Rob muttered. I elbowed him. “Fine, it’s like a very fancy prom. Fairytale prom.”
The owner of the Norwalk Breakers and a line of coaches stood at the bottom of the steps, welcoming Rob with a handshakes and an attempted hug or two that he easily sidestepped.
“So, what’s the plan now?” Coach Simmons asked him with a sad smile. “Are you sure we can’t convince you to stay another season or two?”
Rob shook his head. “I got my ring. There are worse things than going out on top.”
“Not even as a coach?”
“Hell no,” Rob laughed. “I trained my replacement. That’s all you’re getting from me.”
