Page 69 of Offside

“I deserve that.” His mouth tips into a sideways grin, and he stares at me from under dark lashes. Pushing up from his knees with a small groan, he takes a seat next to me on the couch.

“Before you, I never thought a lot about my life post-hockey. I’ve lived in the present and ignored the inevitable future. I got scared seeing my former teammates retire season after season. They seemed lost and without purpose. I didn’t want that to be me.”

I tilt my head, giving him a soft smile. “It doesn’t have to be…” I start, but Ballas places a finger over my lips.

“I know that now. But until recently, I was shortsighted. I believed all I had to offer to the game was my ability to play. I was a beast on skates and never considered I could be or do anything else.”

A tear gathers at the corner of my eye and I swipe it away as I nod for him to continue. I’ve never heard Ballas speak this openly before about his feelings. The fact that he’s doing it now makes my chest want to burst open with mad respect for him and appreciation.

“Hearing you say this makes me so happy, Ballas. I was hoping—”

He shakes his head. “Not yet. I’m still not sure I’m ready to take on what you’re offering. It’s gonna take me a while to adjust to fully accept not playing any longer. Hockey has always been my dream, my only dream. Changing from that will be difficult.”

“I know. It’s hard. But we all grow with time and experience. Our dreams can change along with us,” I offer. I take a moment to run my palm over his cheek, capturing a wave of his shaggy hair and tucking it behind his ear. “They don’t have to just end as we age.”

Ballas snorts. “Jesus, you make me sound like I’m a decrepit old man.”

I lift one shoulder. “If the skate fits…”

“Ohhh, is that how it is? You deserve a spanking for that one.” He snorts and makes to tackle me against the cushions, but then stops short and straightens back up to continue our discussion.

“Don’t pin your hopes on me just yet, Karis,” he warns, one palm held up, and my heart sinks to my feet.

I want nothing more than to see him step into the GM position and make it his own. With Ballas in that role, I would feel confident that the organization will get what it needs and I’d be able to let go of the reins a bit more.

“So, here’s the deal…”

I’m not sure I’m going to like where this is going. I cast my eyes at his hands as he places them over mine, not wanting to face the pain his rejection will cause.

“If you haven’t filled the GM role yet, I’ll accept it on a temporary basis through the end of this season only. But there’s a condition.”

Startled that there’s acceptance, I blink up at him. “More money?”

He smirks. “Nope.”

“What, then?”

Ballas slides both hands over my cheeks, dragging me closer to his mouth. “I want to have time with my girlfriend. She’s my number one priority.”

My head snaps back and my eyes widen. “Your…girlfriend?”

“Yeah. This gorgeous, smart, sexy woman who has turned my life upside down and managed to prove to me just how wrong I’ve been about everything.”

I hum. “Maybe noteverything.”

His thumb traces lightly over my cheek and comes to rest on my lower lip.

“I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes—both professionally and personally.”

“Welcome to the club. I’ve made so many along the way, Ballas. But Marv always said that mistakes are proof we are trying. It’s how we grow and learn.”

He rolls his eyes. “Well, I’ll be learning a lot from you, then. But there’s one thing I might really suck at…and will absolutely need help with.”

“What’s that?” I ask, my brows knitting together in confusion.

With the speed of a leopard, he pounces on me, pinning his body against mine, his palms pressed into the couch cushion to hold his chest above mine.

“I may need to fuck your brains out every time we’re in a meeting together, and that could be a problem.”

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