Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
His mention of jewelry makes me think of a ring. It’s too soon, but as soon as my season ends, I plan to start shopping for one. I know Blair doesn’t need expensive things, but I want her to have a very nice engagement ring.
“I know it’s a back-and-forth and you can get them up,” I say. “But I don’t need them to match Seattle. I want to get it done and signed.”
“I hear you loud and clear. Good for you, kid. When are you bringing your lady to New York so I can meet her?”
“We’ll see. You could always come here, you know.”
“When this deal gets inked, I will. You can show me around Cleveland.”
“Okay, let me know as soon as you have news.”
“You got it.”
When I end the call, I look at Blair and say, “Cleveland offered.”
“Oh my god. You’re staying here?”
“Yeah.” I still can’t believe it’s happening. “I didn’t think they wanted me, but they do.”
“Of course they want you. You’re so good at ... skating. And ...” She furrows her brow.
“Shooting,” I finish for her.
“I thought that’s what it was, but I wasn’t positive. All of it. I don’t know the terminology and I really should have picked up on it by now from all the hockey stuff I read online. Jackson Hodge says you’re one of the top defensive offensive players in the league. I don’t get that, but I know it’s good, and I’m so fucking happy for you!”
“For us. This is good for us. You, me, Eli, and Coop.”
She unexpectedly pulls into a parking lot.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I can’t celebrate properly while I’m driving.” She pulls into the closest parking place. “Get out.”
I open my door and get out of the car. She runs around the front of the vehicle and throws herself at me, squealing with joy.
We hug for a solid ten seconds before she pulls back, looking up at me while I keep my hands on her waist.
“Thank you. I never even dreamed there was someone out there who would love me and my boys the way you do. You show up. You show them what it means to be a good man. I know an engagement and a wedding and living together is the finish line for some women, and I do want those things, but this ...” Tears pool in her eyes and her voice breaks. “This right here that we already have, where you take a special flight home to show up for my kid’s spelling bee and you teach them how to cook and watch Star Wars with them over and over—this is my dream come true.”
My throat tightens with emotion. She’s come to mean so much to me in a short time.
“I want to give you guys the life you deserve,” I say. “We’ll be able to travel and do so many things with them because of this contract. Elin and my mom are my why, but all of you are, too.”
She cups my cheek. “You already give us everything that matters, Magnus. Everything. Money means security, and that’s nice, but I’m so damn happy right now. You don’t need to buy us a single thing to be the greatest thing that ever happened to us. You already are.”
I kiss her again, feeling lighter than I ever have.
“Mom. Wake up, Mom.”
The whispered words make me sit up abruptly. There shouldn’t be anyone in my room with me.
I’m not in my room, though. I’m in Blair’s bedroom, and she’s curled up on her side next to me, still sleeping.
“You guys had a sleepover,” Coop says. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. I spent yesterday with Blair, and once the boys got home from school, we all went out for dinner. We didn’t tell the boys about the contract offer, and we won’t until it’s done. Our celebration was for Eli winning the spelling bee.
We had dinner at a restaurant owned by a good friend of Suki’s. I requested a special dessert, and Eli was thrilled when the server brought out a red velvet cake with sparkler candles and the word “ventricle” written on it.
After that, we played board games at home until the boys’ bedtime. By then, I was so exhausted from so little sleep the previous night that I planned to take a short nap on the couch before calling an Uber to take me back to my car.
Blair insisted I lay down in her bed, though. I can tell I slept hard.
“Hey, Coop,” Blair says. “Good morning.”
“You let somebody sleep in your bedroom who’s not your family,” he says.
I scramble out of bed, running a hand over my face. “That’s my fault, dude.”
“No, it’s not. Magnus was very tired from the team plane breaking down the night before and messing up his travel plans. I wanted him to get a good night of sleep.”