36. Gemma
Chapter 36
Gemma
A rena noise had bored its way into my brain like a prion, and it didn’t let up as we made our way through the place. The excitement of the game, the energy of the fans—it all felt like a blur now. Between that behemoth crashing into Sokolov, the proposal, the woman I thought would kick my ass, too much concession food, I was cooked. It was a hell of a game, one for the books. I was so proud of Nico and Casey. But the only thing I could focus on was how wildly my heart raced whenever I thought about my fiancé.
Just thinking that word made me giddy.
“You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” Megan asked.
“Maybe.”
She giggled. “You should have gotten engaged years ago. It makes you silly.”
“Mommy’s silly!” Winnie teased.
Maybe I was. That was okay. Nico and Casey had secured the Fire’s place in history, and the victory had been nothing short of electric. But now, as we gathered outside the locker room, my thoughts shifted from the win to what came next. I was allowed to be silly about it. I was engaged after dating a man for less than a year, something I’d sworn I would never do.
Maybe that had always been silly. Rules like that were ridiculous. Love came when it came. You couldn’t put a timetable on it. I never understood that until now.
Megan held Winnie’s hand, the two of them still buzzing from the game. Other than to tease me, Winnie hadn’t stopped talking about how amazing her uncle was, and I couldn’t help but smile at her. She’d be a lifelong hockey fan. I was sure of it. Between her uncle, her father, and me, she was destined to love the sport as much as we did. Maybe more.
Starting tonight, hockey was going to be a huge part of our lives, even more than before. My brother playing center for a pro team was a good reason to pay attention to the sport. My boss in LA had put me down for the hockey beat because of Nico. I was one of the few women on staff who understood the sport as intimately as the players. But now, with Casey joining the family, Winnie didn’t stand a chance of falling in love with any other sport.
Unless she did it just to annoy us when she became a rebellious teenager.
Then the question struck me—would she have younger siblings? Did Casey want more kids? Did I? I hadn’t thought about it much. When life was just me and Winnie, I definitely did not want another one. I adored my daughter, but she was a handful. Being on my own, I figured I could handle her and only her. But everything had changed when I said yes.
I toyed with the ring on my finger, trying to make sure it didn’t fall off as we waded through the crowd. Did I want another kid? The thought of having a second Winnie instantly filled my heart with joy. I had to talk to Casey. Right now.
“Megan,” I said, catching her attention. “Would you mind taking Winnie home tonight?”
Her eyebrows shot up, and a sly grin spread across her face. “A private celebration for the victors?”
“It’s not like that,” I said quickly, though my cheeks flushed. “I just…I need to see Casey. Alone. To talk. Possibly all night long.”
She waved me off, her grin widening. “Say no more. I’ve got it covered.”
“Thank you.”
Nico appeared at that moment, his hair still damp from his postgame shower. He looked between us, his brow furrowing. “What’s going on?”
“I’m taking Winnie home,” Megan said breezily.
“Not without me, you’re not,” Nico said, crossing his arms. He assured me, “I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”
Megan rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. “Fine. But you’re paying for the rideshare.”
“Are you kidding? We’re going home in that limo,” Nico said with a smirk, ruffling Winnie’s hair.
“Yay!” Winnie shouted.
Once we said our goodbyes, I wasted no time tracking down Whitney. If anyone could make this happen for me, it was her. She was by the press area, managing the chaos of postgame interviews. When she saw me, her expression softened. “Gemma. Congratulations on your engagement. Did you get lost? Need a tour guide down here? I know the tunnels can get confusing.”
“Thanks, but no. I need a different kind of favor.”
“What kind of favor is that?”
“Can you get me into Casey’s office? And get him there in ten minutes?”
Whitney stared at me for a moment before a slow smile spread across her face. “Nothing nefarious, I hope. Don’t want you to have to write another article.”
I hesitated, then decided to go for honesty. “I just need to see him. After everything that’s happened tonight…I need to speak with him. Privately.”
“You’re lucky I like you. Fine. I’ll stall him with postgame interviews for a few minutes and send him your way.”
“Thank you.”
Everything inside Casey’s office was quiet, starkly contrasting the noise outside. It was a relief after everything. My ears still rang, though. I plugged my phone into the charger on his desk, finally giving it some much-needed juice.
It wasn’t long before the screen lit up with a flood of notifications—texts, missed calls, emails. All from Casey, except for those from Nico. I opened the first one, my heart sinking as I read it.
Don’t do this. Don’t tank your reputation to save me.
Another text followed.
I’ll take the heat. Please, just let me be the bad guy.
Email after email carried the same message, his pleas growing more desperate. I’d missed them because Megan demanded I close my laptop. I’d missed the calls and texts because my phone was dead. They spelled out his plan. He didn’t want me to bear the weight of public scrutiny, not when it could be turned on him instead. Doing that would have cost him everything important to him, and he knew it, and still, that was what he wanted me to do.
Tears pricked my eyes as I stared at the screen. He would ruin himself to save me.
My heart stuttered in my chest. I set my phone down and inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. My hands moved almost without thought as I slipped out of my clothes, leaving me in just my undergarments. I draped my jacket over the back of his chair and perched on the desk, waiting. I was both aroused and overwhelmed. Knowing he’d leave everything behind for me…it was his ultimate sacrifice. I was glad he didn’t have to do it, but the fact he was willing to do so was enough.
The sound of two voices outside the door pulled me from my thoughts. The door was almost soundproof, which meant they were close. I froze. Casey was coming. But he wasn’t alone.
Hide!
Panicking, I darted to the storage closet, easing the door shut as the office door opened. The closet was stuffed, so I had to hold perfectly still, or I’d knock into something and expose my nearly naked presence.
I watched through the slats of the closet door as Casey entered, followed by an older man I didn’t quite recognize. He carried himself with authority, and the way Casey straightened when he spoke made it clear this man was in charge. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
“You know why I’m here,” the man said, calm but firm.
Casey nodded, his jaw tightening. “I figured you’d come by.”
The older man crossed his arms. “You’ve always put the team first. So what’s changed?”
Casey’s expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Everything.”
“Go on,” the man said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“You read the article that came out today, didn’t you, Matthew?”
Matthew… Matthew Edwards. The owner. Oh hell. I’m about to watch Casey get fired .
It was all but impossible to remain in the closet. I wanted to run out there and demand he keep his job. But a half-naked woman is not exactly the best negotiator. Or maybe she could be. But I wouldn’t do that until I knew it was coming.
The old man stood taller, haughtier. “I read it. There were some interesting details, including that the woman who bore your child is a player’s sister. You know the rules, Casey. I am well within my rights to fire you, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
Casey took a deep breath. “I am. So go ahead and fire me if you want, but either way, I’m marrying that woman.”
I loved hearing that out of him.
“Is it really so easy for you to throw away everything you’ve built with my team? Your ethics, the rules?—”
“I’ve always lived by those rules. Until I couldn’t.”
The old man sighed. “I always thought of you as the most ethical person I knew, the dullest, the most oatmeal-and-bran kind of man in the world. You actually got my players eating healthy. Healthier than any other team in the league, even in the offseason. You’ve always been a stand-up guy. Dependable. Loyal. Boring. And a woman was enough to get you to break the rules?”
“She’s more than just some woman. She’s everything to me. Gemma is clever, strong, determined, everything I could ever ask for,” he said as he smiled. “And I’ve got a daughter with her. Winnie. She’s amazing—smart, funny, full of energy. And she’s got her mother’s kindness.”
The older man’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I see.”
Casey paused, his gaze distant momentarily before turning back to the older man. “As much as I love this team and this career, they don’t compare to my real family. Nothing could.”
Tears streamed down my face as I listened, his words hitting me like a tidal wave. My chest ached, and every part of me needed to go to him. I clamped a hand over my mouth, fighting the urge to sniffle as his declaration sank in. It was one thing for a man to say nice things to your face. But to say them under these circumstances meant more.
Matthew studied Casey for a long moment before nodding slowly. “That’s what I needed to hear.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m happy for you, Casey. Your priorities are finally in order.”
I held my breath.
Casey blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You’re…okay with this?”
“I’m more than okay with it,” the man said with a faint smile. “You’ve got a family now. This means you will need this job, since families are expensive. And since I don’t foresee you carousing with anyone else’s sister?—”
“Ha! No!”
“Your job is safe, Casey. I’m going back to Texas for the offseason. For what it’s worth, congratulations. Make sure I get a wedding invitation.” He gave a short nod and smiled, before leaving the office, closing the door behind him.