CHAPTER 43 #2
“Finally, Bennett and OC will be at the game as well.” Gretchen looks up at Graydon.
“They’ll have field passes. Before the game, we would like to take pics of all of you together.
We’re also attempting to find a time to get you to one of Bennett’s games before the season is over, and since his book club is picking up some speed, we thought it would be good to highlight you three together.
OC, on the other hand…” She shakes her head and then rubs her temple again. “That man will be the death of me.”
I wince because I can only imagine what he might be putting her through.
“Is he giving you grief?” Graydon asks.
“No, he’s driving me up a wall with his need to be as popular as you two. I told him sulking around about an old girlfriend is not helping. I thought about putting him up for a dating show.”
Graydon snorts next to me, then lets out a low chuckle. “I would pay good money to watch that.”
“Not that my opinion matters, but I think that would be a total disaster. OC is too unhinged to be on a dating show,” I say.
Gretchen leans back in her chair, showing a hint of a personality as she smirks. “Wouldn’t that be the appeal, though?”
“It would make him a target on the ice,” I say. “He could get hurt.”
“Yeah, and if he’s hurt, there’s no doubt in my mind he would beg me to nurse him back to health,” Graydon says.
I chuckle because isn’t that the truth. OC has a strange kind of connection with Graydon, and even though Graydon tries to constantly fight it off, I know there is no way he would actually leave OC to fend for himself if he really needed help.
Graydon puts up a front, but I think deep down…
deep, deep down, he has a small liking for OC.
Very small.
Almost minuscule.
But it’s there.
“So let’s stick with game appearances and no dating shows.”
Gretchen nods. “If he keeps driving me insane, then I can’t make any promises. Maybe you can talk to him.”
Graydon’s eyes shoot to her. “Absolutely not.”
“Thought I would give it a try.” She sifts through some more papers and then pulls out a stapled packet. “Here is your copy of the breakup NDA.” She gives it to me, and I can feel the anger spiking through Graydon’s body next to me as I take the packet.
I press my hand to his thigh, attempting to calm him down and not make this a thing. We both talked about it, and we both got over it. No need to make it any more of a thing than it already is.
“Maple, I would like to get you into some media training as soon as possible because I’m assuming you two plan on continuing this…” She gestures back and forth between the two of us, and a low growl pulls through Graydon’s throat.
“Yes, we plan on continuing this,” he says in such a menacing tone that if Gretchen wasn’t half the person she is, I’m pretty sure his voice would have split her skin right off her face. “And I don’t fucking appreciate the doubt or the contract. I thought we went over this, Gretchen.”
To her credit, she remains calm as she shuts the folder on the table. “Graydon, I’m not trying to start trouble. It’s my job to put aside personal emotions and ensure everyone is protected in the matter. It’s my job to protect the organization as well as you.”
“I don’t give two shits what your job is,” he responds.
I smooth my hand over his thigh, wanting to let him know that everything is okay, but I can see that it’s doing nothing.
“This is my girl, and she’s sticking around, so you better get fucking used to it.
And if I hear you talk about a breakup one more goddamn time, I will make it my mission to make sure you never work PR in this goddamn city ever again. ”
That seems to crack her calm facade as she sits taller. “I don’t mean harm, Graydon.” Her voice cracks. “I have duties handed to me that I have to fulfill, and if I don’t, then yes, I would lose my job as well.”
“I understand that, but with us, when it’s just you, me, and Maple sitting in a conference room, you can show a fucking touch of compassion. This shit is hard enough without someone we’re supposed to trust making it more difficult.”
She clears her throat. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m being insensitive.”
Well, shit, never thought I would see an apology come from her.
“I don’t mean to set you off,” she continues. “I just have to make sure we’re covered.”
“We’re covered,” Graydon snaps.
“Okay, then, if it’s all right with you, I would love to get Maple involved in some media training so if she does run into someone on the streets or at the games who starts asking her questions, she’s ready and prepared.”
“It’s up to Maple if she wants to do that.”
I take Graydon’s hand in mine. “I would like that,” I say. “I don’t want to embarrass you in any way.”
“You could never.”
I chuckle. “You say that now…”
“You couldn’t.” He kisses the back of my hand as he looks into my eyes. God, he’s so sweet. This big lump of muscle who I thought was a total jerk has turned out to be one of the sweetest humans I’ve ever met.
Tell me how that is possible.
“Okay, then I will send you some times, if that works for you, Maple.”
“Yeah, that works.”
“Great.” She stands from the chair. “I think that’s all I needed.
Sorry to take time out of your day.” She gathers her things and heads for the door.
Before she leaves, she turns to us and drops her usual stern expression.
“For what it’s worth, I like you two together, and I’m glad it turned into so much more.
I’m not just saying that because of the PR benefits.
I see that you two actually make sense. You complete each other. ”
She softly smiles and is about to leave before she stops herself.
“Oh, one more thing. We have the PR relationship on lockdown, meaning all prior contracts from it have been shredded since we started this new one. Nothing else is required from that contract since it’s null and void.
Just wanted to make that clear. You two can just…
live your life. We would love for you to share, but you don’t have to share everything.
What you’re already doing is enough, and as popularity increases, the PR will unfold on its own. Just be prepared.”
“Thank you, Gretchen,” Graydon says, the tension in his voice gone now.
She nods and then takes off, leaving us alone in the conference room. When the door is shut, Graydon pulls me onto his lap.
“How did I know you were going to do that?” I ask.
“This is where you should have sat to begin with.”
“That’s not very professional, Graydon.”
“Like I fucking care.”
I drag my index finger over his five-o’clock shadow, letting my nails scrape along the short hairs. “You should. This is your place of work.”
“Yeah, never cared about that either.” His hand rubs my thigh. “Are you okay? I know that bullshit contract has hurt you before.”
“I’m fine,” I say.
“Promise?”
“Promise.” I smile softly. “Stop acting like I’m about to run off any second. This is where I want to be, with you.”
“Okay,” he says, but he doesn’t smile, and I can see something is in the back of his mind, plaguing his words.
“What are you not saying?”
“Nothing.” He shakes his head.
“No, don’t do that. You would never let me get away with saying, ‘nothing,’ so I won’t let you. What’s happening in your head?”
“I’m just…hell, Maple, I’m sorry that being with me comes with all of this. Contracts and media training and schedules.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You’re worth all of it.” I kiss his cheek, then his lips. “So worth it, Graydon.”
“It would be easier with someone else.”
That makes me pause, and I pull away to look him in the eyes. “Why would you say that? Are you trying to push me away?”
“No.” He links our fingers together and stares down at the connection. “I just, fuck, Maple, I feel bad about all of this.”
“Well, don’t. I knew what I was getting into when I said yes to all of this. Stop trying to protect me, and let me just live this with you.”
“It’s my job to protect you.”
“Says who?”
His eyes find mine. “Says me,” he says with conviction. “As your man, it is my job to make sure you’re okay and safe. With the season starting and the media attention that we will draw, I want you to know that if you want to back out, I understand.”
“Stop saying that,” I say, growing angry. “I’m not backing out.”
“It’s going to be hard, Maple. The fans will be rude and ruthless and—”
“I don’t give two shits what they say.” I lean back, irritated with him. “You keep saying that the public will hurt me, but this conversation right now, with you pushing me away, telling me I can back out, that’s what’s hurting me.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He sighs out his frustration. “I just, I can’t stop worrying about…everything.” He drives his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Maple. Please…please forgive me. I just want to protect you, and I’m not going about it in the right way.”
“You’re not.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Let me show you just how brave I can be. Okay?”
He nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
He pulls me into a hug, then buries his face into my neck, holding me close and kissing me. I push my hand through his hair, holding him tight, letting him know that I can be the rock that he needs, that he doesn’t need to be the sturdy one all the time.
After a few seconds, he pulls away and asks, “Can I bring you back to my place and make dinner for you?”
“Only if you do it shirtless.”
He smiles softly. “Deal.”