Ten
Blaine
Resting my laptop on the cushion in front of me, I wait impatiently for Hayden’s video call. He texted me this morning to let me know he needed to talk ahead of my game tonight, and panic instantly zapped in my chest.
Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.
One thing I need Hayden to get in place is a no-trade clause in my contract, especially now that Elliot’s here, and if things develop with Alex…
Fuck.
I’d hate for things to fall into place and then need to uproot my entire life to another city.
Thankfully, the chime of Hayden calling me echoes through the speakers on my laptop before I can spiral into a vortex of anxiety. His face fills the screen, his hair blowing in the sunny California morning breeze. Behind him, through the open patio doors of his beachside mansion, is the ocean.
I’ve been there once before, and it’s gorgeous. He must be sitting at his dining table, which overlooks a wrap-around terrace and his own private beach.
It’s definitely a life-goals kind of house for me.
“Hey!” I wave to the camera, then cringe at myself.
Hayden gives a throaty chuckle at my awkwardness. “Hey. How’s things?”
“Good.” I nod. “Really good, actually.”
“And your hip? Still giving you trouble?”
After the hit during the St. Louis game, I’ve become a regular with Joe, asking him to relieve some of the discomfort.
In each game since, it’s been like the other team could smell that I’m a little sore and targets it on purpose.
We’ve done a few scans just to be safe, and it was nothing more than a strain, but with the repeated hits to an already weakened spot, I’m really feeling it.
I move my hand from side to side. “So-so; it's feeling better every day. It’s only a sprain. I was starting to worry it was going to turn into something more serious.”
He nods. “Sprains are still serious, Blaine. Make sure you do as much recovery as possible. I’d hate to see it get worse.”
I know he didn’t call to talk about my hip, and the anticipation makes my mouth go dry. I take a sip of water and wait for him to get to the point.
“I’m just calling because I wanted to let you know what happened this week.”
I squeeze the water bottle between my hands.
Here it comes.
“The team has done a great job at removing all traces of those photos, but one thing I noticed, which I’m pleased about, by the way, is that the media’s now talking about how you’ve kinda fallen off the radar.
Don’t get me wrong, I'm stoked you’ve followed my advice, but they’re saying they haven’t seen you out with the team either.
” His head tilts curiously. “What's that about?”
This is either going to get me into a shit ton of trouble or it’ll be the news Hayden wants to hear.
“I met someone.”
Hayden stills. He’s so frozen that I start to think maybe I’ve lost him. I move the cursor and check my internet connection. I’m still connected. I’m about to close the call so I can call him back when a rumble of laughter comes from him.
“Wait. Did I just hear that right? You’ve met someone?” His eyes are comically wide.
I nod, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Yeah, I actually met him that night after you visited.” I smile when the image of Alex enters my brain—how shocked he looked when I knocked into the boards and spilled his drink over him.
Hayden leans closer to the screen. His brow furrows, his eyes searching. I have no idea what he’s thinking, and the longer he remains mute, the more worried I get.
Is he going to tell me to call off my date with Alex?
My initial thought on that is “fuck no,” but can I tell my agent to fuck off when he’s working hard to make sure I don’t end up on the trading table?
A whooshing breath escapes me when he lets out a laugh. A full-on belly laugh.
“Holy shit.” He wipes his eyes with the heel of his hand. “I never thought I would see the day when Blaine Olsen met someone. So, are you going to do this properly?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m taking him out tomorrow.”
“And you’re serious about him? You’re not just using him to make yourself look good?”
I reel back as if I’ve been sucker punched. I want to be offended that he’s insinuating I’d use Alex, but I can't because it is something former me would have considered.
Pre-Alex me.
I shake my head. “No, I’m not using him. I liked that he didn’t just fall for my charms like everyone else. He’s made me work. He was interested, but I’m sure my reputation made him question my motives. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.”
At all.
To the point where I haven’t been able to think about anything else. All I see when I close my eyes is his shy smile, those sparkling blue eyes, his rosy, pink blush.
That fucking blush.
I can’t put my finger on what it is that’s drawing me to him.
Is it the chase? I don’t think so.
Don’t get me wrong, I dig the chase, but I want to get to know him. What makes him tick. What makes him laugh the way he does, which feels like silk caressing my skin.
I want to know everything about him.
Hayden’s face softens. “Where are you taking him?”
“Booked to go to some crazy mini golf place, then out for tacos.”
I spent yesterday afternoon searching for first date ideas. Some were kinda extravagant, like rock climbing or visiting ancient baths, none of which really seemed to pique my interest. Then Zach smacked the back of my head with his big, meaty paw and told me to stop overthinking it.
When I did, I found a glow-in-the-dark golf place that looks like a lot of fun and then made a reservation at Fire Garden, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago, known for their exquisite tacos.
“Where’d you meet him?”
“Jeez, what’s with the twenty fucking questions?”
Hayden glowers at my snarky response. “Because as your friend, I want to learn more about who the fuck has managed to capture your attention when you’re usually like a kid in a candy store. As your agent, I need to know whether or not I should be concerned about what this may mean for your career.”
I sigh. “I met him at a game.”
“A game?”
I nod. “Yeah… He’s a fan.”
Hayden’s eyes go wide. I can see the wheels in his head turning through the screen.
“Don’t go there. If he wanted to fuck me over, he would have said yes the first time I asked him out, and he would have climbed into bed with me then and there. He’d have been like the rest of them,” I say defensively. “I like that he was attracted to me , not just the hockey player.”
“Well, from an agent standpoint, I have to say be careful, keep your wits about you, and please, please don’t do anything stupid, but as a friend…” He smiles. “I’m fucking happy for you. I can tell that you really like him because you’ve lost that arrogant-as-fuck attitude you usually have.”
I flip him off and laugh.
“Thanks, Hayden.” I run my hand across my chest, rubbing my shoulder. “I just want it to go well, you know? I wanna show him that what he sees online isn’t the real me.”
“And I’m sure he will, but you need to remember that it will take time. He’ll probably have some doubts, which is understandable, and he probably won’t be sure which one is the real you, but if you like him as much as you seem to, he’ll get there.”
I can only hope.
Wanting to steer the conversation away from me, I ask, “How’s everything back in Cali?”
Hayden sighs and runs his hand through his overgrown hair. “Stressful, to be honest.”
“What’s up?”
“She’s making my life hell, arguing over silly things. Even my lawyer is getting tired of her.”
I frown.
His wife was having an affair, and now Hayden is in the middle of a bitter divorce.
“I’m sorry, man. You know you’re welcome here anytime you need an escape.”
He chuckles. “Thanks. I might have to take you up on that. Is your mom visiting for Christmas?”
“Yeah, she is. You’re welcome to come; you know she’ll love fussing over you.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks for the invite, but I’ll probably hide out here and go surfing for the day.”
“Livin’ the dream!”
“You bet.” He grins.
I want to bring up the looming gray trade cloud, but I’m afraid of his answer.
“Just ask me whatever it is you’re stewing about,” Hayden prompts.
I take a deep, shaky breath and ask, “Has there been any talks about a possible trade?”
He sighs. “Other teams want you, but they haven’t put a tasty enough offer on the table. I know Coach wants to keep you, so long as you keep your name clean, but it’s not completely off the table.”
My chest tightens as my heart rate increases.
Getting traded is part of the game, one of the wild rides that comes with being a professional athlete, but for the first time in my professional career, I want to remain in this city more than I want my next breath.
I have my brother. I have teammates who are more like family than linemates.
And if things go well, I’ll have Alex, too.
“Blaine, just keep your head down. Put one hundred percent into every game and play your heart out. If it happens, it happens; there’s no way we can control it, but we can make you so critical to the team that it would be a major loss for them to trade you.”
Absorbing Hayden’s words, I nod. “I will.”
“Good.” He smiles. “And in the meantime, I’ll keep working on securing a new contract that includes a no-trade clause.”
I rub the ache in my chest, hoping with everything I have that he can make it happen. “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
He waves me off. “Don’t let it eat away at you. Don’t stress over things that are out of your hands; just make sure you do everything you can to make yourself irreplaceable to the GM.”
“I will.”
And I mean it.
I’m going to play the best fucking hockey of my life, so the big bosses at Thunder HQ will never consider trading me.