32. Griffin
It’s the morning of Cadence’s second birthday party, and I’m just finishing setting up the balloon arch Kenna made for the entryway. Kenna chose to do a Born Two Be Wild theme, so we’ve got wildflowers and pictures of different wild animals all over the main floor.
I’ve just popped a balloon and curse under my breath in frustration when I hear Kenna ask, “Griffin, why did my brother just ask me if Cadence was going to wear his jersey or yours to the Wolverine games next season?”
Shit, I wanted to be the first to tell her. Good going, Carse.
With my back still to her, I try to make light of the situation. “Because in his heart of hearts, he knows the answer to that question. Without a doubt, Cadence will be wearing a Turner jersey all next season.”
Kenna scoffs. “Well, of course, she can wear your jersey when you play against Carse, but I don’t really understand why she can’t wear Carson’s jersey when she goes to his other games.”
I slowly turn to face her. “If all goes well with my knee, I’m hoping every game Carson plays next season will be with me as his teammate, so she won’t have any opportunities to wear his.”
Kenna’s forehead wrinkles in confusion—it’s endearing, and I love it. “I’m sorry, did you just say as his teammate?”
I chuckle. “Yes, Sunshine. I’m back home in Minnesota for good.”
“You’re back for good?”
God, she’s so cute when she repeats everything I’ve just said in a question back to me.
“Yes. The press release hasn’t gone out yet, but I just met with Carlisle this morning. I’m officially a player for the Minnesota Wolverines.”
“Griffin! What were you thinking? You can’t just—just make life-changing decisions like this without consulting me. We have to think of Cades first, yes, but we also have dreams, ambitions and careers to consider. Colorado has always been your dream, Griff.”
Taking a step forward, I move into her space. “Colorado was my dream. Cadence and you—the two of you—are my whole world. I’ve already missed so much of her life. I refuse to miss any more time than I need to. You know the travel schedule for the team is already crazy enough. It was agony those few weeks before my injury, only seeing her over FaceTime calls and short visits.”
I lift her chin so she can look into my eyes. “Besides, I didn’t have much of a choice except for trying to have Jared help me press Minnesota for the trade. Your brother and Bennett did most of the convincing on my behalf.”
If it weren’t for the newly appointed captain of the Wolverines, Bennett Wilson, I’m not sure Minnesota would’ve been convinced to finalize the trade. Bennett and I grew up together and played on many of the same teams from Squirts through high school. He’s one of the top defensemen in the league, having been drafted and signed right out of high school.
Kenna sighs. “I refuse to let you give up your dreams for us, Griff. Colorado has been your dream team your entire life. I can’t ask you to give that up for us—for her, I mean.”
“I guess I haven’t made myself clear yet, Kenna. My new dream team is you, Cadence, and I. And our mascot, Ranger. That’s the only team I truly need, Sunshine. The hockey team I play for doesn’t matter. My dream career is to play in the NHL, which I still get to do with the Wolverines. My heart is rooted in Minnesota with my girls.”
She releases a breath, almost as if she’s been holding it. There’s a dreamy look in her eyes as she says, “Say it again.”
“Say what?”
“Your girls,” she says bashfully, trying to hide in my chest.
I chuckle at her shyness. “My girls,” I rasp as I tip her chin up and bring her in for a slow kiss.
The moment is broken up when Carse asks, “Awe, aren’t they sweet, Cadey Cat? Your mom and dad are finally figuring it out.”
“Mama! Dada! Yay!” Cadence claps in excitement from where she sits on Carson’s shoulders.
Kenna blushes from being caught, so naturally, I give her ass a light spank when she tries to wiggle from my arms. Her cheeks turn crimson. She pushes my chest away, shaking her head.
“Come here, baby. Let’s go get you ready for your big party,” Kenna says as she catches Cadence’s dismount from Carson’s hold.
When they’ve disappeared up the steps, Carson turns to me. “I’m happy to have you on the team, brother.” He smacks my back and brings me in for a quick hug. When he pulls away, he adds, “But if you ever hurt them again, I’ll make sure you never play another hockey game again. You won’t even be able to play beer league if you fuck it up this time.”
Carson’s about as harmful as a dragonfly. Their dad, on the other hand, wouldn’t hesitate to get away with my murder if I hurt them again.
I nod at Carson. “I will never do anything to intentionally hurt them again. You have my word, Carse.”
He shakes my hand, his grip tighter than usual, as if he’s trying to sell me on his tough guy act. “One more thing. I know you just figured it out with her, but don’t make me wait too long to officially become your brother, yeah?”
The smile that takes over my face actually hurts my cheeks. “Is that you giving me your blessing, Carse?”
He smiles, scrubbing a hand over his scruff. “Yeah, I guess it is. Good luck getting my dad’s blessing, though.” He cackles.
I’ll have to pull Theo and Liz aside later tonight. Probably best to wait until Theo has had a drink or two to soften him up a bit. Because I do plan on making Carson my brother, hopefully soon. If Kenna will have me, that is.
We’re in the Wolverines press room the day after Cadence’s birthday party. The news of Griffin’s trade broke yesterday, and things quickly turned to chaos. I’m standing at the back of the room as the media bombards Griff with questions about the trade news.
“Griffin, there are rumors swirling that you weren’t even hurt in Colorado, that you decided to take a leave of absence due to a family matter. What do you have to say to those rumors?”
Griff’s eyebrows shoot to his forehead in shock. “Well, Russ, I guess I’d show them the surgical scar on my knee.”
The reporter continues, “So, are you saying there were no family matters that influenced your trade decision?”
Griff keeps his composure. “Look, you and I both know a guy on his rookie contract, no matter how good he is, doesn’t get a seat at the table in these kinds of decisions. I am incredibly thankful to the Summits organization for giving me my start in the NHL. My coaches and teammates were incredible, as was the entire management staff. But I’m also honored and looking forward to playing for my hometown team. My focus right now is rehabbing my knee and getting back up to full speed for the start of next season.”
Not willing to let it end there, the reporter presses, “What do you want to say to those who are worried that your focus has shifted since you found out you had a daughter in Minnesota?”
The room erupts in gasps and shouted questions aimed at Griff.
He lifts his arms at the podium to quiet the room.
“I keep my loved ones close to my chest. We’d like to provide as much privacy for our daughter as we can. That being said, my girlfriend is a badass on the volleyball court and has managed to not only raise our daughter but also maintain the highest grade point average on her team, as well as win a National Championship this year. So, to those who doubt my drive and focus, I’d say that I have the best example of how to raise our daughter, and succeed, sleeping beside me every night. If anything, I’ll just try to absorb her tenacity through osmosis.” He winks and walks away from the podium as if he didn’t just metaphorically drop the mic with that closing statement.
My heart rate quickens, the sounds of the reporters fading to background noise as my brain repeats what he just said.
My girlfriend.
Did he just stake his claim by telling the entire world that we’re together? Why does that make my chest tighten with longing and comfort instead of maddening frustration?
I mean, we are together. We’re in a relationship. So technically, I am his girlfriend. But we’ve avoided making things public knowledge to avoid unnecessary media attention. Cadence’s privacy has always been my number one concern.
There’s also the fact that I haven’t confessed the depth of my feelings to him yet. It’s not that I don’t think he reciprocates them. It’s just that saying them out loud makes things so much more real. And I guess up until yesterday, that scared me because I wasn’t sure what our future would look like. I was riddled with questions. Would we be able to make long-distance work this time? Should I try to transfer to a college in Colorado? Would he be able to re-sign with the Summits? Or would we be moving again once his rookie contract was up?
I walk over to where Griff is speaking to the team’s head of PR.
“Can I borrow him for a minute?”
I don’t wait for a response as I drag Griffin into a random office down the hall and shut the door behind me before turning on him. I walk toward him and push him back against the wall, resting my hands on his chest. His head is hung, like he’s preparing for the lecture I’m about to unleash on him.
“I’m so sorry, Kenna. I didn’t know they were going to ask about Cadence. Please don’t be upset with me.”
“This needs to stop. You keep making sacrifices on our behalf. It’s like you’re trying to make up for lost time. But you don’t need to do that, Griff. Cadence loves and adores you. We both adore you. We both love you, too.”
He quickly lifts his head, his deep brown eyes searching mine. Pleading for truth in what I just said.
“I love you, Griff. I never stopped loving you. And I never will. I’ve loved you through scraped knees, endless summers, through fireworks and loss, through distance and time apart, and I’ll love you through the end of time.”
He cuts me off from continuing with a blistering kiss. When he finally pulls his lips from mine, I’m trembling with need for the man that I’ve loved and adored for almost a decade.
Griff cups my face in his hands, holding me like I’m made of porcelain—right now, I feel as if I am.
“McKenna Marie, I haven’t stopped loving you for a single moment since I so stupidly pushed you away. Hearing you say you love me, and our beautiful daughter loves me, heals me in ways nothing else ever could. Before you came back into my life with Cadence, I was going through the motions, unfeeling and completely void. But the moment you allowed me to be part of your lives, you shined your light onto my darkness and our world turned incandescent. I love you and Ray more than anything, Sunshine.”
His words are like a balm to my aching heart. It’s no longer broken because it was fixed almost two years ago when I first saw my baby girl open her eyes—her daddy’s eyes.
But his words soothe my heart, making it feel whole again.
What we had, what we were—it was pure, untainted. It was smooth, not rough around the edges, riddled with heartache and loss. Our love can never go back to what it was. But this version of us—the one that’s messy, polluted with heartbreak and hurt, is also filled with so much unwavering love, devotion, and dedication to make this work. What it was before was beautiful; it’s the start of our story, a piece of us, but it’s just that—the start. What it is now is more than I could’ve ever imagined for myself—it’s raw, it’s real, but it’s not perfect because we had to work on ourselves apart in order for us to be stronger together.