Chapter 52
The entrance to the players’ parking lot is swarming with press when I turn onto the street where the gate is. Avery and I both got a phone call from the Bobcats’ GM, Jerry, asking us to come to the arena early before practice today, but he didn’t mention this madhouse.
“Oh my gosh! All this because we’re married?”
Avery leans forward in my truck, her eyes surveying the sea of cameras and microphones at the gate. Luckily, a few security guards run out when they see me approaching, and guide the crowd away from the road.
Slowly, I inch my truck forward, careful not to get too close to the people trying to get to our windows.
“Don’t look at them, Aves. Look at me.”
I wait until her eyes are on me before I continue my way into the parking lot. The gate shuts behind me and I see Avery look behind us.
“Do you think it will be like this when we leave today, too?”
Turning the truck into an open space, I put it in park and shift to face her. “Maybe. Hopefully that’s what Jerry and the PR team want to talk to us about. Not that I plan on answering any of their stupid questions.”
Avery’s mouth twitches, and I lean across the center console to give her a peck on the lips.
“Let’s go get this over with.”
Hand-in-hand, we make our way into the arena and straight up to the conference room Jerry told us to meet him in.
When I push the door open, I see Jerry, Lincoln, Ellie, and our head of PR, Becky, already seated around the large table at the center of the room. My feet freeze in place. No one says anything at first, but I don’t miss the way everyone’s eyes move to where Avery’s grip tightens around my hand.
Finally, Ellie stands and rushes to the two of us.
“Hey, guys.” Her voice is quiet enough that only we can hear. “Everyone was worried about this baseless rumor, but it appears there may be a bit of truth to it?” She raises her eyebrows, looking down to our joined hands and back up again.
“Why is that anyone’s business?”
My voice, on the other hand, echoes off the walls of the giant conference room, gaining the attention of everyone who wasn’t privy to our conversation.
“Because, Connor.” Jerry stands now, his hands on the edge of the table. “We need to know how to protect you if you two need protecting.” He walks to where we’re still standing by the door, and Ellie moves back to her seat next to Lincoln.
“Not only did that ridiculous article get released, but someone called the legal team accusing you of insurance fraud.”
Avery attempts to let go of my hand, but it only makes me grip hers harder. I know exactly who made that call and I refuse to let that piece of shit ruin anything else for her.
“That’s fucking bullshit.”
This time, instead of Jerry, it’s Becky who chimes in. “Well, why don’t you both take a seat so we can clear this up for everyone then. No one is accusing you of anything.”
I huff out a laugh but there’s no humor to this one.
“Sure doesn’t sound that way.”
Lincoln pounds his hand on the table, quieting everyone in the room. “Damn it, Smith. Would you just sit your ass down so we can figure this shit out? We have a game tomorrow we should be focusing on, and I’d rather not deal with bullshit rumors.”
Lincoln rarely gets mad, and even Ellie seems surprised by his outburst. It’s quick but I don’t miss it when she squeezes his hand on the table. Lincoln closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I just remember when the media leaked my relationship with Ellie and I nearly lost her. I don’t want that to happen to you two. If there is a relationship…”
I look down to Avery to see that she’s already looking at me.
“Come on, Connor. We have nothing to hide, anyway.”
She’s right. I just hate that this is anyone’s fucking business but our own.
Keeping a hold of Avery’s hand, we approach the table together.
Pulling a chair out for her, I finally let go and she sits down.
I slide into the empty seat next to her and immediately take her hand in mine again, resting them on the table so everyone can see there is, in fact, an us.
I watch as both my coaches clock it and then look at each other. Ellie smiles, and I don’t miss the hint of one trying to make an appearance on Lincoln’s either. Jerry takes his set at the head of the table, but it’s Becky who takes the lead again.
“I’m going to get straight to the point because it’s clear no one really wants to be here.”
Lincoln and I grunt in unison, and Avery kicks my leg under the table. I turn my attention to her and she gives me her best are you kidding me? look.
“So are you two confirming that you are, in fact, married?”
“Yes,” the two of us say at the same time.
Becky nods and makes a note on the paper in front of her before looking up with a kind smile on her face. “Congratulations.”
Avery thanks her quietly, and Becky continues.
“I apologize in advance for what I’m about to ask, but due to the allegations, I need to be blunt.” We both nod, already anticipating where this is going. “Did you two get married for the sole purpose of insurance benefits?”
I feel Avery shift next to me in her chair, her grip tightening around my hand. Before she can admit the truth, I step in.
“I’ve loved Avery since I was sixteen. Life and my stupid choices may have kept us apart for ten years, but that doesn’t change the fact that she has been the sole owner of my heart ever since.”
Becky tilts her head slightly, and I see Ellie scoot closer to the table, leaning in, enthralled by my confession.
“I promised Avery many years ago that I’d love her for the rest of my life and I finally followed through on that promise. I made it clear not only to her, but in the eyes of the law, that I will love her until the day I die. Quite frankly, that’s all that fucking matters.”
“Connor.” Jerry’s voice is firm when he says my name.
I turn back to Becky and bow my head. “Sorry. I just had to live without her for so long, I don’t really need outsiders questioning the validity of my feelings.
She’s it for me. Always has been, always will be.
” I lift our adjoined hands to my mouth and kiss Avery’s knuckles.
“Anything else you’d like to add, wife?”
Avery smiles and doesn’t tear her eyes away from me when she answers. “I think that pretty much covers it, husband.”
Jerry laughs and taps the table with his knuckles. “I’m not sure what’s in the water here at the rink, but I’m going to need to look into it. First you two”—he nods at Lincoln and Ellie—“then Niko and Sadie, and now you guys. I wonder who’s next?” He laughs again in disbelief.
Ellie shrugs. “I wouldn’t look into anything, Jerry. We’re about to be in first place heading into the playoffs. Seems to me like the more love in the air, the more winning in the building, too.”
We all laugh and then spend the next ten minutes going over what our response will be to the article. Becky is putting together a press release that pretty much negates the false claims of fraud and reassures fans, and the public, that our marriage and feelings for each other are real.
Just as we’re wrapping up and I push away from the table, Jerry chimes in one more time.
“Connor, I know you’re not much for the press or media in general, but if you could scale back the grumpiness, just for a couple days, I think it might go a long way.”
I scoff. “You want me to answer those vultures’ questions?”
Lincoln laughs, and Ellie swats him in the chest.
Jerry shakes his head, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “As we discussed, we’ll be asking the press to respect your privacy and any questions about your relationship are off-limits, but if you could play nice with any other hockey-related questions, it might help the optics.”
I open my mouth to argue when Avery grabs my arm and starts dragging me out of the room. “Connor will play nice. I’ll make sure of it. Thank you, Jerry and Becky. We’re very grateful for your help and support through this mess.”
We don’t stick around because Avery has dragged me out into the hallway before anyone else can get another word in. She doesn’t say a word, she just keeps a hold of my arm and pulls me around a corner until we’re alone.
She slinks back against the wall and exhales dramatically. “Well, that went better than I thought it would.”
I stand in front of her, placing my hands on the wall beside her head, caging her in. “This may have started for different reasons, but my feelings for you have never been fake, Aves. That is one thing I refuse to let people believe. It’s always been you.”
Leaning down, I gently press my lips to hers.
Avery opens her lips and on instinct, I do the same.
Our tongues collide, and although I feel myself growing in my jeans, this kiss isn’t about that.
This kiss is another promise, telling each other that what’s happening here is real.
My hand slides to the back of her neck, and all the accusations and doubt that were echoing around us before disappear.
This may have started fake, but Avery is the only truth I’ve ever known.
I press my mouth harder into hers. It’s desperate in a way only honesty can be.
This was never fake.
Avery kisses me back, matching my desperation with her own. Finally, when I feel like we’ve said enough, I reluctantly pull back, pressing my forehead to hers. We’re both breathing hard now, this moment feeling like something monumental.
They can call it fraud. They can call it a lie. Fuck, they can call it whatever they want.
But this?
This has always been real.
Niko is waiting for me outside of the locker room when I get there.
“Everything all right?” he asks, his face serious and eyebrows pinched.
His stern expression only makes me laugh. A real, genuine laugh, which completely catches him off guard.
“Did I miss the punchline?”
I clap my hand on his shoulder, the smile on my face impossible to wipe away right now. It just hit me that not only am I married to Avery, but I’m going to remain married to Avery because she wants this just as badly as I do.
“Nah, brother. Just really fucking happy, that’s all.”
His eyebrow raises. “Back up. I was afraid I’d have to confiscate your keys so you couldn’t track down Roger Park and murder him. Why is it that you’re so happy right now?”
The two stooges come barreling out of the locker room, soccer ball in hand, ready to warm up for today’s practice. As soon as Jefferson registers that it’s me standing in front of him, he launches himself at me.
He jumps up into my arms but I refuse to catch him. His arms fall away from my neck as he stumbles to the ground.
“Fuck, Connor. Way to be a good teammate.”
I take a step back and glower down at him. “Holding you like a child is not in my job description, Jefferson.”
Mack helps Jefferson stand. The boyish grin he was wearing when he stepped out and saw me makes its way back to his face.
“I’m going to forgive you because that article this morning would put anyone in a bad mood. I didn’t even stuff your skates with shaving cream like I was planning to out of respect for you. You’re welcome, by the way.”
The scowl on my face deepens the longer he speaks. Luckily for him, Mack puts a hand on his chest to stop him and steps in front of him.
“What Kyle means to say is congratulations. I’m just sad we weren’t invited, bro. Especially since none of us thought you’d ever get married.”
I take a step forward, ready to pummel these two idiot friends of mine, when Niko steps between us.
“Okay, why don’t you two clowns go get ready for practice. If you stop acting like children, maybe you’ll get invited to the party Sadie and I are planning for the newlyweds.”
The stooges’ eyes light up and they sprint away, throwing the soccer ball back and forth to each other. As soon as they’re out of sight, I turn my glare to my best friend.
“What fucking party?”
Niko slings his arm around my neck. “You didn’t think I’d let my best friend get married and not celebrate, did you?”
I throw my head back and groan.
He laughs and slaps me on the chest. “Cheer up, buttercup. I promise there won’t be any costumes this time.”