Thirty-Eight
Alex
“I’m really nervous,” I admit, twisting my hands in my lap.
Blaine casts a quick glance at me before focusing back on the road, his brows furrowing. “Why?”
“To meet Hayden. What if he doesn’t like me?” I internally roll my eyes at myself.
How old am I? I’m acting like I’m five, not weeks away from twenty-five.
But it does worry me.
This is the guy who tries to keep Blaine’s image all sunshine and roses, and while past Blaine made that a difficult task, future Blaine’s image includes me, and I’d hate to cause any problems.
Blaine chuckles, reaching over and placing his hand on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Of course he’s gonna like you, and if he doesn't, I’ll fight him.”
I scoff. “No, you won’t. He’s your agent, who’s just got you an eight-year extension with a no-trade clause. If you fight him, he might take it back.”
He gives a hum of contemplation. “Okay, maybe you have a point, but I could glare at him really evilly until he likes you.”
I shake my head and laugh.
After Blaine got off the phone with Hayden last night, he slept better than he has in weeks. The pressure from the trade deadline was finally lifted, allowing him to completely relax.
Me, on the other hand?
I’m still a bag of nerves because I’m about to meet an important person in Blaine’s life.
Blaine flashes his badge at security, then parks his car outside the players’ entrance at Thunder arena. He’s signing his contract first and doing some press before we take Hayden for lunch.
We were supposed to meet him here, but his flight from California is delayed.
“Is anyone else going to be here?” I ask, hoping I’ll know someone while I wait for Blaine to do his professional hockey player duties.
“Yeah, El and Zach should be here, maybe Ethan,” he replies, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together.
He leads me through the security doors with another flash of his badge, and then we walk down the hallway, which is lined with photos of players from across the decades.
Images of players lifting the Stanley Cup, team photos, and framed jerseys cover the walls.
I stop when I spot one of a young, fresh-faced Blaine grinning from ear to ear with the Stanley Cup in front of him.
“Look at you!” I grin, tracing his smile with my finger. “You look so young.”
“I was twenty-one then.” He stands behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. “Fresh out of college and living my ultimate dream. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d win the Cup in my rookie year, let alone win it twice.”
I look up at him. “I never doubted you for a second, neither did my grandpa. He knew you were something special.”
Blaine dips his head, trying to hide the proud smile on his face. Whenever I mention my grandpa and how much he adored him, he goes all bashful and shy.
I lean up, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, then squeeze his hand. “Come on, we don’t want you to be late to sign your contract.”
When we arrive outside the conference room, the Thunder’s GM and Coach Harris are waiting, and Blaine gives me a quick kiss.
“Have a look around, you won’t get lost, and I’ll find you when I’m done.”
The fan in me is screaming over being able to snoop behind the scenes, so I start walking down the rest of the hallway, taking in all the photos and engraved plaques on the wall.
“Impressive, eh?” A deep voice startles me.
I spin on my heels and see Ethan leaning against the entrance to the gym, his thick arms folded over his broad chest.
“It is.” I nod.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to pull the protective brother card and tell him if he does something to upset Jacob then he’ll have me to deal with, but my inner voice just laughs at me.
Like I could take Ethan Parkes on.
He’s bigger than Blaine at six three and must weigh at least two hundred pounds. The guy could probably bench me single-handedly.
“You don’t need to worry,” he says, almost reading my mind. His steps fall in line with mine as I continue my way down the hall. “About Jacob,” he clarifies. “I want to help you both out.”
Blaine speaks very highly of Ethan, but apart from the night at his house on New Year’s Day and when he came to the bakery, I don’t really know him. I’m unable to read him because he’s so guarded. A closed book with high walls built around him.
I trust him only because Blaine does, and Jacob said he understands our situation, but I’m still curious as to why.
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but why? It’s a lot of money to give to someone you don’t really know.”
He rubs the back of his neck, and for the first time, I see a hint of vulnerability.
“Growing up, my mom struggled with money. She worked three jobs so I could keep playing hockey, and she did everything she could to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table, and buy me hockey gear. Whatever she needed to do so I could keep playing.”
There’s a pang in my heart for young Ethan and his mom. I’ve never heard of this before, as he always shuts down any talks about his personal life in interviews, and there isn’t much on the internet apart from his youth hockey stats.
“I had no idea…”
He leads me around a corner to the players’ lounge, where large couches fill the space and several fridges are filled with any drink you could think of.
Televisions mounted on the wall play different sports channels, and in the far corner, Elliot and Zach are playing a video game, but they’ve not heard us come in.
“It’s not something I talk about, but now, I have more money than I know what to do with.
I’m set for life, and I give my mom whatever she needs because I want to show her how thankful I am for everything she’s done for me.
So when Blaine mentioned your struggles, I wanted to help.
I know how hard it is to be drowning in a never-ending spiral, and I’m separate enough that you wouldn’t feel trapped.
Not that I think anything bad will happen between you and Blaine, but with me loaning the money, there wouldn’t be that element of pressure there that borrowing money from a loved one can bring. ”
He sits down on one of the couches and pats the cushion next to him. I sit down, curling my legs underneath me.
“Thank you.” I smile. “For helping us out. It really means a lot.”
Ethan’s hard features turn soft as he smiles. “You’re welcome.” He bumps my shoulder with his and grins. “Just keep Blaine in check, eh? You really do bring the best out of him.”
* * *
“Blaine, you motherfucker! You didn’t tell me you were punching above your weight!”
I freeze on the spot when my eyes land on the blond-haired man who just called out to my boyfriend.
A familiar blond-haired man.
“You’re Hayden Cassidy,” I say in disbelief, finally picking my jaw off the floor.
I was never really a Boston fan growing up, but there was something so spectacular about Hayden Cassidy. He was one of hockey’s diamonds in the rough who didn’t get picked in the draft but ended up making the history books.
I turn to Blaine, slapping his chest with the back of my hand. “And you never told me that Hayden was the Hayden Cassidy.”
Blaine rubs his chest with his fingers. “H-how... What… What is going on right now?”
Hayden gives Blaine a wide, cocky grin that could rival his own.
Blue eyes glisten behind thick, black-rimmed glasses as he points his finger at me. “I like him.”
Blaine flips his middle finger up at Hayden.
“I used to have a poster of you on my bedroom wall,” I confess, then cringe. “Sorry, that was really weird.”
Hayden bursts into laughter, and Blaine’s eyes are so wide, his eyebrows nearly touch his hairline.
“What?” His voice is high-pitched. “Please tell me that’s not true and you’re pranking me right now.”
I shrug one shoulder, rolling my lips together to suppress my laughter. I’m finding it far too amusing how flustered Blaine’s getting. “What can I say? He’s always been hot.”
Hayden holds his hands out to the side. “Can’t argue that. The guy speaks the truth.”
“Fuck off.” Blaine glares at his agent, then slumps onto the bench at our table opposite Hayden, putting his head in his hands. “Can’t believe my boyfriend has a crush on my agent.”
“I don’t have a crush on him now ,” I chuckle, kissing the top of his head before taking a seat next to him.
“I’m starting to regret inviting you,” Blaine grumbles.
“No need to feel threatened, Olsen; I’m not gonna steal your man.” Hayden teases and winks at me.
Teenage me would be dying right now because Hayden Cassidy was one of my first crushes. He has that typical Californian boy-next-door look about him—a face made for billboards.
I place my hand on my man's thigh in a sign of reassurance, because as much as I’m startled by meeting Hayden, I’m still very much in love with Blaine and no one is hotter than him.
A few moments later, a waitress walks over to take our orders, and I’m stunned speechless at the amount of food the two of them order.
“Did the contract get signed?” Hayden asks.
Blaine nods. “Yeah, thank you for sorting it out. It’s a big weight off my shoulders.”
Hayden waves him off. “Don’t sweat it, it’s what you pay me for.” He takes a sip of water, then leans forward to rest his forearms on the table and lowers his voice. “Did you hear about what went down?”
Blaine shakes his head.
“It turns out Petford’s been sleeping with Peyton’s wife. I don’t know how long it’s been going on, but shit hit the fan yesterday, and Peyton threw down the gauntlet. He told Harris that it was either him or Petford.”
My jaw drops open in shock. “His own teammate's wife?”
Hayden nods as Blaine says, “Yeah, it’s pretty common. Hockey players can be pigs.”
Wow.
Now that’s something you don’t hear about in the press.
“I also found out who was behind the bullshit tweet about you the other night.” Hayden announces.
Blaine lifts his head, “Who was it?”
“Remember the red-haired bunny from that blog post? Caitlin?”
My spine straightens at the name. It can’t be the same person, right?
Blaine grunts. “Why am I not surprised?”
“She must’ve been feeling bitter that you moved on to someone better,” Hayden says, “because she went straight into the arms of Petford.”
While Blaine and Hayden discuss the drama surrounding Petford and Peyton, I take my phone out of my pocket and go onto Instagram to find the original profile that started sending me the vile messages.
I blocked her, and several other accounts, but her profile is still visible.
“Is this her?” I hold my phone out to Hayden.
He takes my phone, then nods. “Yeah, that's her.”
“What’s her?” Blaine asks, concerned.
“She was one of the people sending the awful messages.”
“No fucking way.” Blaine’s features harden as the anger rises. “Fuckin’ bitch.” He turns to Hayden. “Can I get someone banned from games? I don’t want her anywhere near me or Alex.”
“Possibly? It’s been done before but I wouldn’t know where to start…”
Blaine turns to face me, his hand cupping the side of my face. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. I’m sorry it didn’t click in my head when you showed me the messages, but I promise you that she won’t be bothering you anymore.”
I lean into his touch, smiling at his protective ways.
Because I know this man would fight to the end for me.