His grin starts to grow bigger.“That makes sense.”
“And I can set up my recording equipment anywhere,” I go on.“Record in Cleveland during the season, then back to Bayshore during the summer.Or even have recording equipment in both places.”
He nods, his eyes sparkling.“I’m liking this more by the second.”
“The only thing is I’ll need to set up a library of sorts in both places,” I say, frowning.“My plan is to have a dedicated book space so I can have the books backdrop.”
“I just so happen to have a spare room in each of my places,” Griffin says.“So consider it done.”
“You’d let me turn your spare rooms into my book havens?”If I wasn’t in love with him before, I am now.There have never been sexier words.
“Forever.And I’ll build you the bookcases.Whatever you need, Case.”He brushes a kiss against my lips.
“Well, that sentence alone was the equivalent of a marriage proposal, and I accept,” I tell him.“By the way, I’m coming to all of your home games.”
“Wearing my jersey,” he prompts.
“Wearing your jersey.Now go catch your flight.I’ll see you in Cleveland next week.”
He kisses me once more—slow, passionate—and finally detaches himself and heads toward the truck.I stand in the gravel, waving and watching him go, until he pulls into the fray of the city.
I turn back to my storage unit, the relative quiet overcoming me as an effervescent well of happiness burbles inside of me.
For the first time in potentially my entire adult life, things feel perfect.Despite the fact that there is a technical mess surrounding me and ahead of me—the move logistics, building a new business, figuring out my life from here, navigating an actual relationship…
Holy shit.
I’m living the life of my dreams.
And it’s perfect despite the messiness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
GRIFFIN
Every time I step through the tunnel into the arena on game night, things feel right.The energy the fans bring, the noise, the cold.It’s a perfect cocktail.
But hitting the arena on the first home game of the new season, knowing that Casey is there wearing my name?
Fucking perfection.
There’s an electric buzz in the air, which always happens once we start the warmups and fans begin filling the seats.I secured lower bowl seating near center ice for Casey and my family, so Casey could get up close and personal for her first professional game.I spot them quickly, all decked out in Crushers jerseys.Every time I blaze past, they pump their fists and scream.
It doesn’t get old…and it reminds me that if I’d gotten my way two months ago, I wouldn’t be living this right now.
Thank God my family set me straight.Including Dad, somehow, from the afterlife.
Pre-game warmups go well.The knee is as solid as it can be.Some of us on the team do the warmup that Casey enjoys most, where it looks like we’re humping the ice.I’m sure she’s amused.
In the locker room before the puck drops, I let out a big whoosh of air.“God damn, it feels good to be back on the ice.”
Colt claps me on the shoulder.“You fucking got that right.”
And as soon as the words are out, I feel the old familiar creep of doubt.
Right now, I have it all.And it still scares me.
But I’m not going to ruin it for myself.I’m going to fucking cherish it.