Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Don’t kid yourself.” I kiss his lips. “I’m one hundred percent Grant.”
CHAPTER 34
XAVIER
“How are you doing?” Matthew asks me when he steps out of the driver’s seat. I close the back door of the SUV.
“Like I’m being strangled.” I stretch the collar to my white shirt, unbuttoning it.
“You’ll be fine,” Max assures me when he joins us at the back of the car. “The minute you think it’s too much.” He looks at Matthew. “Scratch your nose or something.”
“Or if it’s too much, you get up and say, ‘I need a minute.’” Matthew looks at Max, putting his hands on his hips. “Whatever it is,” he reminds me, “you run this show.” He points at me, and Max laughs at him.
“Yeah, you run this show until Matthew decides that you don’t.” He slaps my shoulder and squeezes, and I can’t help but chuckle a little bit, but then the nerves come back and start eating away at my stomach. All I can do is nod at him as we turn and start walking to the door, Max and Matthew on either side of me. I honestly didn’t think they would actually come to pick me up. I thought it was just said at the moment, but when Vivienne walked into the bathroom while I was getting dressed to tell me her father was there, I was speechless.
My heart beats faster and faster as we get closer and closer to the door. My feet even feel like they are getting heavier and heavier. Max reaches the door first and opens it, Matthew letting me go in after him, with Max following behind us.
The green carpet is all down the quiet hallway. The walls are filled with plays over the years. Dylan is in one of them, holding up the Cup. Michael in another one, and then in one of them, Cooper, Dylan, Michael, and Wilson, all off their feet in the air celebrating the win. The looks on their face is pure bliss. It’s a look that every single kid who starts to play hockey chases. It’s every little boy’s dream to win the Cup, but then when you do it, it must be the ultimate feeling. “Well, well, well.” Nico comes out of his office wearing blue dress pants with a white button-down shirt rolled up at the sleeves. “I want to say I’m surprised to see you two”—he puts his hands in his pockets and laughs—“but I’d be lying.”
Matthew laughs at him, walking to him and holding out his hand. “Glad that you know me so well.”
“I’m here to make sure that one”—Max points at Matthew—“stays in his lane.” He holds out his hand to Nico, who smiles. “So you’re all welcome.”
“Matthew stay in his lane?” Nico jokes. “That’s something I would be willing to pay to see.” He turns to me. “Xavier.” He holds out his hand. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”
I hold out my hand to shake his. “Thank you for wanting to sit with me.”
“I’m assuming you want to do this in the conference room?” Nico asks. “There is more space.” I nod and then hear the door close from behind me and look over to see Manning coming down the hallway, dressed in shorts and a polo shirt, very casual considering his title. Manning was the captain for Dallas for as long as I can remember. He won the Cup with them and then retired. Only after he retired did the news come out that he was the new GM of Dallas. He and Nico built a team that just got better and better through the years, winning two Cups back-to-back.
“There he is,” Manning says, coming to me with a smile, the two of us have had our battles on the ice, but the respect for each other is very evident. “Look at you.” He puts out his hand to shake mine, but he surprises me by pulling me in for a hug.
“How are you doing?” I say, trying to calm my blood pressure down.
“Good.” He looks at Matthew and Max, nodding while they exchange handshakes. “What did I miss?” he asks, looking at Nico.
“We are heading to the conference room,” Nico states. “Shall we do a tour?”
“That would be great.” I try to not make a big deal of this. Trying to tell myself that it’s going to be fine either way.
We walk into the conference room, and I’m not surprised when Matthew and Max sit on each side of me. The support is so evident it’s giving me that added security. “So,” Nico starts, “you thinking of coming back to the league?” He puts his hands on the table. “From the word on the street, you were done.”
It doesn’t surprise me that he heard this, nor does it shock me. It also, for the first time, doesn’t make me ashamed of the way I left. “I am,” I answer him honestly. “I’m not going to lie, I’m probably rusty,” I try to make a joke out of it, “but it’s probably like riding a bike.”