Page 107 of Trade It All

Because that’s Grady.

The loud, rough, slightly terrifying enforcer wrapped around the softest protective center.

I nod.

A smile pulls at my mouth.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I’m good.”

Jake studies my face for half a second like he is trying to make sure I mean it, then points at Dean.

“You hurt her and I’ll forget you sign my checks.”

Dean snorts.

Luka cracks his knuckles. “No, seriously. We all will.”

Jasper appears on my other side and sighs dramatically. “I cannot believe my media girl has been stolen by Coach. This is devastating.”

I laugh. Actually laugh. And the sound seems to release something in all of them because suddenly I am getting shoulder squeezes, quick hugs, muttered congrats, and a whole lot of chirping about Dean being a secretive asshole.

Big brothers. Every single one of them. Even when they are yelling.

Dean leans down by my ear while the room continues buzzing around us. “You okay?”

I turn my head enough that our noses almost brush. “Very okay.”

His mouth twitches.

He kisses my forehead once—softer this time, private despite the crowd—before the coach part of him takes back over.

“All right, enough,” he barks to the room. “We have a game to win.”

A chorus of groans and catcalls follow him as he stalks away. I watch him go for a second longer than I should.

My husband. Still cannot believe that sentence belongs to me.

I shake myself out of it when one of my coworkers jogs over asking if I still want to shoot bench-side. Normally I would. Normally I spend the game down near the glass, floating from tunnel to bench to media pit. But today feels too big. Too unreal. Too much.

I hand my camera off with a smile. “You guys cover it tonight,” I tell them. “I’m taking family section.”

They blink in surprise but nod. And honestly, I think I need the family section. Need women. Need someone to scream with. Need to tell someone before I burst.

By the time I make it up there, the Rizzolis and Websters are already packed into their usual loud chaos.

Penelope spots me first. “There she is!” she calls, scooting over to make room.

Addy’s eyes narrow the second I get close. “Why do you look like you swallowed fireworks?”

I laugh nervously and sink into the seat beside them. Because I do feel like fireworks. Like I might explode if I don’t say it out loud.

I glance down toward the ice where Dean is talking to the refs near the bench, then back at the women around me.

My women. My family. “I have something to tell you guys.”

That gets everyone’s attention instantly. Penelope straightens pausing halfway through opening a snack for Matty. Lennon leans in. Addy just stares at me like she already knows it’s going to be something huge.

I inhale. Then blurt—“Dean and I got married.”