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I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle closer. “Sounds kind of boring.”
“It is.” He sets his phone down and kisses me again, saying, “Thank you for this.”
“For what?”
“For being here. Giselle has started seeing her therapist again and she’s feeling better than she has in a long time. I think you have a lot to do with that.”
I lean in and speak in his ear. “I think it’s more due to her new BFF Grandma Jo.”
He hums his amusement. “That, too. But Giselle likes seeing me happy, and you make me happier than I ever imagined I could be.”
“I guess you make me feel pretty okay, too,” I tease.
“You were more than okay this morning, Miss Barrington,” he says in a low tone.
My heart skips a beat as I remember being woken up early by Olivier’s thick erection against my back. One thing led to another and I came twice before even getting out of bed. It’s a much better way to start the day than a buzzing alarm clock.
“Get a room, you two,” Grandma Jo says with a scowl. “There’s a child and a senior citizen present.”
Amused, I ask, “A senior citizen who is hoping to see naked hockey players tonight?”
“You bet your ass,” she says, nodding.
When we finish shopping, we’re flying back to Chicago for the game tonight. I’m nervous and excited about going to my first game with Olivier. We’ve been avoiding the spotlight, but tonight we’ll be standing directly in it.
Giselle walks back into the main area of the fitting room, twirling in a pretty burgundy dress.
“I love this one,” she says, grinning.
“It’s beautiful on you,” I say.
It really is. The long, fitted dress perfectly outlines her youthful figure. It’s a halter cut with detailed embroidery on the bodice.
She looks at the dress in the mirror and turns to Grandma Jo, saying, “Well?”
“It’s just perfect,” Grandma Jo says. “It looks like it was made for you.”
“Dad?” Giselle asks, turning.
Olivier sighs softly. “You went from little girl to young woman so fast, ma crevette. But you look beautiful.”
“Are you saying yes to this one?” the sales associate asks.
“Yes,” Giselle says, smiling. “But before I take it off, will you take a picture of all of us?”
“Of course.”
Olivier stands and the four of us pose, arms around each other. I’m happy in this moment, but I also feel full. Complete. Like I have everything I want and need.
Grandma Jo has been so good for Giselle, but Giselle has been good for my grandma, too. I see the way Grandma Jo lights up when they’re together.
I had no idea how many lives would be impacted that day when Olivier pulled me from my car. He didn’t just save my life. He changed it. He changed me. I’m a softer, more trusting version of myself now.
“Ready to head home?” he asks me when the sales associate approaches us, Giselle’s new dress in a garment bag.
“I am.”
He grins and says, “Let’s go watch some hockey.”
“Which one is West?” Grandma Jo asks, scanning the ice.
“He’s the goalie,” I tell her. “Look at the Jumbotron. They’re scrolling through all the players’ photos and you’ll see him.”
Olivier had Blaze merchandise delivered to my family, and Grandma Jo got a jersey with Jonah West’s name on it. I still can’t get over how strange it is to see my always-formally-and-perfectly-dressed parents and grandma in red Blaze jerseys.
“This is really something,” my dad says, looking around Olivier’s owner’s suite.
He has his own bartender and a server who only waits on the people in his box. It’s extravagant, but since he’s working on meeting me in the middle, I’m working on doing the same by not overanalyzing how much things cost. He is the team owner, after all.
“I can’t believe the number of people here,” my mother says to me, shaking her head. “I had no idea sports were so popular.”
My privileged, out of touch mother is way outside her comfort zone tonight, and I appreciate her being here. It may be just so she can be seen in the company of a billionaire, but she’s here, and I’ll take it.
“You guys have to try the nachos,” Giselle says to us. “And the blue ICEEs are great, too.”
The server looks at us and asks, “Would you like anything?”
“I guess…nachos and a blue ICEE?” my mom says uncertainly.
“Same for me,” I say.
I’m definitely taking photos of Mom eating nachos and drinking and ICEE. I need the photographic evidence or Julia will never believe it.
“Daph?” Olivier says from close by.
“Yeah?”
“My PR manager is asking if we’ll go do some photos real quick before the puck drop.”
“We?”
“Yep. Olidaph.”
“Ah.” I breathe out and stand up. “I guess we might as well.”
We follow the PR manager to another VIP box and when we walk inside, Jada and her kids are waiting for us, all of them dressed in jerseys and smiling at us.
