Page 27 of Game Changer

AJ saw a little kid holding a notepad waiting patiently at the back of the group for his autograph.

“You want an autograph lil buddy?” he called over the noise.

The little boy’s face lit up and he nodded emphatically.

“C’mere. What’s your name?”

“AJ.”

“No way! You know that’s my name too, right?”

The boy grinned and nodded. “Of course. You’re my favorite player!”

“I am? Well, that’s great! Are you gonna play hockey when you get older?”

“I already do!”

“I bet you do! Wanna know a secret?” AJ lowered his voice and glanced around cautiously as though he had a huge secret to share. The boy looked captivated and nodded. “All the best players are called AJ,” he added as he signed the little boy’s notebook and ruffled his hair.

“Can I snap a picture real quick?” the boy’s mother asked, beaming. AJ nodded, recognizing his five-year-old self in the boy.

“Hey, hockey boy!” a familiar voice shook him out of his thoughts.

You’ve officially lost it, Williams. You miss her so much you’re now hearing her voice.

That’s just friggin’ peachy.

He glanced at Jeremy. His eyes were wide with shock and it started to occur to AJ that maybe he hadn’t heard the voice in his mind after all. Perhaps she really was calling his name. He clenched his jaw and turned slowly towards the sound of the voice.

“Holy shit!” Jeremy exclaimed.

AJ’s eyes landed on the Giants’ logo in the middle of her jersey and slowly worked their way up to meet her eyes.

Shit. She’s really here. Standing in front of me. How the–

Damn, she looks good in a jersey.

“Any chance of an autograph?” Lisa called casually as she started walking towards him.

How is she so goddamn calm? Thank god she’s coming over, I’m not sure my legs remember how to move.

People are staring. People might know you’re married. People don’t know you have an internet girlfriend.

You’re really not supposed to have a girlfriend when you’re married.

Shit. I hope she’s not expecting a big rom-com first meeting. I can’t kiss her in front of all of these people.

Totally want to, though. She looks so good in that jersey.

In his periphery, AJ saw Ana standing, grinning, next to Chelsea, who he recognized from Lisa’s pictures.

You know I have a wife, Ana. You know I shouldn’t have a girlfriend. Yet you look like an accomplice in all of this. Why would you do this to me? Why would you bring her here? In public, too? What the hell? Do you hate me?

No time to dwell, she’s, like – Fuck. She’s right there.

Their eyes met and she held his gaze. He returned her smile, despite feeling anything but calm and pulled her into a hug.

Finally,he felt his muscles relax. Not quite how I imagined this to go, but shit, this feels good.

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