Page 98 of Body Check

Dakota nodded, looking faintly surprised.

“And that’s what Iwant, Dakota,” Gavin said earnestly. “I’m not asking you to make a lifelong commitment. I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m asking you to take a few days and think about if we have the potential for more. If it’s worth getting to know eachother better. Worth seeing if we have a shot at something great together.”

“I’ll give it some thought,” Dakota said.

It didn’t feel like enough, but Gavin nodded anyway, because it had to be Dakota’s choice. And hehadoffered him a few days to think about it.

“What about our careers though?” Dakota pressed. “And Violet’s. Because I’m not willing to risk?—”

“Well, that’s what I started to tell you earlier,” Gavin said, shifting until he was in a seated position. “I think I’m going to quit my job.”

TWENTY-ONE

Dakota had plenty to think about in the next few days.

Because of the team’s travel schedule, he barely had time to run home after the bombshell from Gavin, pack, then get to the airport.

Gavin hadn’t gone with them.

To Dakota’s surprise, he’d decided not to travel. Instead, he’d chosen to stay in Boston. He’d explained he needed to speak to his executive assistant and plan how to tell the ownership group about his decision.

His decision had been a little less dramatic than Dakota had initially thought. Gavin wasn’t quitting as the team’s general manager. What he was doing was stepping down from his position as interim president of hockey operations.

Apparently, sometimes they were a dual role held by one person, sometimes two people did those jobs. The structure of the head office of one team was never exactly like the others and much depended on how the ownership group felt about it.

Gavin had explained that in his case, they’d been wary about him taking over both roles, particularly because he was on the younger side compared to much of the leadership in the league and had so much less experience.

And the position had been on a trial basis.

Gavin had fought hard to do both—becauseof coursehe’d wanted the control—but apparently this health scare had been a serious wakeup call for him.

Dakota was a little surprised and a small cynical part of him questioned how long that would last, but Gavin choosing to stay home and begin the process was a sign that pointed to his commitment.

So, while the team traveled to Pennsylvania and Ohio for games, Dakota had taken some time to think about what he wanted. About what his future might look like.

And every time he thought about telling Gavin they should end what they were doing, he felt a little sick. Because he could lie to himself all he wanted, but in that moment where Gavin’s pulse had fluttered against his fingertips, he’d beenscared.

He’d been scared of losing Gavin.

Every time he pictured one of the other guys in that position—Connor or Jesse or Graham or any of the other players he was fond of—it didn’t send a sharp stab of fear through his gut.

He would have been worried for them of course. He didn’t like seeinganyof the guys out on injured reserve, and something as serious as heart trouble was much more concerning.

But the idea didn’t leave him with the tight feeling that appeared every time he imagined not seeing Gavin’s eyes light up orhearing him laugh or feeling the touch of his hands on his body, strong yet gentle.

Dakota had so much to risk here and he couldn’t make any decision without talking to Violet about it first, but if he was being honest with himself, he knew what he wanted. And it wasn’t to walk away from Gavin.

So as the plane approached Boston at the end of the road trip, he knew what he had to do.

“I need you to schedule a meeting with Ned and the rest of the ownership group,” Gavin said, pacing his office.

Amelia—his executive assistant—raised her eyebrows. “For what purpose?”

“To tell them I plan to step down as president of hockey ops.”

Amelia’s mouth formed a small ‘o’ of surprise. “Because of your recent health concerns?”

“Yes.”

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