Page 119 of Puck Love

“You should get somesleep.”

“What are you, my coach?” He smiles, and every doubt I had melts away, just like that. Not because he’s a whole lot of pretty, but because I trust him. I believe him when he says he wouldn’t hurt me and that that girl was as shocking to him as she was to me. We’re both in the spotlight, and I know better than anyone after several years of my label trying to push Logan and I together that people will go to crazy lengths for a little media attention. I have to be patient with Van, and I have to learn not to take photos at face value. I believe him when he says he loves me, and I feel like an idiot for thinking he’d cheat on me. Van Ross is as taken with me as I am with him. Why else would he behere?

He holds my hand as we walk backstage to the media room for the meet-and-greet. It’s done up with posters and roses everywhere in my signature red, and for the first time I feel a little embarrassed at the fanfare because Van has never seen this side of my life. He lets go of my hand before we enter the room, pulls the ball cap farther down on his head, and melts into the background as several young kids run towards me. I’m engulfed in huge hugs that almost knock me off my heels, but I steady myself and crouch down to theirlevel.

“Hi y’all.” I’m met with beaming smiles, and parents flashing pictures, which of course about gives Lana a heart attack because the paid photoshoots account for a huge portion of the money these meet-and-greets bring in, but I don’t care. I’m not going to be the person who tells themno.

After ten minutes, my legs are killing me in a squatting position so I lead the kids to a couch and make them all sit around me. A little girl no older than four with blond curls and the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen climbs into my lap. Her mother shoots me an apologetic look, but I shake my head infinitesimally and squeeze her as tight as her air tube allows. She tells me her name is Sophia, and asks me to sing a song for her. I sing “Amazing Grace” because I think she’s everything that song embodies. She joins in on the chorus, but only gets out a few lines before she’s out of breath. When her mother tells her it’s time to get hooked up to her oxygen again, she turns in my lap and throws her chubby arms around me, squeezing my necktightly.

I meet Van’s gaze across the room. He looks as torn up as I feel, and I wipe my tears away before she releases me, climbs off my lap, and into her mother’s waiting arms. Her mother smiles at me as if I’ve made their whole lives, which is ridiculous because I just stand on stage and sing songs. I don’t save lives. I don’t help people or put out fires, or feed the homeless. I just sing. That’s all I’ve got.That and money. I nod to Lana, and she smiles and jots a note on herclipboard.

Every meet-and-greet, we try to find at least one fan who we can give back to. She’ll talk to the mother and get an address, stating that we’d like to send them a signed gift pack, but instead we’ll do a little digging to find out how much money the family might need and write them a check. I may not be able to save this little girl’s life, but hopefully I can make it a littleeasier.

I chat with all the other kids and pose for photos with the fans who’ve paid for them, and just when we’re about to leave, one of the young girls notices Van and strides over. “I knew you’d be here. You know that hit you made on Ambrosio from the Detroit Red Wings last week wasawesome.”

“Er . . . thank you,” he says, shooting me a look. “Are you a Crushersfan?”

“Meh, I’m a Pens fan. Crosby is my guy. He doesn’t know it yet, but we’re gettingmarried.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, you wanna make your future husband-to-be jealous, and take a picture with me, eh? I’ll tweet it tohim.”

“You’d dothat?”

“Sure. He and I go wayback.”

She narrows her eyes. “I thought you two were enemies, since that cheap shot you took in Pittsburgh back in2014?”

“Hey, he had that coming. Besides, we might have a long-standing rivalry on the ice, but off it, he’s a decent guy,” Van says. “Don’t tell anyone that, though. If he finds out, all my credibility is shot tohell.”

“Okay,deal.”

Van poses for several pictures with the girl and even some of the adults, and then he takes my hand and presses a kiss to it before we leave the room, and I won’t lie. I think every woman within a thirty-mile radius just blew an ovary, or two, including Lana. I am no exception. I’d give it all up for this man in a heartbeat. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the next three months that we’re apart, but I’ll be giving his proposal some very seriousthought.

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