Page 117 of Hockey Boy
“So you, what, heard I’m good at this and are offering me a job?” I’m still so confused. I’ve never been good at anything. If Aiden didn’t ask Beckett to do this…
“Yes. I make a point to hire the best. Name your price, and we’ll make it work.”
I appreciate that he assumes it’s a done deal. Like I’d be an idiot to say no. The truth is, I would. This is what I’ve been waiting for. A career I love. One I’m good at. One with a purpose. Sure, weddings are fun to plan, but Josie’s party was far more rewarding because it brought joy to a little girl who doesn’t regularly experience it.
“I’ll think about it.”
Beckett nods evenly, like he has no doubt I’ll say yes. “Get with Liv and set up a time to come in this week. We’ll get you into the Langfield system and make it all official.”
“I appreciate it, Beckett.” I hold out a shaky hand. Between the engagement and the job offer, my nerves are a mess.
Rather than shake my hand, he pulls me in for a hug. The man truly is a conundrum.
As he releases me, he adds, “And think about the brownstone. There’s a park across the street, so Aiden would have plenty of room to run.”
I snort. “You mean the imaginary dog you’ve selected for us would have room to run?”
With a tilt of his head, he furrows his brows. “No. Have you met my brother? He’s the one who needs a field.” Without another word, he slides his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and strides away.
I, naturally, burst into laughter.
This really has been a strange day.
The crew is all smiles, mingling and snacking and goofing around. All except for Beckett’s son—the troublemaker. He’s got his arms crossed, and he’s staring me down.
Glutton for punishment that I am, I head in his direction. “Hey, Huckleberry. You going to congratulate me?” I crouch down to his level and look him in the eye.
The kid squares his shoulders and eyes me up and down. “The last girl he proposed to didn’t make the cut. You going to be nicer to him?”
Appreciation sweeps through me. There’s no hiding my smile. This kid. He’s seven and already watching out for Aiden. It’s official—he’s my favorite. “He’s my guy, Huck. Don’t you worry. I’ll work to make him smile every day, just like he does for me.”
And I mean it too. Standing in this room, surrounded by our friends and family, waiting for the man of my dreams to play his dreams out on the ice, is everything. It makes all the difficulties in my life seem inconsequential.
My job. My parents’ demands. The trust. None of it compares to the way I feel about this man.
After another incredible win, Aiden joins us in the suite to celebrate. From there, he tells me to pick a place to move our celebration. I request the underground bar. His responding laugh is raucous. Because while I could choose any place in Boston, I picked the team’s sports bar. What he doesn’t get is that where we go doesn’t matter. Being with him is all I care about.
And tomorrow, we’ll wake up together, close the blinds and sit quietly in the dark.
Together.
Despite the burntorange and yellow leaves adorning every tree flanking the street as I walk down Langfield Way toward the corporate offices, the warm sun is decadent on my skin.
Beside me, Sara is wearing a smile that rivals mine. Her hair is now Bolts Blue because the season is officially underway.
She bumps me with her shoulder. “We could do this every day, you know.”
A warm laugh bubbles out of me. “You are at the arena or traveling for like half the year.”
“Okay, noteveryday. But still,” she says, growing quieter. “This is huge, Len. An engagement and a new career? Are you freaking out?”
I give myself a moment to mull over her question. Not even a year ago, I was single and living in New York. I didn’t have a career; I had a job. I owed no one anything.
We’re approaching Langfield Corp so that I can discuss the potential new job. Accepting it would mean I’d be tethered to the Langfield family not only through our marriage, but for work too.
I’d be going all in.
A breeze kicks up, causing fallen leaves to ghost past us. That swish of wind feels like magic. Like Boston’s way of luring me into accepting. Reminding me of its beauty in the simplest of moments.