Page 62 of Made For You

“I’m assuming that what I told them is confidential?” I ask and then stop. “Actually, I don’t even give a shit. It’s my truth.”

“Maybe now would be a good time to get your story out there,” Matthew suggests from beside me when we stop at the SUV. “You should talk to Franny.” I tilt my head to the side. “If there is anyone who can help you tell your truth in a respectful manner, it’s her.”

“I’ll think about it,” I tell him. I expect him to open the driver’s door, but instead, he continues looking at me. “What you said about Vivienne.” I wait for him to talk before continuing. “You mean it, right? I would hate to have to kick your ass.” I throw my head back and laugh. “Does she know you were going to put your eggs all in one basket?” I shake my head.

“No,” I tell him, “but I’ll tell her now.” I fold my hands over my chest. “And if she tells me she can’t do it.” I shrug. “I’ll just call it a day and end it there.”

“You would walk away from the game for her?” Max asks me.

“I’ve walked away from the game once for me.” I swallow. “I would do it in a heartbeat for her. Wouldn’t think twice about it. There is nothing more important to me than her and her happiness.”

“Good to know,” Matthew says, turning to get in the SUV. He drops me off three minutes later. “Come for dinner,” he urges, and I just nod at him. “See you in a bit.”

I walk into the lobby, going to the elevator, and press the PH button for the penthouse. I used the key she gave me before I left, walking into the penthouse. “Vivienne,” I call her name, and I’m shocked when I look over and see our bags packed and waiting at the door. I don’t have time to even think about it before I hear nails on the floor, and I look around the corner, seeing Beatrice coming for me. “Oh my!” I exclaim, getting down on one knee to greet her. She comes to me, her tail going nuts. “How’s my girl?” I greet her, hugging her neck as she turns around and around in a circle in my arms. Her tongue coming out and licking my face over and over again. I look up seeing Vivienne leaning against the wall, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Her hair is piled on her head, one foot on top of her other foot, the smile filling her face making my whole heart feel complete. “What did you do?”

“Well.” She folds her arms over her chest. “Last night, you said that you usually talk to Beatrice about things. And I know that you are going to have to make big decisions.” I stand up for a second, and Beatrice barks at me, so I get back down on one knee. “So I asked my dad to help me get her here.” I look down at Beatrice, who is panting now. “Then I decided that with her here, we needed to have a backyard, so I rented a house next to my parents’ house.”

I stand up, walking over to her. “You’ve been a busy, busy bee.” I bend to kiss her, and Beatrice barks at me.

I’m about to say something to her when Vivienne says to her, “Hey, sharing is caring. I brought you to him.” I can’t help but laugh, and I’m about to say something to her when the phone rings in my pocket.

I take it out and see that it’s Nico calling. I look at Vivienne, whose eyes open big. “Hello,” I answer, putting the call on speaker.

“Xavier.” Nico’s voice fills the room. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Not really,” I say, “but you are on speakerphone. Vivienne is here.”

“I won’t take much of your time. I just wanted to call and thank you for meeting with me.” I swallow, thinking this is probably a phone call telling me I come with too much baggage. “Manning and I sat down after you left to go over a couple things.” I look up at Vivienne, who steps closer to me and wraps her arms around my waist. “We took everything you said into consideration and weighed your demands.” At this moment right here, I’m so nervous I think I’m going to get sick all over the place. My heart is racing, my stomach is lurching, my hands are shaking, and the back of my neck feels like it’s on fire. “With that said, I’m sorry to say…” My ears ring as I brace for the bad news. “…you are going to be stuck with us.” Vivienne’s face goes into shock. “I’ll call Miles now with an offer.”

I can’t help but smile as Vivienne puts her hands in front of her mouth and bends at her waist. My nerves from before are gone, and in their place is a happiness I don’t think I’ve felt when it came to hockey for a long, long time. “You won’t be sorry,” I assure him, and he laughs.

“Enjoy the rest of the week,” he says. “I expect you on the ice next week. Call Wilson, do some ice time with the guys.”

“On it,” I reply, and I hang up on him, looking at Vivienne, who has tears streaming down her face.

“What just happened?” she asks me, trying not to sob.

“Well, I went in there and told him my story,” I tell her. “Then I told him that the only place I would play would be here.” She laughs and sobs all at the same time. “If you are going to follow me anywhere, you might as well do it with your own support system.”

“You did this for me?” She wipes the tears away from her eyes, but more follow them right away.

“No.” I shake my head and walk to her, grabbing her face in my hands. “I did it for us.” I kiss her lips, tasting her tears. Beatrice barks beside us and walks between our legs. I look down at her. “And for you, too.”

EPILOGUE ONE

VIVIENNE

Four monthslater

“How nervous are you?” my mother says from beside me as I stand in the luxury box and wait for the team to come out. It’s been four months since he took the offer from Dallas. Four months since he was all in, four months since we went back to New York to live the summer on the boat. It was just a little different this time. Instead of spending all day on the boat with me, he would leave to go and train. He trained from eight to four, six days a week. There is a light that has come back into his eyes I don’t think he knows was gone. The nights would be just the two of us and, of course, Beatrice. He would get back and take me out for sunset cruises all the time. Until it was time for training camp, and then we had to say goodbye to the boats. It was also time to move all our things to Dallas. House hunting was a breeze because both of us only cared about having a bedroom and a yard for Beatrice. We left it in the hands of my aunt Zoe, and she did not disappoint. The house was five bedrooms with a media room and gym and a huge backyard with a pool for Beatrice.

“On a scale of one to ten”—I look over at her—“a million.” I look ahead at the empty ice, wondering how he is doing. It’s opening night. He was a bit nervous today when he got up.

“Hey,” my father says, coming to stand by us. “He’s got this.” He puts his arm around me. “After that special last night.” I look up and wipe away the tear that has fallen over my lashes. “There is no way in fuck one person will be sitting in their seat when they announce him.” I can’t help but smile with pride. After he signed with Dallas, he called Franny. There on FaceTime, he told her his story and asked if she would like an exclusive. She not only jumped on it but she also made sure he was the most comfortable he could be. So, where did we shoot it? On the deck of his boat, his home. It was also the first time she stepped in front of the camera. There was no way she was going to let anyone fuck with him. It was a first for both of them. She asked the questions she needed to and, a week later, sent us the show. I cried through the whole thing, feeling his pain and hurt, but then happy that the light was back. A smile was on his face all the time. Every single man in my family took the time to call and congratulate him. My grandfather thanked him for being so brave, and then he finally cried.

“I just want him to be okay,” I say softly as I look and see the fans coming into the arena.

“Vivienne,” my father says my name. “He has this, and if he doesn’t, he has people around him making sure he’s okay.”