“Morning, baby,” Ava murmurs sleepily from her place on my chest. I place a gentle kiss on her head.
I’ve been up for a few hours now, but she doesn’t need to know that. It was nearly impossible for me to sleep last night because today is the most important day of my life.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Mmm, what time do we need to leave by?” she mumbles, unwrapping her legs from mine to stretch them under our silky sheets.
“Mom wants to have brunch in an hour, then we should have a few hours before we have to head to the Arena.”
“She’s probably freaking out right now,” Ava chuckles. “When she called me from our apartment yesterday, she could barely form a complete sentence.”
Oh, don’t I know it. When I sent Mom her flight and hotel information, she started crying for a good twenty minutes.
“Thank God she didn’t call me, then. I can’t take any more tears. I’m already anxious enough.”
I’ve never felt this much anxiety in my life. So many possibilities are running through my mind, and I can’t seem to shut my brain off.
“She’s just proud of you. Her son is about to be drafted into the big leagues. I know I’m proud.” She smiles up at me and kisses me above the beard she still refuses to let me shave.
“Wanna join me in the shower and show me just how proud you are?” I smirk, grab a handful of her ass and squeeze. She lets out a squeak of surprise and playfully swats me on the arm.
“Is that a no?” I wiggle my eyebrows and throw my legs off the bed, stretching my arms above my head. I catch her eyeing my new and improved back muscles. It’s times like these I’m grateful for the higher intensity workouts I’ve been gruelling myself with for the past three months.
“Beat you there,” she winks and runs towards the bathroom in nothing but my t-shirt.
Damn, life is good.
 |
“How do I look?”
I finish buttoning my dress shirt and look over at her. The wind is knocked out of me as soon as I lay my eyes on my gorgeous girlfriend. I soak in the image of her as she twirls around the middle of the room.
The dress she chose fits her body like a glove. The white material goes well with my navy suit and I find myself staring at the leg peeking through the slit at her thigh. Her shoulders are only covered by two thin straps, and she’s showing the perfect amount of cleavage.
“I think we can afford to leave a few minutes late,” I growl, not tearing my eyes away from her.
She laughs and grabs my suit jacket from the bed. My gaze follows her every move and when she bends down to pick her heels up off the floor, I have to adjust the bulge in the front of my dress pants. Her perfectly round ass taunts me, and I grind my teeth in hopes of stifling a moan.
Rolling her eyes, she hands me my jacket and sits down on the bed, slipping her heels on. “You have the stamina of a horse, I swear.”
“You’ve never complained before,” I smirk while slipping my arms into the jacket. Her phone dings from the side table and she grabs it eagerly.
“Your mom and sister are outside. Gracie said your mom is crying again.” “Can’t you just tell them I left early? I really can’t afford to get any
more nervous.”
Something about seeing my mom and Gracie triggers my nerves and I am already far too nervous about this entire thing. I just want to make
them proud.
“Like they would believe you left me alone looking like this,” she
scoffs.
“You’re right. You’re not leaving my side. I’m serious.” My tone
leaves no room for argument and I smirk to myself when she rolls her eyes and waves me off.
I take a deep breath and head for the hotel room door. I open it and am attacked with a hug before I have a chance to speak. Mom’s soft cries make my heart ache. I slowly wrap my arms around her.
“I swear, Mom, I am not redoing your makeup again,” Gracie scolds. She shoves past us and heads into the room. “Where’s my future sister-in-law?”
Girly giggles ring through the room, as I pull out of Mom’s hug. “Hold your horses, pipsqueak. You’ll scare her away.”
“If she can handle looking at you every day, I don’t think it’s possible to scare her away,” Gracie shoots back and rushes over to Ava. “That reminds me! Your new apartment is beautiful. I’m still shocked you were willing to live with that ogre, though,” she adds as they hurry into the bathroom.
“Is she trying to steal Ava for herself or something?” I chuckle. “Who knows with your sister,” she shrugs and reaches into her
purse. Pulling out a Kleenex, she wipes away the remnants of her tears. “Your dad would be so proud of you, baby.” She balls up the Kleenex and looks over at me with wet eyes.
My vision blurs when she says that, and I have to look away from her. All I ever wanted was to make my dad proud, and I know wherever he is, he’s looking down at me with a grin on his face.
“If you guys are done with your sob fest, I have hot hockey player asses to look at,” Gracie announces as she and Ava rejoin us.
“You aren’t going to be looking at anything. Don’t think I haven’t noticed what you’re wearing. Would it have hurt you to cover up a little?” I glare at the mini dress that leaves way too little to the imagination.
“I think you look beautiful, Gracie. Ignore grandpa over here,” Ava jumps in, wrapping her arms around me from behind. She kisses the back of my neck, and all of my negative thoughts disappear.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and just like that, my nerves come barreling back.
“Shit. We need to leave, Will has interviews set up for me and we’re already behind.”
“C’mon, then. Time to watch my baby become the newest face of the pro’s!” Mom claps excitedly.
I look at Ava as she laces her fingers with mine. I can’t help but be blown away by the way she’s here, doing this with me. We really did make it.
 |
“Holy shit! That was exhilarating!” Gracie shouts as soon as we find our allocated seats in the Arena.
I can’t help but nod my head in agreement. I’ve never had that many cameras in my face before. When Will told me I had interviews, I didn’t expect to be stuck doing them for the last two hours. My brain is practically throbbing.
“Gracie! Language,” Mom scolds from her spot on my left. My sister just waves her off and continues to eye every breathing male in the vicinity.
As the lights dim and the first names start to be called, I rest my hand on Ava’s exposed thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She looks up at me with a comforting smile, wraps her hand around my arm, and leans her head on my shoulder. Mom takes my free hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.
My stomach is tied in knots, and my legs feel like jelly.
One by one, the first three picks are announced. My heart pounds fiercely as the Seattle GM steps onto the stage and approaches the microphone.
When my name is called, everything around me seems to slow down. Both of my arms are enveloped as the three most important women in my life watch me with tearful, proud eyes.
I rise to my feet and am immediately enveloped in my mom’s embrace. I squeeze her back tightly and whisper, “I love you,” in her ear before the roar of applause pulls me back to the present. I pull away from her and turn to lift Ava off her feet.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too, baby,” I reply, setting her down to hug Gracie, who holds me tightly.
As I make my way to the stage, my body goes into autopilot. I acknowledge congratulatory voices with grateful waves until I reach the steps.
The stairs vanish beneath me as I approach the stage. My smile widens even more as I shake hands with the line of management.
“Thank you so much. You won’t regret this,” I say confidently to the General Manager.
He grins and shakes my hand firmly. “You’re welcome, kid. We’re thrilled to have you as a Seattle Seal.”
He hands me a jersey, and my chest swells with pride. The name “Hutton” is emblazoned in white on the back, set against the navy blue and bright green of the silky material.
I quickly pull it over my head and grab the Seals baseball cap from another team member. Beaming, I move to the center of the line and smile for the camera.
I spot my family across the arena and my grin grows even wider at the pride on their faces.
I did it.
I made it.
