Page 50

Chloe

I nearly stumble back in shock as I take in the group gathered.

It looks like the entire Green Thunder team is present, as well as wives and some of the staff.

Gunner wraps an arm around my waist steadying me.

I narrow my eyes at him.

“You did this.”

“Actually, it was Brielle’s idea,” he says with a nod at Brielle.

“But I got on board pretty fast.”

“How did you know today is my birthday?” I hadn’t told anybody.

Grandma May had called to wish me happy birthday, but that was it.

I didn’t really do anything these days to celebrate my birthday.

Gunner smiles as he pulls me closer to his side.

“I know a lot about you, Chloe.” I shake my head, still trying to wrap my mind around this.

“Thank you,” I tell him softly.

He leans down and kisses me softly on the lips.

“Happy birthday.”

“No hogging the birthday girl,” Brielle calls out loudly as she steps up next to us.

“Were you surprised?” she asks me.

“Yes. Totally.”

She pumps her fist.

“Good.” She high fives Gunner, and I look on in amusement.

“That’s why I came to your office that day to talk about Aiden’s schedule. It wasn’t really a birthday party for Aiden; it was for you. I figure your schedule would line up mostly with his.” Realization dawns on me at her words.

“I really thought you and Aiden were having marriage problems,” I admit.

Aiden joins us and wraps an arm around Brielle.

I smile at the sight of him holding the tiny bundle in his arms.

“Shouldn’t you be resting and recovering, not planning birthday parties?” I scold lightly.

“I didn’t have to do much; I had lots of help.”

“Thank you,” I tell her earnestly.

“This was really kind.”

“Like I said, I had lots of help. Now go eat before the hockey boys eat it all.”

I turn towards the table loaded with food, and my eyes widen.

Gunner puts his hand on my back and leads me towards the food.

“Wait, not so fast,” Amber says, appearing in front of us.

She reaches toward me.

“Lower your head.” I do as she says, and she places something over my head.

I look down and laugh at the Happy Birthday sash.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she says, eyes twinkling.

Gunner leads me towards the table, and we load plates of every kind of food imaginable.

At first, I think it’s way too much food, but then I remember how much these guys eat after a game.

We settle into the crowded living room.

A few of the guys move, making room for their captain and me on the couch.

The night is going really well until Sebastian takes a huge bite of the gluten and dairy free cake and then promptly spits it back out.

“What is that?” he nearly shouts at the offending cake.

Brielle faces Gunner with wide eyes.

Gunner shrugs.

“It’s gluten free and dairy free.”

“It tastes like sawdust,” Sebastain says, still trying to clear out his mouth.

Stephanie elbows him.

“It can’t be that bad.” She reaches for a piece, but Sebastian stops her.

“No, Babe. It’s terrible.” He turns around.

“Kyle! Owen!”

Aiden and Gunner both smirk as the two rookies for this season saunter over.

Rico and Amber join our group as well.

“Here, Guys. Cake.” Sebastian places a piece in both their hands.

He hands one to Aiden next, but Aiden knows not to eat it.

I watch as Owen and Kyle both take huge bites, and then simultaneously gag.

The guys crack up as Owen spits his out, and Kyle looks for a trash can.

I wipe the tears from my eyes as I shake my head.

“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad. Let me try a piece.” I put out my hand for a plate.

“Your funeral,” Sebastian says, handing me a piece.

“Cap, you gonna make your girl try it alone?” Rico taunts.

Gunner grabs a plate from the table and faces me.

I happen to know he doesn’t like sweets anyway, so he wouldn’t like it, even if it were good.

But I stare him down.

“Ready?” He nods.

“One, two, three.” We both take a big bite and instantly regret it.

My eyes widen, and I fight the urge not to gag.

I whirl around looking for the trash can as Sebastian doubles over in laughter once again.

I spit mine into the napkin Brielle shoves at me, and Gunner spits his in the trash can before he walks over to the table and picks up the entire cake and shoves it in the trash can.

Sebastian's nearly in tears. “Your faces.”

Gunner scowls at him. “That was terrible.”

“I told you, but none of you would listen,” Sebastian says, still laughing.

“Who bought it?” Stephanie asks.

Brielle looks sheepishly at Gunner. “I did,” he says, obviously still irritated. “I didn’t know it was going to taste like somebody’s ashes.”

“Ew, Gunner!”

He shrugs at me. “It does.”

I laugh. “Well, it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had.”

“It was definitely the worst though,” Sebastian says, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The night is something I will remember for a long time. We celebrate late into the night, and I don’t know when I’ve ever felt so loved. They even got me presents. Aiden gives me one first, I open it up and start laughing as soon as I see what it is—Aiden's jersey.

Gunner turns to Aiden with a scowl.

“What the—”

“It’s payback,” Aiden says, cutting him off.

Gunner turns to me, obviously confused.

I put my hand on his arm, still laughing.

“Brielle wore your jersey to a game once. It was the only one I had on hand for her to wear to the game. I’m pretty sure Aiden has hated me for it ever since. So, he gave me his jersey to wear.”

Gunner picks up the jersey and wads it up and throws it at Aiden.

“She’s wearing mine.” We all get a good laugh out of it.

Brielle hands me a gift bag.

“This is really your present. The guys just thought that was a funny gag gift.”

“It’s a great gift,” Sebastian calls out.

Bri just shakes her head.

“This is from everybody.”

Curious, I pull the tissue paper out of the bag and pull out a white box.

I stop when I see what’s on the front.

My eyes shoot to Gunner’s in shock.

“Open it,” he says in a low voice.

I pull the lid off and stare down at the latest and greatest iPad Pro.

It’s the most expensive one on the market right now.

I know because I’ve looked into it.

Stephanie gives me the rundown on year and storage.

“There’s more in the bag,” she encourages.

I pull out a slender white box and shake my head at the brand-new Apple Pen.

I also pull out a new cover, air pods, and a magic keyboard.

“You guys.” I am completely overcome.

“Since you live on that thing, we figured it was time for an upgrade,” Sebastian says, earning a laugh from everybody.

I know just how much everything in this gift bag is worth, and it blows my mind.

I mean I know these guys make a lot of money, but they have bills and families.

“I...” I shake my head, not knowing what to say.

“This is way too much.”

“No, it’s not,” Gunner says.

“We all know how hard you work.”

“Yeah,” one or more of the other guys says.

“We owe you for the following we’ve garnered over the last few years,” Rico says.

I laugh.

“Yeah, it has nothing to do with the fact that you guys are at the top of your game.”

“Yeah, we are!” somebody shouts.

I’m not even sure who.

“What’s our chance this year?” Zac asks.

“Yeah, we haven’t asked yet,” Sebastian adds.

I smile to myself.

Every year, they ask me what I think their odds are at winning The Cup.

“I tell you guys every year. It doesn’t matter what I think.”

“Yes, it does,” Sebastian argues.

“Yeah, you know more about hockey than most sportscasters,” Dylan says loudly.

I don’t argue with him.

“So, what’s our shot this year?” Rico asks, invested now in the conversation.

They all are.

They ask me every year, more frequently the closer it gets to playoffs.

I sit back against the couch.

“Well, first of all, thank you for my gift. That was way too much. I really appreciate it.”

“Boring!” One of the guys shouts, earning a laugh all around.

“All right. Fine. You want to know what I think your chance is this year?” There are nods all around.

I let my gaze wander around the room a moment.

It gets pretty quiet as they wait, and I don’t know how we even got to this point.

“You guys always take my prediction so seriously.”

“Because you’re always right,” Sebastian says.

I meet Gunner’s eyes.

He watches me as he waits along with everybody else.

“Quit stalling,” Rico says.

“All right. Okay, this is my prediction for this year.” I meet each of their eyes again; it’s completely quiet.

“I think you guys will go all the way this year.” Nobody makes a sound.

I raise my eyebrows.

“I’m serious, Guys. I think this is your year.”

“You’re not messing with us?” Zac asks.

“Or just being nice because we got you a present?” Seb asks.

I laugh.

“I’m serious. This is your year.” I meet Gunner’s eyes.

He doesn’t smile, but there’s a light to his eyes.

Sebastian whoops first, and then the room goes wild.

Gunner pulls me close.

“Really?”

I smile and nod.

“Yeah. It’s time.”

He stares down at me, completely serious.

I know that face.

It’s his captain’s face, the one he makes before he goes out onto the ice, the one he makes when he closes off the world around him because he knows he has a job to do.

He nods once, and I can’t help putting my hand on his thigh.

The guys are celebrating, as if they’ve already won.

Gunner’s not, though.

He’s serious, contemplative.

He knows I’ve never been wrong in my prediction for this team.

For four years straight, I’ve called how I think they will finish the season.

And for four years straight, I’ve been pretty dead-on.

Gunner and I say our goodbyes soon after that and head out into the snow.

Thankfully, Gunner’s truck is great in the snow.

We're both quiet for the first few minutes. After a little bit, I put my hand on his bicep. “Thank you for tonight. I still can’t believe you all pulled that off.”

He puts his left hand on top of mine. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. You deserved it.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, but thank you.”

“You really are a major asset to our team, you know.” I can’t help but smile at his words. “And you’re a really good person.”

“Stop. I’m blushing,” I tease.

“I’m serious. Every person in that room tonight loves you, and we all appreciate everything you do.”

Coming from the guy who doesn’t speak a whole lot, that means an awful lot. “Thank you, Gunner.”

He pulls into the garage, so we don’t have to walk in the snow. We grab our bags and head inside. “I don’t know how you’re still hanging in there; you have to be exhausted.” He just smiles at me. I take off my boots and coat and put them in the entryway closet. “What time are you heading over tomorrow morning?”

“I can go whenever you need to go in. I don’t have to be there until ten.”

“Okay. The latest I can go in is eight; I have too much to do.”

He nods. “Okay. I’ll be ready at seven-thirty.”

I glance at the clock and see it’s after one. “Are you sure? You won’t get much sleep?”

“I’ll be fine. You won’t either.” He steps towards me and wraps an arm around my waist.

“Yeah, but I don’t have practice tomorrow and—” My words are cut off as he leans forward and kisses me. I can’t help the sigh that escapes, and I lean against him.

He pulls back too soon. “I’ve been waiting for this all night.”

I grin up at him. “Me too. Are you done already?”

He scowls at me. “I’ll never be done with you.”

I stare up at him, trying to determine if he’s teasing or not. “Never?” I can’t help but ask.

He reaches up and tenderly tucks a hair behind my ear. “Never.”

And then he kisses me again. I don’t push him for more. That’s Gunner. He doesn’t say much, but he always says exactly what he means. And I have a feeling he just might mean forever.