I’m more invested in this than I should be, and I know it. But I can’t help it. I want Levi to get the funding for this trial.
I clock Moreno first in his signature navy suit, already mid-conversation with a donor he’s clearly trying to charm with the kind of charisma you can bottle and sell for six figures. He spots me and breaks off immediately.
“There you are,” Moreno says with relief. “You ready for tonight?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
I mean it. Mostly.
Jenny materializes at his elbow a second later, wearing red and smiling like she wants a write-up in a society column. Our civility is mutual but shallow, because she’s still convinced I’m sleeping with Dr. Moreno, while I’m still convinced she’s in love with his reputation.
“Dr. Park,” she says, nodding at me. “Everything looks wonderful.”
“The organizers did a wonderful job.” I nod politely and keep moving before she can attach herself.
Heidi is near the bar, already waving me over, a drink in her hand. She looks luminous as always—gold dress, glossy curls, the human embodiment of light and charm.
“You breathing?” she asks under her breath.
“Barely.”
She grins. “Good sign.”
Levi arrives not long after, bundled in a jacket that’s slightly too big, his parents flanking him with nervous smiles pulled tight. The second I see them, I make my way over. I crouch to his level to greet him properly, and ask how he’s feeling, whether he’s ready for a big night.
He nods so hard his beanie nearly slips off.
“My mom said there’d be hockey players,” he whispers.
The excitement in his eyes grounds me a bit, and I smile because that’s why we’re here tonight—for Levi and his happiness.
“Your mom might be right.”
His mom and dad gently wheel him through the crowd, greeting doctors and specialists as they make their way to a special table we’ve set up for them. It includes all of his favorite snacks, as well as some merchandise from his favorite teams—including the mascot stuff. He surprises me every time he mentions one of the mascots by name, by something funny they’ve done during an intermission. The kid has a great recall rate for things he loves.
I start to mingle with a few colleagues, making small talk and talking shop. I’m expecting a respectable turnout—some decent donors and investors, a few athletes. Enough noise to feel supportive without being overwhelming.
I’m halfway through a conversation with one of the board members when the temperature in the room shifts. It’s subtle at first, like a swell in the volume.
But then they arrive.
Athletes.A lotof them. Not just from the Colorado Storm—though Jake Brooks is unmistakable, and Chase Walton is right behind him, along with Viktor Karlsson—but players from other teams, too.
The sound in the room shifts as though someone’s turned up the volume. A few phones come out, and heads turn. The energy lifts in a way I can feel in my chest, bubbling and hopeful.
Jake spots Levi immediately and makes a beeline for him, crouches down, and offers a fist bump. Levi’s eyes go wide, his grin stretching ear to ear, as he excitedly chats away to Jake like they’re old pals.
I stand there, slightly dumbfounded, as the room continues to fill with pro athletes.
The Colorado Storm players are loud as they greet players from other pro teams. The Denver Miners’ star forward strolls in, laughing loudly with two teammates in tow. A pair of Denver Mustangs players follow, shaking hands like they’re working a room they’re already familiar with. Someone murmurs when they spot the Denver Dynamite women’s captain here, too, and the buzz sharpens another notch.
My confusion turns slow, then sharp, because this isn’t just a fluke or due to a casual invitation. This was organized. I scan the room again, heart picking up speed, and that’s when I see him.
Reid arrives without ceremony or entrance. He slips in last while the others take the spotlight, mustache twitching as he smiles and nods at a few familiar faces, his posture easy but alert.
And it’s fucking unfair.
He’s not even doing anything, just standing there in a dark tailored suit, button undone at the collar, hands loose at his sides. He’s tall, towering, but unbothered.
