“Speaking of the PAGs and the Seals….” I segued. “I want to tell management. If we’re going to do this, we need to let them know, or I’ll lose my job.”
“They already know, don’t they?” Spencer asked.
I shook my head just as Brayden nodded.
My heart stopped, white noise exploding in my ears. My chest squeezed, and I struggled to inhale. They knew? That wasn’t good. That was a disaster.
“I don’t remember who I spoke to. Rune told me so it would be the right person.” Brayden waved a hand like he was dismissing the importance of that detail. “I told him we were going to ask you on a date, and if they didn’t like it, they’d need to find another wing.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.
But it was.
He’d…. Oh my God! He was their newest star player, and he’d threatened to walk away from the team if they didn’t like my dating them. That was… the sweetest thing I’d ever heard.
“When?” I asked.
“Weeks ago.”
I swallowed and huffed out a manic laugh.
“I think you broke her,” Spencer teased.
I blinked, my gaze flitting between them. I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut again.
“I think so too.” Brayden grinned and tugged me closer to him, then pressed a sweet kiss to my lips.
***
Spencer was in rehearsals for his upcoming show this morning, so I’d driven Brayden to work with me. While I was at my desk, trying to work but completely distracted, he was hanging around the weights room with the guys before his meeting with Trisha,the team medic. He’d been going out of his mind with boredom at home—training, watching tape with the team, travelling, and games were so built into his psyche that missing them while on IR was messing with his Zen. But his spirits were high this morning; he had a good feeling about being cleared, especially because the headaches were completely gone.
I jumped when I heard the knock. I spun around, and relief slammed into me when I saw Brayden and Spencer there, both with bright smiles. I hadn’t even realized how much time had passed.
“All clear to return to training,” Brayden gushed.
“Thank goodness,” I breathed and resisted the urge to sprint over to him and wrap my arms around his waist.
Instead, I asked Spencer, “How was the rehearsal?”
“Good. We’ll be ready for the concert. We have another session the day before and a full sound check the day of.”
Excitement danced in my belly. I couldn’t wait to see Spencer in his element on stage. I’d binged every video of him I could find, from his music videos to old YouTube videos of him in Battle of the Bands competitions. Even when he was a teenager, he’d been magnetic. I couldn’t wait to see what he was like as a performer now.
“Should we get the next meeting out of the way too?” Spencer asked.
I swallowed hard, my mood teetering on the edge of panic and fear threatening to envelope me. I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I couldn’t keep lying to myself or the Seals anymore. We were in a relationship, and speaking to HR was the right thing to do.
Even if it could cost me my job.
I had a plan B of sorts, but I prayed it wouldn’t come to that. Every time I thought of opening my own social media management company, my heart rate accelerated and I broke out in a cold sweat. I needed this job, and I’d fight for it—I deserved it. But sometimes there were more important things than financial security, a 401(k), and health insurance. Brayden and Spencer were those things. I needed to take this leap, but I couldn’t deny I was terrified.
“Yeah,” I rasped, fear stealing my voice.
“It’ll be okay,” Brayden reassured me. He’d said it before—so had Spencer—but I was struggling to believe it.
We only had to walk five offices down the corridor to see Mike, the director of human resources, but my feet were moving like I was stuck in molasses.
“Come in,” he directed after I knocked.
I was glad he didn’t see the way my hand was shaking, and Brayden and Spencer were too sweet to call me out on it, but Brayden’s hand at the small of my back gave me the strength to push through the doorway.
