It wasn’t that simple. Not even close. Getting up in front of people was one of a million things that could turn me into a shaking wreck, but that was not a card I was ready to show Devin. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I was nowhere near ready for him to know exactly what kind of basket case I really was.
Devin watched me. He saw right through me. He had to. “What if I did it?”
“Hmm?”
“What if I was the spokesman for it?”
“You’d…” I blinked. “You’d want to do that?”
“Are you kidding?” His face lit up with a grin. “Help out with something so kids like Dallas can actually come to hockey games? Dude, sign me up.”
“Really?”
“Of course!” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “And I mean, even if they don’t want me as a spokesman, if your team is onboard, and there’s anything I can do to help, say the word. I’m sure there are a lot of other parents out there in my situation.” He touched my face, and his smile made me weak. “Kind of feels like an opportunity to pay it forward, you know?”
Holding his gaze, I ran my palm along his forearm. “Okay. Well. Maybe we should talk to Richard. Together.”
“Definitely,” I said. “Let me know when, and I’ll be there.”
I smiled up at him, but it faltered. “We’ll see what happens.” I sighed. “He might still want a player to be the spokesman. Because… You know…” I gestured at myself.
“Name recognition.”
“Exactly. But honestly, I think as long as someone’s willing to spearhead it and get the work done without putting more on his plate, he’ll probably go for it.”
Devin nodded. “I can imagine. Do you, um, have any idea what it would entail?”
“No, but Richard could fill you in. And if it’s more than you have time for, or—”
He silenced me with a soft kiss. “I’ll make it work. For something like this, I will definitely make it work.” He caressed my face. “Thank you so much for doing this. Not just the night you and the team did everything for Dallas, but taking it a step further for other kids.” His smile made me warm all over. “I think it’s going to make their day.”
“Then we’ll definitely make it happen.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “I’ll talk to the people in charge, and we’ll do this.”
Devin smiled as he moved in for another kiss. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“Because I want you and your daughter to be happy?”
Devin didn’t answer. He just came down to me again, and we sank into another long embrace and languid kiss.
Holding him close, I was almost overwhelmed with relief that he was willing to step in as spokesman. I didn’t know if Richard would go for it, but even still, just the fact that Devin was willing to fill that role meant a lot. It gave me more confidence that we could make this happen instead of letting it fizzle out because of my stupid brain.
And as I held him like this, I could actually believe that if Richard told us the spokesman gig was non-negotiable, I could step up and do it.
Whatever it takes to make you this happy, Devin.
No matter how much it scares me.
Chapter 20
Devin
On a Sunday afternoon, a few hours before I needed to go pick up Dallas from her mom’s, Jase and I had a meeting with Richard down at the stadium. Jase met me in the parking garage, and we headed inside.
On the stadium’s lower level, he swiped a keycard beside a Restricted Area door, then held open the door for me.
“Wow.” I laughed as I stepped into a fluorescent lit and windowless hallway, my voice and footsteps echoing off the drab gray concrete walls. “Feels like we’re going into some secret squirrel nuclear bunker.”
He chuckled, resting his hand on the small of my back as we walked. “Nah. They don’t let us bring guests down there.”
“Not even season ticket holders?” I huffed with mock indignance. “I knew season tickets were a scam.”
Jase just laughed.
After God knew how many turns, he stopped in front of a door marked Richard Sullivan, Public Relations Director.
My heart sped up with sudden nerves.
Here we go. No pressure or anything.
As we stepped into the office, Jase said, “Richard, you remember Devin, right? Dallas’s dad?”
Richard stood and extended his hand over his paper-cluttered desk. “Of course. It’s great to see you again.”