Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies #2)

by Toni Aleo

  Drawing in a breath through her nose, she lets it out and then smiles shyly. “Hi,” she says before doing a really awkward wave. “I’m sorry to interrupt this gorgeous display of love between these two amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and calling my friends, but I need to address something.”

  She bites into her lip, and I can’t help but smile. She’s freaking the hell out, and while I want to move to her and help her out, this is where I need to let her win. I need to see what her play is.

  “Um. Well, you see. Oh, let me start with… Well, okay, like these two, I found the love of my life,” she finally says, and my heart just stops, restarts, and kicks into overdrive. “Um, but I have this really bad habit of not giving in to what I want, what I feel, and I’m kind of a…” She smiles. “He once called me a beautiful disaster, and that couldn’t be more true. The problem is, I kinda sorta hid him from the world and tried to keep our relationship a secret because I was scared that he would leave me. And if no one knew that he was the beginning to my end, then it wouldn’t hurt so bad. But then I watched him walk away from me because I lied and told my dad that he didn’t matter,” she explains, and I scoff as I look around. Everyone doesn’t know what the hell is going on. She’s rambling, and I find it very endearing. “I didn’t care about anyone else; I didn’t even care about me. All I cared about was the fact that I hurt him,” she says, her voice breaking. “I have to apologize for that,” she says, and then her eyes flood with tears before spilling over. Sucking in a breath, she admits, “I’m really bad at that, ask anyone. I don’t show emotion, I don’t say sorry, and I, for sure, don’t show weakness, but with him it’s easy. I’ll apologize over and over again, and I probably will have to because I’m stubborn and I think I need to be right all the time, but this made me realize I don’t. I just need to be with him,” she says, wiping her face as her eyes bore into mine. “Because like Jude sang, even when I lose, I’m winning because I’m loved by you,” she says, and tears well up in my own eyes.

  Emotion chokes me as I watch her come undone before my eyes. This is my favorite part of her. The honest, emotional part. But then, that’s a lie because I love all of her. I do. The good and the bad, all of it. I love Baylor Irene Moore. The whole package.

  Taking a step toward her, I say, “You’re killing me here.”

  She smiles, wiping away at her face. “I’m pretty sure I made him feel like a doormat, and in the beginning I promised to never do that, and I still feel I didn’t. If anything, he’s the doormat to my home, and my home is his heart,” she cries, her tears streaming down her face before she holds her hand up. “Yes, I know that was corny. Shut up, Jace and Markus.”

  People laugh, but all I can do is stare into her eyes because I really don’t think she realizes how much that means to me. Or maybe she does, because as her eyes burn into mine, her tears spilling over her cheeks, I feel nothing but love and understanding for the girl I fell head over heels for on the beach. The one who punched me square in the face, the one who has challenged me since day one, the one who has my heart.

  My sure bet.

  My Baylor.

  Clearing her throat, she blinks away her tears before sucking in a deep breath. “So to end my little plea for forgiveness, in the corniest and most girlish way,” she adds, and I can’t help but laugh at that until her eyes turn serious, the hazel turning to a dark brown as they cloud with more tears. “I need to say, my name is Baylor Moore, and I am completely and utterly in love with you, Jayden Mitchell Sinclair,” she says, her eyes never leaving mine.

  My heart, it has burst through my chest and is waiting for her to take it, but before I can move to her or say anything, she says, “And I’ll never hold that in again because I want the world to know I love you and only you. Yeah, the future is so unclear, but as long as you are with me, loving me, I’ll see my way.”

  She then drops the mic against her thigh and looks at me, but I can’t move. The room, it’s silent, everyone’s eyes on me, and shit, my mom is bawling like a damn baby. Jude and Claire are giving me that encouraging smile, and Jace is looking at me like I’m an idiot.

  “You know what to do, dude,” he says, and I do know what to do.

  But as look back at her, I’m speechless. This girl. My God, she’s hell on the heart, and I knew from the beginning she would be. That never derailed me either, and this little bump in the road can’t. We are strong as long as we are honest and we love each other. Man, I’ve waited for her to tell me those three words since the moment I met her, and what a way to tell me, in a way I would never expect her to.

  It is so unlike her and it proves so much.

  Her actions, they blow me away.

  Shaking my head in disbelief, I call to her, “Get your ass over here.”

  Handing the mic to Jude, she cautiously walks over to me, and it’s so quiet that you can hear a pin drop as she stops in front of me. “I’m rea—”

  “Shut up,” I say sharply, holding her gaze. “And say it again.”

  Her eyes hold mine for a long time, tears spilling over and rolling down her cheeks as she breathes deeply. Then a small, watery smile covers her sweet lips, and I’m breathless. Rendered speechless at the mere thought that I get to spend the rest of my days with this gorgeous disaster of a woman.

  “I love you,” she says, her lip wobbling. “I love you so much it hurts.”

  Taking her in my arms, I move my nose against hers, my eyes boring into hers as my heart pounds against my chest, trying to get home. “I love you more than that, Baylor, so much more.”

  “I should have told you sooner, but I was waiting for you to tell me again so I could say it back.”

  “And I was waiting for you to tell me because I didn’t want to tell you and have you not say it back,” I tell her and she grins, her tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Why is it a constant competition with us?”

  “’Cause that’s us,” I explain. “And I wouldn’t want to compete against anyone but you, Baylor Irene Moore.”

  “Good, ’cause you won’t,” she challenges, her nose moving against mine. “Because I love you so damn much, and you aren’t going anywhere.”

  Kissing her nose, I whisper against her lips, “That’s all I need to hear.”

  And as I press my lips to hers, her fingers threading into my hair as her body molds to mine, I know that I just won.

  Just like I knew I would.

  I always expected Jayden to go first.

  I mean, how could he not? He should have gone in last year.

  Not only is he one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen, he’s a leader. And with the announcement of Shea Adler’s last year in the NHL, Jayden will be an asset to the Nashville Assassins once he retires. He could be their leader. As he stands beside me, his eyes full of blissful happiness, he looks at me and I can only grin.

  “Told you you’d go first,” I whisper against his lips as he kisses me softly. Squeezing my biceps, he kisses me again and then again before he finally lets me go to shake hands with my dad. He then turns, hugging his family before rushing down the stairs to the platform where Elli Adler and Bryan Fisher wait for him with his number 59, purple and black Assassins jersey.

  As I watch him put the jersey on, and then the hat, my heart explodes in my chest. I expected to be jealous, I mean, I want this too, but I’m not.

  I’m proud.

  That’s my man down there.

  Jayden is the greatest thing about me, and I want him to succeed. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him, and this is great. Because when I come to visit my dad, Jayden will hopefully be home and I can cheer him on, as long as the Assassins aren’t beating whatever team I go to in the standings. Which they probably will be. They are a great team, but they had a bad year last year after the goalie went down with a hip injury. Now that he is better, they are looking for fresh blood to make another run, and Jayden will be great for that.

  He took the Bullies to the Cham
pionship and won, and he’ll do the same for the Assassins.

  Looking up at me, he winks as he walks off the platform and to the room for the draft picks.

  “You’re next, Bay,” my dad says to me then, and I nod as he squeezes my hand. These last couple months haven’t been easy. I’ve worked my ass off, played hard, and I am hoping that all the work I’ve done doesn’t go unnoticed.

  But when I don’t go next, or even after that, my confidence starts to waver a bit. When my phone vibrates in my hand, I look down to see that it’s Jayden.

  Jayden: Don’t worry, they’re gonna call you.

  Me: I don’t think so. We are already on the ninth round.

  My eyes are too clouded with tears, but I blink them away. I won’t cry. I haven’t failed. I’m a winner.

  Jayden: Stop that right now. You got this.

  Me: I hope you’re right.

  Jayden: I always am.

  Smiling, I swallow a sob as my dad wraps his arm around me. “Don’t worry, they’re about to call you. I can feel it.”

  But then it’s the eleventh round, no call.

  The twelfth and even the thirteenth with nothing.

  “Let’s just go,” I finally say, tears burning my eyes.

  “But we have one more round,” he says, looking at me with wide eyes. “Have faith,” he stresses, but I don’t. It’s gone.

  “You got this, Baylor, don’t worry,” Jace says with a grin.

  “Yes, honey. They’ll be dumb not to take you,” Mrs. Sinclair says, holding my hand.

  Then my phone vibrates.

  Jayden: Don’t you dare try to leave. Jude told on you.

  As I glare down at Jude, he grins. “Hey, I don’t play nice.”

  “He doesn’t,” Claire adds, her smile bright. “You got this.”

  I used to feel so alone before, but now, I have a family.

  I have Jayden.

  Sucking in a breath and letting it out my nose, I sit back in my chair and wait. Chewing my lip, I fully expect to taste blood soon, but then I stop when there is a commotion at the Assassins table. Elli Adler is standing, her hands on her hips as she argues about whatever is upsetting her. Throwing down her pencil, she goes toe-to-toe with Bryan Fisher, which brings the attention of everyone.

  “What in the world is going on?” Dad asks and I shrug.

  “I have no clue,” I answer, scooting to the edge of my seat, hoping to hear something even though I’m at the top of the arena.

  Then Bryan sits down, waving her off, and Elli bends down, writing something before handing it to the commissioner who is waiting for their pick.

  When he reads the paper, his brows go up before he looks over at Elli. Bending down, he says something and she yells back in a very thick, country way, “It’s what I wrote, ain’t it?”

  “Man, that Elli Adler don’t play,” Dad says, and I grin.

  “She’s actually really nice,” I say, thinking of the hours on end I sat with her and Shea discussing hockey. While I hope my name is on that slip, I didn’t miss the uncertainty in her eyes when I suggested picking me. It was a snowball’s chance in hell, but I knew I had to say it. She smiled and told me she’d see what she could do, but I know that there are other prospects they may still want. Feeling defeated, I lean back in my chair just as the commissioner picks up the mic.

  “Well,” he says, a little out of breath. “The Nashville Assassins have selected their fourteenth round pick.”

  But yet, I hold my breath, my heart pounding, and I pray it’s me.

  Pick me, pick me, pick me.

  “And that is Baylor Moore of Bellevue University.”

  “What the ever-loving fuck?” I mutter, my jaw dropping, but my dad is standing, hollering and jumping up and down, and I guess that means I heard correctly.

  “Baylor!” he yells, picking me up out of my seat and hugging me tightly. “You did it, baby, you did it!”

  “Oh my God,” I gasp as he shakes me.

  “Baylor, you did it,” he yells as my wide, full-of-disbelief eyes meet his. “I’m more than proud of you, Bay! My little 50, come here,” he says, and oh my God, he’s crying. As I hold him tightly, tears burn my eyes before I’m passed from him to Jayden’s family, all of them hugging me and kissing me before I’m taking each step down to the platform in utter disbelief. I always thought when this moment happened, I’d run, do a little jig before getting my jersey, but I can’t even think right now, let alone do a jig! I hold in my tears though since hockey players don’t cry and take each step up to the platform. The arena is silent, probably in disbelief. Even my dad’s and Jayden’s family’s excitement has been contained, but nothing can contain Jayden’s excitement.

  “That’s my baby! Get it, Bay!” he yells from the room, and I grin as I reach Elli Adler.

  “Someone is excited,” she mentions as she hands me my jersey.

  “As they should be, this is a huge moment in history,” Bryan adds. “One I wasn’t ready for, but one Elli was very adamant about.”

  As I look at Elli, she grins. “I believe in you and know you’ll add to my team. Now it’s time for the world to get with the program. This league isn’t about gender, it’s about talent, and Baylor, you have that.”

  Unable to comprehend what is going on, I look at the jersey almost in tears at the sight of my name and number on the back. “Is this really happening?” I ask, looking up at her, and she grins.

  “It is. Congratulations.”

  Sharing a grin with her, I then hurry to put the jersey over my dress and my hat on my head before we pose for pictures. I can’t wait to see them because I know my face says it all.

  I couldn’t be happier.

  When we are done, I walk down from the platform, and I don’t miss the looks from the other GMs and owners, even coaches. They are all in shock about what just happened, as am I, but then, I know I deserve this. I worked hard, and so I stand a bit taller as I head to the waiting room. The first thing I see is Jayden waiting for me, hopping on the balls of his feet.

  “Get over here!” he hollers before wrapping his arms around me and lifting me off the ground. “I told you!”

  “You did,” I agree, our lips pressing together. Holding me tightly, he moves his mouth with mine, and I still can’t believe it. I made it. But then it dawns on me. Pulling away, I look down at him, his jersey matching mine, and I yell, “Oh my God, we are on the same team!”

  Laughing, he brings my lips back to his as he mutters against them, “Dork.”

  When we part, I look deep into his eyes and it all seems like a dream. “This isn’t real, is it?”

  “No,” he answers, stone-faced. “We are actually in a different realm and have to find the door that will lead us back to our real lives, just like Sam and Dean had to do.”

  Grinning, I thread my fingers in his hair and shake my head. “Shut up, you big dweeb.”

  Laughing, he squeezes me tightly and I press my nose into his, thinking that I’m the luckiest girl in the whole damn world.

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  “I’m so proud of you too,” I answer back. “I can’t believe this,” I squeal, wiggling in his arms.

  “I can. I knew from the beginning we’d be standing together, right here, like this.”

  “Really? I mean, really? Come on.”

  “Really.”

  There is no way in hell anyone could ever wipe the grin off my face as I hold his gaze. “I mean, really though, how could this get any better?”

  Looking away, he nods his head as he grins. “Actually, since you brought it up…”

  Confused as he lets me go, I ask, “Huh? Brought what up?”

  He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he takes my hand and I watch as he slides a very large diamond ring down my left ring finger. When I look up, his eyes are blazing into mine as he falls down to one knee. “Marry me,” he demands. “Because that’s how this can get better.”

  “Now?” I ask, flabbergasted, and he gri
ns.

  “Yeah, now. Let’s go,” he says, standing up and shaking his head, and I beam back at him.

  I know he’s joking, but I’m not. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Wait, what?” he asks, confused, looking at me. “I was joking! A yes is all I want.”

  “Well, I’m not joking, and you’re getting more than a yes. You’re getting me as your wife, today,” I tell him.

  “What? We can’t have a wedding today! We don’t have anything planned!”

  “I don’t need to plan anything. I don’t need the dress, the flowers, or any of that crap. I need you,” I stress, framing his gorgeous face with my hands. “I love you, and I want to marry you right this second, in our jerseys, because you’re right, that’s how this moment can be better.”

  Eyeing me, he wraps his arms around me and he grins. “Really?”

  “Really, let’s go.”

  “Now?”

  “Now,” I answer, and his grin grows even more, his eyes shining with love for me.

  Squeezing me tightly, he whispers, “You never cease to blow me away, Baylor Irene Moore.”

  “Good, because I plan to do that a lot,” I inform him.

  “I can’t wait,” he says, his lips moving against mine. “I love you, Baylor.”

  “I love you, too.”

  And as he kisses me, I realize I just reached a lot of my goals.

  Make it into the NHL. Check.

  Make my dad proud. Check.

  Find the love of my life. Check.

  Tell him I love him every day. Check

  I don’t have the Stanley Cup, but I will, and I’ll have Jayden with me to do it, which is probably the coolest thing in the history of ever. But when I open my eyes, meeting his heated green gaze, I feel like I already won the Cup.

  Jayden is my Cup.

  My greatest win.

  And I know no one can take him away from me.