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"Oh, no she didn't," I say with a shake of my head

"Wrong move"

Gray leans over and kisses me on the cheek "You know me so well"

"I definitely know that you are not a person that takes threats well" The gravity in ed out by what happened with Claude "You told a knife-wielding lunatic to go fuck himself"

"I knew you were just htly, and lays a hand on ives it a pat "It's all done, baby I'ether"

"I'ive Hensley a piece of my mind--"

"Don't," Gray says, her voice whisper soft "Let's let it all go and just start fresh froht here"

Her eyes are so full of expectancy and hope So happy and contented I have no choice but to reach ive her a slow kiss and then look her in the eye "Okay Fresh start Froht now"

Gray pulls away as soon as we hear the SportsCenter thehtly

The reporter cohtly toward the caht The league's first feer, Gray Brannon, made headlines when she made a very public declaration that she has a relationship with one of her players"

The feed cuts to video of Gray standing at the glass, holding her sign up "Already, sociala serious conflict of interest"

Gray's hand squeezes mine harder I lean over and kiss her on the temple

The feed then cuts to video ofthe TV tiame, both Gray and Brian Brannon presented the announcement"

The feed then cuts to a close-up of Gray with perhaps a dozen microphones all shoved under her chin Flashes fro strikes

"I would like to let the public know that as of seven PM tonight, right before the gaeneral e and approval of nize the conflict of interest that has arisen bya personal relationship with one of h I would like to state for the record that at no time did I have a relationship with Ryker Evans prior to Dece forith an inevitable offer to extend his contract, I know that I cannot continue to serve in er without approval from the executive board Until such tianization"

Gray steps back with a placid smile on her face, while Brian Brannon ht and he raises a hand that coht, although I just wanted to nation with my approval, as we don't ever want there to be a hint of impropriety with hoe handle player relationships I would also like the public to know that Ryker Evans has previously offered to retire from the team so as to remove the conflict, but Gray wouldn't let him do that"

My head jerks as I look over at Gray, but she doesn't take her eyes froetting showered after the game, and while Gray had since filled , these words by Brian Brannon are an absolute shocker to me

"I don't know that I've ever been hter than I am at this irl was to be involved with hockey Seeing her take the reins of the organization hat I thought was the proudestToday is the proudest, as I watch her stand up and sacrifice all that she ever desired for the simple prospect of love"

"Holy fuck," I mutter under ht make me cry"

Gray sniffles and I look at her as tears pour down her cheeks "Right? He's so wonderful"

I pick up the popcorn and put it on the table besidewith my beer and pull her into my arms The video feed is cut and the ca up the story He's talking about how the board of directors is going to vote on whether or not to accept Gray's offer, and that Brian Brannon is abstaining from the vote

This I also already knew and that the vote would be happening tomorrow

Gray lays her head on ed ar to your heart It's so strong and solid Just like you"

I squeeze her "Did I ever tell you that you are thewoman I've ever known?"

"I think you have," she says as if she's searching naniht in my mind"

I laugh and press my chin on top of her head We lie like that a few moments, cos that have happened to us in the last few days Crazy, terrifying, heart-pounding, knee-buckling, insos

But it's all good

In this ood

"Are you worried about the vote tomorrow?" I ask her She's seems so far to be very unperturbed by all of this I know nation being accepted I'm not quite sure how I'll be able to live with this if it happens I' her dreams

Before she can even answer ently push her off anization I can't stand by and let you do that"