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There should be no time for it, but my stomach flutters as if a thousand butterflies have taken up residence in there and my entire body flushes ith adoration for Reed God, this man That he would do that for his day with the Cup We hadn't even talked about it other than I knew each player got the Cup, but because he hadn't said anything about it, I'd assumed perhaps he had his day before we became an item

"You're unbelievable," I say as I go to my tiptoes to kiss hirazes his chin He doesn't even have time to touchback and heading down the hall

I call out over o Come see me later"

And then I put Reed out of s That doesn't mean, however, that I's calm down

--

The Stanley Cup sits in theback to norency Departot a turn with it Anyone as potentially contagious was off the list, and there was no way they could bring it into the waiting rooot to see it and have photos taken, as well as all of the eency staff

Marek is leaning over the low counter that runs halfway around the hub, flirting with one of the nurses He's shameless, but I've learned over the weeks that's just Marek He's got boyish good looks with dark curly hair and intense blue eyes that are co He's a player for sure, but he's not a douche bag Of course he wouldn't be a douche bag, though, because he's good friends with Reed, and Reed isn't a douche bag either

Reed is chatting with Kevin and they have a few pics snapped together by the Cup keeper, a really cool guy I got to chat with at Alex and Sutton's party before she went into labor The winning tea the su its travels He was able to quote funny stuff to me, like the fact that the Cup can hold seven bottles of chane in it and that he's traveled to twenty-four different countries with it

Kevin and Reed shake hands and Kevin disappears into an exaot three hours untilon tests or for discharge

I saunter over to Reed and his grin back at me tells me he's well pleased with his day with the Cup

"So, what did you think?" he asks as I reach him

"I think you made a lot of damn people in this hospital happy, Mr Olson," I say, and I don't give a crap who's watching or that I'm on duty I put my hands to the side of his neck and pull him down for a quick kiss

"That's all well and good," he says casually "But did I make you happy?"

I give hi my workday was definitely awesome"

I expect hiive me a kiss in return, but instead his eyes turn sober He leans towardon when I first got here? Did he make it?"

My sive a small shake of my head "He didn't"

"That fucking sucks," he h on you"

I nod into his chest and let his, and thankfully,lives versus losing them, but they still leave a mark on me

The wall I put in place while in the hospital start to crack a little and a wave of vulnerability hitsI never let happen I push out of Reed's arain He studies et an almost i

That I can't afford to be anything other than cool, calm, and collected Dr Ives while I'm in this hospital

"So, what do you want to do tonight?" he askshis hands into his pocket casually

"Anything else you want to do with the Cup?"

"Nope," he says resoundingly "It's just you and ot to relinquish you to Aiden for the next few days to work on your project"

God, I want to throwthe crap out of him He said that without a trace of bitterness or disappoint way that I know he's all right with this

A heavy arm drapes around my shoulders and I turn to see Marek has coirl out and go paint the town red tonight"

Reed cocks an eyebrow at his friend, and daest you get your arirl before I break it"

Marek, of course, just laughs and pulls htest bit of effort into her I could take her away from you in a heartbeat"

A tiny flash of heat mixed with ae Marek with any return ribbing Instead, he says, "You couldn't handle Josie She'd turn you inside out and twist you all around I know this for a fact, and it takes a real man to accept and appreciate that"

Wow JustI do that to Reed?

Before Marek can respond, so my name