“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?”