?


    I decided to push the thought away for now, refusing to let it take root. Instead, I focused on the here and now, on the man walking beside me, on the life we were building together.


    "I can''t wait to meet our baby," Enzo said softly, as if he had somehow sensed my inner turmoil.


    "Me too," I replied, my voice tinged with emotion. "I really can''t wait."


    We were back in the hotel roomter, getting ready to head to the hockey arena. I had picked out a simple top and a pair of jeans, and Enzo was slipping into his more professional attire of a white button down and ck pants. "Are you sure you want toe with me to meet the team?" he asked. "I mean, it''s not going to be all fun and games; they''re a rough bunch, not entirely like the team back in Mountainview."


    "Trust me, I want to be there," I said, gazing at him with sincerity. "These are the people you''ll be spending the next six months with, at least. I want to meet them. I want to be part of this part of your life as much as I can." He smiled, that warm andforting smile that melted my worries away. He crossed the room and kissed me, pulling away only to say, "I''m so grateful for how supportive you are, Nina. It means everything to me."


    A little whileter, we were arriving at the arena. It was muchrger than the arena back in Mountainview, and as we walked in, I already shuddered from the chill of the air.


    Enzo guided me into a meeting room where everyone was gathered. The team was seated around arge conference table, and as we entered, their faced turned up to greet us. They all looked young, younger than Enzo and I, but their eyes were full of spirit.


    "Enzo!" Tim, the recruiter who had hired Enzo, called out as we approached. His eyes then slid over to me, and a grin spread across his face. "And you must be Nina."


    I nodded. "Nice to meet you."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "Everyone, this is Nina, my better half," Enzo announced, cing a hand on my shoulder.


    Choruses of greetings filled the room. One by one, I was introduced to the yers, each name a blur as I did my best to keep up.


    "I''m so d you came, Nina," Tim said, shaking my hand. "We''re thrilled to have Enzo here and d you could join


    us,"


    "Thank you, Tim. I''m really excited to be here and to see what Enzo will be contributing to the team."


    A momentter, Tim''s face lit up as though he had just remembered something important. "Oh, and our team doctor, M, will be arriving shortly. Ah, in fact, here she is now."


    The door swung open, and in walked M.


    I took a breath, my eyes widening. She was tall, almost rivaling Enzo in height, slender with impable posture, and undeniably striking. Her hair was a cascade of silk that seemed to capture the light, flipping it back over her shoulder as she walked with a confidence that was unparalleled.


    The room''s atmosphere subtly seemed to shift as M entered, her presencemanding attention. As she approached, her eyes flitted over to Enzo, and for a fraction of a second, something unspoken passed between them.


    A flirtatious look? A secret understanding? I couldn''t tell, but it stirred a tension in me that I didn''t care to explore at that moment.


    Tim, perhaps oblivious to the subtle nces, turned toward me. "Nina, this is M. M, this is Nina, Enzo''s wife." "How very nice to meet you, Nina," M said, extending her hand toward me, her eyes locking onto mine.