Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
“Stop,” I say, my voice sharp now. “You don’t get to talk about her like she’s some fling I’m going to toss aside. You don’t know how I feel about her.”
“Then tell me,” he snaps. “Tell me why the hell I shouldn’t be worried about my sister being tied to a guy who treats relationships like disposable coffee cups.”
I take a deep breath, trying desperately not to snap. I want to yell at him, to defend myself, but I know that won’t help. So I force myself to calm down, to find the words that will make him understand.
“Because she’s not just some girl to me,” I say finally. “Molly’s . . . everything. She’s smart and stubborn and funny. When I’m with her, nothing else matters. Everything fades away. The noise, the pressure, the bullshit—it doesn’t matter. She’s the only thing that matters.”
Dane stares at me, his jaw tight, his eyes searching mine.
“I know my reputation,” I continue. “I know what people think of me. And yeah, I’ve screwed up a lot in the past. But Molly? She makes me want to be better. I’d do anything to be the man she deserves. Fuck.” I look up at the ceiling, trying to find the right thing to say, before looking back down to meet his stare again. “I’d bring down empires if it meant keeping her safe.”
The words hang in the air, heavy and raw. Dane doesn’t say anything for a long moment, and I can’t tell if he’s processing or just deciding how hard he wants to punch me.
Finally, he exhales, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We wanted to,” I say. “But we didn’t know how. And after Vegas . . . it just got more complicated.”
“Vegas?” His eyes narrow.
Shit.
I wince. “Yeah. That’s where . . . it happened.”
Dane’s face tightens, and I can see him putting the pieces together.
“You married her in Vegas,” he says flatly.
“Yeah.”
“And you didn’t think I deserved to know?”
“We were going to tell you,” I say. “We just . . . didn’t want to do it like this.”
Dane exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, and I mean it. “But I swear to you, Dane, I care about Molly. More than anything. I’m not going to screw this up.”
He’s quiet as he continues to look at me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nods, though it looks forced.
“You’d better not,” he says quietly.
“I won’t.”
He doesn’t respond. He just turns and walks away, leaving me standing in the hallway with the weight of everything still hanging over me.
This wasn’t how I wanted him to find out.
But now that he knows, there’s no turning back.
64
BREAKING NEWS: Hudson Wilde Marries Teammate’s Sister in Secret Vegas Ceremony
By: Erin Hart, Sports Insider
Hockey fans, brace yourselves—Redville Saints’ star right wing, Hudson Wilde, has dropped a bombshell bigger than any game-winning goal. Reports surfaced this morning that Wilde, infamous for his “bad boy” reputation, secretly tied the knot in Las Vegas . . . and the bride? None other than Molly Sinclair, the younger sister of Wilde’s teammate and Saints enforcer, Dane Sinclair.
When asked about the shocking news at today’s press conference, Wilde declined to comment. The usually smug and quick-witted player looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable as cameras flashed and reporters pressed for answers. His only response: “Next question.”
Speculation about the couple’s relationship history—and Dane Sinclair’s reaction—has already taken over social media. With the Cup Finals still fresh in fans’ minds, many wonder why the pair kept their relationship (and now marriage) under wraps.
Fan Comments:
@SaintsFanatic99: HUDSON WILDE??? MARRIED??? To DANE’S SISTER??? I NEED ANSWERS.
@HockeyGirlForever: I’m devastated. I’m in mourning. Hudson Wilde was supposed to marry me.
@WildeChild89: Honestly? Respect. Man scored on and off the ice. 🏆
@TeamSinclair: WAIT. Dane’s sister?! Hudson’s a dead man walking. I bet Dane’s sharpening his skates right now.
@PuckLife23: Hudson Wilde, secret family man? Did not see that plot twist coming. My condolences to single girls everywhere.
@SportsSpill: The real question: How did Hudson Wilde—a man who can barely show up on time—pull this off?
@MollyFanClub: Okay. I just looked up her pics. Molly Sinclair is goals. Marry a pro athlete AND tame him? Iconic behavior.
65
Hudson
I’m sitting in the team lounge, staring at my phone as it buzzes on the table in front of me.
I can’t think straight.
My brain is actual mush.
Normally, I pride myself on being quick-witted and funny, but right now, I can barely form a sentence, let alone a joke.
My brain’s been spinning since the press conference earlier. All I can think about is Dane’s pissed-off face.
Honestly, in Dane’s mind, I’m the worst thing that can ever happen to his sister.
It pisses me the fuck off, because none of that shit is true. I’m not a player. I’m an asshole. I let everyone think one way about me because it was easier, and now, I’m feeling the consequences of that decision, and it hurts.