Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
I keep my smile friendly and warm as I walk toward Lilly but I let myself appreciate seeing her for the very first time without her work uniform. Yeah… she’s pretty, but tonight she’s more so with her hair and makeup done. Her hair is a lustrous, shiny chocolate brown, curled into soft waves that hang down her back. Her eyebrows are finely arched and those crystal blue eyes, framed by a cloud of dark hair, are almost shocking in their beauty. Those were downplayed by the shadow her ball cap threw over them or the mask she wore at the hospital, but the one thing I missed in it all was the smattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks. They’re nowhere else on her face, the rest of her skin creamy with the freshness of youth.
Lilly isn’t just pretty, she’s a fucking knockout. She’s dressed casually in a sweater and jeans, not too tight but not overly baggy. Nothing to call attention to herself and yet who needs fancy clothes with a face like hers?
Before I look like a perv, I force my eyes away, happy to see Harlow and Tillie keeping her company. When I reach them, I offer both ladies an appreciative smile before turning to Lilly. “Well… what did you think of your first game?”
“It was amazing,” she gushes. “I can follow it so much easier than on TV too.”
“You’re not the first person to make that decree,” Tillie says.
Harlow stands, giving me an affectionate punch to my biceps. “You played great tonight.”
Tillie follows suit but her attention is on someone behind me. Coen, I assume. She also congratulates me on a great game and takes off, calling over her shoulder to Lilly, “It was nice to meet you.”
Turning to Lilly, Harlow pulls a card out of her purse and offers it. Standing to accept it, Lilly’s gaze goes down and back up.
Harlow’s hand touches her shoulder. “That’s my cell number on there. You call me anytime you need to talk about your dad or if you have questions about the rehab process. My parents will be happy to talk to you too, from the perspective of a family member of an alcoholic. They had their hands full with me at one point. They joined Al-Anon for some really good support and you should too.”
“I’ll look into it. Thank you.”
Harlow pulls Lilly into a warm embrace and it fortifies me to know that the Hoffman family has someone other than me on their side.
When they pull apart, I ask Harlow, “Are you and Stone going to Mario’s?”
“Stone might. I’ve got an early workday tomorrow.”
I nod and Harlow goes to her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. She flashes Lilly another smile and then she’s gone.
“Ready to get a beer and meet some of the team?” I ask Lilly, holding my arm out to her.
“Let’s do it,” she replies, slipping her hand into the crook of my elbow.
I shoot a wave to Hendrix and Bain who will be heading over to the bar. They’re not surprised to see me with Lilly as I told them, as well as a few others, about her coming to the game tonight. They’re familiar with Aiden since they’ve joined me on prior hospital visits. Not all of them have met the kid since he was in isolation but they know I’ve got a soft spot for him, and now, consequently, his sister.
“I’ll introduce you to everyone when we get over there,” I tell Lilly as we exit the family lounge.
“Okay.” She sounds nervous and excited all at once.
When we talked last night and I told her I wanted her to come out with me after the game, she was admittedly anxious. “I don’t go out at all,” she’d lamented, a tinge of embarrassment in her tone. “My life revolves around Aiden, my father and running the deli. It’s been so long since I went out in a social situation, I’m not even sure how to act.”
“Don’t be silly,” I admonished. “You’re totally cool.”
She snorted and I could envision her rolling her eyes at me. “I have nothing in common with famous professional athletes or their wives and girlfriends. I’m going to be a complete dork.”
“Yeah, but you’ll be my complete dork,” I teased and then cajoled, “Come on, Lilly. Live a little. You deserve it.”
She didn’t need much to agree as she also admitted she wanted to take advantage of an evening away from the hospital with Aiden’s full permission. However, I expected her all day to send me a text backing out. Probably why my smile was so big when I located her in the lounge talking to Harlow and Tillie.
“How’s Aiden today?” I ask as I lead her toward the players’ garage. We’re close enough to walk over to Mario’s, but the temperature has dipped and it’s barely above forty. I notice Lilly’s only wearing a sweater, so I’ll park closer to the bar.