Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
"Your dress is missing about eight inches."
She glances down at herself and then back up at me. "No, it isn't." Her lips purse. "Can you please let go of me now?"
Hell no.
I reluctantly release her.
We stare at each other in silence for a long moment.
"What are you doing here?" I ask her.
"How's your head?" she asks at the same time.
"Meeting Jordan."
"Fine."
"You probably shouldn't be at a bar with a concussion."
"What did Hollie say about me?"
Her entire demeanor changes when I ask the question. She goes from tolerating me to pissed off little kitten in the blink of an eye. "Are you kidding me right now, Atlas? You slept with her, broke her heart, and you're worried about what she said about you?" She eyes me like I'm the biggest disappointment she's ever met in her life. "That's just…I don't know what that is, but it's gross."
"Slept with her? What the fuck are you talking about? I've never slept with Hollie." I've never slept with anyone, let alone with our physical therapist. I may be the biggest virgin in the AHL, literally. Wherever she's getting her information from, she's getting bad information.
"Oh, so you're calling my best friend a liar?" She slams her hands down on her hips, scowling at me.
"Hold on. Hollie is your best friend?"
"Yes."
"And she told you that we slept together?"
"Obviously. She's not a puck bunny, you big jerk. She was a virgin. It's really messed up that you waited to end it until after you slept with her when the two of you work together."
Jesus fucking Christ. No wonder she hates me. She thinks I took her best friend's virginity and then ditched her. I'd hate me too if it were true. Unfortunately for me, it's not. And unfortunately for me, I'm not sure the truth means a damn thing right now.
Of course, she's going to believe her best friend over me. She doesn't even know me.
Our physical therapist just sank any hope I had before I even knew this gorgeous little pixie existed.
What the fuck?
Chapter Three
Gabbi
Atlas stares at me with soulful green eyes, not saying anything for a long moment. It's unfortunate that he's a jerk because he's hot as Hades. The man towers over me like a freaking mountain casting a shadow. It's not hard to see why they put him in the goal when he's as big as he is.
I know from listening to Jordan that he's talented too. The only reason he isn't in the NHL is because he got into trouble last time he was called up. Apparently, he's kind of a crazy person.
Based on what I've seen of him, it tracks.
I'm not sure why I'm so disappointed that he slept with Hollie Janara, my best friend. I don't even know him. But I'm not just mad that he broke her heart. I'm disappointed with him, as if he personally harmed me. It makes no sense. But I haven't been able to get him off my mind since I saw him at the arena yesterday.
I haven't been able to stop thinking about the fact that he slept with Hollie, either.
It's driving me crazy.
"Do you have Hollie's number, Gabbi?" he asks, leaning close to ensure I hear him over the roar of the bar. The place is packed. Then again, Bender's bar usually is when they're putting on a show. Since the band retired, it's the only place they play anymore.
I was supposed to meet Roman and Jordan—my brothers—here to negotiate Christmas plans, but they both bailed on me. I think they're trying to avoid discussing the holiday yet again. They do it every year. I don't know why they're such Grinches.
"Why?"
"I'd like to speak to her."
"I'm not giving out her number, Atlas."
"Fine. Then will you step outside with me and call her so I can speak with her?"
I eye him warily, not sure what he's up to, but not entirely sure I trust him, either. "Why do you want to talk to her?"
"To clarify a few things."
"Like what?"
"Like why she told you that I slept with and dumped her when we've never even dated."
Technically, she didn't tell me that he dumped her. I worked that part out for myself. Three days ago, I came home to find her sobbing on the couch. I could barely get her to tell me what happened, but she finally admitted that she was in love with someone and had slept with him, but that it was over. Getting a name out of her took everything short of an Act of Congress.
She's been miserable. It's breaking my heart for her, but she refused to confront him. So I asked Jordan if I could tag along to the arena because I intended to do it for her. I didn't expect him to get hit in the head with a puck, though. My whole plan kind of went out the window at that point.