Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“And your answer is always no?” Austin asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course,” I say, shrugging.
“Why?”
“Have you met my teammates?” She hasn’t—but she will. “They’re great on the ice, but off? Half of them think microwaving ramen counts as cooking. Nova deserves better than a guy who forgets his laundry in the washer for three days and walks around smelling like mold.”
Austin laughs, leaning into the couch. “So, you’ve never even considered it? Not once?”
“No.”
She seems to give this some thought. “Question: if you had to choose one guy to set her up with, who would it be?”
I shake my head. “No one.”
“This is a game—you have to play.”
I shake my head again. “Don’t want to. The last thing I want to do is visualize her banging Jank or Tyler or whatever dipshit she dates.”
Not happening.
She pretends to think this over, tapping her chin. “What about your captain, Wes? He’s got that whole ‘strong and silent leader’ thing going on. Girls love a broody guy.”
I glare at her. “Wes? He drinks pickle juice straight from the jar.”
“So? I drink pickle juice straight from the jar.” She tilts her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Ooh, I’ve got it! The manager, Fitz. He’s tall. Cute.”
“He’s allergic to peanut butter,” I deadpan.
“Oh my God, so?”
“So. Nova loves peanut butter. That’s a deal breaker.”
Austin stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You are seriously a cock blocker. These are the dumbest reasons not to date someone I’ve ever heard.” Pause. “Give me one guy.”
I have to think long and hard about this.
Austin stops petting Gio to nudge me. “Well? I’m waiting. One guy. Give me one.”
I exhale slowly, racking my brain. “Fine. If I had to pick someone…” I pause for dramatic effect. “Luca.”
“Luca?” Austin’s eyes widen. “The backup goalie?”
“Sure, why not?” I shrug, trying to sound casual. “He’s decent.”
She bursts out laughing so hard she startles Gio into jumping off her lap and onto the floor.
“Decent? Luca is a human golden retriever. Your sister would eat him alive.”
Fun Fact: I love that Austin knows so much about hockey…until she knows too much about the players and who may or may not make a good match for my sister.
“At least he’s polite,” I argue. “He says thank you to his elders, aka, me. Which is more than I can say for half the idiots she’s dated.”
Austin calls the dog back up to her lap. “Do we honestly think Nova would get a lady boner for a guy who apologizes every time someone bumps into him?”
I roll my eyes. “You asked for a name—I gave you one. Take it or leave it.”
“You’re right. This is great,” she says, grinning like she’s just figured something out. “However, I personally think you picked Luca because he’s harmless. Nova would never, in a million years, go for him.”
“That’s not true,” I lie.
He’s not her type.
My sister enjoys an Alpha male—like me, kind of—and Luca Babineaux is not one.
“You can’t stand the idea of her dating anyone, can you? Admit it—you’re the ultimate overprotective brother.”
“I’m not overprotective,” I grumble. “I just don’t want her with some moron.”
“Right.” Her eyes roll. “So, basically everyone you’ve ever met.”
“Exactly.”
She laughs again, shaking her head. “Poor Nova. Good thing she doesn’t let you vet her boyfriends, or she’d be single forever.”
I shake my head to argue. “I don’t want her to be single forever. I want her to be happy, the same way we are.”
“You know, if these guys knew you were talking about them this way, they would die. Luca would die…”
She’s not wrong.
Luca would shit his pants.
“I just hope,” Austin reaches up to stroke the bottom of my chin, “your plan isn’t to gatekeep every guy on the team until Nova gives up and focuses on her knitting career?”
“She doesn’t knit,” I snap, and Austin dissolves into laughter again.
“Relax, I’m kidding,” she says, grinning as she wipes a tear from her eye. “But seriously, if Luca’s just a hypothetical and the rest are idiots, what kind of guy do we want her to date?”
I hesitate, shifting uncomfortably. “I don’t know. Someone… decent. Dependable. Kind. Someone who treats her right.”
Austin softens, her teasing grin fading into something more thoughtful. “You know, for all your big brother bear energy, that’s very sweet.”
I shrug, avoiding her gaze and fixating on the TV. “She deserves the best. That’s all.”
Austin smiles, tickling my neck. “Don’t worry. Nova’s got a good head on her shoulders. She can handle herself. Probably better than you give her credit for.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right but still unable to shake the instinct to protect. “Yeah, well, I’m still keeping an eye on her.”
I lean down, kissing the tip of her nose.
There’s a knock at the door and Gio scrambles toward the door, barking like he’s auditioning for a guard dog gig. “Guess dinner’s here,” she says, untangling herself from the couch.