Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
“I can’t believe I get to meet Connor Grace and Roman Hammerstein! This will be the best day ever!”
Fingers crossed Connor shows, or I’ll have one sad little girl on my hands. I mentioned during practice that my sister plays hockey and is a huge fan of his. He said he’d try to make it. Callie made him a card and is wearing her GRACE jersey. Although, she’s almost equally obsessed with Roman, so he’ll be a decent consolation prize.
Fee flops down on my bed. “Do I have to come?” She, too, has asked this question ten times. She’s dressed in her uniform of darkness: black jeans, black shirt, black eyeliner.
“It’ll be fun. You’ll meet the head coach’s daughter, and she went to your school last year, so you have something in common,” I remind her.
“She won’t want to hang out with a high school kid,” Fee complains.
“Just give them a chance, okay?” I need the black cloud around her to lift a little.
“Okay.”
How one word can be so heavily infused with disdain is a teenage wonder.
We drive the short distance to Dallas and Hemi’s condo. The subway probably would have been quicker, but Callie made cookies, and I made BLT dip, so the car was easier.
The party room is hopping when we arrive. Upbeat music plays through the sound system, and the space is full of massive hockey players, the coaching staff, and Hemi and the girls.
Callie’s face lights up as Dred comes over to greet us. “Dred! Yay!”
Even Fee perks up when she sees her.
Dred opens her arms and accepts a hug from Callie. “You look like you’re feeling a million times better.”
“I was only off school for one day, and I only missed one hockey practice,” Callie declares. “When can I visit you at the library?”
“Whenever you want.” Dred’s attention shifts to Fee. “Love that shirt. Pierce the Veil will always be one of my favorite bands.”
Fee’s eyes flare, and she covers the band emblem with her hand. “You know Pierce the Veil?”
“I’ve even been to a concert. Best live performance ever.”
“I would die.”
Dred motions between them. “You and me, girl. We can go together—as long as that’s okay with Lexi.” She gives me an apologetic look while Fee gives me an imploring one.
“Yeah, of course it’s okay.” I’d rather her go to a concert with a responsible adult than a bunch of teenagers who have a questionable sense of self-preservation.
Callie starts bouncing and grabs my arm. “Oh my gosh, Lexi, it’s Connor Grace. He’s here. Can you introduce me so I can give him this?” She thrusts her card at Dred. “I made this for him. Do you think he’ll like it?”
Dred manages to keep her eyebrows from touching her hairline. “Oh, absolutely. You’re an incredibly talented artist. And I love the use of glitter.”
Callie drops her voice. “I kinda traced it. I’m not good like Fee.”
“Still awesome.” Dred looks to me. “You want to introduce Callie to Connor, and I can introduce Fee to Tally?” She shifts her attention back to Fee. “She’s dying to meet you.”
Fee’s eyes widen. “She is?”
“Yeah. This whole crew is all about hockey, and she’s all about dance. She’s excited to have someone who loves the same things she does join the group.”
“Okay.”
Dred winks at me and guides Fee over to where Tally is standing with Rix, Essie, and Hammer. She’s immediately greeted with enthusiastic hugs, and her entire face lights up. I send a thank you up to heaven for this remarkable group of people who have embraced us as their own.
Connor leans against the wall on the other side of the room, his phone in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. That he showed up says a lot about his desire to figure out how to mesh with the team. His head lifts as Callie and I approach. She’s practically vibrating with excitement, but trying so hard to play it cool.
Connor slides his phone into his pocket and smiles as he notices the number 7 on the arm of Callie’s jersey and the card in her hand. “Hey, Coach, this must be your sister. Calliope, right?”
“You know my name?” Callie stares up at him with awe-filled eyes.
He drops to one knee so they’re at eye level with each other. “I do. And you know mine.”
“You can call me Callie. You’re my favorite player. I used to cheer for New York, but then you were traded, and my sister is your coach, so I asked for a Toronto jersey. Plus the mascot is funny,” she adds.
Connor smiles, and it softens his otherwise regal, sometimes harsh features. “It is funny.”
“Geese are always grumpy,” Callie says.
“This is accurate. Maybe it’s because they have to poop so much.”
Callie giggles then grows serious. “You were really great during the last game.”