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)
“Thanks.” I smile.
Arnold Thomas, the assistant coach who works primarily with the offensive players, is talking to Donnie over at one of the tables. His eyes slide my way for a moment.
“And don’t worry about Donnie,” Ralph adds quietly as he loads up a plate with fresh fruit. “He’s just sore he didn’t qualify for the position.”
“My position?” I ask.
He nods.
That explains the lack of warmth coming from him and Arnold.
Another player calls Ralph’s name. “Join us after you’ve grabbed something.” He leaves me alone with the beverages.
My nerves were shot after the introduction to Roman, and now I find out I was given the job over an internal hire? It’s as much an ego boost as it is another thing to worry about. The pressure of this job is a weight in my stomach.
I scan the juices, finally trying to focus on the reason I’ve been standing here. Choosing a drink should not be overwhelming. As I reach for the freshly pressed carrot-apple-ginger, a shiver runs down my spine.
“I suggest watermelon lemonade over that one,” Roman says quietly. “It’s a little sweeter, more to your taste.”
Panic shoots down my spine, and for a moment I forget how to breathe. Everything I’ve just finished convincing myself is true has reset.
He remembers me.
But any potential warm and fuzzy feeling dies as I turn toward his intense, displeased expression. His gaze roves over my face, and I feel it everywhere. “I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but…” The next words out of his mouth destroy me. “I don’t lie.”
CHAPTER 3
LEXI
After Roman drops his bomb, I turn my attention to the juices again, unable to hold his gaze. I need to speak with him privately. What if he tells management about our history? Or worse, what if he tells his teammates? I could lose their respect before I’ve even had a chance to earn it.
This job means everything to me. Working in pro hockey is the pinnacle. That it could end before it’s even begun because of something I did years ago would hurt worse than slipping on ice a thousand times.
But before I can find the words, he heads in the direction of a young woman and leads her out of the room.
I guess that private conversation will have to wait. Maybe it’s better that I have time to prepare for it. When I took the coaching job, I was focused on how amazing it would be for my career. Not how fucking awkward it would be to work with my former two-night stand.
After I finally select a juice—the watermelon lemonade, because of course I follow Roman’s advice—I spend another twenty minutes chatting with Ralph and Kellan Ryker, the goalie who will be stepping in for Roman at the end of the year. Eventually I’m able to escape to my office. But I can’t even appreciate my nameplate fixed to the door. Or the fact that I have a freaking office with a window. Or that I’ve scored my dream job. I don’t know how to deal with this. And I don’t have anyone to talk to.
In three years, I haven’t told a soul about my weekend with Roman. For forty-eight hours, he was all mine. And I was wholly, undeniably his. I wanted to keep it that way. For so many reasons. But mostly because our time together felt special and sacred, and it wasn’t something I wanted cheapened because of who he was to everyone outside that hotel room.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. My stomach flips. What if he’s calling me?
I’m instantly relieved and then concerned when my younger sister’s name flashes across the screen. There’s a big gap between the three of us. Ophelia is in her final year of high school, making her twelve years my junior, and Calliope is eight and in third grade. This move hasn’t been easy, and Fee has had to take on a lot of responsibility with Callie. I relate. I went from sister to mom from one blink to the next.
“Is everything okay?” I ask as I answer the phone.
“Everything is fine,” she assures me. “Callie wanted me to call you about dinner.” The way she says dinner tells me this has very little to do with food.
I grin. “She did, huh?” Callie is very excited about me working for the Terror. Ironically, she loves Roman Hammerstein and all things hockey, just like me. She’s the goalie for her team.
“She asked for chicken fingers and fries, but homemade, and I wasn’t sure how late you’d be tonight since it’s your first day and all,” Fee explains. “She also wants to talk to you, if you have time.”
“Put her on.”
“Did you meet Roman Hammerstein?” Callie asks.
I can feel her excitement. “I did.” And he was not happy about meeting me again.