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)
Dred
I’ll have to take a rain check. One of my colleagues came down with the flu so now I have to close.
Lexi
Boo. Next time then.
Dred
10/10. Tell everyone I say hi and give Callie and Fee hugs from me.
Lexi
Will do!
Half an hour later, we’ve taken over most of the cafe. Two of the girls behind the counter have died and gone to Flip Madden heaven. He signs hats and poses for pictures before he joins us at the table.
“This is ridiculously good. We should bring something home for Nate,” Rix says as she passes the spoon back to Tristan.
“How’s his hunt for an apartment going?” Flip asks.
“He’s still looking, but we’ve told him there isn’t a rush,” Tristan replies.
Rix hugs his arm. “Bachelor apartments are small, and he’s trying to save for a one bedroom. Finding something affordable is always the issue in the city.”
“There’s still a room at my place,” Flip offers. “It’s his if he wants it, for however long he wants it.”
“Thanks, man.” Tristan holds the spoon up to Rix’s lips.
Knowing that Rix came from a house where they didn’t always have enough makes me appreciate even more how soft Tristan can be with her.
Dallas and Hemi seem to be in a world of their own, while Ash and Shilpa trade their sundaes every few bites. Hollis sits with his arm across the back of Hammer’s chair, his thumb sweeping back and forth along her shoulder.
There’s so much love in this room, and so much pent-up tension flowing between me and Roman. He’s seated across the table, and it takes all of my willpower not to cross my legs and brush my foot against his calf, just for the connection.
Callie is as close to him as she can be without sitting in his lap. I feel you, girl. She’s abandoned her own sundae for his, and he doesn’t seem to mind one bit. They’re also playing tic-tac-toe on the back of a menu, and he lets her win every time. I’m doing my best to keep my eyes anywhere but on him. It’s tough though, getting to see this soft side of him, while knowing what a filthy demon he can be behind closed doors.
Flip is next to me, shoveling ice cream into his face at a ridiculous speed.
“Are you even tasting that?” I ask.
“Fu–dge. I’m eating like I was raised in a barn, aren’t I?” He sets his spoon down and wipes chocolate syrup from his chin.
“I mean, it is December. There’s a pretty slim chance it’ll melt on you.”
He laughs. “Fair. I’ve been told I eat like it’s always my last meal.”
He glances toward the other end of the table where Fee and Tally talk animatedly. Tally’s new boyfriend, who didn’t come to the holiday party because he had a family thing, pokes at his cake and stares at his phone.
“I don’t know about that guy.” Flip stabs a chunk of brownie.
“Peggy says he’s kind of quiet,” Roman muses as he puts a green crayon O on the tic-tac-toe board.
“Tally’s boyfriend?” Callie asks.
“Mm-hmm.”
“He doesn’t have a favorite player on the Terror. He said he roots for New York, probably because they have Kodiak Bowman,” Callie says.
“Bowman is an excellent player,” Roman says.
“He has pretty eyes and great scoring stats.” Callie puts her hand on his arm and gives him an empathetic smile. “So you shouldn’t feel too bad if he scores on you when you play them next.”
“Are you expecting me to let a goal in for him?” he asks playfully.
“Of course not!” She huffs. “I’m just saying every game can’t be perfect, and Kodiak has very strong stick-handling skills. Also, I heard he used to play hockey in his crib, so he was born to be on the ice.”
Roman asks her what else she knows about Bowman, and I glance over at Tally. It doesn’t matter how many games that guy comes to, he never really warms up. “Is this her first boyfriend?” I ask Flip.
“I think so. It’s the first guy she’s brought to games, anyway,” he says. “I get that we all make mistakes, but I don’t know. As someone who’s made a ton of them, I’m not sure it was best for me to learn all those lessons the hard way.” He sighs. “I don’t want to see her get screwed around.”
“We all experience heartbreak,” I say, surprised at his openness and protectiveness for Tally.
“That’s the truth. She has a real soft heart though. You just hope the person you fall for will give back what they get. It’s a real taint punch when you realize you were the only one in it for love.” He shakes his head. “Jeez. I need to stop watching reality dating shows with Dred.”
I smile, but from the sound of it, someone hurt him. Badly.
“I miss Dred! You’re so lucky you get to live next door to her,” Callie says.