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)
“It’s nice to feel understood, isn’t it?”
“It is. Like so great.”
Callie’s out cold when we reach the car, so it takes the two of us to get her buckled in. I nearly melt when Roman kisses her on the forehead and tucks her stuffed axolotl under her arm.
Roman waits until Fee is in the passenger seat and the door is closed before he murmurs, “Message when you’re home.”
“Aren’t you going to the Watering Hole?”
“Not tonight.” His fingers brush the back of my hand.
“I wish I could invite you back to my place.” There’s an ache building low in my stomach.
“Me, too. Not long now, though. Then I won’t have to resist those gorgeous lips of yours.” He winks and walks away.
I slide into the driver’s seat and turn the engine over, adjusting the radio so it doesn’t wake Callie.
Fee fiddles with the snap on her purse. “Sometimes I feel bad for liking Roman as much as I do.”
I grip the steering wheel. “How do you mean?”
“He’s such a great dad. Like, he’s so close with Hammer. I mean, they work together and everything, and then the way he is with Callie…” She tugs on the string of her hoodie. “He goes to her games. He asks me about school and stuff. He really cares. It’s like we’re part of this big family, you know? It makes me miss Mom and Dad. And sometimes I feel guilty, because no one can replace them, but at the same time, there are holes in my heart, and I want to fill them. Does that make sense?”
“It absolutely does, Big Pheels. And I feel the same way.”
She looks over her shoulder and drops her voice. “Callie says sometimes she wishes Roman was our dad.”
My heart clenches. “I can understand that.”
“She told me she was going to wish for it when she blows out her candles this year on her birthday,” Fee says softly. “I didn’t have the heart to tell her it’s impossible because he’s a player on your team.”
“Until the end of the season, yes.” I swallow the guilt that follows on the heels of hope. I want the same things she does.
“But then he’s retiring, right?”
I swallow. “He is.”
“What will he do after he retires? Will he have another job?” Fee presses.
“Probably. A lot of teams would love to have him as a coach. He could end up anywhere.” The Hockey Academy satellite campus seems like a real possibility, but I can’t tell Fee that. Not yet.
“Oh.” Her disappointment makes my heart hurt. “But Hammer is here. He wouldn’t leave her, would he?”
“Probably not,” I agree.
“Okay.” She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth. “You like him, don’t you?”
“He’s been very kind to us.” I hate that I can’t be honest with her, that I have to deflect.
“Yeah. He has.” She’s silent for the rest of the ride home.
Fee helps me get Callie up to the condo and into bed before she disappears into her room. Apparently her favorite Lord of the Rings fanfic author just updated, and she needs to read it right now.
I wait until I’m in bed before I snuggle up with my phone. Roman has already messaged. I worry that we’re not hiding things as well as we should. But I’m weak for him.
Roman
I hope you got Callie to bed okay.
Lexi
I did. She’s out like a light. You had a great game tonight.
Roman
Those strategy talks of ours have been helpful this season.
Although my favorite talks have been when you’re naked and sprawled across my chest.
Lexi
Those are my favorite, too.
Roman
Walking away without kissing you nearly broke me tonight.
The end of the season can’t come soon enough.
I love working with him, seeing him every day, but it’s as painful as it is wonderful.
Lexi
I feel the same.
Roman
I didn’t think a handful of weeks could feel this endless.
Early retirement looks better every day.
The selfish part of me loves this idea, but the coach in me knows how much it will devastate the team. They’re his family and they’re already sad enough to see him go at the end of the season. I need him, but…
Lexi
The team needs you.
The dots appear and disappear three times.
Lexi
We’re so close.
Roman
I know. I’m just impatient. And on nights like tonight, I’d rather be curled up on the couch with you in my arms than sitting alone in my living room.
I long for the comfort of his closeness, and our easy conversations.
Lexi
I would tell you to come over, but I worry that one of us will break.
Roman
I know I would.
My heart aches at his raw honesty. And truthfully, I doubt I have the strength to say no to him if he showed up at my door tonight.
Roman
When the season is over, I’m taking you away again, but this time it will be for more than a night.
Lexi
Somewhere private again.