Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Thanks,” I reply, not telling her it’s Chase’s bodywash mixed with my perfume. “I’m hungry.”
“Go grab a plate.” She points over at the food. “Jillian is outside with the girls.”
I nod at her, walking over to the food. “You ran off so fast.” I hear Chase from behind me.
I’m about to say something to him when I see Cooper walking our way. “I heard you were wearing my jersey last night.” He stands in front of the island looking at us. “But you then defaced it with dirt.”
“No.” I try to play dumb. “Who told you that?”
“I walked into my daughter’s room today and she was adding it to her shirt.” He glares at me.
I can’t help but laugh at him, not sure what to say. “What can I say?” I shrug and look back at Chase. He has his hair pushed back and the way his eyes twinkle I know he’s in a great mood. “She has good taste.”
“You bet your ass she does,” Chase booms out, laughing right before he leans over and kisses me, just like that. I’m expecting for Cooper to say something, but instead he just pffts out before walking away.
Sunday lunch is just like it always is. No one makes any remarks of us arriving together and then leaving together. I don’t even get a snide comment from Vivienne when he slides his hand into mine, pulling me from the house.
He drops me off the next day on his way to work and the whole time my head is spinning. There is so much going on in my head. When he texts me he will be done by four, I stupidly say he should come over and I’ll make dinner.
I take some salmon out and then roast some veggies. I’ve checked them every five minutes to make sure I don’t burn anything, and when he knocks at the door, I jump. Opening the door, he just smiles at me, kissing my lips when he walks in. “Smells good.”
“Um, thanks,” I mumble and he follows me to the kitchen. It takes him about one second before he sees that something isn’t right.
“What happened to you?” he asks and my hands shake.
“I’m just really fucking nervous,” I admit and put my hand on my head, wondering if maybe I’m feeling sick or getting a fever.
“Why?” he asks, leaning against my counter.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done this whole dating thing.” I shake my hands, hoping the nerves leave me. “Like, usually I start to date and then it evolves into whatever.” I can’t stop myself from talking. “Or always it evolves into nothing.” I throw up my hands. “But with you, all the work’s been done already.” He just looks at me trying not to laugh at my meltdown. “So it’s like I’ve already liked you before I even dated you.”
He folds his arms over his chest and I really want him to hug me right now. “It’s almost as if it’s past seven months and you haven’t kicked me to the curb,” he jokes with me. “Come here.” He motions with his head to me. I walk over to him and he opens his arms, putting them around me, my hands going to his arms. “It’s me and you,” he says softly. I look down, swallowing the words that really want to come out. Not sure either of us are actually ready for them.
CHAPTER 32
Chase
“Okay, what do we have here?” I say, walking into the room. Cole, one of the defense guys, is sitting on the examining table. I can see blood running down the side of his face. “Ohh, stitches.” I clap my hands. “My favorite.”
“Fuck, bitch,” Cole says, lying down, and I see he’s cut open right on his left cheek.
“High stick to the face,” I assess, walking over and putting on gloves. “Ten minutes, you’ll be back on the ice,” I say, grabbing the needle to numb him. “This is going to pinch,” I say, just before I stick the needle right into the cut. He hisses as I stitch him up. “Three stitches, hopefully, no scar.” I put tape on it to hopefully stop them from tearing open, but it wouldn’t be the first time.
“Thanks, Doc.” He gets off the table and heads back out, while I clean up. I’m taking off my gloves when I hear the horn telling me the game is over. I hear the men start to come down the hallway. The sticks clacking together as they are put on the wall. From the sounds of it, we lost. I look up at the television screen seeing we lost by two. I wait forty-five minutes before I stick my head into the changing room.
“Cole,” I call his name and he looks up. “You good?” He nods his head. “Who needs my help?”