Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
“You’re telling me,” Baylor says. “Fucking Coyotes were ruthless tonight. I got my hits in though. Sure their massage therapist will be working overtime tonight.”
Monroe rolls her eyes, digging her thumbs into his hip and moving them in circles. “I’m not working overtime tonight,” she says. “I keep telling you to take it easy, but you never listen.”
Baylor hisses when she digs deeper into his hip, then sighs in relief when she lets go of the muscle. “I don’t exactly have the easiest job.”
“Me neither,” she says, smiling at him as she hands him a travel sized bottle of lotion. “This is extra strength. Don’t get it in your eyes this time. And wash your hands three times after using it. Four times if you’re partaking in any…intimate activities.”
“Thanks for the tip.” Baylor barks out a laugh as he hops off the table, fist-bumping me as he heads out.
Monroe shakes her head. “Let me sanitize and then you can hop up.”
My phone rings, and I flash Monroe an apologetic look. “Mind if I take this really quick? It’s Hadley and she’s FaceTiming. She only ever does that if it’s important.”
“Of course,” she says, waving me off. “I have to reset anyway.”
“Cool.” I swipe open the call, holding the camera up so she can see my face. My stomach plummets the second I see where she is. “Why are you in the hospital?” Panic flares through me, and I’m already mentally buying a plane ticket to Maine.
“I’m here with Dad,” she says, furrowing her brow.
“Oh shit,” I say, blowing out a breath. “I forgot you flew home this weekend.”
I shouldn't have forgotten, since I was the one who demanded I buy her ticket. She insisted she dip into her savings from time to time while she attends her final year in college, but I did my best to cover most of her expenses.
“It's okay, Nash,” she says. “You don't have to memorize my schedule anymore.”
“I know,” I say, but I can't believe I forgot. “It's just been a crazy few weeks.”
More like a crazy three months, but I’m not about to get into all of that.
Hadley and I had texted about Reese plenty of times, but we never dove into any anything serious on the topic. Partly because I’m more of a face-to-face-and-get-serious kind of guy versus spilling my heart out over text. Not that I've ever really felt the need to spill my heart out. Until recently, that is.
It's been a month since Valentine's Day—the day I mark as the day Reese and I stopped faking things. I still haven't been able to figure out if Reese is on the same page, but I've been having way too much fun with her to ruin it by asking.
It's been amazing having her at every game, not to mention practices and then dating her after. I've never been a monogamous relationship type of guy, but Reese makes it easy, effortless. I haven't thought about or looked at another woman since we struck that bargain after New Year's Eve.
And now, she’s the only woman I ever think about.
“I bet,” Hadley says. “I'm sorry about the loss tonight. You played amazing though.”
“Thanks. You know how it is it sucks to lose, but we're building off of a lot of shitty years. How's Dad?”
“He's good,” she says but she doesn't turn the phone for me to say hello to him, so I know he's not in the vicinity. “He's getting his treatment right now. I just stepped out to call you.”
My stomach twists, a sense of foreboding threatening to swallow me whole. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing major,” she hurries to say, giving me a sympathetic look. “They think this treatment is working, and he’s looking healthier than ever. Honestly, I don't remember the last time he’s looked this good. He loves this new doctor he's with. And Dad is so grateful for you, he and mom both.”
Warmth spreads through my chest, and I nod.
The simple motion has me hissing, the pain in my shoulder tightening with every movement I make. But hearing her words makes every hit I take on the ice worth it. Makes every cheesy video Reese and I post on the social media page worth it.
Not only is Reese soaring high, finally creating the content that keeps viewers coming, not just with our videos but with the Badgers in general, but I've landed the Liquid IV deal too. The money came in a couple of weeks ago, and I funneled it all into upgraded medical care for Dad. I wiped out a shit ton of their bills too, leaving just enough of that endorsement deal left over to handle taxes.
“That's good to hear,” I say.
“It really is,” she says, but I can tell there's something she isn't saying.
“Just tell me, Hadley,” I say. “Whatever it is, it’s fine.”