Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Don’t make eye contact,” Phil, the assistant to the team, leans over and whispers. “Find something on the floor and just stare it down.”
I look down, lace up my skates, and get up. “Jesus, he’s all that and a bag of chips.” I laugh and slip my jersey on before going up to him.
“I’m Zack.” I put one glove on and put the other under my arm while I shake his hand.
“Zack, I’m Olivier. I’m the team PR,” he says, grabbing my hand and shaking it longer than necessary. “Oh, big hands. I like it.”
“Dear god,” Max says, coming in. “Can we tone down the flirting? It’s not even noon.”
Olivier gasps and then turns to him. “I don’t flirt; this is my natural charm.”
“Great,” I say, looking at my hand still in his hand. “Can I speak with you privately?”
“Ha. You heard it, boys.” He turns around. “He wants me privately.” He smiles and walks by, swinging his hips. “You better not tell Steve a word,” he says over his shoulder to Max, and I have to wonder if Steve is his boyfriend.
When we get into the hallway, he looks at me expectantly, and I hand him my cell phone. “This is my cell phone.”
“You want me to program my number in it?” he asks with a smile.
I laugh and shake my head. “No. My son is sick. He has cancer,” I tell him, and he stands taller now, his eyes watering. “Not many people know, but I have to be on call if something happens.”
“Don’t say another word,” he says and takes my phone. “I am going to program my number in it but give it to your wife in case she can’t reach you on yours.”
“Yeah, I also need a divorce lawyer. You wouldn’t know anyone, would you?” I ask him, and he throws his head back and groans.
“Jesus, you’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?” he says, and I’m not sure how to answer him. “This is what I get for not reading your file yet.”
I put my glove on, nodding at him. “How about we sit down, and I can go over everything that you need to know?” I put my helmet on, walking away from him.
“It’s a date,” he says and winks at me, turning and walking down the hall. I turn and make my way to the ice. When I skate, I almost forget that my life is all over the place.
We run drills as I work with Nathan, the other defenseman; we get into the groove, talk about how to do plays and who is going to be taking the one timers. I have the hardest shot in the NHL, and it’s not just me saying it. I won the award at the last five all-star games. When I finally skate off the ice and walk down the hallway to the locker room, Olivier is there with my phone. “No news,” he says and then turns and yells, “Okay, ladies, we leave in one hour!”
I take off my helmet and put it in the hockey bag in front of my chair as I undress. Getting ready to leave, I walk to the bus outside, sending Sarah a message, and she answers right away with a picture of Jack eating carrots and broccoli.
I walk on the bus and sit down, and Max comes in and sits next to me. “What is your number?” he asks me. I give him my number to put in his phone.
“Don’t send me dick pics,” I joke, and he shakes his head.
“It was for Denise,” he tells me, and I look back at my phone, waiting for a call or a message.
“Is she going to call me?” I ask him, and he looks at me and shrugs.
“No clue. She just asked me for your number,” he tells me and then puts on his earphones and I put on my own and open my iPad, looking for any new articles about ALL.
We make it on the plane, and I sit by myself; Max and Matthew sit together as they go over their foundation stuff. Max started the foundation to help the children in need from the hospital. Every year it just grows bigger and bigger.
I have to turn the phone off, but my Wi-Fi stays open on my iPad with my iMessages.
The plane takes off and my iMessage alerts me to a message from a strange number. I look down and see it’s a two one two number.
Hey, it’s Denise. This is my email address for Jack’s file to be sent over as soon as you get a chance. I know you’re on the road till tomorrow, but I would also like to speak with his doctor if possible.
Safe flight and kick ass on the ice. Take care of my brother; he’s getting soft in his old age.