Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 88895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Fuck yeah,” grunts the owner without reluctance. “You boys aren’t the only reason our viewership steadily increases. Plus, we’re launching our streaming network to guarantee all of our games are accessible to fans and I need someone to run that division of the organization.”
“Meaning she’ll be in corporate?”
“Which is why I need you both to sign the liability paperwork that all couples – especially newly engaged ones, which I get the feeling you will be – must sign together in legal’s office when she returns from medical leave.”
It’s impossible not to excitedly grin over more than one notion. “Medical leave?”
“Her ear surgery.” An unexpected, sweet smile slides onto her face. “I assume that’s why you were scratched for the next two games and excused from pracky?”
Meeting Blanc’s gaze allows him to present me with a wink.
“Tell Hoss, to rest up,” Hennington warmly commands. “The boys need you both now more than ever.”
Chapter 28
Arden
“I’m not scared.”
Bear loudly barks in rebuttal, needlessly adding to my dizzy spell.
“Why would I be scared?”
Another woof.
“I can do this.”
Two more.
“I can totally fucking do this!”
Bear repeats the sound as if stringing an entire sentence together prompting an unpredicted voice to state, “I agree, Bear. She can do this.” Tanner casually appears in the doorway to my bathroom. “However, I too do not believe she should do it alone.”
The huff that escapes indicates that’s exactly what he was trying to communicate.
“Which is why I’m here.” He suddenly reveals a giant yellow stuffed duck. “With reinforcements.” Excitement instantly rips through my dog’s gaze pushing my not not boyfriend to frantically shake his head. “Ah. Ah.” A motion with his fingers is made demonstrating he still remembers some of our signing lessons. “No.” Moving the object further away only seems to intrigue him more. “This ducky is for Ducky to take into the back with her. He is to be her literal wing man.”
Unhappy huffs have me threatening to smile.
“Your duck is on your bed.” Tanner motions his head behind him. “Go.”
Bear scurries out of the room leaving us completely alone and me more nervous about what’s happening now than the surgery I’m about to endure in a couple hours.
Maybe because whatever’s happening now is much fucking scarier?
I mean…I got the email.
I not only get to keep my job, I’m getting a fucking promotion.
Don’t love how I got there, but I am grateful for the opportunity.
Less grateful because it means he’s leaving.
That he’s been traded.
And now that he has, we have to decide what that means for us.
“You wearing my number?” he smoothly investigates, spotting the logo on my chest. “You know the rules, Slayer. You only wear my number.”
I roll my eyes and flash him my back, revealing not only his rhinestone decorated number but the sparkling term of endearment. “Done, Hamster Boy.”
“Bloodyhell,” Tanner whimpers in a melting fashion, “when did you get that made?”
“The girls all got them made for the watch parties.” Shoving my hands into the central pocket is bashfully done. “But I don’t get to attend the watch parties since I’m actually out on the roadskie with all of you so…” an innocent shrug can’t be helped, “I didn’t really see the point in getting one for me until Joey basically told me it wasn’t about y’all but us. Having a sisterhood. Building a sisterhood. Being a part of one even if I couldn’t openly.” Another bounce of my shoulders is given. “I love being one of the boys but…Idontknow. Joey has this way of making me love being one of the girls too. Like it’s an okay thing to be.”
“It most certainly is,” he encourages with a gentle smile, “if that’s what you want to be.”
My lips purse to one side in a wordless rebuttal.
“Don’t get me wrong, Arden. I fucking love you being a Slayer and all that it entails; however, I love you for you. And I do not want you to resent me because you believe you have to behave in a way I would never ask.” At that, he steps forward. “I do not want nor expect you to suddenly because whoever it is you think you need to be to be seen with me. I want to be seen with you…the real you…and only the real you.”
“You mean…” it’s my turn to amble towards him, vertigo seemingly subsiding, “you want us to…stay together?”
“Did you honestly expect otherwise?”
“I don’t know…” escapes at a breathier volume than intended. “I don’t know what to expect now that you’ve been traded.”
“I have not been traded.”
Befuddlement immediately darts my eyebrows down. “Okay, but I haven’t been fired. I’ve…actually been promoted.”
“I heard.” He lovingly grins. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Tucking a loose strand behind my hearing aid bearing ear coyishly occurs. “It was super fucking unexpected considering the embarrassment I made of myself at the soft launch.” A small bite to my bottom lip is taken. “And of you.” Rather than wait for a rebuttal, I merely word vomit up everything I haven’t been able to. “I’m sorry, Tanner.”