Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
♦
At Mario’s, the atmosphere is insane. A second round, game one win has the fans in a frenzy. Dozens stand outside the building as we approach, lining the walkway and cheering for their Titans who’ve come to celebrate. There are reporters and a news crew, flashes triggering all over the place.
Fans screaming my name, “Boone, Boone, Boone.”
One woman wearing a low-cut shirt thrusts a Sharpie outward. “Sign my boobs, Boone. Sign my boobs.”
I cut my gaze to Lilly whose eyes are wide with shock as she stares at the woman. I bend down to reassure her, “I don’t do that crap.”
“Guess I won’t ask you to sign my boobs then,” she mutters out of the side of her mouth.
We both laugh and my mom says from behind, “Why are some people so crass?”
“Boone,” a woman calls out, and that’s a voice I recognize. I turn to see Bailey coming through the door. “Got a minute?”
I really don’t.
I mean, I do, but I don’t want to take a minute. However, word had come down through the media office that an interview with Bailey and her news channel was green-lighted. I don’t have to do it now, but I’m sure she wants to run it by me.
With a sigh, I tell Lilly, “Can you take my family back and get a table? I’ve got to talk to this reporter.”
“Sure thing,” she replies brightly, which earns her one more kiss from me. I relish the slight dazzle in her expression after my lips leave hers, rendering her stupefied for a nanosecond.
Lilly heads off and I turn to Bailey. “What’s up?”
Her gaze is shrewd, not focused on me at all but on Lilly’s back as she walks inside. “Got yourself a girlfriend, huh?”
“She’s not part of any news story,” I reply curtly.
“Rumor around the Titans offices is that you met her through your charitable works at the children’s hospital. That’s newsworthy. What is she? A nurse?”
“Lilly’s off-limits.”
“Lilly,” she repeats with a smug smile. “Got a last name?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I snarl, turning my back on her. I glance over my shoulder. “Find someone else to interview.”
“No wait,” she calls out, putting her hand on my forearm. “I’ll leave it alone. I still want to interview you though. How about dinner? I can make your favorite at my place.”
I can’t tell if she’s serious. She’s fully aware I’m with someone, but maybe she’s trying to bait me for more about Lilly.
“How about at the arena in one of the conference rooms?” I counter, making it clear I’m not interested in anything personal.
She huffs out an annoying breath. “Fine. And we can take a camera crew on a hospital visit—”
“No,” I growl, facing her fully. “That’s off-limits too.”
“But—”
“No buts. You’re not going to exploit kids—”
“I would never do that,” she snaps in outrage. “And you’re being a hypocrite. The Titans organization had a photographer who followed you on one of your visits and used the shots in their press releases.”
I feel slightly chagrined because she’s not wrong about that, but that was before I developed a personal relationship with Aiden and started to fall in love with Lilly. There is no way I will let any of this near them now.
I freeze a moment, considering something.
Am I falling in love with Lilly?
I take deep stock of my feelings, and yeah… that feels fucking right.
“You’re not going to follow me to the hospital. Feel free to talk to someone in the administration there as part of the story and maybe they can give you a tour, help to raise awareness and maybe garner donations. That’s the only reason the Titans did a press release about it. Now, I’ve got family waiting for me. Reach out after the playoffs and we’ll set something up.”
I don’t wait for a reply, turning my attention back to the restaurant. I see that Lilly nabbed a high-top table right in the middle of our roped-off area.
For the next half hour, the other Titans players and their significant others and families arrive. During the playoffs, more of the parents and siblings come to watch the games, so our cordoned-off area is shoulder to shoulder before too long. Lilly seems to be having fun and while she’s spent a little time talking to the Titans women she’s befriended, she’s stayed pretty close to Claire for most of the evening. They’ve been involved in deep discussions and I have no clue what they’re talking about. It could be me, it could be Aiden, it could be our alcoholic fathers, it could be whether aliens exist. Doesn’t matter—what I love about it is that I can see these two women are going to be close friends. I know it’s something Lilly desperately desires… girlfriends. She never had the true opportunity because of working at the deli, managing her father and taking care of Aiden.