Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“A flamingo?” She frowns.
“The pink bird.”
“I know what a flamingo is.”
“Oh, sorry, I just...”
“Ree,” Brodie cuts in before I can shove my foot farther into my mouth. “Do you want to dance?”
No. “Yes, please.” I let out a relieved breath and then glance at the woman again. I really should have asked for her name. We just finished a whole meal together, sitting side by side. “We’ll be right back. We’re just going for a spin.”
“Sure.” She nods, looking at me like I have two heads. I take Brodie’s hand and let him help me out of my chair. With one look at his handsome face, I know he’s trying not to laugh.
When we get to the dance floor, he pulls my body into his and drops his mouth to my ear.
“Did you just tell Ronaldo’s wife that she looks like a flamingo?”
“No. I said her dress reminded me of a flamingo,” I grumble, and he laughs. “It’s pink. What else was I supposed to say?”
“Nothing.” He smiles down at me, looking amused.
“Do you like this kind of thing?” I look around at the people chatting in groups and others dancing near us. It’s a lot to take in, and I don’t know that I could do this on a regular basis.
“What? Events like this?” I nod. “I don’t know if I like them, but it’s a good way to meet other athletes and build connections. Plus, this is all for a good cause. My family could afford to pay for my gear and shit when I started playing hockey, but that isn’t the case for everyone.” His gaze wanders over my face. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just not good at this. I’ve never been overly social, so I feel really outside my comfort zone, which I know makes me extra awkward. Hence me telling that nice woman her dress looks like a flamingo.” I watch him smile and melt into him. “Plus, I don’t recognize anyone and feel like I should when I’m in a room full of famous people.”
“Who cares if you don’t know who any of these people are? If you started talking about one of the sea creatures from your science-y books, I doubt any of us in this room would know what you’re talking about.”
“Science-y books?” I grin, but he doesn’t smile back. The look on his face is deathly serious.
“You’re perfect, Ree, and fuck anyone who doesn’t think so.” He dips his face closer to mine. “And I knew it before, but I hope you get that your ex is the world’s biggest fucking idiot. I know it sucks because he hurt you, but I gotta tell you, Ree, I’m half-tempted to send him a thank you gift for fucking up because if he hadn’t, I don’t know that we would have met. And I’m really fucking happy we did.”
“Are you trying to make me cry?”
“Do not start crying. I don’t think I could handle seeing you cry,” he grumbles, and I drop my forehead to the center of his chest, attempting to pull myself together because my nose is actually starting to sting.
“You do know that you’re pretty awesome, too, right?” I say quietly, lifting my gaze back to his. “I’m also really glad that things worked out like they did and that we met.”
His expression softens, and my heart pounds as he presses his mouth to mine for a soft kiss. Shit, I’m falling for him—or I think I am. I have never felt like this about another man, and all of this is so new to me. When he pulls back, he touches my jaw softly and then looks over my head when someone calls his name.
“Fuck.”
“Do I even want to know?”
“It’s just my agent.” He laughs, giving my waist a squeeze.
“Oh, okay. Well, while you go talk to him, I’m going to use the restroom.”
“Come back to me when you’re done.” I nod and step out of his embrace, heading to the restroom while he walks toward a very short man with almost no hair on the top of his head.
After I finish in the bathroom, I step out into the hall and silently curse when I see Kirk standing there, leaning against the wall with his head back and his eyes closed.
I start to sneak past him, hoping he won’t notice me, but my plan is thwarted when he opens his eyes, and they lock on mine.
Great.
“Reese.” He pushes away from the wall and steps in front of me.
“Sorry, I can’t talk. Brodie is waiting for me.”
“Please.” He holds his hands up in front of him. “I just want to talk to you for a minute.”
Since he’s blocking the hall, and I don’t want to cause a scene, I cross my arms over my chest. “Fine. Say what you want to say.”