Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Get what?” I snap.
“Danica was constantly comparing you to Mitch,” he says with a smirk.
“No, she wasn’t doing that,” I snarl.
“She doesn’t want you around her kid?” he guesses.
“Travis and I get along great.”
“She’s too mired in grief and can’t give you her all?” Hendrix asks tentatively.
I shake my head, shooting him a glance. “No… she’s ready to move on.”
“Then she’s feeling weirded out about you and Mitch knowing each other and wants to keep things secret?” he tosses my way.
“No,” I growl with frustration. “Danica is great with everything. She’s solid. Sure, she has moments of sadness about Mitch, but she says he wanted her to be happy. They’d talked about those things. And even Travis likes that I like his mom.”
Bain moves to stand before me, his expression thunderous. “Then what the actual fuck, dude? You have an amazing woman who, as far as I can tell over the last several weeks, has brought you out of your funk. You care for her and her kid. She’s ready to give her all to you and you break it off? Are you stupid or something?”
“It’s not stupid to worry about the welfare of the team,” I snap. Bain blinks at me and looks to Hendrix who shrugs. I suck in a breath and after letting it out, my voice is slightly calmer. I glance around to make sure no one’s been listening. “I’m worried that this could negatively affect the team. There might be some who think it’s fucked up I’m with Mitch’s wife.”
“Widow,” Bain corrects me bluntly. “She’s not his wife. She’s a widow and Mitch is dead.”
I wince because that’s a harsh reminder, but Bain didn’t know Mitch. He wasn’t part of that team.
My gaze goes to Hendrix. “I agree with Bain. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
I turn around slowly and look at all my teammates. They’re talking and laughing and enjoying easy camaraderie. They all truly care about each other, just the way it was with the team I had before the crash.
Giving my attention back to Hendrix, because he knew Mitch well, I ask, “Are you sure I’m not doing anything wrong?”
“Does it feel wrong when you’re with her?”
“Nothing has ever felt more right,” I say.
“I don’t care if anyone has a problem with it,” Bain cuts in, leveling me with a harsh stare. “If she’s that good for you and you for her, fuck anyone in this locker room and fuck any fan who has an issue with it. You cannot bend your life to fit—”
“I don’t want to hurt the team. I don’t want some people to have bad feelings about it. I don’t want to throw off this momentum we have going.”
“They won’t be upset,” Hendrix says. “They’ll be happy for you, man.”
“How can you be so sure?”
His hand comes back to my shoulder. “Because I am, and Bain is, and because they love you the way we do.”
Bain grimaces and holds up his hands. “That’s way too mushy for me, but yeah… what he said.”
I laugh, feeling the tension leave my body. Both of the guys grin back at me.
“You need to go for it,” Hendrix says and Bain nods.
“Just go for it?” I muse as I take in my friends and see the truth of what they’re saying written all over their faces.
Bain gives me a light punch to the shoulder. “Go for it. As soon as we get back to Pittsburgh, you can—”
Something propels me and I find myself standing on top of the bench that runs down the aisle of cubbies. I put two fingers in my mouth and let out a shrieking whistle. Everyone turns my way.
When I know I have everyone’s eyes on me—including the coaches who are changing out of their suits into comfortable clothes for the trip back—I say, “I have an announcement.”
My eyes land on Coen for some reason, the other member of our Lucky Three. He doesn’t know about me and Danica the way I brought Hendrix into the loop, but as I see his easy smile, I know deep in my heart, he only wants what’s best for me.
I sweep the crowd again as they move in closer with curiosity. Coach West’s already changed and wearing a pair of jeans and a thick sweater. His arms are crossed over his chest, but his head is tilted and he smiles with interest.
“I’ve been seeing someone for several weeks. It started as a friendship, then turned into something more. Something deeper. And I recently ended things with her because I thought my being with her would complicate things for the team.” Everyone looks up at me in confusion. “I’m seeing Danica Brandt.”
I wait… expecting a reaction. Waiting for someone to say something, but everyone stares at me, waiting for me to continue my story. “I ended it a few days ago, but I’m thinking I made a very bad decision. I was afraid to let you all know. Afraid it would cause bad feelings and hurt the team. But I’ve very recently been convinced by a few of you that I shouldn’t give her up. They told me not to give a fuck what anyone thinks, but I do care. I care a lot about this team and I want us to remain cohesive. We’re a family, and I don’t want to cause waves if any of you think it’s wrong of me to date her. If you do, I’m hoping we can talk it out man to man. I’ll tell you then what I’ll tell you now… I’ll take very good care of her and Travis. I’ll do Mitch proud.”