Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Laughing, I sip my water. “Do you travel to a lot of the games?”
“At least once a month,” she says. “I’m working on an interior design degree, so I’m a little flexible. How about you? Are you going to come to all the away games, especially since your job is remote?”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” I say with a shake of my head. “I think this was a onetime-only thing.”
“It wasn’t a onetime-only thing,” Cannon says, cutting into our conversation. I had no clue he’d been listening, but his head is turned our way. “I’m going to try to get Ava to come to as many games as I can, especially since she works remotely.”
I’m stunned by this proclamation, since Cannon has made clear his time is limited. I think I’m a bit of a hindrance and distraction while I’m here, but that’s a chat for another time. I’m not about to have him shelling out money for plane tickets for me, so I most definitely will not be coming to a lot of away games.
“Go back to your hockey talk,” I say with a shooing motion.
Cannon grins and shocks me by pulling me into him with a hand at the back of my neck and kissing me. When I’m released, he turns back to the guys and slips seamlessly into their conversation.
I angle my body toward Sophie, and she’s grinning from ear to ear. “You two are so cute.”
I lower my voice and angle more her way, so Cannon stays out of our conversation. “It’s still very new.”
“That’s the best time,” she says with a knowing wink. “Just learning about each other, having fun. It’s obvious he’s crazy about you.”
My immediate thought is to deny that because if Cannon were crazy about me, we wouldn’t spend so much time talking about his limitations. The conversation would be more geared toward how he can overcome some of his worries resulting from past experiences.
It’s not to say I don’t want him to be crazy about me. It’s only been a few weeks, but I’ve started to fall for this dirty talker with a heart of gold. I’ve been cautious because of my own past woes, but honestly… if Cannon wanted to make a serious go of this, I’d be willing to give it my all.
On the flip side, with the boundaries Cannon has set, it has made things easier. Our time alone is fun and carefree. We laugh a lot and talk about inane things. He doesn’t care that I’ve been struggling to find a stable career, and I don’t care that he’s a hotshot hockey coach.
All we can do is take it one day at a time and keep our expectations clear.
The rest of the evening is a lot of fun. It’s not all hockey talk, and I got to know Stone and Hendrix a little better. Drake was withdrawn most of the evening, but that might just be his personality.
I have to say, after more teasing and ribbing of Hendrix, it sounds like he’s got a handful with his current girlfriend. I think he likes her, but he’s feeling a little hamstrung by her possessiveness. I’d love to tease him about the spirit of youth, but he and I are the same age. At least I can honestly say I never acted like that with Derek, nor would I ever think of wanting to know Cannon’s whereabouts at all times. Sounds like Tracy is exactly the type who Cannon would have no patience for.
We walk back to the hotel with Baden and Sophie. Sophie and I walk side by side, making plans to get together back in Pittsburgh. The guys walk behind us.
“You’ll have to come out to our monthly lunch with the girls,” Sophie says. I’ve learned tonight that the “girls” include Stone’s allegedly perfect girlfriend, Harlow, Gage’s girlfriend, Jenna, and Coen’s girlfriend, Tillie. “Sometimes Brienne joins us. Well, she came to one lunch, but she promised to come to others. And she invited us to watch the game with her last week when Baden proposed to me. She’s super sweet.”
“She invited me to sit in the box at the next home game. She also said I could bring a friend. Want to come?”
“Yeah, that would be great. I’ve got a season ticket, but I’d rather hang with you and Brienne. Maybe you and Cannon and me and Baden can get drinks after.”
“What kind of mischief are you planning up there?” Baden drawls.
Sophie looks over her shoulder. “Just drinks with Cannon and Ava after next week’s game.”
My gaze goes to Cannon because I don’t want to infringe on his time. He smiles, though. “That sounds fun. You good with that, Ava?”
“I’m down,” I say.
“It’s a date, then,” Sophie chirps, and I’m actually excited about hanging out with her more. When I was with Derek, I was not able to develop friendships of my own. They were all work pals who I no longer see because of how things ended.