Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
It’s my teammate who hits the last bullseye we need to win, and a good time for me to use the restroom. I make my excuses and before I walk away, Coen leans in for one of his quick smooches. Stone and Baden tease him about it, and he calls them jealous.
As I’m walking away, Harlow, Jenna, and Sophie all fall in with me. I look at them in surprise.
It’s Harlow who admits, “We’ve been dying to get you alone.”
“Why’s that?” I ask as we reach the bathroom, but there’s a short line waiting on it.
“We need to know how you turned the beast into a prince,” Sophie says without batting a shameful eye.
I’m not offended. Coen confessed to being an asshole to everyone.
I laugh and shake my head. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. He’s been utterly charming from the moment I met him.”
Jenna’s jaw sags. “Really?”
I laugh harder. “No… he was such as ass when we first met.”
I tell them about the tree line being the source of our strife, the lawsuit and injunction, my petty pranks that riled him up, and how he threatened to have me arrested if I didn’t clean up the mess.
I leave out the oral sex against the tree, but I tell them how even though we couldn’t stand each other, he came to my rescue when Cici was bullying me.
The women sigh warmly, and Jenna says, “I knew he was a softy inside.”
“He really is charming now,” I say. I don’t want them to think he’s putting on an act. “Fun, outgoing, loving, supportive.”
“The kind of man he was before the crash,” Harlow says.
“I don’t know since I didn’t know him then, but I saw a glimpse of what I think everyone here has experienced with him. He had some demons he wrestled with, but he’s put them to rest.”
“We’re just thrilled,” Sophie says. “He’s going to be what gets this team truly back on their feet next season.”
I bashfully admit, “I wouldn’t know since I don’t know much about hockey. I didn’t even know who Coen was until someone made a big deal about him.”
“He is a big deal in the hockey world,” Harlow says. “One of the league’s top players.”
“It’s all a bit overwhelming,” I admit. “I don’t know anything about this world.”
“We’ll teach you,” Harlow says. “As will Coen.”
The bathroom door opens, but before I walk in, I turn to my new group of girlfriends. They’ll be my Pittsburgh posse. “Thank you. For making me feel so welcome.”
“Oh, we wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t like you,” Sophie assures me.
I laugh as I walk into the bathroom and click the door closed behind me.
♦
Hours later, we’re lying in bed. Coen just finished taking us straight to heaven, and I’m drowsy and more content than I’ve ever been in my life.
Coen’s condo is lovely, but I suggested it could use some personal touches. A few photographs, at least. He asked me if I could handle making it a “home” for us until he could find something a little bigger. I’d never say no to such a sweet request.
The party at Brienne’s was a success. Coen easily transitioned back into the team with everyone genuinely forgiving his past behavior. On top of that, I felt a crackle of excitement all night as people talked about the upcoming season.
“You asleep?” Coen asks, his arm holding me close to his body. While my cheek isn’t dead center on his chest, I can hear the thump of his heart all the same. Slow and steady, just like he’s become to me.
“Almost. I’m worn out. It was a big day.”
“You’re worn out because I just gave you back-to-back orgasms, admit it.”
Laughing, I squeeze him with my arm draped over his stomach. “That too. Although tonight was overwhelming, in a good way.”
“Very overwhelming,” he agrees. “But it felt… hopeful too.”
“I imagine it did. You have so much to look forward to.”
“Only because of you,” he says.
“Not only.”
“Only,” he insists. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
I lift myself up to look down at him. “I don’t believe that. You’re one of the strongest people I know. You would have found your way back.”
“Maybe,” he admits. “But it would’ve been a different path than through our backyards, and I never would have met you.”
“Gotta love fate at this moment, right?”