Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
When I switch to Ryker’s game, I shout “yes” a mere minute later as he blocks a shot on goal. I can almost feel his intensity through the screen. His ferocity as he skates. One lesson doesn’t make me an expert, but I can read people, and it sure seems like he’s frustrating the hell out of his opponent.
As I watch, I feel like I understand both of them more deeply than before. Hockey isn’t just a game for them. For Chase, it’s his passion, his drive, and a way to fulfill a promise. For Ryker, I suspect it’s part of his whole protector side. It’s how he takes care of his mom and sisters since his father didn’t.
It’s not just a silly game with sticks and stuff. Hockey is to them what books are to me—part of my soul.
But the Sea Dogs lose while the Avengers win. Will Chase beat himself up again? Or will he need to fuck out the loss, like he did on Monday morning? I squirm a little at the thought of an anger bang. And on that note, a shower is always a good idea, so I take a quick one, and I’ve just pulled on a tank top and sleep shorts when a yawn pummels me.
Well, it is after ten.
That’s prime reading hour, so I grab my little guy and slide into bed, then open my Kindle. I never finished the Hazel Valentine—nightly sex is putting a serious crimp in my reading style. I devour more of the tale, till my eyes flutter, and my thoughts scatter to bookstore meet-ups, and tacos, and toys, and wedding dates this weekend. They blur together for a long time until in the distance, I hear the faint sound of a door unlocking.
24
A RULE FOR A RULE
Ryker
Once the door’s unlocked, I push it open. It smacks hard against the wall.
That feels satisfying. Not quite as satisfying as slamming an opponent into the boards, but this’ll do for now since earlier today I found out that Chase has zero problem with public affection. Zero desire to ask me about it either.
I don’t even give a fuck if he’s in a funk about his team’s loss. Too bad.
“Dude, don’t take it out on my wall,” Chase chides. He’s right behind me since he was waiting in the garage when I arrived and parked my electric car right next to his.
Waiting to tell me he’s now dating Trina. Or fake dating. Or what-the-fuck-ever it is.
How convenient.
I make a show of rubbing my fist against the wall, like I’m removing the nonexistent scratch. “All good.”
“Dude, seriously.” He stares at me like what gives. “Why are you being such a dick?”
But I’m not buying the Ryker’s a little bitch line that he’s selling. Nope. We had a deal. We had ground rules. They did not include deciding on his own that she’s his girl. And she didn’t even think about me either.
I point to my chest. “Me? I’m being a dick?”
He shuts the door quietly, then tips his forehead to the hall. “Lower your fucking voice.”
This is rich. He’s playing the Trina is sleeping card. “Want to take it outside?” I ask, puffing up my chest. We’re not small guys, but I’m bigger, and I’m not afraid to use my size right now.
Or ever for that matter.
He holds up his forefinger. “It’s one wedding date,” he says defensively. “Oh, and she wants a dance with each of us. She asked about you, man. If you were cool with it too,” he adds, and that’s not helping. That’s not fucking helping at all to know she was thinking of me. It makes me like her even more, and this is going to end badly for me. It just is. “So, I ask again, why is it such a big deal?”
“Gee. That’s a good question.” I scratch my head, like I’m lost in thought. “Maybe because, oh, I don’t know, we didn’t talk about it.”
“And I said why in the garage. It all came up so quickly, and I had to make a decision.”
My chest is a vise, and I can’t stand this too-tight feeling, like something is strangling me. I can’t stand feeling, period. I just wanted to enjoy the victory tonight. To spread Trina out on the bed and take her apart. To work through the sexiest list ever.
Four nights, and I already like her. This is so fucked up. What seemed like fun Friday night—hell, even the next few evenings and mornings—is a mess now. And the mess is inside me.
I stalk into the kitchen, hunting around for a scotch or something, but when I yank open the cupboard this feels all wrong. The glasses are his glasses; the bourbon is his liquor. Nothing is mine. I slam the door shut.
Chase follows me, then lifts his hands almost in surrender, his voice lowering too. “Look, man, someone took a pic of us. Someone else—someone I don’t know—made a decision we were dating. My teammates took that and ran with it. You know how Erik is. He’s relentless. So is Lisette.”