Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I rub a hand over my face, annoyed. I don’t think she understands that there’s something about me that doesn’t make it easy to find friends. I’ve always been okay with that. It suits me well, but it’s not only me. People don’t really want to stick around with me, and I think that’s why I was foolish enough to believe the situation with Malcolm was different. Some of his negative behaviors toward me were easy to ignore because he was there.
“I’ve actually met some friends lately,” I lie. Kind of lie. Rylan is the guy I’m sleeping with, and Anthony and Donovan are fellow Jilted Exes whom I’m nervous about continuing to spend time with, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Oh really? That’s wonderful news!” Mom replies, sounding much happier than I expected. Does she really see me as that much of a loner? Does it worry her that much? “Just…be careful. I don’t want you to get into another situation like with Malcolm.”
“Jesus, Mom. Do you want me to make friends or not? I don’t have them, and you say I need them. When I make them, you tell me to be careful, but two minutes ago you told me I keep people at arm’s length!” My pulse beats against my skin. I don’t want to get so frustrated, but it’s difficult. My right leg bounces, making it hard to sit, so I shove to my feet.
“You’re upset. I didn’t mean to upset you, Hayes. I just want what’s best for you.”
The thing is, I know she does. And I know I don’t always make it easy either. I sigh. “It’s fine. I’m just on edge today.”
“Is everything okay?”
Is everything okay? The only friends I have, I’ve just met in the last few weeks, and I don’t even know if I can consider them friends. I’m a bit of a mess, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever realized it until now. Fuck Malcolm and this whole journey he’s put me on.
But it’s not like I can say any of that to Mom, so I make up some BS excuse about work, talk to her for a few more minutes, and then end the call.
I’m surprised I haven’t worn a hole through the carpet with my pacing. I’m irritated, stressed, and…I will not turn on the hockey game. Will not.
I hurry back to my chair and log in to a site that streams the game. No one has to know I’m watching. Rylan will definitely never know. It’ll be my secret. Truthfully, I don’t even understand why I’m watching other than how I’ve been obsessing about him all day and then Mom’s call got me all up in my head. I want to feel…well, the way Rylan makes me feel. Wanted. Good. Even if it is just because we have amazing sex.
They’re playing in North Carolina, then Florida and Nashville. I ignore the fact that I know his schedule by heart.
It’s the third period, and of course the first thing I see is Rylan. He’s ramming some guy into the board thingies. They’re fighting over the puck, Rylan using his big, muscular body to manhandle the other player and… “What the fuck?” I look down at my dick, which is totally plumping up. Why in the hell do I think this is hot?
My gaze snaps to the computer again when I hear the announcer say that Rylan is getting put in the penalty box. I have no idea what he did since I was preoccupied with my cock, but as he skates over, I notice his lip is bleeding.
Well, this can’t be good, can it? Clearly our sex didn’t work, and now he’s never going to want to have it with me again while I spend my life with a hockey-player kink.
There’s a small chance I’m overreacting.
The camera pans the game, announcers talking about North Carolina going for a power-play goal, whatever the fuck that means. Our goalie blocks it, and there is absolutely no reason I should be calling him our anything, but all I want is for them to show Rylan again. Is he mad? Is he sitting there bleeding and thinking about how my cum ruined his game?
But then, the Rebels are still leading. That has to be a good sign.
He’s out of the game for what feels like five hours, and how the fuck long are hockey games? It’s not like I was paying attention to the one and only game I’ve ever been at.
Rylan has a huge smile on his face when he skates back onto the ice. North Carolina didn’t score while he was out, and Rylan jumps right back into the action.
“It looks like Pierce is playing a little extra special again tonight,” one of the announcers says.
“Something has lit a fire in him these last two games,” another adds, and then…wait…it’s me who is smiling because I’m the one who lit something inside him. At least, according to Rylan. And apparently, the penalty situation didn’t matter.