Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Yeah, he’s not very friendly, according to Wes and the others. So I was thinking we’d go over to his house and introduce ourselves to his wife, Annie. The guys are out of town and maybe she’s lonely? And since you’re the newest WAG on the team, it might be nice for her to have someone to talk to who isn’t a veteran. I mean, Sawyer’s been in the league for a while, but obviously not here in St. Louis. You’re also a native, which might be helpful for her. You don’t have to. I totally understand if—”
I interrupted her. “No, I’d love to. I just finished working out, so I’m going home to shower and work for a little while. What time were you thinking?”
“I could pick you up at three, if that works? Nina’s coming too and we’re bringing a homemade red velvet cake and flowers.”
“Should I bring something?”
“Nah, we’ve got it covered. Just text me your address and I’ll pick you up at three.”
“I live in a building downtown, so I’ll just meet you downstairs because parking is a nightmare.”
“Perfect. See you then.”
I waved goodbye to my therapist and headed down to where Flynn was waiting in my Mercedes. The physical therapist’s office was too far to walk to and after my run-in with Hugh last week, I wasn’t willing to risk it.
I was excited about hanging out with Hadley and Nina, though. I hadn’t had a chance to see them much between the team’s travel schedule and how busy things were at the office, so this would be nice. I liked everyone I’d met so far and felt like I fit in, despite the newness of my relationship with Lars.
For most of my adult life, Hugh had kept everyone but Vanessa away from me, and then less than a year after filing for divorce, I’d had the accident and there hadn’t been an opportunity to make friends. I had my mother, of course, and a few aunts, but that wasn’t the same. I’d had friends on the modeling circuit, but I was in a different class, both because of my plus-size status and how in demand I was. Other plus-size models were jealous, some didn’t have relationships with the same designers, and a handful had gotten close enough to see how manipulative Hugh was and eventually kept their distance.
With the Mavericks’ wives, I had the opportunity for a fresh start, which was an incredible feeling. Coupled with my growing feelings for Lars, I’d never felt as content as I did right now. The thing with Hugh was still hanging over my head, but I was going to push Marian to offer him anything he wanted to get him out of my life for good. I didn’t care about money, and I’d started squirreling it away just in case things didn’t go my way, so I had a little nest egg no one knew about or would be able to trace. Even if I had to start over with nothing, it would be worth it to never see or deal with Hugh again.
Hadley pulled up right at three and I slid into the back seat of the minivan she drove. Nina was in the passenger seat and we exchanged greetings as I put on my seat belt.
“I really want to hate you,” Nina said, glancing over her shoulder at me. “How do you always look so good?”
I laughed. “I’ve been having my makeup professionally done for more than a decade and eventually you pick up some tips.”
“Maybe you could do my makeup before the next home game,” Nina said. “Then I won’t look like the old lady in the group.”
“You absolutely don’t look like an old lady!” I said, shaking my head. “But I’d be happy to do your makeup. And yours too, Hadley.”
“Thank you.” Hadley smiled at me in the rearview mirror.
“So do we know anything about Sawyer and Annie Cain?” I asked. “I googled them and didn’t find much. College sweethearts, married five years, no kids. In fact, they haven’t done a public appearance together in a long time. The most recent photo I could find was from two or three years ago.”
“All I know is that this is his third team in four years,” Nina said. “And his play is inconsistent. Like he’ll have an amazing game and score four goals and then not even a shot on goal for weeks.”
“I wonder if there’s trouble at home?” I mused. “Oh my God—what if we get there and there’s a houseful of sister wives?”
Hadley snorted. “What if they’re Amish sister wives?”
“I don’t think that’s how that works…” Nina said, frowning.
Then the three of us cracked up.
“Maybe she’s shy,” I said after a moment. “Not everyone is an extrovert like us.”
“True.”
“Where do they live?” Nina asked. “They’re closer to the city, right? Not in the ’burbs like we are.”