Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Someday? I guess? I can’t quite wrap my head around becoming a dad just yet.” He paused. “You?”
“Same.” I couldn’t help but smile to myself. “I think I want them someday, but it’s hard to imagine doing what my sister Sophia does. She has a two-year-old and a six-month-old and she never stops. They never stop. I’m at her place for ten minutes and kind of start itching to run screaming from the house.”
Rob laughed. “Same.”
“Don’t get me wrong—I love them. They’re so cute and rocking the baby to sleep is my favorite thing. But once they’re awake and screaming and talking nonstop and pooping…oh my god.”
“Ditto. And look how much we have in common.”
I chuckled. “Do you spend much time with kids?”
“Actually…” He hesitated. “Remember I told you about my coworker that was killed in the car accident? There’s a group of us that have stepped in as honorary uncles, I guess you could call us. We hang out sometimes, babysit once in a while, that kind of thing. Last year, we all dressed up as the Avengers for Annalise’s fourth birthday.”
My heart clenched, thinking about these two kids I didn’t know who’d lost both their parents. “That’s very, very sweet of you. You’re a nice guy, Random Rob.”
He chuckled. “Sometimes. I have other nicknames if you catch me at the right time.”
I laughed even as I rolled my eyes. “Well, as fun as that sounds, I’ll stick to Random Rob for now.”
“For now? Does that mean there’s a chance that someday you’ll want to meet one of my other personalities?”
“Never say never, but don’t get your hopes up.”
“Darn.”
“Hey, I’ve enjoyed talking to you but the water’s getting cold and I have to get a good night’s sleep.”
“Wait, I have a question.”
“You get one more question, then I have to go to bed.”
“If you’re Middle Eastern, does that mean you’re a brunette?”
I paused. “Are you?”
“I’m more of a dirty blond. If you know what I mean.”
I groaned at his lame joke. “Shocker.”
“So…brunette?”
“Yes.”
“What color eyes?”
“We’ll have to save that for next time,” I teased. “I can’t give away too much all at once.”
“You can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Good night, Rob.”
“Good night, Sariah.”
I disconnected the call and took a deep breath, suddenly wondering what Random Rob looked like. Did he look like he sounded—smooth and articulate and sexy? Or was he just a random dude in a basement somewhere catfishing me?
I shook my head and got out of the tub. I couldn’t go down that road. I had a busy few days coming up and I planned to read and watch everything I could find about the St. Louis Mavericks. I wanted to know as much as I could before I started on Monday because I was sure there was going to be a steep learning curve. Talking and texting with Rob had been fun, but I probably wasn’t going to have much time to talk to him once I started the new job.
Was it weird that I was a little disappointed about that?
Chapter Six
Nash
* * *
Eric Alvarado was waiting for me when I walked into the locker room to change for practice.
“It’s not funny,” he said, his face twisted in rage.
I scoffed. “Move, dipshit. I need to get changed.”
“Not until you promise me your stupid little tricks are over.”
Drew busted out laughing from nearby. I’d shown him the postcard before mailing it to Alvarado at his in-laws’ house.
“What?” Alvarado demanded, narrowing his eyes at Drew. “Was it you?”
Drew was the most laid-back guy on the team, but he was also the Mavericks’ oldest veteran player and he didn’t take anyone’s shit.
“What if it was?” he asked, shrugging. “You need to unclench your ass cheeks if you’re going to fit in around here, kid.”
Alvarado turned to Wes, who was just walking into the room.
“You’re the team captain,” he said.
“No shit?” Wes shrugged. “No one ever tells me anything around here. Does that mean I’m getting a raise?”
Alvarado shook his head, looking disgusted. “Why don’t you act like a captain and lead? Why do you put up with this shit?”
“What shit are you referring to?” Wes asked as he started to undress and change into his practice clothes.
Sighing dramatically, Alvarado pulled a folded-up postcard from his back pocket and showed it to Wes. Narrowing his eyes, Wes read one side of the postcard out loud.
“Welcome to the Genital Warts Treatment Center. Relief is on the way.”
Alvarado had walked right into that one. Everyone within earshot started laughing, and I felt a twinge of pride; I was really bringing my A game to this rookie’s doorstep.
“Hey Cap,” I said, looking at Wes. “I obviously have no knowledge of what’s going on here, but I do know that in general, postcards often have something written on the other side, too.”
Wes cocked a brow and turned it over, reading the handwritten message on the address side of the postcard.