Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“You’re a mess,” I decide as I shake my head. “But so damn refreshing.” I sigh as I hold his gaze. “Thank you.”
“Hey, it’s easy when I know how important you are to Dart.” His words make my heart flutter in my chest. “And all that shit that fucker said isn’t true. Was my boy a manwhore? Hell, we all were at one point. I was. And look at me now, so beyond in love with my girl, no one could even come close to her.”
“But there is nothing or no one in this world I want more than you.”
Dart’s promise from the day before comes slamming back into my chest.
Owen speaks again. “But I can promise you this. I have never seen Dart act like this about anyone in the whole time I’ve known him. You’re special, Tennessee. I need you to know that.”
Tears sting my eyes as I whisper, “I care for him deeply.”
“I know,” he tells me with no hesitation. “I’ve watched you two interact twice now, and we need to keep a fire extinguisher nearby before we all go up in flames.”
My lips tip up into a smile as tears escape my eyes. “He’s so over the top.”
Owen chuckles at that. “Yeah, in all aspects of life. It’s the best thing about him.”
My lip quivers as I nod, knowing he’s absolutely right. Dart’s passion, his heart, his everything is overwhelming in all the right ways. Being on the receiving end of all that he is has been the greatest romantic accomplishment of my life, yet I am holding myself back.
From pure happiness.
I look up to Owen as he watches me, and then he smiles. “This is getting really awkward. Do you wanna just make my videos?”
I nod. “That would be great.”
“Sorry for making you cry.”
I wave him off. “It isn’t you. It’s me and my dumb self for not doing what I should have from the jump.”
I should have texted Dart back; I should have done what my heart wanted and not what my brain told me to do.
“Yeah,” he says, and once more, his gaze meets mine. “I get it. But again, to quote the great Pat Benatar, love is a very real battlefield, my friend.”
“Wow. You’re a lot.”
He just flashes me the biggest, cheekiest grin. “I am. That’s why Dart and I are friends.”
I can’t help but return that grin and miss Dart terribly.
But my need for him isn’t my issue. It’s the fact that I have to go to a party tonight with the guy I just dumped.
Who is the nephew of the CEO of the company I work for.
Because my life is easy and all.
Chapter Twenty
Dart
CapitalCare has rented the rooftop of a swanky brewery downtown. I don’t usually come here, not my scene, but this IPA that is apparently brewed here is top-notch, and I may have to return. I look around the space, Edison lightbulbs strung above us, twinkling in the night sky. The cityscape is breathtaking from here, and even with all the chatter, I can still hear music. The place is packed with nothing but athletes. Not only are the IceCats here, but our football and baseball teams are here too. Everyone is eager to work with CapitalCare.
To work with Tennessee.
I hadn’t realized how popular she was until I listened to everyone around me. She has helped a lot of athletes, and Coach is convinced she’ll be the ticket to getting us closer to a return bid to the Cup finals. She apparently developed her own program and has been offered a lot of money for it, but she won’t sell. I think it’s because she wants to help people personally, not depend on everyone else to do what she does so excellently.
It’s impressive.
And fucking hot.
I scan the place for her, but she isn’t here yet. If she were, I’d know. I take a long pull of my beer as I mess with the button of my suit jacket. I’d wanted to text her or call her when I left this afternoon, mostly because I wanted to know what Dumbfuck said, but I didn’t. I’m doing my best to give her space, even though, when we’re in the same room, there is no way.
I crave her.
I lean on a bar table, and when the feeling of someone watching me hits me, I look over to see Angie, Amelia Moon, Jaylin, and Aviva Merryweather. The wives of my closest buddies. They all give me cheeky grins, and I groan loudly. I call over to them, “You guys talking about me?”
Angie nods. “Yup.”
“With love, of course,” Jaylin adds.
“I’m just nosy,” Aviva inserts, and Amelia nods.
“I’m just here for the booze and the gossip.”
I shake my head as I push off the wall and head toward their table. “Can I ask what the topic of conversation is?”