Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
A burst of anxiety explodes inside me at the idea of heaping even more expectation and responsibility onto my plate.
Don’t I have enough going on with school and hockey?
How can I handle adding something else to the mix?
Unease spirals through me and it all starts to feel like…too much.
The avalanche of confusion that buries me alive is what propels me to blurt, “It’s late. I should probably get going.”
For just a second, she stiffens before pulling away. As soon as her warmth vanishes, a sharp sense of loss fills me. It’s so damn tempting to drag her back into my arms, but I don’t. I force myself to rise from the bed and collect my scattered clothing before getting dressed. The entire time I do, regret churns inside me.
Once my shoes are on, I reluctantly turn back to the bed.
I have no idea what to say or how to leave this.
I plow a rough hand through my hair. “I’ll see you around?”
“Sure.” There’s a pause. “Thanks for tonight.”
“Yeah, it was fun.”
That adjective doesn’t even come close to describing what this evening meant.
We might be crossing off a lot of firsts for her, but this was one for me. The connection I felt while being buried inside her body isn’t something I’ve experienced before. Nor have I ever placed someone else’s pleasure above my own.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something…
Something that will change the trajectory of this night.
“Take it easy.”
When she gives me a tight smile in response, I slip quietly from the room.
CHAPTER 25
JULIETTE
I push my way inside the arena and find the place already swarming with fans. It’s a sea of orange and black. The Western Wildcats have a massive following not only on campus but in the city itself. When there’s a game, people show up in droves to support their hometown team. There’s more than a few girls sporting McAdams jerseys. An ache flares to life beneath my breast and I unconsciously raise my hand to rub the area as if that alone has the power to make the pain disappear.
It doesn’t.
It’s been five days since we slept together.
Hands down, it was the best sex of my life.
No surprise there.
Was I expecting anything less from Ryder?
Nope.
What I didn’t expect was to be ghosted afterward.
Have I reached out to see what’s going on?
Hell no. In fact, it was tempting to skip the game altogether. The last thing I want to do is sit in the bleachers along with his other groupies and stare at him on the ice for the next three hours.
Can you imagine anything more tortuous?
Me neither.
Except…
How could I not show up and support my brother?
Carina links her arm through mine as we navigate our way through the concourse to the section where both sets of parents will be sitting.
“Sure you don’t want to sit in the student section?”
I shake my head. “Are you kidding? It gets way too crazy over there. All the yelling and screaming.”
“I know,” she says, flashing a grin. “That’s what makes it so fun.”
A reluctant smile curls around the edges of my lips as I squeeze her close. “I’m glad you came with me tonight. I’m sure Ford will be thrilled to see you.”
She rolls her eyes. That comment is enough to have the smile vanishing from her face.
“That guy is such a pain in my ass.”
“Oh, stop. He’ll appreciate the support.”
“Please, he gets enough of that from the puck bunnies that stalk his every movement. Did you see the groupie at the other game that wore his jersey and then flashed her tits?” She wrinkles her pert little nose. “Show a little self-respect, for fuck’s sake.”
I arch a brow. “And you really want to sit in the student section along with them?”
The Western Wildcats fangirls are a rabid bunch, and they’ll do whatever it takes to get a player’s attention. Like flash their boobs during the game.
“Hmmm.” Her expression turns decidedly thoughtful as she mulls over the comment. “As much as I hate to admit it, you make a valid point.”
“Thank you.”
Once we’re inside the rink, I search the stands for my parents. Mom and Dad always sit around the red center line so we can watch the action on both ends of the ice. As soon as she spots us, Mom rises to her feet and waves. Stella and my grandfather are seated next to them.
I’m sure Stella is here to support Maverick but also her bestie, Riggs.
I return Mom’s greeting before grabbing Carina’s hand and dragging her up the aisle. I say hello to a few of the other families I’ve gotten to know over the years. It’s a tight-knit bunch.
As soon as I shimmy my way down the row, Mom wraps her arms around me. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
Her gaze slices to my roomie. “Hello, Carina! I’m so glad you could join us.”