Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I watch as his lips move, his tongue peeking out every so often, hitting his teeth or wetting his lips. My mouth is dry as I watch him, but I go still as his eyes move to me. Time completely stops, and my heart about falls out of my chest as I watch his lips pull up at the side. When he waves at me, I am knocked out of my trance over him. He waves at me like we’re friends. Like we’re roomies, as he so boldly puts it. But we are no such thing. My brows knit together as I avert my gaze from his, annoyed. When I hear his laughter, I close my eyes.
Snap, snap, snap. Snap. Snap.
Because that laughter makes me wonder what it would feel like to have Dimitri’s lips on mine.
ten
Dimitri
While I’m heading from the gym to the team meeting, I am surprised when Elli Adler falls into step with me. She shoots me one hell of a grin as she locks her arm through mine, squeezing my bicep.
“Staying out of trouble?” she asks.
I snort. “Never.”
Our laughter joins as we head down the hall. “How’s the apartment?”
A slow grin slides over my lips. “It’s good. Everything is as perfect as the Assassins’ standards.”
“Good. I gave you the smaller one since it’s all I had, and I don’t have to give you a roommate. Figured you wouldn’t want one.”
This is my chance to tell her I do have one, and that said roommate is a lot of fun to mess with, but I withhold that. Only nodding, I say, “I mean, I don’t mind living with one of the guys, but I’m thankful not to. Gives me time to unwind without the constant reminder of us fighting for a spot.”
“I know, which is another reason I kept you on your own. I want you to really focus, take your extra practice with Posey seriously. River will work with you too.”
“I know. He told me that this morning during my session with Posey.”
She nods. “How’d it go?”
I shrug. “Good, I guess. She’s a hard-ass.”
“She is. You have practice this afternoon, after tapes,” she says as I nod. “I think after that, we should have a meeting with Shelli.”
I grimace at that. “Did you know she hates me?”
Elli laughs. “There is a thin line between love and hate, my boy. She hates you, but there is love in there too. She’s just bitter about the salary cap.”
I want to tell her what I was told, but I keep that to myself. I don’t need Elli hating me too. “I hope we can work past whatever she has against me. I truly want to play for the Assassins.”
“As do I. Just keep your head down, do what is expected of you, and work your ass off. I know the spot is yours.”
Man, I love Elli. I thread my fingers with hers, squeezing tightly. “Thanks, Elli.”
“You know it too. Just stay on the straight and narrow. Only a wee bit of trouble, okay?”
“Just a wee bit,” I say with a wink. “I can handle that.”
Elli reaches up, taking my jaw in her hand. She stops and so do I, before she brings me down to her. She kisses my cheek, and against it, she whispers, “I love you, kid. Just do you. Play your hockey.”
I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tightly. “I love you.” She squeezes me once more before turning and heading back down the hall. The heels she wears are high and elegant, true Elli. My very first memory of Elli is of me wearing a pair of her vintage blue heels. They had black bows on them and black polka dots. They were awesome—and totally went with my eyes, my mom said. My face flushes with embarrassment at that memory, but it also brings me such joy. I love Elli with all my heart.
With a little more confidence in my step, I head down the hall to the meeting rooms. When I see an extremely familiar face, I stop dead in my tracks. Those blue eyes meet mine, a full grin fills his boyish face, and I swear the happiness that flows through me is so welcome I can’t even begin to describe it. This is why I came back to the States, why I came home, to play the sport I love with the people I love. I don’t know who yells out first or even who moves first, but without much thought, I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around my cousin.
Flynn Anderson is no baby anymore. I knew that before this moment, but I haven’t seen him in person in years, only through video chat. But I could never forget the way he hugs. He’s a very aggressive hugger. Slaps you, squeezes you, and always lifts me off the floor. Such a great dude. He’s my height now, long and lanky, built for speed, just as his dad is. From the videos of Flynn on Instagram, I know he is nothing but muscle, and that could be an issue if he were just my regular competition. He’s not, though; he’s my blood. My family. I squeeze him tightly. “Flynn.”