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 snort with laughter, as does Posey. The expression is so out of this world to me, though I can’t help but use it. I don’t know if it’s because it’s so funny or if it’s because Austen used it. The way she blushed and called me all those names, I couldn’t help but think she was endearing. I don’t know. I like her, a lot more than I should.
“Ticks are gross.”
“So gross.”
“Their heads can stay in your skin when you pull them out!”
“I know!” I shriek, and we dissolve in laughter as we head off the ice.
“And don’t bother talking to Shelli,” she says before I go into the tunnel that leads to the locker room. “There’s no point. Just prove her wrong. Show her you belong, despite her fragile ego.”
I nod slowly, chewing the inside of my cheek. “Will do, Coach.”
She grins. “That’s weird.”
“Weird? How do you think I feel? My coach is fucking hot, married, and has a kid. How am I supposed to play for you and not ruthlessly flirt with you?”
Posey snorts, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll manage.”
“Barely. Just barely.”
She knocks her stick into my shin. “There are plenty of girls who want to be flirted with by the Russian Stallion.”
“None like you, my beautiful Posey Rose.”
Her eyes sparkle as she waves me off. “Hit the showers, Titov. Good job today.”
“Thanks, Coach,” I say with a wave as I head down the tunnel. I love teasing Posey. Some would say it’s flirting, but it’s not. I don’t get turned on flirting with her. For me, it’s how I remind her how goddamn perfect she is. I would never do it with the intent of stealing her away from Boon. I couldn’t. Don’t even know the dude, but she is totally in love with him, and I’m not that kind of guy. She knows that and loves me for it. Posey has always been a friend. While she’s right, I can find anyone to flirt with, there is only one with whom I truly want to.
Austen.
Because flirting with her, seeing that little flush move along her cheeks and neck, hearing the rubber band hit her wrist, turns me on like nothing ever has before.
I shut the door behind me, kicking off my shoes, when I notice a box on the coffee table.
My new Xbox.
I throw my keys on the side table and head to where it sits with a Post-it note on it.
Sorry I thought you were an intruder.
-A
I wish she had signed it Janie, but I know she hates that name. Which is why I’ll keep calling her by it. I grin as I take off the note and then start unpacking the Xbox since I want to play with FJ and his friends. I ate a burger on the way home and showered at the rink, so I have no other obligations but to get on the game. I could go thank Janie, but her door is closed, and living with my sister has taught me never to open a closed door.
It can lead to getting your eyes clawed out.
As I set everything up, I go through my schedule, making sure to keep a mental list of what I need to do this week. I have to make sure to really focus on my wrist work, which the trainer already knows about. He’s ready to get started, and so am I. I have lunch with my parents tomorrow and then dinner with the Adlers on Friday. That should be fun if Shelli shows up. I wonder if I should do what Posey said. Ignore her and just do me. It’d be easier and less stress for me. I don’t want to deal with Shelli’s emotional self, but I also don’t want her holding things against me. Things that are so old and in the past.
Once I get everything set up and get my headset on, I load up the system, waiting for the updates to go through. I send a text to FJ that I’ll be joining soon, just as Austen’s door opens.
I flash her a grin when she steps out, and by the looks of it, she’s already annoyed by me. In a pair of shorts and a long dark tee, bra included, which is a shame, she has her hair up in a high bun, and she’s wearing very naughty socks. Socks that go to her knees, fuzzy ones. Very naughty. I want to touch them.
“Wasted no time setting that up,” she mentions as she walks to the kitchen. She has a book in her hand, I notice as I watch her stroll by.
“Nope. I got games to play, roomie.”
I watch her roll her eyes as she grabs a tumbler of water. “Ugh, stop calling me that.”
“Why?”
“Because it is an unfortunate reality that I don’t need a constant reminder of.”