Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I let out a labored sigh and force myself to look down at my phone and swipe on the screen to look at my new message: “Let me know if you need anything else for the game.”
It’s so simple, yet it somehow makes my heart skip a beat. Gah, I love it! Can’t help but grin from ear to ear, biting my lip to keep from giggling to myself. What was I even smiling about? I didn’t know anything about him, yet here I was, giddy like a dang teenager.
Well.
This whole evening just got a whole lot more interesting.
Glancing toward the exit, I half hope he’ll come back, already knowing he won’t. The moment is over—fleeting but electrifying— like a spark in the dark.
4
the one where they flirt via text…
G: Hey you—just circling back around to make sure the QR code for the tickets uploaded for you….
Austin: Hey! YES! Worked perfectly. Looked them up earlier to make sure this wasn’t a scam, ha ha. These seats are INSANE. Are you sure this isn’t a mistake?????
G: Not a mistake—just damn good seats, yeah? You excited?
Austin: Excited? I’m over the moon. Thank you SO SO much. Seriously, you didn’t have to do this—and just so you know, these badass seats are going to ruin my original seats for me. It’s like going from economy to first class—then back to economy.
G: Sorry in advance LOL
Austin: You’re like the hockey version of Santa Claus
G: If Santa didn’t wear red, sure.
Austin: And if Santa wasn’t in such good shape….
G: Ohhhhh…you noticed I was in good shape, eh?
Austin: I wasn’t staring at you if that’s what you mean. Besides, everyone is in better shape than Santa and you seem…active?
G: “Active” LOL
Austin: Oh my God. Stop laughing at me
G: Why? This is fun.
Austin: Fun for YOU, maybe. I’m over here contemplating deleting my number—I called you active and hot and compared you to Santa in the same breath.
G: Wait. You think I’m hot?
Austin: Please don’t do this to me. I’m melting…
G: Fine. I’ll stop. Lame, though, but I’ll be nice.
Austin: Thank you. I can only handle so much embarrassment in one night.
G: You’re welcome. And just so you know, I won’t be forgetting this conversation anytime soon and will probably look back at this text at the Santa part and HOT part.
Austin: I deserve this roasting.
G: Ha ha. Don’t we all deserve to be roasted?? But switching gears back to hockey—who are you going to be cheering for? Don’t tell me it’ll be the goalie.
Austin: Okay, first of all, he shit the bed. Spectacularly. For the past few games. I have secondhand embarrassment for the poor bastard.
G: Bastard? Wow. Tell me how you really feel.
Austin: BUT—
G: Oh boy, here she goes….
Austin: BUT he’s NOT a terrible goalie. Everyone has bad games. He had an off night. 3 nights in a row, but still. This is not his month.
G: You’re still cheering for him after he fucked the team over?
Austin: Of course! He’s my guy. He needs to get his head back in the game.
G: Interesting. How will you be cheering him on now that you’re sitting SO CLOSE. Signs? Chants? A strongly worded DM?
Austin: Don’t tempt me. I’d slide into his DM if I thought he’d see the message, ha ha. And I’m not above standing at the glass with a big sign that says, “Get it together!”
G: DO IT. I’m sure he could use the motivation.
Austin: Or the humiliation??
G: Sometimes humiliation is the best motivator. Tough love and all that…
Austin: Exactly. Tough love. Coz nothing says “I believe in you” like public shaming.
G: I’m sure he’d appreciate the sentiment.
Austin: You think? Maybe I’ll add stickers and glitter to the sign.
G: Glitter says “GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER but also: I’m fabulous”
Austin: “Stop pucks + Stop killing my dreams.”
G: Wow.
Austin: What? Too much? Or too subtle?
G: Subtle? You told the man to stop killing your dreams.
Austin: Sometimes the truth hurts.
G: If that doesn’t light a fire under his ass NOTHING will.
Austin: Honestly, I’m practically doing the coach’s job at this point.
G: You’re a hero—truly.
Austin: Finally, someone who gets it!!!!
G: Don’t let it go to your head.
Austin: TOO LATE. I’m unbearable now.
G: LOL Will you be cheering for the whole team, then?
Austin: Obviously. I’m not one of those people who only goes to games to watch the fights.
G: Fights do make things interesting, don’t you think?
Austin: Oh, for sure. A good fight is like the cherry on top of a great game. But I’m here for the plays—NOT the punches.
G: Respectable. You’re there for the art of the game.
Austin: Absolutely.
Austin: Are you sure I can’t convince you to join me tomorrow?
G: I’m sure you have someone else you were planning to bring as your plus one, and not the dude you met in a bar.
Austin: I was planning on asking my friend Dolly to come along, but if you change your mind, you have until 10 PM tonight before I turn into a pumpkin. She’s not a superfan like I am, but she doesn’t mind eye-candy.