Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 120176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Kit: image sent.
I deleted it. I owed Kit a call, but my mom was getting to me through her. I didn’t need to see whatever it said to know what it was. My mom being my mom.
45
MARA
After we ate, Tasmin rejoined us and pulled me outside.
“What?” I laughed as she brought out a gift-wrapped piece of clothing. It was big and bulky, and wrapped in brown tissue paper, a light pink ribbon tied around it. “What is this?”
“Something I special ordered for here because I couldn’t get it to arrive earlier than today. I fully planned to squirrel it away until the day you and Cruz finally went official, and I’m so giddy that it finally happened.”
“What’s going on?” That was Zeke, joining our circle. He had a large plastic mug, and a full beer can open inside it. A bunch of guys I didn’t know joined him, so I was guessing they were some of his fraternity brothers. The rest of the circle were my roommates.
I ignored him, unwrapping the gift, and when the tissue paper fell away, I was speechless. A full old school hockey sweater with Cruz’s number and in Grant West’s colors. Purple and white. 71.
My mouth was on the floor.
“Look at the back.” Tasmin was gushing.
I turned it, shock spreading through me, and I saw the words embroidered in big and purple lettering was his last name, his number, two small hockey sticks crossing over each other, and beneath in smaller print was, “Property of Girlfriend.”
A choked sound came out of me.
I’d never… I covered my mouth with my hand.
This was a serious gift. She put thought and money into this, and planning, and now hearing she was going to hold onto it until we were official… “I can’t believe this,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.
She–no one had any idea, but with my mom, how she was, I wasn’t celebrated. Gifts were not something that happened in my life.
“Thank you so much, Taz.” She had no idea how much this meant to me.
But maybe she did because she was blinking back tears. “I just–with your mom and what you’ve been through–” Her cheeks were pinking. “I wanted you to know that I appreciate our friendship and yeah. You’re stuck with me.”
If I were a guy, I would’ve been on the floor in pain from the karmic kick in the balls. I shook my head, still whispering because I couldn’t get anything else out right now, “I’m so sorry for being such a bitch. I–I don’t deserve this jersey. I don’t deserve–”
“Oh, my gawd, shut up.” She hurled herself at me, hugging me tight. She whispered for just me to hear, “I’m happy you let Cruz in, and I’m happy you’re starting to let me in. Just know that people do care, and they don’t judge, and we’re here for you, and you’re wrong. You do deserve kindness.”
She was wrong. I didn’t. I really didn’t, but I hugged her so long.
Blocked calls (119)
We were in the aisle. The Cain students were in the section next to us. Zeke was smack dab front and center, and he enjoyed plastering himself against the plexiglass every time Cruz skated by, which was a lot. I’d gotten more than my normal amount of attention as we walked in, but this time it was mostly from girls. I’m sure some came from the jersey, but I was also sure some came from the blog article. I had no idea how popular that blogger was at our university.
Watching Cruz play was always fun. He scored right away, which set the rhythm for the rest of the game. Atwater scored the second goal. There were a lot of missed shots and back and forth in the second period, but the third is when Cruz got another goal, and he made an opening for Labrowski to sink in for their fourth.
Cain never got on the scoreboard, but judging by how loud Zeke was cheering for Cruz, I didn’t think they expected to win this game.
That night, I checked into a local hotel with Skylar and Zoe. The guys were in the next room.
Taz and Race were staying at her brother’s, and while they invited us to go there since they were having a small party, I elected to stay close to the hotel. It was the same one the hockey team was using, and since it was Friday night, they were given time off with a strict curfew.
Cruz: What room are you in?
Me: 807
Cruz: Heading up.
Skylar was in the bathroom. Zoe was in the other room, and I was suddenly hit with nerves. Like this was the first time seeing my boyfriend. Like I was sixteen, going on my first date.
My phone buzzed again, and I tensed but it wasn’t her.
Zeke: Daniels! Where are you? What are you doing?