Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
I’m fantasizing about a large pizza and a nap when Sam says, “There’s an escape room close to my place that I’m dying to try out. You up for that?”
I pause with my fork halfway to my mouth. He doesn’t look like he’s joking. All I want is my bed. But again, I think about Wills and how much I want the reward that comes with her brothers’ fucking approval. “Yeah, man, absolutely.”
“Awesome!” Isaac gives me a thumbs-up. It seems to be his thing.
“Want me to see if some of the guys from my team are interested?” Ash loves these things, and Roman and Hollis would probably be down. I could also use a buffer from the intensity of these two. They’re seriously high octane. I thought I had energy to burn, but these two are next-fucking-level.
“Seriously?” Sam asks.
“Yeah, let me send them a text.”
I send a message to our group chat, meant mostly for setting up workouts.
Dallas
With my fiancée’s bros.
You guys up for an escape room?
*there is no “I” in team GIF*
*falling off the side of a mountain GIF*
*paint splatter GIF*
Ash
*shifty eyes GIF*
I can make it.
Hollis
Same. But mostly because I want to see what her brothers are like.
Roman
^^^ And also because Peggy is with the girls.
I can come too.
Flip
I love escape rooms.
Tristan
Bea is out so I’m in, too.
Dallas
You’re the best.
We finish lunch and drive to the escape room.
“Sam is a diehard Roman Hammerstein fan,” Isaac shares as we pile out of the SUV.
“Shut the fuck up, Isaac.” I’m pretty sure Sam is blushing, which is…entertaining.
“He’s an awesome player and a great goalie,” I agree. “The team will be sad to see him go at the end of next season.” He’s diplomatic, even keeled, and basically the team dad.
“He’s had an amazing career,” Sam notes. “There isn’t a better goalie in the league.”
We meet Flip, Tristan, Hollis, Roman, and Ash in front of the building. I stage a round of introductions, and Sam gets all pumped up. Dude is intense to begin with, but he seems to know all of Roman’s stats and his entire career history. I’m just happy to have the attention off of me for a couple hours.
“Are you limping?” Ash asks.
“I’m fine.”
“Liar. These two seem like a lot to handle.”
I hold two fingers a hairbreadth apart.
“Sort of explains why Hemi is the way she is,” he muses.
“Willy’s perfect,” I snap.
He pats me on the back. “Agreed. I’m just saying, if this is how her brothers are all the time, it gives a little perspective as to why she’s such a boss queen, that’s all. Sort of like how Shilps is the youngest of five and had to fight for her place.”
“Yeah. That makes sense. They’re awesome women.”
We split up into two teams, me with Isaac, Ash, and Flip. Roman, Hollis, Sam, and Tristan form the other team. I’m grateful that it only takes Isaac half an hour to figure it out, with the help of mostly Ash and minor input from me and Flip. Sam doesn’t seem nearly as bothered by the loss as I’d anticipated, but then, he’s practically glued himself to Roman’s side.
Afterward, we head to the Watering Hole for beers and dinner. This day feels like the longest of my life. And possibly one of the most painful.
It isn’t until I’m lying on my couch—freshly showered with baby powder on my poor chafed balls, wishing for a new set of legs—that my phone buzzes with a message.
I swallow the lump in my throat as Willy’s name flashes across the screen. I open the message with a stomach full of rocks. At least until I read the content.
Wills
My brothers are in love with you. They can’t stop talking about what an awesome day they had. Thank you. I’ve scheduled you a two-hour massage for tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. You’re welcome.
Dallas
Does this also mean I can finally fuck your pussy with my tongue?
Wills
When you’ve recovered, yes.
CHAPTER 19
HEMI
Hemi
Please stop posting your anticipated location. It creates a shitstorm every time.
Flip
But how will my friends find me?
Hemi
You text them individually, or as part of your bro group. You do not share your whereabouts with the world so every underage girl out there tries to get into the same bar as you.
Flip
Shit. Good call. Changing locations now.
Hemi
Seriously, Flip, why is this just making sense now?
Flip
I’m pretty sure I just saw Tally in a lineup with her friends. Or it’s her doppelganger. Maybe text her.
Hemi
WTF? If it’s her, why would you leave her there?
Iquickly send a message to the Badass Babe Brigade asking for a photo update. Tally is the first to respond with a picture of her with her cat on her bed. The rest of the girls follow with pictures, but I have what I need. Tally is safe and not at a bar. She’s like a little sister, and while she’s grown up with the team, she’s also—