Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
“It has its perks and pitfalls, doesn’t it?”
“Everything does. My life would’ve been so different if I’d lived with my mom.” I went to three different schools for junior kindergarten. My mom tried to settle down in one place when I started senior kindergarten, but she wasn’t happy being tied to a location, so it only lasted a handful of months. It was hard as a kid to understand, but having my mom be that unhappy and stressed while trying her absolute best to make it work for me wouldn’t have ended up going well. Our relationship would have been toxic, and she would have crumbled. Now, I have someone vibrant who loves me at her best, even if sometimes I long for what other people have.
“Not a lot of stability for you with the way she moves around.”
“No. I refused to decorate my room for the first year I lived with my dad. I think he believed it was because I didn’t want to be with him. But I didn’t want to get too comfortable in case it didn’t work.”
“You weren’t used to being in one place.” Hollis flips the scallops.
I’m glad he has something else to focus on. “I wasn’t. But after the first year, I settled in and it was better, for me at least. My mom is an infinitely healthier person now. My dad put me ahead of everything and everyone.” It still took two years before I stopped keeping a packed bag in my closet.
Hollis’s gaze meets mine, and I catch a momentary flash of guilt. “You’ve always been his first priority.”
“He’s put his own needs aside because of what I went through as a kid.”
“Do you mean relationship wise?” he asks.
“Yeah. But also everything too. My parents are opposites. My dad has had two girlfriends my entire life, at least that I’ve met. One was when he was playing for Calgary. But then he was traded. That was hard on both of us. He tried to date another woman about a year after we moved to Toronto, but it didn’t work out. He’s not even forty yet. I’ve been his whole world other than hockey. It’d be great if he would date.”
“He’s said the same thing about you,” Hollis says.
I roll my eyes. “The last time I tried to go on a date, someone crashed it.”
He looks guilty, but not that guilty.
“I only went because you told me I should, and I thought this would never happen.” I motion between us.
His expression softens. “It wasn’t because I didn’t want this, Aurora.” He tucks a single finger under my chin and brushes his lips gently over mine. “I do, but it’s complicated.”
“I know.” I still worry the complications could outweigh his desire for this to work. There are real stakes for both of us.
“And I honestly believed I was doing the right thing when I suggested you go out with that kid.” His eyes darken.
“I was so pissed at you.” I sip my wine to hide my smile.
“I was a territorial asshole.”
“You absolutely were.”
“You didn’t seem to hate it,” he observes.
Jealous and possessive Hollis is hot though. “Is that you telling me to go out on another date?”
“Fuck no.” His lip curls. “What happened with James, anyway? Did he ask you out again?”
“You mean Jameson. And no. I put him in the friend zone where he belongs.”
“Good. He seemed way too into Roman that day. He should have wanted you all to himself.”
Postie hops up on the counter and headbutts my hand. He’s not supposed to be up here, but I pet his silky fur, anyway. “Half my dates end up with guys asking about my dad and his teammates. It’s fame by proxy, I guess. And I get the fascination. But it highlights how much I’m not a regular university student. I tried to be one, Hollis. I really did. I tried to date university guys and do the keg-party thing, which is a hotbed of terrible decision making.”
Hollis chuckles. “I remember those days.”
“I always ended up being the designated sober person, because one.” I hold up a finger. “I hate beer.” I raise a second finger. “And two, the last thing I wanted was to end up in some random guy’s bed with a hangover and a ton of regrets.” I’ve seen enough of my friends do it, and I’m good without that experience.
He frowns. “Did that ever happen?”
I give him a look. “Where did I spend my weekends?” I allocated one weekend a month to staying at my off-campus apartment, mostly to appease my dad, who thought it was a good life experience. I was just grateful the complex was mostly pre-med, and all most people wanted to do was study.
“At hockey games or with Roman.”
“I like being with the team. I love Hemi and Shilpa and Rix and Tally—and even Dred doesn’t get all googly eyed about hockey players. I always felt protected and cared for. Especially by you,” I admit.