Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
They were in the middle of a home game stretch, he explained, but since the next games would be on Sunday and Tuesday, Ava wouldn’t be allowed to come. He’d need me to be home with her and getting her to bed at the usual time.
I pulled out my phone, taking notes on the times he had practice, the times when he could pick her up or drop her off versus when he needed me to, and when to expect him home to relieve me each evening. He informed me that the gate and house codes would be emailed to me first thing in the morning, and that he’d have a binder on the ins and outs of the house ready for me when I arrived to watch Ava.
By the time he finished speaking, he looked more worried than he had when I’d showed up with Ava at his practice yesterday. He let out a long sigh, his eyes searching mine.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
I dug into my purse and fished out the folded check from that morning. “This is too much.”
Will glared at the paper in my hand, then slid that glare to me. “Hardly. You deserve every penny for how you’re helping me out.”
“This is almost twice what I make in a month.”
That made his jaw clench. “Well, now I’m even more adamant that you take it. You should be paid three times that amount for what you do.”
My neck flushed, and I shook my head, looking down at my shoes as I tucked the check away.
“We fly to Boston on Wednesday,” he explained. “But my uncle should be able to care for Ava in my absence. I get back late Thursday night, and I have the day off on Friday. Would you have time to discuss next steps then?”
“Of course. I can bring Ava home after school if that works?”
He nodded, and once again, I watched him release a long, relieved sigh. “Thank you, Chloe. I can’t… I can’t tell you how much this eases my mind, to know Ava will have you while I figure out what’s next.”
“It’s nothing,” I promised again.
I folded my hands in front of my waist, and Will slid his into the pockets of his slacks. His eyes searched mine for a moment, long enough that I had to tear my gaze away and look at the floor.
“I find it hard to believe,” he said. “That you have the time for this, that I’m not taking you from your friends or…”
He didn’t say boyfriend this time, and I smiled when I caught the way his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
“I lead the life of an eighty-year-old cat lady, Mr. Perry,” I said, trying to laugh with the joke at my own expense. “Trust me — you’re doing me a favor giving me something to do other than start and quit a new hobby this week.”
He almost chuckled, though it was more of a chuff of a breath that left his chest. Then, we were both silent again, his eyes on mine.
At least, until they slid over the length of me, taking in the outfit I’d carefully planned for this occasion.
I didn’t have a hockey jersey, but I did have a sewing machine and a recurring existential crisis around midnight every night. Thus why I was currently wearing a cobalt blue velvet skirt with a white blouse tucked into it, along with an ocean blue scarf, nude tights, and my favorite Sofft Shauna heels.
My skin burned in every place his gaze touched, and when he dragged it back up to my eyes, I nearly combusted at the cocky arch of his brow.
“Nice skirt.”
I was pretty sure my voice was locked in my throat, caged in by sandpaper and a wine cork. Thankfully, I didn’t have time to speak before Ava was running toward us, and she ran right past her father until she was standing in front of me with her hands clasped behind her.
“Thank you for tonight, Miss Knott,” she said, peeking up at me. “I really liked watching the game with you.”
I bent until I was at her level, smiling and tucking her wild curls behind one ear. “Thank you, my little angel bug. I’ll see you tomorrow while your dad is at practice, and you can explain more of the rules to me. Sound good?”
Again, I could see how she wanted to grin, but instead, she just nodded once and looked proudly up at her father. “See? Told you I taught her everything.”
Will reached down for her hand, and I willed my ovaries to not combust at the sight.
“I had no doubts, Pumpkin,” he said. His eyes found me, and he tilted his head toward the parking lot. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
I waved him off as I stood upright again. “That won’t be necessary.”