Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Well, I guess I could—”
“Nope.” Asher puts down his drink and moves to stir the food on the burner, thank fuck, because not knowing when it was ready was starting to give me anxiety. “I know you want to help, because that’s you, but this is my crazy. You’re already doing way more than enough.”
I don’t feel like I am though. Making sure Asher stays on the team is a big one, of course, but after seeing all this …
I’m really starting to see how lucky I have it in life.
And why Asher is so closed off.
The itch to help is still there, but I don’t doubt he wants me to keep hands off here. He seems protective of his family, and it’s another one of those things that has me convinced Asher is a good person.
“In that case, feel free to continue using me as stress relief.”
“That’s an offer I’ll hold you to.”
Asher and I have another drink together before dinner is done, and then I help him spoon it all out into bowls, tidy up, and grab Hades.
He walks me to the front door, looking more awkward than I’ve ever seen him. “It was really cool of you to hang out. Just having someone here made it not seem so bad.”
“Asher … is that … sincerity I hear?”
He shoves me. “Don’t get used to it.”
“Today will forever be marked as the day that Asher Dalton showed gratitude.”
He laughs and steps forward, then before I know what’s happening, he leans in and kisses me. And if this is his way of thanking me, I accept.
Because damn he can kiss.
I bite his lip before pulling back and speaking softly so his siblings can’t hear. “We need to stop before I’m the one humping your leg.”
He kisses me again. “Tomorrow. Away game. Condoms.”
“Still have the box packed.”
He hesitates. “The whole box?”
His tone reminds me of that growly little voice he had when Tray was talking to me at the library. I think I like it. “Completely unopened,” I assure him. “You just have to promise not to get a concussion this time.”
“I didn’t have a concussion last time.”
“That’s your story.”
He didn’t, but I won’t be sorry for playing it safe.
“It’s times like this that make me regret not getting my own place,” I say.
“Yeah, after last time at your house, even the thought of hooking up there is an instant boner killer.”
“Good thing we have tomorrow, then.”
When he finally steps away, he has to reach down and adjust himself. “Be prepared to study all night.”
I don’t need the warning. With how long I’ve been waiting, he’s going to struggle to get me off him.
19
Asher
I might have the same mentality as a dog because positive reinforcement makes me try harder. Not only when it comes to academics but hockey too. The sooner I can beat UConn on the ice, the sooner I get to have all the sex. All of it.
Even if my theory is flawed because a hockey game is three periods no matter what. There’s no way I’m letting this get to overtime.
The team has been on a winning streak, and tonight is no different. Finally, since Coach threw the lines together at the start of the season, we’re acting like a team, and it’s showing where it counts—the scoreboard.
Plays are crisper, our passes smoother, and tonight alone, I’ve already scored a goal in each of the first two periods. It’s getting down to the buzzer, and we’re up by four, so we’re basically in it for the fun at this point. All we have to do is run out the clock.
The opposition is getting desperate and frustrated.
I fly down the ice, but UConn’s two defensemen are waiting. I try to split them up, but they only converge closer. I need to break either left or right or pass the puck. A quick look shows neither Simms or Kaplan are open, and now defense is on me, and I have no way out.
All I need to do is keep possession of the puck. That’s the only aim.
Well, that and to not get hit in the head.
Right before one of the mountainous bruisers is about to slam into me, I spin. That guy runs into my back and tries to knock me down, but I don’t let him. The other tries to trip me.
I can’t get out of this, so I need to get rid of the puck any way I can, even if that means having to shove my stick through my legs, shoot in what I hope is the right direction, and pray for a miracle one of my guys picks it up.
It’s the most ungraceful play, and as the puck goes flying, I firmly fall on the ice. Luckily my pads save me from another hit to the head.