Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
I try to swallow down the lump that has now formed in my throat as my palms get really sweaty. The back of my neck feels like it’s on fire. “It is him,” Franny confirms.
The wineglass finally makes it to my lips where I finish the rest of the glass before Vivi says, “That’s Romeo Beckett.” I look at the ice, hoping that someone will score so I don’t have to think about the fact Romeo is here in the middle of my family suite.
I turn my head around to see him standing there next to Nico, with a huge smile on his face, as he meets my uncle Matthew. “Yup,” Erika says, “that is definitely Romeo Beckett.”
TEN
ROMEO
I follow the guys into another suite, and my eyes do a quick roam of the room. There are way more people in here than in the owner’s suite I was just in. “I hope you’re ready,” Christopher says to me, “my family is well…” He uses his hands to make them go bigger and bigger.
“We are a lot,” Matty explains, laughing as we walk farther into the room. I met Matty and Christopher less than thirty minutes ago when I arrived with Nico. He and my father are friends, and he heard I was in town. I wasn’t going to go to the game, but then I remembered Gabriella’s twin sister was dating someone on the team. I took a chance that she would be here. What I wasn’t expecting was for her whole family to be here. It seems that little Gabriella has been keeping her family a secret from me. I mean, truth be told, we never really spoke about them. She said in passing that most of them lived in New York, but a couple were scattered throughout the US, and she had a huge family, but that was it. We really never pressed each other, and she only met my parents a couple of times. I think I saw a picture once on her Instagram, but I didn’t think anything of it.
It’s been four days since I’ve seen or spoken to Gabriella. She must have thought I left town, but little does she know that I am cementing myself more here. In the past four days, I’ve spent time driving around, looking for places to shoot an idea that has come to my head. Then I called a real estate agent who has been helping me search for houses around here, finally bidding on a house that isn’t on the market yet. Apparently, the agent knew the couple, whose kids just moved out to go to college and wanted to downsize. It’s looking like it’s going to work for everyone.
“Hey,” Nico says, walking up to one of the two men sitting on a stool, looking out. “Matthew.” He holds out his hand to shake the man’s. “I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine,” he starts before turning to me. “This is Romeo.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Romeo, this is the biggest pain in my ass, Matthew Grant,” he jokes.
Matthew extends his hand to me. “Nice to meet you, Romeo.” I reach forward to shake his hand, and only then do I see the seats in front and spot her. She is just finishing her glass of white wine, and she looks breathtakingly gorgeous. “This is my brother-in-law, Max Horton.” The guy next to him extends his hand, and I see all the ink on his arms.
“Nice to meet you,” he says, and I nod at them both.
“These two were huge back in the day,” Christopher explains from beside me, and I just take it all in.
“What are you talking about back in the day?” Matthew glares at him. “I can still skate circles around you with my eyes closed.”
“Sure you can,” Matty goads, and his phone rings in his hand. He looks down and smiles. “My girl is calling me.” He turns and runs out of the room.
“When did he get a girl?” Max looks at Christopher, who looks up at the ceiling. Max gets up, and I can see that he stands a good six foot five. He’s a monster. “I’m going to chat with Viktor and get the scoop.” He looks over at me. “Nice to meet you.”
“You play hockey?” Matthew asks, and I have to laugh.
I have to say this is the first time I’ve met people where they are unfazed by who I am. Not one person has asked me one question about being an actor. I don’t even know if they have ever heard of me, which makes it even more refreshing.
“Not particularly,” I reply, and Christopher claps his hands.
“Uncle Matthew, do you not know who this is?” Christopher looks at him, and then Nico just shakes his head. “This is Romeo Beckett. His father is Tyler Beckett.”