Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 81745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to put my son through that.” He shakes his head. “Worst case, I have another four years, and then I can let him decide.” He gets up. “Time to get my head into the game.” He walks out of the room.
“Time to get my legs working,” Ralph says. “Show off for my girls.” He winks at me.
“Is Candace coming tonight?” I ask, and he nods, his whole face lighting up with a smile. I smile back at him, and my chest suddenly hurts. I want that, I think to myself. I take out my phone when Ralph walks out and send her a text.
Me: This is officially the third day with no response. According to Google, I should wait at least five days before I message you again, or I’m going to look desperate. I guess it’s too late for that. Although, according to another Google article, after twenty-four hours, I should give up. LOL. I hope you are doing well. I was wondering if you would like to go and get coffee tomorrow? I would ask you to have lunch with me, but something tells me that you would say no to that. But coffee is safe, or is it?
I press send and then look at how long the message is. It’s been three days with no response, and I’m getting a bit scared I said or did something to offend her. I mean, I probably did say something, but in my defense, I was probably nervous. I replay the night over and over in my head to see if I can pinpoint exactly what it was that would make her not answer. Getting to know her is even better than I thought it would be. I knew she was hot, but she’s funny as hell, and she just has a way about her that makes you want to sit down and talk to her about literally anything from the day’s events in the media to paint drying on a wall.
As I’m holding the phone in my hand, my leg starts to move up and down with the nervous energy flowing through me again. My fingers start to move before I even know what is happening.
Me: Wow, I didn’t know it would be that long. But seriously, gorgeous, let me bring you coffee, or you can bring me coffee. Whatever you want.
I put the phone down and start getting ready for the game. Slipping into my workout clothes, I ride the bike for an hour to warm up my legs. After a light dinner, I walk back to the locker room and finish getting ready. We skate on the ice, and the fans are cheering already. Ralph stands by the glass looking at Ari and Candace, and right behind him is the woman who has been driving me mad. She’s looking more beautiful than ever.
I skate next to him and wave at Ari and then point at Layla. “You!” I shout at her, and she just looks at me. “Answer your goddamn texts, woman.” Ralph shakes his head while Candace and Layla just laugh.
Her eyes go light, and she flips me the bird. “She likes me,” I say, nodding my head. I blow her a kiss, and she ducks to get out of the way. I wait for her to stand and look at me. “Answer your text.” Then it finally dawns on me. “Oh my God, did you block me?” I ask her through the glass and hear Manning now laughing behind me.
“Layla, do us all a favor,” he says to her. “Answer his text before he cries.”
“Fuck you,” I tell him, then turn back to Layla. “I’m picking you up tomorrow at ten.”
“I can’t hear you?” she jokes, and finally Candace answers.
“She’ll be ready.” I put my hands in the air as if I just scored an overtime goal.
“See you later, gorgeous,” I say, skating away before she says something to me.
The game is brutal, but we end up winning, surprising even us. When I skate off the ice, I give my stick to the equipment guy and then walk into the locker room. The away bags are already set up for us to pack our stuff. It’s only after I get out of the shower do I walk over and grab my phone. I usually have a shit ton of notifications after the game with people tagging me in pictures. I scroll down until I see a text alert.
Layla: There is a little café I know of. I’ll be there until ten thirty.
She follows it with the address of the coffee shop. I smile so big, and I don’t bother answering her back in case she decides to leave. I walk out of the arena, saying bye to the guys, and go straight home. Usually, I head to the bar with some of the boys, but I’ve stopped doing that lately. I get home and walk to the kitchen, then heat some food and go straight to bed after eating.