Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
My phone beeps on my desk behind me, and I let out a groan as I spin back around, certain it’s work calling all too soon. Only finding a missed call from Logan, I let out a relieved breath and quickly call him back. “What’s up?” I say as he answers the call.
“Just checking in,” he says, a strange, jittery nervousness in his tone. Though that’s expected, especially considering today is one of the biggest days of his whole career. “Are you coming to my game tonight?”
“It’s the fucking championship game,” I remind him as if he didn’t know. “Like fuck I’ll be missing that.”
“Cool,” he says, drawing it out as though hesitating. “Um . . .”
Fuck. What’s this asshole done now?
“Spit it out,” I demand.
I can practically hear the cringe in his tone. “Cass is bringing Bri to the game,” he tells me. “Figured I should let you know. I didn’t want you to feel blindsided by her being there.”
Shit. I didn’t even think about that, but of course she’s going to be there. The Colorado Thunder are battling it out against the LA Storm, with a bunch of guys Jax used to play college hockey with—Miller Cain and Tank Meyers, some of the best players in the league. Nobody is going to miss this game. Hell, I’m sure Bobby is even going to be there.
“Okay, sure,” I say, pretending as though the mere thought of seeing my girl doesn’t make my heart start racing. But one thing is for sure, I’m going to need a few drinks before I see her. I don’t think I’ll be able to watch her so effortlessly pretend I don’t exist.
Fuck. Why am I being such a pussy about this?
Seeing her is going to be a good thing. Hell, it’s exactly what I’ve craved every day for nearly seven months. I don’t necessarily have to talk to her, but just seeing her and making sure she’s safe and happy would do wonders for my soul. I just hope seeing me isn’t going to fuck up any progress she’s made.
Knowing there’s no way I’m going to be able to concentrate on my work now, I pack up my shit and bail before jumping in my truck and getting the fuck out of there.
The rest of my day drags by, and I spend most of it pacing through my living room until it’s finally time to get going. Making sure to wear my Thunder jersey to play the role of the most supportive brother in history, I get myself ready, and before I know it, I’m pulling up at the arena.
Making my way up the grandstand to the VIP section, I’m surprised to see Sean here and even more surprised to see that he’s brought Georgia with him, to a fucking hockey game, but ever since Sara’s funeral, Sean hasn’t let her out of his sight for even a second. “Hey man,” I say, taking the seat beside him and lifting the baby right out of his arms. “How are you doing?”
“Not bad,” he replies. His usual charm is still missing, but I can’t blame the guy. It hasn’t been that long since he lost his wife, and it’s a huge adjustment, especially with a newborn to care for.
Looking down at the baby, I watch as she settles into a peaceful sleep and a chuckle rumbles through my chest. The noise in this area is loud enough to wake the dead, and yet here’s Georgia, settling in for a nap. “God, she’s precious,” I murmur.
“She is,” he tells me. “I don’t know how I’d be coping without her.”
I nod in agreement. It’s damn clear that Georgia has become the reason he breathes. Since the second he held her, he fell in love. If anything were to happen to this little girl . . . fuck, I know without a doubt that we’d lose Sean too, and honestly, that scares the shit out of me.
“Hey,” a familiar voice says, coming up the grandstand. Nervousness blasts through my veins at my sister’s voice knowing damn well Bri would be right there with her. And sure enough, as I glance up at Cassie’s smiling face, I find Bri right behind her shoulder, her gaze cast down, probably trying to avoid any form of eye contact.
I can’t stop staring.
Fuck, she looks radiant, but what’s new? She’s always looked like a fucking angel to me. Only this time, she’s different. She’s dyed her hair, a rich brunette, and goddammit, it has me desperate to run my fingers through it. There’s almost a glow about her, an undeniable happiness that shines through her gorgeous green eyes, and it pains me not to know what has her feeling this way, especially in the face of having to see me.
Cassie walks along the row in front of us and grabs Georgia out of my hands before shooting me a warning look, silently asking me not to do anything stupid, and as I roll my eyes, she takes the seat directly in front of me. Bri, on the other hand, gives Sean a bright smile before leaning over the row of chairs and giving him a kiss on the cheek, that rich brunette hair falling forward and brushing along my arm. Her gaze briefly flashes to me, but that’s all she gives me before taking her seat right beside Cass.