Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 81248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
West crosses the room to sit on the side of my desk. He smiles down at me, and I quickly turn my attention to Dave, who’s also smiling at me, but in a way that immediately puts me on guard.
“What can I do for you?” I ask West, and goddamn I sound like I’m addressing a student.
“I wanted to grab you before practice.” He glances quickly at Dave and back to me again. “We should catch up over break.”
I can only assume West wants to torture me. Hanging out with him is both simultaneously exciting and depressing. Is this what it’s like to have unrequited feelings for someone? Because I have to say, not enjoying it.
“He’ll do it,” Dave says for me.
“I was thinking of going to visit my parents, so I don’t know what my schedule is like yet.”
“He’ll do it,” Dave says again, knowing I’m lying about visiting my parents. “You’ve got his number, right? I can give it to you if—”
“He’s got it,” I mumble. “Because of the whole reunion thing.” I refuse to look West in the eye. I’m terrified it’s written all over my face that I … like him. I’m pathetic.
West turns to Dave. “Should I set up a time and day through you? I get the feeling if I go directly to Jasper, he’s going to turn me down. Not sure my ego can handle that.”
“What, two hookups isn’t enough for you?” Dave asks.
I could kill him. I give Dave a warning look that I hide before West sees it.
“You told him?” West doesn’t seem pissed, just entertained. Ugh.
“Don’t worry, no details,” Dave says, like that’s the main concern here. “Apparently I’m not allowed any of those. And I wouldn’t say he told me so much as gushed—”
“Aren’t you leaving?” I cut in.
West starts to laugh. “Gushing? About me?”
Dave shamelessly checks him out. “You two should do queer men a favor and film yourselves together.”
“That implies there’ll be a repeat.” I try to convey to Dave just how badly I want him to shut up right now.
Dave points at me but turns to West. “Maybe you should try blowing him again. He’s a little tense. I can wait.”
“I thought there were no details?” West asks.
“Well, there weren’t until now.” Dave rubs his hands together. “Feel free to continue.”
“So this is fun,” I say dryly. “I’m so glad you two came to visit.”
“Aw, I knew you were missing me.” Damn him and that flirty tone. West slides off the desk. “I have to go, but I’ll text you?”
I’d prefer he didn’t. “Sure.”
“Got plans later, Westly?” All of Dave’s attention is on West, so he doesn’t see the daggers I’m shooting at him.
“He does. Family ones,” I answer for him. “Five kids and all that.”
“Actually,” West says, “Asher’s pushing me to have ‘me time,’ whatever the fuck that is.”
“We’re going to McIntyre’s for drinks if you want to come.”
“I’d love—”
“We’ll be gone before practice is over,” I say quickly. Dave’s trying to help, I get that, but if I’m going to be friends with West, I need a bit of space to get my head right. So I’m left feeling like a total asshole when I say, “We’ll catch up another day.” Another day way in the future once I’ve worked him out of my system.
West almost looks disappointed. “Sure. I’ll catch you later.”
19
Westly
All through practice, I run over Jasper’s and my interaction again. Was that the blowoff? I definitely think it was.
And here I have a night away from everything. I wasn’t going to take Asher up on his offer to watch the kids until Jasper’s friend Dave suggested I go out with them, and now I’m wondering if I should show up even though Jasper made it clear he didn’t want me there.
Hmm.
Beside me on the team bench, Beck nudges me. “You okay, man?”
I frown. “Yeah, why?”
“Uh, Simms just tripped Stalberg, and you didn’t ream him for it.”
Oh, right. I should probably pay attention.
Coach Hogan is out on the ice, though, and handling it.
I think about Jasper telling me I need to make more friends, so I turn to Beck. “Do you have any plans tonight?”
“Huh?”
“Plans. Tonight. Asher’s giving me the night off kid duty, and going out by myself is sad.” So is turning up at a bar where the guy I’ve slept with twice but has given me no indication he wants more is going to be.
“You want to go out?” Beck asks.
“Geez, you can bring your boyfriend. I’m not asking you out on a date. I just don’t want to be by myself.”
“Wow. I’m really feeling the bromance here, but sure. Jacobs and I’ll go out for drinks. All our friends are basically in Montreal now. Apart from these losers.” He gestures to the ice.
Rossi, who’s behind us, slaps Beck’s head. “Heard that, asshole.”