Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
He let not one of the thirty-one shots get past him.
His sixth shutout this season and his first for the Bears.
To me, it’s a huge middle finger to my peepaw.
And he knew it.
While he was happy with the win, he was pacing holes in the floor of the box. Chancing glances at me and waiting for me to meet his gaze. I didn’t say a word to him as we stood together in his box. He tried to speak to me, but I refused because I didn’t feel like I could keep my cool. I felt anxious and so damn pissed that he said I couldn’t be with Alex and be with the organization. Ever since he made a mess of Austen’s position way back when, the rules about fraternizing with players were taken out of the handbook. How dare my peepaw think he can throw that in my face and it would stick. Even if I weren’t pregnant with Alex’s child, I still wouldn’t have conceded to his wishes.
I felt a certain level of rage hit me when he said Alex would make a fool of me. It made no sense to me. For one, no one makes a fool of me, excluding my brain, and two, Alex wouldn’t do that. He respects my position, supports it, and always has an idea or two for me to consider. When we were hooking up before he left, he used to send me inspiration ideas and posts of what other teams across the hockey community were doing. Just as I support him, he does the same for me, and there would be no him making a fool of me.
Or I of him.
While the guilt of keeping my pregnancy from my peepaw really did bother me before, now I’m glad I waited to tell him. Peepaw looked so stricken, so disgusted even, and I don’t understand that. I have two sisters who are engaged and one who is married. Surely he knows they’ll be popping kids out soon. Yeah, I skipped the engaged and married part, but if he thinks I can’t handle this or be a good mom, then I don’t know if I want him in my life. I have enough self-doubt coming from myself; I don’t need it from anyone else.
I lie in Alex’s hotel bed, waiting for him to come back. I captured the bare minimum of footage because I didn’t want to be there anymore, and I tasked Bradley with doing postgame videos. I’m exhausted, mentally and physically. I lie in only panties and a bra because I’m hot and I’m annoyed. While I’m trying to edit one of my latest videos, my group chat with my sisters is going crazy.
Clara: He didn’t.
Louisa: I can’t believe him!
Austen: Been there, done that. I’d assumed he learned his lesson.
Me: News flash. He hasn’t.
Louisa: Want me to call him?
Austen: Are you okay?
Clara: I can put some flaming dog shit on the front porch.
As everyone laughs at Clara’s crazy antics, I want to ignore them. Instead, I type a quick message.
Me: I’m fine, just annoyed and really hot. I’m lying down. I’m going to try to fall asleep.
They all love my message and wish me goodnight as I go back to editing my video. When I can’t look at the video any longer, I check the time and furrow my brow. Where is Alex?
I’m just about to text him, when the door opens. I sit up to watch as he comes through the door, throwing his toiletries bag to the side and toeing out of his shoes as he leans back to look at me. A full grin moves across his lips. “Hey, what are you doing up?”
He doesn’t remove his jacket or anything as he comes toward me, looking like an angel of darkness. Just missing the wings.
Sexy. As. Fuck.
“I was waiting for you.”
I watch as Alex’s eyes trail along my body, heat deep in his gaze as he takes me in. He opens his suit jacket and then sits down as his hand disappears inside. I cock my head in confusion until he brings out a single rose. “I would have gotten you thirty-one to celebrate my shutout, but I didn’t want people asking questions.”
The flip-flopping in my stomach isn’t from our child but from his intense look and the concern that is blazing in his gaze. I take the rose and smell it deeply. “Thank you, Alex.”
He presses a hand to my bare stomach and strokes it with his thumb. “How’d it go with Peepaw?”
The way he says our name for my grandfather makes me want to laugh. I don’t know why he hates it so much, but I don’t want to talk about my peepaw at this moment. “I didn’t speak to him.”
“Do you think that’s wise?”
I shrug as I sigh, loving the way I feel under his touch. Calm falls over me as I allow myself to enjoy the stroke of his thumb. “I’ll deal with him later. I didn’t have it in me.” His eyes stay on my face, watching and giving me the support I didn’t realize I needed. “I hate that he said I couldn’t work for the Bears and be with you.”