Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Winter takes the wad of tissues Uncle Alex hands her and dabs at her chin while he and my dad inspect the wound and the team doctor steps in. I can’t hear the conversation, but all my time spent at an arena means I’m pretty good at reading lips. Winter’s body language reads tension and worry.
She tips her head back for the doctor. Even from here, I can see she needs stitches. When the team doctor echoes that thought, Winter’s eyes widen. She shakes her head, but after more back and forth, she finally follows Dr. Fellows down the hall to the therapy rooms, where he’ll presumably stitch her up.
Dad watches her leave, and his eyes catch mine. I have questions, but they’ll have to wait until after the game.
Winter returns halfway through the next period with fresh gauze on her chin, but they don’t rotate her into the game. She gives me a chin tip when the team heads for the dressing room, but doesn’t acknowledge me otherwise. I have to guess she’s upset about being benched after the injury. Our team won by one goal, which is awesome, but I’m sure Winter would have liked to be a bigger contributor to that win.
I stop by the offices so I can catch up with my dad once he’s done giving the team a pep talk. I stretch out on the chair in the hall to wait. The next thing I know, he’s shaking me awake.
“You waiting on me?”
“Yeah. Just wanted to make sure Winter’s okay.” I didn’t tell him about last night, partly because it isn’t my place. I don’t want to betray Winter’s confidence.
“She’s all stitched up. Doc says no concussion, but she’ll have a headache, and she’ll need to take it easy.” My dad rubs his beard. “She was worried about the cost of treatment. She didn’t realize the medical forms she signed meant she has full coverage.”
Healthcare is one of the biggest perks of being on the team. “Is that all she’s worried about?”
“She’s concerned about proving her worth to the team from the bench.”
“She’s used to opportunities slipping through her fingers, and she doesn’t like to ask for help.” And last night proved that her fears are valid.
Dad leans against the wall, his expression pensive. “I met her mother at the diner yesterday.”
“I know. She hadn’t told her parents she was playing for the women’s team.”
His brow furrows. “Well, that explains her mom’s reaction when I asked if she was coming to watch Winter play today. Fuck. I wish I’d known that.”
“It’s a small town. They would have found out eventually.”
“Still. She didn’t say anything about it today.” He strokes his beard.
“She holds her cards close to the vest.” I tap on my knee, restless.
“What’s going on, BJ? What aren’t you saying?”
I bite my lip, debating. “I don’t want to betray Winter’s confidence, but financial constraints are only part of the problem. Maybe talk to Logan.”
He strokes his beard again. “Is she in danger?”
“Seems like a lot of words are being thrown around in that house, but I don’t know if that’s where it ends. She can hold her own, but she shouldn’t have to.” And the whole stealing her tuition money says a lot about her dad.
He claps me on the shoulder. “I had a feeling things were tough in that house. You’ll tell me if there’s cause for concern?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
He nods once. “This will stay between you and me. And I’ll do my best to reassure her that her place on the team is secure when we take them out for lunch.”
“Okay. Sounds good.” Dad heads down the hall, and I check the time. I teach a lesson in half an hour, so I send Winter a message congratulating her on the game and asking if she wants to hang out later. But that heavy feeling in my stomach keeps growing. I worry that what happened last night is just scratching the surface.
After lessons, I check my phone. I have a new message from Winter and a pic of her stitched-up chin. It’s not the first time she’s had chin stitches. The previous scar is jagged and messy, but this one is clean and neat.
bringing sexy back
:Justin T dancing GIF:
Have house stuff to take care of *eye roll* Team said they’re going to the beach later. Might go if I don’t catch heat for the chin. We could meet up there?
You’re a sexy badass *heart eyes*
message when ur on ur way to the beach, I can pick u up if u want
The humping dots appear, then disappear, then appear again.
Suck Face Saturday doesn’t sound quite as appealing as Fingerbang Friday and Tongue-Fuck Tuesday.
It’s hard to believe she’s over last night already. Or maybe this is her way of escaping the bullshit. Regardless I want to see her, that way I can see for myself that she’s really okay.