Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I get in the car with Karrie and we follow Matthew all the way to their house, falling into bed at almost four a.m. My dreams that night aren’t of Max and his girlfriend. They’re of Max and his smile.
Chapter Fourteen
Max
“Okay, how about you look over here over your shoulder?” Charles, the photographer, says while he shoots me standing on a stool because he’s that much shorter than me. I’m dressed in my gear, minus my jersey. But my mind isn’t on the fucking guy. It’s on his assistant, Rico Suave, there in the corner chatting it up with Allison.
The Sunday breakfast went off without a hitch. We were all tired as hell that day, but the guys showed up and smiled big. I owe them big time. That night I texted Allison.
Should I call you tomorrow to make sure you’re up or just show up?
I don’t really have to go.
Neither do I.
It’s your job. I need the pictures.
I don’t care. I’m not going if you’re not there.
You better bring me coffee. I’m exhausted.
See you later, sunshine.
Then I pulled up and she was sitting on the steps wearing another pair of skintight jeans that were too fucking tight and a big gray knitted sweater folded up at the wrists and khaki running shoes. She came down the stairs, her sunglasses hiding her eyes.
“I’m beyond exhausted,” she said, buckling her seat belt. Then she took the coffee that was waiting for her, smelling it before taking a sip. “Heaven.”
“I thought Sunday was a rest day?” I asked her as she took another sip of coffee.
“You would think, but little Cooper, Vivi, and Franny wanted to see if I would wake up when they pulled my eyelid up.” She shook her head, “Newsflash, you do.”
I laughed at her and proceeded to the rink as she filled me in with stories about her nieces and nephew. We walked in together and she told me to meet her in her office. When I took off my glasses, I winced a bit, thinking. Fuck, it was tight. It was also a dark purple. I got dressed and made my way to her office and she was talking to a short guy when she looked up and gasped.
“Oh my God.” She came over and touched my face for the first time ever. Her touch was exactly how I thought it would be. Soft, like an angel.
“It’s okay,” Charles said. “We can Photoshop that. Trust me, you’ll still look big and tough.”
So Charles and Allison talked about everything that she needed from him when his assistant finished bringing in his equipment and introduced himself to Allison as Christian. What a pussy name, I thought.
So for the last three hours I’ve watched him blatantly flirt with her and she just laughs at him and touches him. I’m going to break his fucking hand if he tries to touch her hair one more time.
“Okay, so one more time and try to smile,” Charles says, frustrated with the scowl that I’ve had on my face. “Allison,” he calls her and she comes over, folding her arms over her chest. “Does he do anything but scowl?”
She looks at Charles and then at me. “Nope, it’s his face. I don’t think I actually ever saw his teeth.” She points at me and I turn my gloves up and give her the finger. She walks over to me. “You ticklish?” she asks and I glare at her. “I do that to my niece when she doesn’t want to smile. I usually tickle her belly.” She brings both hands up and bends her fingers. Her short nails are painted a soft white color.
“If you even try I’m going to shove my hand in your face,” I tell her, holding up my gloved hand. “It’s still a bit wet from Saturday.” I lean forward, snatching her wrist, and she shrieks loudly. Pulling her to me and wrapping my arm around her waist as she bends over, laughing to get away from me. “Here, Charles, a big smile.” I smile and Allison moves sideways and turns to look up at me, laughing.
“You stink,” she says, standing up in front of me, and I loosen my hold on her as she puts her hands on my arm. She reaches me under my chin with my shades on.
“Look this way,” Charles says, snapping pictures of us. “Christian, take the stool to her.” He gets off the stool and Christian rushes over to bring it to her. “Now stand on it and put one hand on your hip and the other on his shoulder.” She complies. “Perfect, now, Max, turn and look at her scowling.”
I roll my eyes, looking at her, while she turns and looks at me, squishing her nose.
“You really need to spray your shit,” she whispers.
I lean closer to her. “If you say it one more time I’m going to put them in your bed.” I tap her nose with my glove and then she tilts her head back and laughs. All the while Charles is taking pictures.