Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
I hear the water running as I head toward the kitchen to start the coffee.
I dive right into cooking, making us both eggs and toast. A quick breakfast before we head out. I take the chance to meticulously clean the kitchen while the food cooks. When I hear the sound of her footsteps, the food is plated and ready to go.
The best part? You would never know I cooked. Nothing is out of place. Everything is in its correct position.
I might have overslept, but I’m obviously still me.
Not that I thought I could change overnight, but Cassidy’s presence in my life has definitely helped with some of my smaller quirks.
Rome wasn’t built in a day after all.
But for her, I’d like to change. Be the man she needs, not the one who left, and if conquering my shit is the means to being that changed man, so be it. I’ll do whatever is possible.
After the playoffs are done, and hopefully, I have a championship under my belt, I’ll look into it. Find the right person to help me.
“This looks delicious,” she says, biting her bottom lip.
“Sit,” I say. “We only have a little time left.”
Cassidy sits beside me, and we both dive in to eat.
We keep the conversation light, and before long, we finished.
Cass does her best to help me clean, and I try my hardest to humor her, letting her help me until she excuses herself to get dressed. When she does, I go over the counters again, until they are the way I like it, and then I head to shower.
Once I’m dressed, I find her in the kitchen waiting for me.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Sure am,” she responds, a hoodie hanging over her arm.
Together we head out of the apartment, down the elevator, and then out into the street in comfortable silence, both just happy to be next to each other.
Downtown Redville is quiet on Sunday mornings; most of the city is locked away in their homes, enjoying a peaceful end to the weekend.
“We’re going to walk. Are you good with that?” I ask.
She nods. “I could use the fresh air.”
I take her hand in mine and lead her in the direction of our destination. I’m nervous about this. I’ve never cared what anyone thought of the things that are important to me, but this is Cass—Pip—and I care so fucking much.
“So…any hints?” she asks, and I clear my throat, pulling myself out of the doubts that are creeping in.
“No.”
I peek over at her, and she’s chewing on that lip.
“Stop that. You’re going to make it bleed,” I say playfully.
She purses her lip and narrows her eyes up at me. “You are not funny.”
“I’m plenty fun.”
“Nope.” She shakes her head.
“You weren’t saying that last night,” I tease, and she stops short, scrunching her nose. She’s about to fire off a witty rebuttal, but I lean down and kiss her.
Something I’d never thought to do in public before reconnecting with her.
When she sighs into my arms, I laugh against her lips and then pull back. “Only a few more blocks.”
The sunlight beams down on us. Cass wears a pair of sweats with a T-shirt, but in her arms, she carries a hoodie, something she will need shortly.
A block later, I stop, motioning toward where we are.
She looks up, recognizing the bench where she found me yesterday. The confusion is evident on her face. “Back to the bench?” she asks comically.
“Nope.” I point toward the building a few feet past the bench. “In there.”
Her head tilts. “And what’s in there?”
“You’ll see.” I grab her hand and pull her toward the building.
“Okay. Fine.” She rolls her eyes. “Let’s get to it, then.”
Together, holding hands, I lead her into the Redville youth center. Then I walk us down the long hallway until we enter the ice rink.
The moment we step inside, the cold air hits us in the face, and Cass shivers beside me.
“Happy I told you to bring a sweater?”
“Yep.” She pops the p as she drops my hand and puts on her hoodie for an added layer.
Once she’s done, I lead her down to the rink, where we head to the benches next to the ice.
I wave to Coach Joseph, who returns the gesture, turning toward the team and saying something we can’t hear. A moment later, a bunch of kids skate toward us.
“What is this?” she asks, turning toward me with a huge smile.
“This, Cass, is the youth league I sponsor.”
“Really? This is awesome, Aiden.”
She hasn’t seen one of the most special parts of it, but then one of my players turns, and she sees the team’s name.
The Pipsqueaks.
42
CASSIDY
My heart beats in my chest like a drum as I take in the words written on the back of the boys skating in front of me.
The Pipsqueaks.
It feels like I might faint. My mouth opens and shuts, and I turn to look at Aiden.