Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 155203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 776(@200wpm)___ 621(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 776(@200wpm)___ 621(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
“To you or to your dad?”
“He never pushed me to aim for Team USA. I did that for myself. And I want it for myself. But I guess, yeah, a part of me wants it for him too. I want to make him proud.”
“I’m sure he already is.”
“No, I know he is.” Her hand strokes my pecs, and I feel her demeanor change, grow frustrated. “I want to make that team, Ryder. And I should be able to make it! But I haven’t heard from Brad Fairlee since the beginning of the semester.”
“From what I know about that selection process, it’s vague and not always on a timeline. All you gotta do is keep playing the way you’re playing, and you’ll get your shot,” I assure her.
“What if I don’t?” Her body clenches, and I run my hand over her back. She relaxes slightly. Then her tone hardens with resolve. “No, I will. Because the alternative is unacceptable and something I refuse to allow. It will happen. I’m going to will it into fucking existence if I have to.”
Her ferocity is sexy.
Gigi sits up then, yawning. “Ack, I should go. I don’t want to be dragging at morning skate tomorrow.”
Wincing, she looks down at her chest. Her breasts are sticky with my semen.
“You came on me,” she accuses.
I snort. “Yeah, you saw it happen.”
“Can I take a quick shower? I don’t want to put my bra on over this.”
“Only if I can join you.”
“Deal. Are you sure we’re in the clear?”
“We should be. I’m pretty sure Beckett is out. Shane’s home, but he knows about this. Although I can’t say he’ll be covering for us anymore after the whole porn addiction seminar.” Another wave of laughter spills out. “Christ, I wish you were there.”
I tug her off the bed, hauling her naked body over one shoulder in a fireman’s carry.
“No, wait,” she protests, giggling as she scrambles back to her feet. “I should put something on.”
“The bathroom is literally across the hall. We’re walking three steps.”
“Yeah, but you’ve got boxers on. You don’t have to be embarrassed if Shane pops out of his room.”
She snatches my discarded T-shirt from the desk chair and pulls it over her head.
“Oh, so you can wear my shirt and get it all sticky, but not yours?” I challenge.
“Exactly.”
I reach for the doorknob, then pause because I could’ve sworn I heard soft footsteps. But when I open the door a crack and peer out, the hall is empty. Maybe it was just Shane wandering around downstairs.
I give her a little smirk as we step into the bathroom. “If you’re good, maybe I’ll fuck you in the shower.”
“Promises—”
Gigi suddenly shrieks.
It takes me a second to register what I’m seeing.
She’s just moved the shower curtain aside to expose Will Larsen hiding in the bathtub, fully clothed.
“What the hell!” Gigi shouts at him.
“Gigi?” he says, blinking in bewilderment.
“Will? What are you doing in there?”
“Seriously, bro,” I growl. “Why are you in my house?”
“Um.” He looks at Gigi. “Why are you in his house?”
“Jesus Christ,” I snap. “Answer the question.”
But he’s too busy gaping at Gigi. His suspicious gaze lands on her oversized T-shirt, which clearly belongs to a man. To me. Climbing out of the tub, his eyes flick to her bare legs before returning to her face.
“You’re hooking up with this guy? Does Case know?”
Gigi pales. “No. And you cannot tell him.”
“Why are you in my house?” I repeat firmly. I’m getting tired of the lack of answers.
“He’s with me,” says an awkward voice.
I swivel to find Beckett in the hall.
“What do you mean he’s with you?” I ask warily.
“Uh…” Beckett hesitates.
Will hangs his head. “We’ve been hanging out.”
Silences crashes over us.
“Like dating?” Gigi asks in confusion.
Yeah, I’m confused too. As far as I was aware, neither of these dudes is gay.
“No, like hanging out. We’re watching the Timeline franchise,” Will says, as if that explains anything.
“You mean those stupid movies with the time-traveling scientists?”
“They’re only stupid on the surface,” Will mutters. “If you just forget about, like, the dinosaurs or whatever, the actual time travel theories are super solid. They adhere to the Novikov principle—”
I hold up my hand. “No.” I already suffer enough of this shit from Beckett.
“So you two are secret friends?” Gigi sounds increasingly baffled.
“Yeah.” His gaze flits toward Beckett. “I mean, it has to be secret. You really think Colson’s gonna let me hang out with him?”
“What, Case is your mommy now?” she says sarcastically.
“Oh, you’re right. I should tell him everything.” Will’s eyes are defiant. “You first.”
Another voice joins the cauldron of confusion.
“Thank God!” Shane appears in his bedroom doorway, wearing a pair of sweatpants and a look of relief. “Is it all out in the open now?”
“You knew about these two?” I grumble at Shane, pointing toward Beckett and Will.
He nods. “Oh yeah. I caught them bro-ing out together a few weeks ago. Smoking a joint and talking about quantum mechanics.”