Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
When we go back to the dressing room at the end of the second period, the shots on net are twenty-one for them and six for us. “We need to get more shots on net,” the coach says. “You guys need to stop getting caught up in our zone.”
The guys around me just look over at him, and when we get on the ice for the third period, the game shifts. We end up in our zone as usual, but this time, we intercept the puck and we haul ass toward the goal. Corey enters the zone with a two on one, and I make my move and shoot up past the second defense man. He makes a shot on goal, and it bounces off the goalie, but I’m right there on the right for the rebound, and I slip it into the empty side of the net.
“One more,” I say to them, and we skate to the bench again doing the line change. “We need to get one more.” I grab the Gatorade water bottle and squirt some into my mouth, and in the blink of an eye, the other line ends up scoring, making us go up by one goal. We finished the game ending their winning streak. I end up being the first star and going out and doing a lap around the arena, throwing the pucks to the crowd.
When I skate off, I get into the room as soon as the journalists make their way in. A couple of reporters ask me questions, but then I rush into the shower. I look at the clock and see it’s almost ten my time, so it’s eleven her time. I wonder if she’s in bed. I grab my phone and text her.
Me: Are you still up?
I put my phone down and get dressed when she answers me right away.
Zara: Barely.
Grabbing the phone, I walk into a quiet room and then call her. She picks up right away, her voice sleepy, and I’m suddenly sad she isn’t going to be home when I get here. “Hey, superstar.”
“Hey, beautiful,” I say softly, and I can see her smile in my mind.
“Are you in bed?” I ask her and think of her in my bed, and the times I woke up with her and took her in my arms.
“I am,” she says, and I hear the sheets ruffled in the background. “I set an alarm just in case I feel asleep.”
“I miss you,” I tell her. “I wish I was going home to you tonight,” I tell her the truth.
She laughs now. “That is only because you are owed two blow jobs.” She laughs, and it settles me.
“Oh, don’t you worry, sweetheart, I’m keeping track for next time,” I tell her, and I hear her yawn. “Why don’t you go to sleep, and I’ll call you tomorrow when I get up?”
“Okay, Evan,” she says softly. “I’ll speak with you tomorrow.”
“Night, beautiful,” I say to her and disconnect. I walk back out into the dressing room and see it’s almost empty.
“Your sister was looking for you,” Corey says as he shrugs on his jacket, and I nod at him. I put the phone in my pocket and put on my own jacket.
“There he is,” my sister says from behind me. “The number star of the game.” I turn around smiling, and then my smile goes away when I see who her friend is.
“Hey,” I say to her and then look over at Sophia, my ex-girlfriend. I knew they were friends, but I didn’t know how close.
“Hi,” Sophia says, and I just nod at her.
“You did good,” my sister says, and I just look at her, hoping she sees the disdain on my face.
“Thanks,” I say and then grab my keys. “Where are you two off to?” I ask her, and she looks at me and then Sophia.
“We were hoping that you would take us out,” Candace says, and I smile at her.
“Sorry,” I tell her. “I’m beat and on my way home.”
I turn and walk out of the room, and my sister and Sophia follow me. “Oh, come on,” Candace says, and I turn around and see the two of them.
“Cand, I have no idea what you’re trying to pull, but it’s not going to happen,” I tell her. Not only am I pissed that she brought Sophia into this, but now I’m also pissed she is putting me in an awkward situation. “Sophia, it was nice seeing you. Cand”—I turn and look at her—“you can call me tomorrow.” Without bothering to wait for her to answer, I just walk away and head home.
Chapter Twenty-One
Zara
“I will get right on that, Mrs. Kitch, and then I’ll send you all my ideas by next week,” I say into the phone while I write down the details in my book.