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)
“Dude,” Zoe says from the back, “I’d put your picture on a billboard in Times Square.”
“She probably would,” Zara says, and I don’t say anything else as I make my way to the rink. Once we park, I get out and walk around. Zoe steps out, blocking me from going to Zara’s door.
“You really are that chivalrous,” Zoe says and moves out of the way when I glare at her. I open the door for Zara.
“Evan, I could have opened my own door,” Zara huffs. I grab her hand and start to walk inside when my phone beeps. I look down at it and see it’s from my mother.
Mom: We are waiting for you inside.
“My parents are here,” I tell them, and Zara puts a hand to her stomach.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Zara says, and Zoe stands closer to her. I pull open the door that leads to the dressing rooms and walk down the red carpeted hallway.
“Holy shit, there are two of them.” I hear someone say, and when I turn around, there is no one there. I walk out to the arena where I know my parents always wait for me, and I smile when I see my mother dressed in jeans and one of my jerseys.
“There he is,” my father says, and my mother now looks over at me smiling. Her eyes go wide when she sees Zara.
“Oh my,” she whispers.
“Mom,” I say, hugging her on the side, not letting go of Zara’s hand. She is squeezing it so tight I think it’s going to turn blue soon. My father stands beside my mother with his hand on her shoulder. “Dad,” I say, and he just nods at me with a beaming smile on his face. “This is Zara.” I pick up her hand in mine and kiss it. “And that is her twin sister, Zoe.” I take a deep breath. “This is my mom, Jackie, and my father, Patrick.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Richards,” Zara says, reaching out her hand to shake my mother’s. “It is so good to finally meet you.” My mother reaches out and hugs her.
“She is so beautiful,” my mother says, and I can see tears in her eyes, then she looks at Zara. “You are so beautiful.”
“Jackie,” my father says, “don’t scare her away.”
Zara laughs, and then Zoe talks. “She doesn’t scare away that easily. I’ve been trying since we were in utero.” I shake my head, and I’m about to say something to her when I hear talking coming from down the hall, and I look up, and all I hear is Zara.
“Oh, my God,” she whispers when she finally looks down the hallway. There walking down the hall is Cooper, Parker, Matthew, Karrie, Max, and Allison. Zara turns to Zoe. “Did you know about this?” Zoe just shakes her head. They make their way to us, almost like a flying vee with Cooper and Parker in the front and Max and Matthew with their wives on each side.
“Well, well, well,” Matthew says. Karrie nudges him, and he looks at her.
“Behave,” Karrie says and smiles.
“Sweetheart,” Cooper says, and he comes forward to hug his girls, my hand never leaving Zara’s. She actually squeezes it tighter.
“What are you guys doing here?” Zara asks when her mother comes to hug her, and I look over at my father who is watching everything with his back straight.
“We had four days off, and I thought why not come to Dallas,” Matthew says, and I watch him as he looks at my father and then my mother.
“Excuse us,” Parker says, smiling and going to my mother. “You must be Evan’s mom.” I don’t know what my mom is expecting, but I’m sure it’s not the hug that Parker gives her. “You raised a true gentleman,” she tells her, and my mother now beams with pride. “And I see he’s just as handsome as his father.”
“Excuse my wife,” Cooper says, pulling her away from hugging my father, and I want to laugh. I think my father would do the same, and I sure as fuck know I would also. “Mr. Richards.” He holds out his hand, and my father smirks and does the same. “I’m Zara’s father.”
“Mr. Stone,” my father says, holding out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” If you have been on the ice or have even watched hockey one time in your life or even if you haven’t, you know who Cooper Stone is.
“I have to go get ready,” I whisper to Zara who just nods her head. I lean in and kiss her lips not even caring that her family is there. She is mine now, so they better get used to it. Because I’m not going anywhere.
“Skate hard,” she tells me, and the boys chuckle. “I heard Dad tell you that all the time.” She glares at them.