Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Checking my phone in the elevator, I see she hasn’t responded, but it doesn’t surprise me because she’s probably still sleeping. When I walk into the arena thirty-five minutes later and enter the room, I see some of the ones who have arrived all look like they got dragged out of bed.
“I swear, I don’t think I slept more than two hours,” one of the rookies says. They always party the most. First time out there. “Maybe three but max four.”
“I told you to pace yourself,” Matthew says, coming into the room with his own coffee in his hand. “Hope you guys enjoyed last night because the next time will be Halloween. Oliver and Zara are planning a huge haunted house, so keep your eyes open for that email.” I sit down on the bench in front of my name, putting my bag in front of me when Viktor comes in, and he just nods at me and sits next to me.
“Late night?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.
“Not really,” he says. “I didn’t see you at the after-party.”
“He doesn’t do after-parties,” Evan says, coming in and sitting next to Viktor. “Or any parties.”
“That you know of,” I tell him, smiling. “Besides, been there, done that.”
“There were so many women last night,” a rookie says, coming into the room with sunglasses on. “I haven’t even slept yet.”
“This should be fun,” I say to Evan, and he just shakes his head.
“Six-hour flight. I bet he sleeps the whole way.” Viktor laughs.
“Okay, people,” Oliver says, coming into the room. “Bus is here and ready to be loaded. I have made some hard copies for you guys about the upcoming season and the activities I am in the process of planning. Any encouragement or time would be greatly appreciated.”
“Does he ever relax?” Viktor asks, and Evan and I both answer at the same time. “No.”
I get up, and I’m the last one out of the room, grabbing a seat in the front of the bus right next to Viktor. “Last one on, first one off.”
“Then I get on the plane first, and I’m off first. It’s just goes round and round,” I tell him, and he laughs, taking out his phone. I wait to get onto the plane before I take out my computer and do work for Walk ’N’ Licks. I also RSVP to the SPCA gala in a month, putting the address in my calendar so I don’t forget. The flight goes faster than I thought it would go, and when I finally open my hotel room door, I toss my bag on the desk and kick off my shoes.
Turning on the television, I switch it to SportsCenter and listen to the news from last night’s game. When my phone rings, my heart speeds up just a touch at the thought it could be Vivienne, but I see it’s Matthew. He calls to invite me to dinner, and I pass, opting to order room service instead.
I wait for her to text me all night long, but nothing comes through. When I get up the next day for practice, I send her another text.
Me: I think we should talk.
I put the phone away and then go to practice. The boys are a bit peppier this morning after a good night’s rest. “How was dinner?” I ask Evan.
“It was just the three of us.” He laughs. “Everyone was either sleeping or ate in their room.”
I nod at him and get my gear on. For two hours, I lose myself in my job, and then I hit the gym. When I pick up my phone, I see that she hasn’t messaged me back, and the messages both say delivered.
I don’t text her that night or the day after. Instead, I send her Greek food from the first restaurant we went to. I wait for the phone to ring or for a text to come through and nothing. I shake my head when we land in Edmonton after taking the win in San Jose. When we finally get on the plane to head home, I send her one last text.
Me: I’m on my way home. I’ll swing by when I land so we can talk.
I don’t know if it’s the threat of going to see her or the fact that she actually is ignoring me, but I smile, thinking about the ways I’m going to drive her crazy.
I’m answering an email when my phone beeps, and when I see it’s her, I smile right away.
Vivienne: There is nothing to talk about. Please stop.
I grab my phone and smile while I answer her.
Me: Hey there, nice to hear from you. I’m free tonight after seven, does coffee work?
I put the phone down and see the three dots bubble come up and then disappear, and I have a picture of her freaking out about it, so I send her another text.