Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“Here you go, sweetheart. I got you a water bottle,” Evan says, handing her the bottle, then going to stand next to her. “How long have you been here?”
“A while,” I answer honestly, and then my eyes go back to the pool. I spot Zoe with her hair tied up on the top of her head while she talks to Max’s little girl. When she pulled her dress off, I thought my mouth would hit the floor. Don’t get me wrong, I knew she had a smoking body, but what I didn’t know is that everything is defined and toned. Her ass is hands down the best ass I’ve ever seen on a woman. “He told me to be here at ten. I figured getting here a bit later would be good.”
“There she is,” a man says and when I look up, he comes to hug Zara and kisses her head. He turns to Evan and gives him a side hug. “We haven’t met yet,” he says, but he doesn’t need to tell anyone who he is. “I’m Cooper.”
I try to stay cool and not get tongue-tied. I mean, if you play hockey, you know who Cooper Stone is. Every year, you go out on that ice and try to beat or reach one of his records. Fuck, I think I have a jersey of when I was in school with his number on it. “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I say and then hear Evan laugh.
“Cooper is fine,” he says, smiling and shaking my hand. “You must be Viktor.”
“I am.” I nod at him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’ve heard some good things,” he says, and then he turns back and starts talking to Zara. “What’s wrong with Zoe?” he asks. Looking back at the pool, I see that she’s standing in the pool with the water up to her waist talking to some guy who I don’t know stands there with his perfectly coiffed haircut and wearing shades. He looks like he’s a model.
“She got trashed last night,” Zara says, laughing. “Karrie, Allison, and Vivienne were all over the wine bottles last night.”
“Allison!” Cooper yells, and she looks up from the chair where she’s sitting. Max looks up from beside her. Her face looks just a touch better than Zoe, but she also has her glasses on.
“I thought you said you woke up with a migraine?” he asks her, and she smirks and looks down. “Incredible that she lied to me.”
“It’s okay, Pops,” Zara says to him. “I can be your favorite now.”
“No way in hell,” a male voice responds. I look behind Cooper, and it’s like I’m looking at twins. Justin is a touch bigger than his father in height, and he is also bigger in size. His eyes are a light blue exactly like his sisters.
“Well, well, well, look at what the cat dragged in,” Zara says. “The prodigal son.”
“Justin,” Cooper says, and now I know that’s Justin Stone who was drafted last year first overall for Edmonton. He gives Cooper a hug. “You know your mother stayed up all night.”
“I told her not to, Dad,” Justin says and then walks over to Zara. “Hey, preggo,” then nodding at Evan. “Where is the yang to the yin?”
“You are so lame,” Zara says loudly at her mother who is across the yard. “Mom, look who it is? The sly one!”
Justin looks at Zara. “For once, can you not bust my balls? I’m nineteen, and I don’t even live at home.”
“Interesting, since I saw Mom washing your laundry last night,” Zara says. She doesn’t say anything else because their mom comes up to him with a scowl on her face.
“I told you to text me your plans,” she tells him as soon as she’s close enough.
I lean over to Evan, asking him, “Is it always like this?” I’m taking it all in. This whole family dynamic.
“No,” he says. “You should be here at Christmas. It’s a madhouse.”
“Oh my God, what is that on your neck?” Zara shrieks. Walking over to Justin, she moves his collar away to reveal a huge hickey.
He moves away from her. “Can you fuck off?” He looks at her. “You are so lucky you are with child or I would have you over my shoulder and toss you in the pool.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Dude, you wouldn’t lay a finger on her,” Evan says.
“Hey, buddy,” Matthew says, coming over to us and shaking Justin’s hand and giving him a side hug. “Good to see you.”
“You are six hours late,” Allison says, joining them. Max stands behind her, holding her shoulders in his hands. “Is that a hickey?”
“No way. Where?” Matthew says and then sees it. “You dog,” he says, pushing Justin away with a beaming smile.
“Let me get this straight,” Zoe says, walking to us as she wraps a towel around herself. “He comes home after a night with a bunny, and it’s all okay.” She looks at her father and then at Matthew. “But if I do it”—she points at herself—“it’s the end of the world?”