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)
“They invited four hundred special guests from the hospital,” he says. “Max’s sister Denise runs the kids’ ward.”
“Yeah, I met Zack.” I mention Zack, who also retired the year after he got here. His son, Jack, is a cancer survivor, and they moved here just to get Denise to take his case.
“It’s part of the Horton Foundation,” Evan says, and I just nod.
“All of the players will line up and give out candies,” Oliver says, and we make our way out of the room and onto the ice. The lights are dim, and everything is decorated with hanging bats and flying witches. The ice is covered and looks like it’s all grass with pumpkins everywhere.
I stand in line next to Evan, who’s looking for his wife, no doubt. “Where is she?” he asks, and I start looking around, but I don’t spot her. I do spot Zoe, though, and she is standing there in a black latex outfit. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she has thigh-high boots on. “I spot Zoe,” I tell him, and everyone looks up at her.
“What the fuck?” Matthew says from behind me. “Who let her in like that?”
I roll my lips, trying not to laugh. “She’s practically naked,” Max adds. “This is not good. It’s a kids’ event, and now half the guys are going to be walking around with semis.” He looks around also. “If she brought a whip, she’s grounded.”
“Hey there.” I look over to see Zara, followed by her group of girls minus Zoe, who stands there talking to some guy I’ve never seen before. I try to tear my eyes away from her and focus on the girls arguing with Max and Matthew, but my eyes go to her, then move away every fifteen seconds. Then she turns and struts over, literally.
“Happy Halloween,” she says with a smile, and I look at her, then at the guys seeing them glare. “Oh, come on.”
“Who bought you that costume?” Evan asks, and she shrugs. “Burn it.”
Oliver runs over before the bickering starts and looks at us frantically, then looks at Zoe. “If I was straight, I would so date you.” He points at her and then turns to Max. “They want you to say something.” He looks at Max, his hands going up and down. “I didn’t prepare for this. I don’t have a mic or anything.”
“It’s fine,” Max says. “Just breathe. It’ll be okay,” he says, and everyone walks away to handle the situation.
“I see the foot has healed,” Zoe says, smiling and then looking around. “Don’t tell them, but I fucking hate this costume. I have sweat forming in places I didn’t think was possible, and if I didn’t think they would make a big deal, I would go change. But now …”
“Now you have to stand your ground,” I tell her, shaking my head. “I know it’s last minute,” I say, and then I actually hear the words coming out of my mouth, “but tomorrow, I’m having a little dinner in order to celebrate.”
Her eyes go big. “Count me in,” she says, and then she hears someone calling her name. “I have to go. I promised I would help a couple of the kids.” She looks back at me. “But count me in,” she says and then grabs my arm. “So happy that you are doing something. I’ll text you later for all the info.”
I don’t say anything as I try to ignore the heat from her hand on my arm. I’ve had women touch me in more intimate places in my life, yet her touch runs through me.
Chapter Twenty
Zoe
“And if that wasn’t enough, when I finally did get the costume off, it looked like I was taking a sausage out of its casing,” I tell Zara while I walk around my bedroom.
“I told you it was a bad idea.” She laughs at me. “It took four of us to zip you in it, and you had to lie down to do it.” I shake my head, thinking about how it took the four of them with two pushing it together and two zipping it up. “I thought it was going to bust open when you bent down to pick up Alex.”
“Can you imagine? I would have died,” I tell her, and I cut the conversation before she asks me where I’m going and then proceeds to let me have verbal diarrhea about Viktor and my non-relationship with him. I get dressed in my black jeans and dark gray long-sleeve sweater and matching booties. As I make my way over to his house, I know I’m an hour early, but I wanted to decorate. I knew he wouldn’t let me if I asked, but if I show up with it, he can’t say no.
I call him right when I get there. “Hey,” I say when he answers. “I kind of need a little help.”