Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“She’s incredible. Smart, funny. Full of love.” He smiles warmly, thinking about his sister. “She’d give a stranger the shirt off her back. She’s just that way.”
“Got it. The opposite of you.” I wink, but I see a flash of hurt and immediately regret the bad joke. “I’m sorry. I was just—”
“Don’t apologize,” he says more seriously. “She is my opposite, and I don’t mind admitting it. She deserves so much more than this life has given her so far. I intend to ensure the rest of this life is different for her.”
I can tell there’s a long story there, and I hope he tells me. That’s all I wish—for Dane to open up to me. To trust me with his secrets.
I’m not sure when it happened but over the past few weeks of working with the team, I realize I wish he would confide in me. I wish I could get him to open up. Truly open up. Sometimes I do, giving him little glimpses into my life. I know in my heart that I can trust him completely with my truths, but I want that trust reciprocated. I’m greedy and hungry for it.
“Growing up—” He starts and stops, and I reach across the console, taking his hand in mine. I give it a reassuring squeeze.
He will pull away any second, but when he doesn’t, I feel lighter and happier than I’ve felt in weeks. Instead, he keeps holding my hand, and in my mind, it feels like he’s pulling the energy out of me to find the strength to open up to me.
“Growing up, it was just us. Well, that’s not true . . . It was just us when I was eighteen and she was eleven. I’m not sure how much you know about me, but I raised Molly.”
“You did?” The word comes out reverently, shock and awe taking root.
“I didn’t have a choice and wouldn’t change it for the world. Our parents died in a car accident, and my sister almost died with them. It was just her and me, and there was no way she would live with anyone else. Not when I was old enough to care for her.”
I swallow, thinking about how young and brave he was.
With every new detail I learn about him, I grow even more desperate for more.
“Will you tell me the full story?” I ask, voice barely a whisper.
He takes a deep breath. “Maybe one day. But not today.”
And with that, the conversation is over, and broody Dane is back in full force.
25
DANE
Hudson: Hear me out I think Danes got the hots for Josie.
Dane: Shut up.
Hudson: That’s not a no. So tell us, what’s she assisting you with . . .
Dane: You’re really not funny.
Hudson: Do you see me laughing?
Dane: I don’t see you at all.
Hudson: You know what I mean. Okay, but seriously, you banging her?
Dane: I’m not above murder.
Mason: I’ll be your alibi.
Aiden: Children.
26
DANE
The only thing I want to do today is go home.
Coach pushed us hard. It’s not that he doesn’t normally push us hard, but this is harder than normal.
Not one of my teammates would understand. Hell, I barely understand, but winning the Cup has been bittersweet.
It shouldn’t be. I do love playing hockey. I’m smart enough to admit my emotions are misplaced, but it feels like a win for him, and even years later, he doesn’t deserve it. But what makes it even harder is I know what I did to get here.
Don’t go there. That road of thought is a dark road, and if I cross into that territory, I might not come back.
I head out of the locker at a slower-than-normal pace.
There is no question that Josephine will be waiting for me the moment I close the door.
“Where are you off to, man?” Hudson says.
“Not home, that’s for sure.”
“I can’t believe Molly loaded your schedule like this and didn’t have the decency to stay in town to help you through it.”
“It’s not her fault I surprised her with a trip.”
He bobs his head. “That’s true. And she probably did you a favor. I’d love to be waited on hand and foot by Coach’s daughter. Fuck, she’s hot.”
I stop dead in my tracks and pivot my body to look at him. Smug little shit.
Despite the two years of friendship, I’m finding it hard to remember why I even like him right now. Fine, I liked him much better before Hellfire showed up.
Currently, the only guy on the team I like is Aiden. He’s the only one not making a pass at Josephine.
There’s also the fact that he’s the most like me out of all the guys. He has ghosts.
Secrets he doesn’t share.
Yeah, now I know a few of them, but because of the way he was raised, he knows not to ask me questions about mine.