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)
When Aiden gets the puck, he passes it to Wolfe at the right side of the circle, and then Wolfe passes to me for a one-timer.
Fuck.
The Knight’s goalie makes a leg pad save.
Then I see Hudson. He’s there, going for the rebound.
His arm pulls back, and he shoots, stuffing the puck in the net.
The crowd’s noise is deafening. They cheer and chant as Hudson just scored the first goal of the game.
Fuck yeah.
Nothing beats this.
The excitement. The thrill. The team.
Sometimes, playing hockey is bittersweet, but never when I’m on the ice. When I’m on the ice, I feel like I found a home.
I search the crowd for her. Narrowing my gaze as I stare at a sea of faces.
Section by section, I look.
But I don’t see any familiar faces. Not even Molly.
Where is she? All the details blend, and I blink my eyes.
Then, like a rope is tethered between us, my gaze lands on hers. The roar of the fans fades away as I watch her.
She smiles brightly. A smile so intense it reaches her eyes. I see nothing but pride, filling me with this strange feeling.
Happiness.
It’s beautiful.
41
JOSIE
Dane Sinclair is hard to read.
The man is colder than ice.
To his teammates, he’s granite, an impenetrable force. They need him like that to rely on him to protect them.
But behind closed doors, he’s a man trying his hardest to fight his demons.
I see it in bits and pieces like a kaleidoscope.
The eager part of me, the part that refuses to back down from a challenge, loves that I’m the one who gets beneath his skin.
When his gaze found mine during the first period, right after Hudson scored, we had a moment, but then I didn’t hear from him after the game. I knew he’d fight it and turn cold after. He can’t help but retreat, but then I got a random text to meet him for brunch.
Which is where I’m off to now.
The location is in a neighboring town. It’s far enough away that no one in our inner circle will see us, but still not far enough away that it won’t be a problem if recognized.
I guess it’s a good thing I work for the team because at least we can pretend that this is just business. At least, that’s what I tell myself as we walk out of the diner.
I hate that I’m the coach’s daughter.
I hate that he’s like a son to my father.
I hate that I can’t grab his hand and declare to the world that he’s mine.
This is how it has to be.
I know in my heart that Dane’s standing on the team would be jeopardized if my father found out about us.
But somewhere deep inside me, a part I don’t want Dane to see, I wish he would own it. I wish he would fight for me. Come out and say he’s with me, but what can I expect?
Of course, he will put his career first.
Is it wrong to just want someone, anyone, to fight for me?
Together, we walk farther into the restaurant. Our bodies are close together, fingers hovering near each other, but neither of us crosses the distance. We can’t.
I stop my movements.
“Hellfire?” His gaze is locked on me as he waits for me to say or do something.
I study his face, sad that he’s not smiling. Instead, small lines accent his forehead.
I wish we could laugh together. The small glimpses of happiness I’ve seen from him are apparently only allowed in the closed-off space of his house.
Maybe one day.
“Let’s sit here.” I point to a free table at the back before sliding into the booth, and Dane sits across from me.
After a second, he leans back in the booth, lifting the menu to his face to read. I do the same, settling on what I’ll eat only a second before the server approaches.
“Hi, welcome to Barlow’s. I’m Maryanne, and I’ll be your server today. Would you like something to drink before I take your order?”
Dane lowers his menu and looks up at Maryanne. “I think we’re ready to order. Josephine, are you ready?”
“I am.”
Dane gestures for me to go. “I’ll have the buttermilk pancakes and a coffee.”
“What would you like with your coffee? Milk, cream?”
“Cream and two sugars, please.”
She nods and then turns her attention to Dane, who orders three eggs and an array of veggies. When she leaves, Dane leans forward, placing his elbows on the table.
By the way he’s looking at me, I can tell he wants to ask me something, but I’m not entirely sure I want him to.
“How did you end up here?” he finally asks, and I lift my brow in confusion.
“You asked me to meet you.”
His lips twist up. It’s not a full smile, but I can tell he wants to. “Not here, here, but in Redville.”
Shit. I knew this moment would come up sooner or later, but I’m not sure I even want to tell him. If this isn’t going to be anything serious, why bother?