Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“What’s up, man?” A large hand claps on my shoulder and I turn to see Roman Sýkora standing there with his arm around a seriously pretty woman.
“Not much,” I say.
“This is Lexi,” Roman says, and she sticks her hand out to me. I take it and say, “Nice to meet you.”
I’ve heard of Brian Brannon’s other daughter and knew she was dating Roman, but I haven’t had the chance to meet her yet. Hell, I haven’t met many people outside of my teammates, just because I don’t attend a lot of team functions.
But sorry, a party for winning the eastern conference championship and bringing us one step closer to the Cup…well, that was something I had to come to. I took this trade to the Cold Fury first and foremost because it was the best potential to win a cup, and I desperately wanted that under my belt. I also took the trade offer because it would put me closer to Arco should I choose to go see him. Of course, that curiosity has been completely satisfied.
Two more players walk up and join our little group—Alex Crossman and Zack Grantham. Alex is our captain and star right winger. Zack is a second-line left winger, and interestingly enough, our leading point scorer in the series against New Jersey. He’d come off a groin injury feeling better than ever and it showed in his play.
“Cheers, fellas,” Zack says as he hoists his beer. Everyone in our little group raises our respective beverages. “I expect in a few weeks we’ll be doing this again. Except we’ll all be drinking out of Lord Stanley’s cup.”
“Hear! Hear!” Lexi chirps.
Conversation then begins about what each of them wants to do with the Cup when they get a chance to have it for twenty-four hours, which is tradition when the Cup is passed to the championship team. It’s probably jumping the gun to think that way, but this team is riding high on a confidence that is not misplaced at all. We’re on fire.
“That was a hell of a hit you put on Thorpe last night,” Alex says to me, and my gaze focuses on him.
“Thanks, man,” I reply, but then I’m completely at a loss as to how to carry conversation further. I’m not good at this shit.
Oddly, I have a sudden urge to have Simone by my side, because she can talk to anyone. If we were actually dating and out to the team about it, I could stand quietly by her side and just listen as she chattered away with people.
My eyes cut past Alex to her, and I see she’s looking at me with a smirk on her face. She knows this is uncomfortable for me.
Alex turns slightly and follows my gaze to where Simone is standing. If I had any common sense, I’d play it off as if I were looking at something else, but then my eyes light on Reed moving to Simone’s side. He taps her on the shoulder and she turns to him, giving a bright smile of welcome.
My stomach starts tightening with what I am man enough now to admit is pure fucking jealousy. After that caveman display at Follies that night, I’ve realized that when I say Simone is mine, that means she’s not anyone else’s. That includes happy-go-lucky guys like Reed, who’s a total flirt and a complete catch to a woman like Simone.
“Excuse me,” I growl as I push past Alex. I can feel the weight of his eyes on my back as I cross the room, shouldering my way past people. I don’t give a fuck, though. Alex isn’t the type who would say anything, even if he had a clue as to what was really going on.
As I reach Simone and Reed, my ears zero in on what he’s saying.
“…two more weeks, we win the Cup and then I’m going to get that dinner from you,” he says with charming grin. I want to punch him.
Simone sees me approach, but I don’t give her an opportunity to decline.
“I told you before she wasn’t interested,” I say—well growl—to Reed.
His head turns my way and he blinks at me once in surprise, then his eyes round with awareness. “Oh, man…sorry,” Reed says as he claps me on my shoulder. “I didn’t realize you two—”
“We’re not,” I snap at him. Reed again blinks at me, this time in confusion.
“You’ll have to excuse Van,” Simone says as she lays a hand on Reed’s forearm. “But since Lucas has practically moved in with Stephanie, Van’s appointed himself my surrogate big brother.”
My eyebrows draw together and I glare at Simone. I am in no way her big brother. I’m a fucking jealous man, apparently. But I get it…she’s trying to keep us secret and playing off my outlandish behavior.
So I grit my teeth and tell Reed, “I take my duties very seriously.”