Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“No.”
His answer was barely more than a grumble, and judging by the way he was hastily packing his shit, I had a feeling he was still struggling in the nanny department. It made me feel sorry for him. He was just a year older than me. I couldn’t imagine having a kid right now — let alone one who I had to raise on my own.
“Vince?” Carter asked, spinning to point at our winger next.
“You know I would be there, but the family flew in for the game. I’m going to spend some time with them back at the house.”
Carter let his hands fall to his thighs on a groan, stomping like a little kid. “Are you serious? Do you guys not realize the responsibility we have to the puck bunnies of Tampa? We’re going to break hearts tonight — and not in the usual way.” He shook his head, clapping me on the shoulder next. “Looks like it’s just me and you, Brittzy.”
But I was frozen, my brain hung up on the word family like it was a jagged nail sticking out of the wall.
I cracked my neck. “So the whole family is here, huh, Tanev?” I asked, hoping I sounded only mildly interested.
“Yep,” he said, stripping out of the last of his gear. “Poor Maven is going to have to field wedding questions from my mom all weekend. At least Grace is here to be a buffer. She’s always been good at that.”
My heart stopped, excitement and anxiety flooding my bloodstream in equal measure.
Just hearing her name made every nerve ending buzz to life.
Carter asked Vince something about the mentioned wedding, but I was too busy carefully removing my cell phone from where I’d shoved it in my bag well before the game. When I saw a missed text from Grace on the home screen, my heart skipped another beat.
Nova: Got room for a hitchhiker in the passenger seat of that hot little Porsche you drove to the game tonight?
The text was followed by a photo of her in front of the Tampa sign at Sparkman Wharf — and she was dressed for the game, sporting her brother’s jersey in a size that swallowed her.
A million thoughts warred to be the first one through the fog in my head. There were the warnings and the reasons not to respond, the reminder that we’d both started moving on, that this would only reopen a deep cut trying to heal itself.
But I couldn’t hear any of that over the loudest voice of all, which was screaming for me to find the fastest way to get her in my arms.
Me: Where are you?
Nova: Waiting for Vince in the family lounge with Mom and Dad.
Me: Vince said you’re heading back to his place.
Nova: We are, but I’ve been laying the groundwork for having a headache all night. Mom keeps telling me to go to our hotel and get some rest, so as soon as we see Vince, I’ll be free.
My heart pounded like a sledgehammer in my chest.
Me: You’re bad.
Nova: I am. You might have to spank me and teach me a lesson.
I cursed, cock twitching to life in my briefs. I looked around to make sure no one noticed when I adjusted myself before I fired a text back.
Me: You’re going to regret saying that when you can’t sit tomorrow.
Nova: Promises, promises.
I couldn’t help the smile that curled on my lips. My entire body was flooded with energy like it was after every game, but it was tripled now, every nerve on edge as I thumbed out my address, gate code, and door code to her.
She was here.
Grace was here.
All the work I’d done to try to let her go in the last couple of months swirled down the drain in an instant. I didn’t care about what was right and wrong. I didn’t care about our age difference or who her fucking brother was.
The only thing I cared about was getting to her as fast as I could.
I tucked my phone away and schooled my expression, sliding up next to Carter as he made his way toward the showers.
“Hey, man,” I said, keeping my voice low so only he could hear. “I’m going to pass on Boomers tonight.”
“What?!” I thought the grown ass man was about to whine. “Come on, man. We just won our first game of the season! What the hell is wrong with everyone tonight?” Then, something caught in his expression when he saw mine. “Wait… what’s with that face?”
“What face?”
“That one,” he said, pointing right at my nose. “You look like you just found out your dick was made of gold.” He snapped his fingers on a knowing grin. “Oh, shit. You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?”
I looked around to make sure no one had overheard him before I pushed him farther toward the showers. He laughed when I did, rubbing his hands like a greedy sonofabitch.