Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I didn’t respond to that message because I didn’t have time. We were getting ready to head onto the ice for warm-ups before the game and I’d only done a quick check of my phone.
Admittedly, I was checking to see if she’d texted, but I truly didn’t have time to respond.
I do so now, knowing she won’t see it until morning. She’s in deep slumber on the East Coast. As requested, I helped your brother get a shutout. Can’t wait to collect.
Grinning, I scroll backward through the string, unable to stop smiling at some of the silly conversations we’ve had.
Kiera: I was wondering, and since you’re a friend, I’m sure you can fill me in… what’s up with dudes and the chin lift when you see each other?
Me: Aah… the chin lift. That’s some deep stuff you’re asking about.
Kiera: I thought it was just a greeting.
Me: I’m not sure your female brain can comprehend the way our male brains work. We are all about simplifying things and we can carry on entire conversations between chin lifts and head nods.
Kiera: Wow… I never realized the male species was so brilliant.
Me: Honestly… we’re not. You know how you’ll be talking to us, then you ask a question, and we respond with “Huh?”
Kiera: Yeah. You weren’t really listening.
Me: Wrong. We heard you, we’re just buffering so that the answer we ultimately give is what you want to hear.
Kiera: I can’t with you.
She added a string of laughing emojis and I’d rather not dwell on how much it pleased me that I made her laugh, even if only digitally.
All of it… the conversations via text, the ones at her house the two nights I spent with her this weekend… all silly, light and without much depth.
In other words, it was safe.
And yet, I find myself missing her. Mostly, I’m missing the sex, which has easily become an addiction. Kiera is wild and uninhibited. There’s not a shy bone in her body and nothing she’s not willing to try. She’s every man’s fantasy.
But I also miss being with her because she’s comfortable to be around. No strong expectations, she’s funny as hell and I feel good in my soul when I’m near her. If I were so inclined to settle down, Kiera would be the type I’d consider. Maybe.
Christ, it’s going to be a long week. After we play the Blizzard, we’ll head to Edmonton and then Calgary. We don’t get back to Pittsburgh for another week, and I know the first thing I want to do is see Kiera.
We had not made plans so I shoot her another text. Got plans on the 19th?
I send it off and don’t offer any more. I hope she responds that she’s free—then I’ll make the move to ask her to do something, which will most likely be me asking if I can come over to her place to fuck her. Maybe dinner before if she wants.
My fingers itch to say more, but I can’t. It means she would be more than what was agreed and we have to watch that boundary. I know Kiera would agree with me on that.
It doesn’t stop me from looking at my calendar the rest of that week, though, plotting through some other potential times we could hook up.
And there you go. Camden’s birthday.
“We’re still good to celebrate your birthday next Friday?” I ask him.
He doesn’t answer and my head turns his way. I see he’s got his earbuds in as he scrolls through his text messages.
Pressing pause on my music, I nudge Camden’s shoulder.
“What?” he asks, pulling out one bud.
“I asked if you’re still cool with us doing a little birthday celebration for you next week?”
Camden scowls. “What were you thinking?”
“Nothing fancy. Maybe we all go hang out at Stevie’s bar. We’ve got almost a week off so why not party one night, and your birthday is a great excuse.”
One of the best things about coming off this very long and exhausting road trip is that we’ve miraculously got several days off where we’ll be able to rest and recuperate, although there will be some practices and team meetings I’m sure.
“As long as there aren’t balloons and cake, and I’ll kill anyone who sings me happy birthday.”
I frown at him. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack,” he replies. “I don’t like that shit, but I’m down to hang out. Who all would be there?”
“Whoever you want, dude. It’s your birthday.”
“Just invite the team and SOs.”
Significant others. Is that what Kiera is to me? Because I’m damn well inviting her. Of course, I’ll invite her brother, too, so that might mean I have to keep my distance but at least I can look at her. As long as she comes home with me after, I’ll be satisfied.
“Coaches?” I ask Camden. That’s always a weird line when we party.