Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
“Those days are behind me,” I say.
“Bullshit,” Colby scoffs.
“I’m serious.”
He gives me the shit-eating grin he always does when he impersonates me. “Hey girl, I’m not a weatherman, but you can expect to get eight inches tonight.”
“Eight inches?” Ford balks. “From you? Only if you’re bringing an eight-inch dildo.”
“Seriously, though,” Ben says. “I have to go, but I’m telling you right now that I will kick your fucking ass if you use a single mom.”
“I’m not using her.” I glare at him, aggravation flaring. “Just because I haven’t wanted to be serious with a woman in the past doesn’t mean I’m not serious now. And she doesn’t need you to stand up for her; she’s got it covered.”
Ford claps me on the back. “I think it’s great you found someone you like this much. I hope the date goes well.”
“Thanks.”
“Where are you taking her?” Beau asks.
“Dinner.”
“But where?”
I shrug. “We’ll figure something out.”
“I can get you a reservation to the new Japanese place downtown,” Colby says. “Mila loves it.”
“Thanks, but I’m good.”
Tess said she can’t afford to get dressed up, and I don’t want to take her somewhere that makes her feel uncomfortable. She’ll want to go somewhere casual, where we can eat burgers and fries. I want to do everything I can to show her a great evening—and hopefully get a second date.
I’m finished dressing and about to leave the locker room when my phone starts buzzing in my pocket. I take it out and see that it’s not just a text but a phone call.
And the name on the screen surprises me. Tess should be at work right now. Why is she calling me?
“Hey,” I say in answer.
“Hi.” Her voice is tight; something’s wrong.
“Everything okay?”
“It is most definitely not.”
Shit. Did a pipe explode in her house? Is one of the kids hurt? The possibilities of what could make her call me from work are racing through my mind.
“What’s wrong?” I sit down on a bench to talk to her.
She exhales heavily. “Well, I’m currently driving home from Zane’s school, where I just had a really fun conversation with him and his principal.”
“Oh shit, did he get in trouble?”
“Yeah, Dom. He got in trouble.”
Why does she sound so pissed off at me? I didn’t do anything. Her emotions must just be running high.
“Want to talk about it?”
She laughs, but it’s a you’re fucking dead pissed-off laugh, not an amused one. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure what else there is to say after a forty fucking minute long meeting with the principal about Zane hitting on his science teacher. He asked her if her daddy’s a beaver.”
“Oh, fuck.” I practically yell it, and several of my teammates look at me.
“What could have possibly made you think that was good advice to give to a fifteen-year-old? Or anyone, honestly, but a fifteen-year-old? He has to get moved to a new science class and the principal has to file a special report. I had to explain why I brought a man into my home who taught my son that he should hit on women by asking them if their daddy is a beaver! I could hurt you right now. If you were within five feet of me, I think I might actually punch you in the face.”
She pauses to breathe and I bend down, my elbows on my knees and my free hand on my forehead. This is nothing short of catastrophic. And since I’ve never been in a relationship I actually cared about, I don’t know what to say. Usually, if a woman gets mad at me, I just make a flip comment and move on. But Tess is right—I fucked up. And I don’t want to move on.
“I’m sorry. He asked me for advice about asking a girl out, but I had no idea it was his teacher he was talking about.”
“So it’s okay to ask a fifteen-year-old girl if her daddy’s a beaver? Are you fucking insane?”
I’m so fucked. The most fucked of anyone ever.
“I’m really sorry. No, that isn’t okay. It’s a terrible idea and I’m...an idiot. I’m a massive idiot and I should have been much more thoughtful when he asked for my advice.”
“Don’t be reasonable! I’m so mad at you right now and you’re not getting mad back.”
I sit up straight, wishing I was there with her. She’s sexy when she’s angry. Not that I’d try to put the moves on her right now. I don’t have a death wish. But I want to be there to help her through this, not just be a voice on the other end of the phone.
“I have no right to be mad about anything. I did something stupid and I’m so sorry. Can I come over and talk to Zee about this later?”
“He’s...” She sighs, sounding more weary than angry now. “I don’t know what he is. He’s embarrassed. Maybe he needs some time. He’s suspended from school for two days.”