Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Well, that was a great way to greet me,” I tell her, and she turns to look at me. “You are so beautiful.”
“Why didn’t you come here last night?” she says, coming close to me and putting her head on my chest. “I slept like shit.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to keep you waiting all night, so I slept at the hotel.” I kiss her forehead. “A lot of good that did me. I swear I slept two hours.”
“I slept twenty minutes,” she says, yawning. “How about next time, you just come over and save us all the hassle?”
“Deal,” I tell her, rubbing cheek with my thumb. “I am free as of noon.”
“You are coming back here, right?” she says, getting up on her elbow. “You better say you’re coming back here.” She attempts to get up, but I bring her back to me laughing.
“It’s not funny,” she says. “It’s been three weeks.”
“Trust me, beautiful, I know exactly how long it’s been.” I had a countdown on my phone. I had the minutes on there, and it was freaking hell. I won’t do that again, not for that long. But I’ll discuss it with her tomorrow after I beg and plead with her to come back home with me. “Now can we just lie together before I have to get back up and head out?”
“Fine.” She huffs. “But if you don’t come back here on your break, I’m seriously going to be pissed.” She starts to get back up again, and I grab her. “No Evan, I’m not kidding.”
“Okay, beautiful,” I tell her. “Can we just rest for the next hour before I have to go?” I ask her, getting comfortable. “I should set my alarm,” I tell her, grabbing my phone from my pants.
“Now get back into my arms,” I tell her, and she crawls next to me, and I feel everything from the past three weeks—the tension, the need, the want—leave me. Everything is okay ’cause she’s in my arms. I rest my eyes for the hour that I have and hold her close with her head on my chest and her hand draped around my waist. When the alarm rings, and I have to go, I swear I can see her pouting. She walks me to the door.
“I’ll call you when I’m on my way over,” I tell her, and she just nods but looks down. “Sweet Zara, I need your lips one more time, and then you can go back to bed.” She gets on her tippy toes, and I kiss her lips.
“Now go and hurry back,” she says, and I walk down the steps and into the waiting Uber. I get to the rink the same time the bus gets there. I swear there is a spring in my step, and I can’t wait to hit the ice and get it over with. Going into the visitor’s locker room, I suit up for ice. The practice is light and lasts about an hour and a half with an option time on the ice if we want it. I’m the first one off the ice with Corey beside me, and I unclip my helmet.
“Heads-up,” Corey whispers from beside me, and I look up. There they are, the two guys I was waiting to see, Matthew Grant and Max Horton. In other words, Zara’s brother and brother-in-law.
“Hey, Richards,” Matthew says first. He is dressed in his workout stuff, wearing his baseball cap backward, and has his arms folded over his chest.
“It’s M&M,” I say smiling, and they just look at me. “What can I do for you guys?”
“We just thought we would come down …” Max starts, and I hold up a hand.
“You thought you would come down here and scare me away from Zara?” Taking off my helmet, I slide off my gloves. “Sorry, boys, but you can do whatever it is you want to me. I’m not leaving her alone.”
“Is that right?” Matthew says.
“That is right,” I tell them and then feel Corey stand at my back followed by half of my team mates. “I like her, and she likes me. Let’s leave it at that.”
Max looks like he is going to smirk at me, but Matthew walks forward and leans in. “If you so much as hurt one hair on her head …”
“Yeah, I got it,” I tell him. “You said this before. So let me say it again. I like her, she likes me, and I’m not backing down.” He looks at me, not sure if he should push it or not. “Now if you will excuse me, my girl is waiting for me.”
“She is far from your girl,” he says, and I just shake my head.
“That’s where we differ because the only thing she is, is mine.” I smile at both of them. “See you later, M&M.” I walk away from them, and I swear I breathe a sigh of relief. Nothing good would come of it if we got into a brawl before the game. My ass would be on that bench the whole night, and my skates would stay dry.