Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Umm…nothing.
Nothing is worse than that.
It’s the reason why my brother can never find out that I hooked up with Maverick McKinnon, ridiculously hot defenseman for the Western Wildcats. It doesn’t matter if the memories from our night together are enough to make my toes curl and my panties—
Well, you get the idea.
He’s the first guy to come along and not treat me like I’ll shatter into a million pieces when he lays his hands on me. Even if there’s a teeny tiny part within that would like to see him again, the fallout would be brutal.
I have enough to deal with. Like trying to break out of the box my family has placed me in since my diagnosis.
The only problem?
I’ve lost something valuable.
Something I need back.
And I’m pretty sure whose bed I’ll find it in.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
Maverick
I lift the bottle to my lips and take a swig of cold beer as my gaze skims over the crowd. Music pumps, the bass vibrating in my bones. People are dancing and cutting loose on a Friday night.
We won our game yesterday.
Afterward, we all headed to Slap Shotz to celebrate with rounds of shots and karaoke. It’s the unofficial home of the Western Wildcats hockey team.
There’s barely time to revel in our victory before we have to prepare for our next game against the East Town University Rattlers.
That’s one we abso-fucking-lutely need to win.
Even thinking about their left wing, River Thompson, pisses me off. I crack the muscles in my neck to loosen the mounting tension. The rivalry between us dates back to high school. He’s a right wing and always looking to score. I’m a defenseman and always shutting him the fuck down.
On more than one occasion, we’ve come to blows on the ice.
Aw, hell…who am I trying to kid?
It’s unusual if we don’t get into a brawl and end up in the box.
I’m knocked from the tangle of those thoughts when slender hands glide their way up my chest, and I find myself staring down at the dark-haired beauty beaming up at me.
“Hey, Mav. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I lift the bottle to my lips again and take another drink. “Looks like you found me.”
Her grin intensifies. “Lucky me.”
Jenna Montgomery.
She’s one of the Wildcats’ biggest fans, if you know what I mean.
I flick another glance around the room.
It gets snagged by Ryder and Juliette playing kissy face.
My nose scrunches.
They really need to warn people before engaging in PDA.
Ugh.
Even though they’ve been together for a couple of months, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that my best friend and sister are now an item.
Should I have seen it coming from a million miles away?
Probably.
I’ve always sensed the tension that vibrated in the air when they were in the same room together. It’s been that way since middle school. I’d just assumed they hated each other.
Joke’s on me—turns out the opposite was true.
When my chest tightens, I shove those thoughts from my head.
Not that I’d admit it to anyone else, but I miss the way things used to be before they started dating. Ryder was usually down for anything. We’d chill out and play a little NHL or Madden on the Xbox. Sometimes we’d head to the bars after practice. Or we’d get a lift in.
Now he spends all his spare time with Juliette.
Hey, it’s not like I begrudge their happiness.
I really don’t.
I just wish it weren’t at my expense.
A sigh escapes me.
And now I sound like the world’s biggest pussy.
Exactly what I didn’t want.
Unable to watch them make out for another second, my gaze settles on Wolf and Fallyn. Another couple who recently got together.
Or maybe a more accurate description would be that they were just hitched in Vegas.
Yeah…
Mind completely blown.
Who the fuck gets married when they’re twenty-two?
Especially someone who has the hockey world by the balls.
I shake my head.
The answer to that question would be Wolf Westerville—future NHL goalie for Boston.
And then there’s Ford and Carina, Riggs and Stella, Madden and Viola, and last, but certainly not least, our newest couple on the block—Colby and Britt.
Christ, the guy can’t keep his damn hands off her.
Turns out, they secretly tied the knot in Vegas as well.
It wasn’t all that long ago when these guys were single and ready to mingle.
Or get laid by groupies.
Now, however?
It’s me, Bridger, and Hayes.
We’re the last ones standing.
“Maverick?”
I really hate all these maudlin thoughts trying to weigh me down. There’s been too many of them lately.
I stare into Jenna’s green eyes. “Yeah?”
She presses closer until I feel the rounded softness of her breasts against my chest. “You seem tense. I know exactly what will help with that.”
I’m sure she does.
Jenna’s superpower is that she’s capable of making you forget your own name.
Maybe that’s exactly what I need.
To forget all this bullshit pressing in at the edges.
When I don’t pounce on the offer, she stretches onto the tips of her toes and nips my lower lip with sharp white teeth.
“Trust me, I’ll make it worth your while,” she adds in a husky voice that’s chock-full of promise.
And just like that, my decision is made.
I jerk my head in a tight nod. “Sure, let’s go.”
A sly smile lifts the corners of her pink-slicked lips before she grabs my hand and drags me toward the staircase. On the way across the living room, Hayes catches my eye and smirks. His hands are full with two eager bunnies.
Now that Colby has officially retired his dick, Hayes is drowning in pussy. By the look on his face, he couldn’t be more thrilled with the predicament.
And Bridger?
He’s off moping in a corner by his lonesome.