Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Smiling to myself as the door closes behind Lilly, I put the car in reverse and head toward the hospital. Pressing a button on my steering wheel, I request the magic of Bluetooth to dial Baden.
“What’s up?” he asks when the call connects.
“Calling about the barbecue Saturday night.”
“Don’t have to bring a thing,” he assures me. “Sophie and I have everything covered.”
Baden sent out a text last night that they’re putting on an impromptu get-together Saturday afternoon for the team. Something casual and low-key, but an opportunity for us to hang out. The next playoff round starts the following Monday, so there is plenty of time for the team to have a party.
“I was wondering if I can bring someone,” I ask.
“Lilly?” he asks. “Of course you can bring her. Aiden too, for that matter.”
Baden hasn’t met either of them yet, but he knows all about my new friends. Everyone on the team knows either because I’ve talked about the Hoffman family or they’ve met Lilly or Aiden either at a game or a visit to the hospital—and because a lot of the guys like to give me shit about the fact I’ve fallen for Lilly in the process. Gossip runs rampant in the locker room, but I don’t care. I own my new relationships.
“Yes, I’d like to bring Lilly. Would love to bring Aiden, but the doctors won’t approve it. It’s too risky for him just now.”
“Poor kid,” Baden sympathizes. “Is it cool that we’re all coming to his birthday party?”
Yeah… my team is doing that. I’ve helped Lilly put together a celebration in the outdoor garden and so far, the weather looks like it will cooperate. “The doctors are asking everyone to wear masks and gowns to be extra safe. Between that and it being outdoors, the doctors feel like it’s safe enough.”
“It will be epic,” Baden assures me.
The team is putting together a ton of Titans-related gifts—not just for Aiden, but for all his friends invited to the party. Brienne took it upon herself to hire a magician, a clown and face painters. The other Titans women are going to decorate the gardens. Lilly doesn’t know any of this stuff. She only knows a few of the guys will drop by and she’s ordered a massive sheet cake for all the kids. It’s going to be a carnival atmosphere centered around Aiden’s birthday and the kid deserves every bit of it.
Baden and I next chat about the second round next week. It will either be against the New Jersey Wildcats or the Nashville Badgers, but game five in that series happens tonight and the Wildcats have a 3–1 series lead. We’d both love New Jersey to pull it out since we’ve done well against them this year, but that never guarantees anything. The playoffs are a whole different breed of hockey. No matter, we’ll be ready for either one.
When I pull into the parking garage, I wrap the call. “I gotta go, man. At the hospital.”
“Any other plans?”
“Probably hang the entire day. Last full day we have off and all.” Tomorrow we’ll be back to doing light skates and team meetings as we prep for the next round.
“And then tonight with Lilly?” he prods teasingly.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
Baden laughs and we disconnect.
Not sure if Lilly and I will have alone time tonight. Since she’s working today at the deli, my suspicion is she’ll want to hang with Aiden this evening and that’s fine by me. I’ll either scoot out and let them have their time or if they aren’t bothered by me staying, I’ll hang out. Like I said, nothing to do today except what I want, and hanging with Aiden and Lilly is all I need.
♦
My gaze moves to the bed from the wall-mounted TV where Iron Man is playing. It’s Aiden’s favorite and was his choice to watch tonight. I don’t mind—it’s a fucking phenomenal movie. Lilly didn’t mind because she indulges Aiden in whatever he wants.
I shouldn’t even be here after spending all day with Aiden while Lilly worked at the deli, but when she showed up to take over, I couldn’t make myself leave. I wanted to be in the same space as her, even if we could do nothing but act as good friends. While Aiden understands that we’re dating, we’ve not been overt in our affection in front of him. I doubt it would bother him, but it’s all so new, I’m letting Lilly lead on this.
Letting her direct exactly how we should be when we’re in the presence of her brother.
Aiden barely made it fifteen minutes into the movie before he fell asleep. I don’t do nights up here, but Lilly said that was commonplace, especially since he’s been feeling a little better lately and expending more energy during the day, so he tends to wear himself out. He’s snoring, lying on his side with one arm curled under his pillow. His other arm, ladened with an IV line, stretches outward across the bed and his hand pokes through a slot in the bed rail, holding Lilly’s on the other side.