Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“There’s the famous husband,” Frannie slurs when Lev finally makes his appearance exactly as planned. I wanted him to stay away and let us have some fun together, but I made him swear he’d show up right around now to make sure we all got home okay so I wasn’t stuck babysitting my drunk friends.
“How’s Canada treating you all?” he asks and his mask is fully in place. That charm oozes off him and I can tell the girls are eating it up. He jokes and teases them as we leave the bar and get into his car, and they’re practically fawning over him when we arrive back at our condo.
Frannie passes out in one of the guest rooms and Gia decides she wants to take a shower. That leaves me alone with Sofie in the living room. Lev makes himself disappear as I turn on the fire and listen to Sofie obsess over the view from the huge windows.
“I know I keep saying this, but you’re sure everything’s good?” She curls up against my side as the gas fireplace heats our feet. “I know you and Lev had a rocky start, but things seem…” She trails off, glancing at me.
“We’re good,” I say, trying not to smile. How am I supposed to explain this to her? “We’re really good.”
“You love him.”
“I love him,” I agree.
She sighs and flops back onto the cushions. “That’s such a relief.”
“I told you that already,” I point out.
“It’s one thing to hear it via text and another to actually see it.”
“Were you worried he had me chained up in a basement or something?”
“Only a little.”
“Well, here I am, fully unchained.”
“And looking good too.” She tilts her head, studying me. “You’re in shape.”
“I better be with the tournament tomorrow.”
“You’re going to be fine, you know that.”
I shrug a little. “I hope so. Been working my butt off.” Which is true—I’ve been training three times a week with a fencing instructor Aline recommended while we’re here and doing my own workouts the other days.
“And the pregnancy?”
“Going about as well as it can now that the morning sickness passed.”
“And his work?”
I shrug slightly. She knows the deal with Lev. Not the details, but his general profession. “So far, so good.”
“You really do have it all.” She grins and pats my knee. “I’m happy for you.”
There’s a crash in the other room and a shriek. I leap to my feet, but Sofie beats me over the back of the couch. We find Frannie glaring down at an alarm clock on the floor, swaying slightly.
“I wanted to get up early,” she explains.
“Okay, you’re done,” Sofie says and waves me off when I try to help. “I got this. You get some sleep.”
I leave the girls to it. Lev’s in our room reading something on his phone and he glances up as I come in and shut the door behind me. His eyebrows raise.
“Should we lock that?” he asks.
“I doubt they’ll come in here.”
“You never know. They’re pretty drunk.”
“Frannie’s hammered.”
“Did you have fun?”
I curl up beside him and snuggle in tight. “A lot of fun. Thanks for letting me do this.”
“Absolutely. I just hope you’re going to be ready for tomorrow.”
“You’re going to be great.”
“They came all the way here to watch me.” I close my eyes, ready to fall asleep in my clothes. “I don’t want to disappoint them.”
“Baby, they came all the way here to see you. They don’t care if you fall over and break your ankle on your first thrust.”
I gently slap his chest. “Don’t say that. Bad luck.”
“You know what I mean. There are zero expectations for tomorrow. All you need to do is go out there, compete, and have fun.”
“You’re good to me.”
“Because you’ve been good for me.” He kisses my hair. “Now let’s get some sleep.”
“Think we can with a drunk Frannie on the loose?”
“I think we’ll manage.”
Nerves jangle in my guts. The gym’s full of people. Multiple different fencing strips are lined up all over with judges watching carefully as the bouts rage all around us. Foil came first, but those are nearly done.
Saber is next. My specialty.
“You’ve got this,” Sofie says, giving me the thumbs-up.
“Go Carmie!” Frannie shouts. I have no clue how that girl seems so chipper and alive considering the state of her last night, but somehow, she manages it.
“Win this shit,” Gia shouts, grinning huge.
I go through my stretching and warm-up routine. Lev is nearby, not saying much. Other competitors are prepping around me, talking strategy with their coaches, going through simple drills to get themselves ready.
Everyone’s younger than me or obviously more experienced.
“I shouldn’t be here,” I murmur to Lev.
“Why do you think that?”
“It’s been so long. What if I embarrass myself?”
“You won’t. You’ve got this.”
“I don’t know.”
“Two-time state champ. Don’t fucking forget who you are.” He grabs my wrist and pulls me toward him, glaring into my eyes. “Where’s that fire, little fencer? Where’s the warrior?”