Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
I tuck my hands into his back pockets, and he grins down at me before wrapping his arms around me for a tight hug. He buries his face in my neck, kissing me before he squeezes me tightly. He really does give the best hugs imaginable.
“Good luck this weekend,” he says softly against my neck.
“You too,” I say back, kissing his jaw. He brings his mouth to mine one last time, and then we slowly part. He hands me my bag and then my water bottle before giving me one last look.
“Text me.”
“Or you can text me,” I throw back at him, and something moves between us.
“I plan to.”
A grin pulls at my lips as one does the same at his. He turns to leave, and then, impulsively, I ask, “Are you seeing anyone else?”
He looks over his shoulder at me, that grin unstoppable. With a wink that has my stomach clenching in all the right ways, he says, “Nope, only you.”
“Only me?”
“Only. You.”
“What about when you head back home?”
He shrugs. “Our phones work, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So, we’ll stay in touch, see if we’re vibing when we come back next fall?” He turns then, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me to him once more for a passionate kiss that has my toes curling again and my heart soaring. “No matter what, I’m enjoying this too much to forget you.”
Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant.
And things changed.
Completely.
Chapter Eleven
Benson
I am well aware that I’ve already seen a picture of Cameron in my jersey, and it was awesome. Really, it was. But seeing my jersey on her, through the glass in the arena I love playing in, brings about a whole different onslaught of emotions. So much so that I actually trip over air when I round the corner of the goal since I’m trying to watch her.
I’m just glad Coach isn’t out here, because if he were, he’d have words for me.
Of course she’s gorgeous. That’s a given. Her blondish-brown hair is down, curled to perfection, and her makeup is all bright and vibrant. She has teal glitter along her eyes, and her lips are devastating with a gloss that makes them shine. The jersey comes to midthigh, and the sleeves cover her hands, while her eyes watch me. My jersey hangs on her body in a way that makes me wish we weren’t in an ice rink and were back at my place instead. That jersey has me wishing she weren’t wearing the black leggings with teal socks and high-top Nikes.
Fuck me, my jersey belongs on her body.
So much so, it’s a goddamned distraction for sure.
I skate to center ice and shuffle my skates as everyone skates around me. I don’t pay anyone any attention; my eyes are on Cameron. She is laughing with Callie, and I wonder what Callie thinks of all this—if Cameron told her the whole truth, or if she told her that we really are dating. I guess I shouldn’t have just told Quinn, maybe should have asked how we were navigating that, but I don’t actually care. Because I refuse to accept this six-month expiration date. No, if I’m lucky, there won’t be one.
Hell, fuck luck—I’m going to make that a reality. I just have to be patient, show her what she could have with me and, if I could grow some balls, be honest about how I’ve always felt. A fluttery feeling tickles my belly as I continue to be engrossed in how she laughs. I love it. But when a guy leans over Callie to Cameron, the shuffling of my skates stops. I purse my lips, and red-hot jealousy burns through my veins.
Where the hell is that coming from?
Cameron is a beautiful girl. A real stunner. I’ve seen the comments on her social media, but she never replies back. I mean, she could be DM’ing them, but I don’t see that. One thing is for sure, I’ve never witnessed another guy hit on her. Even more, I’ve never seen her grin at one like that. In front of me. In my arena. While she’s wearing my jersey.
Without much thought, I tap my stick to the ice, and as I expected, Bradley, one of our forwards, sends the puck right on my blade. I pull my stick back, and I let the puck sail. Not toward the goal, but to where this dude is engrossed in the girl who is wearing my jersey.
When the puck hits the glass, it surprises everyone, and they all jump. Callie actually drops her phone, and Cameron’s eyes whip to mine. So does the gaze of the jackass who is talking to her. His eyes widen when I yank on my own jersey and then point to her. He looks at her, and I do the same to see Cameron gawking at me. She says something, and he holds his palms up to her, then me. When she looks back at me, I feel a little pathetic. But then those brown eyes burn into mine, and gone is that feeling. I start to shuffle my skates once more, and I watch as her tongue comes out to wet her sweet, thick lips. When Callie whispers something in her ear, they laugh, and my chest clenches. I wish I could hear her laughing.