Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Get your ass in the box, McAdams,” Coach bellows.
I don’t bother glancing at him. My gaze remains locked on Juliette as I take my sweet damn time skating to the penalty box before throwing myself onto the bench and tearing off my helmet. I toss the gloves to the rubber mat and plow my fingers through my damp strands.
My gaze remains pinned to Juliette as the penalty clock is set.
Even when the asshole next to her attempts to regain her attention, her eyes stay fastened to me.
It’s exactly where I want them.
Where I’ve always wanted them.
Only now can I admit that to myself.
It takes a moment to realize that the emotion burning a painful hole at the bottom of my gut is jealousy.
I don’t like it. All it’s doing is messing with my head. And that, I don’t need. Not now. Not when I have everything to lose.
With me cooling my ass in the box for two minutes, our opponents are now on a power play. We’re a man down and the other team will attempt to capitalize on that by scoring another goal. My attention should be focused on what’s happening on the ice.
If we end up losing this game because I allowed two goals to be scored, it’ll be on me.
Instead, I stare at Juliette.
CHAPTER 27
JULIETTE
“That was weird. What do you think got into Ryder?” Carina whispers as I chew my nails.
It’s a bad habit I’ve tried to kick over the years. In times of great stress, I gnaw my fingernails.
And right now, standing in the lobby, waiting for Ryder to exit the locker room, I’m an anxious mess. Nerves swirl at the bottom of my belly like an impending storm, causing all sorts of havoc.
When I fail to respond, she wraps her fingers around my hand and gently lowers it from my mouth. I don’t bother looking at my nails. I’m sure they’re a pulpy mess.
Ever since Ryder was sent to the box, I’ve been chewing on them.
The look on his face as he’d glared at me…
A shiver trips down my spine.
It’s not an expression he’s ever aimed in my direction, and I’m unsure what to make of it.
“I don’t know,” I mumble, not wanting to field any more questions. Both her and Stella kept shooting me speculative looks during the rest of the game.
All right…
Maybe that’s not altogether true.
Maybe I do have a clue as to what’s going on, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense. Ryder is the one who scrambled out of my bed like he couldn’t get away fast enough.
And the capper?
It’s been stereo silence from him.
I’d actually gotten used to his daily texts and started to look forward to them.
By the way Carina’s blonde head is tilted as she studies me says that she suspects I haven’t given her full disclosure.
Which is, unfortunately, the truth.
What exactly am I supposed to tell her?
That Ryder and I have been messing around while we check items off the silly list I made after high school graduation?
For the first time in my life, I don’t know what I’m doing and feel completely out of my depth. Worse than that, I’m not sure how we move forward.
There’s a flurry of activity as a few of the guys trickle out of the locker room. Their hair is damp and shiny from the showers. The game ended in a tie, so no one appears particularly happy.
Another wave of anxiety crashes over me as I nibble my lower lip, scanning each face but not finding the one I’m searching for. My belly trembles in anticipation, or maybe it’s dread. I feel almost sick inside.
Am I supposed to act normal?
Ignore him?
I have no idea, and it’s stressing me out.
As soon as Ford saunters out with Wolf, his gaze locks on Carina. The goalie’s remark from a couple weeks ago in the apartment hallway pops into my brain as sexual energy crackles in the air. It’s a surprise when neither of them bursts into flames. Now that he’s pointed it out, it’s shocking that I never picked up on the underlying tension that vibrates between them like a live wire.
Madden and Riggs are the next to walk out. Stella quickly gravitates to her bestie before throwing her arms around his neck.
“I was wondering if you wanted to grab something to eat after this and we can spend a little more time catching up.”
Jerked from my thoughts, my gaze settles on Sawyer.
How terrible is it that I forgot he was still here?
My mind spins as I turn the invitation over in my head. “I’m, ah, not sure. Let me check with my parents to see if we’re doing anything after this.”
I’d much rather hightail it from the arena. I would have taken off after the final buzzer rang if not for Carina. We always wait around for the players afterward. To deviate from that would have raised suspicions, and once that girl picks up a scent, she won’t let it go until she ferrets out the truth. She can be persistent and single-minded. Kind of like one of those yappy little dogs.