Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
I shift and look up at him. “Dallas, I need to tell you something.”
“I know.” He strokes the edge of my jaw with the backs of his fingers. “But not today. It can wait until we’re both clearheaded, okay? I’m not going anywhere tonight unless you ask me to. Right now, the most important thing is you. I need you to see that. Just let me take care of you.”
CHAPTER 42
DALLAS
For the first time since I broke my own heart, I sleep like a damn baby. It helps that I get to spoon Wills all night long. I hated seeing her break down, but I wouldn’t trade getting to be the person to take care of her.
I’m up early for ice time with the guys, so I have a fruit and muffin platter delivered to the room, and I leave Wills sleeping in the massive bed. I kiss on the forehead, and she hums, but doesn’t move otherwise. Her eyes are still a little puffy from all the tears last night, but at least she’s getting sleep, which she needs.
She told me about her childhood. Good things and bad. She told me about how she feels in the office and why fake dating me was the only real choice. She also shared what she wanted out of a partner, and that she never thought she’d have love. My heart ached as she let me in, one piece, one story, one vulnerability revealed at a time. I was selfish and impatient. But from now on, I’ll be the man who puts her first in all things. Loving her is bigger than my fears, impulses, and dreams.
I make it to practice on time—barely. Tonight is our first exhibition game, and there’s no way I want to be stuck warming the bench. It isn’t until we’re off the ice that Ash asks me how things are going. He knows what’s up, in part because I texted him yesterday afternoon to bail on our evening yoga session with Hollis and Roman, but also because Hammer informed Shilpa that I took Wills out of the office yesterday.
Ash makes sure no one can hear him before he asks, “Does this mean you’re back together?”
“Uh, not yet, no.”
He frowns. “But you spent the night together?”
“Yeah. Nothing happened, though.” Other than temple kisses and the one I pressed to the back of her neck when she snuggled against me in bed, it was a PG night. “We’ll talk tonight. After the game. She needed to know she didn’t always have to be strong alone, and I wanted her to know I would hold her when she needed someone.”
He smiles and claps me on the shoulder. “Look at you, doing your best to show up for her.”
“I hope it works.”
“It will. She loves the way you love her. Shilps and I see it. Hemi is the strong one in most parts of her life, but falling in love is one of those things that doesn’t allow much room for control. That can be scary.”
After practice, I find messages from Wills thanking me for yesterday and this morning and a whole bunch of fingers-crossed emojis that I made it to practice on time. She has meetings this afternoon; otherwise, I’d be in her office, checking on her. I assure her I did and that I’ll see her tonight. Regardless of how rough the past few days have been, she won’t miss the first exhibition game of the season. Especially when we’re playing against New York, and Flip’s archnemesis, Connor Grace.
I’m feeling optimistic—not just about the game, but about me and Wills—as I suit up later that evening. We take the ice, and I scan New York’s bench. Kodiak Bowman is impossible to miss. Despite being young, he’s huge and imposing, and tonight he looks like he’s on edge. Or more on edge than usual. I’ve heard rumors that he still pukes before games. It’s hard to say if that’s bullshit or not.
“Is Grace missing?” I ask Palaniappa.
“Looks like it. You think he got traded?”
I shrug. “Dunno. Last I heard he was holding out until New York offered him more money.” At the end of last season, he became an unrestricted free agent. He didn’t like the deal New York offered, so he was sitting on it. I thought he would take it eventually, but maybe he didn’t.
Madden and Stiles take the ice, along with the rest of the starting lineup. We gain control of the puck right away and score a goal within the first five minutes of play. It doesn’t matter that New York has the league’s star player in their lineup; Bowman is off his game, and that gives us the advantage.
We wipe the ice with their asses, beating New York 5-1. It’s a rough loss for them, and not a great way to start their preseason. When we hit the locker room, Hammerstein is feeling good about the near shutout, and Madden is practically floating on the high of scoring three goals. Stiles is all smiles over his two assists, as are Hendrix and I over ours. It’s a hell of a preseason start.