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)
“If you say so. And don’t call me babe.”
I try to wrap my arms around her, but she steps out of reach.
“Aren’t you going to let me take care of you? I was a good boy tonight, wasn’t I?”
“Save your energy. You’ll need it for tomorrow.” She opens the door.
“I want to give you an orgasm before I leave.” I want the smell of her on my fingers and the taste of her on my tongue.
“Not tonight.”
“Why not?” I stand in front of her, trying to read her expression.
“Because my roommate will be home any minute.”
I nod. “If tomorrow goes well, I expect to end it with you sitting on my face.”
“We’ll see.” She pushes me out the door, but she’s smiling when she closes it.
CHAPTER 18
DALLAS
“Just in time for the sunrise. Look at the majesty of it all.” Isaac stands with his hands on his hips, smiling away.
It’s dark fucking o’clock in the morning, and I’ve already been awake for an hour and a half. The only time I ever willingly get up at this freaking hour is when we have an early flight for an away game. I’m highly undercaffeinated, and I need about three more hours of sleep and a thousand calories of food. But I’m bonding with Willy’s brothers and winning myself bonus points. Besides, it’s a hike on Bruce Trail, no big deal.
“Let’s get a move on.” Sam adjusts his backpack and speed walks toward the trail entrance. Issac falls into step behind him, and I take up the rear. I worry I’m slightly underprepared for this excursion. All I have is a small pack with two water bottles, a couple of energy bars, and a pack of gum. They have stuffed backpacks.
It’s muggy, which isn’t unusual for July in Niagara. According to the forecast, it promises to be balls hot. The escarpment is on the peninsula, which only compounds the humidity. We’ve hardly even started, and I’m sweating already.
I hustle to catch up with Isaac. Based on last night and this morning, Sam is the leader of this pack. He sets a quick pace that doesn’t allow a whole lot of room for appreciating nature or the view.
I can feel Isaac looking at me, so I glance in his direction and smile. “Did you have a good time last night?”
“Yeah. It was nice. I wish Hemi would let us set her up in her own place, but she can be stubborn.”
“Oh yeah. At work it’s pretty much Willy’s way or the highway.” I rub my bottom lip, hiding a smile as I think about all the times she’s made it abundantly clear that she is in the driver’s seat, and I’m just along for the ride. Just call me Wilhelmina Reddi-Grinst’s Passenger Princess.
“What about outside of work?” he asks.
“Eh…” I consider the shit I’ve pulled recently. “It’s more divided.” In my favor, although not because that’s how Willy wants it. Thinking things through has never been my strong suit. On the ice it’s different, because intuition guides me, but in real life…usually it means I fuck shit up.
Issac makes a sound I can’t interpret. “You’re not her usual type.”
“She dates guys with PhDs.” Like the cardiologist who started us down this path. I should send him a thank-you gift.
“But you’re not that different from her PhD dudes in some respects,” Sam calls from in front of us.
“I don’t mean it in a negative way,” Isaac reassures me. “She has a type she usually goes for, and you defy that. It’s probably a good thing, to be honest. You have the same drive and ambition.”
“She needs a challenge,” Sam calls over his shoulder.
How he can still hear us is a wonder, considering how far ahead he is.
“Yeah. She’s exceptionally driven,” I agree. “It makes sense that she would want somebody who’s equally as ambitious and intelligent as she is. Yet somehow, she’s ended up with me.” I laugh weakly. I don’t like the unpleasant feeling in my stomach that has nothing to do with my need for about three breakfast sandwiches. Willy always dates highly educated, well-mannered men. I have manners, a good family, a great career, but university wasn’t my jam. I passed the classes I took, but I had tutors and some professors who took pity on me.
“You don’t need ten years of post-secondary education to be the right fit for her,” Isaac says. “The two of you complement each other. And it’s clear that you’re head over heels. I mean, those gifts for our moms won you bonus points. I still can’t believe you found earrings like my grandma’s. Hemi’s a sucker for a thoughtful guy, and that’s a lot more than I can say for the last couple of dudes she ended up with.”
“There was a cardiologist a while back,” I note.