Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
I glance around to make sure no one is paying attention, then lean in and whisper, “We dry humped.”
Hemi and Rix’s brows both try to touch each other in the middle of their foreheads.
“I didn’t know it was possible for me to get off on a dry hump.” I swear the look on Hollis’s face tipped me over the edge. He seemed ready to eat me alive.
“I have no experience with this, but now I kind of want to try it,” Hemi admits.
Rix’s eyes light up. “What about Hollis? Did you leave him hanging?”
“I probably should have, shouldn’t I?”
“He deserves it after the whole date-sabotage nonsense and the kiss business.” Rix rolls her eyes.
“Kiss business?” Hemi asks, then raises a hand. “Don’t feel obligated to tell me. I totally understand if you don’t want to rehash everything.”
“It’s fine.” I give her a rundown with all the ups and downs.
“Oh, you totally should have left him hanging. I mean, dude needs to shit or get off the pot.” I appreciate Hemi’s annoyance on my behalf.
“While accurate, that phrase isn’t very visually appealing,” Rix observes.
Hemi’s eyes light up like she stumbled across a shoe sale. “I think we need to properly appreciate your badassery for a moment.”
“In what sense?” I ask.
“You made a professional hockey player come in his pants like a high school boy, while fully clothed. You’re a fucking queen.” Hemi smiles with pride.
“I was pretty shocked, to be honest.” I grin. “And as soon as it was over and I could walk, I left. I didn’t want to give him the chance to ruin my afterglow.”
“Yeah, you did.” Hemi high-fives me.
“Have you talked to him since? How long ago did this happen?” Rix asks.
“We haven’t talked, and it’s been two days.” Normally we meet up at the diner when my dad returns from an away series, but he arrived while I was in class, so he came to campus and we ate there. Without Hollis. “But he texted today.”
“What did he say?” Rix asks.
“That he had a doctor’s appointment so he couldn’t make the Pancake House.”
Hemi nods. “That’s true. Coach Vander Zee and Fielding were meeting with him after. It was on their calendar.”
“Yeah, my dad said as much. I sent him a good luck GIF.”
Hemi leans back in her chair, nodding. “Good on you for playing it cool. He has no control when it comes to you.”
Rix taps her lips. “He’s a rule follower, and he’s used to being in control all the time, but you’re making him lose it consistently. Just keep doing what you’re doing. I think you two would be good together.”
I don’t know if my heart can handle it if we keep taking one step forward and two back.
“I do think we can help move things along, though. In your favor, of course.” Hemi thinks a minute. “So I’m aware management is planning a birthday party for me.”
Rix and I exchange a look. “That’s supposed to be a surprise.”
“It’s hard to get things past me when I’m responsible for scheduling promotion around games. To be fair, they tried to use code words on the calendar, but my birthday falls on a Saturday this year, and it’s between games, so it was pretty obvious.” She waves a hand. “I haven’t told them I know. From my sleuthing, I believe we’re having a catered dinner so Tally can be part of the festivities. You don’t need to confirm or deny anything, but this would be a good opportunity to go dress shopping.”
“Yes to dress shopping,” I agree.
We pull out our phones, and Hemi fires off a message to Tally, Dred, and Shilpa for a full-crew shopping trip.
A clip of Scarlet getting into a car flashes across the screen on the TVs across from our table. My buoyant mood deflates like a popped balloon, and I quickly look away.
Hemi tilts her head. “How will you feel about it if she’s able to come?”
I exhale an anxious breath. “It’ll be great publicity for the event.” And good for my resume, but probably not for the welfare of my sweaty palms.
“That’s not a real answer.”
“I know.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “She’s already been invited. We can’t take it back, and I don’t even know what’s going on with me and Hollis. I guess we wait and see?”
That isn’t an answer either, but I can’t admit to being jealous of his ex. It’s clear we both have feelings, but that doesn’t mean we’ll end up together. Not if he can’t get out of his own way. Or worse, if he decides Scarlet is worth a second chance.
CHAPTER 20
HAMMER
It’s late when I get home. Rix is staying at Tristan’s, as is typical when he’s not traveling. The end of the season is coming, which means I’ll be minus a roommate soon. And I only have the apartment until November since it’s a sublet, unless the owner decides to extend her stay.