Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Because—”
“Well, fuck,” Rafferty mutters, standing up straighter, his gaze pinned on the woman. “She saw me.”
Tansy stops short of approaching our table though because of the rope cordoning off the area. She waves to Rafferty. “I’ll be right back,” he says glumly.
We all watch as Rafferty goes to the woman. She’s animated, all smiles and touches to his forearm. She thumbs toward the door but Rafferty shakes his head. We all watch as they speak for a few moments and then she turns away with a jaunty wave and knowing smile.
When Rafferty returns to the table, King says, “Please tell me you told her you weren’t interested.”
“Interested in what?” North asks.
“Did she ask you out?” Atlas queries.
Rafferty takes a long pull on his beer, eyes going back and forth between his friends. “Short story is we went out, we hooked up…” He looks at me and offers a sheepish smile. “And now she wants to go out again, but I’m not interested.”
“And he won’t just tell her he’s not interested,” King adds with a chastising look.
“I’m trying,” he bemoans. “But the lady won’t listen. She’s convinced I don’t know what’s good for me and point-blank just said so before she jetted off to have drinks with friends. That’s crazy, right?”
Sounds a little crazy to me but I keep that opinion to myself.
“I told her I’d call her later just so she’d leave,” he says.
“Dude…” King punches him on the arm lightly. “The fact you told her you would call her left the door open and she’s going to think you’re interested.”
“Yeah, man… I know. But I don’t want to hurt her feelings either. Besides, I have no intention of calling her. That will give her a hint, right?”
“You are an idiot.” Atlas laughs.
“I should have pretended to be your new girlfriend,” I pipe up. “That would have made things clear.”
Rafferty slaps his palm to his forehead. “I totally should have put on a show with you. Maybe a passionate kiss so that she would be mad and leave me alone.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to ever happen,” King says with a pointed look at Rafferty. “Figure out your own stalker problems and leave my girlfriend out of it.”
I’m not prepared for the rush of warmth when he calls me his girlfriend. While it’s clear we’re together, he just proclaimed it to his buddies and that seems like kind of a big deal.
I wait for that tiny kernel of anxiety to flare brighter, but it doesn’t. Weirdly… I kind of like being known as his girlfriend and I realize so many of my walls are tumbling down without any control. Before I can analyze it anymore, someone tugs on my arm. I look back to see the red-haired woman—Stone’s fiancée, Harlow.
“Come sit with us girls,” she says, nodding toward an empty high table. “We want to get to know you.”
While that’s about the sweetest thing ever, I’m actually a little disappointed. I’d been looking forward to spending time with King, seeing him interact with his teammates and really… our time is limited and I don’t want to give it up.
King saves me though by saying, “Go on over with them and I’ll grab us some beers.”
“Oh no,” Harlow says with a gleam in her eye. “We want girl time.”
“Have your girl time,” King says, his own twinkle out-sparkling hers. “But I’m going to sit in on it. I don’t get enough time with Willa as it is and this is officially a date.”
I have to choke back a laugh as Harlow isn’t the least bit offended. Instead, she flutters her hand over her heart and sighs. “God, that’s so romantic. You need to teach Stone some moves.”
King grins. “Whatever. You’re marrying the man in a few weeks. I’m sure he’s got all the necessary moves.”
Harlow’s expression turns slightly dreamy. “Yeah… he really does.”
Shaking his head in amusement, King nudges my shoulder. “What do you want to drink?”
“Just a beer. Surprise me.”
“Anyone else?” he asks the ladies.
“Another water for me if you don’t mind,” Harlow says.
“Gotcha covered.” Before he leaves, he leans into me and whispers, “Oh, and I want you to be my date to Stone and Harlow’s wedding. It’s on December 22. Mark yourself out that evening.”
“Bossy,” I say with a push to his shoulder.
“Merely strategizing,” he replies with a chuckle. “Getting you to commit to future events is part of my nefarious plan to keep you by my side.”
“Mmm-hmm,” I say noncommittally, but yeah… I’ll be his date to that.
King leaves and Harlow pulls me over to a rectangular high top.
“So you and Stone are getting married soon?” I ask.
“Yup. We wanted a Christmas-themed wedding, but there’s not a lot of downtime in the schedule for both a wedding and a honeymoon. So we’re getting married on the twenty-second, which is the day before an away game to Florida. After that, the team has two days off for Christmas, so after the Florida game, we’re going to hop a plane over to the Bahamas for a short honeymoon. We’ll do a longer trip in the summer.”