Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Ridiculous, I know, but there’s a small, irrational sense of possessiveness I’ve already developed for Lexi Winslow. If she boxes me out like she could—like she has been up until now—that’s going to make for one hell of a crash and burn.
“She’s great,” I say, stopping myself there instead of going into a three-page essay on all the things I’d like to get to know about her.
“You friends with Lexi Lou?” Teeny asks.
“We know each other from Dickson, so sort of…” I laugh. “I’m kind of still convincing her it’s worth her time to be my friend.”
“Ha!” Teeny shouts. “God, I love her.”
“Where’s Sean?” Quinn asks then, looking back into the dark tunnel and cupping his hand over his eyes to shield the morning sun. “I thought he was supposed to be here too.”
“He is, but he and Six are doing their podcast for this week about Camp. They probably went with the kids so they could catch Bossman on audio giving his little speech.”
Six is Sean’s wife and an incredibly famous YouTube personality turned popular podcaster turned reality television star. Truthfully, it’s mind-blowing how much I know about these guys and their lives.
Quinn laughs. “Oh shiiit. Lancaster hates the limelight, that’s for sure.” He picks up a football, working it in his hands and spinning it constantly to get a grip with his fingers on the laces. It’s a classic quarterback fidget, one I was mere seconds away from starting myself. Quinn pumps a couple of times with some fake throws, and Teeny starts cackling.
“Look at this guy. Retired and still can’t stop himself. He misses the game so much, he calls me crying on the phone at night so I can put him to sleep.”
Quinn holds up a middle finger before throwing the ball to one of the catch nets at the other end of the end zone. Teeny laughs and winks at me before continuing. “You’d think a married fella like himself would be content once he got in bed, but nope. He needs a phone call with Teeny to make sure he has sweet dreams.”
Quinn turns around with a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head, a smile curving his mouth all the way to his ears. “Don’t listen to this guy, Boden. I have plenty to do with my wife, in bed, at night. He, on the other hand…”
Teeny snorts. “My wife is an angel on earth who takes care of her man’s every need and want, okay?”
“Does she also have a listening device on you?” Quinn asks with a snort. “Because holy hell, you’re laying it on thick.”
Teeny shrugs and pretends to whisper. “You never know.”
There’s a sudden jolt of noise as the jumbotron kicks on in the center of the field, the Mavericks’ intro playing at full volume. It’s a tiny taste of what it might be like to be a player in this stadium, and fuck, does it give me chills.
“Welcome!” the announcer's voice yells over us. “To Maverriiiiiiiickkkkks Kids Cammmp!” On cue, a surge of young boys and girls dressed in matching camp T-shirts comes running on a charge out of the other end zone tunnel, their tiny faces scrunched into warrior expressions and their screams permeating the space between us.
A golf cart zooms toward the middle of the field, and Quinn, Teeny, and I pick up a jog to meet it there as Wes Lancaster, Winnie Winslow Lancaster, and Lexi all climb from the back and take their spots to wait for the arrival of the running kids.
Lexi’s eyes are on the three of us, but at this distance, it’s impossible to tell who she’s focusing on. I want it to be me, but these are guys she’s known her entire life, so it’s probably not.
Fuck, I sound real damn annoying, don’t I?
As the stampede of kids comes to a stop in the middle of the field, Sean Phillips and his wife Six running behind them with a camera and microphone, Winnie and Lexi clap, and Quinn, Teeny, and I stop just to the side, our arms crossed over our chests. The kids’ parents begin to fill up the lower levels of the stadium seats, and the other Mavs’ staffers who help run the camp start to set things up on the sidelines.
Wes steps up in front of the excited group in his jeans and expensive button-down shirt, offering high fives to those who can jump high enough to hit his hand. “Welcome, everyone!” Wes says on a shout, quieting the boisterous and adorable little crowd effectively. “Thanks for coming out to the Mavericks’ tenth annual kids camp! I’m Wes Lancaster, the owner of the team, and behind me are my wife Winnie and daughter Lexi. Winnie is also the team physician for the Mavs. Though, I do have some disappointing news that she’ll be retiring after this year.”