Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72659 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
I’m the captain of the Denver Thunder and have been for the past two years. I’ve just renewed my contract for another four years and can’t wait to get back into the season. Ice hockey has been my life since before I can remember.
I grew up with a lake that ran behind our family home and every year when the water would freeze, I would be out on the lake. When I was six, my father finally agreed to put me in a team and I haven’t looked back since. Joining that team, as awful as a bunch of six-year old’s are, was the best thing I’ve ever done and I have my father to thank for that.
Luckily for Jaxon, when he was twelve, he moved in next door and sixteen-year-old me took him under my wing and turned him into the hockey star he is today… well, right after me that is.
Talk of hockey has me looking up through the kitchen window out to the man-made lake I had built onto my property over the summer. With the chill creeping into the air, I’ve been preparing my new lake to create a whole new bunch of amazing memories.
“Hey, Jax,” I call out over the noise of their conversation.
“What’s up?” he questions as she shuffles Cassie on his lap so he can see me clearly.
I nod my head towards the window. “Lake should be ready,” I grin. “Best out of ten?”
An excited smile comes over his face as he practically throws Cass off him. "Fuck, yeah," he says before disappearing out the door, no doubt heading out to his truck to grab his skates.
Before we know it, Jax and I are out the back tying up our skates while Cassie stands on the back deck pulling on as many coats as humanly possible before lacing up her snow boots. Honestly, it's really not that cold but apparently, Cass has a flair for the dramatic.
I look up to notice Sean slowly creeping out onto the lake and making a show of pressing down on the hard ice. “Dude, you sure this is safe enough?” he questions, as usual, making sure to take over the role of safety officer.
“Yes, it’s safe,” I say with an eye roll. I mean, I’m pretty sure it’s safe. I’ve been out on it for the past two weeks preparing it and trying my hardest to keep it smooth, which honestly, with the rain last night, it’s really not that easy. But right now is going to be the first time I’ve actually skated on it, so to tell the truth, I really couldn’t give a shit if it’s safe enough, I’m going either way.
Jax and I grab out hockey sticks and I grab a box of pucks and slide it out onto the ice. Without a moment of hesitation, I step out onto my ice and the feeling is amazing. I’ve always wanted my own ice and it’s finally here. It’s like a dream come true.
I shoot myself forward and fly around the man-made lake. I instantly notice a few places that need a little work and consider how much it would cost to buy a Zamboni but that might be taking the obsession a little too far.
“Fuck,” I hear Jax holler from across the ice. I flick myself around to see what could have possibly caused his outcry when I see him flat on his face before he gets to his feet and begins scraping off a large lump in the ice that I had clearly missed. “You could have done a better job,” he calls out in frustration.
I shrug my shoulders and send a smirk his way. “Sorry,” I say but let’s face it, we all know I’m not really that sorry.
I can practically see his eyes roll from clear across the lake but I ignore it as I get back to enjoying my ice. I grin as I watch Cassie and Carter sliding and stumbling across the ice as they try to put the home-made goals into position at either end and bless their little souls, they finally make it with Jax making a show of lifting Cassie off the ice and placing her safely at the side.
“Come on, pretty boy,” I call to Jax. “Let’s get on with it.”
He skates past with a smirk that I know all too well. “Why so desperate for an ass kicking?” he questions.
"You've got no chance, kid," I tell him. "I've got at least ten years of training on you."
“Ahhh, you see, this is your big mistake. Letting your ego get in the way. It’s all about quality, not quantity, jack ass,” he smirks as he drops a puck to the ice and gets started on trying to show off, no doubt because Cass is standing by the side cheering him on like the devoted fiancé she is.