Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Nah, not so much video games. The controllers hurt my knuckles.” She moves her hands out in front of her pretending as if she’s holding a basketball and then shoots the imaginary ball. “I can’t do anything to jeopardize my spot on the team. It’s hard to dribble or shoot when your hands are numb.”
“That’s why I only play on occasion. But my Uncle Jameson’s new game is too addictive to stop playing once I start. It’s like crack. This mage or wizard or whatever the fuck he is keeps kicking my ass.”
She laughs. “I can’t see you playing video games with magicians in them.”
“You have me figured out all wrong, sweetheart. Everything that comes out of your mouth is a stereotype, not fact.”
After I swipe my subway pass, and we’re on the train headed toward South Philly, we settle into two chairs toward the back.
“Okay, so what are the facts about the closet gamer hockey stud sitting next to me?” She gives me a goofy look that makes a dimple I never noticed pop in her right cheek.
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you have any other secret nerd hobbies no one knows about?”
I laugh. “Nope, just video games. And I wouldn’t consider those nerdy, anyway. Jamie’s the one who’s obsessed with science fiction and a whole hell of a lot of geeky shit I don’t even understand.” I slide my arm along the top of her chair, my fingers grazing the nape of her neck. “Now that you know all of my secrets, what are you keeping from me?”
She stills from my touch and sucks in a deep breath. “I’m too boring to have secrets.”
“I doubt that. Everyone has something to hide.”
“My mom left my dad for his best friend right before I started high school. The entire school talked about it. Hell, the entire town gossiped about my mom sleeping around and running off with another hockey coach.”
“Ouch. I had no idea.”
She shrugs. “Dad never talks about the past. He likes it to stay there… where it belongs.”
“This is our stop,” I say as the train slows.
She glances over her shoulder at the doors opening to the underground terminal.
Five minutes later, we stroll into the gymnasium where my mom is standing at the center of the court. She clutches her whistle between her fingers and raises it to her mouth. The group of twelve-year-old boys gather around her. Their eyes are wide and hopeful.
“I can’t believe I’m meeting your mom. This feels so… I don’t know. Like we’re dating. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.”
I pinch her elbow to reassure her and heat pricks my skin. My God, I love touching this girl, stealing quick exchanges whenever I can even though I should stay far, far away from her.
“You’ll be fine,” I promise. “She won’t bite you.”
Her cheeks flush as if she’s thinking she’d like me to bite her instead. Or maybe I’m reading too much into her every move. It’s hard not to study Bex when she’s in my presence. I have trouble taking my eyes off her.
We stop next to my mom, who spins around when I tap her on the shoulder. She pushes a few strands of caramel colored hair behind her ears, a big smile on her face. Her gaze shifts from me to Bex.
“Preston,” Mom says as she hugs me. “You’re here. And early for once.” She releases me and takes a step back appraising Bex for a second before she says, “And you must be Bex. Preston has told me so much about you.”
No, I haven’t.
Bex stands straighter, her expression unreadable. She must be nervous, though she’s hiding it well. “Yes, I’m Bex Bryant.”
“Coach,” Mom says. “Or Charlie, or Charlotte, or even Coach Parker, but never call me Mrs. Parker.”
“Mom thinks that makes her sound old,” I add for clarification.
Bex holds out her hand for my mom to shake, her smile so wide it reaches up to her eyes. “Nice to meet you, Coach. I’m sure Preston already told you I’m a big fan of yours.”
Instead of shaking her hand, my mom pulls Bex into her arms and squeezes the life out of her. “It’s nice to meet you, too, sweetie.”
“Mom, don’t hurt her,” I quip. “Jeez, could you loosen up a bit? I don’t think Bex can breathe.”
They both laugh.
I can see it already. Mom will want me to invite Bex over for dinner, so my dad can meet her too. And then suddenly, the entire family will be there, which means my parents’ friends and their kids will all be in attendance.
“What?” Mom moves away from Bex, giving her some room. “I want to savor the first time I get to meet a girl you like. Between you and your brother, I don’t know who’s worse.”
“Bex is my friend,” I tell her.