Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Right here, right now, on the floor with Xs for eyes.
Jake’s nostrils flared with barely concealed contempt that I met with an uber-congenial grin…’cause I knew it would piss him off. Maybe it wasn’t a bright move. If I was really going to be stuck with this tight-ass for a weekend, it might have been smarter to go the nonconfrontational route and maybe…just maybe…admit that my big mouth was responsible for our current “situation.”
But damn, I didn’t have it in me. Jake was snobby and too fucking perfect…a poster boy for the all-American sports hero. I wanted to wring his neck and—
“No introductions needed here,” Vinnie said, flashing a friendly smile as I pulled up a chair, scooting as far from Jake as possible. “Let’s keep this short and sweet. We’ll meet the day after tomorrow at the rink. The plan is to head to the lake for a couple of early activities before hiking to the campsite. You’re with the Glandiche family—Dad, Grandpa, two fourteen-year-old twin brothers. I’ll email you the interest form they filled out, so you have a little background info.”
“Oh, and Ray Gilbert will join you too,” Ronnie added. “He’s that videographer who—”
“Videographer?” Jake hissed.
“Yeah, the public will want in on the story, man.” McD spread his arms wide. “ESPN, Hockey Network, People magazine…No one knows about this yet. Ronnie and Vinnie don’t want the town overrun by curious fans just as camp is set to begin. And don’t worry about the campers. They aren’t allowed to bring their phones. All communication with the outside world is through the hockey-pro-slash-acting-counselors. You don’t have to worry about leaked conversation or unflattering videos. We’ll control the narrative.”
Vinnie tipped his chin to me. “I’m assuming you’re in since you’re here.”
Truthfully, I had a lot of questions. “Is this supposed to be entertaining? Is there a script or something? There must be. Otherwise, you’ll get a bunch of boring footage of some guys fishing. Sounds like a snooze fest.”
“The story is that you’re together. You don’t have to skinny dip or pick your nose on camera. We’ll have a few competitions, but nothing out of the ordinary. The point is to have fun.” McD’s cheerleader routine didn’t hit the mark.
At all. An awkward silence fell over the table.
Three long quiet seconds, four long quiet seconds, five long quiet seconds…
I didn’t want to be the first to speak. I’d shown up. That was my agreement. If Jake wasn’t on board…not my problem.
“Shoot, I didn’t realize it was getting late. I should go.” Ronnie waited for me to stand and gestured for me to take his place at the booth next to McD. “I told Mary-Kate I’d help her at the bookstore this afternoon. I’ll catch up with everyone tomorrow at the parade.”
More silence.
Fuck this. I motioned for McD to pass me a menu and pretended to study the burger selections. I sneaked a quick peek at Jake, who was quietly seething across the table from me, and something in me snapped. The usual I-want-to-do-whatever-it-takes-to-bug-the-shit-out-of-this-guy times ten. I hated heavy silence almost as much as I hated being ignored. So I shifted on my seat as if to cross my legs, and I kicked Jake’s shin. Hard.
“Oops. Sorry, dude.” I made a yikes face and returned to the menu. “I’ve been jonesin’ for poutine for months. Man, it’s good to be back in Elmwood. Isn’t it, Jake?”
Jake scoffed. “It was until ten minutes ago.”
Vinnie sighed. “Jake…”
“No, don’t do that. I’m in. No guilt trips necessary. I don’t pull out.”
“That’s what he said,” I quipped under my breath.
Jake delivered a reciprocal swift kick to my shin as he stood. “Fuck yourself, Trinsky.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and watched him waltz out of the diner…Mr. Calm and Collected. I should have been annoyed, right? I wasn’t, though. I was…something undetermined. Something that didn’t fit with the expected reaction to your nemesis kicking you in the shin on his way out the door. Dare I call it…giddy?
Maybe even a little horny.
Okay, weird. Let’s leave that one alone.
All I knew was that I was kind of looking forward to the weekend. Bring it.
5
TRINSKY
Iwasn’t at my best at midnight after a day of partying, but with the time difference between coasts, the only way to keep my promise to call home was to FaceTime Eddie before bed. Either that, or try him at ridiculous o’clock in the morning. Eddie wouldn’t mind. He was generally easygoing and…he was an early riser.
A bus came by my mom’s Hermosa Beach house every day at eight a.m. to pick him up for school or summer camp or whatever activities his part-time caregiver advised. Mom always offered to take him on her way to her office in Orange County, but Eddie loved the bus.
It was a sweet, familiar routine. Lou, the driver, greeted him with a secret handshake and his friends, Anthony and Sarah, always saved him a seat. They took the same route and talked about nice things, like horses, funny movies, and foods they liked.