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)
“I think you’re out of luck.” Denny chuckled. “Are you in a hurry, Jake?”
“Nope, I can wait.”
“Cool.” Denny bent to kiss his grandmother’s cheek. “I’m off to the rink after this. Stay out of trouble, Grams.”
“Now what fun will that be?” Annie huffed, “I’m going to steal a few cookies from Penny for my new neighbor, then go home to soak my head.”
Denny narrowed his eyes in what looked like a silent warning. “Grams…”
“What? I didn’t spill any beans.” She made a button lip gesture.
I waited till Denny was out of earshot. “Got any secrets to share, Mrs. Mellon?”
“Darn tootin’ I do. And it’s a good one.” Annie’s lips twisted in amusement as she fanned herself with a kerchief. “Christ, it’s hotter than blue blazes out here. Tis the season for stinky pits and perfume coverups.”
She launched into a colorful story about almost passing out in the church pew next to a stinky old fart from Fallbrook who’d doused himself in a gallon of cheap cologne. This was Annie. She called out bad habits and faux pas as she saw them. And though I had no idea who she was talking about, she was right about the weather.
It was fucking hot.
At nine a.m., I was already looking forward to the refrigerated chill of the El Rink. It would be a welcome respite from the summer heat wave currently plaguing the Four Forest area.
“You could fry an egg on zee sidewalk,” JC agreed in his Quebecois accent, swiping his forearms across his brow as he stepped outside of Rise and Grind, holding the door for Smitty and Nathan. “I should try that at zee diner. Save on energy bills, yes?”
Smitty chuckled. “The rink is the place to be. Think we have room for these two in one of our camp groups, Jake?”
I sipped my iced coffee, thoughtfully eyeing Crabby Annie and Elmwood’s famous chef.
“We’ll make room,” I replied. “How’s your wrist shot, Mrs. Mellon?”
“I don’t shoot anything but tequila these days,” Annie quipped, then toddled down Main Street.
“I like her style.” JC inclined his head. “Come by the diner after camp, Nathan. I’m trying a new chocolate milkshake…with fried eggs straight from zee sidewalk.”
Nathan giggled. “Ew.”
Smitty waved to JC and squeezed Nathan’s shoulder as he stepped away from the awning. “Ready, partner?”
My little brother was about to embark on his first PeeWee session, and according to Smitty and my dad, Nathan had been uncharacteristically quiet this morning. Smitty thought arriving early to run a few drills before the day started might help.
Nathan tightened the death grip on his stick and leaned against his dad. “Are you coming, Jake?”
“You go ahead. I’m gonna wait for Denny.”
“We could wait with you too.”
I kneeled on the sidewalk and cupped his chin. “Hey, what’s up? Are you nervous about going to the next level?”
Nathan chewed his bottom lip. “A little. I was supposed to do PeeWees next summer. Not now.”
“That’s totally normal, but Coach thinks you’re ready, and you are. Remember, you have a big advantage here over the other kids. This is your town, and that’s your ice, Nathan.”
“I know, but Teddy What’s-his-face is a PeeWee, and he’s faster than me,” he grumbled.
I hid my smile. “What’s-his-face” was Nathan’s version of Teddy Fuckface, a sure sign my little bro was unraveling. “I don’t know about that, but the only way to fix it is to practice. So…get to the rink and put your skates on. I’ll race with you as soon as I get there. Sound good?”
Nathan bobbed his head enthusiastically. “Yes.”
I held my hand up for a high five. “Later, Nath.”
Smitty nudged my elbow and tipped his ball cap in wordless thanks. “See you there.”
I glanced through the coffee shop’s window to check Denny’s progress in line and pulled out my cell, returning to my earlier text thread with Trinsky. He’d sent a selfie with yet another box of Cinnamon Pop-Tarts just as I’d placed my order with Ivan, captioned, I told you this shit rocks.
I’d snickered at Trinsky’s goofy expression, but with Smitty and Nathan on either side of me and JC behind me in the queue, I hadn’t had a chance to respond.
So now, I held up my iced coffee and snapped a quick pic of my to-go cup. This is the true breakfast of champions.
Did you get a scone too?
No, I had eggs and fruit at home. I’m saving my pig out calories for a shake at the diner later, I typed. Chocolate chocolate chip.
You suck.
I do.
Trinsky sent a laughing emoji. Take a selfie.
Why? You know what I look like.
Yeah, but what do you look like holding iced coffee?
I cast a quick glance around, then took the world’s fastest selfie and pushed Send. Here you go, weirdo.
You’re kinda hot.
I blushed. And I should not be fucking blushing on Main Street. I’m very hot…and sweaty. But I’m heading to the rink now to meet my new group of Juniors. AC for the win.