Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“I’m not interested in meeting any girls right now,” I replied. “That includes socialites.”
“Don’t be a smartass. You’re not going to play hockey forever. You need a good woman by your side,” my father insisted.
I was pretty sure he married my mom because he liked having her on his arm and she cooked and cleaned for him. But I wasn’t going to say that to his face. Lunch already felt long enough.
“Well, I just started college, so I have plenty of time before I graduate to find the right one,” I told him before jabbing at a piece of chicken to bring it to my mouth.
“Don’t get too caught up in the one. Find someone who respects you and your goals. She has to support you,” my father said.
Of course, it had to be all about finding a girl who put me first. I didn’t need someone to worship the ground I walked on or lost themselves in trying to please me. I wanted someone who was their own person who just wanted to share their life and future with me. Who was my partner no matter what.
But my family didn’t understand that. Truth and passion probably weren’t in their vocabulary, but it was what I wanted from the relationship that was meant to be for me.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied, not wanting to argue and prolong this conversation. At the end of the day, I knew that it wouldn’t go anywhere because my father was convinced that every move he made was the best one, and he expected me to follow in his footsteps.
I would rather go the complete opposite way if possible, but the team needed support. The team needed me to keep on good terms with my father, so that was what had to be done.
Chapter 9
Leah
“If you need a shoulder to cry on after the tournament, you can always find me.”
I turned in my seat to see Stephen leaning over the top with an amused grin on his face.
Tension was at an all time high as both hockey teams got settled on the bus that would take us all to Denver for the tournament. We played in separate divisions, men’s and women’s, but it was like we were playing each other, trying to outdo the other team. We both worked hard to get to this point. Now, bragging rights were in the mix of what we were fighting to achieve.
Before I could say anything, Stephen looked over at Naomi, who sat beside me, and winked at her.
“Your friend too,” he said.
With a flustered face and an annoyed huff, Naomi tore her eyes away from him and looked out of the bus window instead.
Evidently, Stephen was a known player. Girls tried to hit him up all the time, but he turned down every single one of them. I suspected that he just wanted to hook up and move on to the next.
“Even if it’s tears of joy?” I asked with a wry look on my face. My eyes swept over his dirty blonde hair and how a few strands fell against his forehead above noticeably green eyes. He definitely looked like a player. Hot and unattainable.
Stephen smirked and patted my shoulder, his fingertips lingering on the back of my neck under my ponytail. He leaned down closer to me.
“The only way you’ll cry tears of joy is when you’re in my bed,” he replied.
I swallowed hard as my mouth went dry. Those little comments the guys made frustrated me in more ways than one. I didn’t want to seem affected, which meant I had to hit back.
“Must suck to have girls come in and out of your bed so often. No reason for them to stay, huh?” I asked, earning a few laughs from my teammates who overheard.
Stephen’s smirk evaporated, his jaw tensing. He wasn’t amused any longer.
“Who says I want them to?” he replied before drawing away to sit next to Anthony, his gaze moving to the window.
Anthony looked over at me, his eyes dark and focused. Something about being under his gaze did something to me, even if we were at odds. He didn’t want us to be on this bus with his team, but we were all stuck together whether we wanted to be or not.
I turned and stared straight ahead at the back of the seat in front of me, trying not to look as flushed as I felt in front of Naomi. I couldn’t let anyone know that the guys on the men’s hockey team so easily worked me up with words, looks, and touches. Or a combination of those.
It felt like I was betraying my team every time my heart sped up or my cheeks reddened. I should’ve just been aggravated, but I was fired up in more ways than one when it came to them. My fantasies always ran rampant, throwing me in impossible, twisted scenarios that made my stomach tighten.