Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“What the hell?” I whisper when I see that my phone has blown up. Thirty-six texts? Did someone die?
“What. The. Fuck,” Eddie says way too loud for an office. His shocked head pops up over my computer screen. “Sebastian Kemp?! You’re engaged to Sebastian fucking Kemp?!”
“What?”
“I’ve listened to you ramble on for hours about fucking puppies yet you don’t mention the one interesting thing about your life?! You’re engaged to The Sniper?! I didn’t even know you knew Sebastian Kemp!”
“I knew him in high school…”
“Does he have the Stoney Cup at his house?”
“He was my best friend’s older brother, but I haven’t—”
“Holy shit, it’s your house! You have the Stoney Cup at your house?! Can I come over for dinner?”
“Wait,” I say when my mind stops glitching. “Did you say engaged?”
He grabs his monitor and yanks it around, spilling his coffee, but this time, he doesn’t even attempt to clean it.
“Look!”
My mouth drops when I see what he’s talking about. It’s a tabloid site with my name on it.
Hockey Superstar Sebastian Kemp Engaged to Hometown Honey, Alina Hoover.
It’s not just my name. My picture is up there too. The one from my Facebook profile.
My muddled brain tries to piece it all together, but nothing is clicking into place. All I can do is stare at the screen with my mouth hanging open like a drowning fish.
“It doesn’t make any sense…” I whisper as I stare at the letters that are no longer forming words. The entire article is filtering through my muddled brain and coming out a mess.
“Wait,” I say, narrowing my eyes on Eddie. “Is this one of those mean YouTube pranks that are supposed to be funny, but are just cruel?”
“Can you get me tickets to a game?” Eddie says, staring at me in awe. “Front row or in an exclusive box?”
My phone vibrates on my desk and I nearly jump out of my skin. It’s my best friend (and Sebastian’s younger sister) Marie.
Now I know this is no prank. Marie would never call unless it was an emergency. If she’s calling over texting, it’s life and death.
“Alina!” she screeches when I pick up. “What is happening?! You’re engaged to my brother?!”
“I… I…” I don’t know what the hell is going on. It’s like someone took my life and shook it up like a snow globe. I’m still trying to catch up.
“We’re not engaged,” I say, trying to keep my shaky voice all calm. “It’s a mistake.”
“It’s on every news channel,” Marie shouts. “How did this happen? Are you two dating behind my back?”
“No! I haven’t seen your bother in eight years.”
The last time I saw Sebastian was at my high school graduation. He had just signed with the Eels and was about to move to Miami. He barely looked at me the entire night.
The receptionist Jane pops back in with red cheeks. She’s looking a little out of breath. “Alina!” she says with a big smile. “Sebastian Kemp is here to see you.”
“He’s here?!” me, Marie, and Eddie all say at the same time.
“Congratulations by the way,” Jane says. “He’s so hot.”
Jane rushes back out to get him.
“I gotta go,” I say to Marie. I’m feeling very flustered. Sebastian Kemp is here? The biggest crush of my life is here? At my office? Wanting to talk to me?
I need a second to breathe.
“Don’t you dare hang up with me,” Marie barks. “Put me on speakerphone.”
“Marie, I don’t think—”
“He’s my brother! Put me on speakerphone. I know he’s got his dirty hands all over this!”
“Alright, alright,” I say as I push the button.
“I’m so sorry about this, Alina,” Marie says, her loud voice filling my whole office. “I’m going to kill my brother.”
I stand up with my hands trembling and turn to Eddie. “Can you give us a minute of privacy?”
“Not a chance,” he says as he fixes his tie.
“Oh fuck,” I whisper as I fix myself up—my hair, my shirt, and—I swear I’ve never done this before—my boobs.
I stare at the door with my heart pounding as the unrequited love of my life makes his way down the hall.
Chapter Three
Alina
Wow.
That word repeats over and over in my head as Sebastian Kemp walks down the hall in slow motion. At least, that’s how it feels.
The last time I saw him, he was still a boy. He’s all man now.
And he’s stunning.
Jane is talking up a storm, distracting him as he walks.
I take the opportunity to check him out. My breath stalls as I look him up and down. He’s not just hot, he’s stylish too with designer everything—dark jeans, light blue button-up shirt, brown blazer. Designers around the world probably send him clothes in droves hoping he wears something of theirs. I wouldn’t blame them either. This man is a walking billboard. He’s gorgeous.
Tall, muscular, and he moves with the lithe agility of a predator cat. I guess some things never change.