Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Yes, please,” I answer him and move out of the way so he can come in. The huge brown box is so big I don’t know how he’s carrying it. He places it on the dining table and then looks at me.
“It’s not heavy, just big,” he says, nodding and then walking out. What in the world could it be? I think to myself. My name is written on the top of the box, so I pick up the cover and put it aside.
A white envelope sits on the top of the white tissue paper. I turn it over in my hand and pull out the card.
Vivienne,
I went to bed with your scent on my pillow and have thought of nothing else since. Have dinner with me under the sea.
I promise not to bite unless you ask me to.
Markos
I smile and laugh at the same time and put the card to the side. Opening the white tissue paper, I laugh even louder. In the boxes are stuffed animals. A baby octopus in blue, an otter, a whale, a penguin, a sloth, and then at the bottom what looks like a huge shark. I pull it out and see a ribbon tied with a small card attached to it.
I’ll pick you up at eight.
Call me now.
Markos
I sit down in the chair, looking at all of this, and I know it’s a bad idea. Even getting up and walking to the phone, I know I shouldn’t call him because it’s just setting me up for the fall, even if it’s just a little fall. But something stronger is taking over, and it’s that same force that makes me pick up my phone and text him.
Me: I’ll be ready.
Chapter Ten
Mark
“I want to bring the fucking cup back.” Matthew sits at the head of the table during the meeting. I lean back in the chair and take a drink of my protein shake. I woke up this morning before my alarm and took advantage of it by getting to the rink early and working out before our ten a.m. meeting with the coaching staff and the top players on the team.
“I think we have all the pieces.” Max was the scouting agent and is now the assistant to the GM, Matthew. My eyes go to Viktor, the newest player to be acquired and while in rehab, no less. I don’t know his story, and I also will not ask him for his story. If he wants to tell me, he will. If not, then so be it.
“I agree,” Evan, our captain, says. He’s been our captain for the past two seasons, signing the day Matthew and Max retired. It was Matthew’s first big deal. He’s the best that there is, so it was no surprise that Matthew made him an offer when his contract was up with Dallas. It also helped that his sister was dating him. “Our defense is good, but it has to be better.” He looks at the coaching staff, and they nod their heads at him. “We also need to be on the puck more and work on the turnovers in the neutral zone.” He taps the table with his finger. “We need to work on keeping the pucks for this guy.” He motions with his head.
“I need backup,” I finally say, and all eyes turn to me. “Not going to lie, the last year was tough with no backup goalie you trust. I get it, the kid was young, but you need to know once you get between those pipes, you leave everything at the door.” I take another drink. The kid we had last year played with his heart on his sleeve. If he came in and had a fight with his girlfriend, we knew he wouldn’t play worth a shit. It sucked because I also needed a break once in a while. “A second goalie I can count on in case anything happens.”
“I agree,” Matthew says, and Max nods.
Coach Scott now speaks up. “That is why you aren’t playing preseason games.” I look at him, raising my eyebrows. “I mean, maybe a home game so the fans can get a taste, but other than that, I want to test what we have, and we need you on the sidelines to help.” I just nod at him. The rest of the meeting is more of the same, and it’s over by ten thirty. I get up and nod at everyone, walking out and taking my phone out of my pocket. She hasn’t called, but I’m not surprised. She’s going to make me work for it. My whole bed still smells like her, haunting me almost.
I pull out my contacts and start making a plan. The phone rings twice, and then he picks up. “Mr. Dimitris.” His smooth voice comes out. “What can I help you with on this beautiful day?”