Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“Oh.”
I guess I’ll find out soon enough how she’s doing, but as I walk, I silently hope she’s doing well. One of the girls I went to med school with was diagnosed while we were there. She went through surgeries and chemo and never quit school. Thankfully, she’s doing well now. Last time I asked, she said her margins were clear and she’s working with cancer patients.
We check in at the door, Lachlan gives the woman an envelope he had folded in his pocket, and we’re let inside. It’s a buffet and the room is set up beautifully with pink flowers on each table. A man who must be one of the hockey players walks toward us with a huge smile on his face.
“Lach,” he says, stretching his hands and hugging him with a loud pat on the back. “Thanks for being here, man. Morgan will appreciate it.”
“Of course.” Lach smiles. “How’s she doing?”
“Amazing,” the guy says, grinning as he delivers the news, “She just got clear scans. She’s. . .healthy.”
“Fuck, that’s amazing.” Lach gives him a side hug and a pat on the back.
The guy finally looks at me and smiles, extending his hand to me. “Gunner.”
“Lyla,” I say with a smile. His eyes widen, as he looks from me to Lach and back to me. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m so happy to hear your wife is doing well. I can’t even imagine what you guys went through.”
“Thank you.” He keeps the smile on his face and my hand in his, as he looks at Lach again for some kind of confirmation. When he looks at me again, he smiles wider as he drops my hand. “Welcome to the Lightning Family.”
“Uh. . .thanks.” I guess. I don’t add that part because this is awkward enough.
He tells us about the breakfast and to help ourselves; we thank him and start walking away. Obviously, Lachlan’s told them about me. God knows what he said. Probably that I’m a huge bitch who abandoned him. We speak to Gunner’s wife, Morgan, who’s the biggest sweetheart. The rest of the time, Lach does most of the talking. He introduces me as his girlfriend, which is a little far-fetched. Then again, I’m technically his fiancée. He’s talking to some of his teammates when my stomach starts growling and I excuse myself. I’m about to grab a plate when a very familiar voice says my name, and I turn around to face Mason. My jaw drops and I get out of the line as he walks over.
“Today must be Fairview reunion day,” he says as he envelopes me in a hug and lifts me in his arms. I smile as he sets me down. “How the hell have you been?” he asks, giving me a once-over. “You look. . .well, incredible, like always.”
“Thanks.” I smile. “How are you doing? Do you still play?”
He shoots me a faux-dirty look. “I’m wounded that you don’t know the answer to that.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t watched a hockey game in three years,” I say. He grabs my hand and pulls me further away from the line so we have some privacy to speak.
“Last I heard, you disappeared,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. . .I guess I’m back?” I say, then laugh. “I don’t know what’s happening. One minute, I’m in Rhodes living day-to-day, and the next, Lachlan shows up and, well, brings me here.”
“He never stopped talking about you,” he says with a laugh. “I mean, ever.”
I don’t know what to make of that. I bite my lip and glance away, my gaze clashing with Lachlan’s on the other side of the room. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. He doesn’t seem upset at all by my interaction with Mason, though, which is nice.
I look at Mason again. “How’d you end up playing on the same team?”
“Crazy, right?” His brows shoot up. “He dropped way down in the draft and ended up near me. He was picked up by them, and shortly after, I was traded over. It’s been nice.”
“I bet.”
“What about you? Did you go back to soccer?” he asks. “Or med school. It was med school you’d applied to, right?”
“Yep. I finished recently. I’m about to start a residency program in a week.”
“Holy shit.” His brows shoot up. “So this is. . .what is this?” he asks, and I know he’s talking about Lach.
“I honestly don’t know.” I glance over at Lach again, and find him still watching me.
“That man. . .” He shakes his head. “Let’s just say the entire fucking team knows your full name.”
“I don’t even know what to make of that,” I say quietly.
He shrugs, looking away for a moment. “I wish he hadn’t retired.”
“Me too,” I say. “He was born to be on the ice.”