Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“How so?”
“It started with the basic stuff. I liked burgers and fries, and he was more of a steak and potatoes kind of guy. That sounds lame. I know, but he was just a little too much about everything. And he had this weird obsession with hockey.”
“What’s wrong with hockey?”
“Nothing. It’s an amazing sport, and some of the guys are really hot.” I giggled as I added, “But Gary was…”
“Hold up. You married a guy named Gary?” I cocked my brow, and Luke’s lips immediately curled into a mischievous smirk. “Oh, come on. You had to know better than that.”
“He was a nice guy. And he was handsome with a good job and a nice family.”
“And his name was Gary.”
“Are you going to let me finish or not?”
“Yeah, yeah. Tell me more about this hockey obsession.”
“Well, he had his favorite team and players, and that was all fine and good. But he wanted to go to all the games, and I mean ALL of them.”
“Still not seeing a huge issue here.”
“It was a lot. It didn’t matter what we had going on, work or family, he was determined to be there for all the home games and a lot of the away games. And we had to sit right up front, so he could see all the action.”
“Well, the fighting is the best part of hockey.”
“Oh, I agree one hundred percent, but it was all he could talk about.” I gave him a look as I bit my bottom lip. “It was like I wasn’t even there.”
“Yeah, he might’ve taken a bit too far.”
“A little”
“He would never admit it, but I don’t think he knew what to do with me. We were just too different.” Luke leaned down and took another shot, barely missing it. “Don’t get me wrong. He had his little quirks, but he was good to me. He wanted to make me happy, and he did in lots of ways.”
“Seems like you care a lot about ol’ Gary.”
“I do. He’s a good friend, and I think he always will be.”
I know.
This was perfect opportunity for me to warn Luke about his brother.
We were alone.
No one would hear. I could’ve just laid it all out and let him decide his next move. It was the right thing to do. Hell, every instinct I had was screaming at me to just tell him.
But I had Lila Kate to consider.
So, I did the only thing I could.
I kept my mouth shut and prayed that Luke never found out that I’d help put the knife in his back.
After a deep breath, I stepped up and made my shot, and to my utter surprise, the ball sank into the pocket with ease. I jumped up and gasped, “Did you see that?”
“Yeah, you’re getting the hang of it.” He motioned his head toward the table. “Now, do it again. Try the green on the left.”
I was just about to lean in when I heard Davis’s voice boom, “There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Oh.” I leaned my cue against the pool table. “I just stepped out for some air.”
“And ended up in the family room with Luke?” Anger marked his face as he grumbled, “How convenient.”
“Not like that,” Luke interjected. “She was feeling off and stepped outside for some air. I went to check on her, and when it started to snow, I brought her in here. Just giving her some time to decompress.”
“And you time to get in her pants.”
“We were playing pool, Davis, nothing more,” I hissed. “And you’re one to talk. You were too busy talking to your friends to even notice I was gone.”
“I was just having a couple of drinks. Unlike you, I was in a room full of people.”
“I’m not going to argue about this.” I turned to Luke and said, “Thank you for looking out for me and the game of pool. It was nice of you, but I think it’s time for me to call it a night.”
With that, I started for the door. I didn’t get far before Davis rushed up to me and grabbed me by the arm. “Just wait a goddamn minute.”
“What’s the point?” I glanced back at Luke, and he was pretending to put away our pool cues. “This isn’t working.”
“I don’t know,” he whispered. “I think it’s working just like I thought it would.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
He pulled me into the hall before whispering, “He’s into you.”
“He’s just being nice.”
“No, he wants in your pants. He always has.” He inched even closer. “I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist a chance to hit it.”
“Wait.” I clenched my jaw. “That’s why I’m here?”
“Well, yeah. The dipshit has always had a soft spot for you. Hell, he used to talk about you all the time. I knew it’d fuck him up to think you were with me, and I was right.”