Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Tyler was sniffling next to me.
When the credits rolled across the screen and the theater lights turned on, I patted Tyler’s hand. “You okay?”
“Yep.” He cleared his throat, blinking as if there hadn’t been any tears on his face at all. He stood. “All good. You? You good?”
I took the moment just to appreciate him. “I think you cried more when the family horse died.”
“Oh, God.” He had to turn away before he was composed again. He held up a finger. “She was their family member. She was good. All animals are good and don’t tell me they aren’t.”
My chest filled with tenderness. Well, if I hadn’t known before now, I knew for an absolute certainty now. We’d started for the door where some of the staff members were waiting to come in and clean.
I paused half way there. “Tyler?” My voice was hoarse.
“Yeah?” He threw me a glance, but catching the expression on my face, he wheeled all the way around. “What is it?”
“Ask me again.” Still hoarse.
“Ask you what…” But he stared at me before comprehension flared and his eyes got big. Real big. “Will you marry me?”
My heart was stuck in my throat but I was able to whisper, “Yes.”
78
TYLER
April
The team’s goal was to get into the playoffs when I joined, and tonight, we were going to cement those points to ensure our first place standing for the wild card spot. We were going against St. Louis for that spot. I wanted it. They were playing against Los Angeles tonight and we were playing against Boston, in Boston.
As we filed out on the ice and took up our spots on the line for the national anthem, I stared at the back of Dane’s jersey. Maybe it was karmic that it was his team we were going against. In the months since we last saw him, he and Rain exchanged a few texts. His wife reached out and it was planned after the game to go to his house so Rain could meet her nieces for the first time, officially. I had mixed emotions centering around him. Daniel was a piece of shit. He was never going to change, but Dane was… I didn’t know anymore. He was still an asshole, but he was trying. The jury would be out until after the meeting later tonight. It had to be tonight because we were flying back in the morning. Rain would be on the plane with the team. I floated the idea if she wanted to do the meeting in the morning, take her time, fly back herself or at the very least if Mal would wait and bring her back in his jet but she said no. She wanted me there and since we were so close to playoffs, I needed to be with the team as much as possible.
“You ready for this?” Sunny asked under his breath once the anthem was done and we were in our places.
I met his gaze and held up my glove. “Fuck yeah.”
“We need more points than what St. Louis gets tonight.”
“We’ll get it.”
“Damn right we will.” He hit my glove and moved back for his spot as Dane glided to his spot. The referee moved in and held up the puck. He was looking between us. “You boys ready? No dirty shit, either of you.”
Dane’s cool eyes flicked to mine before bending forward. “Never, Dante.”
The referee scoffed. “Right.”
Whoever they had announcing to play hockey, sounded off and the puck was dropped.
Dane went for it, but I flicked my stick to block him and shot the puck behind me. Ray was there and he quickly sent it sailing to the other side of the ice where our defenseman was, who then sent it to Sunny.
I met him and we went across the blue line together, Sunny pushing the puck forward. We were met by their two defensemen. Sunny passed the puck ahead and around, hoping to sling shot it around the rink to me but I got there at the same time as Dane. We were battling for the puck against the boards now, shoving at each other.
“God. Fuck off,” Dane rasped out, straining against me.
“You fuck off.”
A normal game at this time, we’d be trading worse insults except as I waited to see what else he’d say, I was surprised that was it.
“Is that all? You can’t think of anything more intelligent against me?” I taunted, trying to wedge my skate in between him and the puck. His stick was there, stopping me.
He cursed. “You’re such a pain in the ass. I don’t know what my sister sees in you.”
I laughed, abruptly. “Pretty sure your wife could answer that question.”
“Hey!” He stopped trying for the puck and instead rounded on me. “You don’t talk about my wife.”
I got in his face. “And you can bring up your sister? I’m honestly sick and tired of you and your brother having your round at her.”