Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Tucker and Trent, whom everyone on campus calls the Kane twins, sit next to me at the kitchen table. They’re identical in every way, from their height and build to the dimples in their cheeks. Tucker spikes his blond hair in the front, and Trent’s falls over his forehead. Their hair is the only distinguishing factor, though I could tell them apart if they shaved their heads.
Our fathers are best friends and former teammates. Like Jamie and Preston, we’ve been close since birth. Except for Jamie, all of our fathers were professional hockey players. They played for the Philadelphia Flyers and even won the Stanley Cup together.
We learned how to skate almost as soon as we could walk. And we did it together. Then, when we were old enough, we played hockey for the same team. Our parents made sure of it.
I’ve spent every holiday, birthday, and vacation with Tucker, Trent, Preston, and Jamie. We’re like one big non-related family. But that’s also what makes us formidable opponents on the ice.
After Jamie and Shannon set the last bowls on the table, we dig into the food Shannon prepared. The scent of garlic and spices fills my nostrils. I take it all in, unable to remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal.
Shannon works at a bakery, and after I sink my teeth into the first bite, I can honestly say this girl knows her way around a kitchen. My mom wasn’t much of a cook. We had a personal chef who would make us whatever we wanted to eat. Though, my mom made bacon for me every morning before school. It’s one of the few foods my mom can cook without burning the shit out of it.
My dad said she ruined a lot of meals while they were dating. After they married, he hired Jacque, so we didn’t have to worry about my mom setting the kitchen on fire. I miss having a chef around. And now we’ve gotten a taste of Shannon’s food. None of us will want her to leave. Jamie better not fuck this up.
We need her.
Shoving a heaping forkful of pasta into my mouth, I laugh at the conversation, only catching the tail end of it.
“So, that makes you two like brothers,” Shannon says, pointing her finger between Jamie and Preston.
“Yeah,” Jamie says. “Sort of. We’re all family, like a dysfunctional family.”
I snort at his comment. “Speak for yourself.”
Shannon glances around the table at each of us. “That’s cool. You all knew each other before you came to Strick U. It must make it easier for you to play hockey together.”
“I don’t know about all that,” I say, just to give the guys a hard time.
Jamie rolls his eyes at me.
“It’s an advantage we have over other teams.” Preston sounds like our team captain. He loves bossing all of us around. “Coaches have a hard enough time getting all the egos to play together,” he adds.
“We fight all the time,” Tucker says.
“True,” Preston counters. “But we don’t stay mad at each other for long.”
I can’t help but laugh, seeing this as the perfect opportunity for another stupid remark. Anything to annoy Preston. “I just beat the bitchassness out of you.”
“You wish.” Preston moves his finger toward his chest, staring me down. “Come at me, bro. Let’s see how tough you are.”
I shake my head, entertained by his proposal. Preston knows I would kick his ass. Built like my dad, I’m close to seven feet tall. Well over five inches taller than everyone at the table, my arms and legs are thick and corded with muscle. None of them could take me, even if they tried. But I wouldn’t mind seeing them attempt it.
Trent holds out his hand to silence me. “I’m hungry. Would you two stop measuring dicks until after we eat?”
“Are you planning to make this a regular thing?” Tucker asks Shannon with a mouth full of food. “I could get used to this.”
“Me, too,” the rest of us mutter in unison.
I hope Jamie doesn’t fuck this up with Shannon. This is the best food I’ve eaten in a long time. We could use a woman’s touch. Jamie and Preston do most of the cleaning in the house, so they have that covered. But neither of them can make more than macaroni and cheese.
“Wanna play Mage Wars after we eat?” Preston asks Jamie. “I’m finally out of level twenty-five. That one was such a bitch.”
I’m one of the few people alive who’s not obsessed with the video game world Jamie’s dad created. Jamie’s the son of a tech billionaire. Yep, that’s billion with a ‘b.’ His family has more money than all of us put together. And somehow, he’s the most down-to-earth.
“Oh, I love that game,” Shannon says, shocking everyone at the table.
Few girls like video games. I wonder if she’s full of shit and only trying to impress Jamie.