Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Mr. Sniffles rolls his bulbous eyes.
“He is,” I insist. “The grouchy act is a cover for when he feels insecure or unsafe. But deep down, he’s a thoughtful sweetheart who bought you your very own helmet, just so he could drive us home, and opened up in a very vulnerable way about his past.”
My pup still seems unconvinced, so I remind him, “And he bought us tacos.”
He snorts softly, admitting I have a point there, and waddles toward his water bowl in the kitchen while I kick off my shoes and go back to thinking about the kiss.
The kiss…
My stomach flutters again. The way his hand cradled my face, so careful, so gentle, even though he could probably vaporize an apple with a squeeze of his fist. The way kissing him felt just like our conversations—easy and electric, familiar and thrilling, all at the same time.
The way we both lingered after, clearly wanting more time, more connection, and not just in the physical way.
It was the best date I’ve had in years, and I’m already certain I want more. A lot more. Heck, I could see a future where Tank is the person I come home to someday. But is he the kind of guy who dates with an eye to more?
It might feel like I’ve known him for a long time, but the reality is that we’re still strangers in a lot of ways, and that’s something only time will change.
Time or some reconnaissance with a good friend who happens to know both of us very well…
I shouldn’t snoop. I really shouldn’t.
I should take a shower, brush my teeth, and head to bed.
Instead, I open my messages, scroll to Bree’s name and type—
I know you’re in another time zone right now and probably already asleep, but I might have kissed Tank. And it might have been INCREDIBLE. And I might be imagining what our babies will look like and need to be talked down from the edge.
So…any thoughts about that that you’d like to share with the class?
I stare at the message for a moment before hitting send.
Bree will know I’m joking about the babies thing.
Because I am joking about it.
Mostly…
I’m fully expecting not to hear from my early-to-bed bestie until tomorrow, but to my delight, my phone buzzes almost immediately.
From the texts of Sabrina “Bree” Marks
and Stephanie Love
Bree: OMG WHAT?! Details please. ALL of them. I need every last one! How did you even run into him again? At a bar or something? Training camp doesn’t start for a while, right?
Stephanie: He’s actually been taking yoga classes at the studio. To help lower his blood pressure.
Bree: Well, well… Lower his blood pressure, huh? I doubt MAKING OUT WITH HIS TEACHER is going to help with that. And since when do you date students? This is so not like you!
Stephanie: Hey! You’re supposed to be telling me that we’ll be perfect and adorable together. And that I have no reason to worry about him having commitment issues. Not making me feel like a predator.
Bree: Of course, you’re not a predator! Don’t be silly. You’re lovely and kind and the sweetest person I know. I’m sorry, I was just surprised. You’ve always been so insistent about not crossing that line with a student. But you’re both adults—especially Tank. He’s like a cranky old World War II vet trapped in a young man’s body. If he went for a kiss, I’m sure he was well aware of what he was doing and no improper lines have been crossed.
Stephanie: Actually, I went in for the kiss. But he set the stage for it. He heard my car was in the shop and showed up tonight with a sidecar on his Harley so he could drive Mr. Sniffles and me home. He even bought a helmet ahead of time for Mr. Sniffles and everything.
Bree: Oh, wow! That’s so…sweet. I didn’t know Tank had “sweet” in him.
Stephanie: Oh, no. Is he usually a jerk with women? Am I getting love bombed again just when I told Mr. Sniffles that I wasn’t?
Bree: NO! No, no, not at all. I just… Hold on, let me talk to Shane for a second. He knows Tank better than I do, and he’s dying to know what I’m gasping about. Two seconds.
Stephanie: Okay. Thank you. And please, tell him to be honest. It’s not too late for Tank and I to go back to being friends, if that’s the smartest play. I just got Drake the Dreadful out of my life. I don’t need another dramatic situationship right now.
Bree: All right. Shane has weighed in. He is VERY excited about this news! And he thinks you two could be a perfect “opposites are amazing together” fit.
But he does have some concerns…
Stephanie: Uh-oh.
Bree: No, not uh-oh! Just…proceed with care and awareness. Apparently, Tank had a rough childhood, then went through a tragic breakup, and has been pretty closed off to relationships ever since. Then his sister died in a car crash, which was obviously another major blow. And he’s spent a lot of time punishing himself for the mistakes he made in the past and getting kicked out of the NHL the first time. So, yeah… His heart has been roughed up a little. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good heart.