Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
We step inside and the noise and warmth close around us, the night officially underway. We’re led to the private dining room, paneled in dark wood with soft mood lighting. Round tables are set up, eight seatings per, with crisp linen and sparkling crystal. There’s a bar at the far end of the room, and it looks like all the players, coaches and staff are here. There are a handful of wives and SOs, but not many made the trip. They hardly ever do, most having obligations back home that don’t allow them to fly around the country to cheer on their guys.
Cherry, of course, is everywhere. Dressed in a form-fitting, deep purple leather dress with black spiky boots, she looks both sexy and fashionable. Her hair and makeup are done to perfection and diamonds wink at her ears, neck and wrist. She’s definitely enjoying the fruits of having a rich hockey husband.
She floats from table to table, wineglass in hand, touching arms, laughing too loud, making sure everyone knows this was her idea. Her Wildfire Family Collective may be new, but she’s treating it like she’s been running these things for years.
But that’s about as interested as I am in her, and my gaze sweeps the room. As if drawn by a magnet, I spot Juno.
She’s near the far wall with Evan, camera rigged but unobtrusive, both of them moving like they’ve done this dance a thousand times. She catches my eye, lifts one brow, then gives me a small smile that feels like a tether snapping tight around my ribs.
This road trip has been chaotic, but it’s somehow pulled us closer together. Because Juno and Evan are with us constantly, and she shares my bed at night, we’re spending practically all our time together. Hanging with her and her friends in Los Angeles made it very clear that this is more than a sexual fling. We have a lot in common, not only in our interests, politics and hobbies but in our core values. We both move through this world with a fundamental respect for others, a strong work ethic, and the knowledge that kindness should pave the way to all interactions.
Unless someone throws a cheap shot at me on the ice, then I’m going to drop the gloves and release violence.
“Want a drink?” Arch asks.
“Yeah… grab me a beer,” I say, my eyes still on Juno.
I have the insatiable need to say hello. It’s been an entire hour since I last saw her. While some of my mates went out and explored the city after we got settled into our hotel, I spent the entire afternoon with Juno in bed, and somehow, that wasn’t enough time.
I take two steps to head her way, her eyes locked on mine and her lips starting to curl in appreciation, and then Cherry is right in front of me.
I draw up so as not to barrel into her.
“There you are,” she says brightly, as if we had made solid plans to meet up. “I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”
“I just got here,” I say, smiling politely. I look past her shoulder, see Juno’s eyebrow cocked, a smirk on her face. She knows this is a nightmare for me.
Cherry clocks my attention is not on her and turns that way, following my line of sight straight to Juno. “Always on the job, that one,” she says dismissively. “Although I’m still waiting on her to interview me about the Collective. I really thought she’d jump on that idea, but since we first talked, she’s kind of blowing me off.”
That should be a hint, Cherry.
She turns back to me, Juno forgotten, and steps closer, close enough her perfume overpowers me. She gestures toward the room. “So, what do you think? Did I do a good job?”
There are a million things I want to say, all of them letting her know I don’t give a fuck what she does, but I can’t. I can’t cause any bad vibes on this team, so I play the game. “This is very nice.”
She lifts her wineglass, glancing around the room like she’s taking inventory. “Wait until you see the Halloween party. It will be epic.”
I grunt noncommittally.
“Invitations are going out tomorrow,” she adds, like it’s an afterthought. “I really hope you’ll come.”
“Maybe… depends on my schedule.”
She smiles, eyes narrowing a touch. “Of course. The guys are already buzzing about it.” A pause. “Remember that year you and I went as Bonnie and Clyde?”
My jaw tightens.
“God, that was the best,” she says lightly. “You hated the hat, but you wore it anyway. Everyone talked about us for weeks.”
“That was a long time ago,” I say evenly.
“Sure,” she agrees, unfazed. “Still… fun to remember.”
“I guess.”
Cherry’s eyes go frosty, narrowing at me. “You know, I’m trying to let bygones be bygones.”