Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
He doesn’t tear his eyes away from Essie as he mumbles, “I’ll be right with you,” vaguely in my direction.
Essie glances over her shoulder. “Oh, he’s with me.”
Disappointment flashes across his face, but he plasters on a smile. “Of course. Follow me.”
He guides us to the table where Tristan, Rix, and Flip, my roommate, who is Rix’s older brother and Tristan’s good friend and teammate, are already seated.
Rix gets up to hug me. “Thanks for picking up Ess.”
“No problem,” I lie.
“I could have picked up Essie,” Flip says.
“You were with me on a beverage run. You wouldn’t have had time.” Tristan stands to give me a brotherly back pat as he pulls me in close and whispers, “Everything okay?”
“All good. Just hit traffic.” I slide into the seat next to Essie, which is the only one available.
The server stops at the table and takes our drink order.
“Did you sort everything out?” Essie asks Rix. “Nate said you had some kind of emergency. Was it wedding related? You know you can always offload stuff to me. I’m here to help.”
“It was work related,” Rix explains. “It’s fine now.”
Tristan stretches his arm across the back of her seat. “If it’s too much, you can always reduce your hours, Bea.”
Her full name is Beatrix, and he’s the only one who shortens it to this.
She smiles up at him. “I know. I have it under control.”
He purses his lips. Tristan would love for Rix to quit her job. He and Flip are pro hockey players with the Toronto Terror, our local team, and both have multimillion-dollar contracts. But Rix and Flip grew up in a house where it was tough to make ends meet. Rix is used to taking care of herself financially, and she wants the autonomy, which I can respect, even if it means she’s spread a little thin right now.
She kisses the edge of his jaw. “Put your serious face away. We’re planning all the fun stuff tonight.”
His expression softens. “I can’t wait until you’re my wife.”
“I can’t wait until you’re my husband.”
“You two are so cute!” Essie takes a picture.
“Almost as cute as me, right, Ess?” Flip winks.
Essie laughs and holds her fingers a hairsbreadth apart. “They’re this much cuter than you.”
I try not to let my feelings show, but for some stupid reason, I seriously want to punch Flip in the face.
The server returns with my vodka and soda and Essie’s Aperol spritz.
“We already put in an order for all of our favorites,” Rix informs us.
It’s a tapas-style restaurant, and everything is made for sharing.
Essie’s eyes light up. “Did you get the tempura cauliflower?”
“Of course.” Rix smiles.
“I’m so excited.” Essie does some weird thing with her hands and bumps my arm. Her fingers brush my wrist. “Sorry.” She snatches her hand away. “Okay, should we get down to business?”
“I would get down to business with you any day,” Flip quips.
“Oh my God, stop flirting with my best friend.” Rix flicks his ear.
“You’re marrying mine,” he reminds her, then turns back to Essie.
“Sorry, Flip, but you’re at the bottom of my list.” She flashes him a coy smile.
“Come on, Ess. I’ve changed. You could be the one for me.”
Essie laughs and rolls her eyes. “We all know you prefer blondes.” She pulls a binder and a tablet out of her purse and sets them on the table beside her. She props up the tablet and opens a spreadsheet.
“What is that?” I’m equally thankful that Flip has stopped flirting with her for five fucking seconds and annoyed that I give a shit.
Flip and I have become good friends since I moved into his place last fall, but he’s no better with relationships than I am. I don’t want him making moves on Essie and finding out how good her lips taste.
“It’s how I keep track of everything,” Essie explains. “You have access. Everyone does. I email whenever I update it with pertinent details.”
“Oh.” I pull my phone out and open my personal email, which admittedly, I don’t check as often as I should. I have thirty new emails, four of which are from Essie with spreadsheet updates. I click on one, and the sheet pops up on my phone. It’s color coded, and there are different tabs, sections, and even dropdown menus.
“Should we discuss the bridal shower first? Since that’s next weekend and it’s co-ed?” Essie asks brightly.
“Sounds good,” Rix agrees.
Tristan kisses her temple.
I have no idea what a co-ed bridal shower is, so I keep my mouth shut.
“The whole team has RSVP’d, and almost everyone is bringing a plus-one,” Essie reports. “Kodiak and Lavender send their regrets, but I’m pleased to report that Lavender can make our girls-only party, and they can make the wedding.”
“That’s good news,” Tristan says.
“Lavender is so fun!” Rix is all smiles.
Kodiak Bowman, my brother, and Flip all went to the Hockey Academy together before they turned pro. Kodiak plays for New York now, and they’ve remained friends all these years.