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)
Heat works its way into my cheeks. “That’s some bullshit.” I do vaguely remember trying to huff Catalina.
“Essie and Bea were talking about how cute you are when you’ve overindulged on antihistamines.”
“I have never been cute a day in my life,” I grouse.
He ignores me and turns to Dad. “How are things with Sophia?”
“Good.” His smile softens. “Great, actually. She’s a lot of fun. Smart, ambitious, patient.”
And young. At least I think it and don’t say it.
“She came to one of my university games last week,” Brody says.
“She likes hockey?” Tristan asks.
“She went to a lot of Hockey Academy stuff out in Pearl Lake because her best friend is married to Maverick Waters,” Brody explains. Maverick and Lavender are the kids of hockey legend Alex Waters.
“Nate and I will have to come to one so we can support you and get to know Sophia better,” Tristan tells them. “Right, Nate?”
“Yeah, for sure.” My stomach turns a little. I really hope this thing with my dad and Sophia doesn’t go sideways, because Brody seems like he’s getting attached.
I try to stay engaged while Brody and Chase talk about the awesome time they’re having at the Hockey Academy this summer, but my mind drifts to Essie. I keep trying to pinpoint the moment it stopped being about just sex and became something else. It’s been happening for a while, I decide. The woman I’ve gotten to know is still fairy-tale obsessed, but she’s so much more than that. She loves with her whole heart. Even after I ghosted her all those years ago, she never stopped being nice to me. What if she could love me? What if I could love her? Would she be willing to try?
Sam pulls the boat into a slip at the pier. From across the bay, the cliffs don’t look like much, but this close, the height makes me nauseous.
Isaac hops out of the boat and ties us off, and we all file onto the pier. Sam and Isaac are unreasonably excited about the prospect of jumping off a steep cliff into the churning waters below.
“That’s quite the drop,” Tristan observes.
“There are several levels,” Sam informs us. “It’s a bit of a climb to the top, but totally worth the rush.”
Tristan rubs the back of his neck. “Not to pass on a good time, but Bea would be pretty pissed if I ended up with broken body parts the day before the wedding.”
“Come on, Tris.” Brody nudges him. “Bea won’t mind.”
“Pretty sure she would.”
A guy jumps off the top and flails his way to a belly flop.
We cringe when he slaps the water, but Sam and Isaac clap and cheer.
“As the best man, it would be in my best interest to stay down here and watch you guys have a good time.” I don’t care if I get razzed. “I’ve already been stung by a family of jellyfish. I don’t need to tick any more injury boxes.”
“I’ll stay back with these two.” Dad pats me and Tristan on the shoulders.
“You two still in?” Isaac points at Brody and Chase.
“Absolutely!” Chase is all balls, zero brains, apparently.
Brody looks slightly unsure but still gives the guys a thumbs-up.
Chase snaps a selfie, sends it to someone—probably Cammie—and hands his phone to my dad. Brody does the same.
Sam slaps his palms together. “All right, let’s do this.”
He strides down the dock, Isaac beside him, while Brody and Chase rush to keep up. They reach the zigzagging staircase leading to three jump points.
“They’ll go all the way to the top,” Tristan mutters.
“Yup, and I’m happy to watch that happen from down here.” I heard about Dallas’s day-long excursion with those two that nearly killed him when he started dating Hemi.
“Those two are intense,” Dad observes.
“They’re actually pretty laid-back today,” Tristan replies.
“Huh. That’s…something else,” Dad muses.
“Yeah. Here’s hoping Brodes and Chase make it out alive.” Tristan doesn’t seem all that worried as he points to a restaurant with a view of the cliffs. “Let’s grab a beer and watch the adventure unfold.”
CHAPTER 25
NATE
We find a table and order a round of drinks. From where we’re seated, Sam and Isaac are dots leading the way up the never-ending stairs to doom. Chase and Brody are already lagging.
“You seem level, Tristan,” Dad notes after the server drops off our beers.
“Yeah. Getting Bea to take some time off before the wedding to relax has been great for both of us. I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’m so ready to make Bea my wife and start this life with her.” Tristan taps on the table. “I mean, I know we’re already doing that since we live together, but getting married makes it feel…more permanent. Like we’re making that commitment not just to each other, but to everyone we care about.”
Dad smiles. “Rix is good for you. You’re the happiest I’ve seen you since…well, in a long, long time.”