Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Still, I hedge. “That doesn’t sound like a very normal, average guy-type date.”
Lucky chuckles. “I think you and I both know very well that I’m never going to be average or normal. But you also said you could accept that about me.”
“That’s true,” I murmur, and somehow, my finger is twirling my hair again. Fuck it. I leave it there and decide to negotiate. “I’ll come, but only if I can bring my friend Kelsey again.”
“Done,” he says before I get the last word out. “But it won’t be considered one of our dates since you’re bringing a friend.”
I grin maniacally, glad he can’t see my face. That was exactly my thinking too. “That’s fair,” I concede, although I’m happy he walked into my trap.
“Awesome.” His voice lowers slightly. “It might not be a date, but I’m still going to kiss you.”
My finger twirls harder. “Looking forward to it.”
CHAPTER 16
Winnie
Kelsey and I are halfway through a pretzel the size of a dinner plate when the third period ends. And just like that, the Titans lose.
The crowd doesn’t exactly go silent—it’s still Pittsburgh—but the energy dips. People start filing out with muttered curses and tired shoulders, and on the ice, I watch Lucky skate toward the bench, jaw tight, expression unreadable.
I’ve only ever seen him on winning nights. It hadn’t occurred to me that those charming postgame smiles were only guaranteed with a win and I’m not sure what this means. We hadn’t discussed whether we were going out tonight, win or lose, but right now… nothing seems like a celebration.
Kelsey leans in. “Do you think we’re still meeting up with the team?”
I glance toward the tunnel where the players are filing out, heads bowed and shoulders hunched. “I don’t think so.”
Kelsey’s expression is nothing but disappointment because I know she was looking forward to being drawn into the Titans’ inner sanctum—as was I—but it’s not something I can worry about right now.
Instead, I’m trying to figure out what my place is in all this. I still haven’t been able to define what Lucky and I are to each other. We started out as an experiment, but we’re clearly something more at this point. I’m confused as to what my role should be. Strong, silent supporter or reassuring optimist? And what’s worse, what does Lucky want, regardless of what he needs? Some people don’t take loss well and want to be left alone. Is he one of those types?
The uncertainty of it all has what feels like a black cloud of doom hanging over my head. For the past week, I’ve been riding an adrenaline-buzz high of unlimited possibility in an almost Cinderella-like dream world as the handsome prince looks at me like I am a princess.
“Maybe we should just head out?” she asks, her tone saying she’s as unsure as I feel.
But before I can say anything, a young woman wearing black pants and a purple long-sleeve polo with the Titans’ logo on the breast pocket appears at the end of our row. “Ms. Shaw?”
I blink in surprise. “Um… yeah… that’s me.”
“Mr. Branson asked me to escort you and your friend to the family room.”
Kelsey’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Family room?”
The woman smiles. “It’s where friends and family can wait for the players before and after the game.”
This wasn’t the original plan. We were supposed to meet him over at Mario’s, which is apparently the team’s known hangout that sits adjacent to the arena.
I glance at Kelsey who nibbles at her bottom lip in contemplation. “I’m thinking this feels more like a you and Lucky thing versus a me, you and the Titans team thing.”
She’s not wrong. It’s feeling like that to me too. “Actually, maybe I should head out with you. He probably wants to be alone.”
Kelsey shakes her head. “No way. He invited you to the family room. He’s clearly not going to be up for celebrating. He needs you to be supportive of him.”
I glance at the Titans’ staff person, who has her hands clasped in front of her as she patiently waits. We’re sitting down near the ice, but most of the people in our row filed out while we mulled over how the post-game will look like now that the Titans have lost. “But… you drove.”
“And I’m sure Lucky can take you home,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. She leans in, hugs me hard. “And maybe the type of support you can give him will bring a smile to both your faces.”
I blush as I return her squeeze and then push her away with a chastising look. “Stop it.”
Her return grin is evil, but she nods to the staff person with a dramatic sweep. “I humbly offer up to you for safekeeping this clearly ignorant woman until you can deliver her to the family room.”