Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“I’m not a billionaire,” I counter. “And I’m trying my hardest.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Your dad is. Same thing.”
“Still, it’s not my money.”
Most of the time I pretend as though it doesn’t even exist. Money complicates things. It’s never been important to my parents, even though they have it, and they instilled that into me. My dad always says we should live as if the money could disappear tomorrow. Sure, he has an enormous house and expensive cars and gadgets, but he doesn’t live too lavishly.
Preston closes the distance between us and extends his hand to me. “C’mon, let’s get a drink.”
“You?” I shoot him a confused expression. “After all the shit you’ve given Tucker about drinking.”
He chuckles. “I just like breaking his balls.”
“I could use a drink,” I say, getting up from the chair. “Or two. I need to clear my head.”
Preston taps me on the back. “It’ll all work out, J. It always does.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
My dad is losing his company.
Shannon hates my guts.
And somehow, Cece is at the heart of everything. I just need to figure out the missing piece.
Chapter Sixteen
Jamie
As if my life falling apart isn’t enough, Trent has just informed all of us that his girlfriend, Jemma, is pregnant. We sit in the living room staring at him like he has ten heads. I think I might hallucinate because there’s no way Trent would make this big of a mistake.
“Pregnant,” Drake mutters. “Is it yours?”
Trent nods. “Yeah.”
Drake crosses his arms over his thick chest and nods. “Didn’t Tuck’s hookup with her?”
“That was an accident,” Trent shoots back, his mouth twisted in anger. “And it was only a kiss.”
“Just sayin’,” Drake says. “It might not be yours.”
Trent shakes his head, annoyed, blowing out a puff of air.
“We’re going out.” Tucker slaps Trent on the back. “We need to get this guy drunk. He’s gonna be a baby daddy.”
Trent snickers, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.
I’d have the same reaction if Cece or Shannon hit me with this news. We’re so close to graduation and about to win another championship, so the timing couldn’t be worse.
“Strip club?” Tucker asks the group.
We mutter in agreement, and slowly, the vibe in the room changes.
Two hours later, we’re in a private room at the back of Scores, a sports-themed strip club. I look over at my friends on the couches next to me, realizing this is our last year together. Nights like this will be in the past after we graduate. Everything is changing.
Trent is having a baby.
The Queen’s still out there.
My family is losing our freedom.
I have to choose a path I’m not sure I want to pursue.
Soon, Trent will have a baby running around. We’ll all be in different cities, playing for different teams, and against each other—if we’re all lucky enough to get drafted into the NHL.
A girl climbs onto my lap, and when she rocks her hips back and forth, shaking her tits in my face, I couldn’t care less. Everything feels numb. It’s like my body is here, but my mind is somewhere else. Even with all the naked girls dancing around me, one rubbing against my cock, I still can’t get hard. Not that I want to. This stripper does nothing for me.
She doesn’t have Shannon’s green eyes or long dark hair. This girl has a deep shade of auburn and looks more like Trent’s girl. There’s not a single bit of the woman who occupies my thoughts in this girl.
Preston’s next to me, ignoring the girl on his lap as he pounds another beer. He doesn’t want to get an earful of shit from Bex for getting a lap dance.
He’s not into it.
Neither am I.
We’re here for Trent, nothing more.
Drake, Tucker, and Trent are on the other side of the room from me with strippers on their laps. I can’t see their faces, the girls blocking them. This is so fucking pointless. None of us even want to be here.
I miss Shannon. I miss having her in my bed, waking up to her making breakfast for the house. We were all getting used to having her around, and now she’s that gone, I realize how much I took her for granted. I should’ve been honest with her from the start. She was right about deserving better, which is why I haven’t chased after her. I’m giving her the space she needs.
I tip the bottle in my hand to my lips and drink the rest of the beer, and then I throw the girl on my lap off me. Because I’m done for the night. I need to go home and figure out how to get my old life back.
Chapter Seventeen
Jamie
Boston College is a hard team to beat. They’re running our asses up and down the ice, forcing my team to step up our game. Preston fights for possession of the puck. He lines his stick up against his opponent’s, taking away his shot. A fight ensues, and Preston exchanges words with Kellan Lehane, a winger for Boston College.