Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
He sighs. “Yeah, and I want to apologize. So can I come tonight?”
I eye him carefully, but I see nothing but regret and genuine sorrow on his face. “Yeah, man. You’re welcome to come. You’re always welcome to come. Just don’t fuck with Briar or Harley. Or Penny or Griffin. Or my parents. Or probably any of the guys’ women.” I pause, thinking to make sure I covered everyone. “But yeah, you can come.”
He swallows as though asking was the hardest thing he’s ever done. Fuck, it might be.
“Thanks.”
I feel it—the official start of phase two of my work here. Which will have to continue after we beat the Hawks.
And later, I’m gonna ask Briar why she didn’t tell me about Anderson’s cruel play. Though I already know the answer—she didn’t believe him.
She trusted me because she loves me. And I love her.
As I skate around, warming up, I find her and Harley sitting with the rest of my family. “Hey!” I shout, but her eyes are already mine. She waves both hands at me, her smile wide. “I love you!”
“Love you, too, Albie!”
“Who’s Albie?” I see my mom ask, her brows wrinkled in confusion.
Penny laughs, telling Mom, “I’ll explain later.”
They don’t get it, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that Briar and I understand the importance of patience. And most of all, we understand how precious our love is, how special our family is.
This is my home now, here with Briar and Harley and with the Blizzard, and I couldn’t be happier.