Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“I did no such thing.”
“Su-re,” he drawled. “Then why was yours so nice?”
“You only think that because yours was more…childlike in its enthusiasm.”
Ty narrowed his eyes playfully. “Fair. When I was a kid, we used to make root beer floats and sundaes for special occasions, like good grades or a hat trick. If one of us did something noteworthy, we all got in on the action. My folks said it was important to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. We went along with it for the ice cream. They were like, ‘Yay, Meg got an A on her Social Studies final,’ and we’d rub our grubby hands together and say, ‘Well done, Sis. We’re gonna wreck that motherfuckin’ tub of vanilla.’ ”
I barked a laugh. “How supportive of you.”
“You know it.”
“Are you close to your siblings?”
Ty nodded. “Yeah, my whole family is tight. We’re close in age, and we were sort of raised as teammates. We were taught to be supportive and look out for each other.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yeah, it is. Now, we’re all over the country. My sister Meg lives in Baltimore with her husband and their two kids, Callie’s a hockey coach at Northwestern. She got engaged last summer, and Jade is in Australia on a work visa. My brothers are in college. Evan is at Penn and Lyle is a freshman at UCLA. I’m the only one who’s still close to home. I mean, Utica isn’t around the corner, but my folks can come to a few games and I can visit them or—” Ty shook his head in disbelief. “Okay…wow.”
I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
He scrubbed his eyes and laughed. “This is new. I can’t believe I’m lying next to a really hot guy with my dick out…talking about my family.”
I chuckled. “I don’t mind.”
“If you met those weirdos you would,” he snarked without heat, swinging his long legs off the side of the bed. “I should get going anyway.”
A better host might have gotten up and shown his guest out, but he was moving quickly now and I was happy to sit back and enjoy the view.
Ty stepped into his boxer briefs and wriggled into his jeans while I shamelessly drank in all that masculine beauty. Yes, we’d loosely agreed we were both interested in a repeat, but the logistics seemed contrived unless I suddenly became an avid hockey fan or…
“The video edit should be complete by the weekend. I can arrange a sneak preview if you’d like.”
“I’d like.” He pulled his tee over his head and smoothed his hair before perching on the edge of the mattress to put on his shoes and socks. “I have a game in Rochester on Saturday. Otherwise, I’ll be around.”
“Okay.”
Ty pursed his lips, his gaze roaming my body. I fought the urge to cross my arms, but that was silly. He’d seen it all and then some. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”
“I…”
He flashed another cocky grin, yet I caught a trace of pink on his cheeks and geez, I was charmed all over again. “I know that’s a strange compliment to give another guy. It’s true, though. I’m not taking it back.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Later, Walker. Oh, and by the way…” Ty paused, tapping his fingers on the doorjamb. “We gotta figure out a nickname for you.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? Everyone needs a nickname. On my team, we usually use last names. Pritchard, Regan…and Gus is Langley. We call him “the animal” too, ’cause he’s a freaking party animal. I go with a simple ‘ster’ add-on too sometimes. Brady is Bradester. Jett is Jettster…you get the idea.”
“Yes, but…why me?”
“Because we’re friends.”
“I suppose we are.” I smiled.
Ty returned the gesture and continued in a faux-serious tone. “Walker is a serious name. Super sophisticated and professional. I like it, but I can’t shorten it to Walk or add an ie for Walkie. Neither works.”
“Definitely not.”
“And you don’t like Woody, or…are you warming up to that one?”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my grin in check. “No.”
“How do you feel about Red?”
“Too obvious.”
“Really? I like it.”
“Good-bye, Ty.”
He winked, and disappeared down the hall.
I listened to his footfall fade, and thought I heard him coo to Mabel before the door creaked open and closed with a thump.
I flung the sheet off and lay like a starfish, staring at the ceiling in wonder. I’d just had sex with the hottest hockey player at Smithton. Incredible, extraordinary, spectacular sex. I lifted my balls and traced my swollen perineum as if reliving the memory of his cock stretching me, filling me. I’d never had puck-bunny aspirations in my life, but look at me now. I was smitten with Ty Czerniak, who’d somehow become a friend.
This couldn’t be good for me.
CHAPTER 14
TY
The Bears were on a sweet four-game winning streak. We trounced Granville, St. Mark, Central, Brandiss, and tonight, we were about to spank North Falls at home. My team was so in sync, it was uncanny. Every pass connected and even if they didn’t always pan out, every play had a purpose. My parents had driven two hours for this game, so I was glad it was a good one.