Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
I groan. These assholes.
Corbin pauses, his eyes lighting up. “Does this mean we’ll be seeing more of you in Cozy Valley? Our bocce ball and cornhole nights are good therapy?”
“I’m going to be fine.” I am counting the days until our next night at The Gameyard. We get together at the Cozy Valley bar for dad time while the kids play Skee-Ball and Whac-A-Mole in the activity room. I need those nights badly. They…reset me. Not like I’d tell that to these fuckers.
“Fine?” Corbin echoes. “You’re going to be fine?”
“Yes,” I say, hoping it’s true.
Corbin arches a brow and gives Rowan a look that says I am full of shit. “You want to place a bet on this?”
The idea piques Rowan’s interest. “Hell yeah, I do. What’s the wager?”
“How long he holds out,” Corbin says with a sly grin.
I set down a weight to raise a hand. “Stop,” I say completely serious this time. “We are not betting on a woman.”
“Dude, of course we’re not,” Rowan says, mock-offended. “I’m not that kind of guy.”
“I might be single, but I’m not an asshole,” Corbin says, then adds with a glint in his evil eyes. “But I do bet on my idiot friends when they do highly mockable shit.”
“Then why are you asking how long I’ll hold out?” I ask, incredulous.
Corbin shrugs, feigning innocence. “I didn’t mean how long before you and Sabrina fall into bed together. Obviously, that’ll happen on the eve of never, because she has taste.”
I flip him the bird before I pick up the weight again. “With friends like you…”
“You’re lucky to have us,” Rowan says with a smirk.
“Then what the hell are you talking about?” I ask as I move to shoulder presses.
“How long before you give in? You know…” Corbin says, moving his fist in an obscene gesture, already mocking my defeat.
I stare him down. “Are you really this immature?”
“Of course,” he says without hesitation.
Rowan tips his chin toward me, deadpan. “Just accept defeat gracefully and start prepping excuses. It’ll save you embarrassment later.”
“It’s a miracle you two are allowed to raise children,” I say, with a heavy sigh to rival Parker’s. “The maturity level in this gym is astounding.”
“Hey,” Corbin protests as he grabs a towel. “I’m not afraid to admit I have a healthy relationship with my hand. Maybe you should consider the same.”
“I came here to work out,” I growl. “Instead, you worked out my patience.”
“You’re welcome,” Rowan says. “Also, good fucking luck living with temptation.”
“One week,” Corbin predicts as he lies down on the bench and positions himself under the bar.
Rowan shakes his head. “Two days. No way he lasts longer.”
I roll my eyes. “How would you even prove such a thing?”
Corbin’s smirk sharpens as he curls his palms around the weight. “Don’t need proof. You’d consider it rude to lie to us. You’re too competitive.”
He asks Rowan to spot him. I curse under my breath, dropping to the mat for crunches. Tension ripples through my abs as I work them, trying to shake off the taunts. The crunches aren’t helping. They just give me more time to think. About Parker and his new worries. About Luna and the way she loves to skate. About Sabrina, and how upbeat and fun and gorgeous she is.
Will I really be fine? Living under the same roof as Sabrina? It’s not just temptation—it’s her smile, her bright attitude, her everything. That’s the real challenge.
I’ll have to face it soon. After this workout, she’ll be at my house, moving into my garden apartment.
Send help, I want to say. But never out loud, of course.
Later, we’re leaving the gym and Ford strides in, floppy hair in his eyes, focus on his face before he pops out his earbuds. “Did I miss anything good?” the forward asks.
“We’re betting on how long this guy lasts,” Corbin says, clapping my shoulder.
“Dude. Seriously. Shut it,” I say.
“Oops. Guess he doesn’t want the whole team to know he has a thing for the nanny.”
Ford grins. “Too late for that. It was one hundred percent apparent the first night he met her.”
I am so fucked.
10
MY LIFE AS A LANDLORD
Tyler
Just to prove the guys wrong, I call Sabrina the second I leave the gym. She answers right away in a breathless voice that scrambles my brain. “Hi, Tyler.” She sounds upbeat but slightly distracted. “Nope, that one. In the milk crate,” she says, not to me.
Jealousy flares. Is a guy helping her move? Is she seeing someone new? And if so, why the hell did I agree to this arrangement? If she’s dating another guy while living under my roof, I’ll personally smack myself with a wet, smelly sock.
“Just calling to see if you need any help,” I say, sliding into my car and turning it on.
She laughs lightly. “I’m all good. I hardly have anything,” she says, still sounding like she’s half-focused on someone else.