Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Like a book club?”
“More like I think they just want another person to talk to about books.”
“Kinda sounds like a book club….” Mirth can’t help itself from spreading in my expression. “Y’all want me to join?” Small chortles shake my fitted tan shirt covered shoulders. “Not sure Cap would like that. Maybe if I brought iced coffee? Or if like I learned to make a really good Raf coffee Moscow style – which is heavily focused on the way everything steams together simultaneously unlike traditional lattes.”
“Shutthefrontdoor,” Alexis squeaks in a high pitch tone, “you speak German?!”
“Moscow is in Russia,” I politely correct prior to slowly nodding, “and nebol'shoye kolichestvo.”
“Eeeeekkkk!” the brunette chirps in tandem with flying to the edge of her seat. “What does that mean?!”
“A little bit,” the other half of my soul translates.
“Since when do you speak Russian?!” Lionel grunts in an impressed fashion.
“Um…” Gilly nervously nibbles on her bottom lip.
“You said Cap’s wife,” Béchir suddenly begins, our collective gazes, “like a ship’s captain? Or a pilot?” His brow pulls together in befuddlement. “I thought Aly said you worked in the business of athletics.”
“Too tall to be a pilot,” Ciara casually announces. “Dated plenty. I’d know.”
There’s no time to process her commentary courtesy of Lionel further injecting, “Kira said the same thing; however, she never mentioned any details.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice my Slayer visibly tense.
Ah.
They don’t know.
But do they not know because she’s embarrassed for them to know?
Is she embarrassed of me?
Ashamed that I don’t have a PHD in history or a masters in urban agriculture – although I think if I were to go back and hit the books again, I would be interested in the sustainability initiatives of growing coffee beans in vertical farming.
I mean…I’ve never gotten the impresh she was ashamed of me before.
Why should I now?
And since she’s not humiliated that her best friend – her brother – coaches, I can’t imagine she’d feel that way about her boyfriend – future husband – being one of the best players in the league.
I’m damn sure not.
It’s my truth.
I live it.
My groove.
I move to it.
That’s what matters.
Just like teeth are hers.
We can appreciate and respect one another’s jams without judgment.
Which…is what I thought we had established from the very first note.
Did she not give them more deets because she was worried that if she told them “too much”, they’d soc’ stalk before I could properly be introduced?
Is that what all this is about?
She just wanted to be the one to give my intro?
My prelude?
Unsure of exactly how long ago I hit the pause button is what leads me to clearing my throat to aid in continuing what I’m picking up is about to be an uncomfortable conversation. “I’mma professional athlete.”
“Explains the physiqueeeee,” Ciara coos not so quietly to Alexis who instantly nods in agreement.
“Ohshit!” Lionel excitedly exclaims. “You’re not one of her patients, are you? Tell us that’s not how you met. That’d be some real unethical shit.”
“Like dating a student,” sasses his wife without hesitation.
“She wasn’t technically my student,” he murmurs in return. “She was just a student. And at a completely different college.”
“He is a patient now because it’s insane for anyone not to have had reliable dental care in years,” Gilly clumsily attempts to answer, “but he wasn’t a patient then…even though him and his brother got that way super shortly after…except that I still provide care to his brother and have passed standard care for Thayne over to a colleague to avoid conflicts of interest in the office.”
“You have a brother?” Alexis quickly investigates. “Does he play sports too?”
I do my best to keep my tone neutral, “He’s sixteen.”
“Ugh,” she gags at the same time she leans back closer to her date, “never mind…”
“What do you play?” Lionel resumes his interrogation.
The tiny tightening of my hand Gilly delivers is taken like a wordless cheer of encouragement to continue. “Hockey.”
“Should’ve known,” Béchir lightly chuckles. “She was raised in the rink. Blanc never lets anyone forget that shit.”
“Major or minor?” Allerick questions next.
“Major.”
“Team?” Buchanan throws out.
“Dalvegan Dragons.”
“That’s why you look so familiar!” Ciara states, damn near flying out of her seat a second time. “You’re the goalie!”
It’s impossible not to bashfully grin. “I am.”
“Ohmygod!” her and Alexis shriek in tandem. “We love you!”
“You two make me need another glass,” playfully announces Aly prior to standing up. “Maybe something stronger?” She tosses a look in Kira’s direction. “Wilcox?”
“Aged bottle’s in Béchir’s study bar,” Kira casually informs much to her husband’s dismay.
“Does your brother know?” Lionel swiftly scrutinizes, question aimed directly at Gilly. “What’s he got to say about the situation?”
“Yeah,” Béchir backs, “I can’t imagine he’s a huge fan of his employee-”
“Player,” Gilly meekly corrects.
“-sleeping with his sister.” His large hands fold contemplatively together in front of him. “I know I wouldn’t be.”