Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Feels like it is…
“No need to apologize. I get all of that, trust me,” I said, trying hard to hide the sinking feeling in my chest. It was as if my stomach dropped and my heart went with it, leaving me empty inside.
How could this be happening? How could fate have gotten this so wrong? It wasn’t a question for me: Miles was my fated mate. I’d been dreaming of him since the moment we met, I could pick up his scent from miles—pun intended—away. I didn’t just feel a flurry of butterflies around him, I felt a whole damn kaleidoscope of delicate wings flapping and tickling my insides.
And yet… he was pushing me away. For valid reasons, but I was still being turned down. And he said he was feeling like he was falling. But I already felt it. I’d already smacked against the ground but he was still floating toward it. That didn’t sound like a fated mate pull to me.
To make things even worse, I was going to have the biggest case of blue balls imaginable.
Fucking hell.
“Thank you for understanding,” Miles answered, hand still on my elbow.
“Of course.” We started walking again, his hand dropping back to his side. If I closed my eyes I was sure I could still trace the exact shape of his grip on my arm. He left a tingling mark of heat on me, the same way he had when he was stroking my cock for those blissful, short moments.
Something that would likely never happen again.
I held back a sigh. I truly was meant to be alone for the rest of my life. I’d have to come to terms with that at some point—the sooner the better. Because if the hands of fate couldn’t guide me in the right direction then I was just meant to hopelessly drift forever.
We reached the entrance of the park again. The small talk between us—how nice the weather looked, how the park was filling up—ended once we reached the busy street. “I’m that way,” Miles said, pointing in the opposite direction I was heading. For a split second I thought of going his same way but quickly scrapped that idea. No need to continue torturing myself by being in Miles’ presence longer than I needed to be.
“Thanks for today,” I said with a genuine gratitude that pushed past my disappointment. “Stopping my anxiety spiral. Means a lot.”
“Of course, and thank you for showing me your special spot.”
I would have shown you way more of my special spots if you’d brought me to your bedroom.
“Any time.” I gave him an awkward handshake that quickly turned into a hug. Having his body pressed against mine reignited the still-crackling embers. I let him go and was about to turn to leave but stopped myself.
“Hey,” I said, before we went our separate ways. “Random question, but have you ever heard of fated mates?”
Miles cocked his head. He arched a dark eyebrow. “I have. I know it’s rare and that it’s undeniable when it happens… Why?”
I gave an innocent shrug. “No reason. Just wondering. Anyway, see you at practice.”
I gave him a wave and walked off before he could dig any further.
Just two bros talking, that’s all we’d been. All we’d probably ever be.
Chapter Eight
Ice Bath Woes
MILES
The Burlington Bobcats had a decked-out training room. The equipment was all state-of-the-art with brand new technology that even had me Googling some things before the guys showed up. Not that I didn’t know what I was doing—I was damn good at fixing these players up—but technology moved so damn fast these days. Even our ice baths appeared to be connected to Bluetooth and had an app to help me control temperature.
Pretty fucking nice, but also slightly frustrating when the damn app wouldn’t connect.
“What the hell?” I sighed as I reset it for the hundredth time.
“Morning, bud.”
I jerked up off my knees, surprised at the sudden voice. It was Emmy. He walked in wearing a blue and black Bobcats shirt and light blue gym shorts. He was a tall guy, standing at around six foot three, meaning I had to tilt my head back slightly even once I was on my feet. He had always exuded captain energy, so it didn’t surprise me that he was the leader of the Bobcats—as well as the alpha of the Burlington pack. “Just trying to get this ice bath to connect to my phone.”
“Are you trying to upload our injuries to the cloud?”
“Basically,” I answered with a chuckle. “I’ll figure it out later.” I pocketed my phone and reached out to shake my best friend’s hand. “Practice seemed like it went well this morning.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about a couple of fuck-ups, but overall, it’s looking good. I think we have a good shot at the Calder Cup this year.”