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)
Then I heard something that piqued my interest. Something about jewelry, about slutty gold earrings, about…
Huh. They were talking about me.
Walking away seemed a little less appealing now. Instead, I listened to the tug that pulled me toward Dyl. If he wanted to talk about me while he thought I wasn’t there, then the least I could do was give him some shit about it in return.
“You think my earring is really that slutty?”
Dylan whipped around like someone had shouted “Fire!” from inside the cafe. His cheeks instantly turned a shade of firehouse red. It was actually pretty cute. I kept my smile tamped down, though, wanting to pull his leg a little longer on this.
“I, um—wow—didn’t know you came here.”
“Probably because it’s my first time. I live down the street. Wanted to explore the neighborhood, but maybe I should have taken off my earring beforehand.” I cracked a grin. “Don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression.”
“That’s fine, sluts are fine. Nothing wrong with that.”
His friend shot a look at Dyl and judging by the way he sat up and the table shook, he also gave him a friendly kick.
“I’m only saying that because I’m kind of slutty, too, so like I get—you know what? I’m going to stop talking now.”
Even with the word vomit about being a part-time slut, Dyl was one of the most charming and disarming men I’d ever come across.
Also, I didn’t mind a freaky side.
Not that I was looking for that or anything. Especially not with Dyl.
“Good idea,” his friend said. He pushed his chair back and stood up, offering me a hand. “I’m Chris.”
“Miles,” I said, returning the handshake.
“You’re our team’s new trainer, huh?”
“I am.” I didn’t realize Chris was another Bobcat, but I should have probably assumed. Hockey boys tended to hang out in packs. It also reminded me that I had to get home and work on memorizing the roster before meeting everyone else.
Dyl stood up and offered his hand to shake, too. I smiled at that. He’d been in my arms—albeit by accident—only a couple days ago. Felt a little odd giving him a “bro-shake” when a hug seemed more appropriate. His grip was firm around mine. His palm was calloused, fingers large. His cheeks were still burning red but his eyes were sunshine-bright and locked onto mine.
He had one of those looks that made me feel momentarily stripped down to nothing but skin and bones.
I pried my gaze away from him. Chris took his seat and pulled out the one next to him, motioning toward it. “Join us if you’re free.”
Now it was Dylan’s turn to give his friend a look. This one seemed to read “Um, what are you doing?” while Chris returned a “Don’t worry, I’ve got this” glance.
“I’ve got some errands to run,” I replied. “Was just exploring my new neighborhood. I won’t intrude on your very riveting discussion about me.”
“Please, I insist,” Chris said as he tapped the seat.
Dylan was silent and slowly regaining his regular complexion, his cheeks only a subtle pink now as opposed to cherry red. He flipped his cap forward so that his eyes were shaded from the sun.
I didn’t really have any errands to run. I was already unpacked and settled at my new place, with a full fridge and freshly folded laundry. Again, my curiosity to get to know Dyl—and possibly fuck with him some more, get those cheeks red again—outweighed my desire to go wander off by myself. What would it hurt if I sat down and chatted with them for a little?
“So, do we want to stay on the topic of my earrings?” I said, this time giving them a wink as I sat, showing them I wasn’t really bothered by it.
Chris laughed and Dyl looked like he wanted to melt down into a puddle and disappear into a sewer grate. “Let’s move on to something else,” Chris suggested. “How are you liking Burlington so far?”
“Loving it,” I replied.
“Where are you coming from?” Dylan asked.
“Philly.”
“Oh nice, we’ve traveled there for games. Great city,” Chris said.
“It is, but there’s something about the energy here in Burlington that I like.” I looked to my side, where Dylan sat trying to look very interested in his lemonade, and for a brief moment I wondered if it was only the energy I found attractive about this city. “I’m also happy to have so much nature around. Didn’t really get that in Philadelphia.”
“I see that,” Chris said. I cocked my head. Emmy had said there were a couple of shifters on the hockey team, although I couldn’t remember if he said Chris was one of them. He smelled different—woodsy mixed with mulled spices—and that was sometimes a sign of another shifter, but it also could have been because they just finished a workout.