Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“It was the right move, even though I wish it wasn’t.” His grip on my hand tightens as the noise level increases and we round the corner. Mac mutters a quiet expletive.
The girls rush over to hug me, and I introduce Mac to them first, their gentle excitement a buffer for Mac’s anxiety, before he meets the rest of the guys. It doesn’t matter that Roman has been retired from the league for several years, they still have monthly dinners. We’re suddenly surrounded by hockey royalty, and I introduce Mac to Dallas Bright, Hollis Hendrix, and Ashish Palaniappa. “You’ve met Connor, Quinn, and Tristan before.”
Apparently Flip Madden had a meeting he couldn’t get out of, and Tally has dance practice, otherwise they’d be here, too. Tristan’s middle brother Nate, and Cammie’s older sister Essie often join, but Essie’s on set tonight.
Mac is his typical polite self, shaking hands and trying to play it cool.
Roman comes out carrying a freshly woken Ariel from her nap. Her head rests on his shoulder, one hand gripping his shirt, the other hugging her stuffed Terror Goose to her chest.
“How’s my favorite niece!” I open my arms and she gives me a dopey smile and lets me take her from Roman.
“It’s taco night,” she informs me, then points to her shirt. “I ready!”
"You sure are. Did your daddy get you that shirt?”
She grins and nods. “We matches!”
I glance at Roman, who is indeed wearing the same shirt in a much larger size. “You sure do.”
“Daddy!” Ariel realizes he’s more than two feet away and wants to be back in his arms.
I pass her over. “Where’s Callie?”
“On the phone, talking to a boy in her class,” Roman mutters darkly.
“Oh. Is this a thing now?” I ask while I snuggle my niece.
“Not if Roman has anything to say about it.” Lexi pats Roman on the chest.
Mac is already deep in conversation with the guys, so I follow Lexi and the girls to the kitchen to help with the apps. Fajita night is a lengthy affair and usually consists of three courses and a decadent dessert.
Rix, Tristan’s wife, nudges me with her elbow. “He’s cute.”
“And exceptionally polite,” Hemi, the head of team PR and Dallas’s wife, adds.
“Dad said he plays hockey for Tilton,” Hammer says.
“Brody is one of his roommates. We’ve been friends for a while, but we started dating this semester, and yeah.”
“Is this his final year, then?” Shilpa asks.
“He applied for the summer program at the Hockey Academy, but obviously he’s hoping to get called up after graduation.” I push down the worry that always follows when I think about what will happen when the semester ends.
“He has the skill set,” Lexi assures me.
“He’s worked really hard this year to improve his game.” He could be anywhere in the fall, across the country, even in a different one. What will that be like? Would we try to make it work if he ended up somewhere like Utah or Vancouver? Would he want to date someone who was still in university when he’s just starting his career?
The girls must read the sudden panic on my face.
Lexi wraps her arm around my shoulder. “We can’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet, Big Pheels. Just enjoy the ride, and we’ll deal with everything as it comes.”
“And you have lots of people in your circle who know what this life is like, so no matter what, you have support, and so will he,” Hammer adds.
“If anyone can deal with life’s curveballs, it’s you,” Lexi promises.
I would love it if he ended up playing locally in the fall, but the odds are slim.
Most of the time I can roll with things, but I know how quickly life can change course.
Mac already has my heart. What if he has to move across the country and he takes it with him?
CHAPTER 34
MAC
Fee is sitting between my legs, reading her Arts Through the Ages textbook while I watch footage of the last game we played against Niagara. The only reason we’re able to effectively get anything done like this is because we started our study session with some cardio. This is my favorite, when we can cuddle, but still get work done—even if mine isn’t of the school homework variety.
I kiss Fee’s neck. “I have to leave for practice soon.”
“Impeccable timing.” She tabs the page with a sticky flag before she closes it and tosses it on the bed beside us. “I just finished that chapter, and my brain is ready to leak out of my ears.” She stretches and wraps her arms around my neck, tipping her head back until she can reach my jaw with her lips. “I’ll head to the arena after my studio class, unless you’re going out with the guys after practice.”
“Nah. We have a big game in a couple of days, so it’s about early nights and lots of rest.”