Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Today.
Now.
“But having to sit down in a room with them? Jesus, that’s intimidating as fuck, Xander.”
He moves up behind me and takes the brush from my hand. “You’re seriously taking your anxiety out on your hair, baby, and I can’t have you do that. I love it too much. Let me brush it.”
He gently runs the bristles through the ends, and I stare at him. Xander always looks so composed. So confident.
So fucking hot.
“I know that you don’t have to be nervous. You know these people.”
He lifts an eyebrow and meets my gaze in the mirror. “You’re kidding right? What if I don’t pass whatever crazy test they decide to throw at me today? What if they’re not satisfied with my progress? They can make my life a living hell if they decide to. Or cut me loose from the team. Anything’s possible, Red.”
“Uh, no. Absolutely not. Because you’ve been working your ass off, and in just the few weeks, less than a full month, since we’ve been working together, the progress has been incredible. You no longer need the brace. Sure, you have moments when you need to ice, but that’s normal. If they say even one shitty thing today, I’ll—”
“Whoa.” He grins and leans in to press his lips to the top of my head. He’s so tall—or I’m so short—that when he stands behind me like this, I only reach his collarbones.
And I kind of love it.
“I appreciate your fiery enthusiasm.” He uses his hand to brush my hair over my shoulder and then kisses his way down my neck. “It’s hot as fuck, wildcat.”
“Oh God. You can’t do that to me in front of those people.” I push him back and spin so I can look up at him as anxiety settles in my stomach and feels like it’s on steroids. “If they find out that we’re a we, they’ll think I’m a puck bunny, and that I’m not serious about my job, and . . . oh God. Oh God.”
“You’ve said that a few times.”
“We have to keep this a secret. We can’t tell anyone. We’ll just say that you brought me along because we’re friends. Yeah, friends. I mean, we grew up in the same town, so that’s plausible.”
My heartbeat hammers in my ears, and I can’t catch my breath, and then Xander’s hands are on my cheeks and he’s forcing me to look up at him. His green eyes are full of concern, and it makes my chin wobble.
“Okay, this is going to stop now. You’re not a motherfucking secret, do you hear me? Absolutely not. We’re both adults, and we’re not doing anything wrong.”
“Ethically—”
“Fuck that. No, Ivy. Am I going to make out with you in front of my coaches and doctors? Of course not. But I’m also not going to simply say that you’re my friend. I fucking dare any one of them to call you a puck bunny or anything close to it, because they won’t have to release me from the team, I’ll fucking quit.”
“Xander—”
“No. You’re mine. I don’t know how many times I have to say it. I’m the one with memory issues, not you. So I want you to keep your gorgeous chin up. Unless you’re ashamed of me.”
“What?” I stare at him in shock. “How in the hell could I ever be ashamed of you? You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
That seems to make him stutter for a second.
“I want you to remember who the fuck you are, Ivy. You’re an incredible therapist, damn good at your job, and you deserve the seat at that table today. You’ve earned it. You have to remember that you’re with me. You belong with me. I want to obliterate all of that self-hate shit from your beautiful head because it isn’t true.”
He’s moved closer with each word, practically bending me back over the sink, and he’s so . . . amazing. How could I not be crazy about him?
“Thank you.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me for reminding you who you are.” He kisses me firmly, driving his point home. “Now, we’re going down there today, and we’ll get through the next few hours, and then we’re going to the game tonight.”
“We are? Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Fuck yeah, I want to do that. It’s the season opener, and I want to be there. We’ve got this.”
After kissing me once again, he turns me around and continues to brush my hair until any tangles from the flight are gone and I’m ready to go.
“Okay.” I square my shoulders and give him a nod. “Let’s do this.”
“Impressive,” Steve, the head physical therapist, says as I lead Xander through the exercises we’ve been doing and the things we’ve recently added. It’s not enough to give Xander a full workout, but it shows Steve what the hockey player is now capable of. “You can stop, X.”