Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
“Let’s hear it.”
She takes one of the cups from the tray and passes it to me. “Hot chocolate with one shot of espresso and extra whipped cream.”
“You’re a goddess, thank you so much.”
“So, how was your Thanksgiving?”
The guilt hits hard this morning. Talia has become a good friend. We spend a lot of time together when we’re on the road with the team. She’d die if she knew her dad is also ... my daddy.
I don’t call him daddy, but when he occasionally calls himself that in bed, I combust. There’s no way I can ever go back to sex with men my age who don’t spank me and order me to do every filthy thing they want.
“It was great,” I say brightly. “We ate all the food and had all the fun. How was yours?”
She sits down in the blue velvet chair in front of my desk. “Also great. It was the most time I’ve spent with Audra in a long time. I hoarded all my dad’s leftover stuffing, and I won 3–0 in Scrabble.”
“The Pilgrims would be proud.”
“Okay, I only have like five minutes, so here goes: my dad spent the night with someone on Thanksgiving.”
I practically choke on my hot chocolate, sputtering and coughing. Talia gives me a concerned look and I wave a hand dismissively.
“Sorry. I swallowed it wrong.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Audra said he snuck back into the house around eight forty-five Friday morning, wearing the same clothes he left the house in Thursday night. And, like, good for him, even though I can’t even think about my dad that way, but also I don’t trust his taste in women.”
“Hm.” I lower my brows, pretending to ponder it.
“He means well, but he gets roped in by the absolute worst women. Angie would have been cast as a Real Housewife of Cleveland. Total narcissist.”
This might be funny later, when I’m telling Blair about it, but right now, it’s about the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had.
“Maybe he learned his lesson and is seeing someone better.”
“No. If it was someone better, he would introduce her to his kids. This woman is using sex to manipulate him.”
What the ...?
“That’s a bit of a leap, don’t you think?”
“That part doesn’t matter. I want to set him up on a date. I shop at a boutique downtown sometimes, and it’s owned by this super sweet woman, Victoria. She’s forty-two, divorced, and has a seventeen-year-old daughter. Perfect for him, right?”
No. Absolutely the fuck not. “I don’t know. Maybe? It’s up to him who he wants to date, isn’t it?”
“Technically, yes. But I’m going to nudge things along with a dinner party. I want you to come, too. Friday night, since we’re off. Our place. You can help me ease them together.”
“Ease them together.” I pinch my brows together, screaming inside.
“Thank you.” She moves to my office door. “I’m also inviting Isaac because I know he has a thing for you. See you later!”
“Talia!”
She closes the door, cutting off the argument I was about to make.
Great. This dinner party is going to be just fine. No potential for disaster at all.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Noel
What the hell did I do to deserve this?
I pretend to look mildly surprised when I walk into Lucien and Talia’s downtown warehouse loft apartment. Talia just said dinner when she invited me and Audra over. But Jules filled me in on the plan, and she was clearly very unhappy about it.
Talia’s trying to fix me up with someone, and she’s also playing matchmaker to Jules and Isaac. Politely brushing off her friend won’t be a problem, but watching Isaac play footsie with Jules? I don’t know if I can do that.
“Hey, welcome back,” Talia says, kissing me on the cheek.
I pass her the bottle of wine I brought and take off my coat. “Your place is looking great.”
She and Lucien bought this place and moved in during the offseason. It’s only a five-minute drive to our arena, and they can walk to lots of local restaurants and shops. Since I was last here, they’ve hung art and finished furnishing it.
“Hi, Noel.” Lucien shakes my hand, even though he sees me every damn day.
Admittedly, the kid’s doing very well and keeping our personal and professional relationships separate. He calls me Coach when we’re working and Noel when we’re not, and he doesn’t expect any special treatment. If anything, I’m a little harder on him than my other players, so no one thinks I’m playing favorites.
I spot a dark-haired woman on the other side of the wide-open main room, which is their living area, kitchen and dining area. That must be Victoria.
“I didn’t know anyone else was coming,” I murmur to Lucien.
“Yeah, just a few friends. Talia wants to get our money’s worth out of the giant table.”
The dining table is massive, but it fits in the massive space. It seats up to fourteen people, its warm wood tone contrasting with the red brick walls and industrial touches here.