Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
The Terror win 3-2. Flip, Tristan, and Dallas each score a goal, with Connor, Ash and Quinn as the assists. And no one from the media questions my presence at the game since I’m the coach’s daughter.
Afterward, the girls and I return to the hotel to change into club attire. I’m a bag of nerves. I’ve been in Montreal for hours and I haven’t even had a chance to hug him yet.
“You okay?” Hemi asks as I adjust my dress and check my makeup for the hundredth time.
“Yes. No. I don’t know. This is the first time we’ve all been out dancing since Flip and I started dating. The media are going to freak out.”
“It’s okay if you’re also freaking out. It’s a lot to handle,” Dred says gently.
All three of them have been my personal cheer squad since my arrival in Montreal. I vacillate between excitement and excessive nerves.
“How did you handle the pressure? How do you handle the pressure?”
“We have each other.” Rix motions to the girls. “And we have partners who know it’s a lot to be with them and who take care of us and our needs. Flip will be the same for you. He wouldn’t have flown you out here if he wasn’t ready for this step. He also wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t think you were ready.”
“It’s getting really real,” I whisper.
“It’s a statement that you’re here,” Dred says. “He’s claiming you as his.”
“People will have feelings about it.”
“Fuck the people!” Hemi waves her hand in the air. “You know what I mean. Even when there’s nothing to say, they have something to say about Flip’s love life. We’ve already made a plan to counterbalance the nonsense.”
“He flew you out here because he doesn’t want to be away from you. He made sure you’re surrounded by your friends and the people who will watch out for you,” Rix adds.
“He’s telling the world he’s yours, Tally.” Dred squeezes my hand.
“And I’m his.”
“That’s right.” Hemi’s phone pings. “They’re three minutes out. It’s go time!”
We shrug into winter coats and head down to the lobby.
My stomach somersaults when I see Flip. Neither of us has any chill as we rush across the foyer. He opens his arms, and I launch myself at him.
His lips find the side of my neck as he lifts me off my feet. “God, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” I feel grounded for the first time in days. It’s terrifying.
He huffs me, lips traveling along my neck as he sets me down, takes my face in his hands, and kisses me deeply. Eventually he pulls back. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he mumbles into my skin.
“Me, too. That was a great game.”
“I played better tonight because of you.” He kisses me again, eyes moving over my face.
“The media followed you back here, eh?” Hemi inclines her head to the group of camera-toters.
“The limo drew them in,” Connor says.
“Or your suit did,” Dred says cheekily.
“My suit is awesome.” Connor runs his hand down his teal velvet jacket, the maroon piping matches Dred’s dress and coat.
“It’s definitely a showstopper.” Dallas pats him on the shoulder.
“How do you want to handle this?” Flip asks me. “We can stay in if you don’t want the attention.”
“We knew this would happen.” I look to Hemi. “We prepared for this.” As much as I want time alone with Flip, I don’t want it because we spent the night hiding. I want him to know I’m in this just like he is.
He laces our fingers and kisses the back of my hand. “You stay right next to me, okay? I’ll take care of you.”
“I know you will.” I exhale a nervous breath. Everything will change in a matter of minutes.
“Okay, Tristan and Rix, Connor and Dred, you lead,” Hemi orders.
“We’ll be your front line.” Connor winks.
“Flip and Tally, you follow. Try to stay centered so we can keep Tally as protected as possible. There will be questions, but I’ll handle that. Dallas and I will be your tail.” Hemi claps. “Okay, team, let’s make a statement.”
“We got you.” Rix squeezes my hand.
“Connor will activate villain mode, if he needs to.” Dred winks.
Flip wraps his arm around me and kisses my temple. “You ready, kitten?”
“Ready.”
We stay tight to Tristan and Connor’s backs, with Hemi and Dallas flanking us. Cameras flash, and there’s a collective murmur as their eyes move to me and Flip, his arm wrapped protectively around me. Reporters shout questions, pushing in.
“Are you dating the coach’s daughter?”
“Tallulah, does your father know you’re involved with one of the players?”
Connor wraps his arm around Dred’s waist and spins them toward the reporters. He dips her like they’re in the middle of a dance floor and drags his nose along the column of her throat before he slants his mouth over hers. Tristan and Rix step to the side, and Flip moves me ahead of him, helping me into the waiting limo and diving in after. Tristan and Rix follow, then Dred and Connor.