Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“Wait,” Miller cuts in. “Your cat’s name is Thor?”
“Now you exclude Viking cats? Real cool, guys. Real cool,” Lake says dryly.
“I vote we let the cat in, not the owner,” Riggs suggests, then whirls around, returning to the topic du jour. “And if it’s big news, my money is on you finally dating someone.”
I scoff.
The irony. His guess hits uncomfortably close to something I almost did. Which means it’s time to get the truth out. No more joking and no more delays. I stop outside the locker room and dive off the cliff.
“I’m opening a bakery. Well, I’m investing in it, and I’m also helping out. With Mabel Llewelyn, Theo’s sister.” Fuck, those words sound weird coming out of my throat, like someone else is saying them. But it’s not just how this new project might look that’s tripping me up. It’s how it might go down. It could bomb, and I don’t like failing.
There’s no guarantee that this bakery will succeed. In fact, the odds are probably against us. That’s why I feel like I’m standing here, peeling off a layer of skin.
But Riggs shoots me a proud of you smile, tugs off a glove, and offers me a fist for knocking. “Right on. It’s about fucking time.”
And I did not expect that—support.
“Right?” Miller says, enthused, coming up behind me and patting my shoulders. “I’m stoked.”
“I’m hungry. And I really want cupcakes now,” Lake adds. Then he shifts gears and gives me a serious nod. “But also…good on you, man.”
Holy shit. They’re not mocking me. They’re not giving me a hard time about working with Mabel either. “Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.”
“Anytime,” Miller says, then steers me into the locker room, where some of our D-men are already changing out of their practice gear. “And don’t worry. When no one wants to see your ugly face on the marketing materials, you can always use me.”
He gives some sort of over-the-top smoldering look.
I have no choice but to pretend to gag. “No one will want to eat there, then.”
“Wait…we eat for free, right?” Miller asks, always looking for an angle.
“You make millions. You don’t need to eat for free,” I say.
“And yet, restaurants are always wanting to give athletes free meals. Especially me since I’m so pretty.”
“Pretty full of yourself,” Ivan mutters from his stall as he unlaces his skates. Like a good D-man, he sails in and out of conversations like they’re plays on the ice, never missing a beat.
“Got that right,” Riggs says, peeling off his practice jersey, pausing in front of his stall. “But I’m with Pretty Boy here. You’ll do us a solid and not charge, right?”
“No. I’ll charge you all double.”
“That’s fair,” Ivan says with a wry wink as he snaps on his Gucci watch. The dude loves his designer duds.
I turn around and change out of my gear, grateful that’s done.
When I’m showered and back in jeans and, of course, a gray T-shirt, I head out. Riggs and Miller catch up with me in the corridor. Riggs gives me a chin nod, then scrubs a hand across his dark beard. “Seriously though. If you need help lifting heavy shit or whatever, hit me up. Since we all know I can bench more than anyone.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” I say, since I’m seriously strong.
“So that’s a no,” Riggs says dryly.
I heave a sigh. “I’d love the help.”
“Besides, Charlotte already booked us,” Miller says to Riggs. But then, like something just occurred to him, Miller turns his gaze to me. “Dude. This is a sneaky-ass way to make sure Theo doesn’t trade you in your final years. Going into business with his sister.”
“Oh shit. You’re an evil genius,” Riggs says.
“Exactly. I’m sucking up to the acting GM,” I say, mostly to steer the conversation away from the acting GM’s sister.
But to no avail. Riggs wiggles a brow. “Or maybe he’s trying to get closer to the woman he wanted to see in the baking contest. Haven’t seen you this into someone in…” He tilts his head, considering my romance timeline. “A long-ass time.”
Fuck me. This is the problem when you work with people who are good at reading other people. They can see through you. And in this case, they can see there’s something different about Mabel.
“It’s just a good investment. That’s all,” I say, then head toward the kids’ lounge, leaving that conversation behind me.
I don’t need either of them getting wind of these feelings I have for Mabel. It would only be a matter of time before word circulated around the organization and right back to Theo. I shudder at the thought of how he’d react. He hates everyone who’s ever dated his sister, and the depth of his disdain has only ramped up since his longtime girlfriend split and moved to Tokyo a couple years ago.