Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
“When I was new at my job, Blair made me a spreadsheet of eligible players,” Jules says. “She thought I’d want to try to date one, but I didn’t. I didn’t even mean to date Noel, but he dated me so hard and well, I fell for him anyway.”
“The spreadsheet was for you,” I remind her.
She ignores my comment. “The number one man on her spreadsheet is Magnus Lundgren.”
Suki’s jaw drops. “Yes! He’s so sweet. Did you guys know he knits?”
“Number one for Jules,” I say. “I don’t date.”
“Leo says Magnus lives at a hotel,” Mara says.
“I think he’s afraid to commit to a permanent place here because he doesn’t know if the team will offer him a contract,” Suki says. “He’s on a one-year prove-it deal.”
“Well, he’s proving the hell out of it,” Jules says. “He got a natural hat trick in Tampa the other night.”
“Let me set you up with him.” Suki gives me a pleading look. “He’s not a womanizer. Carter says he never goes out with the guys and he doesn’t drink at all. He’s completely focused on getting a contract.”
My pulse pounds nervously as they all look at me. “Let him focus then. I’m completely focused on nursing school and my boys. I don’t have time for a man.”
“He doesn’t have to be up in your business every day,” Jules says. “He’s on the road a lot. Wouldn’t it be nice to go out for dinner with him once in a while?”
“And get railed after, obviously,” Mara says.
My tongue ties itself into a knot. I don’t think I’ve ever been railed, but I can’t deny it sounds nice. The boys’ dad was usually drunk when we had sex, and it was about a two-minute event from start to finish.
“I’m good,” I assure them. “Really. Please, please don’t make it awkward by saying anything about my spreadsheet or him to anyone.”
“We’d never say a thing, I promise,” Suki says. “But think about it.”
“She will,” Jules says.
That means she’s going to try to nag me into it. Which won’t work. Noel is going to be my brother-in-law, and through Jules, I’ll be around him and the Crush players sometimes.
I’m not making it weird by bringing my spreadsheet into the mix.
2
Magnus
* * *
I can’t believe people sometimes.
A guy at a table nearby at the restaurant where we’re having a late lunch thinks he’s really sneaky. I get up from my seat and walk over to him.
“Hey, hi.” He smiles and holds out his hand to shake mine. “Magnus Lundgren, right?”
I play the game, smiling and shaking his hand. “Yeah, and what’s your name?”
“I’m Paul. Lifelong Crush fan. You’ve been on fire this season. I hope they offer you a fat contract and keep you here forever.”
“I’m Chad.” The guy across from him wants a handshake, too. “Can we get a selfie with you?”
Annoyance flares, but I push it aside. This is part of the job. When I got injured during my first pro season in the US, finally making killer money, I thought no one would ever ask me for a selfie again. So even though I’m out with teammates and their kids and not on the job right now, I need to be gracious.
“You can get whatever photos you want with me and any of my teammates,” I say. “But first, I’ll need you to delete the ones you took with the kids in them.”
Paul smiles sheepishly. “I wasn’t trying to get the kids in any of them. I was just excited to see you guys.”
“No problem, I get it. We’re all just protective of the kids, you know? There are crazy people out there.”
“Yeah, that’s for damn sure.” He unlocks his phone and opens the photos.
“Everything good here?” my teammate Carter asks, approaching us from behind.
His youngest daughter, Rachel, is about to fall asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Paul says. “I just deleted all the pictures I took.”
I can feel Carter bristling beside me.
“It’s not a problem,” I say. “We appreciate it. Let’s grab some pictures before our food comes.”
Carter passes Rachel to his oldest, Olivia.
The kids are all occupied with their giant milkshakes, oblivious to us. My seat is between Eli’s and Cooper’s, and I’ve been enjoying watching them try to take down the premeal desserts. Eli got one with sticks covered in brownies and candy, and Coop got one with chocolate-covered strawberries and marshmallows.
Each one has more sugar than I eat in a month, but from their smiles and wide eyes, I can tell this is a big treat for them. Coop told me his mom makes him eat vegetables every night, and I think he was expecting me to be as appalled about it as he was.
Once we’ve taken photos with Paul and Chad, Carter claps me on the back and says, “Thanks, man. I missed that.”