Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I’m certain the risks are not worth the reward.
No, I’m going to be the lonely cat lady with no husband and no kids to speak of. Though no cats because I’m more of a dog person. So I guess I’ll be the lonely dog lady instead. I’ll pave my own way.
“Everything okay?” Sloane asks. There’s concern in her voice, and I swallow back the emotion that causes. I was so isolated before. To have Corie and Sloane come into my life and enfold me in theirs, as if we’ve all been friends since we were little, warms my soul.
“Yeah, just couldn’t sleep.” I smile, hoping I can pull off the lie. “Strange place, I guess.”
“That’s the worst,” Reid chimes in. “I remember when I was first drafted and traveling all the time. It was hard on me too. You eventually get used to it.”
“I’ve never really traveled much. I guess I better get used to it,” I say, my eyes dramatically wide, and everyone laughs.
“Fair enough.” He nods. “But it does get better eventually.”
“So what are we doing?” Baker asks.
“Whatever we want,” Knox replies. “We’re in paradise, after all.”
“Well, us old fogeys are going to take it easy,” Knox’s dad tells them.
“Come on, old man,” Knox teases. “The five of you against the five of us.”
“What are we talking?” Tyler, Knox’s uncle, asks.
“Sand volleyball,” Foster suggests. “You know, since the five of us are professional athletes, it’s best not to play football because it’s an unfair advantage and all that.” He smirks.
“Oh, just because you get paid to play doesn’t mean we can’t hang,” Kent tells him with an arched brow.
“Bring it on, boys,” Seth says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I hope you’re ready to eat sand,” Mark boasts.
I smile at their banter. Their wives do the same, as if this is normal for all of them.
“We’ll cheer you on from our lounge chairs,” Tyler’s wife, Reagan, tells them.
“It’s settled. Eat up. The beach is waiting!” Corie says excitedly. Knox smiles at her like she’s his reason for breathing. There’s an ache in my chest when I think about never having that. At least I’ll be able to witness true love firsthand through my friends. I’m sure Sloane will find a man to sweep her off her feet, just as Knox did with Corie.
I’m lying on my belly on the lounger, the warm sun beating down on me. My eyes are closed, and I wish I could fall asleep. I wish I could truly relax enough to let the gentle crash of the waves lull me into dreamland. I hear the guys hoot and holler during their five-on-five volleyball game. Knox’s mom and aunts are all chatting at the far end of our long line of loungers. Knox’s sister, Everly, and her husband, Matt, had to leave right after breakfast. They both had to get back to work. His youngest sister, Emma, is lying on the other side of Corie, and Sloane is on my right. We’re a long line of ladies, just soaking up the warm sunshine. His cousins are all hanging around in various places as well.
“Ladies,” a deep voice greets us.
I keep my eyes closed. None of these guys are here for me.
“Great day for a swim,” Knox says. I hear Corie screaming and laughing, telling him to put her down.
When more screeches greet my ears, I open my eyes to see what I’m missing. The married ladies are being toted off by their husbands, and Reid has Emma tossed over his shoulder. Foster bends down to grab Sloane while Baker records it on his phone. I’m just about to scan to look for Landry when I feel hands on me.
“No. Oh, no, you don’t.” I squirm to try and get away, but his hold is firm as he lifts me into his arms. “I don’t swim with fish!” I call out, half hysterical and half laughing.
Landry stops walking. “What?” he asks, staring down at me. I can’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but I know he’s watching me.
“I don’t swim with fish,” I repeat.
“Roe, they’re just as afraid of you as you are of them.”
“Yeah? Tell that to the sharks that want to eat me.”
“You think I’d let a shark eat you?” His tone is soft, almost endearing.
“It would eat us both,” I grumble.
“Not on my watch.” He adjusts his hold on me, lifting me higher in his arms. “If you don’t want to go, we won’t. But if you do, we’re going to go in and come right back out. You’ll be able to say that you splashed around in the ocean.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to. I do want to. I’ve just never been in the ocean. Not able to know what’s in there is creepy.”
“I guess I’ll just have to take you up to the hotel pool and drop you there,” he teases, smiling down at me.