Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
The team is doing well. The thread of brotherhood is nearly visible through them as they revel in . . . well, not a game well played, but at least a period, which, given the roller coaster of tonight, seems worthy of celebration.
Vanessa takes a drink of her wine before asking, “Do you know why he drives the ‘no distractions’ thing so hard?”
I have my guesses, none of them complimentary.
Seeing my curt answers to the question written in my expression, she says, “It’s because he doesn’t want any of the guys on his team to hurt their wives or kids the way he hurt you. It’s to prevent another you from happening.”
I snort out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re making him sound noble, but the reality is, he created an entire legacy of assholes who treat women like they’re two degrees above a Kleenex and bottle of lotion,” I say bluntly.
“Definitely an unforeseen and unintended side effect,” she grants, “but ultimately, it was effective. Players’ divorce rate in the league is nearly three-quarters. The Blizzard has had none, until Kipson. And Robbie wasn’t going to let Kipson ruin his life over it. He takes responsibility for his guys seriously, so he fought hard to get Lee here to save him.”
“Which also had some unforeseen side effects,” I tease, using her words with a much different meaning as I suck on my straw, thinking about things from Dad’s side, something I’ve never done.
She laughs and for a moment, it feels like we actually are two friends gossiping about our boyfriends. It’s kinda nice.
“When you called Robbie about the zoo thing? He called me as soon as you hung up. I thought he was going to come through the phone when he was telling me about it. He was so excited that you’d reached out.” I eye her doubtfully, but she nods insistently. “Did you know we had other plans that day? We canceled them because nothing was keeping him away from you and that fundraiser.” She smiles brightly. “And he warned me that whatever the highest bid was, he was bidding over it so that you would get naming rights for your favorite monkey.”
“Gibbon,” I correct automatically.
Vanessa shrugs it off. “How is Hadiah?”
“She’s good. Really good. Standing with support and starting to nibble on solid foods,” I answer, but my mind is spinning. “Dad . . .”
“I’m not saying he’s perfect. Far from it,” she admits. “But if you have the heart to give him another chance, he won’t waste it this time.”
I believe her. After what Dad said earlier today, acknowledging that he’s been shitty in the past and apologizing for his choices, and now learning that maybe there were things that I hadn’t known, I believe her.
“I think I can do that,” I offer with a smile. “Maybe we could go to dinner . . . all four of us?”
Her eyes light up. “Really? We would love that.”
With a smile, I tell her, “I think we would too.”
A bit later, I’m coming back from the bathroom when I’m cornered again. But this time, it’s not by Vanessa. It’s by Anderson.
“You’re a stupid bitch, you know that?” he slurs, pointing at me with the neck of his beer bottle. I can see that he’s peeled the label off, bit by bit. He must’ve been doing that instead of celebrating with the rest of the team.
Once upon a time, being called names like that made me shrink and hide, but with repetition, they lose their impact. The person using them makes a difference too. Where I might still wince if Tyler said that, past experience telling me to be fearful of the potentially worse thing that might be coming, with Anderson, I don’t react at all. I simply try to walk past him. “Excuse me.”
He cuts me off, leaning down to get in my face. His breath smells like beer as he mutters, “I can’t believe you’re actually buying his bullshit.”
Narrowing my eyes, I ask, “Whose?”
Is he talking about Dad? Or Dominic? Either way, I seriously doubt he knows what he’s talking about at all given the hazy, unfocused look in his eyes.
“That first night, we told Lee to pick three women—one to fuck, one to marry, and one to kill.” He obviously thinks this is some great reveal. I can see him mentally doing a ta-da wave of his magic wand.
Rolling my eyes, I’m already dismissing him. “I know. Dom told me.”
Anderson’s brows furrow together as he frowns deeply. He definitely wasn’t ready for that response. “So . . . what? You’re just playing along with him? Do you hate your dad that much?”
“My dad? What are you talking about?”
“Lee picked you to marry,” he says, sounding puzzled by my question. Scoffing, he says, “I can’t believe he’s actually going through with it. He’s gonna marry Coach’s daughter over some bar game because he’s pissed he got dragged out here away from his beloved Hawks. Sounds like a surefire way to fuck with the man you hate.” He shrugs as a snide smirk tilts up his lips. “Maybe for both of you to fuck with Coach.”