Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“I don’t get it. She did you dirty. She blew you off, and I’m here helping you—”
I scoff at that. “How are you helping me? This is about you, not me.” I feel her gaze burning into me. “I looked like a jackass in front of my family. You treated the person my brother loves like shit—”
“Oh please. That girl is hardly worth his time. He does realize he can do better than a butt model on TikTok.”
I give her a warning look. “Cameron posts gymnastics stuff.”
“With her ass hanging out. That’s what brings in the money.”
I run my hand down my face. “Are you jealous?”
She scoffs. “Of what? A huge ass? I can buy that.”
“You’re being a real pain in my ass, Ava. You make it hard for me because I want to tell you to act right, but I know you and know you’ll pop off. If we start arguing, I’ll say something I shouldn’t.”
“You’re making this deeper than it is.”
“We’re supposed to be friends, Ava. Close friends. But if you don’t get it together and start behaving properly around my family, I don’t know if I can do this.”
“And what? Run back to your beloved Emery, who is just waiting for you with open arms?” She throws that at me even though we both know Emery isn’t waiting for me at all.
“I told you not to mention her name.”
“She doesn’t deserve you.”
“We aren’t together. I’m marrying you.”
She laughs. “And you think I don’t know you’d rather not? You love her more than yourself, and she doesn’t deserve that.”
“Let it be. You’re pissing me off. I do care for you, Ava. Even when you are acting like a stuck-up bitch.”
“Oh Quinn, it’s not an act.”
“I’m well aware.”
She exhales. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
“And I don’t want to take you around my family and have you treat them like shit. Don’t do it again.”
Ava doesn’t answer me right away, but then she says, “Fine, I can deal for a bit longer. Once we’re married, I doubt I’ll have to be around them ever again.”
“We’ll see them at holidays.”
“No, we’ll go to my parents’ house.”
I inhale sharply as I shake my head. “That’s not what we agreed to.”
“But you like my family.”
“Because everyone is drunk and doesn’t talk to me,” I throw over to her, and she laughs.
“I know, it’s great. So let’s do the easy thing, okay?” She pats my hand, and I hate when she does that. “I’m sorry it didn’t work with your family today. I’ll do better for your mom and dad.”
“Will you?” I ask, unable to look at her.
“I will for you.”
“Thanks.”
She pats my hand again, and I wave her hand off. “Don’t be like that.”
“Don’t belittle me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to do that at all.”
“Whatever,” I snap. Honestly, I just don’t have it in me to fight with her. I’m exhausted. Between school, her, and missing Emery with every fiber of my soul, I’m just tired. I didn’t expect to find myself engaged to Ava, but I can’t blame it only on my exhaustion.
I can blame it on tequila, though.
“It’s only for a year, Quinn,” Ava says. “Why would we go out of our way to be liked by each other’s families when this will be over sooner rather than later?”
She’s not wrong, but I don’t say that. Or even acknowledge it. Instead, I swallow and remind myself of that fact.
This is only for a year.
Chapter Thirty
Benson
After a few weeks of my always having been the first one to text Cameron, my body burns with excitement when I see her name waiting for me on my screen.
Cameron: Did you see the insights on our newest videos?
Cameron: Everyone is way more impressed by your backflip than my ability to shoot a goal. On skates.
Cameron: I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you’re wearing a leotard.
Cameron: I should have taken your advice and worn just your jersey on the ice, huh?
It cracks me up the way she texts. It reminds me of the way she talks, each thought individual and in its own text bubble. Since we made the content of a hockey player doing gymnastics and a gymnast playing hockey, I haven’t seen her physically. The way I really fucking want to. Since I’ve had away games and she had an away meet, we’ve only been able to text and FaceTime. It sucks not being able to see her in person, but I don’t have to see her to know our relationship has progressed.
We’re truly together.
While my grin threatens to split my face, the thought of her in only my jersey, nothing underneath, on some skates, has my cock aching for her. It’s a welcome sensation as I write her back.
Me: Told ya. But this way, I don’t have to cuss out any jackasses for ogling you.