Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
It’s definitely not normal for a team owner to be personal friends with a player—and this get-together here was probably pushing the boundaries—but I have to say… I like Dax. I think this friendship will continue to grow as long as my relationship with Willow continues to progress.
“Since you seem to be in a sharing mood,” Legend asks slyly, “what’s the deal with you and Dax’s sister? This thing going the distance?”
I shoot a look over at Dax, who just stares back blandly. He knows how I feel about her, so my answer won’t be of any benefit.
But I do find it curious that Legend—and presumably the other men looking at me expectantly—are interested in my love life. In my experience, men aren’t generally all that curious about such things.
Admittedly, though, this group is different. They’ve repetitively banded together when each man fell for a woman and became faced with obstacles. They rallied around Bishop and his fake engagement, Erik and his love of a woman with a disabled brother, Legend’s newfound fatherhood and his crazy baby mama who tried to kill Pepper, Dax and his seriously ill family friend whom he married to save her life, and finally… Tacker, the man who over and over again beat his teammates back from him and wouldn’t let them help until Nora opened his eyes.
Yes, these are a different type of men—friends—than I have ever known before. So I give it to them straight. “Willow’s a special woman. I’m hoping it goes the distance.”
“Oh, how the mighty fall.” Tacker chuckles.
“Speaking as a man who has recently fallen,” I quip back.
“Touché,” he retorts with a grin. “We’ve all fallen, so we all understand.”
“Not me,” Wylde crows with a wave of his domestic beer. “I’m still single, and I have no intention of falling.”
Tacker nods, having apparently forgotten his best friend is still very much a player on this team. “We’ve all fallen with the exception of Wylde,” he clarifies, then holds his glass up in toast. “Welcome to the club, my friend.”
Chuckling, I raise my glass and take a sip to acknowledge him, but the buzzing from my phone distracts me. I set my glass down and pull up my texts, smiling at Willow’s message. How is your evening going?
I type back a quick reply while the guys rib Wylde some more. Good. And yours?
Found out some sweet news, but you can’t tell anyone. Blue’s pregnant. She told us, but not sure Erik will say anything to the guys yet.
My gaze slides to Erik, who is laughing at something Bishop is saying to Wylde. I thought he was in an overly good mood tonight, and now I know why.
Secret is safe with me, I text back. Can’t wait to see you later. Still coming to my place?
Her response is fast. Yup. I’ll text when I’m on my way.
And that’s good enough to hold me over. I text back a fist bump emoji, then set my phone back down on the table.
When I look up, I notice Bishop and Dax staring at their phones. I don’t think anything of it until Bishop snaps his head up and locks his eyes on Erik.
“Dude,” he exclaims loudly, getting everyone’s attention. “Blue’s pregnant?”
“How the fuck do you know that?” Erik demands, but he seems more shocked than angry.
Bishop holds up his phone. “Brooke just texted me.”
“And Regan just texted me the same,” Dax adds, tilting his phone from side to side as he holds it up as evidence.
I hold in my laugh, not about to rat out Willow and her secret-spilling ways.
If it even is a secret, which I’m doubting by the sheepish look on Erik’s face.
“Yeah,” he admits. “We found out yesterday.”
He seems to consider something, then frowns, speaking in an overly chastising tone that’s clearly aimed at Blue. “Although we haven’t discussed telling anyone yet.”
“Women.” Legend laughs. “They can’t help but gossip.”
“Right on,” Bishop proclaims. “When they get in a group, all they do is talk about love and relationships and babies.”
“That’s the truth,” Dax adds.
“Sort of like we’ve been doing all night,” I point out, and Tacker snorts so hard he chokes on the bourbon he’d just taken a drink of.
Erik chuckles, settling back down into his chair. “I’m glad you guys know. Next to my parents and Billy, you’d be the first we’d share it with anyway.”
And then, because these guys aren’t normal in any way, they lapse into talking about the baby. Legend, the only father of the group so far, imparts sage advice while the other guys basically make it known they hope it’s a boy who will play hockey like his dad.
I just watch them all interact with each other, happy my team is so well bonded.
And I think about Willow and if she wants kids. It’s not something we’ve ever discussed, but I would have to think she does. At one point in her life, she was a fan of marriage, so one might naturally presume that included kids.