Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Matty looks up from his phone. “Dude, you look fine. Can you relax?”
“Do you think you can put Sofia away for a couple of hours?” Christopher says, and Matty just flips him the bird before looking back down at his phone. I look out the window as we arrive but have to wait before we get off the bus.
There is a long red carpet with press and everything, and all I see are the flashes of the lights. When it’s finally our turn, I get up from my seat and walk off the bus with Matty and Christopher on each side of me. The press starts to call for Matty and Christopher since the two of them will be going into the NHL at the next draft. The question is who is going to go first.
I’m halfway down the carpet as I stop to take a picture with them when I hear a roar of voices start to shout. I look down the carpet, expecting it to be either Dylan or my uncle Max. Nothing could prepare me for who it actually is. “Romeo!” the photographers shout his name; the blinding flashes go off one after another. He stands in a black custom suit with a white button-down shirt and a black tie around his neck. He holds up one hand to say hello. “This way, Romeo.”
My mouth goes dry when the shock wears off and, again, I’m stuck asking myself, “Why the hell is he still here?”
FOURTEEN
ROMEO
The car stops and the back door is opened and I step one foot out. The minute my foot touches the red carpet, and my head peeks out, the screaming starts. “Romeo!” The photographers shout my name as the flashes go off one after another. I hold up one hand to say hello when I hear, “This way, Romeo.”
I smile at the crowd before putting up my hand again and looking around. To everyone else, it just appears like I’m looking at the crowd, but in reality, my eyes are searching for her.
I spot her right away in the middle of the carpet. All I can see is her exposed shoulder, and my knees begin to buckle. “Hey,” I hear from beside me and look up to see Max coming my way. He’s also dressed in a black suit, but he has on a blue tie to match his wife, whose hand he has in his, never letting it go. “Glad you could make it.” He extends his free hand to me.
“It’s a great cause,” I tell him, putting out my hand to shake his. “My parents also said they would have loved to make it, but they sent me with a check.”
“I’ll take it,” he says and then looks over his shoulder. “You remember my wife.” He smiles at her, and you can see his whole face light up. “Allison.”
“Of course,” I say, walking over to her and bending to kiss her cheek.
“You’re lucky the cameras are watching,” he warns me through clenched teeth, and I don’t know if he’s joking or not until his wife laughs.
“Please ignore him,” Allison says, and then the crowd roars again. I look over to see that one of the hockey players has arrived.
“Well, looks like Dylan is here,” Max observes as I watch Dylan get out of the car, followed by a beautiful woman. I smile at Max as we wait for Dylan to make his way to us.
“Hey.” He walks over to Max and hugs him before holding his hand back for his wife to take it. “Let’s get this circus over with,” he says and looks at me. “How do you do this?” he asks, and I have to laugh.
“It’s not always like this,” I tell him, and it’s his turn to laugh. “The first time I remember we were at a movie premiere with my father, and my mother made me wear sunglasses. I couldn’t understand it since it was eight o’clock at night, but then I got it when I got out of the car with him.”
“That’s crazy,” Max says. “Okay, let’s catch up with everyone else,” he urges, and then the press screams my name again. I walk two steps and then smile for the camera. It takes me about forty-five minutes to finally get inside.
“Welcome.” A server is there, greeting us with a silver tray filled with champagne glasses. I nod at him, holding up my hand to thank him for the drink but just walk ahead, looking around.
I make my way into the two open doors and stop in my tracks. I’ve been to many events before, but this is beautiful. The long rectangle tables have a soft yellow glow from the chandeliers hanging down. There are tables scattered everywhere with white linen cloths with tall vases filled with flowers. In the back of the room is a stage set up with a podium, and behind it is a slideshow.