Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“It’s not that bad,” someone says as I take off my cashmere coat and toss it on the seat next to me. Chatter happens around me as everyone gets situated for the fifty-minute flight. When we land, it is in fact snowing.
The wind blows the snow as we step off and head to the heated bus that is waiting for us. I’m getting my key in the hotel lobby when my phone rings in the inside pocket of my jacket. Pulling it out, I see Dakota is FaceTiming me. I’m about to answer it when it stops, and only when I scan my hotel key on the door and step in do I call her back.
When I showed up at her house, I expected her to tell me she was busy and didn’t have the time. What I wasn’t ready for was her telling me that we should forget whatever happened. There was no way in fuck I was going to forget what we did. Not a chance in hell. I also never expected the girls to invite me in. Was it a cheap shot to just go in? You bet your ass. But there is no place I want to be these days other than with her and the girls. I know there is something else there I have to talk about. I know I’m treading on ice so thin that it’s cracking and my foot is already in the water. I know that everything in my head tells me it’s wrong, yet my heart tells me a different story. A story I’m not sure I’m ready for.
The sound of the ringing fills my room as I shrug off my jacket. I see that she connected and I’m expecting to see her face, but instead it’s Rain who comes on the screen. “Hey there.” I smile at her.
“Uncle Christopher,” she says, her smile so big that her eyes light up, “guess what?”
“Ummm, you got a hundred on your spelling test?” I guess the first thing that comes to my mind.
“No.” She shakes her head. “I scored three goals today.”
I gasp, “You what?”
“We had a hockey practice today,” she starts, “and at the end, we had a little game, and I scored three goals.”
“That’s a hat trick.” I sit on the bed, looking at her, and my chest fills with pride. I honestly have never felt this feeling in my life. I know I feel pride for my nieces and my nephews, but this one, this one just feels like my chest is going to explode. “Did Mom throw a hat on the ice?”
She giggles and looks up at Koda. “She didn’t.”
“I didn’t have a hat.” I hear her voice, and another thing happens, but that is more south. Just her voice and a little laugh, and my body suddenly awakens.
“I’ll be there for Saturday practice. We can go out after and celebrate,” I say, and she looks up at her mom.
“We are going to celebrate,” she tells her even though I know she can hear. “Bye, Uncle Christopher,” she says and then hands the phone to her mom. “Here.”
“I want to talk to Uncle Chrissy,” Luna whines.
“Here you go.” Koda hands her the phone.
“Hey, princess,” I greet her when she comes onto the screen, “how was hockey?”
“I didn’t fall,” she states proudly, “not even once.”
“Look at you, you’re a superstar.” She nods, agreeing with me. “You get extra chocolate chips on Saturday.”
She gasps, turning to Koda. “I’m getting all the chocolate on Saturday.” I can’t help but laugh at how different the story can change from me to her.
“Is that so?” Koda says as Luna hands her the phone.
“Hi,” she says, looking at the screen, “sorry about calling, but Rain had to talk to you.”
“You never have to be sorry about calling me. How are you?” Besides looking gorgeous, I don’t add.
“Good,” she replies, “I’m about to start dinner.”
“Okay, I’ll let you get on that. Can you call me later?” I stare at her to see her reaction, knowing she won’t want to. “I have something to tell you.” The back of my neck gets hot. “It’s important.” I’m really throwing everything out there for her.
“I have some work to do after the kids go down.” She tries to come up with an excuse.
“It won’t take long, I promise.”
“Fine.” She finally gives in, and I know she’s just doing it to get it over with. “I’ll call you when the girls go down.”
“Talk to you then,” I reply, wanting to say a lot more, but I have to tread lightly because she already has one foot out the door and the second is very close to following it.
“Bye.” She hangs up without a second thought.
I get a text from Cole right after I hang up.
Cole: Dinner downstairs in the restaurant, no one wants to go out in the snow.