Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“No,” I say. “We’re not taking your money. But I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to sleep in the cabin with us.”
She tilts her head at me, mischief glinting in her eyes. “Why is that?”
I clench my teeth together. Carter leans forward, punching my good shoulder from the back seat. “Yeah, Jesse. Why is that? Worried you’ll pop a stiffy in the middle of the night and puncture your water bed?”
She laughs, clapping her hands. “Wait. You really sleep on a water bed?”
“The guys make fun of me for it, but it is a nice way to sleep.”
“Wow,” she says, still smiling. “I’ve always kind of wanted to sleep on a water bed.”
“Hey, Jesse,” Carter says. “Remember when you asked me to trade beds with you? I’ve thought harder about it and decided to allow you to trade with me. I’ll take your water bed. For the team.”
“I never asked to trade beds or rooms with you, Carter. It’s my cabin. Why would I want to give you my room?”
“Come on,” he says, grinning. “Help me out, dude.”
“He calms down eventually,” Liam says. “Carter just gets excited when he meets new people. He’s obnoxious when he’s excited.”
“I’ve been called endearing,” Carter says. “By nicer people,” he adds under his breath.
“I don’t mind it,” Andi says. “I’ve always wanted to meet Jake’s teammates. He’s just… protective. He’s worried I’m going to fall in love with them or something. You,” she says, correcting herself as if she’s just now realizing we are “them”.
Carter runs a hand through his hair, only managing to make it messier. “Well, you’ve already got the dress. What do you say we leave these losers behind? You and me can go get hitched somewhere.”
She laughs, even though I’m not sure Carter was joking. “You know he said you guys weren’t even fun. Obviously he was just trying to keep me away. This is already great.”
“Right,” Carter says, sinking back into his seat. “We’re a blast.”
“I think she should stay in the guest house,” I say suddenly. “Nolan can take the spare bedroom and we’ll give the guest house to Andi.”
“Does she plan to stay in Frosty Harbor long enough to need a bed?” Liam asks.
Andi tilts her head as if she’s thinking over the idea for the first time. “Maybe I will. My family used to visit here when I was a kid for the holidays. Jake will be here, too. I was kind of bummed to be away from him for Christmas during the honeymoon. But now I wouldn’t have to be. And besides, what better place for a fresh start?”
“Jesse grew up here,” Liam says. “He could show you the local’s tour.”
“Is that how you guys have a cabin to stay in?” Andi asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “My parents left it to me.” I tap my shoulder. “I screwed up my shoulder in the first game of the season. I’m resting and training on my own here in town until I recover. The team came to spend the holidays with me in my hometown.”
“That’s so sweet. I can’t wait to meet everyone. Is the whole team at the cabin?” Andi asks.
“Just the starters,” I say. “There’s the three of us, then Nolan, Maddox, and your brother.”
“So tell me about everybody. Do you guys have cool nicknames? Wait,” she says, turning in her seat to face all of us. “Let me guess them.” She starts with Liam, who is lounging in the back and grinning. “I bet they call you Hollywood.”
“More like shitstain,” Carter laughs.
“And you,” she says… “Joker.”
“Oh, come on. That’s way too edgy for me. You can call me Heartstopper.”
“No,” Liam laughs. “Nobody is allowed to call you that.”
“And you…” she says, looking me over. She takes a long time, tapping her lips in thought. “You’re harder to figure out. I’m going to have to think about your nickname.”
“Oooh,” Carter says. “How come he gets to be hard to figure out? I can be mysterious. You know I don’t even like chocolate. I bet that raises all kinds of questions about my troubled past, doesn’t it?”
“Sorry,” she says. “You’re very mysterious, too.”
I keep my focus on the road, but my thoughts are spinning. Part of me thought maybe my heart had permanently frozen over after Sarah. I decided to put all my passion into hockey this season. I wanted to leave it all on the ice. Play my ass off, clear my head, and move on with my life.
And then I had to fuck up my shoulder. My stick ended up hitting an opposing player’s skate during a slapshot and tore something deep in my rotator cuff. I can still live a mostly normal life, but it’s going to be several months before I can swing a hockey stick again. For the first time in years, I’ve had to look in the mirror and see just plain Jesse–not Jesse the hockey player, or Jesse the teammate. Now all I see is Jesse, the guy who couldn’t keep his girlfriend from running off. I see the guy who doesn’t know who the hell he is without hockey.