Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“Hey, you,” Nolan called out. “We’ll be done in ten minutes. Hang tight.”
She gave him a thumbs-up and sat, swinging her legs on the bench, idly watching the teens on the ice.
“Skate lesson?”
“No, we’re going book shopping. I’m making up for being an absentee uncle lately.”
I didn’t comment on Nolan’s tendency to compensate for perceived shortcomings. He gave a hundred percent to his family and his business and even made time to coach pro bono. He didn’t seem to do anything just for himself without countering it by doing a good deed for someone else. Interesting.
And in this instance, it was kind of my fault. No apologies here, but it was definitely worth noting.
“MK, where’re your blades?” I asked, my voice echoing off the walls.
She shook her head, jostling her glasses from her nose. “I didn’t bring them.”
I skated to the bench to avoid a yelling conversation and held my hand up for a high five. “Too bad. I was hoping we could do some shooting. I heard you’re pretty good.”
She looked mildly surprised. “Who told you that?”
“Your dad. What are you and your uncle up to?”
“We’re going to the bookstore and to get ice cream too.”
“Lucky. What book are you gonna get?” I leaned on the board.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Something with dragons, I think. Or maybe the first Narnia book.”
“How many are in the set?”
“Seven, but I don’t want to be greedy.”
I couldn’t relate. I’d always been a greedy bastard, even as a kid. “Hmm. How many books do you think you could read this summer and still have time for fun?”
“Reading is fun,” MK insisted, wiggling on the bench.
“Yeah, okay, but if you’ve got forty-five days before school starts and you wanted to spend some of that time watching movies or hanging out with friends…how many books could you read?”
“Thirty. Maybe thirty-five.”
She giggled when my eyebrows shot to my hairline. I wanted to joke that I’d never read that many books in my life, but I doubted she’d be amused.
“Wow.” I rubbed my bearded jaw thoughtfully. “Is this bookstore you’re going to any good?”
“Yes! It’s gigantic. They have everything! If you haven’t been, you should come with us.”
“That might be cool.” I glanced over at Nolan and the juniors. “Hey, I have a crazy idea. Actually, I think it’s straight-up bribery, but I can’t resist. I’ll buy all the books you can carry if you show me your shooting skills.”
She tilted her heart-shaped chin and squinted. “For real?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to butt in on your adventure with Nol, but I could drive separately and hook you up with half your summer’s worth of reading.”
Nolan skated up just then and squeezed his niece’s shoulder in greeting.
“We’re done for the day. Did you want to say anything to the boys before we let them go?” He blew his whistle when I shook my head, and turned back to MK and me. “What are you two chatting about?”
“Bribery,” she replied, filling him in on my book exchange idea.
Nolan chuckled. “Oh, Vinnie. She could wreak havoc on your credit card. Mary-Kate is the best seven-year-old shooter who’s not in a league…no question. And she could easily carry twenty books in her arms.”
“Thirty,” MK piped in, interested in spite of herself.
“Too bad you didn’t bring skates.” I sighed.
She bolted to her feet. “I have skates in my dad’s office. I can get them now.”
“That was kind of genius,” Nolan commented.
“Bribery, man. Works every time.”
“Nah, I think it’s you. She’s curious about you. Be prepared for the ‘fifty questions in ten minutes’ game,” he warned with a laugh.
He wasn’t joking.
Mary-Kate skated out like a boss, wobbling slightly as she stopped in front of Nolan and me. “How many goals do I have to get? Is there a time clock? Do I have to put them in the corners or just anywhere? Are you going to play goalie? Are you—”
“Hold up, steamroller. You don’t have a stick yet. Use mine.” I pushed my stick into her hands, biting the inside of my cheek when she giggled.
“It’s too big for me.” So were the kneepads Nolan insisted she wear, but we wouldn’t be out here for long. Her yellow shorts, T-shirt, and pink Disney princess sweatshirt weren’t exactly ideal for rink time.
“Oh. You didn’t know you’d have to use this one?” I scratched my head in faux confusion.
She went quiet, swiveling expertly on her skates to face the net. “Okay, I can probably do it, but—”
“I was kidding. Guncle Nol is grabbing a pee wee stick for you.” I picked up one of the cones Nolan had left out for us and dropped it on the blue line. “Can you score from here?”
MK snickered. “No way. Why did you call Uncle Nolan guncle?”
“Guncle is gay uncle…or so I’ve heard.” I moved the cone in between the two face-off circles. “How about here?”