Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Gage issues a shrill whistle and tells everyone to take their seats so we can get dinner started. While everyone settles in, Cannon pulls out a chair next to Sophie and I gratefully sit next to the only other woman in the room.
Cannon doesn’t sit down on my other side though, but instead walks to the front. Waiters are on standby to take drink orders.
Everyone quiets when Cannon turns to us. “I know we don’t get a lot of opportunities for team dinners, so I’m glad we could arrange this. I want everyone to kick back and relax, have good conversation with your mates, enjoy some good food, and we’re going to make it an early night so we are well-rested for tomorrow’s game. Brienne is picking up the tab tonight, so make sure you all thank her next time you see her. Oh, and go easy on the drinks.”
Everyone laughs and Cannon winds his way between the tables back to ours. In addition to Baden and Sophie, a few other players are sitting with us, and Cannon takes a moment to make sure I know everyone at our table. Some I’ve met and just can’t remember their names; others I haven’t met yet.
Cannon sits next to me and nods to his left. “This is Hendrix Bateman, one of our defensemen. You met him at the trunk-or-treat.”
Hendrix smiles, holding up a hand in hello. “I was the red Power Ranger.”
“Aaah.” I would’ve never known since he had his head and face covered. “Good to actually see you this time.”
“Next to Hendrix is Drake McGinn, our goalie.”
I smile at Drake and barely get one back before his head bows down to his phone, ignoring the rest of us. I don’t know this man at all, but I overheard Cannon talking about him to some of the other coaches on the phone the last few days, and they’re worried about him. He’s been closed off, moody, and playing like shit, apparently.
“And next to him is our left winger, Stone Dumelin.”
I remember Stone, as we met a few minutes ago. “Welcome to our team, Ava,” he says.
“Thank you. It’s—”
Hendrix’s phone goes off, and he picks it up from the table, grimaces, and immediately sends the caller to voicemail. “Sorry about that.”
I forgot what I was going to say, but it doesn’t matter. The phone rings again. Hendrix looks pained as he apologizes. “I’m sorry. I have to take this.”
He connects and says, “Is something wrong?”
We all awkwardly wait in silence, but I glance across the table and see Stone smirking. Drake ignores everyone.
“Yes, I’d think there was something wrong since you called twice in a row.”
Hendrix listens a moment and then sighs. “We’re at a team dinner. I can’t talk now, but I’ll call you after.” Another pause as he listens. “Yes, I promise. Give me a few hours, okay?”
I glance at Cannon, who shrugs.
Hendrix hangs up and turns off the ringer, setting the phone back on the table. “Sorry. Girlfriend,” he mutters.
“Dude,” Stone says, leaning back in his chair and looking superiorly smug. “You have got to dump her. You’re one phone call away from her turning all Fatal Attraction on you.”
“Hey,” Hendrix says, sounding only mildly offended. “I don’t tell you to dump Harlow, do I?”
Stone frowns at him. “No,” he drawls with a heavy sarcastic tone. “But why would you? She’s perfect.”
Hendrix scoffs, and Stone looks at Baden. “Harlow’s perfect, right?”
“As far as I can tell,” Baden agrees.
His gaze flips to Sophie, who nods exuberantly. “I can emphatically state that she’s perfect in every way.”
That tells me Sophie knows her well.
Stone leans over and nudges Drake, still ignoring everyone. “Harlow’s perfect, right, man?”
Drake doesn’t even lift his gaze from his phone. “If you say so.”
“The point being,” Stone says as he addresses Hendrix, “you want a girl who everyone at the table will agree is great. No one here can say that about Tracy.”
“She’s not that bad,” Hendrix mutters.
“The mere fact you’re not staunchly defending her and ripping into me for calling her Fatal Attraction tells me she’s bad enough.”
“She is a bit clingy,” Drake says, and everyone’s surprised he spoke up. “I’m just saying, I met her at Dillon’s party three weeks ago, and that was the vibe I got.”
“Okay, how about we give Hendrix a break,” Cannon says with a light chuckle. “I don’t want Ava thinking you guys are ready to start your own soap opera.”
Laughter ripples around the table—except for Drake—and we move on from Hendrix’s girl troubles.
After a waiter takes our drink and dinner orders, talk immediately turns to hockey, and even Drake engages. The men discuss their opponent for tomorrow night, and I’m lost. But not in a bad way—I just need to learn some stuff is all.
Sophie leans in close. “You don’t know how glad I am you’re here. The hockey talk can get a bit much.”