Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
The extra man lets them spread out, passing along the outside of the zone, looking for a break in the middle. They make a long slap shot attempt that Hendrix gets a stick on and deflects outward, but it lands right before a Sting player and they have possession again.
A few more passes trying to set up a play, but we are cutting off every avenue. One of their players weaves through the middle and they attempt to thread it through to him, but once again, Hendrix is on it. He intercepts, flicks his wrist to launch the puck past the Sting center and out of the zone. Two Sting players race for it and it just goes wide of the empty net. It gives our line time to get off the ice and the third line to come on to continue defending.
From the bench I watch the clock ticking down, my gaze flicking back and forth between the timer overhead and the action on the ice. With forty-two seconds left and the Sting still a man up, Van manages to tie up their left-winger on the boards. The puck squirts free and lands right on Van’s stick and he does a quick snap with his wrist. The puck glides down the ice, far too fast for a Sting player to catch it, and lands in the empty net.
Our bench erupts, the Sting fans go silent, and the roar of our small niche of fans seems almost deafening. As the third line jams into a congratulatory huddle, I give a light punch to North’s arm to my left. “Great game.”
“Back at you,” he replies with a grin.
While it’s still theoretically possible for the Sting to score two goals to tie it up again, the chances are slim. We’ll still fight as if we’re down a goal but I’m going to go ahead and mark this game as a win.
The Sting put their goalie back in for the next face-off, although he’ll most likely make a quick dash for the bench as soon as they can get the puck in our zone. But I do the unheard of and let myself disassociate from the game.
I think about Mazzy and where I should take her for a date. Given the time I was with Sandra, both dating and marriage, plus the two years since our divorce, I haven’t dated since high school. I know I’ve got the concept figured out and I can afford more than a meal at Applebee’s, but I want this to be more special than the dates she’s been on.
That does make me wonder what her experience has been. Mazzy is twenty-seven, making her a year younger than me. I have no clue what her dating history has been. I don’t know if she’s only had casual relationships, or hell… I don’t even know if she’s been married before.
How do I not know that?
Despite having an intense attraction to her, coupled with my admiration for the type of person she is, there’s still quite a bit to learn.
That means we need to go out to a nice meal, somewhere quiet where we can linger and talk. A higher-end restaurant… a place I can call ahead and secure the best table, but not to impress her. I’d just like the most secluded.
Definitely no movie, as that would be a waste of time to spend together and I’m definitely going for a kiss at the end of the night because I know she won’t turn away. Not if we have the same vibing energy we had the day of the almost-kiss.
The shrieking horn signals the end of the game, and I’m yanked out of my daydream with a flush of guilt that I disconnected so thoroughly. I scrub all thoughts of dates, Mazzy and kissing so I can hop over the boards and join my teammates on the ice to celebrate our win.
CHAPTER 19
Mazzy
In my room, the soft glow of the lamp casts a warm light, adding to the coziness of the space. My reflection in the full-length closet door mirror shows a mix of anticipation and nerves. I adjust the navy blue wrap dress that clings just right, complementing my long red hair and highlighting the green in my eyes. My freckles, usually a subtle feature, now seem like a bold statement against my pale skin. I never try to cover them up—my mom has always taught me to embrace them as a million tiny stars of beauty.
But because I’m going on a date, I went all out on the makeup. I used a light coverage base with powder but I’m the queen of contour and blush. It’s all very subtle and designed to be that way because it’s my eyes I always draw attention to. Luckily, my lashes are long and thick, made longer and thicker by an extra coating of mascara. I went with gold and brown colors on my eyes and a smoky gold liner underneath that brings out the tiny flecks of the same color in my irises.