Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
I nodded. “I was there. I don’t know the whole story, but Lucy recently broke up with her boyfriend and they think it was him, trying to break into the house.”
“For what?” Wes asked in confusion. “Does he have a history of abuse?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. She does not talk about him so much, and last night did not seem the time to ask many questions.”
“I need to get over there,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I’m just so fucking busy. And, don’t say anything to anyone yet, but we just found out Hadley’s pregnant and she’s been super sick so I’m trying to pick up the slack with the kids when I’m home.”
When our previous team captain and his wife had died, Wes and his now-wife Hadley had taken custody of their two children, so they had their hands full.
“Congratulations,” I said. “But don’t worry. I’ll be there every day we’re not on the road. Even if it’s just to stop by and say hello.”
“Yeah, but it shouldn’t all be on you. The team needs to step up. Even if this wasn’t happening to Lucy, we should be trying harder with Sawyer.”
“He said he may not be coming back,” I said slowly. “That he has nothing to play for anymore.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Wes shook his head. “We need him. I need to make the time to see him. We obviously need to talk.”
“I told him the same, but he is in a dark place.” I tapped the side of my head with one finger. “Annie’s death has changed him.”
“Everything okay with Sawyer?” Nash joined us, frowning slightly.
I repeated the story for him and he growled. “What the fuck? Who is this guy? Do we need to go find him?”
“Believe me, I want to,” I said. “I just don’t know where to look.”
“All right, settle down. Let’s let the police do their jobs,” Wes said sternly, eyeing us. “We don’t need anyone winding up in jail.”
I grimaced.
Definitely not.
But I’d risk it if it meant keeping people I cared about safe.
We headed into the dressing room where a group of guys were already locking up their things and changing.
“I bought a ring!” Boone called out when he saw us.
I managed not to roll my eyes. I didn’t like Boone’s girlfriend. Not that I’d ever tell him that, but something about her rubbed me the wrong way. As far as I could tell, none of the wives or girlfriends I knew spent time with her and she didn’t come to many team events. Boone’s excuse was always that she was shy or tired or something else. I thought he deserved better, but that wasn’t the kind of thing you told your buddies.
“Congratulations!” Wes said, shaking his hand.
“Good luck with that.” Nash told him, laughing.
“When are you gonna propose to Sariah?” Boone countered, referring to Nash’s girlfriend.
“We just moved in together,” Nash protested. “Give it a minute, would you?”
“Stay the hell away from me,” Rory said, shuddering. “It’s like this monogamy bullshit is contagious. One minute, half the team was single. Now you’re all dropping like flies.”
“You just say that because no one wants your scraggly, Duck Dynasty-looking ass,” Boone told him. Rory had been growing a beard since before the playoffs and now it was long and bushy, reaching his chest.
“The ladies beg to ride this baby,” Rory said, wiggling his eyebrows as he stroked his hand down his beard. “Nothing like having a beard full of pussy—”
“You are disgusting,” Lars said, making a face at him.
“Like Sheridan doesn’t ride your—”
“Do not finish that sentence!” Lars glared, pointing a finger at him.
Rory just laughed. “You’re all just jealous because the ladies love me.” He playfully wiggled his hips.
“You’re seriously delusional,” Nash said, shaking with laughter.
“Hey, Kon, you wanna go out tonight?” Rory called to me, still moving his hips back and forth suggestively. “Find some honeys to spend a little quality time with.”
“Sorry. Not tonight. I have plans.”
“Aw, you suck.”
“Date?” Boone asked quietly, cocking a brow.
“Helping Sawyer with something,” I replied.
Helping him make sure Lucy was safe qualified, right?
“I can’t do anything tonight. Missy and I have plans, but I’ll head over there soon,” he said. “I’ve missed his cranky ass.”
“He is even worse now. You won’t recognize him.”
“Great. Looking forward to it.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not, but either way, it would be good for the guys to spend time with Sawyer. Even if they couldn’t get through to him, nothing would happen to Lucy while any of us were there. It was just a matter of making that happen as often as possible while simultaneously figuring out how the hell to keep them both safe when we were on the road.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lucy
The light snow coating the ground crunched under my boots as I approached Morelli Brothers, the little bakery I’d read rave reviews about online. It was only mid-November, but snow always made me feel like Christmas was near.